Chapter 425: _Stop Waiting For Strength To Come To You

"Rose?" Devon’s voice stopped him from wearing the mask. "You’re back?"

He turned.

The S-Rank soon appeared from the stairs, the slightest hint of hope in those golden eyes.

Ambrose instantly understood what he was thinking. His chest tightened when he saw the disappointment clouding his partner’s face as he got down and looked around.

"Oh." He bit his bottom lip. "I... I thought you’d found Orion somehow."

Rose’s fingers gripped the black mask tighter. He lifted it back to his face again, putting it on properly this time.

"I didn’t." The SS-Rank crossed the room, grabbing Devon’s hands once he’d reached him. "But I will find a way. I’m about to go seek some answers."

Devon’s brows slowly drew into a frown.

Unfortunately, before he could ask any further questions, Ambrose’s eyes rolled back as a sharp headache struck him. He collapsed right into his boyfriend’s arms, much to the latter’s shock.

"Rose?" Devon held his limp body, shaking him a few times.

He was still breathing.

His pulse was normal.

Yet no response.

Looking toward the ceiling, a strained sigh left Devon’s lips.

"Orion," He whispered before he could stop himself. "If you’re out there... Please stay safe. Your daddy and I... we can’t afford to lose you..."

A wetness he refused to acknowledge bloomed in his eyes. He sniffled, lifting Ambrose in a princess carry, his eyes on the nearest couch.

★★★★★

Ambrose’s eyes opened within the vast blackness of the Black Mask’s Pocket Dimension.

As always, he couldn’t feel Aura’s presence in his head once his consciousness manifested here.

But that didn’t matter.

"Old guy?" He called out, fists curling. "I have a feeling you know why I’m here already. Time is of the fucking essence and I—"

"Not even ten seconds in here and you’re already swearing like a drunk sailor."

Ambrose spun around.

Levitating several meters away was none other than his future self. The black cloak draping his body whipped around him like living clouds.

He regarded Ambrose for another beat before his expression changed.

"And yes. I’m aware." The words slid out like they weighed a ton. "My boy. His powers have grown far beyond even my previous calculations."

That made Ambrose raise a brow. "Oh? So you’ve always known he’d have the potential of growing a second adult half who’d just swipe him out of my hands?"

"... Ambrose—"

"Don’t," he lifted a finger, unable to contain the rage he’d been feeling all day any further, "call me that. You know my true name. You’ve used it before, so let’s go back to it."

If Aura was here, she’d probably be scolding his ass.

He didn’t care.

"I... am Benjamin fucking Foster." His voice cracked, adding to his frustration. "And I’m fucking exhausted. There’s a part of the boy I’ve called my son for months who doesn’t see me as his father. I’ve... I’ve failed him. I don’t think I can do this anymore."

For the first time in forever, memories from his past life started hitting him. From his simple life as a young man with a stable income living in Chicago.

His mother.

His sister.

Back when life was normal. When he was oblivious to the absolute insanity beyond the known universe.

Tyler.

If it weren’t for that sick fuck murdering him—

"You would’ve lived a mediocre existence and probably died in your seventies or eighties asking yourself if that’s all life had to offer you." Future Ambrose suddenly appeared right in front of him.

His heart leapt into his throat.

The older man stared at him for a few more seconds... only to sigh.

"I’m sorry for burdening you with... all of this," a pause. "But something tells me you aren’t simply here to throw all the blame at me."

Ambrose’s throat constricted.

He looked away from the man, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. He’d let his emotions get the best of him for a moment there.

"I want..." His gaze finally met Future Ambrose’s again. "I NEED to become more powerful. An Archon is prowling the Earth as we speak. And several more waiting for her to take... to take my son."

Resolve and desperation mixed to form something sharp in his chest. "When Orion comes back, I want to be able to protect him. Actually protect him. I’ve stalled levelling up to the next Rank because of everything happening currently. But I don’t know where to even begin."

Future Ambrose kept his eyes on him for a long moment before a faint smile touched his lips.

"You begin," he answered quietly, "by doing something you’ve forgotten how to do."

Ambrose frowned.

"Moving forward." His older self folded his arms behind his back, black cloak drifting lazily through the endless void. "Stop chasing Orion."

Ambrose’s head jerked up. "What?"

"For now."

The words came with such certainty that Ambrose couldn’t immediately argue.

"My son—"

"Is currently safer than he would’ve been had he remained on Earth." Future Ambrose cut in gently. "Believe me when I say those words aren’t easy for me either. Every instinct in you is screaming to tear apart reality until you find him."

A small, weary smile crossed his face.

"I know. They’re my instincts too." He stepped closer. "The child isn’t lost, Benji. He’s simply walking a road neither of us can interfere with."

Ambrose swallowed. "So... what am I supposed to do?"

Future Ambrose lifted one gloved hand.

"The Black Key." His other hand rested lightly against the obsidian mask. "And the Black Mask. Remember, they were never meant to be used separately. Together, they’re your passage beyond this universe."

His eyes seemed to gaze somewhere impossibly distant.

"There are worlds beyond counting. Ancient civilisations. Forgotten dungeons. Divine relics. Treasures powerful enough to reshape fate itself. Stop waiting for strength to come to you."

His gaze sharpened.

"Go and take it."

Ambrose’s jaw tightened.

"And while I’m away?" He asked. "Ramona? The other Archons? What if they make their move?"

A chuckle escaped Future Ambrose. "You continue making the same mistake."

Ambrose blinked.

"You keep thinking you’re humanity’s greatest protector." His older self shook his head. "You’re not. The Pantheon still stands. Let them and the others shoulder the burden for a little while."

His smile grew warmer.

"Wouldn’t you rather stand beside them again when you’ve finally surpassed all of us?"

Ambrose opened his mouth—and stopped.

Something caught his eye.

"Wait... Your arm."

Tiny fragments of black light drifted from Future Ambrose’s sleeve like ash caught in a breeze.

Then more followed.

From his shoulders... and then to his chest.

Ambrose’s eyes widened. "No. No, what’s happening?"

Future Ambrose looked down, almost amused. "So... it’s finally happening."

"What is?"

"This place..." He looked around the endless darkness. "...has always been sustained by what’s left of my soul."

Ambrose felt his stomach drop.

"Every time you entered, I spent a little more of myself keeping it together." He smiled apologetically. "I don’t have enough left anymore."

"No." Ambrose grabbed both of his shoulders. "No! You can’t disappear now! You’re the only one who knows what’s coming. Who the hell is supposed to guide me?"

Future Ambrose laughed—a tired, genuine laugh Ambrose had never heard from him before.

"I already have." His hand came up, resting against Ambrose’s cheek exactly the way a father might. "I’ve told you everything I know. And everything you need to know."

The cracks spreading across his body widened.

The darkness around them trembled.

Ambrose’s grip tightened.

"Old man..."

Future Ambrose’s smile never left. "When you see Orion again..." His voice had become strangely distant. "...kiss him on the forehead for me. Tell him..."

Another piece of his body dissolved into drifting light.

"...his father never stopped loving him."

The black void fractured in every direction.

Ambrose reached for him one last time.

But his hand passed through nothing.

The dimension shattered into countless pieces of darkness.