Raiyokan and the Fibonacci Sequence

Chapter 16: Farewell, Mariana

After the knockout, my being floated between consciousness and unconsciousness, while Mariana, on the brink of death, existed only as a volatile aura in the Nexus universe. Her body was sustained solely by the fading impulses of her brain.

Her heart, now a forgotten relic, no longer beat the rhythms of life. Our connection, once nurtured by the vibrant pulse of existence, teetered on the edge of dissolution. Amid the shadows, our energy materialized in my former universe; her gaze, expressing farewell, met mine. In that moment, I understood that this silent exchange was a goodbye.

In the gloom of the events, a memory surfaced in my mind. It was the words of Mariana's parents, questioning my faith. At the time, I had replied with a shaded sincerity, claiming I lived by Christian precepts, though my relationship with religiosity was tenuous. Yet the truth was otherwise.

In my essence, I believed that life unfolded in unique chapters, without reruns. Each inexplicable moment, such as my reincarnation, shone as an exceptional event, a symphony that would not repeat. Faith, like the stars, flickered within me, yet in a broader context, I saw myself as the protagonist of a singular story, immersed in the ephemeral fabric of the universe.

In the intimacy of contemplation, Mariana deciphered the depths of my thoughts. With a look, she gently refuted the eternal farewell looming over us.

— Diego, you know this is not a final goodbye — she said, her eyes meeting mine with calm resolve. — Our lives stretch far beyond the boundaries of countless worlds.

— Mariana, how can we be so certain of that? — I asked, my voice trembling with uncertainty. — What if it really is a goodbye?

— Even in realms where beings possess supernatural powers, like the Raiyokans, the path of our existence is like a dance — she continued, holding my hands. — A dance that defies the limits imposed by time and distance.

Her words were like a promise, crossing the veils of diverse realms. She asserted that our lives extended far beyond the boundaries of countless worlds. In this dialogue, Mariana sowed hope that, even separated by different realities, our destinies would remain connected.

— Do you truly believe that? That we will meet again? — I asked, trying to mask the desperation in my voice.

— Yes, I believe — she affirmed with conviction. — In the twilight of our moments, I see a promise of reunion.

Yet, as her words sought to soothe my soul, I was engulfed in tears. The weeping, uncontrolled and visceral, was the expression of my internal struggle against the certainty of separation.

The idea of reincarnation, a peculiarity I had experienced, did not transcend for me into the realm of the supernatural. It was a phenomenon, yes, but confined to the sphere of the extraordinary, without venturing beyond the boundaries of earthly reason. The unknown, however, persisted in challenging me, blending with the melody of farewell.

Then, with a serenity that contrasted the gravity of the moment, she pronounced a name that would echo in my mind for all eternity: Óxion. A name unknown to me until then, yet carrying a dark past. In a gesture of trust, Mariana shared with me the parasite's name and the promise that the truth would reveal itself, as a crucial piece of our story.

— Óxion? — I repeated, a mixture of surprise and confusion in my voice. — Who is Óxion, Mariana?

— It is the parasite we are facing — she replied, her eyes fixed on mine. — An ancient being, with a shadowed history. You will need to know more about him to fully understand what is happening.

Curiosity and pain danced in my eyes as, with a serene voice, I asked how she had acquired such knowledge.

— How do you know this, Mariana? — I asked, my voice betraying the urgency of my question.

She only whispered:

— In due time, you will understand.

Through tears and sighs, Mariana spoke words into my fragile soul.

— Diego, never give up on humanity — she said, her voice heavy with emotion.

— No matter how difficult things may seem.

The play of light and shadow that pervaded our farewell was now evident. In her words, she outlined the truth of our circumstances.

— All of us, humans, carry within us both virtues and flaws — she continued, holding my hands firmly. — It is this contradiction that shapes our journey.

In that moment of farewell, I realized that her love was not merely a goodbye, but a promise for my life.

— Mariana, I... — I tried to speak, but the words were lost amid the emotion.

She smiled softly, wiping away a tear that fell down my face. The glow of her materialized form shimmered like shooting stars about to vanish. A sadness enveloped this moment of transition, yet there was urgency in her voice, a commitment to share truths between life and death.

With her gentle voice, she clarified the motivation behind Óxion's desire to subjugate us. The parasite sought our destruction not merely as an act of cruelty, but as a means to manipulate nature. She then guided me toward reflection.

— What was the context in which the Thunders emerged in your Nexus universe? — she asked, her voice heavy with curiosity and concern.

Faced with this challenge, I immersed myself in memories of a world where social disparity was a boiling cauldron, a fertile ground for the emergence of enemy arcs like the Thunders.

— The Thunders appeared during a period of great inequality and turmoil — I replied, recalling the memories of my past life. — Those were difficult times, with many factions vying for power. The emergence of the Thunders seemed linked to the chaos and disorder that reigned at that time.

In the twilight between realities, Mariana confirmed my reflections on social disparity. She then posed another question:

— In all the universes with social disparity where Óxion did not emerge, was there something different compared to Nexus and Earth?

Her words, now imbued with wisdom, revealed a pattern between social instability and the parasite's appearance. Social inequality was a storm, yet the society's response determined whether it would be a passing rain or an unrestrained cataclysm.

In the epiphany of this revelation, I realized that social disparity was not an inevitable catalyst for chaos. It was indifference, passive acceptance, that opened the doors to Óxion. In her manifestation beyond life, she revealed that fighting social disparity did not guarantee its immediate extinction, but rather that active resistance, the refusal to bow to injustice, prevented parasitic infestation.

Social disparity, then, revealed itself as a test, a battle that could not be avoided, but whose outcome depended on each society's conscious choice. The parasite, Óxion, was a manifestation of shadows when the human heart succumbed to indifference.

Understanding this dynamic came to me as a call to action. Every universe, every reality, was a battlefield where choices determined the course of events. In the complexity of this understanding, I glimpsed the responsibility resting on each individual—the necessity to resist the tide of indifference and fight against injustice.

The instant her wisdom granted me this knowledge, her farewell assumed a greater meaning. Her vital energy gradually dissipated in the Nexus universe. I witnessed her disappearance, powerless before the inevitability of her departure. The tears flooding my face bore witness to the connection we shared, and at the same time, to the chasm opening before me.

Gathering the last reserves of courage, I realized that the farewell was not an end, but a call to action. Her departure was not surrender, but a summons to face the challenge. Tears streamed down my face as my commitment grew within me like a resilient flame. The newly acquired understanding, the clarity of my responsibility, transformed into determination.

Still in tears, I rose from the floor of the Nexus universe, resolved to confront Óxion and undo his malevolent influence. There was no more room for tears, only for the action that would unfold in the next chapters of this battle. The time for crying had passed; now was the moment to wield light against darkness, to become the resistance against the parasite's tyranny.