《2661》


 prodigy

    A military plane cut through the cold night sky, carrying the newest member of the Yeager Force. Rex Jones, just fifteen years old and the youngest ever to join, polished his sword with determination. Many believed he was destined to become an elite force member due to his exceptional skills. Suddenly, his hologram communicator beeped. Rex glanced at the display and saw his father, Adam Jones. He pressed the button to answer.


    ¡°Rex, are you crazy? Why are you accepting this mission? Is it worth the risk for a special forces promotion?¡± Adam¡¯s voice was filled with concern.


    Rex remained silent and ended the call. The pilot¡¯s voice came over the intercom. ¡°We¡¯ll arrive in ten minutes.¡± Rex finished polishing his sword, sheathed it, and prepared to disembark.


    When the plane landed, Rex stepped out and took in his surroundings. He noticed a faint red line leading to a mine shaft elevator and followed it. As the elevator descended, Rex emerged into a cavern filled with ancient structures, gripping his sword tightly.


    A giant Yeager with red eyes and blue skin turned to face him. The creature unleashed a powerful beam from its mouth. Rex leaped into the air, dodging the attack, and slashed at the Yeager¡¯s arm, severing it. The arm regenerated instantly, and the Yeager formed another beam in its hand. Rex dodged again, landing and parrying the Yeager¡¯s charge before cutting its face. The Yeager vanished and reappeared in front of Rex, grabbing him by the neck and lifting him. Rex struggled, glaring at the creature as it began to glow with a red light.


    Rex jolted awake in his bed, disoriented. ¡°Why did I dream about that mission? It¡¯s been four months,¡± he thought. He dressed in his uniform, which displayed the number 3 on his shoulder, and strapped his sword to his side. Heading to his father¡¯s study, he knocked on the door.


    ¡°Hello, Father. What are you doing?¡± Rex asked.


    Adam, turning from his desk, smiled. ¡°Oh, hey Rex. Just finishing up some paperwork.¡± His shoulder bore the number 1. ¡°So, you¡¯ve been promoted to special forces rank 3,¡± Adam said.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t mean much. It just gives me more access at headquarters,¡± Rex replied.


    ¡°You¡¯ve become quite boring lately,¡± Adam commented.


    Rex remained silent. ¡°Mother should be making a fuss by now. Where is she?¡± he asked.


    ¡°She¡¯s in Egypt, evacuating people,¡± Adam said.


    ¡°Egypt? I thought the Yeagers took over that area thirty years ago,¡± Rex said.


    ¡°Yes, but Cairo was still standing. Now, your mom, Sally, is getting people out of there,¡± Adam explained. His pad buzzed, and he activated the hologram. ¡°I¡¯ve been assigned a mission. It seems something happened in Russia,¡± Adam said. He revealed a report on the hologram. ¡°300 students died in a high school last night,¡± he added. He stood up. ¡°Rex, come with me. Let¡¯s head to Russia.¡±A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Rex sighed. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s go.¡± Adam smiled. They left the office and entered the next room, where a machine with a circular ring awaited. Rex inserted the mission log into a computer, and the ring began to glow. ¡°Ready?¡± Adam asked. Rex nodded, and they both stepped through.


    Arriving in Russia, they found themselves in front of the school. Soldiers greeted them.


    ¡°It¡¯s them, special rank 3 and 1, Rex and Adam,¡± one soldier said.


    ¡°He looks like a kid. How is he higher ranked than me?¡± another soldier muttered. Rex overheard and looked at them, but said nothing.


    As Rex scanned the area, he saw members blocking the school entrance. A woman suddenly broke through, running to Adam. ¡°Please, keep my daughter safe! She hasn¡¯t come home since last night!¡± she pleaded, tears streaming down her face.


    Adam¡¯s expression remained stern. ¡°We don¡¯t know what we¡¯re about to face,¡± he said. He turned to the soldiers. ¡°Escort her out of the restricted zone and give her something to calm down.¡±


    The soldiers complied, and Adam turned to Rex. ¡°See, son, you don¡¯t make promises in this line of work. Trust me, I made that mistake once, and I regret it.¡±


    Rex noticed the frustration in Adam¡¯s eyes but chose not to respond. ¡°Let¡¯s get going,¡± Rex said. They proceeded to the school entrance, where they were greeted by Daisy Ivanov, the eighth-ranked member of the special forces.


    ¡°Daisy, what are you doing here?¡± Adam asked.


    ¡°I need you to see something. I don¡¯t know what it is,¡± Daisy replied.


    ¡°Show me,¡± Adam said. They followed her into a classroom, where Rex was hit by the horrific sight of dead bodies and pools of blood. ¡°300 students died horrible deaths,¡± Daisy said.


    ¡°So, Yeagers did this?¡± Rex asked.


    ¡°No. A Yeager didn¡¯t cause this,¡± Daisy said.


    ¡°Then why should we care? We deal with Yeagers, not human murders. Let the police handle this,¡± Rex said, his voice empty of emotion. Daisy shivered.


    ¡°Let me finish,¡± Daisy said.


    ¡°The students weren¡¯t murdered by someone. They were killed each other,¡± she revealed. Rex and Adam were shocked.


    ¡°A Yeager¡¯s abilities could do this,¡± Rex said.


    ¡°Yes, and this Yeager isn¡¯t ordinary. It¡¯s a high-rank Yeager,¡± Adam explained.


    ¡°Which explains the flux energy,¡± Daisy added. ¡°It controlled the students, making them kill each other.¡±


    ¡°But why didn¡¯t it eat them? If I were a Yeager, I¡¯d eat them immediately,¡± Rex said.


    ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re here. Follow me,¡± Daisy said. They left the classroom and went upstairs to another room. Inside, Rex recoiled at the sight of a girl pinned to the wall, missing legs, organs, and eyes. Words on the wall read: ¡°We live for her glory.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a message. The Yeager wants to show it will do anything for Luna,¡± Adam said. They heard a clicking noise. ¡°It¡¯s watching us,¡± Rex said.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Adam confirmed.


    ¡°Let me handle this,¡± Daisy said.


    ¡°No, I will,¡± Rex said. He charged at the wall, drawing his sword, and struck it. The wall shattered, revealing the Yeager behind it. The creature lunged at Rex, but he swiftly decapitated it. The body fell to the ground.


    Adam and Daisy approached the Yeager. Daisy noticed the high school uniform. ¡°We need to get out of here,¡± she said. Adam contacted the team. ¡°Get everyone out now!¡± he ordered.


    The ground rumbled as hundreds of Yeagers charged at them. Rex, Adam, and Daisy leaped out of the window. Adam and Daisy prepared to fight, but Rex said, ¡°Leave this to me.¡±


    The 300 Yeagers advanced. Rex focused, invoking his ¡°Flame Style: Burning Wildfire¡± technique. Giant flames erupted from his sword, engulfing the Yeagers.


    ¡°He has incredible flux energy,¡± Daisy marveled.


    ¡°I know. That¡¯s why he¡¯s a prodigy,¡± Adam said.


    Flux energy is a universal force harnessed through a serum, allowing humans to break natural laws. Yeagers, once human, have abilities that defy physics and reality. But some humans can achieve similar feats.


    As the Yeagers burn, the woman from earlier approaches Adam. ¡°My daughter, where is she?¡± she demanded.


    Adam didn¡¯t respond. Rex stepped forward. ¡°She was forced to become a Yeager. I ended her suffering. She can rest in peace now.¡± The woman glared at him with disgust before leaving. Rex reflected on his past as a Yeager, haunted by memories.

 Fallen Cairo

    As Rex woke up in the cave after his encounter with the blue Yeager, he rubbed his head, trying to piece together what had happened. Slowly, the memory came back to him. He glanced at his body and froze. His skin was now blue and white. A sinking realization dawned upon him¡ªhe had become the very thing he swore to destroy. He had become a Yeager.


    Rex stood up, keeping his composure despite the turmoil within. He looked around and saw that the elevator leading back to the mines was destroyed. With no other way out, he decided to press forward.


    The cave stretched endlessly before him, looking more like an alien world than an underground cavern. The walls shimmered faintly, and Rex noticed strange creatures moving in the distance. He soon realized that the animals here had also been corrupted by Yeager blood.


    Out of nowhere, a swarm of mutated bats charged at him. Rex dodged instinctively, and it was then he noticed how much faster and lighter he felt. The bats lunged again, but this time Rex reacted without thinking. In a single, fluid motion, he slashed through them, their bodies falling lifeless to the ground. He stared at his trembling hands, now tipped with sharp fingernails.


    ¡°It¡¯s the blood,¡± Rex murmured to himself, horrified. His new form made him feel like a demon from the Bible, cursed and unholy. Yet, he clenched his fists, forcing himself to focus. He had to find and kill the Yeager that did this to him.


    Rex continued deeper into the cave. As he walked, he came across a massive, ancient door. It was worn with age, yet still functional. He pressed a button, and the door creaked open. Inside was a dimly lit chamber filled with static-like energy.


    Ahead of him, a large opening in the ground caught his eye. Without hesitation, Rex jumped down, landing in another darkened room. Sword in hand, he moved cautiously. The door before him was broken, hanging ajar. Suddenly, a giant robot appeared from the shadows, its single red eye glowing ominously.


    The machine was severely damaged, missing an arm, yet it moved with intent. Rex lunged at it, slashing at its neck, but the sword merely glanced off its metallic surface. The robot retaliated, slamming Rex into the ground with its remaining arm. The impact forced blood from Rex¡¯s mouth, and the robot loomed closer, its glowing eye intensifying.


    Seizing the moment, Rex kicked the robot hard, stunning it. Rolling to his feet, he slid beneath the machine and sprinted into another room. He climbed to a higher platform, looking down as the robot struggled to follow, its missing arm rendering it unable to climb.


    As Rex scanned the room, his eyes fell on a strange object lying on the ground. It was a brain, pulsating faintly. Confused, yet inexplicably drawn to it, Rex reached out. The moment his hand touched the brain, it was absorbed into his body. He panicked, pulling back, but it was too late. A surge of power coursed through him, his skin shifting to a vivid red and blue hue.


    His body trembled with newfound strength. Clenching his fists, Rex felt unstoppable. He returned to the previous chamber, where the robot awaited him, its red eye narrowing menacingly.


    The machine advanced, but this time Rex was ready. With a single, precise swing of his sword, he decapitated the robot. Its massive body crashed to the ground with a deafening thud.


    Rex walked over to the fallen machine, placing his hand on it. As he did, the robot¡¯s body vanished, absorbed into him. His skin returned to its original blue and white hue, the power fading just as quickly as it had come.


    Looking down at his hands, Rex realized how much he had changed. ¡°I¡¯m no longer human,¡± he muttered bitterly. ¡°I¡¯ve truly become a demon.¡±


    Then, a voice called out to him.


    ¡°Rex,¡± it whispered.


    He ignored it, but it grew louder.


    ¡°Rex!¡±


    Suddenly, he jolted awake. He was back at the school, surrounded by the charred remains of the Yeagers he had burned to ashes.


    ¡°Sorry, I was daydreaming,¡± Rex said, shaking his head.


    ¡°You can¡¯t daydream on the job, idiot,¡± Daisy snapped.


    Rex ignored her comment. ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Rona asked us to attend a meeting. She wants to speak to us,¡± Adam replied.


    ¡°Just us three?¡± Daisy asked.


    ¡°No,¡± Adam said, shaking his head. ¡°All ten members of the special forces are gathering.¡±


    ¡°Something big must be happening,¡± Rex remarked.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Exactly. Let¡¯s get going,¡± Daisy said.


    Adam activated his cybernetic communicator. ¡°Open headquarters portal,¡± he commanded. A swirling portal appeared before them.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Rex said. ¡°What about Mom? How¡¯s she going to meet us if she¡¯s in Egypt right now?¡±


    In the heart of the ravaged city or cairo, Baluka, a small figure, navigated through the ruins. Amidst the turmoil, a colossal, dog-like Yeager emerged, posing a threat. Fear gripped Baluka as the creature lunged, but abruptly, it froze, ensnared in an unseen force. A blur approached at high speed, culminating in the annihilation of the Yeager as the smoke cleared. A woman, Sally Jones, stood amidst the destruction.


    "Hello, little girl. It''s a pleasure to meet you. What''s your name?" Sally inquired with a smile.


    "B... Baluka," came the timid reply.


    "What a beautiful name. You''ve done a great job so far. Do you know where your parents are?" Sally asked.


    Shaking her head, Baluka remained silent. Sally contemplated, surmising they might have been casualties of the Yeager onslaught.


    "Come with me to help evacuate the city. Maybe your parents are with the group," Sally suggested.


    As they walked away, the Yeager dog, seemingly revived, prepared to attack Sally. Swiftly moving her fingers, Sally crushed the creature, retracting the strings into her gloves unnoticed by Baluka.


    Carrying Baluka, Sally rushed to a group of people hiding in a cave. ¡°Everyone we won¡¯t be able to teleport everyone out of here, that''s what a plane is going to pick us up, so stay close to me everyone,¡± she said. But some people didn''t listen and distanced themselves from her, Sally sensed a lurking danger. A Yeager stood before them. Realizing the imminent threat, Sally yelled for everyone to retreat into the cave. Bug-like creatures were unleashed, and though most reached safety, one unfortunate soul was devoured alive.


    Swiftly moving her fingers again, Sally used her strings to throw giant rocks into the cave, shielding the survivors. She then swung on a nearby bridge to a hill, dodging the insects. Yeager, observing from the bridge, identified Sally.


    "You''re Sally Jones, ranked fifth in the special forces, aren''t you?" Yeager remarked.


    Sally''s demeanor shifted, and a bloodlusted expression adorned her face.


    "Who cares? You''re gonna die anyway," Sally retorted.


    She used her strings and Forming tonfas with blades, Sally lunged at the Yeager, but its unnatural agility evaded her attacks. It retreated to a bridge, releasing another wave of insects. Undeterred, Sally carved through the horde, ¡°I sense two more Yeagers watching right now, I don¡¯t want to reveal my style or the fact I can heal myself with flux energy ,¡± she thought. Sally charged at the Yeager and used her strings to hop onto the bridge.


    In a swift counter, Yeager bit Sally''s back, injecting a paralyzing poison. Immobilized and with death looming. ¡°Fuck it,¡± she thought. She used her flux energy and started to heal herself. And the poison disappears in her body. She grabbed ahold of the Yeager head, and sharpening her teeth bit the Yeager neck.


    With fierce determination, Sally pressed her attack, tearing through Yeager''s tough hide. Despite the creature''s strength, Sally remained steadfast. As blood splattered. Yeager fell to the ground. She stood there splitting the flesh out.


    ¡°You can use flux energy to heal yourself,¡± a yeager said. A giant explosion happened. And Sally was sent flying back. Sally was able to recover and was standing up tall. ¡°For a split second my arm was disoriented, is she able to change reality?¡± Sally ponderd.  ¡°My name is Vulu, and my ability is air shift. I am able to control the air itself,¡± she said. ¡°Why is she telling me her abilities?¡± She thought.


    Voro was on a tower looking at Vulu and Sally . He stood there smiling. ¡°Yeager ability, hornets blast,¡± he said. He pointed at Sally and beams of light came from his fingers.


    Sally saw this and saw Vulu use her ability to make the air to make a shield and the giant blast destroyed the bridge and everywhere. ¡°Did I already kill her?¡± Voro thought. Then he saw after smoky aftermath Sally sprinting toward Voro after the attack. ¡°In one attack she figured out my location, this woman is good,¡± he thought. ¡°After that attack it could¡¯ve killed all of the civilians i need to kill him first,¡± Sally thought. Voro charged more beams and Sally was able to dodge some of them. ¡°Yeager ability, minefield,¡± Voro thought. He snapped his fingers and the beams were coming out of the ground and it exploded. ¡°He couldn''t have survived that one,¡± he said.


    Voro felt the presence of something behind him. He saw Sally swing onto the tower. ¡°I see she used her strings to swing at me to dodge my attack ,¡± Voro thought. She saw Sally get into a hand -to -hand combat stance and use her strings to make brass knuckles. ¡°Oh I see,¡± Voro said. Both of them started trading blows and Sally was able to punch him in the stomach and made Voro fall to the ground and Sally was about to end the fight. But Voro smiled and kicked Sally and sent her flying through the air and off the tower. Then Voro charged up another powerful blast. ¡°You won''t be able to dodge this one witch!¡± he yelled. Sally knew she couldn''t dodge it so in quick thinking she used his hand to stop the beam of light and was able to divide it but due to the strings she created around her hand and then Vulu came flying in and used her powers and dense up the air and made as a wall and hit Sally with and sent flying down to the ground fastly and destroyed the ground. As the smoke cleared steam. Sally was still standing, ¡°It looks like she is all out of strength ,¡± Voro thought.


    ¡°Poison style, poison vines,¡± she thought. Vulu''s body got caught up in sally strings. ¡°How the hell did she get me,¡± Vulu thought. Then her eyes started to bleed out. She screamed in agony of the poison


    ¡°I see her style is poison, she can inflict poison on other Yeagers and that¡¯s probably how she survived that Yeagers poison due to that,¡± Voro thought.


    Sally used her strings and sling, shot her in the air and kicked Vulu in the head. Shattering her skulls, her lifeless body fell down to the ground. As Voro watched he just smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s end things here Sally. Sally looked at him and just smiled. ¡°Hey just this once I will show my strongest move,¡± she said. Voro charged up another beam ray and Sally put her hands together. ¡° poison style, Botulinum toxin,¡± she thought. The strings created an orb in the hands and it looked like it was about to burst. Voro released his beam ray and then the sally orb exploded. Overwhelming the beam. And then the poison destroyed the Yeagers body and melted. Sally looked at the bones of the Yeager she left the fight zone and went back to the tunnel and used her strings to get the people out of there and took them to a plane. To evacuate them all out of their.


    "Thank you, miss, for saving us. You saved me and my mom and dad," Baluka expressed her gratitude.


    Baluka ran off to her parents, and Sally, looking at them, also boarded the plane.


    "Ma''am, we''re gonna drop you off at the base. A meeting is gonna start soon with the elite force," the soldier informed.


    "Okay, you are dismissed," Sally replied.


    She looked out the window, pondering the unexpected strength of those Yeagers. Brushing off the thought, she awaited the upcoming meeting.

 world leaders

    Rex looked around the cavern once more after the robot vanished. The static noise faded, and the dark room began to light up. He saw another door and went through it, entering a different part of the cave. Confused but determined, he continued onward, encountering more animal Yeagers and killing them all.


    As he ventured deeper into the cave, he reached a ledge with another door above it. He jumped high, landing on the ledge, still adjusting to his new Yeager form. He entered the door, and the static noise and darkness reappeared. Nervously, he proceeded cautiously, hearing a chirping noise behind him. He turned to see the same robot from before, now looking brand new. Rex summoned flames to his sword, but they had no effect on the robot. Startled, he ran, with the robot chasing him.


    In the next room, Rex noticed platforms and quickly hopped onto them. As he reached the top, the robot broke the floor, grabbing his leg and throwing him into the next room. The impact broke his arm and leg. The robot approached but stopped at the doorway and walked away. Rex, startled, noticed his body regenerating. He got up, testing his healed limbs, and ran away, knowing the robot might return.


    Rex found himself in a communication room. He hooked up his cybernetics to the system and sent a message to the base. "Rex, is that you?" a voice asked.


    "Yes, it''s me, Rona. Sending mission status," Rex replied, transmitting everything he had experienced in the cave.


    "I see. This Yeager forced you to become one but didn''t kill you? It''s unusual for Yeagers to remember their human lives, but you do," Rona explained.


    "Mission objective?" Rex asked.


    "Continue the mission. We''ll work on a cure to turn you back at the base," Rona said.


    "Can I ask another question?" Rex inquired, receiving Rona''s permission. "The robots, what are they? They''re immune to flux energy."


    "Classified, Rex. But I''ll tell you two things: they follow a pattern in specific rooms, and if you encounter one, run away," she advised.


    Rex opened his eyes, sitting in a chair, waiting for the other special forces members. Eventually, everyone arrived, including Rona, the leader of the Yeager force. They all sat around a round table.


    "Where is Nicholas?" Adam asked.


    "That bastard is suspended after his last mission," Rona said, causing Rex and Adam to look down in remembrance.


    "And what about  king?" Iris Miracle, ranked seventh in the special forces, asked.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    "King is occupied with something at the bunker," Rona replied. "I called you here because all of you will be going to the surface of the core for a conference with world leaders. This is the biggest meeting in the world, and if Luna finds out, we could lose the war."


    "Why not hold it electronically?" Ash Alon, ranked fourth, asked.


    "Yeagers might hack our communications. That''s why it''s in person," Rona explained.


    "Something feels off. Why would Luna try to kill them? We could just replace the leaders. We know who she is but don''t have a picture of her or the Yeager ranks," Rex said.


    "So you''re saying one of them might appear at the meeting?" Iris asked.


    "Yes, they likely know all our operations from leaked information," Rex continued.


    "What are you suggesting, Rex?" Rona asked.


    "Only bring two members down there. The rest of us should protect the outside world," Rex suggested.


    "Good point. Only Adam and Rex will go," Rona decided.


    "What? Just like that, you believe him?" Ash protested.


    "Do you doubt my decision?" Rona challenged.


    "Hell yeah! This boy just joined the special forces and you take his side? What did you do, Rex?" Ash demanded. Rona crushed the table with her hands, flux energy swirling around her.


    "If you want to challenge me, Ash, I will break your arm. Do not yell," she warned.


    Everyone noticed the flux energy around her, and Ash fell silent.


    "Meeting adjourned," Rona declared. Everyone left the room. "Ready to head back home?" Sally asked.


    "You bet, I''m exhausted," Adam said.


    "Let''s go, Rex," Sally said. He nodded and started to walk.


    "Hey Rex, can I bother you for a moment?" Iris asked.


    "Sure, what is it?" he replied.


    "Do you know someone named Griffin Locke?" she asked.


    "No, who is that?" he asked.


    "Never mind. Be careful at the center. Something might happen," she said, walking away. Rex watched her go, puzzled.


    Back home, the name Griffin Locke stayed on his mind. He searched his cybernetics and found only one video. He played it, revealing his father Adam saying, "He''s my best friend. He helped me master flux energy. He''s the strongest."


    His mother, Sally, added, "He helped me get with Adam and become stronger. He''s the strongest person I know."


    Ash, Daisy, and Rona appeared together. "He''s a complete idiot," Ash said.


    "Dumbass," Daisy said.


    "He''s egotistical. Do I need to say more? He''s the strongest," Rona said.


    The video ended, leaving Rex shocked by their statements. He stayed up all night, trying to learn more about Griffin Locke.

 yeager ranks

    In the grand ballroom of a decaying mansion, seven of the most formidable Yeagers gathered, lining up one by one. The opulent surroundings, now a shadow of their former glory, served as the backdrop for a crucial meeting with their Queen.


    ¡°Why did the Queen call us here?¡± asked Gaia, the towering second-ranked Yeager, his voice resonating through the room.


    ¡°Yeah, I was dissecting a human¡¯s eyeballs out,¡± Belzebub chimed in, a sinister smile playing on her lips. Her body was a canvas of tattoos, the number seven prominently inked in her eye.


    ¡°Be quiet, Belzebub. I don¡¯t care about your gruesome hobbies from the African killing games,¡± Gaia retorted.


    ¡°Whatev, you and Ace helped me continue the games last year, and I¡¯m still enjoying it,¡± Belzebub shot back.


    ¡°You should let me help again. Poisoning the humans made my heart sick with love,¡± Ace said, her voice dripping with dark humor. She glanced over at Destiny. ¡°But he refused to join this time.¡±


    Destiny, engrossed in his handheld video game, responded without looking up. ¡°So what if I didn¡¯t want to help you, Belzebub?¡± He reached into a bucket filled with blood, pulling out a human heart and tossing it into a tank where a gelatinous blob floated, promptly absorbing it.


    ¡°Atsadi seems to be thriving,¡± Gaia remarked, watching the blob with a mixture of disdain and curiosity.


    ¡°Of course, he is. Atsadi stays with Queen Luna all the time,¡± Ace added, her tone laced with pride.


    ¡°It makes me mad that a blob outranks me,¡± Belzebub grumbled.


    Atsadi suddenly stopped moving, fixing its gaze on Belzebub. Quick on her feet, she backpedaled. ¡°Did I say that aloud? You¡¯re just a squishy little friend.¡±


    A figure emerged from the shadows. ¡°Hey there, Shadow. It¡¯s been a while,¡± Destiny said, acknowledging the new arrival.


    Shadow remained silent, taking a seat away from the others, his presence adding to the room¡¯s tension.


    ¡°So, where is Queen Luna? The meeting is about to start,¡± Gaia grumbled, impatience evident in his tone.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Woah, woah, woah!¡± a voice rang out as the lights flickered off. A Yeager strolled into the room, recognizable even in the darkness. ¡°Don¡¯t forget about me, Gaia. That really hurts my feelings,¡± he said, patting Gaia on the back as the lights came back on.


    ¡°Killer, it¡¯s been a while,¡± Belzebub greeted, coming up beside Gaia. Killer looked like a child, bandages covering his eyes, his jacket bearing a prominent number one tattoo, splattered with blood.


    ¡°Hey, Belzebub. Is that a new tattoo on you? It looks great. I just got back from killing a family in China. It was really fun. You should join me next time,¡± Killer said with a twisted grin.


    ¡°Stop patting my back,¡± Gaia growled, his patience wearing thin.


    Killer glanced up at Gaia, and in an instant, the upper portion of Killer¡¯s forehead was obliterated, blood splattering everywhere.


    ¡°Woah, that¡¯s amazing, Gaia,¡± Killer said, his forehead regenerating almost instantly. ¡°Did you get a bit stronger since we last met?¡±


    Gaia glared at Killer in disgust, wiping the blood from his face.


    ¡°So, it seems you¡¯re all here. Excellent, we can finally start our meeting,¡± Queen Luna¡¯s voice echoed through the room. She had appeared out of nowhere. She wasn''t looking at them because she was doing experiments on a human who was tied up to a table. His stomach was open and Yeager ranks were just watching this. Ace watched it and he felt a hunger in his stomach he wanted to eat the human


    ¡°Why did you call us here, Luna?¡± Killer asked, his tone respectful yet eager.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to start phase one of our attack on LA,¡± Luna announced, her words sending a ripple of excitement through the ranks.


    ¡°When do we start? I want to kill the humans right now,¡± Ace said, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.


    ¡°Not yet. There¡¯s going to be a world leaders¡¯ meeting at the center of the earth. Adam will be there protecting them, and I need one of you to eliminate him,¡± Luna explained.


    ¡°How do you know this, my Queen?¡± Gaia asked, curiosity piqued.


    ¡°I have a source on the insde. But we need Adam out of the picture immediately,¡± Luna replied.


    ¡°I can kill him if you want, my Queen,¡± Shadow volunteered, his voice a low murmur.


    ¡°No, I have chosen Killer. I want you to be the one to fight Adam and kill him,¡± Luna said, her eyes locking onto Killer.


    ¡°Understood. I will go and kill him. It should be a fun fight. Do you think he¡¯ll be as strong as Griffin,¡± he asked, a predatory smile forming.


    ¡°Who knows? Maybe,¡± Luna replied, her voice carrying a hint of amusement. As Killer vanished from the room, she turned to the others. ¡°After he¡¯s done, I want the rest of you on standby to help me destroy LA when the time comes. That will be all for now. You¡¯re excused.¡±


    With a clap of her hands, the rest of the Yeager ranks disappeared, leaving Luna alone in the grand ballroom, a smirk playing on her lips as she contemplated the chaos to come. She then looked at the human who was on the table crying. She got annoyed and used her hand and crushed their head. ¡°How annoying,¡± she said.

 Earths core

    Rex clenched his fist, feeling the new power coursing through him as he processed Rona¡¯s instructions. He couldn¡¯t shake the suspicion lingering in the back of his mind¡ªwhy did it feel like they had intentionally sent him into this situation? Still, Rex pushed those thoughts aside. Now wasn¡¯t the time to dwell on mistrust; survival came first.


    ¡°Understood,¡± Rex replied curtly before cutting the comm link.


    He retraced his steps toward the room Rona mentioned, his boots crunching softly against the uneven terrain of the cave floor. The atmosphere seemed colder now, more oppressive, and every shadow felt like it was hiding something. The strange hum of the cavern¡¯s static was growing louder, blending into an eerie, unrelenting buzz.


    Rex arrived at the room Rona described, marked by a massive console embedded in the wall. As he approached, the console came to life, flickering faintly. He uploaded the data from his cybernetics, and the screen displayed a map of the cave system. Pathways illuminated in red, leading directly back to the room where the robot had been lurking. New doors were marked in green.


    ¡°So, I have to go back,¡± Rex muttered to himself, gripping his sword tightly. He turned and started heading toward the robot¡¯s domain, the weight of his task heavy on his mind.


    As he moved, his thoughts strayed to the power he had absorbed¡ªthe ¡°disintegration hand.¡± It felt both like a blessing and a curse. The way his arm had regenerated earlier, combined with this new ability, made him feel¡­ inhuman. This wasn¡¯t the Rex he knew, but a version molded by the Yeager blood coursing through him. Would he ever be the same again?


    Shaking the thought off, Rex reached the robot¡¯s room. The oppressive hum in the air intensified, and he felt his muscles tense as he prepared for another encounter. The robot¡¯s red eye glowed faintly in the distance, its form partially obscured by the shadows. Rex crouched low, silently observing.


    The navigation upload had given him an advantage: he knew where the unlocked doors were now. Rex sprinted forward, his footsteps echoing across the metallic walls of the cave. The robot turned toward the sound, letting out a loud, mechanical growl. Without hesitating, Rex darted to the side, narrowly avoiding a massive swipe from its remaining arm.


    The newly unlocked door glimmered in the corner of his vision. Rex channeled the energy of the disintegration hand, his arm glowing faintly as he reached for the door. He slammed his palm against it, and the entire structure disintegrated into dust, leaving the path open. He leaped through, the robot¡¯s claws swiping just inches from his back as the door crumbled behind him.


    Breathing heavily, Rex scanned the new room. It was massive, with walls lined with ancient machinery and strange symbols glowing faintly. In the center of the room, a pedestal stood, holding an object shrouded in an otherworldly light. Rex approached cautiously, his instincts screaming to be on high alert.


    As he got closer, the object revealed itself¡ªa small, pulsating cube emitting a faint hum. It almost felt alive. Rex reached out, hesitating for a moment, before picking it up. A sudden surge of energy shot through him, causing his vision to blur momentarily.


    ¡°Rex,¡± Rona¡¯s voice broke through the static in his comms, ¡°whatever you just grabbed, it¡¯s the key to overriding the system in the robot¡¯s room. Use it wisely. But be careful¡ªsomething else is waking up in the cave.¡±


    Rex tightened his grip on the cube, his determination solidifying. Whatever was coming, he¡¯d face it head-on. He had to survive¡ªnot just for himself but to uncover the truth of why he¡¯d been sent down here in the first place.


    ¡°Understood!¡± Rex yelled. He woke up and Sally elbowed him in the stomach. ¡°What the fuck was that for!¡± He yelled.


    ¡°You''re going to be late to get to the core!¡± Sally yelled.


    Rex looked at the time and he got up quickly from his bed and changed into his uniform. ¡°See ya later mom!¡± He yelled. He ran through the hall and grabbed his sword and went to the teleporter room. The teleporter turned on and Rex ran right through it. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    As Rex walked through he ended up in Antarctica. Rex started to Shake a bit. To how cold it is. ¡°What took you so long Rex!¡± Adam yelled.


    ¡°Sorry sir, I spent the night researching,¡± Rex said. Adam was confused a bit and was about to ask. ¡°And then multiple portals appeared and it was the world leaders walking out of them. ¡°There here¡­ why are we in Antarctica?¡± Rex asked.


    ¡°Antarctica is at the bottom of the earth, we can¡¯t teleport there because for some reason teleporting underground is impossible. That¡¯s why we created a high speed vertical train going down to the center of the earth,¡± Adam explained. Adam walked up to the world leaders. ¡°Everyone let¡¯s hurry and get to the train that will take us down to the core,¡± Adam said.


    World leaders followed Adam and Rex into the train. ¡°Can I ask another question? How are we going to get on the train if it¡¯s vertical,"Rex asked.


    ¡°You¡¯ll see,¡± Adam said. As they made it to the train. ¡°Walk into Rex,¡± Adam said. Rex listened to his words and when he walked into the train the gravity changed and now he was standing vertical on the train. Everyone else followed onto the train. And then the train started to descend into the earth. As all of the world leaders are there they all took to different corners of the room talking to each other. Adam walks up to Rex. ¡°So what were you reschering about?¡± Adam asked.


    ¡°Griffin Locke,¡± he said. Adam looked at him shocked. ¡°How do you know his name?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Iris told me, I was curious about him, so I searched him up, and found a video of him. And you were saying he is the strongest,¡± Rex said.


    ¡°Yes he was¡­ so does that mean you know?¡± Adam asked.


    ¡°Know about what?¡± Rex asked.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Adam said.


    Rex was confused but brushed it off and then they made it to the center of the core. As the door opened, a woman was standing outside the door. ¡°Please everyone come out,¡± she said. As Rex and Adam made it outside of the train. ¡°Hello you two!¡± The woman said.


    ¡°Lluvia your always happy,¡± Adam said


    ¡°Who the hell is she?¡± Rex asked.


    ¡°Your Rex jones, ranked third in special forces my name is Lluvia Agua, ranked tenth of the special forces,¡± she said. She had a confident smile on her face.


    ¡°So your the weakest out of all of us,¡± Rex said. She felt an arrow go into her heart by what he said. ¡°I¡¯m not that¡­weak,¡± she said.


    ¡°So why is she here, I thought it was going to be the two of us,¡± Rex asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m run the core system team down here, we keep things nice and cool so meetings like this will happen,¡± she said.


    ¡°Wait so you weren¡¯t at the meeting yesterday night,¡± Rex asked.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t¡­notice me,¡± she asked.


    ¡°No, I didn''t know we had a tenth rank,¡± he said.


    ¡°I¡­see I need to get back to work so get the world leaders into the meeting room¡± she said. She ran away and Adam noticed she was crying a bit. ¡°Rex¡­you have to learn when to be nice to a girl or to anyone,¡± he explained. Rex looked at him confused. Adam and Rex lead all of the world leaders to a meeting and it was a giant table where all of the world leaders sat at. Rex was outside keeping watch. Adam was inside the room to protect everyone if anything happens


    As the world leaders are talking they were bringing up the issue of the Yeagers over and over again. ¡°Everyone, let''s calm down, how about we ask Adam Jones, the first ranked of the special forces,¡± world leader asked. All of them turn the gazes onto him


    ¡°Ask me what?¡± Adam asked.


    ¡°Are we winning this war or not,¡± a leader asked.


    ¡°Right now at this moment it¡¯s a stalemate,¡± he answered.


    ¡°And why is it a stalemate,¡± they asked.


    ¡°We don''t know what Luna looks like, and besides her we haven¡¯t seen any of the seven Yeager ranks,¡± he explained.


    ¡°Then find them and kill them!¡± one of them yelled.


    ¡° sir, I wish it was that easy, but Luna was able to destroy Saturn and Jupiter. We don''t know how strong those seven Yeagers are. They are considered Luna strongest, are they as strong as her? We don¡¯t know,¡± Adam explained.


    All of the world leaders went quiet.


    ¡°Then what about the dark flame users huh?! They were able to do the same things as Luna¡± One of them yelled.


    Adam was shocked by what he yelled.


    ¡° Dark flame users are different. We don¡¯t know what makes them so special, probably God¡®s favorite people,¡± he said.


    Rex was outside and was able to listen to everything inside the meeting and then Lluvia appeared. ¡°So you keep watch outsi¡­¡± she stopped talking. And Rex drew his sword. ¡°How the hell did they know?¡± Rex said.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know but Yeagers there,¡± Lluvia said.

 blood shed

    As Lluvia and Rex put their backs on each other. ¡°Yeagers coming from both sides of the hallway,¡± Rex said.


    ¡°Rex, blood shed is about to happen, be prepared,¡± Lluvia. Rex shook his head. Rex used his cybernetic to contact Adam.


    ¡°Father''s coming,¡± Rex said.


    ¡°I know, I have all world leaders huddling up together just in case they break through the door.  Right now our mission objective is to kill all Yeagers to protect the world leaders, and then. Get them all out of here on the train, but right now it¡¯s up to you two to kill them¡± he explained.


    ¡°Understood,¡± both of them said. Communication ended.  Rex hold his sword tight and Lluvia pulled tonfa from her lower back. ¡°You ready,¡± Rex asked.


    ¡°I was born ready,¡± she said. Then Yeagers on both sides attacked. Rex used  his sword and started to chop down Yeagers left and right. And he uses the walls to jump off of. ¡°Flame style,piercing chain,¡± he thought.  He thrust his blade into the Yeager body and then the Yeager went into flames and the flames coming off the Yeager pierced through other Yeagers. Creating a chain of flames.  As for Lluvia she used her tonfas to block attacks and break bones with them. ¡°Water style, evaporation,¡± she thought.


    She spread a mist with her tonfas and water started coming out of the Yeagers body making the body''s husk.


    ¡°Is that all of them,¡±  she said.  And then something burst through the wall and grabbed hold of Lluvia and Rex and threw them down multiple floors of the building. ¡°What the fuck was that,¡± Rex said. Rex got up easily like it did not harm him. While Lluvia got up slowly. ¡°Uh that¡¯s a massive headache,¡± she said.


    The creature jumped down to the level they were on. Both of them dodged the collision to the ground. The Yeager body was giant; it was on four legs; it had razor sharp claws on its back.  And let¡¯s be emanating heat off his legs. Yeager was about to attack Rex. ¡°Water style, pricing arrow,¡± she thought. She put her tonfas together. And it created a water arrow. It was able to destroy the Yeager leg. Yeager fell down and then the spikes off his back shot everywhere at Rex and Lluvia. Rex was able to block them all but it was kinda trickery for her but she was able to block them all. Then the Yeager legs started to heat up even more.  It burst with magma lava  flooding the whole room. Rex and Lluvia jump  out of the room using flux energy to jump up high.  As the Yeager jumps up to the next floor. ¡°Flame style, flame star,¡± Rex thought. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Rex swings his sword killing the Yeager. creating a star shape imprinted in his body.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get back to Adam,¡± Lluvia said.  They jump back to the floor they were on. They went through the door and Adam was sitting on top of hundreds of Yeagers. ¡°Where are the world leaders?!¡± Rex asked.


    All of them came out behind the Yeagers dead body.  Adam walked down from the Yeagers dead body. ¡°Everyone let¡¯s get going!¡± Adam yelled.


    ¡°Everyone ran out of the room following Adam, Rex and Lluvia.


    Lluvia got call.


    ¡°Yes what is it?¡± Lluvia asked.


    ¡°Boss this is bad another radiation blast is about to happen with the irons core you have to get to the train fast,¡± the worker said.


    ¡°Understood, how much time do we got?¡± Lluvia asked.


    ¡°Ten minutes at best,¡± he said.


    ¡°Got it, get everyone to the bunkers now I will head up to the surface with everyone else,¡± she said.


    The call hangs up.


    ¡°Adam,Rex we have ten minutes until radiation blast comes through here,¡± she said.


    Rex and Adam nod to agreement. More Yeagers show up and block their path.


    ¡°Sun style, bathing sun,¡± Adam said. He swung his sword and the Yeagers lit amiditly and burn to ash. They continue running through the building complex. And made it too the top. As they made to the entrance they all ran to the train as fast as possible as they made it their loading in the world leaders. Then he radiation blast went off. All three of them looked at it. ¡°Flame style, flame wall,¡± Rex thought. He swung his sword creating flames of walls.  By using his flux energy he is creating a wall so the flux energy doesn¡¯t kill them. He keeps doing the same thing. ¡°He is going to get tried by using that much flux energy,¡± Lluvia said.


    A split second later Adam grabbed hold of Rex and ran straight towards the train the train started to ascend. Up to the surface narrowly escaping death.  Rex past out due to the exhaustion of the dark flames.


    ¡°We lived!¡± Lluvia screamed with excitement.


    ¡°Yeah we did, but this kid just past out,¡± Adam said.


    ¡°What an idiot,¡± Lluvia said.


    As the train made its way back to the top as the door opened. To the polar night. As Adam and Lluiva looked around the outside to see any Yeagers.  But They see a kid standing there with bandages covering his eyes but with a very big smile.

 the clash of titains

    As Lluvia and Adam look at this mysterious person. Adam and Lluiva knew who it was. ¡°That''s him isn''t, Yeager¡­rank one?¡± she said. She felt scared seeing him smiling.


    ¡°Yes¡­it is,¡± Adam said. As Yeager smiled at Lluvia she saw it kicked up a little bit of snow. ¡°Wow you''re fast Adam, you saw I was about to kill that girl next to you,i was moving at half speed too¡± Killer said.


    ¡°What happened? What does he mean he attacked me?¡± she asked.


    ¡°He attacked just now, I cut off his arm before he had the chance to take off your head,¡± Adam explained.


    Lluvia looked down to her right and saw an arm on cold snow then she looked back up at him noticing his arm was still on him . ¡°My ass you were moving at half speed that was at least moving as fast as light and not only that he has a fast regeneration system too¡± she thought.


    ¡°Lluvia, you stay to keep things safe i will deal with him,¡± Adam explained.


    She shook her head. And stayed back on the train. Adam walks towards Killer. So did KIller, they both stare at each other. ¡°Nice to meet you Adam, my name is Killer,¡± he said. Adam holds his sword in his hand and Killer draws out a knife. ¡°Let''s have fun,¡± Killer said. They swing their blades at each other sending shockwaves everywhere. ¡°You''re going to die, Adam like it or not,¡± Killer said. They both fight at full speed. Creating beams of light. Fighting all around antarctica. ¡°Sun style, sun universe,¡± Adam thought. As Adam swings his sword. He cut off the killer''s arm and it melted his skin right off his face. But it regenerated it a complete second. Killer smiled. ¡°Amazing! It was hot as the sun, your flames!¡± Killer yelled. KIller then kicked Adam in the stomach. Sending him flying through all of Antarctica. Killer ran straight towards Adam with a smile still. As Adam used his sword to dig into the ice to stop moving, Killer appeared right in front of Adam ¡°Yeager ability, knife rotation,¡± Killer thought. Hundreds of red knives appear everywhere. They all started to move really fast in a rotation. Adam was able to dodge them all.


    Adam took two steps back to regain composure. ¡°From what i gain so far about Killer is that he doesn''t need flux energy to heal himself, it''s probably a fact he is A Yeager rank and not only that is when i try to sense his flux energy. It covers his whole body,¡± he thought.


    Killer smiled in anticipation. ¡°If the other yeagers ranks fought him, they would all die, but not me though,¡± he thought.  ¡°Let''s keep going, Adam,¡± he thought. They both charged at each other. ¡°Sun style, raging sun,¡± Adam thought. He swung his sword, but Killer dodge the attack but as the blade reached the ground half of Antarctica was destroyed due to the flames. ¡°Yeager ability, nexus beams,¡± KIller thought. Killer snapped his fingers. And five wormholes appeared out of nowhere and beams of light started to shoot out of them. As all of them targeted all on adam. ¡° sun style, sunport,¡± Adam thought. He threw his sword at Killer. Killer efforts deflected the blade with his knife. Adam disappeared and he teleported straight to his sword. Adam grabbed ahold of it and attacked Killer. Killer was surprised by this. ¡°Yeager ability, nexus¡¯s shield,¡± killer thought. Adam tries to cut off Killer''s head but an invisible shield appears. Adam was confused. Killer swung his knife right at Adam''s stomach. landed the attack. ¡°Yeager ability, knife expulsion,¡± Killer thought. The knife exploded right inside of Adam. He coughed up blood and got kicked by a killer sending him flying. Adam got up and steam was coming off him. ¡°You can use flux energy to heal you yourself, amazing this is going to be more fun!¡± Killer said. Adam looked at him. Adam placed one finger on his head. Killer reaction was surprising . ¡°Summer sun palace,¡± Adam said. The night became day. Lluiva looked up to the sky ¡°fuck!¡± She yelled.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Back at base Sally looked up to the to see the sun. ¡°What¡¯s going on in Antarctica!? What made Adam use his palace?!"Sally yelled.


    Rona saw too. ¡°We¡¯ve got five minutes before the earth is going to be on fire,¡± she thought.


    Killer watched in horror. ¡°You really are crazy, you really are going to burn down the entire earth to kill me!¡± he yelled.


    A palace is the true power of flux energy; the user will create a dimension by using their abilities to make it come to life. It changes you body form to make you stronger or creates a dome to another world to use their new powers they gain using the palace.


    Adam stood there looking at his sword. It became burnt and had flames on it. He looked back at killer. ¡°The only way to kill him is by cutting off his head. I have five minutes to end this fight,¡± Adam said.


    He charged at the killer, Killer was surprised how fast Adam was moving so that he became faster. Before the killer realized that Adam was in front of him. And swing his blade at the killer ''s neck. But the shield killer had blocked the attack. And swung his knife again. But the knife melted in an instance due to the heat coming off Adam''s body. Killer took a few steps back. but Adam noticed Antarctica started to melt. ¡°Let me get serious now shall we,¡± Killer said. He snapped his fingers and hundreds of red knives appeared. He moved his arm straight towards back at adam. And all the knives came straight towards adam. And swung his blade and they all melted. But then Killer came through and grabbed him by the head. But while still melting his arm he threw Adam back to the train where they were. Killer regenerates his arm in an instance.


    He then ran straight towards adam. He who standing but now melting the ground started to melt. Due to his flames. But while this happening Rex woke up instantly and see Lluvia watching in the distance. ¡°Whats going on!¡± rex yelled.


    ¡°Adam is fighting Yeager rank one,¡± she said.


    ¡°We have to help him!¡± rex said.


    Their is no point in doing that! These two are out of our league,¡± she said. Lluvia noticed the snow is melting like crazy now. ¡°Adam, turn off your palace now, everything is melting now!¡± she yelled. Adam knew this but he smiled and look back at them and he see rex awake. Adam sna his fingers and dome was created of Adam and Killer. ¡°Creating a dome i see, this is going to be fun!¡± he said.


    ¡°Not for you,¡± Adam said. Adam held his word up high and flames were going into the sword. Killer couldn''t see where the flames were coming from but he knew it was from the sun outside of the dome. ¡°Killer this is where you die!¡± Adam yelled. He hold his sword into a stance.


    ¡°Oh really now! Show me then, show me your real power!¡± Killer yelled. Adam charged right at Killer. ¡°Yeager ability, nexus shield!¡± killer thought.


    As Adam swung his sword when he got up close to Killer. Killer smiled as he thought the shield would protect him but he was wrong. He was able to break through the nexus shield.and was able to hit his neck. ¡°Bang,¡± Adam said. A giant explosion happened inside the dome. Rex and Lluvia watch from the outside not knowing what''s happening on the inside. But the dome disappears. Lluvia smiles and sees Adam standing. She was about to smile. But she noticed that Adam was missing two of his arms. She then sees Killer standing regenerated half of his body. ¡°At the last second I used most of my flux energy, to protect the left side of my body to prevent my head from coming off. But that attack Adam just did and made him use up all of his flux energy,¡± killer thought.


    Rex watches in horror. To see his father in such a state. Adam then looks over at him with a smile. ¡°See ya on the other side son,¡± he said. Then a split second later Adam lost his head. Killer pushed over Adam''s dead body while standing. ¡°Luna, I finished opening a portal,¡± he says.


    A portal opens up and Killer walks through it. He sees Rex in shock. But killer just smiles at him. And left antarctica.


    Rex yells in anger. And then dark flames come out of his mouth. ¡°It activated!¡± Lluvia thought.


    ¡°I will kill him, I will kill that Yeager!¡± Rex yelled with anger. His body became enveloped with dark flames. Rex past out again using too much flux energy.


    As the winter night stayed overlooking Antarctica, humans just lost rank one Adam jones.

 siblings

    Rex understood his assignment clearly. With determination, he jumped up to the next platform and passed through the door. However, as he crossed the threshold, something strange caught his attention. The area beyond was completely new, unlike anything he had encountered before. A glass-enclosed bridge stretched out before him, surrounded by a bizarre sight¡ªa raging fire tornado with molten lava swirling beneath it.


    Rex frowned in confusion. How is this underneath the world? he thought, bewildered. How have we never seen this before? But he quickly shook off his thoughts and continued forward, crossing the bridge with careful steps. As he reached the other side, he found himself in yet another unfamiliar area. The heat here was intense, almost overwhelming, but Rex pressed on.


    Monsters lurked in this hot zone, but they were no match for him. He dispatched them with ease, making his way to the next room. There, in the center, was a furnace with a glowing handprint on it. Rex placed his hand on the print, and the furnace redirected itself back to the room with the robots.


    Retracing his steps, Rex returned to the robot¡¯s chamber. He cautiously peeked inside, his eyes scanning for any sign of the mechanical menace. The usual chirping noise was absent, indicating the coast was clear. Satisfied, he ventured through the newly activated door the furnace had revealed.


    As Rex entered the room, a strange metallic object floated in the air, catching his attention. The metal thing turned towards him, and without warning, lasers shot out at Rex. He swiftly dodged the beams, realizing that his usual attacks were ineffective against this creature. Thinking quickly, he unleashed his flame style, watching as the intense heat melted away the creature¡¯s armor, revealing a vulnerable brain.


    Recognizing it as the same type of brain he had encountered when he first met the robot, Rex placed his hand on it. Power surged through his body once more, causing his form to glow red and white. The sensation was all too familiar, reminiscent of the time he had taken down the first robot. Rex knew he had the power to destroy this creature, but before he could act, the floor beneath him shattered. A mechanical hand shot out, grabbing his leg and pulling him through the ground before hurling him against a wall.


    Stunned but not defeated, Rex realized the robot had returned. He stood, sword in hand, ready for battle. The robot moved with blinding speed, but Rex managed to swing his blade just in time, severing its arm. He quickly created distance between them as the robot charged again. With one powerful swing of his sword, Rex decapitated the robot, watching as its body crumpled to the ground.


    Breathing heavily, Rex crouched down and placed his hand on the robot¡¯s remains. Once more, something flowed into him, a sensation both familiar and unsettling. A voice echoed in his mind, clear and cold: ¡°Yeager ability attained: Blood Crawlers.¡±


    Rexx staggered to his feet, his hand bracing against the wall for support. To his surprise, he found that his hand gripped the surface with ease, allowing him to scale the wall. Climbing out of the room where he had been violently pulled, he spotted another door and, without hesitation, made his way through it. On the other side, he found himself in yet another unfamiliar chamber.


    He quickly noticed another door, but as he attempted to pass through it, it slammed shut, trapping him inside. Rex scanned the room, searching for an escape. His eyes landed on yet another door, and he hurried through it, only to be submerged in a pool of bloody water. The eerie sight sent a chill down his spine.


    As he cautiously looked around, a monstrous creature suddenly materialized before him, its sharp claws gleaming in the dim light. It lunged at Rexx, who managed to dodge, but not before its claws sliced across his chest. To his relief, his wounds healed almost instantly, thanks to his regenerative abilities. Rex locked eyes with the beast, its gaze cold and predatory.


    With a roar, Rex charged at the monster, but a tail¡ªlong and deadly¡ªwhipped out from nowhere, aiming for him. He narrowly avoided it and attempted to sever the creature¡¯s head, only to realize that its neck was impossibly thick. The monster retaliated, forcing Rex to take a step back as it suddenly vanished, blending seamlessly into its surroundings.


    Rex scanned the area, trying to spot the camouflaged beast. His eyes flicked to the bloody water, where he noticed a slight disturbance. He leapt into the air just as the creature struck the ground where he had been standing. Rexx unleashed a torrent of flames, but his attack missed its mark. The creature reappeared, and before he could react, he was impaled through the back by its tail. The monster loomed over him, jaws wide open, ready to devour him.


    But Rex wasn¡¯t done yet. Gathering his strength, he unleashed his flames directly into the creature¡¯s gaping maw. The monster roared in agony as it burned from the inside, releasing Rexx, who jumped back as his body rapidly healed. Breathing heavily, Rexx noticed a statue in the distance and began to walk toward it.


    The monster, still smoldering, turned its enraged gaze on Rex and charged. Timing his move perfectly, Rex jumped into the air, igniting his flames as he struck the creature¡¯s head with full force. The impact caused the nearby statue to topple, crashing down on the monster and crushing it. The beast lay dead, its body finally still.


    But as Rex approached, he noticed its tail beginning to glow. He cautiously picked up the tail and discovered an orb nestled within. Realization dawned on him¡ªit was the same type of orb that had once given him his disintegration touch. The orb pulsed with energy, and as Rex held it, it fused with him, granting him a new ability.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Skin ability attained: Mirage¡ªgrants invisibility.


    Rex looked down at his body and saw it vanish before his eyes, his form now completely invisible.


    But before he could fully comprehend his newfound power, he felt a sharp tug on his leg. He looked up, startled, to see a girl standing before him, her grip firm and her eyes were colorful of happiness.


    Rex blinked, realizing he had been lost in a dream, replaying the events of his last mission. He was sitting by a window, staring out at the people outside, including his mother. It had been two weeks since Adam had fallen in battle against Killer. His thoughts were interrupted as he looked up to see a girl standing before him.


    "Who the hell are you?" he asked, his tone sharp.


    The girl smiled and gave him a playful salute. "Nice to meet you, Rex. It''s a pleasure seeing you again. I''m Amber Ivanov. You know my parents, Daisy and Nicholas¡ªthey¡¯re both members of the special forces, just like you."


    Rex''s eyes narrowed in recognition. "Daisy and Nicholas? They got married and even had a kid? So that guy actually managed to have a child," he mused aloud.


    "Yup," Amber confirmed with a grin. "So, what do you want with me, Amber?" Rex asked, getting to the point.


    Amber''s expression softened as she spoke. "You looked lonely when I saw you staring out the window, so I came up here to say hi. I''m sorry about what happened to your father, but he fought with everything he had. That''s what really matters, right?"


    Rex''s eyes widened in surprise. "Kid¡­" he began, but Amber cut him off.


    "Kid? I''m the same age as you¡ªfifteen!" she exclaimed, standing up to emphasize her point. Rex noticed she was short for her age.


    "Sorry, Amber," Rex said, his tone softening slightly. "Listen, I don¡¯t need a pep talk about how to deal with loss. And for the record, I¡¯m not sad about my dad''s death¡ªI¡¯m angry. That¡¯s just the war we¡¯re in."


    Amber shook her head, undeterred. "Nah, you¡¯re sad. I can see it in your face."


    Rex clenched his fists, resisting the urge to lash out. *I''m about to kill this girl,* he thought, but before he could say anything, someone else came up the stairs.


    "Amber, I told you not to bother him," a boy said, walking over.


    "Hey, Leon!" Amber greeted him cheerfully. Turning to Rex, she added, "This is my brother, Leon. We¡¯re twins, but he¡¯s way smarter than I am. He works in the research department with the army."


    "Nice to meet you, Leon," Rex said, sizing him up.


    "Nice to meet you too, Rex," Leon replied.


    Amber beamed with pride. "My brother''s got potential, Rex. He¡¯s not only smart but strong too. He knows how to use flux energy really well."


    Leon rolled his eyes and lightly pushed Amber to the ground. "Don''t mind her. She''s an idiot," he said.


    "It''s okay," Rex said, brushing off the incident.


    Leon turned to Rex with a suggestion. "How about we go for a walk? How does that sound?"


    Rex shrugged. "I don''t mind."


    The two of them left the room, leaving Amber on the floor, realizing she had been effectively pushed out of the conversation. Rex and Leon walked through a garden, the air cool and refreshing.


    "So, you work in the research department. What do you do there?" Rex asked.


    "I work on Yeagers. I was the one who made the cybernetics, so I''m able to see everything you see," Leon said, his tone casual.


    Rex stopped in his tracks, taken aback. "That''s incredible. You made revolutionary tech."


    Leon smiled faintly. "Thank you, but that''s not what I¡¯m talking about. It''s about the mission you went on with your father."


    Rex''s demeanor shifted to one of seriousness. "What do you want to know?"


    "I want to know how the Yeagers knew you were at the core¡¯s center and why Yeager Rank One was there," Leon said, his gaze intense.


    Rex shook his head. "I have no idea."


    Leon sighed, then leaned in closer. "I''ll tell you why¡ªthe Yeager force has been breached. And not only that, but it¡¯s by one of the special forces members."


    Rex¡¯s eyes narrowed. "As I thought. But why are you telling me this? I could be the traitor."


    Leon chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, no, you''re not. I checked the footage from your cybernetics. The Yeagers were fully intent on killing you, and you showed no hesitation in fighting back. It''s not you. It¡¯s not my mother, my father, or Sally. That leaves Lluvia, Iris, Martha, and Barak."


    Rex frowned, deep in thought. "I see, but Martha is my father''s sister, so I don''t believe it could be her," Rex said.


    "Yeah, that¡¯s what I thought too," Leon said, nodding in agreement. "But still, I just put her on the list for now. That leaves us with Iris and Barak."


    Leon then handed Rex a small sticker. "I want you to go see Iris. I''ll try to schedule an appointment with Barak. When you meet Iris, put this sticker on your hand and shake hers."


    Rex took the sticker, studying it for a moment before looking back at Leon. "But what about you? You could be the traitor too."


    Leon chuckled and shook his head. "No, it couldn¡¯t be me. You see, I may be a researcher, but we in the research department have explosives implanted in the backs of our necks. If we even think about betraying the Baham, the explosive goes off instantly. You can look it up if you don¡¯t believe me¡ªit¡¯s true."


    Rex sighed, then nodded. "Okay, fine. Let¡¯s do this."


    Leon¡¯s face broke into a smile. "Good. Let¡¯s do this, partner."


    They exchanged a firm handshake before parting ways. The next day, Rex prepared himself and went to confront Iris, his mind focused on the task ahead.

 culprit found

    As Rex uncloaked himself, the effects of his newly acquired Yeager ability fading, he felt a slight tingling in his skin as visibility returned. The power of mirage, which allowed him to turn invisible, had been a gift from the strange orb he absorbed earlier, but it was not without its limitations.


    He stood still for a moment, his breathing calm as he surveyed his surroundings. The dimly lit cave was eerily silent, with only the faint echo of dripping water in the distance. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and the lingering heat from his previous encounter with the monstrous creature.


    Recollecting his purpose, Rex turned on his heel and retraced his steps through the winding passages. He moved with purpose, each step deliberate as he headed back to the door he had encountered earlier¡ªthe one that had refused him entry.


    The door loomed ahead, its surface rough and ancient, covered in strange symbols that glowed faintly in the dark. As he approached, Rex felt a surge of determination. This time, he was prepared.


    With a steady hand, he reached out and placed his palm against the door. The metal felt cool beneath his skin, a stark contrast to the heat that had surrounded him moments ago. For a second, nothing happened. Then, the symbols on the door flared to life, glowing brighter until the entire door was bathed in light.


    There was a low rumble, and the door slowly creaked open, revealing a new passageway. Rex tightened his grip on his sword, ready for whatever might lie beyond. He stepped forward, crossing the threshold into the unknown.


    As Rex stepped through the door, he found himself in the center of the vast chamber. The atmosphere was tense, filled with a strange energy that seemed to pulse through the walls. He instinctively reached for his communication device, contacting Rona to update her on the mission.


    "Rona, it''s Rex. I''ve made it through the door. There''s something strange about this place," he reported.


    There was silence on the other end, the static crackling slightly as Rex waited for a response. After what felt like an eternity, Rona''s voice finally came through, slightly distorted but clear enough.


    "That¡¯s quite impressive," she remarked, a hint of admiration in her tone. "But there''s no time to rest. According to our intel, there''s another floor above you. I need you to head up there, continue your mission, and locate that Yeager."


    "Understood," Rex replied, his resolve hardening. He looked around, spotting a door on the top right of the room. Without hesitation, he made his way over and pushed it open.


    The door led to another bridge, similar to the one he had crossed earlier, but this one seemed different¡ªmore foreboding. He could feel the heat intensifying as he walked, the air growing thicker with each step. The bridge led him to a different area of the structure, and soon he found himself standing before an elevator.


    The elevator doors slid open with a mechanical hiss, revealing a small, dimly lit interior. Rex stepped inside, feeling a slight jolt as the elevator began its ascent. The ride was long, the silence pressing in on him as he ascended higher and higher. His mind raced with thoughts of what might await him at the top.


    When the elevator finally came to a halt, the doors slid open to reveal a new environment. The heat hit him like a wave, far more intense than before. He stepped out of the elevator and into a strange area, one that was completely unfamiliar. The walls glowed with an ominous red light, and the air felt heavy, almost oppressive.


    As Rex continued to walk forward, taking in his surroundings, a sudden, sharp pain shot through his abdomen. He barely had time to react as a trap was triggered, a hidden mechanism sending a powerful stun bolt straight into his stomach. The impact was immediate, and Rex felt his muscles seize up, his vision blurring as he collapsed to the ground.


    Darkness quickly overtook him, his consciousness slipping away as the heat of the room seemed to intensify around him. The last thing he heard was the faint echo of his own breathing before everything went black.


    As Rex opened his eyes, he found himself lying in bed, his heart still pounding from the dream. The details of the mission lingered in his mind, but he shook them off, knowing he had to focus on the present. He dressed quickly and headed downstairs, noticing his mother asleep on the couch. Her face looked worn, as if she hadn''t had a peaceful rest in weeks.


    "Mother, I¡¯m heading out for a bit. They need me at base," Rex said quietly, not wanting to wake her. She didn¡¯t stir, so he quietly left the house, stepping through the teleporter that would take him directly to Iris¡¯s place.


    Rex arrived at the front door of Iris¡¯s home, the small sticker Leon had given him securely stuck to his hand. He knocked, and a voice from inside called out, "Come in."Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    As the door opened, Iris appeared, her expression surprised. "Oh, I wasn¡¯t expecting you. Do you need something?" she asked.


    "Actually, yeah," Rex replied, stepping into the cozy house. "I want to talk about Griffin Locke."


    Iris blinked, clearly taken aback. "Sure, come in." She gestured for Rex to follow her into the living room.


    Rex glanced around the room, taking in the warm, inviting atmosphere before sitting down. "So why do you want to talk about him?" Iris asked, settling into a chair across from him.


    Rex hesitated, then spoke. "Something happened to me after my father died. I was overwhelmed with anger, and suddenly, dark flames started coming out of my mouth. I¡¯m asking you because you were the first to ever mention Griffin Locke to me. Can you explain what¡¯s going on?"


    Iris sighed, her expression shifting to one of understanding. "So it finally happened," she murmured. "I guess it¡¯s time I told you the story."


    She leaned back in her chair, her eyes distant as she began. "Griffin Locke was a flame user from the Locke family, which is considered the strongest family in the world. There are about 300 members in that family, but only four of them have been dark flame users. Dark flame users are incredibly rare because their flames can burn through reality and time. This makes them particularly dangerous to Yeagers, whose abilities depend on those very elements. Griffin was the strongest of his generation, undefeated in every battle¡ªexcept one, but we don¡¯t mention her anymore."


    Rex listened intently, his mind racing with questions. "Are only people from the Locke family able to use dark flames?" he asked.


    "Yes," Iris replied, nodding. "Only their family has been able to use them."


    "But then why am I able to use them? I¡¯m not even part of the family," Rex said, confusion lacing his words.


    Iris¡¯s gaze softened. "That¡¯s where the story comes in. You see, Griffin hated his family because they were all at odds with each other¡ªno one got along. In a rare act of defiance, Griffin decided to pass on his dark flame ability to someone outside the family. Before you were born, he sought out your mother, Sally, and transferred some of his flux energy into you, giving you the dark flame style. That makes you the fifth person in history to ever use it."


    Rex sat in stunned silence, absorbing the weight of her words. He had always known he was different, but this revelation brought everything into sharper focus. He wasn''t just different¡ªhe was a wielder of a power feared by many, a power that had deep, complicated roots.


    "I never knew..." Rex began, but his voice trailed off, the enormity of what he had just learned settling heavily on him.


    "Oh yeah, come with me for a second. I want to give you something," Iris said, leading Rex into another room. She walked over to a shelf and carefully took down a sword, its blade shimmering faintly in the light. "I want to give this to you. Every dark flame user in history has wielded this sword, and now it¡¯s yours since you¡¯ve inherited the dark flame style."


    Rex looked at the sword in awe. "How do you know about this?" he asked, still processing everything she had told him.


    Iris paused, then said softly, "I was married to Griffin, but he¡¯s gone now. I¡¯ve been keeping the sword safe, hiding it from the Locke family, but it¡¯s yours now, Rex. It¡¯s a part of your legacy."


    Rex¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. "Thank you so much," he said sincerely, reaching out to shake her hand. Iris took his hand and gave it a firm shake, sealing the moment between them.


    "I¡¯m going to get going now. Thank you for helping me," Rex said as he turned to leave.


    "OK, see you later. Remember, you can talk to me about anything," Iris replied with a warm smile.


    Rex left the house and teleported back to the base, heading directly to the research section where Leon was waiting for him. "Were you able to get the information?" Leon asked as soon as Rex arrived.


    "Yeah, I was," Rex said, following Leon to his lab. Once inside, Rex handed him the sticker he had placed on his hand earlier. Leon took it and quickly uploaded the data to a board.


    "It''s not her," Leon confirmed after a moment.


    "So that means the only other person it could be is my aunt Martha or Barak," Rex said thoughtfully.


    Leon shook his head. "No, it¡¯s not Martha. I checked on her¡ªshe¡¯s clean. That leaves only Barak. He¡¯s the one who¡¯s been leaking information about our base. He¡¯s also the one responsible for Adam¡¯s death."


    Rex¡¯s expression hardened, but he remained calm. "Alright, let¡¯s bring him in for questioning. We need to find out why he betrayed his own kind."


    Leon raised an eyebrow. "You don¡¯t seem as angry as I thought you¡¯d be. Don¡¯t you want to kill him?"


    "We can¡¯t let anger blind us," Rex replied firmly. "We need to bring him in and find out why he did what he did."


    Just then, the door to the lab opened, and Sally stepped in, her expression unreadable. "So it was Barak who got Adam killed, huh?" she said, her tone laced with a mix of anger and sadness.


    Rex and Leon turned to face her, the room suddenly feeling tense as the reality of the situation settled in.


    ¡°Mother, we can bring him in an question him, but we can¡¯t kill him,¡± Rex replied.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry honey, but I¡¯m going to kill the fucking son of a bitch and rip his head off,¡± she said.


    She used her strings to create a wall, to the door entrance. So Rex and Leon can¡¯t leave. ¡°Leon open a portal right now!¡± Rex yelled.


    ¡°I can''t say the strings are causing interference,but we can go this way,¡± Leon said. He hits a wall and the passage open up. And the both of them ran through there to catch up with Sally and stop her. It''s a race now to decide if Barack it¡¯s going to die or live.

 icy cool man

    As Rex and Leon raced through the secret passageway, they finally reached the entrance to the facility. Leon gestured ahead, urgency in his voice. "This way," he said, quickening his pace. Both of them sprinted down the hallway, their footsteps echoing off the walls.


    "Where is he, though? I¡¯ve never even met him," Rex asked between breaths, the adrenaline sharpening his focus.


    "He¡¯s in a room with no sunlight at all," Leon replied. "His body needs constant monitoring after his fight with Yeager Rank Three."


    "He''s at the far end of the facility. Sally''s using her strings to propel herself forward. She¡¯s at least halfway there by now."


    Rex¡¯s brow furrowed. "How are we supposed to catch up in time? She¡¯s going to kill him before we even get there."


    "I¡¯ve got someone standing guard, just in case something like this happened."


    "Who is it?" Rex asked.


    "My father, Nicholas," Leon answered.


    Meanwhile, Sally used her strings to glide through the base, her movements precise and swift. She reached the door at the end of the hallway, only to find someone waiting for her.


    "Yo, what¡¯s up, Sally?" Nicholas greeted her with a casual smile, as if they were old friends meeting by chance.


    Sally stopped in her tracks, her eyes narrowing. "What are you doing here, Nicholas? You¡¯re supposed to be suspended."


    "Temporarily unsuspended," Nicholas corrected her, still smiling. "The fact that you¡¯re here means Barak is our culprit, and I can¡¯t let you kill him."


    "Move aside, or you will die," Sally warned, her voice laced with menace.


    Nicholas¡¯s expression didn¡¯t waver. "Adam and Griffin made me promise to help their families if one of us died. So, I¡¯m going to help you get through this depression of yours."


    With that, Nicholas drew an axe, the blade gleaming in the dim light. "Let¡¯s have some fun, shall we?" he said, charging at her with a swift, powerful strike.


    Sally reacted instantly, her strings coiling to block the attack. She moved with grace, dodging and weaving as Nicholas unleashed a series of heavy blows. As they clashed, Nicholas whispered, "Ice Style: Frozen Love."


    He slammed his foot down, and the entire hallway transformed into a frigid wasteland, ice crawling up the walls and floor. Sally covered her mouth and nose, realizing too late the danger she was in. The cold air was so intense it threatened to destroy her lungs. ¡°I can hold my breath for at least five minutes, but I need to take this fight outside.¡± She thought


    She charged at Nicholas, transforming her strings into a staff. She swung at his stomach, but Nicholas blocked the blow with his axe, then struck her in the head with the handle. The impact sent her staggering back, and before she could recover, Nicholas kicked her in the stomach, launching her down the icy hallway.


    As Sally was sent flying through the air, she quickly regained her composure, using her strings to anchor herself and break through the nearby walls. With a swift motion, she hurled chunks of debris at Nicholas, hoping to overwhelm him. But Nicholas was ready. With a sharp swing of his axe, he shattered the rocks into harmless fragments, his movements precise and controlled.


    *Poison Style: Poison Song,* she thought, her eyes narrowing in determination. As she opened her mouth, a haunting melody began to escape her lips, but it wasn''t just music. A toxic mist began to pour out, spreading quickly through the air. The poison mixed with the cold, icy atmosphere, neutralizing it as the flux energy began to stabilize the air.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    Nicholas sensed the change immediately. The frigid air was becoming less potent, the poison slowly eating away at his icy advantage. But he was unfazed. *Ice Style: Cold Step,* he thought, his expression still calm.


    Nicholas planted his foot firmly on the ground, and the ice beneath him began to thicken and spread rapidly, reinforcing the cold and pushing back against the encroaching poison. The temperature dropped sharply again, turning the hallway into a deadly battlefield where ice and poison clashed, each trying to dominate the other.


    Sally could feel the pressure building as the cold intensified once more. She had to act quickly before the freezing air overwhelmed her poison. She twisted her strings into new formations, preparing for her next move, while Nicholas remained steady, his gaze locked on her, ready for whatever came next.


    Nicholas charged at Sally, his every step freezing the air around him, the ground crackling under the intense cold. But Sally was quick, her fingers dancing in the air, and before Nicholas could react, he found himself ensnared in her strings like a spider catching its prey.


    ¡°You¡¯re done,¡± Sally declared with cold finality as she prepared to knock him out. But just as she moved in, the strings around Nicholas began to freeze and stiffen. Sally took a step back, realizing too late that Nicholas had managed to touch his foot to one of her strings, sending his icy power coursing through them. With a swift motion, Nicholas broke free and delivered a solid punch to Sally¡¯s face.


    ¡°You have to realize what you¡¯re doing is wrong. What would Adam say?!¡± Nicholas shouted, his voice filled with a mix of anger and pleading.


    Sally coughed up blood from the impact, her eyes locking onto Nicholas. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she whispered, the weight of her actions hitting her.


    With a powerful kick, Nicholas sent Sally flying out of the building. She quickly recovered and ran back inside, determined to finish what she started. But Nicholas was ready. ¡°Ice Style: Ice Vines,¡± he thought as he spun his axe in the air. From the swirling cold, vines made of ice erupted, snaking toward Sally. She destroyed the vines with swift strikes, but as they hit the ground, they burrowed deep and shot back up, grabbing her and slamming her into the floor.


    ¡°Come on, Sally, this isn¡¯t you! Where¡¯s that mature and responsible person? Where did she go?¡± Nicholas demanded, his voice echoing through the icy corridor.


    Sally struggled to her feet, her voice trembling. ¡°After Luna destroyed all of Europe, I was devastated. I tried to kill myself so many times, but I couldn¡¯t do it. Adam saved me¡­ and now he¡¯s dead too. I have nothing left.¡±


    ¡°What about Rex? You still have him. He¡¯s your blood, your son,¡± Nicholas reminded her, his tone softening.


    Sally¡¯s eyes widened as memories of Rex flooded her mind. She remembered all the moments they shared when he was just a child. Tears welled up in her eyes as the realization hit her¡ªshe wasn¡¯t alone, she still had Rex.


    Meanwhile, Rex and Leon reached the hallway and saw the destruction left in the wake of the battle. ¡°Leon, head down there. I¡¯ll go after Barak,¡± Rex instructed, drawing his sword and moving toward a door at the end of the hallway.


    The room beyond was dark, illuminated only by a single dark red light fixated on a tub. As Rex approached, he could make out a figure lying in the tub. He cautiously lifted the figure¡¯s head with his sword, revealing a body with a slashed and burnt face. Something felt off about the scene. Rex carefully cut the head off and examined it, realizing it was a robot.


    He walked back to Sally and Leon, confusion written across his face. ¡°That was a decoy, but it doesn¡¯t make sense. Barak couldn¡¯t have left his room¡ªsunlight would harm his body, and teleporting would kill him,¡± Nicholas said, puzzled.


    ¡°I might¡¯ve built him something a while back that would allow him to travel, something like a mobile life-support system,¡± Leon admitted, his voice heavy with regret.


    All three turned to him, the gravity of the situation sinking in. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill him,¡± Sally declared, her fury rekindling.


    ¡°No, no, no,¡± Nicholas said quickly, holding her back. ¡°We need to think this through.¡±


    ¡°Leon, do you have any idea where he could be?¡± Rex asked, urgency creeping into his voice.


    ¡°He can¡¯t have gone far. He needs that tub to stay alive, so he¡¯s probably holed up somewhere nearby where he can¡¯t be found,¡± Leon speculated.


    ¡°Or¡­ he¡¯s turned to a Yeager,¡± Nicholas suggested, the possibility chilling them all.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter right now. Our top priority is to find Barak,¡± Rex said, his voice resolute as he prepared for the hunt ahead.

 thunder lightning dragon

    As Luna and Ace, the fourth-ranked Yeager, made their way through the facility, the darkness around them seemed to swallow everything whole.


    ¡°Why is it so dark in here? It¡¯s so annoying,¡± Ace grumbled, his voice echoing faintly in the blackness.


    ¡°It¡¯s because of Barak,¡± Luna explained, her tone calm and composed. ¡°This is his facility. The reason it¡¯s dark is because of Shadow. His powers harmed Barak so much that even light would hurt his skin. That¡¯s why it¡¯s like this.¡±


    Ace nodded, though he couldn¡¯t hide his frustration. ¡°There¡¯s something I want to ask you, Queen.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± she asked, her voice betraying no emotion.


    ¡°You sensed it too, right? After Killer took down Adam¡­ another dark flame appeared,¡± Ace said, his voice low and cautious.


    Luna didn¡¯t respond immediately. Instead, she kept her gaze forward, her silence speaking volumes. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. He¡¯s going to die anyway,¡± she finally replied, dismissing the concern.


    They reached a door at the end of the corridor and opened it together. Inside, a man sat in a bathtub, his body wrapped in bandages, only his eyes and mouth visible. Despite his weakened state, his eyes burned with rage.


    ¡°You fucker! You killed Adam! That wasn¡¯t part of the deal! You said you were only gonna kill the world leaders!¡± the man, Barak, yelled, his voice echoing off the walls.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t focus so much on the deal,¡± Luna said, her voice icy. ¡°I said I wouldn¡¯t kill him myself, so I sent Yeager Rank One to do it.¡±


    Barak¡¯s anger flared, his eyes narrowing. ¡°Once that Yeager heals me, I¡¯m going to kill both of you,¡± he declared.


    Ace turned to Luna, a smirk playing on his lips. ¡°Do I have to heal him? We could just kill him right here.¡±


    Luna shook her head. ¡°No, we can¡¯t. We made a flux exchange. If the deal is broken, I don¡¯t know what will happen to me.¡±


    Ace sighed in annoyance but relented. ¡°Fine,¡± he said, snapping his fingers.


    Out of nowhere, snakes appeared, their fangs glistening with venom. They slithered toward Barak and sprayed venom over his bandaged body. As the venom took effect, the bandages dissolved, revealing Barak¡¯s fully healed form. He stretched, testing his newly restored strength.


    ¡°You¡¯re ready to die now?¡± Ace taunted.


    ¡°I should be asking you that,¡± Barak replied, his voice dripping with malice. ¡°Thunder Style: Thunderclap,¡± he thought, clapping his hands together. A deafening shockwave, the sound of thunder itself, erupted from his hands, tearing through the facility and leaving it in ruins. Luna and Ace managed to escape just in time, but the destruction was immense.


    ¡°Where did he go? Man, I really wanted to kill him and eat him,¡± Ace muttered, scanning the area for any sign of Barak.


    Then, they heard the rumble of thunder from the sky. Both looked up, spotting a figure in the clouds.


    ¡°You gotta be kidding me,¡± Ace said, a mix of disbelief and excitement in his voice.


    ¡°I¡¯ll let you deal with this one. I¡¯ll watch from a distance,¡± Luna said, stepping back and allowing Ace to take the lead.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    From the clouds, a massive figure descended, crashing into the ground with earth-shattering force. Ace barely dodged the attack. As the dust settled, the creature revealed itself¡ªa giant robotic dragon, with Barak seated in a cockpit at its center. A dome materialized around them, cutting them off from the outside world.


    Barak glanced at Luna, her voice calm but emotionless. ¡°Don¡¯t mind me. I just set the dome over us so no one can interfere. I won¡¯t fight. I¡¯ll leave this to you two,¡± she said,


    Barak. ¡°She sent a dome over us so no connection can be made. Even if I die, the force will know about their plans for LA,¡± Barak thought. ¡°I just need to deal with Ace. For the past two years, I¡¯ve had cameras set up around the world. I know everything about him and his abilities.¡±


    Ace, eyeing the cockpit, realized what Barak was planning. ¡°He¡¯s trying to stay far away from me. He probably knows about my poison. So he¡¯s hiding in the cockpit, huh? This is gonna be fun,¡± Ace thought, grinning.


    Barak pressed a button, and lightning began to surge through the dragon, crackling with lethal energy. The dragon unleashed a torrent of lightning at Ace, who dodged and started to run. But Barak was ready. The dragon¡¯s tail whipped around, lethal spikes shooting out toward Ace. One spike managed to sever Ace¡¯s arm, but it regenerated within seconds.


    Ace grinned, the thrill of battle coursing through him. ¡°You¡¯re going to regret challenging me, Barak,¡± he muttered, preparing for the fight of his life.


    Ace dashed into the forest, but Barak wasn¡¯t about to let him escape so easily. With a swift command, the robotic dragon¡¯s tail unleashed a barrage of spikes, obliterating trees for miles within the dome. However, as the dust settled, Barak couldn¡¯t find Ace among the wreckage. Confused, he scanned the area until his eyes caught movement above him.


    Ace was in the air, grinning with anticipation. ¡°Yeager Ability: Mamba Death,¡± he thought. A giant snake materialized out of thin air, lunging at the dragon¡¯s right wing. Barak quickly reacted, sharpening the wings with nanobots, slicing the snake in half mid-air.


    ¡°Thunder Dragon, Thunder Bolts,¡± Barak commanded mentally. Thunderstorms gathered in the sky, sending down a deluge of lightning bolts aimed at Ace. One bolt struck Ace square in the chest, but to Barak¡¯s surprise, Ace deflected the lightning with his bare hands.


    Ace landed on top of the dragon, his eyes burning with determination. ¡°It¡¯s over, Barak!¡± he shouted.


    Barak wasn¡¯t done yet. ¡°Lightning Dragon, Lightning Eruption,¡± he thought. A massive explosion erupted on the dragon¡¯s back, sending Ace flying backward. The force of the blast ripped off all of Ace¡¯s skin, leaving him a grotesque figure of exposed bones and flesh. He crashed into a rock but quickly stood up, undeterred.


    ¡°You truly are amazing, Barak!¡± Ace yelled, his voice filled with adrenaline. ¡°Yeager Ability: Thousand Snakes,¡± he thought.


    Snakes swarmed the dragon, tearing into its systems. ¡°Alert: Power lost on the left wing,¡± the system announced. Barak¡¯s face twisted in frustration. ¡°Fuck!¡± he muttered as the dragon plummeted to the ground.


    Ace strode toward the fallen dragon, his resolve unshaken. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Adam. I betrayed you¡­ I just wanted to walk with all eight of you guys again. I know you can never forgive me, but I can kill this bitch!¡± Ace thought.


    Inside the cockpit, Barak made a final stand. ¡°Lightning Dragon, Supercell!¡± he roared. A massive explosion erupted, vaporizing everything within the dome. The blast was so intense that even the protective barrier was obliterated. Luna stood unscathed but realized the dome had been completely destroyed.


    Amidst the destruction, Ace¡¯s skeleton stood, slowly regenerating his body. ¡°That bastard almost killed me¡­ I had to use my palace to stay alive, but it doesn¡¯t matter. It¡¯s feeding time,¡± Ace thought with a dark grin.


    As the hatch of the dragon¡¯s cockpit was destroyed, Ace lunged at Barak. Barak, in a desperate move, drew his sword at the last second. Their final clash was swift and brutal¡ªBarak aimed for Ace¡¯s neck, but Ace crushed Barak¡¯s heart with unyielding force.


    Later, Ace and Luna walked away from the battlefield together. ¡°Man, that was a fun fight,¡± Ace said, holding Barak¡¯s brain and heart, casually eating them.


    Luna, her expression as emotionless as ever, nodded. ¡°Good job killing him. He was ranked fourth, but you killed him. That¡¯s what matters.¡±


    ¡°So now we can start by killing everyone in LA?¡± Ace asked, still savoring his gruesome meal.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Luna replied, her tone cold. ¡°But we have one more meeting. I need all seven of you to discuss one person.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± Ace inquired, curious.


    ¡°Rona,¡± she said, her voice carrying an air of significance.


    As they left, the remains of Barak¡¯s robotic dragon lay shattered, and Barak¡¯s lifeless body slumped in the cockpit, his head completely gone.

 flames awakening

    As Rex woke up, he noticed he was in a giant cage cell. As he got up, he looked around and saw a pair of yellow eyes watching him from the darkness. Instinctively, Rex reached for his sword, but it wasn''t there. Quickly, he shifted into a fighting stance.


    "Calm down, young one. We are not going to harm you," a deep voice echoed through the chamber. The figure stepped forward, revealing himself as a towering Yeager looming over Rex. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Agnes," the giant said.


    Rex didn''t sense any hostility from Agnes and gradually dropped his guard. "What is this place?" Rex asked, still cautious.


    "This is Mondor, the prison for us Yeagers who defy Hades," Agnes explained.


    "Hades... does he have red eyes and blue skin?" Rex asked, his memory flashing back to a familiar face.


    "Yes, how do you know him?" Agnes inquired, a hint of curiosity in his voice.


    "He was the one who turned me into a Yeager," Rex explained, his voice tinged with resentment.


    Agnes studied Rex carefully, nodding as if confirming a suspicion. "As I thought. The marks on you¡ªthe blue and white skin¡ªmean he personally transformed you into a Yeager. But what''s surprising is that you remember who you are," Agnes noted.


    "Yeah, I do, but I have to get out of here. Do you know how?" Rex asked, urgency creeping into his voice.


    "No, we don''t know how. Even if you manage to escape, these mechanical dolls will start chasing you," Agnes said, pointing upwards. Rex followed his gaze and noticed the creatures¡ªrobots identical to the one he had just defeated back in the lower level of the cave¡ªhovering above.


    "Shit," Rex muttered under his breath, realizing the gravity of the situation.


    "I have to get out of here, though. My mission is to kill Hades," Rex declared, his eyes burning with determination.


    Agnes looked at him, recognizing the resolve in Rex''s eyes. "From what I''m seeing, you still have your Yeager abilities, don''t you? They took all of ours, so maybe you could break out of here," Agnes suggested, his voice filled with a glimmer of hope.


    Rex''s mind raced as he realized he still had his Yeager abilities intact. "Make your ability... disintegration touch," he thought. He placed his hand on the cage door, and it dissolved into nothingness.


    "Be careful, Rex," Agnes warned. "Hades'' two top soldiers are down here with us. If you run into them, you might die."


    Rex nodded, his heart pounding, but his resolve unshaken. "I''ll keep that in mind. Thanks for the heads-up," he replied, stepping out of the cage, ready to face whatever lay ahead.


    As soon as Rex left the cage, he used his second Yeager ability to turn invisible. As he walked, none of the robots seemed to notice him, though Rex did feel the heat radiating from the surrounding environment. He realized that while the heat didn¡¯t immediately harm him, if it became too intense, it could pose a serious threat. Pushing those thoughts aside, Rex entered a giant room.


    The room was vast, with high ceilings and dark corners, but it wasn¡¯t empty. A giant Yeager sat in a massive chair, perfectly suited to his towering height.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re Master¡¯s new pet?¡± the Yeager said, his voice deep and mocking. ¡°My name is Lobo, one of Hades¡¯ top five generals.¡±


    Rex¡¯s eyes narrowed as he studied Lobo. He knew a fight was inevitable, but he had one question first. ¡°I know we¡¯re about to fight, but let me ask you one thing. Do you even know who Luna is?¡±


    Lobo looked puzzled. ¡°Who the hell is that?¡±


    Rex shook his head, dismissing the question. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. You¡¯re going to die now.¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    With that, Rex charged at Lobo, leaping into the air and aiming a powerful punch at his head. But before he could land the blow, massive tentacles shot out from Lobo, wrapping around Rex¡¯s arm and flinging him across the room. As Rex crashed into the wall, Lobo rose from his chair, his giant fist poised to strike.


    Rex quickly recovered, using his hands to conjure flames that scorched a bit of Lobo¡¯s leg. ¡°That tickles,¡± Lobo remarked, unfazed. He then kicked Rex in the stomach, splitting his body in half and sending him flying into another wall. Rex¡¯s lower body quickly regenerated, and he glanced down, realizing that even his clothes had regenerated with him.


    ¡°So my clothes regenerate too,¡± he thought briefly, before looking back up at Lobo. Just then, more giant tentacles came crashing down toward him. Rex dodged them with agility, but suddenly, something came crashing through the wall, slamming into him and forcing him to cough up blood.


    ¡°Ah, Knight, you¡¯re finally here,¡± Lobo said, addressing the new arrival.


    Knight matched Lobo in height and stature. ¡°Be quiet, Lobo. Why haven¡¯t you killed this Yeager yet?¡± Knight demanded, his voice cold and authoritative.


    Both of them turned their gazes to Rex, who was struggling to stand. But Rex wasn¡¯t done yet. He focused, feeling the power within him building up. His body began to glow red and white as he concentrated his energy.


    ¡°So, he can use hyper flux energy,¡± they both realized.


    ¡°This is going to be fun,¡± Lobo thought with a smirk. He snapped his fingers, and Rex¡¯s sword materialized in front of him. Rex grabbed it, drawing the blade and preparing for battle.


    ¡°Let me fight him,¡± Knight said, his tone leaving no room for argument.


    Lobo understood and sat back down in his chair, eager to watch the upcoming fight.


    Rex turned his full attention to Knight, gripping his sword tightly. This was going to be a battle unlike any he had faced before.


    Knight easily grabbed hold of Rex, lifting him effortlessly before throwing him hard into the ground. As Rex coughed up blood and struggled to rise, Lobo snapped his fingers, causing the ground beneath them to lower into a larger, more ominous room.


    Knight wasted no time, launching spikes from his back toward Rex. Rex used his sword to deflect them, but one managed to slip through, piercing his stomach and leaving a gaping hole. The force sent Rex crashing into the wall. Despite the pain, Rex remained standing, his wound quickly regenerating. But more spikes followed, forcing Rex to move quickly to avoid them.


    As the spikes closed in, robots began to surround Rex, blocking his path. With swift, powerful strokes, Rex sliced through the machines, his movements growing faster with each swing. His color began to change from red to white, signifying a new level of speed and power. Seizing the moment, Rex leaped toward Knight, managing to slash his neck slightly.


    Knight, surprised by Rex¡¯s speed, attempted to crush him with a powerful fist, but Rex countered by cutting off Knight¡¯s legs. Enraged, Knight activated his Yeager ability, transforming into a massive three-headed dragon. All three heads unleashed torrents of fire at Rex, but he stood firm, his body now able to withstand the intense heat.


    ¡°Flame Style: Flame Death,¡± Rex thought, unleashing his own flames that overwhelmed and consumed Knight¡¯s fire. The dragon¡¯s three heads roared in agony as Rex¡¯s flames engulfed them. As the smoke cleared, Knight¡¯s body was reduced to a lifeless husk, which crumbled into ash.


    Lobo, watching in disbelief, screamed in fury, ¡°Die!¡± His tentacles surged toward Rex, but with one swift movement, Rex destroyed them all. He then turned his attention to Lobo, his flames burning brighter than ever.


    ¡°You¡¯re dead,¡± Rex declared, as his flames enveloped Lobo, burning him to a crisp. As Lobo¡¯s body disintegrated, Rex felt a sudden impact from behind.


    ¡°Hey Rex, you¡¯ve been staring at Barak¡¯s body this whole time,¡± Leon¡¯s voice snapped Rex out of his daze.


    ¡°Sorry, I was daydreaming,¡± Rex replied, shaking off the illusion. ¡°Did we recover anything from this robot of his?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we did. Barak left us a message, but we have to decrypt it,¡± Leon said.


    ¡°Hey boys, come over here for a second,¡± Nicholas called out to them.


    Both Rex and Leon walked over to Nicholas, their curiosity piqued.


    ¡°What do you want, old man?¡± they both asked in unison.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to ignore that comment,¡± Nicholas replied, ¡°but we¡¯re heading home now, and Rex, you¡¯re coming along too.¡±


    ¡°Why do I have to come with you?¡± Rex questioned.


    ¡°First off, we were buddies who went on that operation together¡ªthe one that got me suspended. And second, it¡¯s about the dark flames too,¡± Nicholas explained.


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s get going,¡± Rex agreed, surprising Leon with how quickly he was convinced.


    ¡°She convinced you that fast,¡± Leon thought to himself.


    Together, the three of them walked through the portal, heading to the Ivanov residence, ready to unravel the next mystery that awaited them.

 echos of war

    As Rex, Leon, and Nicholas stepped through the portal, they found themselves at Nicholas¡¯s house. It was an imposing structure, grand and imposing, with an aura of luxury that made Rex take pause.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get going, boys,¡± Nicholas said, leading them toward the entrance.


    Rex and Leon followed, taking in the sheer size of the place. As they entered, Rex couldn¡¯t help but be struck by the opulence. The house was extravagant, with high ceilings, intricate decor, and a sense of space that spoke of wealth.


    ¡°Nicholas, how do you pay for this house?¡± Rex asked, still taking in the grandeur.


    Nicholas gave a half-smile, his tone casual. ¡°Rex, I¡¯m second rank in the special forces. Of course, I¡¯m gonna get paid a lot of money.¡±


    Just as Rex was about to respond, a voice came from the stairs. Amber appeared, descending gracefully. ¡°Oh, Rex, you¡¯re here. Seems like you look better. Let¡¯s go on a walk, you and me, right now.¡±


    Without waiting for a reply, she turned toward the backyard, and Rex followed. The backyard was vast, a spacious area with well-maintained paths that wound through meticulously landscaped grounds. As they walked, Rex couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Amber had something important to say.


    ¡°What do you want to talk about?¡± he finally asked, breaking the silence.


    Amber looked at him, her eyes searching his. ¡°What does your life mean to you?¡±


    Rex was taken aback by the question. It was unexpected, and for a moment, he didn¡¯t know how to respond. Finally, he said, ¡°What does my life mean to me? It¡¯s just that I¡¯m just another cog in the wheel, rotating in a cycle of killing Yeagers and then dying. The process repeats itself.¡±


    ¡°Why do you think that?¡± Amber asked gently, her gaze never leaving his.


    ¡°Why? It¡¯s because Luna has existed for 200 years. No one has ever come close to killing her, and we just lost two special rank members. They were nowhere near her strength,¡± Rex explained, his voice heavy with frustration.


    Amber stopped walking and turned to face him fully. ¡°But my life means to me that I have a purpose, Rex. I was given a name, Amber, and if you believe that your life has no meaning, you¡¯ll get nowhere. You have to realize that I see your eyes all the time. You must have a reason to be alive, a meaning.¡±


    Rex looked into her eyes, feeling a strange sense of clarity. ¡°OK, I understand,¡± he said, a new resolve forming within him.


    ¡°Hey, you two idiots, come back! We¡¯re about to have dinner,¡± Nicholas¡¯s voice called out, breaking the moment.


    Amber smiled at Rex. ¡°Let¡¯s get going.¡±


    They both walked back to the house, where they found Daisy, Nicholas, and Leon already seated at the dining table. The smell of food filled the air, and the warmth of the room contrasted with the cold thoughts that had plagued Rex earlier. He took a seat beside Amber, feeling a sense of belonging that he hadn¡¯t felt in a long time.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    As they began to eat, Rex couldn¡¯t help but feel that something had shifted within him, a small but significant change that Amber had sparked with her words.


    He glanced at Nicholas, his expression serious. ¡°Hey, Nicholas, you said you know stuff about the dark flame, so tell me.¡±


    The room fell silent for a moment, the air thick with tension. Daisy, who had been quietly eating, suddenly coughed, choking a bit on her food. She quickly grabbed a napkin and wiped her face.


    ¡°Wait, so it¡¯s awakened inside of you now?¡± she asked, her voice tinged with concern.


    ¡°Yeah, it did,¡± Rex confirmed, his gaze steady on Nicholas. ¡°It happened when Adam died. The reason why you activated the dark flame was because you lost something meaningful to you. That¡¯s how dark flame users gain their power,¡± Nicholas explained, his tone matter-of-fact.


    Rex absorbed this information, nodding slowly. ¡°Okay, I understand that. But you said you know how to use it,¡± he pressed further.


    Nicholas leaned back in his chair, a small smile playing on his lips. ¡°Oh yeah, I do. I have videos of Griffin using every different move. Here, I¡¯ll transfer the data to you.¡±


    Nicholas took out a small device, uploading the data directly to Rex. Within moments, Rex had access to all the videos, each one showcasing different techniques for mastering the dark flame.


    ¡°Thanks, but you could¡¯ve just given it to me at the crash site where we found Barak¡¯s body,¡± Rex said, slightly puzzled.


    Nicholas chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°No, I wanted to bring you here so you could eat dinner with us. You need a break sometimes from all that work.¡±


    Daisy looked at Rex, her expression suddenly serious. ¡°Rex, once you¡¯re able to master the dark flame style, don¡¯t become an asshole like Griffin,¡± she warned.


    Rex raised an eyebrow, curious. ¡°Oh yeah, I remember that video of you saying he¡¯s a dumbass,¡± he said with a smirk.


    Nicholas laughed, nodding. ¡°She hates Griffin because he always pulled pranks on her back when we were younger.¡±


    Amber, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. ¡°What happened to Griffin?¡±


    Nicholas¡¯s smile faded slightly, replaced by a more somber expression. ¡°He died¡ªor at least, that¡¯s what we believe happened. We learned that he was sick, with an incurable disease. Not even flux energy could save him.¡±


    He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. ¡°That¡¯s why he decided to make you his heir to the dark flame, Rex.¡±


    The room fell silent once more, the gravity of the situation settling over them. Rex looked down at his hands, the realization of the legacy he carried hitting him harder than ever before.


    Leon suddenly tensed, his cybernetic enhancements buzzing with an incoming notification. His eyes flickered for a moment as he processed the data.


    "The code was debugged," Leon announced, his voice cutting through the quiet dinner conversation.


    Nicholas, Daisy, and Rex all turned to look at him, their expressions shifting from casual to alert.


    ¡°They¡¯re going to attack LA,¡± Leon said, his tone grave.


    ¡°When?¡± Daisy asked, her voice steady but laced with urgency.


    Leon looked up, his eyes hardening as the weight of the information settled in. ¡°Tonight,¡± he replied.


    The room fell into a tense silence, the gravity of the impending threat looming over them like a dark cloud. The casual atmosphere from moments ago was gone, replaced by the cold reality of the war they were fighting.

 unleashed chaos

    Los Angeles was under siege. The special teams were dispatched, each member acutely aware of the gravity of the situation. The city, a sprawling labyrinth of culture and life, was now a battlefield. As Team A monitored the Chinese Theater, and Team B secured the Santa Monica Pier, Team C patrolled the sun-soaked sands of Venice Beach. Yet, amidst the orchestrated vigilance, Rex felt an unease gnawing at him.


    ¡°Why now? Of all the times, why have the Yeagers decided to launch a full-scale attack?¡± Rex¡¯s voice was low, tinged with suspicion, as he scanned the horizon.


    Daisy, walking beside him, shared his disquiet. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I don¡¯t like it. Luna and the Yeagers have been more active lately, more present. A full-scale assault on LA now? Something doesn¡¯t sit right with me.¡±


    Rex nodded, his thoughts heavy. ¡°And tonight, of all nights, when evacuating the city is impossible. We¡¯re talking about millions of people, trapped.¡±


    Daisy¡¯s gaze softened. ¡°Something else is on your mind, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Rex exhaled slowly. ¡°Yeah, two things. First, why would Barak leave us this message after betraying us? He¡¯s responsible for my father¡¯s death, and now, even after he¡¯s gone, he leaves us this cryptic warning. Why?¡±


    Daisy considered his words. ¡°Maybe he knew he was going to die. Luna could¡¯ve made a flux exchange with him¡ªone he couldn¡¯t break. After the deal, they fought, and he died. Perhaps he left us this message to make amends, to save lives.¡±


    Rex nodded, but doubt lingered in his mind. ¡°And then there¡¯s Rona. She¡¯s in Hollywood City right now, all by herself.¡±


    Daisy¡¯s confidence didn¡¯t waver. ¡°Rona can handle herself.¡±


    ¡°You have that much faith in her?¡± Rex asked, surprised by her certainty.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Daisy replied without hesitation. ¡°Rona may not be as strong as Griffin or Adam, but when it comes to using flux energy, she¡¯s unparalleled. She¡¯s more than capable of facing whatever comes her way.¡±


    Meanwhile, in Hollywood City, Rona sat alone atop a rooftop, the cool night breeze ruffling her hair as she sipped her coffee. The night was serene, but her instincts were sharp. She sensed them before she saw them¡ªtwo figures standing below, their eyes fixed on her. Calmly, she finished her coffee, her body relaxed but ready. She leaped from the rooftop, landing gracefully before the two figures.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re Yeager ranks four and two,¡± Rona said, her voice steady, devoid of fear.


    The shorter one, Ace, smiled. ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m Ace, and this is Gaia.¡± He gestured to his companion, who stood silent, his presence heavy with menace.


    The crowd around them, blissfully unaware of the danger, continued their evening as usual. But Ace was ready to change that. With a snap of his fingers, a giant snake materialized from the shadows, its massive body coiling around the area, creating an impenetrable barrier. The crowd was trapped.


    Rona looked around, unfazed. ¡°Impressive, but it won¡¯t stop me. I¡¯m still going to kill you,¡± she said calmly.


    As Ace and Gaia prepared themselves, they recalled Luna¡¯s warning about Rona during their briefing.


    ¡°Rona can¡¯t break the laws of nature or reality with her flux energy, but don¡¯t be fooled,¡± Luna had warned. ¡°She uses her flux energy to the point where she can make herself physically stronger than either of you.¡±


    Gaia had been skeptical. ¡°What are you getting at, Your Grace?¡±


    ¡°Her physical strength is so overwhelming that she could destroy the planet with a single punch,¡± Luna had continued. ¡°But we¡¯ll force her to use only ten percent of her power. Surround her with normal humans, and she won¡¯t be able to unleash her full strength without causing massive collateral damage. The shockwaves alone could kill everyone here.¡±


    Back in the present, Ace and Gaia¡¯s eyes were locked onto Rona, who stood ready, her body radiating a quiet yet terrifying power.


    ¡°We¡¯re not running away, Rona. We¡¯re going to kill you and every human here,¡± Ace said, his voice dripping with malice.


    Without warning, they vanished, their forms blurring as they began slaughtering the innocents around them. Chaos erupted, screams filled the air as people fell left and right. Rona¡¯s eyes darted around, confusion flickering for just a moment before she steeled herself. Ace and Gaia reappeared, attacking her in tandem. Ace threw a punch while Gaia drew a giant scythe from his flesh, swinging it with lethal intent. But Rona was ready. She deflected the scythe with her hand and caught Ace¡¯s punch with ease.


    A barrage of attacks rained down on her, but she countered each one with precise, deadly efficiency. Then, in a blink, she disappeared. Ace and Gaia paused, their eyes scanning the area, and then they spotted her¡ªsitting atop a lamppost, a metal orb floating beside her.


    ¡°Does Rona have a palace?¡± Ace asked, more to himself than Gaia.


    ¡°Yes, but she won¡¯t use it here. Not with humans around. If she used her palace, the humans would get caught in the crossfire and die. Luna estimated a ninety percent chance that she wouldn¡¯t use it,¡± Gaia replied, his tone calculated.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Rona smirked down at them. ¡°I¡¯m not running away, just surprised you think killing humans would stop me from using my full power. It¡¯s true, though¡ªyou¡¯re going to die without landing a single hit on me.¡±


    ¡°Big talk. Let¡¯s see you back it up,¡± Ace sneered.


    Rona¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Try me, apes.¡±


    She hopped off the lamppost, drawing a dagger from the orb. With calculated steps, she moved between Ace and Gaia, her gaze unwavering. They attacked in unison, but Rona was quicker. She grabbed Ace¡¯s arm, using him as a shield as Gaia¡¯s scythe came down, slicing Ace¡¯s body in half. Without missing a beat, Rona kicked Gaia in the side, sending him crashing through buildings. She then hurled Ace¡¯s remains into Gaia, the impact driving them both through more structures.


    Rona sprinted toward them, but a swarm of snakes materialized in her path. She cut them down effortlessly with her knife. Gaia and Ace reappeared, ready to attack again. This time, Rona drew a sword from the orb, slashing across their midsections. Electricity surged through their bodies from the blade.


    Ace winced as the pain coursed through him. ¡°That sword¡­ it electrocutes on impact,¡± he thought, grimacing.


    Rona grabbed Ace by the head, simultaneously kicking Gaia in the stomach, sending him reeling. Ace touched the ground, summoning more snakes, but Rona leaped away. Gaia tried to cleave her in half again, but Rona deflected the scythe with a thrown knife, then stabbed him in the chest, electrocuting him once more.


    She was about to decapitate Gaia when the ground erupted with rocks, forcing her to dodge. ¡°Magma, or perhaps just rock manipulation,¡± she mused, assessing the situation.


    Ace and Gaia regrouped, bloodied but not beaten. ¡°We need to tire her out,¡± Ace said through gritted teeth. ¡°We need more time until the rest of the Yeager ranks arrive.¡±


    As if on cue, multiple portals opened, and more Yeagers began to pour through, surrounding Rona. Her eyes widened in shock as she recognized their them. ¡°What the fuck¡± she said


    Killer and the rest of the Yeager ranks appeared. ¡°Hey guys sorry to keep you guys waiting,¡± he said.


    Killer¡¯s attention snapped to Rona. Without warning, he vanished, reappearing right in front of her. ¡°Yeager Ability: Knife Rotation,¡± he muttered. A barrage of knives materialized, spinning at dizzying speeds. Rona dodged them all, but the deadly blades cut down countless humans around her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t fight without me, Killer,¡± Beelzebub¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°Yeager Ability: Fly¡¯s Touch,¡± she murmured as her hand transformed, becoming a grotesque appendage ready to strike. Rona noticed her approach and prepared to counter, but just as she was about to land a killing blow, Beelzebub vanished. In her place appeared Destiny, whose fist flew toward Rona¡¯s face. Rona blocked the punch, sending Destiny skidding backward.


    Rona quickly regained her footing, but her eyes widened in horror as she saw all seven Yeager ranks rampaging, mercilessly slaughtering humans left and right.


    Killer was right¡ªRona is different from Adam, he mused. She¡¯s willing to sacrifice lives.


    ¡°You need to act now, Rona,¡± Gaia¡¯s voice echoed in her mind. ¡°Use your palace to kill everyone here and save those outside.¡±


    Rona formed a hand seal, determination etched on her face. ¡°Broken Time Palace,¡± she declared.


    ¡°Is she really going to do it?!¡± Beelzebub shouted.


    Killer attempted to activate his palace, but he was too late. A dome enveloped the battlefield, and time seemed to slow to a crawl. In reality, it wasn¡¯t time that was slowing down¡ªit was the minds of those caught within the dome. To a normal human, this mental strain would be lethal, but Rona believed they could endure for at least two minutes.


    For the next ninety seconds, Rona moved with lethal precision, cutting down over a thousand Yeagers. She was gasping for breath, but her resolve remained unbroken. Turning her attention to the remaining Yeager ranks, she was ready to end them, but suddenly, the dome shattered, and with it, her palace. The Yeagers and humans snapped back to full awareness as their minds surged back to normal speed.


    Before Rona could react, Luna rushed at her. With quick thinking, Luna activated a teleportation device, and Rona found herself instantaneously transported to the continent of Africa.


    ¡°Good work, everyone. You created the opening I needed to teleport her,¡± Luna said, satisfaction in her voice.


    ¡°Man, my head feels messed up,¡± Killer groaned, collapsing to the ground with his legs crossed.


    ¡°You can say that again,¡± Shadow agreed. ¡°Her palace doesn¡¯t attack physically¡ªit¡¯s all mental.¡±


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan now, Queen Luna?¡± Gaia asked.


    ¡°Our mission is complete. Now, slaughter every human here,¡± Luna ordered.


    ¡°What about the other elite force members?¡± Destiny inquired.


    ¡°Oh, them,¡± Luna waved a hand dismissively. ¡°I don¡¯t care about most of them, but there¡¯s one I want dead.¡±


    ¡°Who is it?¡± Ace asked.


    ¡°Rex Jones. I want him killed if possible,¡± Luna replied coldly.


    ¡°You all can handle that. I¡¯m going to find some humans to capture for the killing games,¡± Beelzebub said as she walked away.


    ¡°I¡¯ll set up base at the Wilshire Grand Center to maximize the kill count,¡± Ace announced before sprinting off.


    ¡°The rest of you, focus on finding that bastard,¡± Luna commanded. The others nodded and vanished, leaving Killer behind.


    ¡°You want Rex dead because he¡¯s the next heir to the Dark Flame Style, right?¡± Killer asked.


    ¡°He¡¯s too dangerous to keep alive,¡± Luna confirmed. ¡°And I don¡¯t want another Amelia Locke or Griffin to deal with.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Killer said, disappearing in an instant.


    ¡°Give him back now,¡± a voice demanded. Luna turned to see Emma and Clara approaching, their eyes blazing with anger.


    ¡°Give us our brother back! We upheld our end of the deal¡ªwe released the captive Yeagers¡ªnow give him back,¡± Clara insisted.


    ¡°Sorry, but I can¡¯t do that,¡± Luna replied with a shrug. ¡°I still have plans for him. You should¡¯ve made a flux exchange if you wanted a guarantee.¡±


    The girls vanished, their parting words echoing in Luna¡¯s ears. ¡°You¡¯ll regret this.¡±

 The arrival of the strongest ghost

    As Rex, Daisy, and other Yeager Force soldiers fought to eliminate the Yeagers in their path, they worked swiftly to evacuate civilians from the beach, guiding them to the safety of the Yeager Force¡¯s protection.


    ¡°What the hell is going on? Why are Yeagers suddenly appearing out of nowhere?¡± Rex demanded.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Daisy replied, her voice tense. ¡°But I¡¯ve lost contact with the others too. Communications are completely down.¡±


    Suddenly, their radios crackled to life. ¡°It¡¯s me, Leon,¡± a familiar voice said.


    ¡°Leon, what¡¯s happening? How are you able to reach us?¡± Daisy asked, relief and urgency mixing in her tone.


    ¡°No time to explain. Rona put me in command after Luna teleported her to Africa. Right now, I¡¯m only able to contact the special force ranks. We need to get communication back online. You¡¯re the closest to the World Olympic Tower, so head there immediately. I¡¯m also sending Team B, along with Nicholas, Sally, and Lluvia to assist,¡± Leon instructed.


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Rex and Daisy responded in unison.


    Rex turned to the soldiers under his command. ¡°Set up a base here and keep evacuating civilians. Get them out of here as quickly as possible.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± the soldiers replied, immediately moving to follow his orders.


    As Rex and Daisy sprinted toward the tower, an uneasy feeling settled in Rex¡¯s gut.


    ¡°Something¡¯s bothering you, isn¡¯t it?¡± Daisy asked, her eyes never leaving the path ahead.


    ¡°Yeah, and I don¡¯t like it,¡± Rex muttered.


    When they reached the tower, they noticed flashing lights at the top of the building. Wasting no time, they raced inside, their senses on high alert. They climbed the stairs quickly, determined to reach the top.


    When they finally arrived at the top, they were confronted by three Yeagers, standing ominously among markings on the ground. Before they could react, one of the Yeagers charged at Rex, grabbing his head and dragging him off the side of the building.


    ¡°Rex!¡± Daisy screamed, but she was immediately attacked by another Yeager. She managed to block the attack with her spear.


    ¡°Lightning Style: Jagged Strike!¡± Daisy thought, channeling her energy into her spear. Lightning crackled from its tip, creating jagged bolts that slashed across the Yeager¡¯s chest. However, the Yeager moved just in time to avoid a fatal blow.


    ¡°Mother, is it ready?¡± the male Yeager called out, his voice eerily calm.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s finished,¡± the female Yeager replied.


    The male Yeager attacked Daisy again, but she countered, nearly landing a killing blow. Yet, the Yeager blocked her spear with his foot, then leaped back to create distance.


    The female Yeager began to chant, ¡°Lord of my salvation, please bring back the body of Griffin Locke.¡±


    Before Daisy¡¯s eyes, the male Yeager¡¯s body started to transform. His skin shifted from pale white to the dark hue of a human.


    The transformation was complete, and Daisy¡¯s eyes widened in shock. She recognized the figure before her. ¡°Griffin¡­ is that you?¡±


    Griffin, now fully transformed, took a single step and appeared in front of Daisy in an instant. He grabbed her by the shirt and unleashed a flurry of punches at lightning speed, knocking her unconscious.


    ¡°Amazing¡­ I didn¡¯t expect his body to be this strong,¡± the mother Yeager thought, her eyes gleaming with ambition. ¡°With this power, we could kill the Yeager ranks and even Luna. My son now controls Griffin¡¯s body and powers.¡±


    The male Yeager flexed his new form, marveling at the strength coursing through him. ¡°This body feels incredible,¡± he muttered, admiration clear in his voice. But then, his body began to twitch slightly.


    ¡°Good, get used to his power, and then kill the humans and all Yeagers,¡± the mother Yeager ordered confidently.


    Suddenly, the male Yeager¡¯s head turned slowly toward her, an angry expression darkening his face. ¡°Who the hell are you to give me orders, huh?!¡± a new voice growled, filled with disdain.


    The mother Yeager¡¯s eyes widened in confusion, and then horror, as she realized what had happened. ¡°No¡­ that¡¯s impossible. I only reconstructed your body and powers, not your soul,¡± she stammered.


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t know this, but my dark flames are my soul. You brought back my soul without understanding this simple rule. That¡¯s likely how this Yeager lost his soul to mine,¡± Griffin explained, his voice dripping with contempt.


    The Yeager recoiled in terror. ¡°That¡¯s right, didn¡¯t you say to kill Yeagers?¡± Griffin sneered. With one swift, precise motion, he obliterated the Yeager¡¯s head, leaving the lifeless body to crumple to the ground.


    Griffin then turned his attention to Daisy, noting the wounds she had sustained in the battle. ¡°This Yeager nearly killed her,¡± he thought, his expression softening slightly. Channeling his flux energy, he healed her injuries.


    As he finished, Griffin sensed more Yeagers within the building. A dark smile crept across his face. ¡°More fun,¡± he mused, anticipation sparking in his eyes.


    As Rex plummeted from the building, he ignited his dark flames, using them to soften his landing by creating a cushion of force against the ground. He rolled to his feet just in time to dodge an attack from the Yeager.


    ¡°Mom told me that two Yeagers in Cairo were exceptionally strong. Could these be the same breed?¡± Rex thought, his mind racing.


    ¡°I can sense it, human¡ªyou carry dark flames like Griffin inside your soul!¡± the Yeager bellowed.


    Rex was momentarily puzzled by the Yeager¡¯s words. ¡°We Yeagers had to stay hidden when Griffin was alive because of how powerful he was,¡± the Yeager continued, before charging at Rex.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± Rex muttered. In a single swift movement, he sliced off the Yeager¡¯s head. Wasting no time, he turned his attention back to the building. Just as he was about to start climbing, Nicholas, Sally, and Lluvia arrived.


    ¡°Guys, we have to climb the tower¡ªDaisy is still up there,¡± Rex said urgently.


    ¡°Understood,¡± Nicholas replied.


    The four of them rushed into the building, but as they entered, they were met with a gruesome sight: dead Yeagers littered the floor, and dark flames scorched the walls.


    ¡°What the hell happened in here?¡± Sally wondered aloud. Suddenly, a stone wall erupted from the ground, separating Rex from the rest of the group.


    ¡°Rex!¡± Sally shouted.


    ¡°Sally, we can¡¯t worry about him now. We must climb the tower,¡± Lluvia urged. Sally nodded, and the three of them continued their ascent.


    Sally led the charge, her speed propelling her forward. As she reached the next floor, she sprinted down a long, dimly lit hallway. Suddenly, a blob-like creature dropped to the floor in front of her, its single eye glaring at her.


    ¡°My body hurts¡­ Luna, my body hurts, please help me,¡± the blob whimpered, its voice filled with agony.


    Sally recoiled in disgust. ¡°You want me to kill them, so I will,¡± the blob declared, its form shifting and transforming. The creature grew tall, its body taking on a black-and-gold hue, with two menacing wings sprouting from its back. It hovered in mid-air.


    ¡°My name is Atsadi, and your death is near,¡± the creature hissed.


    Atsadi lunged at Sally, throwing a barrage of punches. Sally deftly dodged each strike, noticing that where Atsadi¡¯s fists hit the ground, fish began to appear. Realizing the danger, Sally quickly used her strings to hoist herself onto a nearby pillar.


    ¡°I have to keep my distance,¡± she thought. Manipulating her strings, she crafted a spear imbued with poison. ¡°Poison Style: Poison Jab,¡± she thought, as she thrust the spear into Atsadi¡¯s chest, injecting him with venom. Atsadi cried out in pain.


    ¡°Yeager Style: Swordfish,¡± Atsadi snarled, as a swordfish emerged from his chest and lunged at Sally¡¯s face. She narrowly dodged the attack, countering with a powerful kick to Atsadi¡¯s head, sending him flying.


    ¡°She¡¯s fast! She dodged it at point-blank range¡­ She might even be faster than Killer and Luna,¡± Atsadi thought in disbelief. But before he could finish his next attack, Sally struck again, this time stabbing him in the neck and nearly decapitating him.


    Just then, Nicholas and Lluvia burst into the room. ¡°Water Style: Water Cutting Edge,¡± Lluvia commanded, as a sharp blade of water shot toward Atsadi.


    ¡°Ice Style: Demon¡¯s Ice,¡± Nicholas thought, summoning icy spikes aimed at Atsadi. But before they could land their blows, Atsadi sneered.


    ¡°Aquarium of Lost Souls,¡± Atsadi muttered, conjuring a dome around them. The room darkened, the only light coming from five glowing water pillars suspended in mid-air. Atsadi vanished, reappearing above them, floating ominously.


    ¡°You¡¯re all dead,¡± Atsadi¡¯s voice echoed through the chamber, his malevolent presence looming over them.


    As the largest fish emerged from the water, it sank its teeth into Nicholas¡¯s torso, dragging him back into the blue abyss with a violent thrash. Lluvia and Sally stood frozen, unable to react in time to save him.


    ¡°I used my ice to protect myself before getting bitten in half¡­ You¡¯re such a big fella,¡± Nicholas muttered, trying to maintain his composure as another fish lunged at him, biting into his eye. With a swift motion, he wielded his axe, slaying the fish around him. Despite his injuries, Nicholas managed to pull himself out of the water and rejoin Sally and Lluvia. They looked at him in horror, seeing a part of his skull exposed. Without hesitation, Nicholas used his ice to cover the wound, stopping the bleeding.


    ¡°We need to get out of this palace immediately, or we¡¯re all dead,¡± Sally thought, urgency rising within her.


    Without wasting another second, Sally leaped toward Atsadi, who was floating in mid-air. ¡°Poison Style: Poison Fury Rush,¡± she thought as she prepared to strike. But just as she was about to deliver the killing blow, a fish appeared and bit off her arm. Sally crashed to the ground, her severed limb lying nearby. Another fish lunged at her, but Lluvia grabbed Sally, pulling her out of harm¡¯s way. More fish began to swarm them.


    ¡°Water Style: Water Absorption,¡± Lluvia thought, draining the water from the fish and causing them to drop lifelessly to the ground. ¡°This girl can control water¡­ She¡¯s my counter in my own palace,¡± Atsadi realized, a hint of fear creeping into his thoughts.


    ¡°We can win this fight!¡± Lluvia declared. ¡°His entire palace is made of water¡ªI can drain it so the fish won¡¯t be able to attack us.¡±


    More fish appeared, but Lluvia swiftly drained them of their water. ¡°We have to end this quickly,¡± Nicholas thought, knowing that Lluvia¡¯s flux energy wouldn¡¯t last long. Sally, with her arm tied off to stop the bleeding, exchanged a determined glance with Nicholas. They charged at Atsadi together, launching a coordinated attack.


    Atsadi, despite their weakened state, managed to block their strikes and began to overpower them. ¡°Yeager Ability: Puffer Spikes,¡± Atsadi thought, and spikes emerged from his body, ready to impale them both. But before they could connect, the spikes crumbled to pieces. Confused, Sally and Nicholas looked up to see Rex in the air.


    ¡°How did he break through the stone wall Gaia set up? It should be impossible to destroy¡­ unless he used his flames to the point where it couldn¡¯t regenerate,¡± Atsadi thought, stunned.


    Rex landed with a determined expression. ¡°I¡¯m going to use dark flames¡­ I studied all the videos Nicholas sent me,¡± he thought.


    ¡°Dark Flame Style: Dark Flame Shockwave!¡± Rex shouted. Dark flames burst from his mouth, entering Atsadi¡¯s ears.


    ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t move my body at all,¡± Atsadi realized, panic setting in.


    Rex charged at high speed. ¡°Dark Flame Style: Dark Burst,¡± Rex thought, channeling the flames into his sword. He struck Atsadi¡¯s arm, sending him flying backward as flames erupted. Rex prepared for another attack but stumbled and fell. ¡°Damn it¡­ I used too much energy to break through the stone. I can barely stand,¡± Rex thought, cursing his weakened state.


    Atsadi seized the opportunity and lunged at Rex, but Sally intervened, using her strings to pull Rex out of danger. ¡°Get the hell up, Rex! We don¡¯t have much time before Lluvia runs out of flux energy,¡± Sally urged, her voice filled with desperation.


    Lluvia, now bleeding from her nose, fought to keep the water at bay. ¡°Hurry up, guys,¡± she thought, feeling her strength waning. Nicholas charged at Atsadi once more.


    ¡°Ice Style: Ice Flowers,¡± Nicholas thought, summoning ice flowers that formed on the ground. Sally and Rex jumped, avoiding the icy bloom as it froze Atsadi¡¯s legs in place. The three of them unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks on Atsadi.


    ¡°Yeager Ability: Coral Shield,¡± Atsadi thought, forming a barrier around his neck. But it wasn¡¯t enough to stop the trio¡¯s relentless assault. They hacked at Atsadi, severing limbs and inflicting deep wounds. Atsadi¡¯s regeneration kept him from collapsing, but he was weakening.


    ¡°I have to keep standing¡­ or we¡¯re going to¡­ die,¡± Lluvia thought, struggling to maintain her focus. But the strain was too much¡ªshe collapsed, unconscious, and fell to the ground.


    ¡°You¡¯re all dead now!¡± Atsadi roared as fish from every direction swarmed to attack. But in the blink of an eye, they were all incinerated by dark flames. A portal opened to the real world, and a hand appeared, followed by a figure leaping through. Everyone turned to see him¡ªa man feared by both humans and Yeagers alike. It was Griffin Locke, the strongest of the current era.


    Griffin vanished from mid-air and reappeared beside Rex. ¡°He¡¯s fast¡­ I couldn¡¯t even see him,¡± Rex thought, astonished. Griffin effortlessly took the sword from Rex¡¯s hand, causing Atsadi to retreat in fear. ¡°Is that him¡­ Griffin Locke?¡± Atsadi thought, panic clear in his eyes.


    ¡°Griffin¡­ is that you?¡± Nicholas asked, recognizing the figure.


    ¡°Hey, Nicholas,¡± Griffin replied with a casual tone. He walked forward, his presence commanding attention. More fish materialized and charged at Griffin, but he simply smiled as they were instantly destroyed by his dark flames. In a flash, Griffin was at Atsadi¡¯s side, delivering a powerful kick to his stomach, sending him hurtling into the floating water.


    Griffin grinned wickedly and dove into the floating water, entering another realm. As he ran through the water, it parted around him, creating a tunnel of air. Atsadi, struggling to regain his composure, was suddenly thrown far away, taking severe damage from Griffin¡¯s relentless attacks. Desperate, Atsadi summoned more fish, but Griffin cut them to pieces with his sword.


    Griffin then emerged from the water realm, kicking Atsadi back into the normal palace. Without missing a beat, Griffin followed, attacking Atsadi once more.


    ¡°Yeager Ability: Puffer Spikes,¡± Atsadi thought, and spikes erupted from his body, aimed at Griffin. ¡°Dark Flame Style: Dark Flame Matter,¡± Griffin thought, his body becoming intangible as the spikes passed harmlessly through him.


    ¡°Who is this guy?¡± Rex asked in disbelief.


    ¡°A ghost,¡± Nicholas replied, his voice filled with awe.


    Griffin got up close to Atsadi and unleashed a flurry of sword strikes, slicing Atsadi¡¯s body to pieces and severing his head. The palace around them crumbled as everything returned to normal. Exhausted, everyone collapsed to the ground.


    ¡°Here, take this,¡± Griffin said, tossing the sword back to Rex. ¡°It¡¯s your sword, so you keep it.¡±


    As Rex caught the sword, a figure emerged from the shadows¡ªit was Gaia. He swung his scythe at Rex, who quickly blocked the attack, but the force of the blow sent Rex crashing through a building. Gaia pursued him, disappearing into the next building.


    Sally started to run after them, but she collapsed from exhaustion. Nicholas rushed to her side. ¡°Sally, calm down. You and Amaya need to rest right now,¡± Nicholas urged.


    ¡°No! He¡¯s my son, I need to help him!¡± Sally screamed, tears streaming down her face.


    ¡°Nicholas, Griffin, can you save him?¡± Nicholas pleaded.


    ¡°Why would I? He wanted to be part of the special force, so he has to deal with it,¡± Griffin replied coldly.


    ¡°Please, Griffin, he¡¯s the only thing I have left after Adam died¡­ Please,¡± Sally begged, her voice breaking.


    Griffin was taken aback by her words. After a moment, he relented. ¡°Fine,¡± Griffin said, his tone softening. He leaped out of the building, following Gaia and Rex.


    ¡°We have to get to Daisy and get off this tower,¡± Nicholas said urgently. A helicopter appeared, hovering near the broken hole in the building, with Daisy inside.


    ¡°Everyone, hop in!¡± the pilot shouted. Nicholas lifted Lluvia and Sally, trying to get them into the helicopter, but just as he did, the tower began to collapse. With a final desperate effort, Nicholas threw both of them into the helicopter, but he couldn¡¯t save himself. He fell into the crumbling building as the tower came crashing down.

 the wrath of the strongest

    Gaia¡¯s iron grip tightened around Rex¡¯s throat, a wave of panic surging through Rex¡¯s mind. ¡°Luna wants me to kill a kid?¡± Gaia mused, the conflict evident in his eyes as Rex¡¯s vision dimmed, his airways closing.


    Desperate, Rex choked out the words, ¡°Dark Flame Style, Dark Flame Shockwave!¡± A surge of dark flames erupted from Rex¡¯s body, forcing Gaia to release his grip involuntarily. Rex collapsed to the ground, gasping and coughing, as Gaia staggered back in surprise. ¡°This kid is no ordinary prodigy,¡± Gaia thought, a mix of confusion and admiration in his gaze. ¡°They weren¡¯t stupid to add him to their ranks.¡±


    Rex rolled away, his body wracked with pain. He knew he was outmatched but couldn¡¯t afford to give up¡ªnot when everything was on the line. Summoning every ounce of his remaining strength, he charged at Gaia, swinging his sword with all his might.


    But Gaia was unfazed. With a swift movement, he dodged Rex¡¯s attack and countered with a lightning-fast kick to the stomach. The force of the blow sent Rex sprawling, and darkness consumed him as he lost consciousness.


    As Rex lay motionless, Emma and Clara rushed to his side, their faces pale with panic. They had to save him. Erecting a protective barrier around them, they hoped to buy time, but Gaia¡¯s fury was unrelenting. With a ferocious roar, he shattered the barrier and launched a brutal assault on the sisters.


    ¡°Clara!¡± Emma¡¯s scream was filled with horror as she saw Clara¡¯s hands trembling while injecting Rex with a small vial of glowing liquid. Desperation etched on her face, Clara knew she had to protect Rex at all costs.


    But Gaia¡¯s rage was unstoppable. He slammed a fist into Clara¡¯s face, sending her flying across the ground. Grabbing her by the hair, he lifted her like a ragdoll before hurling her aside. ¡°Goodbye, demon,¡± Gaia sneered, turning his attention back to the unconscious Rex.


    In that critical moment, Gaia¡¯s arm was abruptly severed, blood spraying across the battlefield. Griffin Locke appeared, his presence commanding and full of menace. ¡°Let go of the kid,¡± Griffin demanded, his voice cold as steel.


    Gaia stumbled back, his arm regenerating almost instantly. The sisters, who had risked everything to protect Rex, now stood frozen in terror. They recognized Griffin, a being more dangerous than even Her Majesty. ¡°This presence¡­ It¡¯s Griffin Locke,¡± Gaia realized, dread creeping into his heart.


    ¡°Stay calm, Clara,¡± Clara told herself, her breath trembling. ¡°If I breathe too much, he might kill me just out of annoyance.¡±


    Griffin knelt beside Rex, his eyes glowing with vibrant green energy. He peered into Rex¡¯s body and sensed something miraculous¡ªRex was healing. His gaze shifted to the discarded injector. ¡°Dark Flame Style: Dark Flame Heal,¡± Griffin whispered, channeling his flux energy into Rex to accelerate the process.


    Rex¡¯s body began to recover, his breathing steadying. He opened his eyes and saw the three Yeagers watching him. Griffin broke the tense silence with a smirk. ¡°Aren¡¯t you guys a little too high up?¡± he teased.


    Clara, realizing the danger, swiftly shoved Emma to the ground. A dark flame slash sliced through a nearby pillar, narrowly missing them but severing Gaia¡¯s forehead. Gaia¡¯s wound healed almost instantly, but he knew he was outmatched.


    ¡°You should know, monkey,¡± Griffin said, his voice dripping with disdain, ¡°that the weak should bow to the strong.¡± His eyes shifted to the sisters. ¡°What do you two want?¡±


    Clara¡¯s voice quivered as she pleaded, ¡°Please help us. Our brother is human, but we were turned into Yeagers. We can¡¯t save him¡­ Luna has him. We need your help.¡±


    Griffin¡¯s smile turned cold. ¡°Look up,¡± he said cryptically.


    Before Clara could react, Emma¡¯s head was severed, her body collapsing lifelessly to the ground, her spine exposed. Clara¡¯s eyes widened in horror as she screamed, ¡°No!¡±


    ¡°Why the hell would I help Yeagers?¡± Griffin snarled, his demeanor darkening. ¡°Especially to save someone?¡±


    Enraged, Clara tried to summon her Yeager abilities, but before she could even finish the gesture, she was incinerated by Griffin¡¯s flames, her body disintegrating into ash.


    Griffin turned his attention back to Gaia, who stood in shock. ¡°You¡¯re the second-ranked Yeager,¡± Griffin said with contempt. ¡°So, what do you want?¡±


    Gaia hesitated, confusion clouding his thoughts. ¡°Luna knew you¡¯d take back control of your body when that Yeager tried to revive you. She wanted me to ask if you¡¯d help wipe out the human race here. After all, you¡¯re not really human anymore. You¡¯ve stolen the body of a Yeager.¡±


    Griffin paused, considering Gaia¡¯s words. His eyes fell on Emma¡¯s lifeless body, where a small bell lay beside her. He picked it up, infusing it with his flux energy before pressing it against his chest. ¡°If you can destroy or take this bell from me,¡± Griffin challenged, ¡°I¡¯ll help you. For starters, I¡¯ll wipe out everyone in the U.S. How does that sound?¡±If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Gaia¡¯s eyes narrowed as he weighed his options. ¡°I accept your terms,¡± he replied.


    Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the city, Iris and Ash wandered the empty streets, searching for Yeagers to fight. ¡°Where the hell are they?¡± Ash growled in frustration, slamming his hammer into the ground.


    ¡°Calm down, Ash,¡± Iris said, glancing at her map. ¡°Most people were evacuated. We¡¯ve got a new location to check out.¡±


    As they headed toward their destination, two Yeagers¡ªa boy and a girl with fox ears and tails¡ªblocked their path.


    ¡°Stop! You will not go any further,¡± the boy Yeager declared, his voice trembling slightly.


    ¡°Please, you can¡¯t stop us by just telling us what to do,¡± Ash retorted, eyes narrowing. ¡°And from what I can see, you two just became Yeagers¡ªyour eyes haven¡¯t fully turned yet.¡±


    ¡°Shut up, old man!¡± the girl Yeager snapped, but her words were cut short by a massive explosion in the distance, followed by sinister laughter that echoed through the city.


    ¡°That laugh¡­ Isn¡¯t that¡­¡± Iris¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    Back in the heart of L.A., Gaia was falling from the sky, and Griffin pursued him with ease. ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got?¡± Griffin taunted.


    ¡°No!¡± Gaia roared, charging up for an attack. But before he could unleash it, his arms were burned off completely as Griffin seized them and hurled Gaia into a nearby building.


    Gaia retaliated with a barrage of stone bullets, hoping to land a hit, but Griffin dodged them effortlessly. Perched atop a building, Griffin¡¯s dark flames burned so intensely that the structure began to catch fire. As magma started to flow through the city, Griffin leaped out of a window, spotting Gaia with his scythe in hand, ready to destroy the bell.


    Griffin watched as Gaia opened his mouth wide, unleashing beams of stone that ripped through the city, reducing a quarter of it to rubble. But Griffin evaded the beams with ease, his movements swift and calculated. He grabbed Gaia, slamming him into one building after another until Gaia lay on the roof, battered and beaten.


    Gaia struggled to rise as magma seeped from the ground below. But Griffin¡¯s flames were so hot that they turned the molten rock to ash before it could touch him. Gaia circled Griffin, firing a thousand stone bullets, but Griffin dodged them all with ease.


    Landing atop another building, Griffin observed the scene, the surrounding structures melting from the intense heat. Gaia, thinking he had caught Griffin off guard, attacked from behind. But Griffin was ready. He grabbed Gaia by the head and slammed him into the ground, shattering the pavement beneath them.


    ¡°You have to destroy this bell if you want to win,¡± Griffin taunted, smirking as Gaia struggled to stand. ¡°Isn¡¯t Luna watching? Don¡¯t stop now.¡±


    Determined, Gaia summoned a new scythe from his back and swung it at Griffin with all his might. But Griffin easily countered with a punch to Gaia¡¯s chest, sending him flying into the sky.


    ¡°Yeager Style: Stellar Impact!¡± Gaia shouted, summoning a massive meteor from the atmosphere, hurtling it toward Los Angeles. Griffin watched with amusement, unfazed by the impending destruction.


    ¡°We have to get out of here! A war zone is unfolding in L.A.!¡± Ash shouted, panic in his voice as he and Iris prepared to flee.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me twice!¡± Iris yelled back, urging the others to follow.


    As they ran, Griffin called out to Gaia, ¡°Hey monkey, do you even know what flux energy can do? It can do anything you want.¡±


    Griffin made a series of hand symbols. ¡°Nebula Oracle Palace,¡± he intoned.


    A giant cloud formed, covering all of Los Angeles. Griffin¡¯s palace allowed him to rewrite reality within a 509-mile radius, enveloping the entire city. As the meteor collided with the cloud, Griffin manipulated it as if it were a mere blanket settling on a bed. He leaped onto the meteor, looking down at Gaia, who was now exhausted and defeated.


    Gaia¡¯s voice quivered with defiance. ¡°I am stronger than you in every way. Yeagers are superior to humans!¡±


    Griffin¡¯s anger flared. ¡°Know your place, you Yeager scum.¡± Flames erupted from Griffin¡¯s hands, and with a clap, he conjured an arrow of intense power. Gaia, in a last-ditch effort, created a small stone bullet. ¡°Yeager Style, Stone of Death,¡± he thought, and their powers collided in a blinding explosion.


    In the final moments, as their cataclysmic forces clashed, Luna appeared beside Gaia. In an instant, they were both teleported away, leaving only a smoky aftermath behind.


    Griffin descended to where Ash and Iris stood, their eyes wide with shock and tears streaming down their faces. Iris ran to Griffin, wrapping her arms around him tightly. ¡°How are you¡­ here?¡± she sobbed, her voice trembling with emotion.


    Griffin held her close, his expression softening. ¡°It¡¯s good to be back.¡±


    But as they embraced, Griffin¡¯s body began to crack, the form he had taken starting to deteriorate. ¡°Damn it, there¡¯s a time limit on this body,¡± he muttered. A small smile crept across his face. ¡°Well, it looks like it¡¯s over now. I had a blast fighting the Yeager ranks.¡±


    ¡°I wish you could stay here,¡± Iris whispered, wiping her tears away.


    Before disappearing completely, Griffin looked at Iris with curiosity. ¡°Before I go, did it work? Was Adam¡¯s kid able to use dark flames?¡±


    Iris nodded, a hint of pride in her eyes. ¡°Yes, it worked. Rex Jones can use dark flame.¡±


    Griffin¡¯s eyes widened in surprise and pride, realizing the kid he had saved was now his heir. He smiled with genuine happiness before his form vanished into the ether, leaving behind only the memory of his powerful presence.

 Wrath and sacrifice

    After defeating the two giant Yeagers in the cave, Rex emerged from the battleground, his breath heavy with exhaustion. The echoes of their demise still lingered in the air. As he stepped into the next chamber, a new elevator stood before him, sleek and ominous. Without hesitation, he entered, descending into a new area deep below.


    The sight that greeted him was one of carnage¡ªYeager corpses strewn across the floor, recently slain. The stench of death was thick, and the eerie silence sent a chill through Rex. Moving cautiously, he approached another door and connected his cybernetics to the interface.


    ¡°Rona,¡± Rex spoke through the link, ¡°I¡¯ve beaten two powerful Yeagers. This place¡­ it¡¯s filled with their dead.¡±


    Rona¡¯s voice crackled through, oddly calm. ¡°Amazing job, Rex. You¡¯ve grown stronger than ever, possibly at the level of a Yeager rank or even higher. Remember, use this power for good, and only good. Understand me?¡±


    Rex¡¯s instincts flared. Rona never spoke like this. His suspicion solidified in a split second, and he unleashed his dark flames, incinerating the room. The illusion melted away, revealing a grand throne. Seated upon it was a figure, looking down at him with cold, calculating eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯re finally here, Rex. It¡¯s truly a pleasure to meet you,¡± the figure said with a smirk.


    Rex¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°You¡¯re the bastard who turned me into a Yeager.¡±


    The figure stood, his presence suffocating. ¡°That¡¯s right. My name is Hades, the King of Yeagers.¡±


    Rex clenched his fists, flames flickering around him. ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡±


    Hades nodded, stepping down from his throne. ¡°Let our deaths be glorious, if we die.¡±


    Rex awoke suddenly, the cold ground beneath him. Iris and Ash were at his side, their faces etched with concern.


    ¡°Rex, get up. We need to reach the Wilshire Grand Center,¡± Ash urged, pulling him to his feet. The trio spotted a soldier and swiftly commandeered a military vehicle, speeding through the war-torn streets.


    Meanwhile, Nicholas found himself trapped within the collapsing building. Blood seeped from his many wounds, and the throbbing pain in his half-exposed skull was unbearable. His communicator buzzed, and with great effort, he answered it.


    ¡°Dad, are you okay? We heard about the attack on LA. When are you and Mom coming back?¡± Amber¡¯s voice, full of worry, made Nicholas smile through the pain.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back home in the morning, sweetheart. Let me save these people first, then we can enjoy any meal you like,¡± he promised, ending the call with a heavy heart.


    Outside, the situation was dire. Yeagers were slaughtering humans mercilessly. Nicholas, summoning the last of his strength, charged into the fray, his ice staff cutting through the enemy ranks. He left messages carved into the ice, guiding survivors out of the city. His communicator revealed a new threat¡ªa Yeager rank at the Wilshire Grand Center.


    As Rex, Iris, and Ash drove through the chaos, the devastation of the ongoing battle became evident. Explosions and serpent-like creatures wreaked havoc across the city.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening out there?¡± Iris demanded, alarmed.


    ¡°A Yeager is inside the building, ma¡¯am! He can summon snakes out of thin air, and no one¡¯s been able to get close to him!¡± the soldier reported.


    ¡°Get us as close as possible!¡± Rex commanded, determination blazing in his eyes.


    The ride was perilous. A giant snake tore through one of the tires, sending the vehicle careening into a building. Rex, recovering first, enveloped the wreckage in his dark flames, obliterating the surrounding Yeagers.


    ¡°Rex, get to the Wilshire Grand Center. We¡¯ll hold them off,¡± Ash said firmly.


    ¡°What about you two?¡± Rex asked, worry creasing his brow.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be fine. Go!¡± Iris insisted.


    Rex sprinted towards the Wilshire Grand Center, moving at blinding speed. As he arrived, Nicholas was locked in a fierce battle, cutting down Yeagers with precision. Ace, with his signature grin, suddenly materialized and struck a lethal blow.


    ¡°Were you here all along?¡± Nicholas gasped, seeing an apparition of Adam pointing towards Rex, who was just arriving.


    Rex¡¯s heart sank as he took in the scene. Nicholas, battered and broken, was at death¡¯s door.


    ¡°Tell my kids¡­ I¡¯m sorry for not keeping my promise,¡± Nicholas whispered. His upper body exploded in a shower of blood, leaving Rex in shock and grief. Tears wouldn¡¯t bring Nicholas back¡ªonly vengeance would.


    Rex charged at Ace, his blade swinging with fury. But Ace vanished, reappearing behind him with a mocking smile. ¡°Come on, Rex. His life didn¡¯t really matter; he was a weakling.¡±


    Rex¡¯s anger flared. He swung his sword with the pommel, sending Ace flying back. ¡°You little brat,¡± Ace sneered, summoning a swarm of snakes to attack Rex.


    ¡°Dark Flame Style: Dark Flame Wheel!¡± Rex shouted, spinning to incinerate the snakes. But one managed to bite his leg, injecting venom.


    Rex collapsed, coughing blood. ¡°What? My poison should have made his body explode,¡± Ace mused.


    Rex struggled to his feet. ¡°I burned the poison out with my flames, but it¡¯s also burning me from the inside,¡± he thought grimly.


    Ace, intrigued, taunted, ¡°Ready to give up?¡±


    Rex didn¡¯t respond, instead charging again. Ace¡¯s snakes emerged from the walls, but Rex slid beneath them, slicing off Ace¡¯s legs. As Ace regenerated, Rex realized, ¡°His regeneration is slower than Killer¡¯s. I can win this.¡±


    Ace duplicated himself, the clone leaping out of a building while the real Ace continued the assault. Rex, overwhelmed, fell as more snakes bit him.


    Ace smirked. ¡°That was easy.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m still alive, idiot,¡± Rex retorted, standing despite his injuries.


    Ace¡¯s smile widened. ¡°This is getting fun. I can¡¯t wait to eat you.¡±


    Both fighters clashed again, Rex growing weaker from the venom and burns, while Ace toyed with him. Suddenly, they both turned to see Daisy running up the stairs, Ace¡¯s clone fleeing.


    [Fifteen Minutes Earlier]


    In a helicopter above the city, Daisy was with Amaya, who was unconscious, and Sally, barely holding on.


    ¡°Ma¡¯am, we¡¯re almost out of the city,¡± the soldier reported.


    ¡°Good. Once they¡¯re safe, take me back,¡± Daisy ordered.


    The helicopter suddenly shook as Ace attacked. Daisy, grabbing her spear, leapt out, stabbing Ace as they both plummeted to the ground.


    ¡°Amazing, you survived the fall,¡± Ace remarked, amused.


    Daisy, unshaken, blocked his attacks, noticing something was off. ¡°He¡¯s not using his full power,¡± she realized, slashing at him. But when she did, she saw his body was made of snakes.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t the real body,¡± Daisy thought, as the fake Ace smirked and ran off. Daisy chased him through the city, cutting down Yeagers in her way. Finally, she caught up, only to find herself face-to-face with the real Ace.


    Ace slashed at her, and though Daisy severed his hand, her face was poisoned. As she collapsed, she looked over at Rex.


    ¡°Tell my kids I had a good life,¡± Daisy said softly, her vision fading.


    In a field of flowers, Daisy found herself sitting in a chair, Nicholas beside her. ¡°So, you¡¯re dead too,¡± Daisy remarked.


    ¡°Yeah. Didn¡¯t see the Yeager coming,¡± Nicholas replied, sitting down beside her.


    ¡°Why did you name the kids Ember and Leon?¡± Nicholas asked, curious.


    Daisy smiled, looking up at the sky. ¡°Leon felt like a lion, strong and smart. Ember¡­ she laughed when she first breathed, like a spark.¡±


    Nicholas smiled. ¡°Good choices. I¡¯m glad I married you.¡±


    ¡°Me too,¡± Daisy said.


    Back in reality, blood splattered the walls as Daisy¡¯s headless body crumpled to the ground. Rex stood, covered in blood, staring at her lifeless form in shock.


    ¡°D-Daisy?¡± Rex stammered, confusion and rage warring within him.


    Ace, now fully merged with his clone, grinned. ¡°Ready for round two?¡±

 End of war

    Rex was paralyzed, his mind refusing to process what had just happened. He was drenched in blood¡ªDaisy¡¯s blood. He looked down at her lifeless body, the gruesome scene searing itself into his memory. Her once bright eyes were now dull and empty, her body lying motionless in a pool of blood. Everything had happened so fast, too fast for Rex to fully comprehend. One moment she was alive, and now, she was gone.


    ¡°She¡¯s gone,¡± Rex thought, but it still didn¡¯t feel real to him.


    Ace charged at him, and Rex instinctively deflected the attack, but his movements were sluggish, burdened by the overwhelming grief that threatened to consume him. Suddenly, snakes emerged from the walls, their fangs piercing his back, injecting venom into his system. The pain was unbearable, like his insides were on fire, but he barely noticed. All he could think about was Daisy¡¯s lifeless body.


    Rex was on the verge of collapsing when Adam delivered a powerful punch that sent him flying. Rex crashed into the ground, his body refusing to move. The venom was paralyzing him, draining his strength with each passing second.


    Ace loomed over him, a sneer on his face. ¡°Such a weakling,¡± he spat.


    Rex¡¯s vision began to darken. ¡°I have to get up. Please, get up, body,¡± he pleaded, his mind racing. But his body wasn¡¯t responding, and he could feel consciousness slipping away.


    In his mind, Rex was suddenly transported to a different time, a different place. He remembered his battle with Hades, the god of the underworld. It was one of the most intense battles he had ever fought. He recalled how he had faced Hades, his sword blazing with the power of the Flame Style. He had attacked Hades with everything he had, slashing through the god¡¯s defenses with relentless fury.


    Hades had retaliated with a beam of light so powerful it could obliterate anything in its path. But Rex had dodged it with lightning speed, narrowly avoiding certain death. The battle had raged on, with Hades transforming into a monstrous form with eight arms, each wielding a different weapon. Rex had fought with all his might, blocking and countering every attack. But then, Hades had grabbed him by the neck, lifting him off the ground.


    ¡°You¡¯re dead,¡± Hades had hissed, his grip tightening around Rex¡¯s throat.


    But Rex had fought back, his eyes glowing with a fierce yellow light. He had grabbed Hades¡¯ head, draining the god¡¯s flux energy in a desperate attempt to survive. Hades had screamed in agony before leaping into the air, the battle spilling onto the surface.


    Rex¡¯s body had transformed, becoming darker, more menacing. They had landed back on solid ground, and Hades had undergone another transformation, becoming even more grotesque and gigantic. In a final, desperate move, Rex had charged up a massive attack, disintegrating Hades¡¯ body completely.


    The memory fueled Rex¡¯s resolve. His eyes snapped open, and with a burst of speed, he grabbed Ace¡¯s leg and hurled him down through multiple floors of the building. Rex jumped down after him, relentless in his pursuit. Ace¡¯s body began to regenerate, his wounds closing as his flesh reknit itself.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    ¡°How the hell is he still alive!?¡± Ace thought, panic creeping into his voice. He saw Rex, his eyes glowing yellow, advancing with murderous intent.


    ¡°What drove you this far, to become a Yeager? Was it because you were about to die, or were you forced to?¡± Rex asked, his voice cold and devoid of emotion.


    Ace¡¯s mind flashed back to a similar question posed by another dark flame user long ago. The memory only fueled his rage. ¡°Shut up! Us Yeagers are the strongest beings to live. Humans are weaklings who rely on others, but we Yeagers don¡¯t!¡± Ace shouted defiantly.


    ¡°That¡¯s your answer then,¡± Rex said, his movements blindingly fast as he appeared in front of Ace. Ace tried to strike, drawing a blade through his own skin, but Rex dodged at the last second, severing Ace¡¯s waist and nearly taking off his head. Snakes erupted from Ace¡¯s back, venom dripping from their fangs as they lunged at Rex, but Rex was already gone, appearing in front of Ace¡¯s falling body, ready to finish the job.


    Snakes¡¯ faces appeared all over Ace¡¯s body, spewing venom in a desperate attempt to defend himself. But Rex danced through the attacks, his every move calculated and precise. Ace¡¯s body regenerated once again, his waist reattaching as he backed away from Rex.


    ¡°Where is this extra strength coming from, and what¡¯s up with those eyes of his? It¡¯s like he has Yeager eyes,¡± Ace thought, fear gnawing at him.


    Rex then kicked Ace out of the building with a force that shook the walls. Ace tumbled through the air, but managed to cling to the side of the building using his flux energy. Rex followed, walking down the side of the wall with eerie calm.


    Ace tried to keep up, but Rex¡¯s speed was overwhelming. ¡°New Scaled Palace,¡± Ace thought, summoning his palace. As Rex struck Ace at the neck, Ace¡¯s body disappeared, leaving only a shed skin behind like a snake.


    ¡°You¡¯re the fourth person to ever see my palace,¡± Ace said, his voice dripping with venom.


    ¡°That¡¯s a lot of people,¡± Rex replied, unimpressed.


    ¡°Shut up! Now I have to kill you,¡± Ace snarled.


    ¡°Try, fuck face,¡± Rex shot back, a wicked smile on his face.


    Ace attacked with renewed ferocity, but Rex dodged effortlessly. ¡°Yeager Ability, Snake Tornado,¡± Ace thought, summoning a vortex of writhing snakes that enveloped Rex. But Rex danced through the tornado, his sword cutting through the chaos with lethal precision. He leaped out of the tornado and slashed Ace¡¯s chest, drawing blood.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, I¡¯m fucking done with you!¡± Ace thought, his anger boiling over.


    Rex just smiled, taunting him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, scared?¡± he asked, his tone mocking.


    Ace¡¯s fury reached its peak. ¡°Yeager Ability, Snake Armageddon,¡± he roared, summoning a massive orb filled with countless snakes.


    ¡°Every human is going to die!¡± Ace yelled, his voice echoing through the ruins.


    Rex, unfazed, used his cybernetics to contact his allies, urging them to evacuate LA. Ace was about to unleash his devastating attack when Rex acted.


    ¡°Dark Flame Style, Dark Death,¡± Rex thought. With a single swing of his sword, the palace, the Wilshire Grand Center, and a quarter of LA were obliterated. The destructive power left Ace burned, missing a leg, and unable to regenerate.


    ¡°My body won¡¯t regenerate¡­ Why is that?¡± Ace thought, terror creeping in as he saw Rex standing over him, bloodied but victorious.


    ¡°I¡¯ve hated you all my life. I¡¯m going to send you to hell now,¡± Rex said, his yellow eyes glowing with deadly intent.


    Ace, panicked, began to crawl away as fast as he could. ¡°Luna, help me!¡± he cried out in desperation.


    ¡°Luna is not going to help you,¡± Rex said coldly.


    Before Ace could utter another word, Rex¡¯s sword flashed, and his head was severed cleanly from his body. Rex stood there, staring up at the sky, as the weight of everything that had happened settled over him like a shroud.

 Replacement

    Killer appeared in the mansion again, a scowl on his face as he wondered why he had been summoned. ¡°Why am I here? I was enjoying pulling a little boy¡¯s guts out,¡± he muttered, his voice laced with irritation. He thought he was alone until Beelzebub materialized beside him. ¡°Were you able to eat them?¡± she asked, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.


    ¡°No! And I was about to!¡± he yelled, his voice echoing with anger. The rest of the Yeagers soon arrived, their presence adding to the tension in the room. They quickly noticed Atsadi and Ace were missing and that Gaia¡¯s body was badly damaged. ¡°Damn, what happened to you?¡± Beelzebub asked, eyeing Gaia¡¯s injuries with a mix of curiosity and disdain.


    Killer pulled out his phone and showed her a video of Gaia¡¯s defeat at the hands of Griffin. Beelzebub started to laugh. ¡°He made you his bitch!¡± she mocked, her laughter echoing through the room. Gaia¡¯s face turned red with anger. ¡°You were watching the whole time, Killer?¡± he roared, advancing on Killer with murderous intent.


    In a flash, Gaia summoned his scythe and attempted to decapitate Killer. But before he could strike, his arm was severed, and Luna appeared, her presence commanding the room. ¡°Gaia, that¡¯s enough. You¡¯re putting the Yeager ranks in shambles,¡± she said, her voice cold and authoritative.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Luna. I could have dodged it. It¡¯s just us playing,¡± Killer said, attempting to defuse the situation.


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying it for your sake. Do you understand me, Gaia?¡± Luna responded, her eyes locking onto Gaia¡¯s.


    ¡°Yes, queen,¡± Gaia replied, bowing his head in submission, his severed arm already beginning to regenerate.


    Luna stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over the gathered Yeagers. ¡°Atsadi and Ace are dead,¡± she announced, her tone devoid of emotion.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°Aw shucks, my bad. I was the one who turned Ace into a Yeager. Sorry for him being weak,¡± Killer said with a shrug.


    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. Ace lost to a kid. He was a weakling. I didn¡¯t save him because of that. And Atsadi¡ªhe lost to Griffin, but what makes me angrier is that Ace lost to a damn fiftheen-year-old kid,¡± Luna said, her voice rising with anger. All of them felt her wrath and immediately fell to their knees, bowing deeply. Killer, however, remained seated cross-legged on the floor, his expression indifferent.


    ¡°Really, why do I keep all of you around? Except for Killer, all of you are useless,¡± Luna said, her voice dripping with disdain.


    ¡°Were sorry Your Majesty,¡± all six of them said


    ¡°He lost to Rex? Man, now I want to fight him,¡± Killer said, his grin widening.


    ¡°So what¡¯s the new plan?¡± Shadow asked, his voice steady despite the unsettling news.


    ¡°It¡¯s going to take some time, but it will happen in Japan,¡± Luna said, her eyes glinting with determination.


    ¡°Understood,¡± Shadow said, nodding.


    ¡°The person who will be going on this mission is one,¡± Luna continued. She snapped her fingers, and a girl stepped out from the shadows. ¡°This is Natalia, the new Yeager rank four.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you. My name is Killer,¡± he said, extending his hand. Natalia didn¡¯t take it; she simply looked at them with disdain.


    ¡°Except for this kid here, you¡¯re all weak,¡± she declared, her voice dripping with contempt.


    Everyone was taken aback by her boldness. Destiny looked up from his handheld console, smirking. ¡°That¡¯s a good way to greet us,¡± he thought.


    ¡°I will kill Rex Jones myself because none of you are capable of doing it,¡± Natalia said, her eyes blazing with confidence.


    ¡°I¡¯m picking her to come with me to Japan when the time comes. But for now, kill Rex Jones at all costs,¡± Luna commanded, her eyes scanning the room.

 recovery

    Rex''s journey took a critical turn as he noticed something unusual about Hade''s lifeless body. Despite appearing dead, the body emitted an ominous scent. Rex quickly realized it was about to explode. Acting on instinct, he sprinted back to the airplane at full speed. Upon reaching the aircraft, he found the pilots in a state of panic, fearing the Yeagers'' wrath.


    ¡°Command post, open a portal now!¡± Rex yelled desperately.


    A portal materialized, but just as Rex was about to jump through, Rona''s voice stopped him. ¡°Stop, Rex! If you go inside now, the auto-turrets will kill you instantly,¡± she warned.


    Rex glanced at his body, puzzled, and then sensed something behind him. He turned to see Agnes standing there. She bowed to Rex before her body disintegrated into particles that merged with him, transforming him back into a human. With newfound strength, Rex leaped through the portal just as the explosion went off behind him, narrowly escaping death.


    On the other side of the portal, people gathered, waiting for him. Rex landed on the ground, exhausted, and Rona approached him with concern. ¡°Mission... complete,¡± Rex muttered before passing out from exhaustion.


    When Rex awoke after the grueling battle in LA, he found himself in a hospital bed, his mother, Sally, sitting beside him. ¡°Hey, sleepyhead. How have you been?¡± Sally asked warmly.


    Rex''s eyes quickly fell on Sally¡¯s robotic arm. ¡°Your arm...¡± he began, concerned.


    Sally waved it off. ¡°Oh, this? I¡¯m fine. Just a result of fighting Yeagers,¡± she said casually.


    Rex looked out the window and took a deep breath. ¡°So, what¡¯s going to happen to Ember and Leon?¡± he asked.


    Sally sighed. ¡°I¡¯m going to take care of them. They¡¯ll be working with me here at the hospital. We need more staff, and it¡¯s tough running this place alone,¡± she explained.


    Sally then checked Rex over, making sure he was fully healed. ¡°Your bones are healed, and now we just need to rebuild your strength,¡± she said.


    Ignoring his mother''s caution, Rex insisted on getting up. Despite her concerns, he stood up and began stretching, feeling surprisingly well. ¡°I don¡¯t get it. My body feels perfectly fine,¡± Rex said, puzzled by his rapid recovery.


    Sally, equally baffled, thought to herself, ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense. His body was in critical condition. How is he able to stand right now?¡± She sent him to a testing room for further examination.


    After extensive tests, the doctor told Rex he was free to go. However, when the results came through on the hologram board, the doctor was so shocked by what she saw that she fell out of her chair. The data indicated something impossible was happening within Rex''s body.


    As Rex made his way back to his room, he noticed two figures standing outside. ¡°Rona?¡± he called out.


    Rona turned around with a smile. ¡°Hey there, Rex. How are you feeling?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I feel better, but who¡¯s this?¡± Rex inquired, noticing the woman beside Rona.


    The woman, who appeared young yet battle-hardened, stepped forward. ¡°My name is Malin. I am the third user of the dark flame style,¡± she introduced herself.


    Rona added, ¡°She was Griffin''s teacher back in the day. She can help you get stronger.¡±


    Malin cut her off sharply. ¡°Shut up and stand over there in the corner,¡± she ordered.


    Rona obediently went to the corner and sat down. Malin turned back to Rex. ¡°Once you¡¯re discharged from the hospital, meet me at Doheny Beach,¡± she instructed before leaving.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Rex watched her go, realizing just how tough his training would be. ¡°She¡¯s going to kill me if I train with her,¡± he thought nervously. After Malin left, Rona walked back over to Rex.


    ¡°Rex, I want to give you this,¡± Rona said, handing him an armband of rank one. Rex stared at it, surprised.


    ¡°Why are you giving me this?¡± he asked.


    ¡°We lost four of our ranks, and the rankings have changed. You are now given the title of rank one,¡± Rona explained, placing the armband in his hand before leaving the hospital.


    Rex returned to his room, where Leon and Amber were waiting. ¡°Hey, you two,¡± Rex greeted them.


    ¡°Hey, Rex. You look like shit,¡± Leon joked.


    ¡°Shut up. You two look fine,¡± Rex retorted with a grin.


    ¡°Thanks. Things have been tough since Mom and Dad died, but Leon has enough money to keep paying for the house, so we¡¯re good,¡± Amber said, her tone bittersweet.


    Rex looked down, haunted by memories of Daisy and Nicholas¡¯s deaths. ¡°Guys, listen, it was my fau¡ª¡± he began, but Leon cut him off.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t your fault, Rex. They died fighting for what they believed in, so we will fight in their names,¡± Leon said firmly.


    ¡°So that means, Amber, you¡¯re going to join the Yeager Force?¡± Rex asked.


    ¡°Yup. It¡¯s going to be tough, but I know I can do it,¡± she replied with determination.


    ¡°That¡¯s great to hear,¡± Rex said, feeling a bit lighter. He hesitated, then decided to share something important.


    ¡°Your father told me that he was sorry for not keeping his promise, and your mother wanted to tell me that she had a good life,¡± Rex said.


    Leon and Amber were stunned by his words. ¡°Thank you so much. I truly needed that,¡± Amber said, her voice thick with emotion.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to get going now. Let''s go, Leon,¡± Amber said, but as they left the room, Rex could hear Amber crying quietly outside.


    A few days later, Rex was finally discharged from the hospital. Before leaving, he visited a hospital room where someone sat on the bed, looking out the window. ¡°Hi, Aunt Martha,¡± Rex greeted her.


    ¡°Hi, Rex. It¡¯s been a while. You look better now,¡± Martha replied with a faint smile.


    Rex walked over and sat by her side. ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± he asked gently.


    ¡°I don¡¯t really know, but I hope I do. I want to visit Adam¡¯s grave to show that I¡¯m better,¡± she said, her voice filled with hope.


    ¡°I hope you do,¡± Rex said, his voice equally sincere.


    ¡°Why did you visit?¡± Martha asked.


    ¡°Father probably wanted me to, since you¡¯ll be alone,¡± Rex answered.


    Martha chuckled softly. ¡°Just like your father¡ªkind, caring, everyone loves him. Oh yes, I have a gift for you. Check the closet; you might like it,¡± she said.


    Rex walked over to the closet and opened it, finding an old jacket inside. ¡°That used to be Adam¡¯s jacket. I held onto it after he was done wearing it, so I think you might like it now,¡± Martha said.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Rex said, noticing a cut on the back of the jacket. ¡°Oh, that? He got it while fighting a very powerful opponent,¡± she explained.


    Just then, Rex¡¯s cybernetics alerted him that his mom was calling. ¡°I¡¯m going to go to her now. Thank you for the jacket,¡± Rex said.


    ¡°No problem. Anytime,¡± Martha said warmly.


    After leaving the hospital, Rex met up with Sally. They went through a portal and returned home. As they entered the house, Rex turned to his mother. ¡°Mom, can I tell you something?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yeah, what is it?¡± Sally responded.


    ¡°Mom, I have to go. I met Malin a couple of days ago, and she wants me to meet her at Doheny Beach. I want to train with her,¡± Rex said, his voice resolute.


    Sally was taken aback but understood that this was something Rex needed to do. The world was changing, and so was he. ¡°Fine, but promise me one thing¡ªyou can¡¯t die,¡± Sally said, her voice tinged with concern.


    ¡°I won¡¯t. I still have to kill Luna and Yeager Rank One,¡± Rex said, a determined smile on his face.


    Sally smiled back. ¡°Fine, then get going. I won¡¯t bother you about it,¡± she said.


    Rex left the house and made his way to Doheny Beach, where Malin was waiting for him.


    ¡°So, are you ready to get going, Rex?¡± Malin asked, her expression serious.


    ¡°Of course I am, but where are we going?¡± Rex asked.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to Italy to train. No one will bother us once we get there,¡± Malin explained.


    Rex nodded, ready to get stronger and prove himself as the fifth user of the dark flame style.

 2667

    In the abandoned storage building, Sally and Daisy cautiously investigated their surroundings.


    ¡°Are you ready to go inside?¡± Sally asked, holding her flashlight steady.


    ¡°Mhm, totally ready,¡± Daisy replied, her voice trembling.


    As they ventured in, Daisy clung to Sally¡¯s back.


    ¡°You can¡¯t hide behind me forever, Daisy,¡± Sally chided.


    ¡°I¡¯m not hiding. I¡¯m protecting you from behind,¡± Daisy retorted.


    ¡°Sure you are,¡± Sally thought, knowing Daisy was using her as a human shield.


    A noise to their right startled them. From the shadows emerged a Yegaer wielding a sickle, bloodied and menacing. With a flick of her wrist, Sally¡¯s strings sliced the Yegaer into a million pieces.


    ¡°That was easier than I expected,¡± Sally said as the strings retracted into her gloves. She turned and saw hundreds more Yegaers advancing.


    ¡°What are we going to do, Sally?¡± Daisy asked, panic rising in her voice.


    ¡°There¡¯s one thing we can do,¡± Sally replied. She pulled a grenade from her hip, tossed it at the Yegaers, and shouted, ¡°Run!¡±


    They bolted as a massive explosion erupted behind them. Daisy sprinted towards a crumbled wall, leaping through it only to realize they were in mid-air.


    ¡°Ahhhhhh!¡± she screamed as she plummeted. She used her flux energy to keep herself safe from not dying from the fall. She fell into a ditch where the building was. She was on her knees and trying to get up. But she heard feet walking towards


    ¡°I came here to save Daisy,¡± a voice said. She looked up to see Griffin standing above her.


    ¡°Weeeeekaling,¡± he mocked.


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Daisy snapped, furious.


    A giant explosion rocked the building as Sally burst out, Yegaers swarming behind her. Daisy and Sally prepared to fight, while Griffin watched.


    ¡°Flame style, flame universe,¡± a voice intoned. All the Yegaers disintegrated as Adam appeared, flames emanating from his blade.


    ¡°Hey Daisy, hey honey,¡± Adam greeted.


    ¡°Hello, Adam,¡± Sally replied, blushing slightly.


    ¡°Wow, these bastards show up just in time,¡± Daisy thought.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°What¡¯s with that look, Daisy? You should be happy we saved you,¡± Nicholas said, appearing beside Griffin. Daisy ran up from the ditch and hugged him tightly.


    ¡°I was so scared. I don¡¯t ever want to go through that again,¡± she said.


    ¡°Wow, the crybaby hugging her boyfriend. Unlike you, Sally¡ªyou¡¯re a wife badass beating up Yegaers,¡± Griffin teased.


    ¡°Thank you, this wife is the best I will ever be, even somewhere else,¡± Sally said, glancing at Adam. Adam, feeling her gaze, moved to stand beside Griffin and Nicholas.


    ¡°Are you really that scared of her?¡± Griffin asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid of what she might do to me,¡± Adam admitted.


    ¡°By the way, did you complete the mission in San Francisco?¡± Sally inquired. The trio exchanged worried glances.


    Later, in the Yeager Force headquarters, Falcon, the leader of the Yeager force.


    ¡°So, 300 humans died due to a Yeager rank, and whose brilliant idea was it to skip the mission?¡± Falcon demanded. Adam and Nicholas pointed at Griffin.


    ¡°Boss, let me hunt down the bastard and kill it,¡± Griffin volunteered, only to receive a smack from Falcon.


    As they left the office, they headed to the break room to play video games.


    ¡°How did no one tell us it was a Yeager rank? I would¡¯ve killed it,¡± Griffin said.


    ¡°It was our fault those 300 people died. We are to blame,¡± Adam said solemnly.


    ¡°No, those humans challenged the Yeager rank themselves. They should have let the strongest handle it,¡± Griffin argued.


    ¡°Are you saying the strong should handle everything while the weak die?¡± Adam asked, incredulous.


    ¡°Yes, the weak should bow to the strong,¡± Griffin declared.


    ¡°We protect humanity, and you¡¯re saying we shouldn¡¯t care about them?¡± Adam yelled.


    ¡°Those are your ideals. I focus on getting stronger,¡± Griffin retorted, flames flickering around Adam.


    ¡°Perfect time for ice cream,¡± Nicholas said, dashing out as Falcon entered.


    ¡°What the hell is going on in here?¡± Falcon demanded. Adam¡¯s flames extinguished, and Griffin stood very still.


    ¡°Nothing, boss. Do you need something?¡± Adam asked.


    ¡°Come with me, both of you,¡± Falcon ordered. They followed him.


    ¡°You two are going on a new mission,¡± Falcon said.


    ¡°Pass. I don¡¯t want a lame mission,¡± Griffin replied.


    ¡°No, the higher-ups specifically requested you. Retrieve someone and erase their memories and flux energy,¡± Falcon explained. They were intrigued.


    ¡°Who is this person?¡± Adam asked.


    ¡°She¡¯s the Flux Princess, she has boundless flux energy ,¡± Falcon revealed.


    ¡°If the Yegaers get her, we¡¯ll lose this war. But if we erase her memories and flux energy, we¡¯ll be fine,¡± Griffin deduced.


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Falcon confirmed.


    ¡°But who is she?¡± Adam pressed. Falcon stopped and turned to Griffin.


    ¡°It¡¯s your sister, Natalia Locke,¡± Falcon said. Griffin¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    ¡°No way! She can¡¯t even use flux energy,¡± Griffin protested.


    ¡°Somehow, she can. You two are heading to New York City to pick her up and take her to Glacier National Park in Montana to erase it,¡± Falcon instructed.


    Days later, Adam and Griffin arrived in New York City. Walking together, Adam asked, ¡°Griffin, two days ago you said your sister couldn¡¯t use flux energy. How did she get it now?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea. The Locke family, is one of the strongest in the world, but they treated Natalia as nothing and sent her to New York to live her life,¡± Griffin explained.


    ¡°Your family sounds terrible,¡± Adam commented.


    ¡°It really is,¡± Griffin agreed.


    They arrived at her apartment. ¡°You get her. I¡¯ll stay here,¡± Griffin said.


    ¡°Understood,¡± Adam replied. Inside the building, he took the elevator, thinking Griffin might be avoiding a reunion. Reaching her floor, he rang the doorbell. Suddenly, a massive explosion occurred. Shielded by his flames, Adam saw a girl being dragged away by a Yegaer. Adam rushed in and killed the Yegaer.


    ¡°The Yegaers are here, Griffin,¡± Adam said.


    As Griffin heard this, a knife flew past him, which he caught. ¡°So, you¡¯re Griffin Locke. You¡¯re quite popular among the Yegaers,¡± his attacker said.


    ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯m going to kill you now,¡± Griffin declared, drawing his sword. In a split second, the Yegaer¡¯s head was off. ¡°Weakling,¡± Griffin muttered.


    ¡°Adam, I¡¯m coming up to you. Wait for me,¡± Griffin said.


    ¡°Understood,¡± Adam replied.


    Meanwhile, at the top of the World Trade Center, Luna and another woman watched.


    ¡°So, Night Sora, do you want to lead the operation to kill the Flux Princess?¡± Luna asked.


    ¡°Its Saito. I took my husband¡¯s last name. But sure, it sounds fun,¡± she said with a smile.

 School brawl

    Chapter two


    School brawl


    As Griffin made it to the floor where his sister was staying. He walked into her apartment room and saw her unconscious and Adam holding her. ¡°Is she knocked out,¡± Griffin asked.


    Adam handed Natalia to Griffin.


    ¡°Yeah probably due to the explosion, I had to wrap up her arm. If we only learn how to use flux energy like Rona, we could heal her,"Adam said.


    As they both rememberer the past when Rona was teaching them how to use flux energy.


    ¡°Ok guys, it¡¯s like this wham and then this and then that,¡± Rona said. She was moving her fingers around and Griffin and Adam couldn''t understand it.


    Then as the both looked at Natalia she started to wake up, then when she opened her eyes she slapped Griffin in the face. ¡°Let go of me you creep, I''m gonna kick your ass, if you try to touch me again,¡± Nataila said.


    ¡°Is that how you greet you big brother!¡± He yelled. Then she realized. ¡°Griffin, what are you doing here?¡± She said. Then someone walked into the room. ¡°Natalia are you ok! A giant explosion happened,¡± the girl said. It was Natalia''s best friend Sky.


    ¡°Sky what are you doing here,¡± Nataila asked. ¡°I came here to walk to school with you, but then an explosion happened so I was worried,¡± she said.


    ¡°Nataila get your friend out of here, we¡¯re heading to Montana, right now,¡± Griffin said.


    ¡°Yeah no, sorry I don¡¯t want to go with someone like you. I know you are probably here because I have flux energy, and I figured this out yesterday and so I don¡¯t need your help, I can live life easily without you, let¡¯s get going Sky¡± she said.


    Nataila walked away from them both and sky followed her out of the door. ¡°Is she stupid or what,¡± Griffin said. Adam called Falcon.


    ¡°Sir, she doesn¡¯t want to come along with us, she is heading to her school,¡± Adam said.


    ¡°You guys follow her and protect her, the higher ups ordered to keep her safe. Let her do the stuff she wants for the day and take her to Montana,¡± Falcon explained.


    ¡°Do we have too? I want to get the this over with,¡± Griffin said annoyed.


    ¡°Do you want to get fired?¡± Falcon asked.


    Griffin stops talking. ¡°Fine let¡¯s get to her and protect her,¡± Griffin said. Adam hung up on the call and they both ran out of the building and headed to her school.


    In an old small restaurant, Night was eating a burger, watching boxing to win some money, then she got a call from someone. She picked her phone up. ¡°Who is it?¡± She said,


    ¡°Hey Night, it¡¯s me Luna. They didn''t head to Montana,¡± she said.


    ¡°Oh they didn''t now? that¡¯s good how about you send some Yeagers out to Nataila¡¯s position,¡± Night said.


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    ¡°Why would I do that? If the Yeagers kill flux princess, you won¡¯t get paid your thirty mil,¡± Luna said.


    ¡°Yeah those Yeagers aren¡¯t going to kill her if Griffin Locke is there. he had dark flame style. One of its abilities is to sense danger approaching them so they won¡¯t be able to get the jump on him. So I want you to send Yeagers to his location. I want him to be paranoid to the point where he will protect her non stop and tire him out so I can jump in and kill him,¡± she explained.


    ¡°I understand, I will do just that,¡± Luna said. She Hangs up on Night.


    Grffin and Adam arrived got to the school Griffin sensed something. ¡°Griffin you good?¡± Adam asked.


    ¡°I sense multiple Yeagers are here, we need to get her out of the state, right now!¡± Grffin yelled, As Adam went inside the school. He looked around for her looking inside windows in classes. But he couldn''t find her at all. Then something jumped out of the lockers but Adam dodged it and kicked it in the stomach. As it fell to the ground, It got up and changed it size to match Adam¡¯s height. ¡°So you¡¯re Adam, the flame devil,¡± a Yeager said. Adam just stood there looking at the Yeager. ¡°Get out of here while you still can. I have to look for someone and you just in my way,¡± he said. The Yeager eyes started to twitch, then he charged at Adam. The Yeager took out their small axe, and attacked Adam. Adam dodged all attacks, then he drew his sword and attacked the Yeager. When the sword touched its neck the Yeager disappears. Adam was confused by this then. Yeager appeared behind Adam attacked him from behind. ¡°Flame style, flame wheel,¡± Adam thought. He spun his slice right through the Yeager. As the flames hit the Yeager it tries to teleport away but the flames were hot as the surface of the sun when it made contact with him. It died right there and then. As the Yeager died, Adam ran to check every place should could be.


    Griffin was checking outside of the school. Then he heard singing coming from the chapel. He ran over there and slammed the door open. ¡°Natalia!¡± Griffin yelled. He looked around and he saw Nataila. All of the students looked at him and then all of the girls started to yell. ¡°Oh my god he is so handsome,¡± one girl said.


    ¡°Hey Natalia, why didn''t you tell us, that you had a hot boyfriend,¡± another girl said.


    ¡°He is not my boyfriend! He is my brother,¡± Nataila said.


    ¡°Everyone, be quiet. I¡¯m sorry sir, it looks like you are part of the Yeager force. Do you need something from Natalia?¡± The teacher asked.


    ¡°Yeah I need her to come with me to ke-¡± Griffin stopped talking and sensed something coming for them. The roof of the building was destroyed. Everyone panicked. ¡°Dark flame style, dark haze line,¡± Griffin thought. He swung his sword multiple places and the debri was destroyed and it was nothing but dust. Multiple Yeagers fell down to the ground. And they look the exact same. ¡°Oh wow, you guys look the same, is this your ability, you can clone yourself,¡± Griffin asked.


    One of the clone Yeagers was about to attack one of the students. But it was killed in second by Griffin. Then Griffin disappeared and killed the other Yeagers. Then He picked up Natalia. ¡°Hey let go of me!¡± She said,


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna show you why you should stick with me sis,¡± Griffin said. He moved at fast speed and ended up on the roof of the main school building. I sense the real Yeager really close,¡± Griffin said. Then more of the Yeagers clones ran to Griffin and attacked him. But they were burned to ashes with his dark flames. Natalia was scared for her life. ¡°I see it takes you twenty seconds to create new clones of yourself but they got to me so quickly that means the real one is right there,¡± Griffin said. He looked at the window and jumped straight towards the window and broke through it. He saw the main body. ¡°He¡¯s so fast, I didn''t realize we broke through the window.¡± Nataila thought. ¡°Hey Yeager scum, I am about to show you why I¡¯m the strongest,¡± Griffin said. He placed one finger on his head. ¡°Nebula, Oracle Palace,¡± Griffin thought. A giant cloud covered the whole school. Then it disappeared. ¡°Aw shucks, I failed!¡± He yelled. Then in a spilt second the Yeager head was cut off and blood splattered by Grffin sword. Nataila looked up at Griffins. ¡°My brother is a monster!¡± She thought. She realized how strong he truly was and she knew that he could protect her. ¡°I thought I could learn how to use my flux energy right then and there to create my palace,¡± he thought. Then Nataila felt her phone buzz. She saw it came from Sky, her best friend. ¡°Griffin, she''s been captured!¡± She yelled at him.


    Some hours has past since the attack on the school, and griffin and Natalia meet up with Adam. The three of them arrived  at a the airport. ¡°Why aren¡¯t we not going to save! Sky,¡± she yelled.


    ¡°Because you are our utmost priority, if we can get you to Montana, we then can save your friend,¡± Adam said.


    ¡°That¡¯s a lie, you don¡¯t care about her at all,¡± she said.


    Griffin thought about it. ¡°Fine then we will save her, but there¡¯s just one thing, sis I can¡¯t be protecting you while we are saving her. if you die you die. Do I make myself clear? if you can¡¯t keep up with us I will abandon you,¡±he said.


    ¡°I understand and I won¡¯t fall behind you at all, just watch me brother.


    Night was sitting with Luna at a horse race. ¡°I can''t believe you like to waste money on this type of things,¡± Luna said.


    ¡° I''m broke and I don''t want to be a Yeager, that would be bothersome,¡± NIght said.


    ¡°I''m here to inform you that the yeagers were defeated by Griffin and they were able to rescue Nataila''s friend,'''' Luna explained.


    ¡°Good, now I want you to send more Yeager''s to their location, an hold their attack on them. I want him to be alert all the time so he doesn''t get any sleep,¡± Night said. As she was watching the horse race she saw her horse about to win and then it trip and fell down to the ground. ¡°God damn it,¡± she yelled. She crumbled up her paper in anger. Luna got up from her seat. And started to walk away and then stopped. ¡°Oh yeah, how is your daughter Kioko doing?¡± Luna asked. Night looks at Luna then she looks at the ground trying to remember, then she looks up back at her. ¡°Who?¡±

 Promise

    As Natalia and Griffin were standing side by side they both smiled,  jumping into the water, they scream  ¡°Hawaii¡±.  Playing with each other In the refreshing water and splashing around at each other. It was the first time in their life truly being siblings


    Adam and Sky were both sitting on the beach. ¡°So why are we here? Doesn''t Natalia have to go to Montana?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Yeah, but Griffin decided to go here, he wants Natalia to have fun before she has to get her memories and her flux energy erased,¡± Adam explained.


    ¡°But why did you save me?¡± Sky asked.


    ¡°Because Natalia wanted you to be saved . and Griffin decided to do just that. he found your location and killed the Yeagers. Now  we are in Hawaii having fun, this is last time she will know Griffin, so that¡¯s why we¡¯re here¡± Adam said.


    sky realizes that Nataila will cease to exist. It made her heart shake


    Adam got up from the sand and walked over to Natalia and Griffin who were playing in the water, they were still playing


    ¡°Hey guys, we''re going to get lunch now, let''s go,¡± he said. Nataila looks sad knowing this will be the last time she is here.


    ¡°Hey don¡¯t be sad, i got some more stuff planned today for us to do as brother and sister, how does that sound?¡± he asked. She smiled with happiness.


    As Griffin was walking up the beach Adam stopped him. ¡°I can tell you haven''t turned off dark search,¡± Adam said. Griffin looked at Adam. ¡°Multiple yeagers have been watching us ever since we arrived here in Hawaii. I''m hoping they can attack and we can kill them but they haven''t attacked for five hours now,¡± Griffin said.


    ¡°Do you want me to find them and kill them,¡± he asked.


    ¡°Nah it''s good, if they attack me there gonna be good as dead, but i want you to take Sky back to new york to her family she is in danger if she is with us and when you''re done with that meet us at montana¡± Griffin explained.


    ¡°You know something, you truly have changed since we talk about our ideals, now you are protecting the weak,¡± Adam said. Griffin started to blush a bit. ¡°No I have not!¡± he yelled.


    Some time has passed after they ate lunch. Adam took the sky back to New York and it''s just griffin and natalia. ¡°You ready to hang out sis,¡± Griffin asked.


    ¡°You bet,¡± she said.


    The both of them started to hang out, went on tourist attractions, went canoeing and explored the whole island. As they made it to the night they went to their hotel room. ¡°I''m so exhausted,¡± he said.


    ¡°Hey Griffin , can I ask a question?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Sure you can ask me anything sis,¡± griffin said


    ¡°Now that I have flux energy, will my family love me now?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Absolutely not, they will think you are holding back on you and they will hate you even more,¡± Griffin said in fast response.


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    ¡°Oh ok,¡± she said. She looked down to the ground.


    ¡°But don''t be sad. Afterall i''m in your life and you are my younger sis, so I have to keep care of you and love you,¡± he said. He smiled at her. Then she smiled back.


    ¡°Ok what movie do you want to watch first?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Were watching a movie, of course we were staying up the whole night,¡± she said.


    ¡°Ok fine then, put anything on and I will watch it,¡± he said. She put on a movie and they started to watch it. Then not even twenty minutes later natalia fell asleep on Griffin''s leg.


    Griffin was focused on staying awake to make sure none of the yeagers would attack them. As morning came griffin looked at natalia who was still sleeping then griffin shocked her shoulder and when she woke and saw her brother. ¡°Hey bro what is it?¡± she said, sounding sleepy.


    ¡°We have to get going now to Montana,¡± he said.


    ¡°Ok,¡± she said, yawning. They both brushed their teeth and took showers and left to montana.


    As they finally arrived they made it to the entrance to the place where they needed to go and Adam was there waiting for them. The trees surrounding them and a trail leading up the mountain.


    ¡°Adam! Did Sky make it back home safely,¡± Nataila asked.


    ¡°She sure did,¡± Adam said. He then looked at Griffin who he can tell was tired.


    ¡°Good job, Griffin, this is the best work you have ever done,¡± Adam said.


    ¡°Whatever, I''m happy that I don''t have to do baby work anymore,¡± he said. He turned off his dark search to let his mind rest Then the unexpected happened. Griffin got stabbed in the back. As they both Natalia and Adam looked at griffin surprised then they looked behind him and they saw Night smiling. ¡°Have I met you somewhere?¡± Griffin asked, he turned his head around and looked at her.


    ¡°Nah,¡± she said. Then Adam used his flame style to kill Night. Night took out the sword of Griffin''s chest. Then the flames came by and engulfed Night.


    ¡°Griffin!¡± Natalia yelled.


    ¡°I''m good, once I felt the blade pierce my back, I used my flux energy to move my heart out of the way, but I can tell that didn''t kill her, so Adam you take Natalia on the top of the mountain while I deal with her'''' Griffin said.


    ¡°Understood,¡± he said. He picked up Natalia and ran up the mountain path.


    Griffin turned around and looked at the flames where night was as the flames disappeared. A silver orb was surrounding the flames as it disappeared it shrunken to a small one and Night was standing there smiling. ¡°You idiot, you''re just a human, why would you want to kill Natalia,¡± he asked.


    ¡°Easy, I''m getting paid thirty million to kill her sorry ass, but it looks like I have to deal with you first,¡± she said.


    Griffin looked at a strange small robot flying beside her. She moved her sword at the robot and then the blade disappeared. And then she pulled a dagger blade. She disappeared. And then she reappeared at a tree. She was jumping from tree to tree. Destroying them due to how fast she was. Griffin was trying to keep up with her but he barely could. ¡°I sense zero flux energy, she is just like Rona when it comes to physical attributes,¡± he thought. Then Night charged at Griffin. ¡°Dark flame style, dark burst,¡± he thought. Small little red ball appears. As soon it hit night it sent her flying back into deeper woods and griffin followed her. ¡°Wow, you''re pretty weak if you got caught with that attack. Once he got to her she disappeared for a split second and then Griffin noticed only a slight second she ran right by him. Then his ears started to bleed. ¡°God damn it, she moved so fast now to the point where she became faster than the speed of sound, i can''t hear anything at all,¡± he thought. He tried using his dark search but she was moving too fast to be found. ¡°Fuck it then, Dark flame style, dark warp,¡± he thought.


    He threw his sword and it started to spin really fast and it was absorbing everything it was going though and it was only just a waste land all of the trees were gone. He caught his sword. And realized it didn''t kill night then he felt the presence of night behind him. He was going to use his flames to burn her completely due to the heat of it. ¡°This dagger I''m holding is able to cut through, flux energy due to these flames are meaningless ,¡± she thought. She stabbed him in the chest again but he wasn''t able to move it this time. Then she pulled it out and kicked his legs and cut his leg off and then stabbed him somewhat deep in the head.


    She smiled. ¡°Woah, I guess this old lady still got it,¡± she said. As she walked away, Griffin was on the verge of death lying on the cold hard ground


    As Adam and Natalia made it to their location they went down into the bunker. ¡°Go through the doors and the procedure can start,¡± Adam explained.


    ¡°...ok,¡± she said. He looked at Natalia smiling. Or we can get out of here and head back to Griffin and get some food.¡± Adam said. She looked at him in surprise.


    ¡°You''re serious?¡± she asked


    ¡°Yup, Griffin told me that if she says no to the whole thing we will ditch the Yeager force altogether and protect her. And I agree with what he says,¡± he explained.


    ¡°My family never cared about what I wasn''t able to do and so they left me in an apartment room and left me alone but only my brother ever cared about me and I want to be with him more and I want us to be how siblings are supposed to be¡± she thought.


    Adam holds out his hand. ¡°Are you ready,¡± he asked.


    She started to cry and was about to take her hand and then blood appeared right in front of her side of her head. She fell to the ground. Adam looked as he noticed that she was dead cold on the ground. Night appeared out of the shadows. ¡°You''re free to go now,¡± she said.


    ¡°How the hell did you get here,¡± he asked. He had a cold look on his face.


    ¡°I killed Griffin Locke,¡± she said.


    In anger flames surrounded Adam''s body. ¡°I will kill you,¡± he said

 Round two

    As Night faced Adam, she fired a barrage of bullets at him. However, with a single swing of his sword, the bullets melted into nothing. Without hesitation, Adam charged at her. Night swiftly drew her dagger, meeting his attack head-on. The sheer force of the clash sent her flying back to the surface. Adam followed her immediately, but when he reached the top, she was nowhere to be seen.


    ¡°You¡¯re probably wondering how I found you,¡± Night¡¯s voice echoed from the shadows of the woods. ¡°It¡¯s simple. I had Yeagers tracking your every move, and they led me here. When Griffin turned off his dark sense¡­ well, you know the rest.¡±


    Adam scanned the area, trying to pinpoint her location. Her voice seemed to be coming from the darkness around him, yet he couldn¡¯t see her. Then, a flicker of movement in the trees caught his eye. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward it, ready to strike. But as soon as he got there, it vanished.


    Suddenly, Adam felt her presence behind him. He whirled around, sword raised, but before he could react, Night¡¯s foot slammed into his stomach. The force of the kick was immense, sending him flying out of the woods and off the edge of the mountain.


    Night leaped off the mountain after him, her dagger glowing with energy. ¡°Flame Style: Universal Flames,¡± Adam thought, swinging his sword mid-air. A surge of fire erupted toward Night, but she smiled calmly. With a swift movement of her dagger, she sliced through the flames, dissipating them. Adam¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.


    She moved faster than he could process, reaching him in mid-air. Grabbing him by the neck, she slammed him into the ground with devastating force. Adam¡¯s body ached, blood pooling from his wounds. ¡°That impact¡­ it almost killed me. But when she grabbed my neck, it almost felt¡­ protective?¡± he thought, confusion clouding his mind.


    Summoning his strength, Adam darted at high speed behind her. His eyes locked onto the small floating orb beside her¡ªthe device that allowed her to summon weapons. ¡°If I destroy that, I can stop her,¡± he thought. He unleashed an attack. ¡°Flame Style: Flame Pierce!¡± But Night blocked the strike with her dagger, countering his move effortlessly.


    With fluid precision, she tossed her dagger into the air and retrieved a sword from the orb. Her movements were seamless, and before Adam could react, she slashed across his chest. Blood sprayed into the air as he stumbled back. In a single motion, she caught her dagger mid-fall and kicked him hard in the head, sending him tumbling.


    ¡°You¡¯ve put up one hell of a fight,¡± she said, her voice steady but firm. ¡°I heard that Flame Style users go nuclear when they die, so I¡¯d rather not kill you.¡± She kicked him again, keeping him down. ¡°But thanks for the effort¡­ both of you, giving your all against a forty-year-old like me.¡±


    She paused for a moment, lost in a memory. ¡°Oh yeah,¡± she murmured, almost to herself. ¡°I named my daughter Kioko. It means ¡®kindness.¡¯¡± A flicker of emotion crossed her face before she turned back toward the mountain.


    Night climbed back to the bunker¡¯s entrance and entered swiftly. She used the orb to transport Natalia¡¯s body into the machine inside. Afterward, she exited the bunker and set her sights on a new destination. It was time to find Luna.


    ¡°you''re finally here Night, it took you a while to get here,¡± Luna said.


    ¡°Sorry about that Luna, but it¡¯s finally here,¡± night said. She snapped her fingers to the orb and brought out Natalia¡®s dead body. ¡°Oh so it is really her, good job Night,¡± Luna said.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Thanks and now for the money,¡± she asked.


    ¡°Oh yes, here I will even put in a thousand dollars too,¡± she said. She held out her phone and then when both of their phones touched each other the money was transferred to Night, ¡°thanks a lot, how about we get something to eat now,¡± Night asked.


    ¡°yeah¡­no , this is the last time we will be meeting each other, I don''t need you any more,¡± Luna said. She disappeared into a portal taking nataila¡¯s body.


    ¡°Ok understood, see ya in hell then,¡± Night said. As she walked away she went on a trail getting back to a teleporter machine. While she was walking she was it started to rain but it doesn''t matter herself her mind was wandering herself why did her daughter came back into her mind after fighting adam, but she shrugs it off as when she reach point of the end of the trees,


    "Hey, where do you think you''re going?" a voice called out. Night stopped and turned around, spotting Griffin standing there, grinning. As the rain was hitting his body blood was swooping in the ground.


    "You can¡¯t be fucking serious," Night muttered.


    "Fuck yes this is serious," Griffin replied, grinning even wilder .


    Night''s confusion lasted only a moment before realization dawned. "You can heal yourself now," she retorted.


    "Bingo! When you stabbed me in the heart, I channeled all my energy into creating flux energy to heal myself . Think about it like this: in order to heal ourself you must use your soul to create new parts of it once I fingered that out I was able to heal myself even regenerating my leg. Easier said than done. I''ve never been able to do that until now!" Griffin exclaimed.


    "He''s talking too much. Is he high?" Night wondered.


    "Your going to die now! because you didn''t chop my head off! Or you didn''t stab me deeper in the head!" Griffin yelled.


    "Are you sure you want to do this? You don''t look too well," Night said, drawing her dagger from the floating orb. Griffin clutched his head but then looked up with wild eyes.


    "No, I feel fine. No, really I am fine. I¡¯ve never felt any better!" he yelled. Night charged at him at full speed, swinging her dagger, but Griffin vanished in an instant.


    Still moving swiftly, Night turned and saw Griffin hanging upside down. "Dark flame style, Dark Flame beam," Griffin thought. Flames shot from his fingers, propelling Night into Lake Mcdonald destroying multiple trees. She landed on a rock.


    Night stood up, started to stretch her body to check for injuries. "None of my bones are broken," she thought.


    She glanced up to see Griffin floating mid-air, gazing skyward with a smile.


    ¡°What a monster,¡± she thought. Night pulled out a chain from the orb and attached it to the dagger, she started to spin the chain rapidly. "Something feels wrong," she thought. Griffin turned his head toward her. "No, everything is alright. I will kill you!" she yelled, releasing the chain blade. Griffin dodged, and the blade shattered any nearby trees. Annoyed, she swung again, but Griffin evaded it once more.


    "I''m sorry, Natalia. I¡¯m not mad on your behalf. I don''t know why but I just don''t hate anyone right now, is it because the world feels so good right now?"Griffin thought. He looked down at Night who was about to throw another attack. ¡°You''re from the Sora family aren''t you, that''s how you knew my abilities so well,¡± he thought. Griffin started to smile. "I¡¯ll tell you this once: God alone has honored us dark flame users to be the strongest... Dark Flame Style, Dark Death, five percent output !" he declared. He unleashed the flames, destroying the chains. Night couldn''t predict what happened next.


    "I don''t accept a job without getting paid. I usually say this and walk off. I stopped showing respect to myself and others after my husband died. But why? Why is this pride coming back now? I wanted to destroy my family name Sora due to how badly they treated me. I wanted to bring them to their knees, " Night thought. The left side of her upper body was missing, mcdonald lake evaporated into nothingness yet she stood with a look of defiance as Griffin landed onto the ground. "Any last words?" Griffin asked.


    "Nah," Night replied, her eyes widening with a sudden memory. "My daughter is going to be sold off in two or three years," she said. Night died standing, a smile on her face. Griffin looked at her body as it stood still.


    Griffin walked away and found the place where Nataila''s dead body was. The only thing left there was just her earrings. He picked them up and left the bunker. As he left it he saw Adam running up the mountain. ¡°Griffin is that you?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Hey, you don''t look so good,¡± Griffin said with a smirk.


    ¡°It''s my fault that Nataila died, I''m sorry,¡± Adam said. He looked down.


    ¡°It wasn''t your fault, it was mine we should¡¯ve gone here straight away,¡± Griffin said. He walked up to Adam and healed his wounds. With his flux energy. Griffin walked away. While looking down to the ground. Adam followed him. And they both are heading back to Yeager force base to tell about the mission.

 Kindnesss

    In Osaka, Japan, Kioko was sleeping on her desk at school. ¡°Kioko,¡± a voice called out. She shrugged it off, still half-asleep. ¡°Kioko, wake up!¡± The voice yelled louder. Then, she felt a karate chop on her head. Startled, she jolted awake and saw her friend, Suzuki, standing there. ¡°What was that for?¡± she asked, rubbing her head.


    ¡°It¡¯s lunchtime, and our friends are waiting outside in the courtyard,¡± Suzuki said.


    ¡°Coming,¡± Kioko replied. Both of them walked together and soon saw their friends in the courtyard, eating food and chatting. ¡°Hey, Kioko!¡± her friend Fumiko called out.


    ¡°Hello, Fumiko! Whatcha eating?¡± Kioko asked, eyeing the food curiously.


    ¡°My mom went to America and brought back the recipe for hamburgers. They¡¯re so good!¡± Fumiko said between bites.


    ¡°Oh yeah, your mom¡¯s a chef, right?¡± Suzuki chimed in.


    ¡°Mhmm. She sometimes travels the world to learn new recipes for the restaurant,¡± Fumiko explained.


    ¡°Is she going to cook at the festival?¡± Suzuki asked.


    ¡°Yup! I¡¯m going to help her at the booth too, so you both better come, okay?¡± Fumiko said with a grin.


    Both Kioko and Suzuki nodded in agreement. ¡°Sounds like fun,¡± Kioko said. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to taste your mom¡¯s cooking again.¡±


    As they chatted, a tall boy approached their group hesitantly. Fumiko noticed him first. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that Haruto from Class 1-A?¡± she asked.


    Suzuki nodded. ¡°Yeah, I think so. I wonder what he wants.¡±


    Kioko smiled and waved him over. ¡°Hi, Haruto! Do you need something?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Kioko, I was wondering if I could talk to you in private,¡± he asked, his voice slightly nervous.


    ¡°Sure,¡± she said, following him away from the group. Suzuki and Fumiko exchanged glances and silently cheered her on, putting their hands together and rooting for her.


    When they were alone, Haruto looked at her shyly. ¡°Saito, I was wondering if you¡¯d like to go with me to the festival at school tomorrow,¡± he asked.


    ¡°Of course I would!¡± Kioko replied, smiling brightly.


    ¡°That¡¯s great to hear. Do you want me to pick you up at your house tomorrow?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yeah, sure, that¡¯s fine. My aunt and uncle probably want to meet you,¡± she said.


    ¡°Your aunt and uncle?¡± Haruto looked confused.


    ¡°I live with my uncle and aunt since my parents aren¡¯t around,¡± she explained.


    ¡°May I ask what happened?¡± he asked hesitantly.


    Kioko shook her head gently. ¡°My dad died when I was younger, so I never really met him. As for my mother, she left me with my aunt and uncle. I barely even remember her face,¡± she explained, her voice steady.


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    ¡°That¡¯s horrible. I¡¯m really sorry for asking,¡± Haruto said, bowing slightly in apology.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s completely okay. I don¡¯t really mind at all. I didn¡¯t really know them, so I don¡¯t mind talking about it to people,¡± she said, giving him a reassuring smile.


    Haruto looked up and saw her smiling. ¡°You really are a kind person. That¡¯s why everyone likes you so much,¡± he said, admiration in his eyes.


    ¡°Thank you so much,¡± she said warmly. As the bell rang, the two parted ways. Kioko was happy that someone had asked her to the festival. After school ended, she went home, her heart light.


    At the Osaka International Airport, Griffin and Iris were walking together. ¡°So why did you want to come down here to Japan? It¡¯s been three months since your sister died,¡± Iris said, her tone probing but not unkind.


    ¡°I¡¯m here to talk to someone and ask if they want my help,¡± Griffin replied, his voice firm.


    ¡°You mean Night¡¯s daughter, right? I don¡¯t know why you would want to help her. Night killed your sister and almost ended your life,¡± Iris reminded him, her brows furrowing in confusion.


    ¡°I feel like I owe Night this after she was the one who helped me learn to use Flux energy on my deathbed,¡± Griffin explained, his eyes distant as he recalled the past.


    ¡°Because she almost killed you, you want to owe her this?¡± Iris asked, incredulous. Griffin shook his head, not bothering to elaborate further. ¡°Oh well, let¡¯s get in a car and drive over there right now,¡± Iris said, dropping the subject. They both hopped into a car and headed to the location of Kioko Saito.


    The next day arrived, and Haruto picked up Kioko from her house. ¡°So you¡¯re the boy who asked out my niece, huh?¡± her uncle said, scrutinizing Haruto. The young boy was a little scared, so he quickly put his arm around Kioko¡¯s shoulder for reassurance. ¡°Protect her and make her happy, okay?¡± her uncle said sternly.


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Haruto replied, his voice steady despite his nerves.


    Both Kioko and Haruto walked together, eventually arriving at the school. But as they reached the school grounds, Griffin and Iris arrived at Kioko¡¯s house. They knocked on the door, and Kioko¡¯s aunt answered. ¡°Hello, who is it?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Hello, nice to meet you. My name is Iris Smith from the Yeager Force. We¡¯re here about Kioko Saito,¡± Iris said, her tone polite but firm.


    ¡°What do you want with her?¡± the uncle asked, his voice laced with suspicion.


    ¡°We want to talk to her about her mother,¡± Iris said.


    ¡°She¡¯s not here. I sense she¡¯s going to her school. Probably you talk to them, and I will go to her,¡± Griffin said, his voice resolute.


    Without waiting for a response, Griffin ran straight toward the school.


    As Kioko and Haruto were walking together to the school, Haruto turned to her. ¡°So, Kioko,¡± he began.


    ¡°Yes?¡± she replied, looking up at him.


    ¡°Would you like to hold hands?¡± he asked, a slight blush creeping up his cheeks.


    Kioko felt her own face flush. ¡°Yeah, sure,¡± she said softly. They started to hold hands as they walked toward the school, their steps in sync.


    ¡°Slow down, you two lovebirds!¡± a voice called out from behind them.


    Both of their heads turned to look at the man approaching them. ¡°Who¡¯s the black man?¡± Haruto asked, confusion evident in his voice.


    ¡°I have no idea,¡± Kioko said, her brow furrowing. She walked up to the man. ¡°Who are you?¡± she asked, her voice steady but curious.


    ¡°Wow, you can speak English. That¡¯s amazing! I¡¯m here to tell you about someone,¡± Griffin said, impressed by her fluency.


    Kioko and Haruto exchanged puzzled looks before turning their attention back to Griffin.


    ¡°Who is it?¡± Kioko asked.


    ¡°Your mother, Night Saito, sold you to her family, known as the Sora Family, which is the second-biggest family in the world. It makes your blood boil, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Griffin said with a smirk.


    ¡°Wha¡­¡± Kioko couldn¡¯t even finish her sentence, her mind reeling from the revelation.


    ¡°I can save you if you want me to,¡± Griffin offered, his tone almost casual.


    Kioko looked at him, her eyes searching his face. ¡°If I say no, will my aunt and uncle be able to come with me?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Absolutely not. The Sora family would just consider them outsiders; they will never let them in,¡± Griffin explained.


    ¡°Then can you save me?¡± she asked, her voice trembling slightly.


    ¡°Of course I can. I have a big influence in the two biggest families, so I can definitely pull strings. But as for your mother, I was the one who k¡ª¡± Griffin was cut off by Kioko.


    ¡°I don¡¯t really care what happens to her. She¡¯s probably living a comfortable life with the money she gained from selling me,¡± Kioko said coldly.


    Griffin smiled and patted her head. ¡°I¡¯ll get it done, but I¡¯ll tell you that it¡¯s a pretty interesting story,¡± he said, his voice almost teasing.


    ¡°You two get going now. Have fun at the school festival,¡± he said, walking away.


    ¡°What did you guys talk about?¡± Haruto asked as they continued toward the school.


    ¡°Oh, right, you can¡¯t speak English. He was really having a hard time getting through the city, so I was giving him directions,¡± she lied smoothly.


    ¡°Okay, are you ready to go to the festival now?¡± Haruto asked, letting the matter drop.


    ¡°I would love to,¡± she replied, her smile returning.


    The year is 2687, as Rex was sitting on a bench with his eyes closed he woke up and he sees a girl looking at him who had been calling his name.


    ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± Rex asked


    ¡°My name is Baluka, sir!¡± she yelled, her posture stiff with respect.


    ¡°And you¡¯re the one going with me to Japan?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± she confirmed.


    ¡°I understand. Let¡¯s get going,¡± he said, getting up and preparing to leave.

 Foxes

    As Rex rose from the bench, he began to stretch his body, feeling the tension ease from his muscles. He and Baluka were both in Osaka, preparing for their mission. As Rex finished his stretches, he couldn''t help but notice how small Baluka looked.


    "Why is a kid in the Yeager force?" he asked, his tone laced with confusion.


    "I''m not a kid, I''m 17 years old," Baluka retorted, her voice firm.


    Rex was taken aback for a moment but quickly shrugged it off. "Never mind. Let''s head to the coordinates."


    The two of them began walking together through the bustling streets of Osaka. After a few moments of silence, Baluka spoke up.


    "Sir, can I ask a question?"


    "What is it?" Rex replied, his eyes focused on the path ahead.


    "Is your mom Sally Jones?" she asked, a hint of excitement in her voice.


    "Yeah, she is," he confirmed.


    "Wow, really? That''s so cool! She saved me back in Cairo. Actually, now that I think about it, I think she thought I was a child back then. I was 14, but I was really small for my height," Baluka said, a small smile tugging at her lips.


    Rex glanced at her, his expression neutral. "Is that all you have to say?"


    "Yeah... why?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.


    "Don¡¯t tell me about your life or anything you¡¯ve been through. You don¡¯t want to know what anyone¡¯s been through in this type of job unless you know how to get over it," Rex said, his voice cold but not unkind.


    Baluka was taken aback by his words but understood the weight behind them. "Yes, sir," she responded, her tone more subdued.


    "Tell me about the mission details," Rex requested, shifting the conversation back to their task.


    "Yes, sir. We¡¯ve received reports that Yeagers are operating underground, doing something we can''t identify yet. We don¡¯t know what it is, but they wanted you to check it out because there¡¯s a lot of them," she explained.


    "Who called me over?" Rex asked, his tone all business now.


    "Uh, their name was Leon Ivanov. He¡¯s currently waiting for us at the site," she said, trying to recall the details.


    "Leon, huh? I haven¡¯t heard that name in a while," Rex remarked, his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia.


    "Do you know him?" Baluka asked, curiosity evident in her tone.


    "You ask too many questions. Let¡¯s just be quiet on the walk," Rex responded, his tone firm.


    "Yes, sir," she replied, falling silent as they continued their walk. The journey was awkward and very quiet, with both of them lost in their own thoughts.


    When they finally arrived at the location, it was beneath the Osaka bridge, where several Yeager force members, along with Leon, were waiting. As Leon turned and saw Rex and Baluka approaching, a smirk appeared on his face.


    "It¡¯s been a while, Rex," he greeted.


    "Yes, it has, Leon," Rex replied, nodding slightly in acknowledgment.


    "So, what¡¯s the situation?" Rex inquired, his focus shifting to the task at hand.


    "We found the door to the underground, but it won¡¯t open. It¡¯s submerged under the water over there, and every attempt we¡¯ve made to open it has failed. That¡¯s why I called you and Baluka here," Leon explained, gesturing towards the water.


    "Why her?" Rex questioned, his gaze shifting to Baluka.


    "Because of her abilities. Baluka, you¡¯re up," Leon instructed.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Understood, sir," Baluka responded, stepping forward. She placed her hands together, focusing her energy. "Sand Style, Sand Explosion," she thought to herself.


    The door was obliterated by the sand, reduced to rubble in an instant. Rex watched, impressed. "She controls sand," he noted.


    "After Cairo, she¡¯s been connected to flux energy. Ever since, she¡¯s been able to control sand at an atomic level. One grain of it, she can make the sharpest object ever¡ªsharp enough to cut through pure tungsten like it¡¯s paper," Leon explained, a hint of pride in his voice.


    "So, you want me to head down there by myself?" Rex asked, assessing the situation.


    "No, I¡¯ll come with you. I need to do my research down there," Leon replied, determination in his eyes.


    Rex nodded in agreement, and the two of them prepared to enter the newly opened passage. As they walked towards the door, Leon turned to Baluka. "Baluka, you stay back and watch out for any Yeagers," he ordered.


    "Yes, sir," Baluka responded, taking her position as Rex and Leon descended into the unknown.


    As Rex and Leon walked deeper into the darkness, the air around them grew colder, and the sound of their footsteps echoed off the stone walls. Breaking the silence, Leon glanced over at Rex. "So, how have you been?" he asked, trying to strike up a conversation.


    "We''re not supposed to know about each other''s lives," Rex replied flatly, his gaze fixed ahead.


    "Really? After everything we''ve been through together over the past three years?" Leon pressed, his tone a mix of disbelief and frustration.


    Rex sighed, giving in slightly. "I''ve been training in Malin, Italy, for the past three years," he admitted.


    "Italy? But wasn¡¯t all of Europe destroyed by Luna?" Leon asked, his confusion evident.


    "Yes, it was. It''s just a wasteland now¡ªa place filled with the screams of the dead," Rex said, his voice heavy with the weight of the memories.


    Leon hesitated, processing Rex¡¯s words, before changing the subject. "How¡¯s Amber?" he asked, his tone softening.


    "She''s fine. She joined the Yeager force, and she''s really talented," Leon responded, a note of pride in his voice.


    "Good to hear," Rex said quietly, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.


    As they continued walking through the cave, they suddenly stopped in their tracks, both sensing something off. "You feel that?" Rex asked, his voice low.


    "Yup," Leon confirmed, reaching for a throwing knife. With precision, he threw it deeper into the cave. A faint, pained weep echoed back to them.


    They cautiously approached the source of the sound and found two foxes huddled together. One of them had an injured leg, pierced by Leon''s knife. Rex knelt down, and the uninjured fox growled protectively.


    "She¡¯s going to be fine, let me heal her," Rex said gently. The fox backed off, watching warily as Rex channeled his flux energy to heal the injured fox''s leg. As soon as the wound closed, both foxes quickly darted away.


    "How did two foxes get in here? ¡­Interesting," Leon mused aloud, puzzled.


    "Let¡¯s keep moving," Rex urged.


    They pressed on, finally reaching the end of the cave, which opened up into a large chamber filled with computers and other advanced equipment. "Whoa," Rex muttered, taking in the sight.


    Leon immediately walked over to one of the computers, his fingers flying over the keyboard. "These are operations for Yeager sites¡­ everywhere," he said, astonished.


    He connected his cybernetics to the computer, quickly downloading all the information. "Finished," he announced, unplugging himself.


    "Why would they set up a base here of all places?" Rex wondered aloud, frowning in thought.


    "I don''t know, but it doesn''t matter now. Keep your guard up," Leon warned as they prepared to leave.


    Just as they turned to go, a chilling voice echoed through the chamber. "Goodbye, demon." A massive explosion suddenly erupted around them. But before the flames could consume them, the two foxes reappeared, their eyes glowing with mysterious energy. In an instant, they teleported both Rex and Leon out of the cave and back to the surface, saving them from certain death.


    Rex stood outside the cave, disoriented and confused. "How did we get outside?" he thought, struggling to piece together what had just happened.


    "It was the foxes in front of us," Leon answered, his voice tinged with a mix of awe and wariness.


    Both men turned their gaze toward the two foxes that had somehow saved them from the explosion. The foxes, now sitting calmly, were no longer ordinary animals. Rex and Leon could sense an ominous aura surrounding them, something far from natural.


    Rex narrowed his eyes, pressing them for answers. "What are you, foxes?"


    The foxes turned to face them, their eyes glowing with a mysterious light. The atmosphere grew even more tense as the aura around them intensified.


    "We are foxes that were turned into Yeagers, experiments done by Luna," one of the foxes said, its voice clear and serious.


    Rex and Leon were both taken aback. "Huh?" Rex muttered, unable to hide his surprise and confusion.


    The fox who had spoken nodded. "Sorry about the confusion, demon. My name is Akira," he said, his tone serious and unwavering.


    "And my name is Hanako," the other fox chimed in, her voice playful despite the grim situation.


    Rex and Leon exchanged glances, both of them uneasy. The idea of these creatures, once animals, now turned into something more by the twisted experiments of Luna, was unsettling. And the fact that they had saved them only added to the mystery.


    "Why did you save us?" Leon asked, suspicion lacing his words.


    "Because I begged my brother to do so," Hanako said, her tone light, almost teasing.


    Rex and Leon shared another look. They could sense there was more to this, and they didn¡¯t like the feeling that they were being manipulated. Why would these former Yeagers help them?


    "We can help you," Akira said, his voice cutting through their thoughts. "We know where the Yeager ranks are meeting up in two weeks from now."


    Both men perked up at that information. This could be the breakthrough they needed. But trust was still an issue. "Show us, and we might consider sparing your lives," Rex said, his tone deadly serious.


    "Deal," both foxes agreed without hesitation.


    "Blood pact," Rex said, his voice low as he extended his hand.


    "Confirmed," the foxes responded in unison. The air around them pulsed as their flux energies intertwined, sealing the pact. None of them could break it now.


    At that moment, Baluka came running up to them, her face a mix of shock and concern. "Sir! How are you outside? An explosion just happened in there!" she yelled, her voice trembling.


    "Calm down, Baluka," Rex said, trying to steady her.


    With that, Rex and Leon turned their attention back to Hanako and Akira. "Tell us where they¡¯re going to meet up," Rex demanded.


    "Kushiro," Akira answered without hesitation.


    "Open a portal, Baluka," Leon ordered.


    Baluka complied, but as she attempted to open the portal, something went wrong. The portal fizzled out before it could fully form. Leon''s expression darkened with confusion, but before he could speak, a notification beeped on his device. It was a message from the Prime Minister of Japan.


    Both Rex and Leon exchanged a glance, realizing that whatever lay ahead would be more complicated than they had anticipated.

 Bridge of shadows

    Rex and Leon stood outside the Prime Minister¡¯s office, the weight of the conversation they¡¯d just had pressing down on them. Rex was on guard duty, keeping an eye on the surroundings, while Leon was inside, trying to reason with the Prime Minister.


    ¡°Prime Minister, why won¡¯t you let us teleport within Japan?¡± Leon asked, his frustration barely concealed.


    The Prime Minister sighed, his expression stern. ¡°It¡¯s now illegal to teleport anywhere in Asia. People found a way to access teleportation portals and use them to commit theft and other crimes. This law applies to everyone, including the Yeager force.¡±


    ¡°But sir, we need to get to Kushiro! A Yeager rank meeting is happening there, and we can¡¯t afford to waste time!¡± Leon protested, urgency in his voice.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but you¡¯ll have to take the hyper train to get there,¡± the Prime Minister replied, his tone final.


    Leon clenched his fists in frustration, then stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind him.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Rex asked, noticing the tension in Leon¡¯s face.


    ¡°The Prime Minister said we can¡¯t teleport due to the new law in Asia. Teleportation is now illegal, even for the Yeager force,¡± Leon explained as they began walking down the hallway.


    Rex frowned. ¡°So, how are we going to get there?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll take the hyper train. It should get us to Kushiro in a day,¡± Leon replied, trying to keep his voice calm.


    As they exited the building, they found Hanako, Akira, and Baluka waiting for them.


    ¡°Foxes, follow me,¡± Rex ordered.


    ¡°Baluka, you¡¯re coming with us to the location,¡± Leon added.


    ¡°Y-yes, sir,¡± Baluka stammered, still adjusting to the sudden change in plans.


    Leon pulled out his communicator and contacted two individuals. Rex noticed and asked, ¡°Who did you contact?¡±


    ¡°Two people I trust. One of them will meet us there,¡± Leon answered, his tone cryptic.


    As the five of them approached the train station, they noticed someone waiting for them. The man was tall, with scars marring his face, and yellow stripes on his clothes that gave him a distinctive, almost menacing appearance.


    ¡°Everyone, I want you to meet Nur Becker. He¡¯ll be joining us on the mission to Kushiro,¡± Leon introduced the newcomer.


    ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, Nur,¡± Baluka said, extending her hand to shake his.


    Nur ignored her hand, his intense gaze fixed on Rex. ¡°So, you¡¯re Rex Jones,¡± he said, his voice low and challenging.


    Without warning, Nur threw a punch at Rex. Rex dodged it with ease, but Nur quickly followed up with a kick, which Rex blocked with his arm.


    ¡°What the hell is going on here?¡± Rex demanded, his voice filled with irritation.


    ¡°I just wanted to test the dark flame user who killed a Yeager rank,¡± Nur replied, his tone cold as he stepped back and walked onto the train.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Scary,¡± Hanako muttered, her playful demeanor momentarily subdued.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Hanako. I¡¯ve got you,¡± Akira whispered, trying to reassure her.


    The rest of the group boarded the train and found their seats as it began to move.


    As they settled in, Rex turned to Leon. ¡°Hey, Leon, why did Nur attack me?¡±


    Leon sighed, his expression grim. ¡°Nur was tortured three years ago by Luna. His sisters were Yeagers who tried to save him, but they were killed by Griffin.¡±


    Rex was shocked by this revelation. The weight of the situation became even heavier, as he realized that every member of this mission carried their own burdens and scars.


    "He really hates dark flame users like you, doesn¡¯t he?" Leon remarked.


    "Yeah, I get it now," Rex replied.


    Meanwhile, in another part of the train, Hanako, Akira, and Baluka were seated together.


    "So¡­ you guys are Yeagers?" Baluka asked.


    "Yeager Foxes," Hanako corrected with a nod.


    "I see," Baluka replied.


    Hanako and Akira noticed how timid Baluka seemed, and their eyes were drawn to the mask she carried by her side.


    "What''s the mask for?" Akira inquired.


    "Oh, this old thing? I wear it because I don''t want the Yeagers to see how scared I am. I''m always nervous, so when I fight, it helps to hide my face," Baluka explained.


    Hanako jumped over to Baluka¡¯s side of the seat and playfully tapped her head on Baluka¡¯s leg. "Maybe this will help you relax," she said before trying to fall asleep. As midnight approached, everyone on the train drifted off to sleep. But soon, all six of them awoke at the same time.


    "They¡¯re here," Rex muttered, alerting everyone.


    The group quickly gathered at the end of the train.


    "Baluka, stay back and use your bow," Leon instructed.


    Baluka put on her mask, which provided a built-in scope for better aiming. She grabbed a handle from her hip and pressed a button, making her bow materialize.


    Hanako and Akira positioned themselves at the front of the train, ready to fight.


    Rex, Leon, and Nur unsheathed their weapons.


    Leon wielded a pair of sai, while Nur equipped himself with two pairs of brass knuckles.


    Everyone braced themselves. "We''re in a confined space, so don''t use your flux energy. Just rely on your physical skills," Rex warned. The group nodded in understanding.


    As the door ahead of them creaked open, a group of Yeagers emerged. Rex and Nur charged together at the enemies. "Ice Style, Frozen Love," Leon thought, sending ice particles into the air. The particles targeted only the Yeagers, leaving everyone else unharmed.


    "I''ve perfected it¡ªI can choose my targets now instead of making it airborne," Leon thought with satisfaction.


    As a Yeager closed in on Leon, he swiftly struck them with his sai.


    Baluka, from a distance, used her bow to take down multiple Yeagers with deadly precision.


    Meanwhile, Nur and Rex were slicing and pummeling their way through the opposition. As the two of them reached the next train car, they found themselves in a larger cargo space bathed in an ominous red light.


    Nur and Rex exchanged a glance and then looked straight ahead.


    "We know you''re there, Yeager rank," they said in unison.


    Out of the shadows stepped a girl with a tattoo signifying Yeager rank four.


    "You both have sharp senses. My name is Natalia," she introduced herself.


    "That name¡­" Rex thought, recognition flickering in his mind.


    "What¡¯s someone like you doing here?" Nur asked.


    "To kill the demon and everyone else on this train," Natalia replied coldly.


    Rex and Nur immediately got into their stances as Natalia pulled out a whip. They charged at her, with Nur taking the offensive while Rex stayed on the defensive. Natalia lashed her whip at them with incredible speed, destroying the entire train car and forcing them outside.


    Rex and Nur quickly regrouped, and without a word, they both attacked her simultaneously. "Light Style, Light Beam," Nur thought as he unleashed a punch that sent beams of light shooting toward Natalia. The attack connected, but her body began to regenerate almost instantly.


    "Dark Flame Style, Dark Burst," Rex thought, gathering flames into his sword before striking Natalia and sending her flying into the air.


    "Bang," Natalia whispered just before a massive explosion erupted on the train tracks, shaking the ground with its force.


    They sprinted back to the others. "We need to jump off right now!" Leon urged.


    "Are you crazy? We''re over a bridge!" Hanako yelled.


    Without hesitation, Leon grabbed Hanako and jumped, while Rex did the same with Akira. Nur and Baluka quickly followed suit. As they plummeted toward the river below, a sudden gravitational pull caught hold of all six of them, lifting them up into a plane.


    Once inside, they were met with a familiar voice. "Looks like you guys really do need me," the voice said with a hint of amusement.


    "Is that¡­?" Rex began, recognizing the voice.


    It was Amber, standing there with a smile on her face.

 darkness of shadows

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    As the six of them sat on the ground, still processing what had just happened, they turned their confused gazes toward Amber, who stood confidently before them. ¡°Amber¡­ you were the other person Leon called?¡± Rex asked, piecing it together.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Leon confirmed, rising to his feet. The others followed suit, but the tension in the air was palpable.


    Nur¡¯s eyes narrowed as he shifted his attention to Hanako and Akira, the two Yeager foxes who had been accompanying them. ¡°It was you damn foxes, wasn¡¯t it? You can teleport, right? So you could¡¯ve teleported the Yeagers into the ship,¡± Nur accused, his voice dripping with suspicion. He grabbed Akira by the collar, lifting him off the ground as he clenched his brass knuckles menacingly, ready to strike.


    ¡°Let me down, you brute!¡± Hanako shouted, her eyes blazing with anger.


    ¡°Put him down,¡± Rex ordered, stepping forward and grabbing hold of Nur¡¯s arm.


    Nur turned to face Rex, his eyes filled with defiance. ¡°And what are you going to do about it?¡± he sneered, tightening his grip on Akira.


    Rex¡¯s eyes narrowed, and his hand began to glow with the dark energy of his Flux. ¡°I¡¯ll burn your arm to a crisp if you don¡¯t,¡± he threatened.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, both of you,¡± Leon interjected, stepping between them. ¡°Nur, I don¡¯t think Hanako and Akira had anything to do with this. From what I¡¯ve seen, they can only teleport themselves. If they¡¯d brought a Yeager onboard, we would¡¯ve sensed it immediately.¡± He gestured for Nur to let Akira go.


    Nur hesitated for a moment, then dropped Akira to the ground. Hanako rushed to his side, glaring daggers at Nur. Rex, still on edge, positioned himself protectively between the foxes and the rest of the group.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan now?¡± Baluka asked, her voice trembling slightly as she tried to keep her composure.


    Amber glanced out the window of the plane, which had just landed in a field. ¡°We could fly over there,¡± she suggested.


    ¡°No,¡± Leon said, shaking his head. ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen, the Yeagers can teleport too efficiently. We¡¯ll continue on foot. We can¡¯t risk getting ambushed mid-air.¡±


    Baluka looked at him incredulously. ¡°Wait, how the hell are we going to get there in time? We¡¯re in the middle of the woods, and the meeting¡¯s in Kushiro! How are we supposed to walk there?¡±


    Leon turned to Akira. ¡°How long until the meeting starts?¡±


    ¡°One week from now,¡± Akira replied, dusting himself off.


    ¡°Good,¡± Leon said, nodding. ¡°We can make it in time.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get going, then,¡± Rex said, stepping toward the plane¡¯s exit. The group followed, each of them steeling themselves for the journey ahead. The night was still dark, the only light coming from the distant stars and the faint glow of the plane¡¯s lights. They moved cautiously through the forest, senses heightened as they scanned for any signs of danger.


    Hanako and Akira, still feeling uneasy after the confrontation with Nur, stayed close to Rex. Akira looked up at Rex, his eyes filled with curiosity. ¡°Hey Rex, why did you defend us back there?¡± he asked.


    Rex¡¯s expression softened slightly. ¡°My master once told me about the second Dark Flame user, Carlos Locke. He never killed a Yeager, only knocked them out with a wooden sword. He believed that if he did kill them, he¡¯d be stronger than any other Dark Flame user.¡±


    Hanako tilted her head, intrigued. ¡°But why? We Yeagers kill humans and eat your kind to gain immortality. Why would he show mercy?¡±Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Rex shrugged. ¡°My master didn¡¯t know either. But she believed that Carlos saw something in the Yeagers, something worth sparing.¡±


    Hanako pondered this for a moment, then smirked. ¡°Interesting¡­ How about this, then?¡± She leaped from a tree branch above and shrank her height, landing on top of Rex¡¯s head. ¡°Your head is cozy,¡± she teased. ¡°Akira, you should try it.¡±


    Akira looked up at Rex with pleading eyes. Rex sighed, resigning himself to the situation. ¡°¡­Fine,¡± he said. Akira grinned and shifted his size, sitting comfortably on Rex¡¯s shoulder.


    As they continued walking through the dense forest, the group suddenly came to a halt.


    ¡°I can sense it¡­ but it¡¯s moving fast,¡± Nur said, his eyes darting around, trying to pinpoint the source of the disturbance.


    Without warning, something shot out from the shadows of the trees. A sickle, gleaming wickedly in the moonlight, sliced through the air, narrowly missing Amber¡¯s head. She dodged just in time and retaliated by stabbing her spear into the tree, but the sickle vanished as quickly as it had appeared. The five warriors immediately formed a tight circle, weapons at the ready.


    ¡°It¡¯s moving even faster,¡± Baluka said, her voice tinged with fear. She didn¡¯t have time to react as the sickle reappeared, this time cutting clean through her leg. She collapsed to the ground, screaming in agony as blood pooled around her.


    Baluka looked at her severed leg in horror, her mind barely able to process the pain. The sickle came at her again, aiming for her neck. Just as it was about to strike, the sickle shattered upon contact with a shield of sand that had formed around her neck.


    "My sand¡­ it was able to break its weapon," Baluka thought, her breath coming in ragged gasps.


    Leon and Nur immediately moved to her side, forming a protective barrier around her. "Dark Flame Style: Dark Burst," Rex thought, summoning small orbs of dark energy that appeared all around them. "Release!" he yelled, and the orbs unleashed a wave of dark flames, scorching everything in their path. The trees around them were reduced to ash, but the Yeager remained elusive, its presence still lingering just out of sight.


    "Lightning Style: Lightning Shockwave," Amber thought, slamming her spear into the ground. The earth erupted with electricity, sending tremors through the ground and creating a massive explosion. Despite the power of the attack, the Yeager still didn¡¯t show itself, though a shadowy arm suddenly emerged from Amber¡¯s back, wielding a sickle that stabbed her in the neck.


    Amber¡¯s eyes widened in shock as she felt the cold steel penetrate her skin. She could barely comprehend what had happened before Rex was on the move, his blade slicing through the air. He managed to cut off the arm, but not before the sickle slashed across his eye, leaving a deep, bloody gash.


    Rex roared in pain but refused to falter. He swung his sword with precision, severing the arm completely before it dissipated into nothingness. Using his Flux energy, Rex healed his eye and then turned to Amber, focusing his energy on her neck wound. Her flesh began to regenerate, knitting itself back together. He then moved to Baluka, who was still in shock from losing her leg. Rex¡¯s energy flowed into her, and slowly but surely, her leg began to regenerate as well.


    "How the hell are we supposed to hit this thing?!" Nur shouted, his frustration boiling over.


    Leon¡¯s mind raced as he tried to piece together the puzzle. "The arm appeared on her back¡­ but how did it do it?" he muttered to himself. Then, it hit him. "Nur, send up a Light Beacon, right now!" Leon ordered.


    Nur didn¡¯t hesitate. He clenched his fist and channeled his energy. "Light Style: Light Beacon!" he yelled, punching the air. A massive column of light burst forth, illuminating the entire area and erasing every shadow in sight. The light banished the darkness, leaving no place for the Yeager to hide.


    Forced out of the shadows, the Yeager was finally revealed to the group. He was a tall, slender figure with pale skin and cold, emotionless eyes. The tattoo of Yeager Rank Three was engraved into his body, marking him as a formidable opponent. The sight of him sent a wave of dread through the group.


    "You¡¯ve got good instincts," the Yeager, known as Shadow, said in a flat, detached voice. "But it won¡¯t matter. The sun is coming up, and before it sets again, all of you will die long before you ever reach Luna."


    With those ominous words, Shadow disappeared into the remnants of the shadows just as the first rays of sunlight began to pierce through the trees. The forest was eerily quiet, the only sound being the rustling of leaves in the gentle morning breeze.


    Rex, his expression grim, turned to the others. "We need to move, now," he said with urgency.


    "Where¡¯s the nearest town?" Leon asked, already calculating their next move.


    "Iwate," Baluka answered, still catching her breath. "But we¡¯ll have to run there before the sun sets again."


    "Then we run," Rex said with finality. The group didn¡¯t waste any time; they knew they were racing against the clock.


    As they sprinted through the forest, the rising sun cast long shadows that flickered ominously around them, a constant reminder of the danger they faced. Every step brought them closer to their goal, but also closer to another confrontation with the relentless and seemingly unstoppable Rank Three Yeager. They knew they had until sunset to reach safety before Shadow will appear again

 power is out

    The group had been running toward Iwate for nearly twelve hours, their stamina wearing thin. The terrain was rough, and the darkness of the approaching night was closing in on them. Baluka, still struggling to adjust to her newly regenerated leg, was slowing them down, her steps uneven and faltering.


    ¡°The sun is setting!¡± Rex shouted, his voice strained. ¡°Leon, how much time do we have left to reach a light source?¡±


    Leon glanced at the sky, calculating their dwindling time. ¡°About an hour!¡± he called back.


    Amber, running just behind them, glanced worriedly at Baluka, who was doing her best to keep up. ¡°We¡¯re not going to make it at this pace,¡± Amber thought, her mind racing for solutions. ¡°Baluka¡¯s leg¡­ she¡¯s not ready for this.¡±


    Perched atop Rex¡¯s head, Hanako¡¯s nose twitched as she sniffed the air, her senses alert. ¡°Rex, I smell that Yeager. He¡¯s close¡­ he¡¯s about to appear soon,¡± she warned, her voice tense.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t we just fight him?¡± Nur yelled, frustration lacing his words as he struggled to maintain his patience.


    Leon, breathing heavily but keeping his composure, responded quickly. ¡°We only know that he can teleport when there are shadows, but that¡¯s not all. He definitely has more abilities, especially if he has a palace. We can¡¯t fight him blind.¡±


    ¡°Fuck it then!¡± Nur growled, his impatience getting the better of him. He reached over and grabbed Baluka by the collar, hoisting her up without warning.


    ¡°What the fuck?!¡± Baluka shouted, her voice filled with surprise and indignation as Nur began sprinting ahead, carrying her like a sack of potatoes.


    With Nur leading the charge, the group pushed themselves even harder, picking up their pace. The sun was sinking faster now, its light fading, casting long, ominous shadows that seemed to stretch toward them like grasping fingers. Iwate was just ahead, a beacon of hope with its lights twinkling in the distance, but the darkness was rapidly overtaking them.


    As they neared the city, they spotted a hotel with lights on, their salvation just within reach. But the sun had already settled behind the horizon, plunging the landscape into twilight. The familiar, unsettling presence of Shadow loomed closer, his oppressive aura pressing down on them.


    The rest of the group managed to burst through the hotel doors just as the last of the light faded, but Nur and Baluka were still outside, scrambling to make it in time. ¡°Come on! Come on!¡± Nur¡¯s thoughts raced as he pushed his body to its limits, Baluka trailing behind him, her feet barely touching the ground as she was practically dragged along.


    Suddenly, Baluka¡¯s eyes widened in terror as she saw the sickle materialize out of the darkness, directly in front of her. Panic surged through her, and she screamed, fear gripping her heart.


    In a last desperate move, Nur hurled Baluka inside the building, then dove in after her. The door slammed shut behind them, the safe glow of the hotel¡¯s lights enveloping them in warmth and safety.


    Baluka lay on the floor, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and when she saw the sickle reappear, hovering menacingly in front of her face, she instinctively scooted back until her back hit the wall. ¡°I think¡­ I think I peed a little,¡± she admitted shakily, her voice barely above a whisper.


    Nur, who had crashed into the wall in his haste, pulled himself up and turned to look at Baluka. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the sheer relief of surviving washed over them both. Without thinking, they lunged at each other, wrapping their arms around one another as they jumped up and down in a wild, unbridled celebration. ¡°We made it! We made it! We maaaaade it!¡± they yelled in unison, their voices echoing through the hotel lobby.


    The rest of the group, catching their breath and calming their nerves, watched the pair with a mixture of amusement and relief. But as the moment passed, Nur quickly pushed Baluka off, regaining his usual stoic demeanor. He straightened his jacket, trying to hide the embarrassment of having let his guard down.


    Baluka, however, couldn¡¯t stop the grin that spread across her face, the adrenaline still pumping through her veins. ¡°Well, that was close,¡± she said, laughing nervously as she looked around at her comrades.


    Rex gave a small nod, acknowledging their narrow escape. ¡°We¡¯re safe for now,¡± he said, though his voice carried a note of caution. ¡°But we need to stay alert. Shadow won¡¯t give up that easily.¡±


    Leon, always the strategist, was already thinking ahead. ¡°We need to plan our next move. We can¡¯t afford to be caught off guard again,¡± he said, his mind working through the possibilities.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just get a hotel room,¡± Amber said, her voice ragged.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her voice?¡± Baluka asked, concerned.


    ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know. I got fucking stabbed with a sickle!¡± Amber snapped.


    ¡°I¡¯m still working on my healing abilities with flux energy,¡± Rex said, trying to offer some comfort.


    Amber¡¯s anger flared momentarily, but Leon intervened. ¡°Calm down, Amber. Just be grateful you¡¯re alive,¡± he said, trying to diffuse the situation.


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    They cautiously approached the hotel room, nerves on edge as they neared the door. "Don''t open the door all the way," Leon instructed, his voice low and tense. "If it''s dark in there, he can appear anywhere. We can''t take that risk."This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Baluka nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. She cracked the door open just slightly, peering into the pitch-black room. Her breath caught in her throat as she strained to see anything, but all she could make out was darkness. Suddenly, a sickle shot out from the shadows, narrowly missing her head. She yelped in terror, falling backward and scrambling away on her hands and knees.


    "He''s in there," she gasped, her heart pounding. "We just need to turn on the light."


    Nur, always quick with a snide comment, muttered, "What about the foxes? They''re basically chop liver in this situation."


    "Fuck you!" Hanako snapped, her tiny form perched defensively on Rex''s head.


    Leon, not missing a beat, added with a smirk, "I was considering it."


    "Really?" Akira chimed in, raising an eyebrow at Leon.


    Nur, still focused on the problem at hand, asked, "Can I use my flux energy to light up the room?"


    Leon shook his head. "No, the light from your flux would drain the other lights too quickly. It wouldn''t make a difference."


    As the reality of the situation dawned on them, all eyes turned to Rex. He sighed, knowing what they were about to ask of him. "Fine¡­" he said, resigned to the task.


    Rex cautiously extended his hand through the narrow opening in the door. Almost instantly, the sickle slashed at him, severing his arm. But thanks to his flux energy, his arm regenerated as quickly as it was cut, and he kept pushing forward. After a few more attempts, he finally managed to reach the light switch. With a click, the room was flooded with bright light.


    "It''s on," Rex announced, pulling his now fully intact arm back. He opened the door wider, allowing the others to enter. They stepped inside, their eyes darting around the room, searching for any dark corners where Shadow might be lurking.


    Nur, always vigilant, walked over to the window and peered outside. His eyes narrowed as he saw something unsettling. "This bastard," he muttered under his breath.


    Leon joined him, following Nur''s gaze out the window. There, in the shadows of the building across the street, stood Shadow, staring back at them with a blank, emotionless expression. Despite the distance, they could feel his murderous intent, like a heavy weight pressing down on their chests.


    Shadow''s presence was a grim reminder that they weren''t safe yet. The hotel might provide temporary shelter, but as long as the night persisted, so did the danger. They would have to stay vigilant, ready to face whatever came next.


    Leon turned to the group, his expression serious. "We can''t let our guard down. He''s watching us, waiting for the moment we slip up. Let''s secure this room as best we can and make sure we stay in the light."


    The tension in the room was palpable, but they all knew what they had to do. It was going to be a long night, and they would need every ounce of strength and cunning to survive until dawn.


    As they scanned the room, their eyes darted to the small pockets of darkness¡ªplaces where Shadow could easily emerge. The tension was thick in the air, each of them on edge. Hanako, seemingly unbothered, jumped onto the bed and flopped down. "We did it," she said, her voice relaxed, as though they''d escaped the worst of it.


    But then the lights began to flicker ominously, and within seconds, the room plunged into darkness.


    ¡°Fuck me!¡± Hanako shouted, her confidence immediately vanishing.


    Nur reacted instantly. ¡°Light Style: Light Beacon!¡± he shouted, throwing his fist into the air. Before the darkness could fully envelop them, Nur''s light burst through, illuminating the entire room in a bright glow. The light held the shadows at bay, but all of them could feel the presence of the Yeagers lingering just out of sight, waiting.


    ¡°How long can you keep the light going?¡± Baluka asked, her voice trembling slightly.


    ¡°I can hold it for twenty minutes, maybe,¡± Nur replied, his brow furrowing as he concentrated on maintaining the light.


    ¡°That¡¯s not going to last the whole night,¡± Baluka said, fear creeping into her voice.


    Leon¡¯s mind was already racing. "Don¡¯t worry," he reassured her, "we¡¯ll power up the generators. Amber, we¡¯ll need you for this."


    Amber¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Like hell I¡¯m going outside! As soon as I step into those shadows, he¡¯ll kill me,¡± she snapped, her voice filled with frustration.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with you,¡± Rex said calmly, stepping forward. "If anything happens, I can heal you. You¡¯ll be safe."


    Amber sighed, clearly still reluctant, but nodded in agreement. ¡°Fine¡­¡±


    "Akria, Hanako, teleport us to the entrance of the hotel," Rex instructed. The foxes exchanged a quick glance before their eyes glowed, and in an instant, Rex and Amber found themselves standing at the front of the hotel.


    Weapons in hand, they scanned the area for any sign of Shadow or the other Yeagers, their senses sharp and alert. The cold night air felt heavy with danger, as if something was lurking just beyond the edge of their vision.


    "The generator is in the building next door," Amber whispered. "I can sense it because of my electricity abilities."


    Rex nodded. "Understood. Let¡¯s move."


    They cautiously approached the building, their footsteps soft but deliberate. Rex moved ahead, his body tense, ready for an attack at any moment. As they reached the door to the generator room, Rex signaled for Amber to wait. "I¡¯ll go in first," he said, gripping his sword tightly.


    Rex slowly pushed the door open, and the moment it creaked ajar, a sickle flew out of the darkness, barely missing his head. His reflexes kicked in, and with a swift motion, he deflected the attack. But as he did, a Yeager leaped at him from the shadows. With a clean swing of his blade, Rex sliced the creature in half, its body crumbling to the ground.


    Before he could catch his breath, Shadow emerged from the darkness, attacking with relentless speed. Rex barely managed to block the flurry of strikes, each blow heavier than the last. The force of the attacks sent him staggering backward.


    Behind him, Amber was already dealing with her own assailant. Another Yeager emerged from the shadows, lunging at her with terrifying speed. She dodged just in time, electricity crackling around her as she countered. ¡°Lightning Style: Thunder Spear!¡± she shouted, thrusting her spear forward. The crackling energy surged through the weapon, piercing the Yeager and electrocuting it on the spot.


    But even as the Yeager fell, more shadows loomed around them. Shadow, undeterred by Rex¡¯s defenses, pressed his attack, his sickle moving with unnatural precision and speed.


    Rex, gritting his teeth, managed to deflect another blow. ¡°We need to hurry,¡± he said through clenched teeth. "This isn¡¯t going to end until we get the lights back on."


    Amber, her breathing heavy but focused, nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll get the generator. Buy me some time!¡±


    Rex didn''t hesitate. He charged forward, engaging Shadow in a brutal melee, his sword clashing against the sickle as sparks flew from each hit. Shadow moved like a phantom, his attacks swift and nearly impossible to predict.


    Meanwhile, Amber sprinted toward the generator, her hands crackling with electricity. She placed her palms against the cold metal and sent a surge of power through the machine. The generator sputtered to life, the lights flickering before fully powering on.


    As soon as the lights flooded the area, the darkness receded, and Shadow hissed, retreating into the corners where the light couldn''t reach. The oppressive weight of his presence faded, but they knew he would be back.


    Rex, panting from the intense fight, looked over at Amber. ¡°You did it,¡± he said, his voice filled with relief.


    Amber, still catching her breath, gave him a quick nod. ¡°Let¡¯s get back inside before they regroup.¡±


    Together, they hurried back to the hotel, where the rest of the group waited, hoping the worst was behind them. But they all knew that with Shadow still lurking, the night was far from over.

 Flames of Defiance

    As the first rays of sunlight began to spill over the horizon, everyone in the hotel room felt a wave of relief wash over them. They had kept watch all night, their eyes strained from staring into the shadows, ready for an attack that never fully came. The eight of them gathered their things and made their way outside, stepping into the golden warmth of the morning sun.


    The fatigue was evident on their faces, their bodies aching from the long, sleepless night. Baluka, Nur, Amber, Hanako, and Akria all slumped against the side of the building, soaking in the sunlight like a lifeline. Despite everything, they couldn¡¯t help but take a moment to appreciate the fact that they¡¯d made it through the night alive.


    Baluka squinted up at the sky, then glanced over at Rex and Leon, who seemed unnaturally alert, standing tall and scanning their surroundings as if they hadn''t just pulled an all-nighter. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "How the hell aren¡¯t you tired?" she asked, her voice groggy, laced with exhaustion.


    Leon, always composed, gave a small smirk but didn¡¯t take his eyes off the horizon. ¡°It¡¯s all about discipline. You train your mind and body enough, and you get used to pushing through without rest.¡±


    "Discipline, my ass," Nur grumbled, stretching his stiff muscles. "You¡¯ve gotta have some kind of trick up your sleeve. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re running on sheer willpower alone."


    Rex, standing a little to the side, let out a small chuckle. ¡°Let¡¯s just say... flux energy has its perks,¡± he said with a shrug. He rotated his shoulder, still sore from the night¡¯s battle. ¡°Though, it¡¯s not like we¡¯re not tired. We just know how to hide it better.¡±


    Hanako, lying on her side. ¡°Ugh, you two are freaks. I¡¯m pretty sure I could sleep for a whole week and still be tired.¡±


    Akria, sitting beside Hanako, licked her head lazily. ¡°Seconded.¡±


    Amber sighed, leaning back against the wall of the hotel. ¡°I hate to admit it, but I''m with them. This night was hell. I still feel like Shadow¡¯s eyes are on me.¡±


    Leon finally turned to face the group, his sharp gaze softening slightly. ¡°You all did well. We made it through the night¡ªtogether. But don¡¯t let your guard down just because it¡¯s daylight.¡±


    Rex nodded in agreement. ¡°Shadow might be hiding for now, but we know he¡¯s not finished with us. We need to keep moving. The sooner we get to the palace, the better.¡±


    Baluka groaned again, rubbing her temple. "Can¡¯t we just have, like, five minutes to bask in the sun? Maybe a nap?"


    Leon chuckled this time. "Maybe when this is over, Baluka. Maybe."


    Leon stood still for a moment, lost in thought. His sharp gaze seemed distant as if piecing together a puzzle no one else could see. Rex, noticing his friend''s silence, furrowed his brow. "Are you okay?" Rex asked, concerned.


    Leon nodded but didn''t seem fully there. "Something''s been bothering me since the train... and again in the woods," he finally said, his voice quieter than usual, but filled with a sense of urgency.


    "What is it?" Amber asked, her curiosity piqued as she wiped the exhaustion from her face.


    Leon shifted his weight, looking each of them in the eyes before speaking. "The Yeager rank four¡ªshe knew exactly where we were heading. And then, the other Yeager, Shadow, said, ''All of you will die long before you ever reach Luna.''"


    Rex''s eyes widened as the realization hit him. "You mean...?"


    Leon nodded, his expression grim. "Exactly. That would mean one of two things. Either they don¡¯t care that we¡¯re coming because they believe they can overpower us without much effort, or¡ª" He paused, the gravity of his next words hanging in the air. "¡ªLuna is still weak right now, trying to regain her original power."


    Amber furrowed her brow. "Regain her original power? What do you mean?"


    Rex crossed his arms, leaning against a nearby wall as he began to explain. "During the War of Yeagers, Luna went head-to-head with the first Dark Flame user, Amelia Locke. Their fight was catastrophic¡ªit destroyed all of Europe. The battle didn¡¯t stop there; it reached Saturn and Jupiter, wreaking havoc on everything in its path. We don¡¯t even know the full extent of the damage. Luna won that battle in the end, but she was left severely weakened from the fight."


    The weight of his words hung in the air, and the group fell silent for a moment. Baluka, usually the most energetic, even looked concerned.


    Nur, ever the pragmatist, grinned with a glint of excitement in his eyes. "So, if Luna is still trying to regain her power... that means she¡¯s vulnerable. We could take her out and win the war!"


    Leon shot him a sharp glance, his voice firm but calm. "Don¡¯t be so hasty. Yes, if she¡¯s still weakened, it gives us an opening, but we¡¯re talking about Luna¡ªshe¡¯s not an easy target. Even if she¡¯s not at full strength, underestimating her could cost us everything."


    Amber crossed her arms, her face thoughtful. "If she¡¯s trying to get her power back, that means we have a small window of opportunity. But if the Yeagers are aware of this... they¡¯re not going to just sit back and watch us take her down. We¡¯ll have to fight through all of them to even get to her."


    Rex, still leaning against the wall, nodded in agreement. "Leon¡¯s right. We need to be careful. Every step we take closer to Luna, the more resistance we¡¯re going to face. They won¡¯t let us waltz in and kill their queen."


    Nur huffed, still confident. "Doesn¡¯t matter. If we play this right, we can end this war before Luna ever regains her full strength. We just have to hit her fast and hard."


    Leon turned back to the group, his face determined. "We¡¯ll need to plan carefully. We can¡¯t afford any mistakes. If we¡¯re going after Luna, we need to be prepared for whatever comes next. There¡¯s no turning back from here."


    Baluka, still recovering from the ordeal, stood up and stretched. "Well, looks like we¡¯ve got our work cut out for us then. I just hope we can handle whatever¡¯s waiting for us between here and Luna."


    The sun now fully risen, casting a warm glow over the group, Leon gave a final nod. "We¡¯ve made it this far. We just have to stay smart and stick together."


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    The group, reinvigorated with a new sense of purpose, knew the hardest part of their journey was still ahead. But now, they had a goal in sight: Luna.


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    Leon paced back and forth, deep in thought, clearly strategizing their next move. ¡°but We need to get there as soon as possible,¡± he muttered before turning sharply to Hanako and Akria. "What are the conditions for your teleportation?"


    Hanako, lounging on the ground, lazily flicked her ears and grinned mischievously. ¡°Teleportation¡¯s not as easy as it sounds, Leon. We can only manage short distances right now, maybe a few kilometers tops. Anything more, and we¡¯ll be completely drained.¡±


    Akria, standing beside her with a more serious demeanor, nodded in agreement. ¡°The further we go, the more precise we have to be. If we lose focus, we might end up somewhere we don¡¯t want to be¡ªor worse, inside a solid object. That¡¯s not a risk we can afford to take.¡±


    Leon frowned, absorbing the limitations. ¡°So, teleporting straight to Luna¡¯s palace is off the table. Understood. How many people can you take with you at once?¡±


    Hanako twirled a strand of her hair as she considered. ¡°One of us can teleport a single person, and only if it''s a short distance. If Akria and I combine our energy, we might be able to move the entire group, but only for shorter hops. That would drain us both, though.¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    Akria crossed his arms. ¡°And we can¡¯t teleport to a place we don¡¯t know. If we haven¡¯t seen the location or sensed its energy, it¡¯s too risky. Especially if it¡¯s heavily guarded.¡±


    Leon nodded slowly. ¡°Alright. But what if you could see the destination beforehand, even in a picture? And what if we used our flux energy to stabilize the jump?¡±


    Akria¡¯s brow arched, and he glanced at Hanako. ¡°That could work, but it would still need to be within Japan. We can¡¯t teleport across continents, not yet.¡±


    Leon quickly used his cybernetics a pulled up a picture. ¡°How about here? Oma, the northernmost point of Japan. It¡¯s closer to Luna, and outside of the immediate Yeager threat.¡±


    Hanako flicked her tail as she studied the photo. ¡°It¡¯s within range, and it doesn¡¯t look too complicated terrain-wise. We could make it.¡±


    Akria nodded again, thoughtfully. ¡°We can give it a try, but we¡¯ll need rest afterward. It¡¯ll take everything we have.¡±


    Leon¡¯s lips curled into a slight smile. ¡°It¡¯s a risk, but it¡¯s better than taking the long, dangerous route. Let¡¯s do it.¡±


    Amber stepped forward. ¡°Then let¡¯s make it happen.¡±


    The group gathered around Hanako and Akria, placing their hands on the foxes as they channeled their flux energy into them. ¡°Yeager ability: Flux-portation,¡± Hanako and Akria thought in unison.


    In an instant, the world around them shifted, and they found themselves standing together on a dock in Oma. The salty sea breeze hit them immediately, and the sun¡¯s early rays bathed the horizon in light. Hanako and Akria collapsed to the ground, their small fox bodies completely drained.


    ¡°They gave it everything,¡± Leon muttered, kneeling beside Hanako as Rex gently scooped up Akria.


    They had made it, but the cost was clear


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    Rex gently picked up Hanako and Akria, placing Hanako on his head and Akria at the back of his neck, making sure they were comfortable. "So, where are we headed now?" Amber asked, glancing at the vast sea stretching ahead.


    "Are we taking the boat to Hakodate?" Baluka chimed in.


    "No, that would take too long," Leon replied, his voice steady. "We¡¯ll use our flux energy to get there faster."


    "Understood," the group responded in unison. Without hesitation, they leaped off the dock and began walking across the water, their flux energy keeping them afloat.


    Leon looked ahead, the wind in his hair, and called out, "Let¡¯s pick up the pace."


    Everyone understood the signal. The five of them took off at full speed, sprinting across the surface of the water, their steps leaving faint ripples behind. The sea rushed past beneath their feet, the cool spray from the ocean misting their faces as they pushed forward.


    After about five minutes, they had covered a great distance and were halfway across the sea. But suddenly, a figure appeared ahead of them¡ªNatalia, standing in their path, her whip coiled in her hand, a dangerous smirk on her face.


    The group immediately stopped, sliding into defensive stances. Rex stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation. Natalia¡¯s presence was no coincidence, and they all knew it.


    "I''ll handle this," Rex said firmly, his voice leaving no room for debate. "Everyone else, keep going. I¡¯ll catch up once I¡¯ve dealt with her."


    The others hesitated for a moment, concern flickering in their eyes, but they trusted Rex¡¯s judgment. Baluka, Amber, Leon, and Nur exchanged quick glances before nodding.


    "Stay safe," Amber muttered, her eyes locking with Rex¡¯s for a second before she turned to follow the rest of the group.


    Rex squared off with Natalia, his posture relaxed but ready. "So, you were waiting for us," he said, his voice low and steady.


    Natalia¡¯s grin widened. "You didn¡¯t think I¡¯d let you pass so easily, did you? This ends here."


    Rex''s hands clenched, the air around him crackling with energy. "You can try," he replied, his tone calm but resolute.


    Natalia¡¯s grin widened as her sword clashed with Rex¡¯s. Sparks flew from their blades, and she reveled in the intensity of the fight. Rex, calm and focused, stood his ground, but his eyes flickered with realization as her flames grew in power.


    "Yeager ability, Flames of Life," Natalia thought, summoning white and gold flames that danced along her sword. With a swift, full-powered swing, she sent a blast of flame toward Rex. He blocked the strike with his sword, but one of the smaller flames grazed him. He staggered back slightly.


    In that brief moment of contact, Rex felt something drain from him. "Five seconds of my life were drained...," he thought, his eyes narrowing. "If I take a direct hit from one of those giant flames, I could lose ten years or more."


    Natalia smirked, noticing his hesitation. ¡°You¡¯ve figured it out, haven¡¯t you? My flames burn brighter than yours and even Griffin¡¯s. They don¡¯t just hurt¡ªthey devour time itself.¡±


    With a sudden charge, Natalia¡¯s flames intensified. "Yeager ability, Pure Flames," she thought. Her sword ignited even more brilliantly, radiating an intense golden light. She swung it at Rex with a flurry of flames trailing from her blade, scorching the air.


    Rex met her assault head-on. "Dark Flame Style, Dark Sickle Cell," he thought. His sword began to hum and vibrate with dark energy. In an instant, he vanished, moving so quickly that the water beneath him split in half from the sheer force of his speed. Natalia''s eyes widened in shock¡ªshe couldn¡¯t track his movements.


    In the blink of an eye, Rex reappeared behind her. A split second later, her upper body was sliced clean in half, but before her body hit the water, it regenerated. Natalia spun around midair, her lower half reforming seamlessly. With a swift kick, she struck Rex in the head, sending him skidding back across the water.


    ¡°Yeager ability, Flames of Laughter,¡± Natalia thought, her body twisting unnaturally as she floated upside down, laughing maniacally. As her laughter echoed across the sea, flames erupted from her body, spreading in all directions like wildfire.


    Rex¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw the flames coming toward him, threatening to consume everything. ¡°Dark Flame Style, Dark Flame Wall,¡± he thought. A massive wall of black fire rose in front of him, blocking the advancing golden flames. The two opposing forces collided violently, creating an explosion of light and shadow that lit up the sky.


    Rex stood firm behind his flame barrier, eyes locked on Natalia. "These flames...they aren¡¯t just ordinary. They''re feeding off her madness," Rex thought. "I have to end this fast, or her power will spiral out of control."


    Natalia, upside down, laughed louder as her flames grew stronger, feeding off her chaotic energy. ¡°Let¡¯s see how long you can last, Rex!¡± she shouted, her voice filled with crazed glee.


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    A sudden, sharp pain shot through Rex¡¯s foot as a sickle burst from the water beneath him, stabbing deep into his flesh. "Damn it!" Rex cursed under his breath. He glanced upward, noticing dark clouds gathering ominously in the sky, signaling more danger. Without hesitation, he slashed his foot off to free himself and leaped away, regenerating the limb in a matter of seconds.


    "Took you long enough, weakling," Natalia sneered, her eyes gleaming with sadistic glee as she readied herself for another strike.


    Before Rex could respond, a figure emerged silently from a nearby shadow¡ªShadow himself, stepping into the light with cold disdain. "Be quiet, Natalia. You''re just as much of a nuisance as always," Shadow said with a chilling voice, his eyes fixed on Rex.


    "Damn... I can''t handle both of them at once like this," Rex thought, calculating his options quickly. He glanced over at Hanako and Akira, still unconscious and draped across his shoulders. He couldn¡¯t risk their safety any longer.


    In a desperate move, Rex tossed Hanako and Akira far into the distance, launching them with pinpoint precision toward the others. As the small foxes soared through the air, Shadow raised an eyebrow. "He can throw pretty far," he remarked, his tone mildly impressed.


    "Enough of that," Natalia said impatiently. ¡°Let¡¯s finish this.¡±


    Without hesitation, both Natalia and Shadow charged at Rex in perfect unison. Their blades glinted in the dim light as they swung at him with lethal intent. Rex met their attack head-on, blocking their strikes, but the force behind their blows sent shockwaves across the water, making it tremble beneath them.


    Rex gritted his teeth, his mind racing. "This isn¡¯t just a fight anymore; they¡¯re trying to overwhelm me."


    Rex¡¯s eyes gleamed with a brilliant yellow light, a sharp contrast to the chaos surrounding him. With this sudden burst of energy, he was able to effortlessly block every swing from both Natalia and Shadow. Each of their strikes clashed against his blade, but none could penetrate his defenses.


    Shadow¡¯s eyes narrowed, his suspicions confirmed. "I knew it," he thought, watching Rex closely. "Ace¡¯s memories revealed that Rex could predict movements¡ªthose yellow eyes must mean he can see into the future."


    Rex, though still holding his ground, could feel the toll on his body. "I can¡¯t keep this up for long. Seeing into the future drains too much flux energy." His muscles tensed, and with a quick decision, he realized he had only one option left. "I have no choice."


    ¡°Dark Flame Style, Dark Burst!¡± Rex thought, channeling all his remaining flux energy into his sword. The flames condensed into the blade, humming with volatile power. Without wasting a second, Rex charged at Natalia, his sword burning with the intensity of his attack.


    Natalia swung her blade to meet him head-on, but when Rex¡¯s blade collided with hers, a massive explosion of force erupted from the impact. The burst sent Rex flying backward, launched far into the air by the sheer pressure of his own flux energy.


    Natalia stood in the aftermath, stunned by the sudden change in the fight. "He used the energy not to attack me, but to escape...," she realized, her anger bubbling over as Rex vanished into the distance. She clenched her fists in frustration, knowing she had let him slip away.


    Meanwhile, Rex flew through the air, his body finally succumbing to exhaustion. His vision blurred, and before he knew it, he crash-landed on solid ground with a heavy thud. The impact knocked him out cold.


    Not far from where he landed, a girl was sitting by the water, fishing. She blinked in surprise as she saw Rex¡¯s dramatic arrival. ¡°Well¡­ that¡¯s one hell of a way to end a chapter,¡± she said with a bemused smile, pulling in her fishing line.

 Unravlling secret鈥檚

    Two years ago, Malin was training Rex in the ruins of Italy. The city was in shambles, the perfect backdrop for his intense training. ¡°Keep your flux energy in check, Rex. You¡¯re going to burn out if you don¡¯t,¡± she said, effortlessly blocking his attacks with her sword. Despite his best efforts, she deflected every strike with ease.


    Finally, she called for a break. ¡°That¡¯s enough for now,¡± she said. Rex dropped to the ground, exhausted. ¡°Master, how do you have so much control over your flux energy?¡± he asked, panting.


    Malin sat beside him. ¡°It comes from two things: inheritance and your connection to your soul,¡± she replied calmly.


    Rex looked at her, confused. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    ¡°Inheritance is about where you come from. My ancestors were dark flame users, and their power flows through me, giving me strength. But that¡¯s only half of it. The other part is your soul. You need to be connected to it,¡± she explained.


    Rex furrowed his brow. ¡°So, is the reason I don¡¯t have as much flux energy because of my inheritance?¡±


    Malin shook her head firmly. ¡°No, Rex. You have far more inheritance than I do. Your father and mother both wielded different elements, making you exceptionally powerful. And Griffin? He gave you heritage from the Locke family, making you even more unique. Your issue isn¡¯t inheritance¡ªit¡¯s that you¡¯re not in tune with your soul.¡±


    Rex paused, absorbing her words. ¡°So, if I understand my own soul, I¡¯ll have better control over my flux energy?¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Malin nodded. ¡°The more you understand and connect with your soul, the stronger and more controlled your flux energy will become.¡±


    ¡°So, is that how Father and Griffin used their Palace?¡± Rex asked, curious.


    Malin shook her head. ¡°No, it¡¯s far more complicated than that. It¡¯s not just about power; it¡¯s about your ideals. Your Palace is a reflection of your beliefs and how you shape those ideals into reality. It gives you more power, yes, but it¡¯s deeply tied to who you are at your core.¡±


    Rex furrowed his brow. ¡°So, I need to understand my own ideals and make them real?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. But be warned, Rex¡ªit takes a tremendous amount of flux energy to create and maintain a Palace. And you¡¯re not ready yet. You don¡¯t fully understand your soul, and until you do, you won¡¯t be able to harness that kind of power,¡± Malin explained, her voice calm but firm.


    Rex nodded slowly, realizing how much more he had to learn. "So, mastering my soul is the first step..."


    ¡°Yes, and once you do, your Palace will come naturally,¡± Malin said. ¡°But for now, focus on building that connection.¡±


    Rex understood what Malin had meant, but before he could reflect more, he suddenly became aware of his surroundings. He blinked, realizing he was lying in a small bed, his body bandaged from his chest down. The room was simple, with lollipops and a pair of tonfas hanging on the wall, an odd but quirky decoration. As he took in the space, the door opened, and a girl with an energetic bounce entered, her eyes lighting up when she saw him.


    "The hot guy is awake now!" she exclaimed, dropping the bags she carried. Without hesitation, she hurried over to help him sit up. ¡°Here, let me help you,¡± she offered, guiding him into a sitting position.


    Rex let her assist him, though his body quickly responded. Channeling his flux energy, he healed himself, the bandages loosening as his injuries rapidly mended. The girl¡¯s eyes widened in awe.


    ¡°Woah, that¡¯s so cool! You must be part of the Yeager Force!¡± she said excitedly, practically buzzing with enthusiasm.


    Rex stood up, stretching out his arms and legs, feeling his body return to full strength. But something felt off. ¡°All my flux energy is back, but... it feels strange, like someone else¡¯s energy was used to heal me,¡± he thought, frowning slightly.


    The girl interrupted his thoughts, still bubbling with energy. ¡°Oh, I haven¡¯t even introduced myself! I¡¯m Emi Saito! I¡¯m a high school senior, just one more year to go!¡± She grinned and extended her hand toward him, her smile bright and friendly. ¡°What¡¯s your name, Mr. Hot Guy?¡±


    Rex paused, then shook her hand. ¡°I¡¯m Rex Jones. Thanks for helping me out, but I should get going. I don¡¯t want to be a bother,¡± he said politely, though his stomach betrayed him with a loud growl.


    Emi¡¯s grin only widened. ¡°Hungry, huh? Let me whip something up for you!¡± she said, not taking no for an answer as she grabbed his arm and led him downstairs to a family restaurant. ¡°One of my mom¡¯s friends is a famous chef, and she gave us this place to run here in Tomakomai,¡± she explained as she bounced around the kitchen. ¡°Sit tight. I¡¯ll make you something delicious!¡±


    Rex sat down, resigned but curious. He watched as Emi worked in the kitchen, her movements quick and practiced. After a while, she placed a plate of food in front of him, beaming with pride. ¡°Food¡¯s finished! Here you go!¡±


    He hesitated for a moment, then sighed and picked up the chopsticks. ¡°...Thanks,¡± he muttered, taking a bite. To his surprise, the food was actually quite good, and he found himself eating more quickly than he intended.


    ¡°Does it taste good?¡± she asked with a wide smile, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.


    Rex paused mid-bite, glancing up at her. ¡°Yeah¡­ it does,¡± he admitted, not expecting to enjoy it as much as he did.


    Her smile grew even wider. ¡°Wow, really? That means a lot to me! Especially coming from a hot guy like you,¡± she said, practically glowing with excitement.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Rex set the chopsticks down, nodding politely. ¡°Thanks for the food, but I really have to get going now.¡±


    Emi tilted her head, her grin never faltering. ¡°But do you though?¡± she asked teasingly.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Rex replied firmly.


    ¡°But do you?¡± she repeated, a playful edge in her voice.


    Rex¡¯s patience thinned, his tone growing irritated. ¡°Yes,¡± he said again, more forcefully this time.


    Emi just giggled, clearly enjoying his frustration.


    As Rex and Emi exchanged words, the door to the restaurant creaked open, and a woman entered, quietly taking a seat at the far end of the room. Rex¡¯s senses immediately went on high alert. His gaze sharpened as he recognized the danger.


    ¡°Emi, get upstairs,¡± Rex ordered, his voice tense.


    Emi blinked in confusion. "What? Why¡ª"


    Before she could finish, the woman stood up, her presence suffocating. She smirked, eyes gleaming with menace. ¡°You really are quick to figure things out, Rex,¡± she said, her voice dripping with malice. Tattoos snaked up her arms and neck. ¡°My name is Beelzebub, ranked seventh among the Yeagers.¡±


    Rex¡¯s jaw tightened, but before he could react, Emi jumped in. "Woah, woah, woah, if you wanna fight, take it outside!" she said, waving her hands.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Rex hissed in disbelief.


    Emi grinned, unphased by the rising tension. ¡°I¡¯ll never get a chance to say that again!¡±


    Beelzebub wasted no time, launching at Rex with sharp claws. Rex dodged her attack just in time, pivoting on his foot before delivering a powerful kick to her side. The force of his strike sent Beelzebub crashing through the door, splintering wood everywhere.


    The air grew still, tension crackling between them as Rex braced for her next move.


    ¡°Get out of here, Emi!¡± Rex yelled, his voice cutting through the chaos.


    Rex leaped outside, landing just as Beelzebub brushed off the dust from her pants. ¡°Wow, you¡¯ve got a strong kick,¡± she remarked, smirking as if unfazed by the damage.


    Rex instinctively reached for his sword, only to remember it was still upstairs. ¡°Brilliant,¡± he thought, frustrated. ¡°My sword¡¯s still in the damn room.¡±


    ¡°Yeager ability, Swarm,¡± Beelzebub muttered under her breath, her grin widening. In an instant, hundreds of flies materialized out of thin air. With a snap of her fingers, the swarm launched toward Rex. He moved with swift precision, dodging each one, but every time a fly hit a surface, it exploded, sending shockwaves through the air.


    ¡°Dark Flame Style: Dark Flame Beam,¡± Rex thought, focusing his flux energy. A massive beam of dark flames erupted from his fingertips, surging directly at Beelzebub. But the swarm of flies formed a protective shield, absorbing the full force of the attack. Smoke clouded the battlefield, making it impossible for Rex to see her.


    Suddenly, Beelzebub burst through the smoke, closing the distance in a flash. Before Rex could react, she placed her hand on his chest. ¡°My ability lets me touch the souls of others¡­ Let¡¯s see if this works,¡± she thought, a wicked smile spreading across her face. She connected with Rex¡¯s soul, probing deeper.


    But then everything shifted.


    Beelzebub found herself in a dark, otherworldly realm, encircled by swirling dark flames. At the center, a figure sat on a high throne. The air turned icy as the figure¡¯s cold, piercing voice echoed through the void.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you just this one warning,¡± the voice said with venomous authority. ¡°Touch his soul, or my soul again, and I, Amelia Locke, will kill you.¡±


    Beelzebub froze in place, terror gripping her as she realized she had crossed into something far more dangerous than she anticipated.


    "Let go of the amazing chest!" a voice yelled. Beelzebub barely dodged a sudden kick that came out of nowhere. It was Emi, holding her two tonfas confidently. ¡°Here ya go!¡± Emi said, tossing Rex¡¯s sword to him.


    ¡°Emi, you¡¯re just a civilian! I don¡¯t want you fighting!¡± Rex shouted, catching the sword.


    "Oh, Rex¡¯y Rex,¡± Emi grinned, ¡°I¡¯ve been training to be a Yeager Force soldier my entire life. Of course, I¡¯m going to take on this Yeager." Without hesitation, she charged straight at Beelzebub.


    ¡°Emi! That person is a Yeager rank!¡± Rex called out, panic creeping into his voice. Emi paused for a moment, realization hitting her, but then her smile widened.


    ¡°Awesome!¡± she thought, charging forward again, undeterred. ¡°Yeager ability: *Water Drain*,¡± she muttered under her breath. A mist materialized around her, swirling ominously. As Beelzebub¡¯s hand made contact with the mist, her arm withered, drained of its vitality, leaving a husk behind. Beelzebub recoiled, shocked, and regenerated her hand instantly.


    "Yeager ability: *Wings of Death*," Beelzebub responded, grotesque wings sprouting from her back. Swarms of flies poured out, surging toward Emi.


    ¡°Oh crap,¡± Emi whispered under her breath, just as Rex stepped in.


    ¡°*Dark Flame Style: Dark Flame Wall,*¡± Rex thought, summoning a massive wall of dark flames. The fiery barrier incinerated the incoming swarm of flies instantly.


    Beelzebub watched from the other side of the wall, her expression darkening. ¡°So, this is Night¡¯s grandchild¡­ she¡¯s got the exact same potential,¡± she muttered.


    ¡°Nice save, Rex! *Water Style: Mist Escape,*¡± Emi shouted, the mist thickening as the wall of flames dissipated, cloaking their retreat. Beelzebub growled in frustration as they vanished from sight.


    ¡°Those bastards ran away!¡± Beelzebub hissed.


    Rex and Emi ran through the streets, eventually stopping at Kirakira Park to catch their breath.


    ¡°Good job with that mist,¡± Rex said, panting.


    ¡°Thanks! I¡¯ve been practicing a lot with my teacher,¡± Emi replied with a proud smile.


    Rex raised an eyebrow. ¡°Who is your teacher?¡± he asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s someone my mom met back in 2667. He helped her with some stuff, and in return, she introduced me to this amazing teacher¡ªLluvia,¡± Emi explained.


    Rex paused, a realization hitting him. ¡°Emi, can I ask you something? Is your mom... Kioko Saito?¡±


    Emi¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. ¡°How did you know¡­ Are you secretly dating my mom? I didn¡¯t know she could pull a hottie like you!¡±


    Rex ignored her comment, his thoughts racing. ¡°That proves it, the dream was a vision of the past,¡± he mused silently.


    Emi noticed his distant expression. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± she asked, curious.


    ¡°Emi, do you have a hotspot through your cybernetics? I need to contact some people,¡± Rex asked, shifting back to the situation at hand.


    ¡°Damn skippy, I do,¡± she replied enthusiastically.


    ¡°Can I use it?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Of course!¡± Emi quickly connected her cybernetics to Rex, granting him access to her network.


    Rex dialed Leon first, but no one picked up. His worry grew, imagining the worst¡ªhad Natalia and Shadow already gone after the group? After a moment of hesitation, he called Malin.


    ¡°Who is it?¡± Malin¡¯s voice came through, sharp and cautious.


    ¡°It¡¯s me, Rex,¡± he said.


    ¡°Rex? What¡¯s going on?¡± she asked, her tone softening slightly.


    ¡°I need to know something about Griffin Locke,¡± he said, his voice tense.


    Malin paused for a moment, sensing the seriousness in his voice. ¡°What do you want to know?¡± she asked, cautious.


    ¡°Did he have a sister?¡± Rex¡¯s words hung in the air, heavy with implication.


    There was silence on the other end before Malin spoke again, her voice tight. ¡°Where are you getting at?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Master, but¡­ Natalia Locke, his sister, has become Yeager rank four,¡± Rex explained.


    The line went dead. Malin had hung up without another word.


    Rex sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He turned to Emi. ¡°Emi, you have to stay with me from now on. You¡¯ve become a target for the Yeagers.¡±


    Emi spun around, a look of fear crossing her face. ¡°Rex, I need your help! It¡¯s my mom¡ªshe¡¯s in trouble!¡± She quickly showed him the news on her device. Onscreen was a live feed of her mother, tied up and beaten, at Emi¡¯s high school.


    Rex¡¯s jaw clenched. "We need to move¡ªnow."

 Clash of Shadows and Shockwaves

    As Leon and the group settled into the building in Hakodate, they were surrounded by lights, and the tension in the air was palpable. Baluka was still recovering from Hanako and Akira being thrown onto her back.


    ¡°Are you feeling better, Hanako?¡± Amber asked, trying to lighten the mood.


    ¡°Like hell I am,¡± Hanako groaned. ¡°Being thrown at that speed¡­ I don¡¯t even want to think about it.¡±


    Meanwhile, Nur and Leon were at the window, keeping a vigilant watch on the streets below.


    ¡°Leon, what are we supposed to do now?¡± Nur asked, his voice edged with concern.


    ¡°We can''t keep traveling on foot anymore,¡± Leon responded, his eyes scanning the horizon. ¡°There have been too many encounters with Yeager ranks. That''s why I''m going to hack into Japan''s satellite and get us access to the teleportation system.¡±


    Nur stared at Leon in shock. ¡°What... You realize how dangerous that is, right?¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Leon said, his tone resolute. ¡°But if it means getting to Luna while she¡¯s weak and vulnerable, I¡¯ll take that risk.¡±


    ¡°But how can you do it from here?¡± Nur asked. ¡°You don¡¯t have the equipment, and we¡¯re being hunted by two Yeager ranks right now.¡±


    Leon smirked. ¡°I can make it work. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve got a plan.¡± He signaled Amber and Baluka over. Both women approached him, their expressions wary but ready.


    ¡°The plan is simple,¡± Leon began. ¡°I¡¯ll hack into Japan¡¯s satellite, but I¡¯ll need time. Amber, Baluka, you two will deal with the Yeager rank four. Nur, I need you to stay with me for protection while I work.¡±


    Amber crossed her arms, looking skeptical. ¡°What about Yeager rank three? He can appear out of any shadow and strike at you while you''re hacking.¡±


    Leon gave her a confident nod. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve already thought about that. The person I trust to handle him is someone who can create shockwaves with his hammer and fists.¡±


    Meanwhile, Natalia and Shadow were splitting up to track down the group. Shadow, moving silently through the streets, came across a lone figure standing in the middle of the road. The man was tall, with deep scars etched across his face. His presence radiated strength and experience.


    Shadow¡¯s eyes narrowed as he recognized the figure. It was Ash, a fighter known for his devastating shockwave abilities, standing ready for battle.


    Without a word, the two locked eyes, and the fight began.


    ¡°So you¡¯re the Yeager I was told to fight,¡± Ash said, gripping his giant hammer with both hands, ready for action.


    Shadow remained silent, his cold, lifeless eyes fixed on Ash.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Ash¡¯s brow furrowed, and his tone turned deadly serious. ¡°Before I kill you¡­ what¡¯s the Yeager¡¯s name that killed Adam?¡±


    Shadow finally spoke, his voice low and emotionless. ¡°Killer.¡±


    Ash nodded, his grip tightening on his hammer. ¡°Good to know.¡±


    With that, Ash swung his hammer with a mighty arc. But before Shadow could react, Ash closed the gap and kicked him in the face with brutal force. The impact sent Shadow flying, crashing into the ground, but he quickly regained his footing.


    ¡°He sent shockwaves into my mind when he kicked me,¡± Shadow thought, his head pounding from the attack. He barely had time to think as Ash came charging again, hammer raised.


    Ash brought the massive weapon down, but Shadow blocked with his sickle. Ash¡¯s right hand moved like lightning, striking Shadow¡¯s head at the speed of sound, sending even more shockwaves through his skull. Shadow staggered slightly, his vision blurred, but just as Ash was about to kick him in the head again, Shadow recovered. In a split second, he blocked the attack and shot Ash a murderous death glare.


    Without hesitation, Shadow kicked Ash, sending him flying backward. Ash landed hard, dust kicking up around him as he hit the ground.


    ¡°Damn,¡± Ash muttered, wiping blood from his mouth. ¡°I wanted to end this fight quickly.¡± He got to his feet, preparing for the next round, knowing he was up against someone far more dangerous than he first thought.


    "He can hear them, can¡¯t he? The pressures of shockwaves caused by flux energy," Shadow thought, observing Ash¡¯s movements.


    Since birth, Ash had been able to sense and manipulate shockwaves. To him, the air pressure and vibrations in his surroundings told a story no one else could understand. By adjusting these pressures, he could unleash devastating attacks capable of shaking the earth itself.


    "I guess I have to take this fight seriously," Ash thought, gripping his hammer tightly before pressing a button on its handle. The hammer dissolved into a set of sleek armor, covering his arms and legs in protective gear. "Leon, this armor better work," he muttered under his breath.


    "Using my sickle will be pointless in this fight," Shadow mused, his weapon disappearing in a wisp of darkness. He assumed a fighting stance, his eyes narrowing.


    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t get yourself killed in one hit,¡± Ash taunted, a grin pulling at his lips.


    Shadow¡¯s annoyance flared, but before he could react, Ash was already in front of him, moving at the speed of sound. Punches flew in rapid succession, and Shadow barely dodged them, though a few strikes connected, sending sharp jolts of pain through his body. Ash¡¯s relentless assault pushed him back.


    "System, has everyone evacuated?" Ash asked through his cybernetics.


    "Yes, the area is clear," the AI responded.


    "Shockwave Style: Waves of Clashing Mountains!" Ash thought. He grabbed Shadow by the head and slammed him into the ground with immense force. The resulting shockwave obliterated buildings in a 200-meter radius, the ground itself trembling under the sheer power of the attack.


    Shadow knelt, his body already regenerating from the damage. Blood dripped from his wounds, but his face remained expressionless. "Time to end this," Ash said, preparing for a final blow.


    ¡°Yeager Ability: Shadow Explosion,¡± Shadow whispered. In an instant, Ash¡¯s body was slashed open as though an invisible blade had cut through him.


    "What the hell? How did he do that?" Ash thought, gripping his side in shock.


    "I¡¯m not hitting you directly," Shadow explained, rising to his feet. "I¡¯m targeting your shadow. When your shadow takes damage, so do you."


    Shadow rushed toward Ash, closing the distance in a heartbeat. But as soon as he was close enough, Ash grabbed his head and began slamming it with brutal headbutts. Shadow responded in kind, their foreheads colliding in a brutal exchange of blows, neither willing to back down.


    "For some reason¡­ this reminds me of her," Shadow thought amidst the chaos, the impact of their heads ringing in his ears as memories of another fierce fighter flickered in his mind.


    as he remembers his past with Amelia Locke and him when they were both humans.

 Shadows of betrayal

    In the year 2594, Amelia and Shadow rested on a hill, the sun setting behind them. The air was still, but Amelia wasn¡¯t.


    ¡°Ugh, I *need* a mission to go on!¡± she yelled, pacing in frustration.


    Shadow, still lying down, raised an eyebrow. ¡°Amelia, they¡¯re not going to give you a mission. You do realize that, right?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m too goddamn strong! That¡¯s why!¡± she shot back, throwing her arms in the air. ¡°If a strong Yeager showed up, I could take it out in seconds!¡±


    ¡°Your yelling is killing me,¡± Shadow muttered, rubbing his temples.


    Without hesitation, Amelia headbutted Shadow, sending him flying backwards. He crashed into the ground, groaning as he looked up at her.


    ¡°Why do you always hit me in the head?¡± he asked, wincing.


    ¡°That¡¯s because you always say dumb crap about me,¡± she said, folding her arms and glaring down at him.


    Before Shadow could respond, a soldier sprinted toward them, breathless. ¡°Mrs. Amelia!¡± he shouted, clearly nervous.


    Amelia turned to him, her annoyance still palpable. ¡°What is it?¡± she snapped.


    The soldier hesitated, then gathered his courage. ¡°The higher-ups... they want to speak with you.¡±


    Amelia let out an exaggerated sigh. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go,¡± she said, irritated. She turned to Shadow. ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯m done with you yet.¡±


    Shadow sat up, rubbing the back of his head. ¡°Lucky me...¡± he muttered under his breath as Amelia stormed off.


    As Amelia stormed into the meeting, she found herself in the center of a circle, surrounded by holograms of military officials. Her annoyance was already at its peak, and she wasted no time.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± she demanded.


    One of the holograms, a stern-looking man, didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries. ¡°I¡¯ll get to the point¡ªShadow killed an entire base of our soldiers. His family¡¯s home is empty. He likely killed them, too.¡±


    Amelia, who had been casually stretching, froze mid-motion. Her expression darkened. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I said¡ª¡± the man started, but Amelia cut him off.


    ¡°I heard you the first time,¡± she growled, stepping forward. ¡°There¡¯s *no way* my best friend is a traitor! Shadow would never kill the family he loves!¡± Her voice echoed with rage.


    Suddenly, a soldier burst into the room, panting. ¡°Ma¡¯am, Shadow is missing!¡±


    Without another word, Amelia vanished from the room. Her speed was so swift, none of the others could react. She bolted out of the base, racing toward LA City. Her heart pounded with both adrenaline and disbelief as she pushed herself faster.


    When she reached the crowded streets of LA, she spotted him¡ªShadow, calmly walking through the crowd as if nothing had happened.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°I should¡¯ve left earlier so you wouldn¡¯t catch up to me,¡± he said without turning around.


    Amelia, breathless but seething with fury, shouted after him. ¡°What the hell, Shadow! What the higher-ups said... is it true? Did you really do it?¡±


    Shadow finally stopped, but he didn¡¯t turn to face her. ¡°Do you believe them?¡±


    Amelia¡¯s voice cracked with emotion. ¡°Of course I don¡¯t! You¡¯re my best friend!¡±


    Shadow sighed, the weight of his next words pressing heavily on the air between them. ¡°Then you¡¯re an idiot.¡±


    Amelia¡¯s heart sank. ¡°W-What?¡±


    ¡°I did it,¡± he said, his tone cold and devoid of any remorse. ¡°You humans disgust me.¡±


    Amelia stood frozen, unable to comprehend his words.


    Shadow continued, his voice steady but hollow. ¡°Humans betray each other, kill each other, all for greed. Just like the mess with the Yeagers. And you, Amelia Locke... you¡¯re just another weapon¡ªcreated and used by humans, like the rest of us.¡±


    Amelia¡¯s mind raced, struggling to process the reality of her closest friend¡¯s betrayal. She clenched her fists, her body trembling. ¡°You¡¯re wrong, Shadow... I¡¯m not just a weapon. And neither are you.¡±


    As Shadow walked away from Amelia, her heart raced, torn between loyalty to her friend and the burning rage that welled up inside her. She wanted to believe that somewhere beneath his twisted words, the friend she once knew still existed. But the Shadow that stood before her now was a man consumed by hatred and a thirst for destruction.


    "Shadow!" she yelled, her voice thick with emotion. But he kept walking, not even glancing back. Her fists clenched, and dark flames began to swirl around her hands, the energy threatening to explode outward.


    For a moment, she contemplated ending it all right there. With her flames, she could burn him to ash and stop whatever madness had taken over him. But something held her back¡ªsome flicker of the past, of the bond they once shared.


    ¡°If you kill me now, Amelia,¡± he said, without turning, ¡°at least it¡¯ll be for a reason. A meaning. But you know better. You''re too human for that."


    His words stung, and Amelia¡¯s flames flickered, but they didn¡¯t die out. She knew this wasn¡¯t just about Shadow or his betrayal¡ªit was about the bigger battle between the Yeagers, humanity, and everything in between. As much as she hated it, there was no easy way to fix things now.


    She watched as Shadow disappeared into the crowd, her heart heavy with the knowledge that their paths would cross again, but next time, they would be on opposite sides.


    The last glimpse she had of him was his silhouette fading into the distance, and with it, the last remnants of the friend she once knew.


    In the present, as Shadow and Ash broke away from their headbutting clash, the air between them crackled with tension. Shadow¡¯s eyes briefly darkened as memories of Amelia flashed before him, but he quickly shoved them aside, focusing on the fight at hand.


    "You¡¯re so annoying," Shadow muttered, trying to banish the echoes of his past. His irritation fueled him, and in an instant, he charged at Ash with blinding speed.


    Ash braced himself for another punch, but Shadow vanished before he could land his blow. Suddenly, a powerful kick connected with Ash¡¯s back, sending him stumbling forward.


    ¡°*Yeager ability, Shadow Dance,*¡± Shadow thought, as his form began to shift, melting into the darkness around them. His body became an intangible shadow, flickering in and out of sight. Ash swung his fists, but every punch passed harmlessly through the shadow, unable to land a hit.


    From the shadows, fists appeared, pummeling Ash from all directions. The hits came fast and hard, each one more disorienting than the last.


    ¡°*Shockwave style, Shockwave Flash,*¡± Ash thought. He swung his leg in a wide arc, generating a burst of pressure aimed at Shadow, but it was too late. Shadow''s leg emerged from the darkness and slammed into Ash¡¯s side, tearing through his armor and leaving a deep gash along his stomach. Blood sprayed from the wound, but Ash gritted his teeth, refusing to show weakness.


    "Is that all you got, human?" Shadow taunted, his voice echoing from the surrounding shadows.


    Ash stepped back, his breath heavy. His muscles flexed as he used his flux energy to seal the wound, his expression turning from pained to determined. ¡°What a pain,¡± he said with a grin, despite the searing pain in his side. "But now it¡¯s time for you to feel the shockwave."


    Ash raised his fists, ready for whatever Shadow had next, but his grin was unwavering, as if he relished the challenge.

 Shockwaves of determination

    Five months ago¡­


    Ash and Leon were running the final diagnostics on Ash¡¯s armor suit in a dimly lit workshop filled with the hum of machinery. Leon¡¯s fingers danced across the console, reading the data streams flashing before him.


    ¡°Ash, the calibrations are set. The suit¡¯s working perfectly now,¡± Leon said, a note of pride in his voice as he double-checked the numbers. His eyes flicked from the screen to Ash, who was already testing the suit, throwing punches like a professional boxer warming up for a match.


    ¡°Good,¡± Ash grunted, his muscles flexing beneath the sleek metallic armor. His movements were sharper, faster¡ªmore powerful. ¡°Now I can finally kill that bitch Luna with it.¡±


    Leon paused, watching Ash with a look of quiet contemplation. His mind raced with questions, but one in particular bubbled to the surface. ¡°Ash, can I ask you something?¡±


    Ash stopped mid-punch and turned to face Leon, wiping sweat from his brow. ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°Why did you want me to build this suit in the first place? I mean, what¡¯s driving you?¡±


    For a moment, Ash didn¡¯t answer. He clenched his fists, his gaze distant. Then, his eyes hardened, filled with a resolve Leon hadn¡¯t seen in a long time. ¡°Back then, Adam, Griffin, and your father made a promise,¡± Ash began, his voice steady. ¡°They swore to protect each other¡¯s families if any of them fell in this war. I was part of that promise too.¡±


    Leon blinked, surprised by the depth in Ash¡¯s words. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that. So you¡¯re carrying on their promise?¡±


    Ash nodded, his expression darkening. ¡°I see the war around us, Leon. People are dying left and right. Friends, family¡­ everyone. I¡¯ve lost too many, and I know you¡¯ve felt it too. The suit¡­ it¡¯s more than just armor to me. It¡¯s a way to honor them¡ªto fight for everyone who¡¯s died in this war!¡± His voice boomed through the room, echoing the intensity of his emotions.


    Leon stood silent for a moment, understanding now. This wasn¡¯t just about power¡ªit was about something bigger, something personal.


    Present Time¡­


    Ash stood still, his muscles tensing as his suit hummed with energy. The suit¡¯s vibrations increased, reverberating through his body like an engine revving up for maximum output. Shadow stood a few feet away, his eyes narrowing as he sensed the shift in the atmosphere.


    ¡°What the hell is happening?¡± Shadow muttered under his breath. His eyes darted around, trying to make sense of Ash¡¯s sudden surge in power.


    Then, without warning, Ash¡¯s body blurred. ¡°Shockwave Style: Krakatoa,¡± he thought, his movements so fast they defied logic. In a flash, Ash closed the distance between them, his fist crackling with energy.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Shadow¡¯s instincts screamed at him to react, but Ash was too quick. With a speed that shattered the air, Ash unleashed a punch aimed straight for Shadow¡¯s head. At the last possible second, Shadow managed to block, his sickle materializing just in time. But it wasn¡¯t enough.


    The shockwave from Ash¡¯s punch exploded outward, the raw force behind it ripping Shadow¡¯s left arm clean off. Shadow¡¯s eyes widened in shock as his body was flung through the air like a ragdoll, slamming into a nearby building with such force that the concrete crumbled beneath him.


    Shadow groaned, sprawled out on the debris-strewn ground, his body struggling to regenerate. His breath came in ragged gasps as he clutched his side. ¡°That shockwave¡­ it tore through everything,¡± he thought, trying to piece together what had just happened. His left arm, or what was left of it, lay in a puddle of blood. ¡°I can¡¯t even regenerate it¡­ the force was too intense. It obliterated everything¡ªeven sound.¡±


    Ash, standing a few yards away, remained motionless. His body trembled as blood dripped from his nose and ears, the backlash of his own attack tearing through him like razors. The suit had amplified his power, but at a cost.


    ¡°The recoil¡­ it almost killed me,¡± Ash thought, his vision blurring as he fought to stay upright. His bones felt like they were vibrating under his skin, his muscles screaming for rest. But he wouldn¡¯t stop¡ªnot now. ¡°I can¡¯t fall¡­ not here¡­ not yet.¡± Gritting his teeth, Ash forced his body to keep moving, his resolve the only thing keeping him conscious.


    Shadow, still lying in the rubble, slowly pushed himself up. Blood dripped from his lips, and he coughed, a twisted grin forming on his face. His eyes flickered toward the sky.


    Ash noticed the shift in his demeanor. ¡°Why the hell are you smiling?¡± Ash asked, his voice raspy.


    Shadow looked up, his grin widening. ¡°It¡¯s finally time!¡± he yelled, his laughter echoing through the desolate battlefield.


    Ash blinked, confused, then followed Shadow¡¯s gaze to the sky. His heart dropped. The solar eclipse had begun. Darkness spread over Japan like a cloak, the shadows lengthening and merging into one. The light faded, and with it, the air grew cold and heavy.


    ¡°This fight is over now,¡± Shadow said, his voice low and dangerous. He raised his hands and formed a symbol. ¡°Hodr Palace.¡±


    In that instant, Shadow¡¯s body began to transform. His clothes, his skin, everything about him shifted into pure darkness. His form twisted and coiled like living shadows, his body becoming one with the encroaching eclipse. His presence felt suffocating, as though he were consuming the very space around him.


    Ash¡¯s heart raced, but a part of him smiled. ¡°So, this is what you were hiding.¡±


    Shadow¡¯s voice echoed, distorted as if coming from all directions at once. ¡°You¡¯ve seen nothing yet.¡± His body flickered in and out of existence, moving with unnatural speed.


    Ash braced himself as Shadow charged, his form barely visible as he sped toward him. Ash met him with everything he had, his fists igniting with shockwave energy. The two clashed, their punches colliding with the force of a supernova. The shockwaves rippled through the battlefield, shattering the ground beneath them, and sending debris flying in every direction.


    Every punch, every kick was met with equal ferocity. Ash¡¯s body screamed in pain, but he refused to back down. Shadow, now in his shadow form, was even harder to hit¡ªhis movements fluid, and unpredictable.


    Ash gritted his teeth. ¡°I won¡¯t let you win!¡± he roared, throwing another punch infused with shockwave energy.


    But Shadow vanished, appearing behind Ash in an instant. His shadowy fist collided with Ash¡¯s back, sending him stumbling forward. ¡°You¡¯re too slow,¡± Shadow whispered, his voice filled with malice.


    Ash, gasping for breath, turned to face him. His body ached, but he refused to give in. The real fight had just begun, and neither of them was willing to lose.

 final gambit

    As Ash and Shadow continued their brutal battle, each strike carried the weight of their rage, pain, and determination. Their clashes sent ripples through the shattered cityscape, turning the battlefield into a storm of debris and destruction.


    Seizing an opening, Ash lunged forward, his eyes burning with fierce intent. He grabbed hold of Shadow¡¯s torso, locking him in a crushing grip. Without hesitation, Ash unleashed a torrent of shockwaves directly into Shadow¡¯s body, the vibrations coursing through every inch of his being. Shadow¡¯s eyes widened as the intense pressure surged within him, disrupting his shadow form and sending his internal energy into chaos.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see you handle this!¡± Ash snarled, pouring every ounce of his power into the attack.


    Shadow¡¯s body convulsed, his form flickering between solid and ethereal. Desperate to break free, Shadow swung his leg up and landed a vicious kick to Ash¡¯s head. The impact jarred Ash¡¯s grip loose, and Shadow capitalized on the moment. With lightning speed, he twisted in mid-air, planting his right hand on the ground to stabilize himself. Using his momentum, he swung his legs around and delivered another punishing kick to Ash¡¯s head, the blow connecting with brutal force.


    Ash stumbled back, his vision blurring from the repeated hits. Shadow¡¯s kicks didn¡¯t just hurt him¡ªthey seemed to strike his very core, shaking him to his bones. Gritting his teeth, Ash quickly recovered, his adrenaline fueling him as he charged forward again, fists ready to deliver another barrage of shockwave-enhanced punches.


    Shadow prepared to counter, his right arm poised to strike, but as he moved, the shockwave Ash had injected into his body took its toll. The pressure built rapidly within his arm, swelling it to grotesque proportions. Shadow¡¯s eyes widened in horror, realizing what was about to happen, but there was no time to react.


    With a deafening crack, Shadow¡¯s right arm exploded in a burst of shadowy matter and flux energy, sending dark tendrils scattering like smoke. Shadow staggered back, his face contorted in pain and disbelief. Blood and shadow fragments spattered the ground, the remnants of his arm dissipating into the air.


    ¡°You¡­ bastard!¡± Shadow gasped, clutching the mangled stump where his arm had been. The shockwaves had destabilized his form from the inside, and the damage was severe.


    Ash stood tall, breathing heavily but with a triumphant gleam in his eyes. ¡°I told you, Shadow. I¡¯m not going down easy,¡± Ash growled, raising his fists once more. ¡°This fight is just getting started.¡±


    Despite the excruciating pain, Shadow refused to fall. His eyes, now glowing with a dark, fiery resolve, locked onto Ash. With his body still shaking from the aftershocks, Shadow prepared to keep fighting, knowing that even with one arm, he would not stop until one of them lay defeated.


    With both his arms gone, Shadow relied entirely on his legs, each kick charged with raw, dark energy. Ash, battling the recoil of his powerful moves, pressed on with his fists, each punch driven by sheer willpower. Despite their injuries, neither was willing to back down, their bodies moving on instinct and determination alone.


    Each kick, punch, and block sent shockwaves rippling through space, shaking the very fabric of the solar system. The ground beneath them shattered, and the sky above trembled as their relentless strikes clashed. For three minutes, they fought in a furious exchange, their movements a blur of power and pain.


    Finally, they broke apart, panting and bloodied, both on the brink of collapse. Shadow glanced up at the sky, noticing the dwindling eclipse. ¡°I¡¯ve got two minutes until the solar eclipse ends. I have to end this fight now,¡± Shadow thought, knowing his advantage would disappear with the returning light.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Ash, equally determined, readied himself, his body screaming in agony from the strain but refusing to give in. ¡°I¡¯m ending this,¡± Ash thought, his gaze locked on Shadow. He got back into his stance, the vibrations of his armor intensifying. Shadow¡¯s eyes widened, recognizing the familiar stance. ¡°He¡¯s using that move again!¡± Shadow thought, his mind racing.


    ¡°Shockwave Style: Krakatoa,¡± Ash muttered under his breath, channeling all his remaining strength into a final, devastating punch. He was about to launch the same earth-shattering attack that had previously torn through Shadow¡¯s defenses. Shadow could feel the immense power building, the air vibrating violently around Ash as he prepared to strike.


    Shadow¡¯s mind was a storm of thoughts. Was he afraid? No. Did he want to run? Never. The only thing coursing through his mind was how to counter Ash¡¯s attack, how to shatter this final blow that threatened to end him. As Ash surged forward, Shadow¡¯s leg erupted with a surge of energy, his final, desperate counterattack forming in his mind.


    Ash unleashed his punch, the shockwave tearing through the air with a force that could crack planets. But Shadow was ready this time. ¡°Yeager Ability: Shadows Weep of Despair,¡± Shadow thought, channeling every ounce of his remaining power into his leg. As Ash¡¯s fist closed in, Shadow¡¯s leg swung upward, dark energy swirling around his foot.


    Shadow¡¯s kick met Ash¡¯s punch with an explosive impact. The sheer force of the collision shattered the ground beneath them and sent a shockwave that rippled out into space. Shadow¡¯s kick didn¡¯t just block Ash¡¯s attack; it completely overpowered it. His leg connected with Ash¡¯s arm, shattering it instantly. The sound of breaking bones echoed like a thunderclap as Ash¡¯s arm was obliterated, bones snapping and flesh tearing under the force of Shadow¡¯s desperate counter.


    Ash staggered back, his arm hanging limply, utterly destroyed. He gasped, his mind barely able to register the pain as he stared at the mangled remains of his limb. Shadow, panting heavily, stood over him, his leg still crackling with residual energy.


    Neither could believe the sheer devastation they had inflicted on each other, but one thing was clear: this battle was nearing its end, and only one of them would be left standing.


    The remnants of Ash''s armor lay scattered around him, shattered beyond repair. Ash himself was out of flux energy, his body drained and battered. But despite his injuries, he forced himself up, standing on shaky legs. ¡°Thanks for that fight,¡± Ash said, his voice hoarse but sincere.


    Shadow paused, taken aback by Ash¡¯s words. For a moment, a faint smile crossed his usually cold expression. Without another word, Ash smiled back, ready to accept his fate. Shadow lunged forward with all his might, delivering a final kick that sliced through the air, severing Ash¡¯s head cleanly from his shoulders.


    Ash¡¯s body remained upright for a few moments, blood dripping from his neck. As his lifeless form finally collapsed to the ground, Shadow glanced at his fallen opponent. ¡°You¡¯re trash¡­ no,¡± Shadow corrected himself, almost reverently. ¡°You were the only human I will ever respect.¡±


    Without another glance back, Shadow turned away, ready to continue his mission. He needed to reach Leon and Nur before it was too late. But as he took his first step, a voice stopped him in his tracks.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough, Shadow. I¡¯ll take it from here,¡± a calm yet commanding voice echoed, cutting through the tense silence.


    Shadow immediately recognized the voice. He turned and saw her, his queen, standing before him with an aura of authority and power. ¡°My queen, you should be resting. Leave the rest to me,¡± Shadow said, dropping to one knee and bowing his head in submission.


    She walked over, her presence overwhelming, and placed a hand on his shoulder. ¡°No, Shadow, you¡¯ve done enough. I will handle this from here,¡± she said gently, her voice filled with both gratitude and finality. With a soft touch, she channeled her energy into him, healing his injuries and regenerating his lost arm.


    ¡°I will kill them both,¡± she continued, her tone icy and resolute, as Shadow felt his strength return.


    Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Amber and Baluka stood face-to-face with Natalia, a fierce and twisted smile spreading across Natalia¡¯s face.


    ¡°You ready, Baluka?¡± Amber asked, her eyes fixed on their dangerous opponent.


    ¡°No¡­ not really,¡± Baluka admitted, her voice quivering with fear as she tightened her grip on her bow and pulled on her mask, steadying her aim.


    Natalia grinned wickedly, licking her lips as if savoring the thought of their impending battle. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to eat the both of you,¡± she taunted, her predatory eyes gleaming with hunger.


    Amber and Baluka braced themselves, knowing this fight would test them to their very limits.

 the queens arrival

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    In a dark, shadowy place, two siblings stood facing each other. The air between them was thick with tension and unspoken history.


    ¡°How are you even talking to me right now? You¡¯re dead, Griffin,¡± Natalia spat, her voice laced with disgust.


    Griffin''s cold, hollow eyes gleamed in the dim light, unfazed by her tone. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter how, but to think you still side with those monkeys¡­ it makes me sick to my core,¡± he sneered.


    Natalia¡¯s expression twisted with fury. ¡°I want to kill our family. They made us what we are, made us suffer for their sick experiments.¡±


    Griffin''s lips curled into a wicked grin. ¡°So in the end, you agree with them,¡± he taunted. ¡°I can¡¯t wait for Rex or those two girls to kill you.¡±


    Natalia''s eyes flared with anger, but before she could respond, the vision of her brother vanished, snapping her back into reality.


    In the real world, Amber launched her spear toward Natalia, who swiftly blocked the attack with her whip. The force of the strike sent a jolt through her arm. ¡°She¡¯s quick! Trying to catch me off guard, huh?¡± Natalia thought, her eyes narrowing as she gripped her whip tighter.


    Before Natalia could respond, an arrow whizzed through the air, slicing across her mouth with deadly precision. Blood sprayed as the arrow, fired by Baluka, hit its mark. But before the wound could even settle, Natalia¡¯s lips healed, the flesh knitting together as though it had never been cut.


    ¡°You¡¯ll pay for that,¡± Natalia growled, lashing her whip toward Baluka, who was already in motion.


    ¡°Sand Style: Sandstorm!¡± Baluka shouted, summoning a swirling vortex of sand that caught the whip midair, slowing its speed. The sandstorm raged, giving Baluka just enough time to dodge.


    Seizing the opportunity, Amber charged forward. ¡°Lightning Style: Lightning Blast,¡± she thought, swinging her spear fiercely. Sparks of electricity surged through the sandstorm, turning the grains into razor-sharp particles charged with violent energy. The storm ripped through Natalia¡¯s body, shredding her flesh until only bones remained.


    As the sandstorm settled, Amber noticed the eerie white flames surrounding Natalia¡¯s neck. They danced protectively, shielding the vital area.


    ¡°Her flames are guarding her neck¡­ that¡¯s the only way to kill her,¡± Amber realized, her heart racing as she prepared for the next attack.


    Suddenly, Natalia¡¯s body began to regenerate rapidly. The white flames closed around her, restoring her skin and clothes. Within moments, she was whole again, more enraged than ever.


    ¡°You¡¯re both dead!¡± Natalia roared, her whip morphing into a sword. The blade gleamed as she lunged at Amber with a murderous intent, swinging with all her strength.


    Amber braced herself, spear raised to block the strike. The sheer power of the blow sent tremors through her arms, but she held her ground, gritting her teeth. Their weapons clashed, sparks flying, as the force of the impact created shockwaves.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Meanwhile, from a distance, Baluka was already drawing her bow, her arrows aimed with deadly precision. As Natalia kicked Amber away and mocked, ¡°You have horrible aim!¡± Baluka simply smiled.


    ¡°I never miss,¡± she said confidently. Her arrow curved through the air, seemingly missing its mark¡ªuntil it circled around a building and struck Natalia in the back with explosive force. Natalia¡¯s body was shredded by the impact, leaving only her skeletal frame once again exposed.


    The explosion sent Natalia stumbling right in front of Amber, who smirked as her spear crackled with energy.


    ¡°Lightning Style: Lightning Crash,¡± Amber thought. She swung her spear with full force, plunging it into Natalia¡¯s chest. The spear surged with electricity, sending lightning coursing through Natalia¡¯s body, frying it from the inside out.


    The lightning blast knocked Natalia out cold.


    "End this now!" Baluka yelled, her voice frantic.


    Amber, spear raised high, was about to deliver the final blow, aiming to sever Natalia''s head. But before the strike could land, a hand caught the blade mid-air. Both Amber and Baluka froze in shock, their gazes traveling up to see a woman standing before them, effortlessly holding the weapon.


    "Who is she? And this presence... I''m so cold and scared right now," Amber thought, a chill running down her spine.


    It was Luna.


    "You disgust me," Luna said flatly, her voice devoid of emotion. Without a moment''s hesitation, a laser beam shot out from Luna¡¯s other hand, striking Amber directly in the head, followed swiftly by another aimed at Baluka. Both girls collapsed to the ground, their bodies hitting the dirt with a sickening thud.


    Natalia stirred awake, her vision blurry but gradually focusing on Luna¡¯s imposing figure.


    "My queen, I didn¡¯t notice you," Natalia said weakly, her voice filled with reverence.


    "Be quiet," Luna replied, cutting her off. "I told you before, your body isn¡¯t ready to handle the Yeager blood and your flux energy yet."


    Natalia looked down, ashamed, but Luna¡¯s attention had already shifted. "I didn¡¯t kill those two," Luna continued, her tone matter-of-fact. "As soon as I grabbed the spear, the other one used her sand to create illusions. They¡¯ve already escaped."


    Far in the distance, Amber and Baluka were running for their lives, blood pounding in their ears.


    "I almost died back there!" Amber yelled, her voice still trembling.


    "Same! Her flux energy was so strong, it nearly killed me!" Baluka added, her face pale with fear.


    Amber quickly activated her communicator, contacting Leon. "Leon, Luna¡¯s here! Are you almost done?" she asked, desperation creeping into her voice.


    "Almost. It''s about to start, but you two need to get out of there. Get back to Tokyo, now!" Leon¡¯s voice came through sharply.


    "We¡¯re not going to leave you behind!" Amber protested, her grip tightening on the communicator.


    "That¡¯s an order, Amber! Get out of here now! Ash is dead, and more Yeager ranks will be arriving any minute. Run!" Leon¡¯s voice cracked with urgency.


    Amber stood silent for a moment before reluctantly responding, "...Understood." She exchanged a look with Baluka, both of them nodding grimly before they turned and ran as fast as they could.


    As Leon prepared for the next step, his communicator buzzed with an urgent call. "Rex?" he asked.


    A frantic female voice responded instead. "WE NEED BACKUP!" she screamed.


    "Who is this?" Leon asked, confused.


    "Rex¡¯s future wife¡ªI mean his friend! We need backup now!" she yelled again, her panic clear.


    "Understood. I¡¯ve got your coordinates," Leon replied, quickly marking down their location.


    Meanwhile, the air grew thick with an oppressive energy. Leon and Nur exchanged uneasy glances, both sensing the approaching danger.


    "She¡¯s... here," Leon muttered under his breath, his heart racing.


    "Leon, start up the portal!" Nur yelled, eyes wide with urgency.


    "Nur, jump through now!" Leon commanded, frantically working the controls.


    "Understood!" Nur called back, sprinting toward the portal just as its glowing light began to dissipate. But as the light vanished, the dark hallway beyond revealed something far more terrifying¡ªLuna, standing right in front of Nur, her eyes cold and unforgiving.


    The hallway was plunged into a suffocating silence, broken only by the soft echo of Luna¡¯s footsteps as she slowly advanced.

 Echoes of flames and shadows

    As Rex and Emi raced toward the school, Rex shouted, ¡°Are we almost there?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we''re almost there,¡± Emi replied, both of them skidding to a halt at the gates of the school. They looked up to see Kioko standing on the rooftop, her bruised face barely able to mask her exhaustion.


    "Mom, we¡¯re here to save you!¡± Emi yelled.


    ¡°Get out of here!¡± Kioko shouted back, her voice strained.


    Just then, Beelzebub emerged from the entrance of the school doors, a twisted smile on her face. Emi immediately pulled out her tonfas, her eyes narrowing.


    ¡°Rex, save my mom, please. I¡¯ll deal with this bitch myself,¡± Emi declared.


    ¡°No way, you¡¯re just a civilian. I have to handle her,¡± Rex argued.


    ¡°Rex, listen. If anyone touches my momma, they¡¯re getting their ass kicked!¡± Emi fired back, her determination unshakable.


    Rex sighed, realizing Emi wasn¡¯t going to back down. ¡°Fine, but call this number if you need help,¡± Rex said, handing her a card before sprinting toward the building to rescue Kioko.


    Rex leapt onto the building, his eyes focused on Kioko. "Where do you think you''re going!" Beelzebub shouted, lunging toward Rex.


    But Emi intercepted, grabbing Beelzebub by the leg and slamming her into the ground. ¡°She''s quick!¡± Beelzebub thought as she scrambled to recover.


    ¡°You¡¯re not touching my hubby,¡± Emi said, her eyes flashing with defiance.


    ¡°Yeager ability, Fly Touch,¡± Beelzebub thought, her arm turning black and infected. She lashed out, trying to grab Emi¡¯s neck.


    But Emi dodged effortlessly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Afraid of a little touch?¡± Beelzebub taunted.


    ¡°Ever heard of personal space?¡± Emi snapped, ducking away again before delivering a powerful kick to Beelzebub''s side. ¡°Gotcha, bitch!¡±


    Beelzebub staggered but quickly recovered, her eyes glowing with malice. ¡°Water Style, Fluid Friction,¡± Emi thought, her body moving fluidly. She slashed through Beelzebub, seemingly missing¡ªbut the real attack came from the water she had infused into Beelzebub¡¯s body. Seconds later, Beelzebub''s insides exploded, water bursting from within.


    Beelzebub coughed out blood, a twisted grin spreading across her face. ¡°Got ya,¡± she rasped, her body trembling slightly from the damage.


    Emi glanced at her tonfa, only to see that one had morphed into a grotesque, misshapen figure. With a look of horror, she immediately dropped it. ¡°Ew, ew, ew!¡± she cried, shaking her hand in disgust.


    Beelzebub¡¯s smile only widened as her wounds began to heal themselves. ¡°How dare you mess with my tonfa,¡± Emi growled, her expression hardening. ¡°But now, you¡¯re going to deal with my strongest power-up!¡±


    Without hesitation, Emi bit into her own wrist, blood dripping as she activated her ability. ¡°Water Style: Water Pressure,¡± she thought, the energy surging through her. Her body began to swell, muscles becoming more defined and powerful. She could feel her strength intensifying with each second.


    ¡°I feel so much like a pirate king right now,¡± Emi said with a grin, flexing her now enhanced muscles.


    Beelzebub¡¯s eyes narrowed as she analyzed the transformation. ¡°She¡¯s increased the water pressure in her body, making herself bigger and more refined,¡± Beelzebub muttered, recognizing the danger.


    Before Beelzebub could react, Emi disappeared in the blink of an eye. In an instant, she reappeared right in front of Beelzebub, her grin now larger than ever. ¡°Surprise!¡± Emi shouted, throwing a massive punch straight into Beelzebub¡¯s face.


    The impact was earth-shattering. Beelzebub was sent flying back, crashing into the school walls as the ground beneath them trembled from the force. Beelzebub¡¯s body convulsed as she tried to absorb the blow, but Emi¡¯s newfound strength was overwhelming.


    ¡°I told you not to mess with my mom or my man,¡± Emi said, standing over her, ready for the next move.


    ¡°Yeager Ability: Absorption,¡± Beelzebub thought, her arm stretching out like a grotesque appendage, latching onto Emi and pinning her against the school wall. Emi struggled, gritting her teeth as she tried to break free, but the grip tightened, pulling her closer.


    It was then she realized what was happening¡ªBeelzebub was trying to devour her.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    ¡°Aahhh!¡± Emi screamed in terror, her heart racing.


    Beelzebub chuckled darkly. ¡°Screaming to your death¡ªseems appropriate,¡± she sneered, her eyes glowing with malicious delight.


    ¡°Nah,¡± Emi said, her tone suddenly shifting to one of confidence. ¡°I was screaming for you because you¡¯re about to get punched in the face.¡±


    Before Beelzebub could react, a fist slammed into the side of her head, sending her flying through the air and crashing into the side of the school building. Dazed, she looked up, groaning as she saw a figure standing before her¡ªNur, his expression calm and focused.


    ¡°Thanks for saving me! I knew calling that number in my head would work!¡± Emi said, catching her breath.


    Nur blinked in confusion. ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Emi Saito, Rex¡¯s future wife,¡± she said proudly, despite the chaos around them.


    Nur looked at her, bewildered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what?¡±


    ¡°Never mind that!¡± Emi said, waving it off quickly to avoid further explanation.


    Both of them turned their attention back to Beelzebub, who was starting to recover from the hit.


    ¡°Let¡¯s tag-team this bitch,¡± Emi said, cracking her knuckles.


    Nur nodded, activating his ability. ¡°Light Style: Light Time Difference,¡± he thought.


    In a split second, Nur dashed toward Beelzebub, who raised her fist to strike him. But before her punch could land, something slammed into her stomach¡ªtwice. She gasped, disoriented, as Nur¡¯s punch followed immediately after, striking her with the same impact as if two blows had hit her at once.


    Beelzebub staggered back, her eyes wide with confusion as Emi delivered a kick to her side, only for Nur to mimic the move right after.


    ¡°How am I getting hit twice? Is it invisible?¡± Beelzebub thought, gritting her teeth as the relentless attacks continued.


    She was partially right. Nur¡¯s ability was based on the concept of light¡¯s time delay. Just as we see the moon where it was a second ago, Nur manipulated his flux energy to create an echo of his attacks. His movements, timed perfectly with the light difference, allowed him to strike twice, disorienting Beelzebub with each blow.


    ¡°Stay focused, she¡¯s tough,¡± Nur said, his voice steady as he prepared for the next move.


    ¡°Let¡¯s finish her!¡± Emi shouted, charging forward again.


    Together, they moved in perfect sync, their combined abilities pushing Beelzebub to her limits.


    Beelzebub felt an overwhelming sensation surge through her body. ¡°What am I feeling right now? Is this¡­ death?¡± she thought, as Emi and Nur¡¯s relentless punches rained down on her. Her body trembled under the force of their combined attacks.


    Desperate, Beelzebub made a choice. ¡°Then I have to use this,¡± she thought. ¡°Flies Feeding Palace!¡±


    A dome of darkness formed around them, and in an instant, they were transported to a twisted canyon, where tornadoes of flies swirled ominously. Beelzebub stood at the center of the chaos, a wicked smile spread across her face.


    ¡°Fuck!¡± Nur yelled, immediately understanding the gravity of the situation.


    ¡°Where are we?¡± Emi gasped, taking in the surreal, terrifying sight.


    ¡°We¡¯re dead,¡± Nur muttered grimly, eyes darting around the eerie space.


    Emi, ever the optimist, shrugged. ¡°Welp, okay.¡± Her body returned to its normal size, the adrenaline subsiding for just a moment.


    ¡°You never told me your name,¡± she said, almost casually, as if death wasn¡¯t imminent.


    ¡°Nur,¡± he replied, glancing at her.


    ¡°Cool name,¡± she said with a grin.


    Beelzebub was ready to deliver the killing blow, her eyes gleaming with malicious glee. Just as she raised her arm to strike, a sudden, piercing sound broke through the dome. A sword sliced through the darkness, and all three of them froze in surprise.


    Rex came crashing through, breaking the dome apart with sheer force. ¡°I believed in him,¡± Emi thought, relief flooding through her as she saw Rex.


    But before anyone could react further, the scene shifted once more. The world around them dissolved, and they found themselves in a dark room filled with flickering black flames. They all stood motionless, staring ahead at a throne where Amelia Locke sat, towering above them, her cold, merciless eyes watching them.


    ¡°I don¡¯t give second chances. Now die,¡± she said with a chilling smile.


    With a snap of her fingers, Beelzebub¡¯s body erupted into flames, her screams of agony filling the room. The others watched in stunned silence as Beelzebub was consumed by the dark fire, her body turning to ash.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care if this Yeager dies,¡± Amelia said, her voice indifferent. She glanced at Emi and Nur, her gaze cold and dismissive. ¡°Or if you two die.¡± Her eyes then settled on Rex, her expression softening slightly.


    ¡°I only care for him,¡± she said, her tone possessive. Then, just as suddenly as she had appeared, Amelia vanished into the shadows, leaving them all standing in the eerie, flame-lit room, shaken and unsure of what had just transpired.


    All of them were suddenly pulled back into the real world. Rex, Emi, and Nur stood amidst the remnants of the battle, staring at the ash that had once been Beelzebub¡¯s body. As they watched in disbelief, the ash twisted and transformed into a single fly, which buzzed away into the sewers.


    Beelzebub, now hidden underground, reformed her body. ¡°What a terrifying aura,¡± she muttered, shivering at the memory of Amelia. ¡°I don¡¯t know how we can kill Rex if she is part of his soul. And not just her¡­ the other dark flame users may also be tied to him.¡±


    Back with the group, Rex was still processing what had just happened. ¡°Where are the others?¡± he asked, his tone tense.


    ¡°Amber and Baluka got away. They¡¯re heading to safety,¡± Nur replied. ¡°But Leon¡­ he¡¯s in trouble.¡±


    Rex clenched his fists. ¡°We need to get to him.¡±


    Emi¡¯s eyes darted around. ¡°Where¡¯s my mom?¡±


    ¡°Right here, you idiot,¡± came a familiar voice.


    Emi¡¯s heart leaped as she saw her mother, Kioko, standing a short distance away. Without hesitation, she ran toward her, wrapping her arms around her tightly.


    ¡°Mom!¡±


    Kioko smiled, though she winced from her injuries. ¡°You did good, Emi.¡±


    But their brief reunion was interrupted by a deafening explosion in the distance, shaking the ground beneath their feet.


    Far away in Hakodate, chaos reigned.


    ¡°Keep fighting! Omniadapter!¡± Luna yelled, her voice brimming with excitement as she directed the battle.


    Before her, a monstrous creature with a flaming white head clashed against her, their battle tearing the landscape apart. Flames roared around them as Luna¡¯s energy surged, and the Omniadapter¡ªan ever-shifting creature with a constantly morphing form¡ªstruggled to keep up with her relentless attacks. Luna¡¯s eyes gleamed with an almost maniacal excitement as she fought.


    With each strike, the battlefield echoed with destruction, the clash of titans signaling a new stage in the war that was unfolding.

 Moonlight decent

    As Luna stood before Leon, her voice was as cold as ice. ¡°Die,¡± she commanded.


    "Ice Style: Ice Mist!" Leon thought quickly, summoning a thick mist of frost that filled the room. He grabbed Hanako and Akira, leaping out of the building with them. As they descended, he conjured an icy slide beneath them, racing toward the ground.


    ¡°Akira! How long until you can teleport us out of here?¡± Leon shouted, his heart pounding.


    ¡°I need more time! My power¡¯s still recharging!¡± Akira responded, his voice strained with urgency.


    Leon¡¯s mind raced, realizing he needed a plan. He knew exactly how to stall Luna¡ªand possibly even kill her.


    As they reached the ground, Luna was already there, standing in their path with chilling indifference.


    ¡°Why are you running? You know you¡¯re going to die,¡± she said, her cold eyes fixed on Leon.


    Without hesitation, Leon jumped away, turning back to face Luna. ¡°Hanako! Akira! Go! I¡¯ll catch up!¡± he yelled.


    Hanako and Akira exchanged a glance before running off into the distance, trusting Leon''s command.


    Leon steeled himself and put his hands together. ¡°System call: Activate Project Omniadapter!¡± he shouted. The entire area around them plunged into darkness, and for the first time, Luna¡¯s calm expression faltered slightly.


    From behind Leon, a massive portal opened up, and a giant hand emerged, its force sending Leon flying to the side. He crashed into the ground, but despite the pain, a smile crept onto his face.


    Luna¡¯s eyes narrowed as the full figure stepped through the portal. The creature was massive¡ªeight feet tall with a glowing, white body that radiated an intense, otherworldly power. Four angelic wings spread wide from its back, and its head was a burning mass of white flames, with a single shadowy eye visible within the blaze.


    ¡°This... thing. We found it in space, roaming aimlessly before it crash-landed on Earth. Let¡¯s see if you can survive it,¡± Leon said, struggling to his feet as he watched the creature rise to its full height. "Try not to die."


    Luna glared at Leon, her face twisted with a mix of anger and confusion. She was about to unleash her fury on him, but before she could strike, Hanako and Akira appeared, teleporting Leon to safety in a flash of light.


    The moment they disappeared, Omniadapter launched its attack. A massive fist swung toward Luna, the air vibrating with its sheer force. Luna raised her arm, blocking the blow with ease, her eyes narrowing as she grabbed hold of the creature¡¯s arm and spun off it with fluid grace.


    ¡°Die,¡± she hissed, and with the flick of her fingers, a concentrated laser shot from her hand, slicing through Omniadapter¡¯s chest. For a second, it seemed the blow had landed a fatal wound, but the creature¡¯s body regenerated instantly, its chest sealing up as if nothing had happened.


    A sword materialized in Omniadapter¡¯s hand, and without warning, it struck Luna, sending her crashing into a nearby building. The structure crumbled, engulfing her in smoke and debris. But as the dust cleared, Luna emerged, walking out unscathed. Her expression was cold and calculated.


    ¡°That sword¡­ it¡¯s infused with flux energy causing harm to my soul as well. . How annoying,¡± she muttered to herself, her irritation mounting.


    She extended her fingers again, and another laser shot forth, this timeless effective against Omniadapter¡¯s reinforced body. The creature retaliated with a powerful strike to her side, sending Luna crashing through several more buildings. She regained her balance mid-flight, landing on the side of a crumbling structure like a cat, her gaze now filled with murderous intent.


    Omniadapter¡¯s body began to grow, expanding in size as it moved atop the buildings with surprising agility. Its massive fists crashed down toward the ground, but Luna was quick, dodging the impact and leaping onto its giant arm. She spun and delivered a fierce kick to its flaming head, but Omniadapter reacted swiftly, grabbing her by the clothes and hurling her through the air.


    Luna quickly regained control, but before she could counter, Omniadapter charged again. This time, lasers shot from Luna¡¯s fingers, slicing through one of its arms and a leg. But the creature¡¯s body only expanded further, growing more monstrous by the second. With a deafening scream, Omniadapter sent a shockwave that blasted Luna through more buildings, shattering windows and walls as she flew.


    She landed on a rooftop, just as Omniadapter flew toward her, sword in hand. It aimed to impale her, but Luna caught the blade with her arm, blocking the strike as they both plummeted through the building, tearing it apart floor by floor.


    Punch after punch was thrown, the sheer force of each blow shaking the ground and reducing Hakodate to rubble. Buildings collapsed all around them as their battle continued with relentless intensity. Luna blocked every one of Omniadapter¡¯s attacks with a single hand, her movements swift and precise.


    As the final building began to crumble beneath their feet, Luna leaped into the air, hovering above the destruction, her eyes fixed on Omniadapter. The creature¡¯s flaming head burned brightly against the backdrop of the devastation, but Luna was far from finished. Her expression turned cold and ruthless as she prepared for the next phase of the fight.


    Omniadapter charged at Luna with blinding speed, but Luna, always a step ahead, dodged and delivered a swift kick, sending the hulking creature crashing into a nearby parking garage. In a split second, Omniadapter retaliated, hurling debris wildly. Luna stood her ground, cutting through the incoming barrage with precise lasers, each strike cleaving the debris mid-air. As she concentrated, a well-aimed laser shot from her fingers, slicing off a chunk of Omniadapter¡¯s flaming head.


    Luna observed the creature closely. ¡°My first laser worked, then it adapted. I altered the beam, and it was effective again, but now it¡¯s learning my moves faster. This thing analyzes combat in real-time,¡± she thought, her mind racing. Omniadapter¡¯s head was hanging by a thread, but with a grotesque determination, it pressed its flaming skull back into place. A faint smile appeared within its fiery face.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    ¡°Getting cocky, huh?¡± Luna muttered.


    The city was now a warzone, destruction stretching as far as the eye could see. Civilians who hadn¡¯t evacuated were caught in the crossfire. As Luna traded blows with the relentless creature, she was thrown through several buildings, crashing into one filled with people. Omniadapter followed, its sword slashing through anyone in its path. It swung its blade at Luna, but she evaded, darting to the side and placing her hand against its torso.


    A massive explosion erupted from her palm, but Omniadapter¡¯s regeneration was too quick. ¡°Same laser technique, but every shot is becoming less effective,¡± Luna thought. She watched in frustration as the creature healed itself instantly, attacking with renewed vigor. It swung its sword again, but Luna deflected the attack and countered with a powerful kick, sending Omniadapter rocketing into the air.


    Without hesitation, Luna leaped after it, kicking the creature again as it plummeted into another skyscraper. But Omniadapter recovered, tearing through the building like paper. The two clashed, their battle tearing apart everything in their path. As Omniadapter swung its massive fists, one connected with Luna, smashing her into the side of a towering skyscraper. The building shuddered and began to collapse.


    ¡°Now you¡¯ve done it!¡± Luna roared, her patience wearing thin.


    She unleashed a barrage of lasers, slicing through the skyscraper with ease. But Omniadapter, undeterred, used the falling debris as a shield, blocking the onslaught. In an impressive feat of strength, the creature hurled the debris back at Luna. Luna stopped mid-air, evading the attack as the debris rained down on the crumbling city. She descended into the wreckage, watching as Omniadapter shifted its size, growing into a giant form. It ripped apart another building and hurled the rubble, smashing it into more structures. Despite the chaos, Luna stood unharmed on a platform, a cold smile creeping across her face.


    As Omniadapter shrank back to its original size and charged again, Luna danced around its attacks, sending lasers in every direction. The lasers sliced through anything in their path, sending humans flying and debris crashing into the streets. But Luna only seemed to grow more excited, a wicked smile plastered across her face as she laughed maniacally.


    ¡°You see it, don¡¯t you, Omniadapter? You can see my lasers changing shape!¡± she shouted, reveling in the chaos. Her Yeager ability allowed her to manipulate her lasers¡¯ form, size, and lethality¡ªover a quintillion combinations at her disposal. She sent another wave of lasers, effortlessly cutting through Omniadapter¡¯s limbs, severing them with precision.


    But the creature was relentless. Even as its body was torn apart, it hurled its sword at Luna with incredible speed. She deflected it with her hand, but in the blink of an eye, Omniadapter regenerated faster than ever. It appeared right in front of her, its head flaming with fury. Luna didn¡¯t flinch. They crashed through another building, the force of their fight shaking the ground as they traded blows. Omniadapter threw the first punch, but Luna gracefully dodged, rolling out of the way. They burst outside, and Luna unleashed another barrage of lasers, tearing Omniadapter¡¯s body to pieces. Blood sprayed everywhere, painting the battlefield in a gruesome scene.


    Omniadapter, now just a head, flew toward Luna, regenerating its entire body from the head in an instant. It attacked once more, but Luna dodged effortlessly, both of them landing on the ground. The battle paused for a moment, the two warriors standing still, their eyes locked on each other as if time itself had stopped. Then, in perfect synchronization, they both moved at once, ready for the next round of destruction.


    Luna moved her arm gracefully, her smile widening as she unleashed a barrage of lasers, sending Omniadapter flying backward. Without missing a beat, she fired another laser, but Omniadapter swiftly blocked it. Undeterred, she sent out another, only for it to be deflected once more. In a blur of movement, Luna appeared behind Omniadapter, launching thousands of laser combinations in quick succession. Each beam was a different variation, aimed at tearing through the creature¡¯s defenses. Omniadapter responded by throwing heavy punches, but its body was being disintegrated, blood splattering everywhere. Despite the onslaught, the creature regenerated just as fast.


    Luna closed in, attacking at point-blank range, her lasers slicing through the air. But Omniadapter blocked each strike with precision. The battle seemed to evolve into a deadly dance¡ªLuna standing still, her hands sending out lasers, while Omniadapter countered with shadow-like movements, punching the lasers away as if they were tangible attacks.


    Suddenly, Omniadapter launched an uppercut, but Luna, still smiling, blocked it effortlessly. She rolled over its arm, landing a powerful kick to its head. A second, more devastating kick followed, sending Omniadapter crashing into a nearby building. As it crawled out of the wreckage, the creature lifted the entire building and hurled it at Luna. She responded with a volley of lasers, reducing the structure to dust. Debris rained down on the streets, causing untold destruction and killing civilians in the process. Luna, taking in the chaos, bowed mockingly at the devastation.


    Omniadapter, now larger than before, charged at her with even more ferocity. Luna dodged the massive swing, hovering mid-air, her eyes briefly glancing at the moon above. As Omniadapter slowly rose to meet her in the sky, she spoke with admiration, ¡°I¡¯ve figured out your ability, monster. You can adapt to anything you fight. You learned my fighting style from the very first punch. You¡¯re truly incredible.¡±


    Her tone shifted, a sinister edge creeping into her voice. ¡°But that means I have to use this.¡±


    Luna formed a hand symbol, preparing for her next move, the air around her growing heavy with power.


    ¡°Moonlight Palace,¡± Luna whispered, her eyes gleaming as the moon itself began to shift, morphing into a massive plasma laser. The once serene glow of the moon twisted into a towering beam of destruction. Luna¡¯s palace had manipulated the very moon to become a weapon of unimaginable power, capable of wiping out galaxies. But she reigned in its range, focusing the devastation to destroy only half of Japan.


    She unleashed the laser, and everything in its path was obliterated. Buildings crumbled into dust, landscapes disintegrated, and Omniadapter¡¯s body was reduced to nothing. Civilians caught in the crossfire were vaporized in an instant.


    Rex, Hanako, Akira, and the others barely escaped. Thanks to Hanako and Akira¡¯s quick thinking, they teleported themselves and the group to safety, far away from the destruction.


    As the devastating laser continued to burn through the landscape, something unexpected happened. In the midst of the blinding light and devastation, Omniadapter¡¯s body began to regenerate. Its disintegrated form was reforming, step by step, as it slowly walked through the Moonlight Palace¡¯s beam. Luna¡¯s smile widened, both impressed and enraged.


    ¡°You¡¯re still standing?¡± she said, her voice filled with cruel excitement. ¡°Fine then, let¡¯s see how you handle this.¡±


    Luna summoned her next weapon: ¡°Yeager ability¡ªAmelia¡¯s Arrow,¡± she thought, creating a flaming arrow of concentrated energy. She aimed it directly at Omniadapter and released it. The arrow blazed through the sky, a second blast of pure destruction. It struck Omniadapter with overwhelming force, and for a moment, it seemed like the creature was finally defeated, its body nearly destroyed once again.


    But in a last-second escape, Omniadapter opened a portal and slipped away, vanishing from Earth before the blast could finish it off.


    Luna stood amidst the destruction, her gaze fixed on the spot where Omniadapter had disappeared, her smile unwavering.


    ¡°Finally, the war on Japan begins,¡± Luna said with a chilling smile, her voice echoing through the ruins of the shattered landscape.


    Without another word, she disappeared into the shadows, vanishing from Japan, leaving behind a scene of destruction and a looming sense of dread. The battle had only just begun.

 New war

    Rex and the others barely escaped Luna¡¯s palace, saved at the last moment by Hanako and Akira, who teleported them away. Now, in their human-like forms but still bearing their large fox ears and tails, Hanako and Akira lay sprawled on the ground, visibly exhausted from the effort. Rex, the first to recover, stood up and looked around, confused by their sudden relocation.


    ¡°Where are we?¡± he asked, his voice hoarse but steady.


    Leon emerged from a nearby room, his arms and head wrapped in fresh bandages, signs of a recent battle. ¡°You¡¯re in my base,¡± he said, his voice low and weary. ¡°In Tokyo.¡±


    As the rest of the group slowly regained their bearings, Emi rubbed her temples, disoriented. ¡°I was at school¡­ and now I¡¯m here? How?¡±


    Leon snapped his fingers, summoning a holographic display. The screen flickered to life, revealing a horrifying image: half of Japan had vanished, wiped clean from the map. The atmosphere turned tense as Nur¡¯s voice broke through the shocked silence.


    ¡°What¡­ what the hell is this?¡± Nur demanded, his eyes wide with disbelief.


    ¡°Luna did this,¡± came a voice from the shadows. The figure stepped into the light¡ªit was Malin Locke, her face grim and cold. ¡°During her fight with a monster.¡±


    ¡°Malin¡­¡± Rex muttered, recognizing her instantly. As Amber and Baluka descended the stairs, Amber¡¯s face lit up with relief.


    ¡°You¡¯re safe!¡± Amber exclaimed, hurrying toward them.


    Malin, however, was focused. She waved Amber off, striding directly toward Leon with an intense look in her eyes. ¡°Master, what are you doing here? I¡¯m looking for Natalia, but first¡ªI¡¯ve got a question for him,¡± she said, nodding sharply at Leon.


    Leon visibly tensed, his earlier confidence faltering. ¡°What¡­ is it?¡± he asked cautiously.


    Malin¡¯s expression hardened, her eyes narrowing. ¡°What the hell were you thinking? You unleashed that monster during the fight. You could¡¯ve destroyed the entire world¡ªor worse!¡± she yelled, her voice filled with accusation.


    Amber looked confused. ¡°What¡¯s she talking about?¡±


    Leon¡¯s gaze flickered to the hologram. ¡°It¡¯s classified¡­ but I can show you,¡± he said, his tone evasive. With a flick of his fingers, the image on the screen changed, now displaying a terrifying creature¡ªthe Omniadapter.


    ¡°What is that?¡± Baluka asked, her voice trembling with fear.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    ¡°This¡­ is the Omniadapter,¡± Leon explained, his expression darkening. ¡°A creature we found after it crash-landed on Earth. It can adapt to anything¡ªliterally anything. We managed to contain it, but it¡¯s one of the most dangerous entities we¡¯ve ever encountered.¡±


    Malin wasn¡¯t satisfied. ¡°So why the hell would you use something like that against Luna?¡±


    Leon hesitated, but then answered, his voice eerily calm. ¡°Two reasons. First, I thought it could defeat her. Second, I wanted to see how far her powers would go.¡±


    The room fell into a tense silence, the air thick with suspicion. Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, sensing that Leon wasn¡¯t telling the full story.


    But Leon, unwilling to dwell on the subject, abruptly shifted the conversation. ¡°Forget that. We¡¯ve got a bigger problem. Luna¡¯s preparing for another attack¡ªon Japan. We need to stop her before she wipes out what¡¯s left.¡±


    Amber nodded, stepping forward. ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡±


    Leon took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m splitting you into two teams. Nur, Amber, and¡ª¡± He paused, glancing at Emi with a knowing look.


    Emi seized the moment. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m Emi Saito, Rex¡¯s future wifey,¡± she declared with a smirk. The room went dead silent, all eyes on her in shock.


    ¡°Emi, shut up,¡± Kioko groaned, exasperated.


    Leon shook his head, continuing. ¡°Emi, you, Baluka, Amber, and Nur will head to North Korea. They¡¯re constructing a portal there, a way to bring more Yeagers through. You need to stop it.¡±


    Kioko immediately stepped forward, protective. ¡°No. My daughter is not going. I won¡¯t let her risk her life like that.¡±


    ¡°Mom!¡± Emi protested, but Kioko remained firm.


    ¡°We¡¯re leaving for America. It¡¯s safer there, and I have friends who can help us,¡± Kioko insisted.


    Before anyone could react, Nur suddenly struck Kioko from behind, knocking her unconscious. Leon spun around in shock. ¡°NUR! What the hell?¡±


    ¡°She told me to,¡± Nur said, pointing at Emi.


    Emi stepped forward, her expression serious for the first time. ¡°You need me. I¡¯m going, whether my mom likes it or not. So tell me¡ªwhat¡¯s the plan, Leon?¡±


    Leon sighed, realizing he had no choice. ¡°Fine. Like I said, you four will go to North Korea to stop them from finishing that portal.¡±


    Nur¡¯s face twisted in disbelief. ¡°North Korea? The whole country¡¯s overrun with Yeagers! It¡¯s suicide!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I need you there,¡± Leon said, resolute. ¡°Emi can use her water manipulation to create a path across the ocean, giving you a direct route.¡±


    Amber nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll handle it. What¡¯s our job once we get there?¡±


    ¡°Emi and Amber will stall them. Nur and Baluka, you¡¯re going to destroy the portal. I¡¯ll send more details when you¡¯re en route,¡± Leon said.


    Rex stepped forward. ¡°And what about me?¡±


    ¡°You, Malin, Hanako, and Akira will go after the Rank Four Yeager. She¡¯s in the heart of Tokyo, waiting for you specifically,¡± Leon said.


    Rex and Malin exchanged a look, both understanding the gravity of the mission. They nodded in agreement.


    Hanako and Akira finally rose, their energy restored, and everyone turned their attention to them.


    Malin¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Why are you traveling with Yeagers?¡± she asked, her tone dripping with disdain.


    ¡°They¡¯ve saved our lives more times than I can count,¡± Rex replied sharply, defending them.


    Akira glanced at Hanako, then turned to Rex. ¡°Rex, we need to talk¡ªprivately.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Rex said, following them a few steps away.


    ¡°It¡¯ll just take a moment, everyone,¡± Hanako added, her usual smile masking the seriousness of the conversation.


    Back in the group, Leon turned to Emi, his voice commanding. ¡°Emi, get moving. Now.¡± He opened a hidden hatch in the ground, revealing a dark tunnel leading down to the sewers. ¡°This will lead you to the coast. From there, you¡¯ll cross the ocean to North Korea.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Emi replied with a firm nod. She looked down the hatch, then smiled playfully. ¡°Let¡¯s-a go!¡± she said, putting on a mock Italian accent.


    Baluka hesitated, looking down into the dark tunnel. ¡°I really don¡¯t want to jump down there,¡± she said, voice trembling.


    Nur rolled his eyes and, without warning, gave her a solid push, sending her stumbling down into the sewers. Amber laughed, only to get shoved in herself by Nur before he jumped in after them.


    As the others disappeared into the tunnel, Malin turned back to Leon, her gaze icy. ¡°And what about you? What are you going to do?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be coordinating everything from here,¡± Leon answered.


    Malin didn¡¯t seem convinced. ¡°No more secrets, Leon. If you hide something else, I will find out,¡± she said coldly, before turning and walking away.


    Leon watched her go, his face a mask of tension. The weight of their next moves hung heavy in the air.

 Against all odds

    As Emi, Nur, Baluka, and Amber made their way through the ocean floor, the scene was surreal. Emi effortlessly parted the water, creating a shimmering, glass-like walkway. The cold darkness of the ocean depths surrounded them, but thanks to Emi¡¯s control over the water, they remained dry and untouched. The glow from the parted water illuminated their path, casting eerie shadows on the ocean bed.


    ¡°So, your name¡¯s Emi, right?¡± Amber asked, breaking the heavy silence.


    ¡°Yup! I¡¯m so excited! This is my first mission ever!¡± Emi responded, her voice overflowing with enthusiasm.


    Baluka, walking cautiously behind the group, glanced at Emi, her curiosity mixed with disbelief. ¡°Why would you be excited? You had a chance to get out¡­ you could have gone somewhere safe,¡± she muttered, her voice betraying her fear.


    Amber and Nur exchanged a glance, both understanding the deeper meaning behind Baluka¡¯s words. She was terrified, and the tension in her was palpable.


    Nur turned toward her, his voice stern but not unkind. ¡°Baluka, that doesn¡¯t matter right now. You¡¯re scared of everything. If you¡¯re that afraid, why¡¯d you even join this organization?¡±


    Baluka halted, the question hitting her like a blow. She swallowed hard before answering, her voice trembling. ¡°After Cairo was destroyed, we lost everything¡ªour home, our money, everything. My whole family¡­ we had nothing left.¡± Her words hung heavy in the air as she continued. ¡°I joined the Yeager Force because it was the only way to survive, the only way to make money. But once they found out I could control sand, they started sending me on missions like this, dangerous ones.¡± Her voice wavered. ¡°I want to quit, I really do. But I need the money. My family needs it.¡± Tears welled in her eyes, her hands shaking.


    There was a tense silence as the group processed her words, the distant hum of the ocean the only sound.


    ¡°Hey, Baluka,¡± Emi said, stepping toward her. Her voice, though soft, was filled with a quiet strength. ¡°You can¡¯t think like that. Fear¡¯s a part of this, yeah, but it doesn¡¯t have to control you.¡± She smiled warmly. ¡°When I first fought a Yeager back in my hometown, I was scared out of my mind. I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d make it. But after that fight¡­ something changed in me. I felt stronger, more alive. You just gotta¡­ high-five the sky!¡± She threw her hand up, grinning brightly.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Baluka blinked at her through teary eyes, half in disbelief, half amused. ¡°High-five the sky?¡±


    ¡°Yeah! Just do it! When you¡¯re scared, it means you¡¯re about to do something awesome. And guess what? We¡¯re all in this together,¡± Emi said with a reassuring smile.


    Amber placed a hand on Baluka¡¯s shoulder. ¡°She¡¯s right. We¡¯ve all been scared at some point, but we face it together. No one¡¯s alone.¡±


    Baluka wiped her eyes and nodded, her fear still there but less overwhelming. ¡°Thanks¡­ I needed that.¡±


    Nur, who had remained silent throughout, nodded approvingly. ¡°Good. Now let¡¯s focus. We have a mission, and we¡¯re not going to fail.¡±


    The group continued onward, their resolve renewed as the dark sea floor finally gave way to the shore of North Korea.


    Amber¡¯s wrist device beeped, and a new message from Leon came through. ¡°He sent the rest of the info,¡± she said, forwarding it to the others. A video message played as Leon¡¯s voice filled the quiet space.


    ¡°Your mission is to destroy Dark Moon Tower. It¡¯s a key structure used to teleport Yeagers to Japan. If we don¡¯t take it down, more will come. Two powerful Yeagers are guarding it: Vela and Veer. Vela¡¯s inside the tower, and Veer is leading an assault on Japan. Take them out.¡±


    As they walked into a sewer entrance, they discussed the plan. ¡°Who¡¯s going after who?¡± Amber asked, her voice low but firm.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take on Veer,¡± Nur volunteered, confidence in his voice.


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll handle Veer,¡± Emi interrupted, much to everyone¡¯s surprise.


    ¡°Why?¡± Baluka asked, puzzled.


    Emi gestured to the ocean behind them. ¡°It¡¯s close to the sea. My flux energy is strongest near water. I¡¯ll have the advantage.¡±


    Nur hesitated but eventually nodded. ¡°¡­Alright.¡±


    Without another word, Emi dove back into the water, using her energy to propel herself toward Veer¡¯s location. The others pressed forward through the sewer system.


    As they neared the base, the tension mounted. After carefully navigating the dimly lit tunnels, they reached a ladder marked with Russian letters. ¡°What does it say?¡± Nur asked.


    ¡°¡®Go up,¡¯¡± Amber translated, already climbing.


    The trio climbed slowly, emerging in a dark, narrow corridor inside the tower. Moving with caution, they dodged patrolling Yeagers, their steps soundless as they ascended the five floors to the reactor room beneath Dark Moon Tower.


    Just as they reached the final room, a chain shot through the air, narrowly missing Nur¡¯s head. They turned to see a group of Yeagers surrounding them, led by a tall, imposing figure. Vela.


    ¡°Well, well, well,¡± she said with a cruel smile. ¡°My queen was right about intruders.¡±


    Amber stepped forward. ¡°Like we planned, I¡¯ll take on Vela.¡±


    But before anyone could react, Baluka suddenly shoved Amber and Nur into the next room, slamming the door shut behind them.


    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Nur shouted, pounding on the door.


    ¡°Go destroy the reactor! I¡¯ll handle this!¡± Baluka yelled back, her voice filled with a determination none of them had heard before.


    Amber and Nur exchanged glances but understood the urgency. Without further argument, they raced toward the reactor, leaving Baluka to face Vela and her Yeagers alone.


    Vela smirked, watching the two run off. ¡°You think you can take all of us by yourself?¡± she asked, her tone mocking.


    Baluka took a deep breath, pulling her mask over her face. She remembered Emi¡¯s words: High-five the sky. Something clicked inside her. She wasn¡¯t just fighting for survival anymore¡ªshe was fighting for herself, her family, and her newfound friends.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, her voice steady as she clenched her fists. ¡°I can.¡±


    With a surge of confidence, Baluka faced Vela, ready to prove her strength.

 Flux breaker

    As Baluka gripped her bow, her heart pounded in her chest. Yeagers surrounded her, their metallic forms shimmering in the dim light. Vela, standing at the center of the group, smirked, her fingers dancing over the control pad on her wrist. The ground trembled beneath them, and with a mechanical groan, a massive maze rose up from the earth, its walls jagged and towering. Shadows swallowed the battlefield as the lights suddenly cut off.


    ¡°Can you see in the dark with that mask of yours?¡± Vela¡¯s voice echoed from the shadows, her words dripping with mockery.


    Baluka activated her thermal vision, her eyes scanning the maze, which seemed endless. Every sound echoed unnaturally, the walls closing in, making it impossible to determine Vela¡¯s location.


    ¡°You know,¡± Vela¡¯s voice taunted, this time from above, ¡°Luna told me about you. Said you used that sand to deceive her, made her afraid, even for a moment.¡± Vela¡¯s figure barely registered in the thermal view, walking effortlessly along the top of the maze.


    Baluka gritted her teeth, drawing an arrow and firing at Vela¡¯s silhouette, but the shot went wide, embedding uselessly into the maze.


    ¡°Now I can see it in you too¡ªfear,¡± Vela sneered. ¡°You hide behind that mask, but I can feel it.¡±


    Vela¡¯s words struck deep, weaving doubt into Baluka¡¯s mind. She struggled to shake off the growing unease as the maze seemed to stretch and twist around her. Suddenly, a Yeager lunged from a corner. Baluka barely dodged the attack, rolling to the side and driving an arrow into its neck, the metal crunching beneath her strike.


    ¡°So you can kill a Yeager after all,¡± Vela mused, her voice laced with amusement. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you had it in you.¡±


    Baluka ducked behind a wall for cover. She saw something move¡ªfast, almost too fast. Before she could react, something slammed into her leg, sending her crashing to the ground. The impact rang in her skull, but she scrambled to her feet, killing another Yeager with a swift shot from her bow. Then the fast-moving blur returned, hitting her side and launching her through the maze wall. She hit the ground hard as the lights flickered back on.


    Baluka¡¯s mask shattered. She lay on the cold rubble, her face exposed, staring up at Vela, who perched on the debris, her expression smug.


    ¡°Weakling,¡± Vela spat, her words seething with disdain.


    Baluka¡¯s body trembled. Fear clawed at her mind, convincing her she couldn¡¯t win. She clenched her fists, trying to gather her resolve.


    Suddenly, a voice crackled in her earpiece. ¡°Baluka! What are you doing?!¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    ¡°Who is this?¡± Baluka stammered.


    ¡°It¡¯s Emi! I¡¯m monitoring your cybernetics, and you¡¯re in serious trouble!¡± Emi¡¯s voice was frantic.


    ¡°I can¡¯t win,¡± Baluka whispered, the weight of her fear crushing her spirit. ¡°I¡¯m too scared.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re stronger than this!¡± Emi¡¯s voice was sharp, cutting through the doubt. ¡°Remember? High five the sky!¡±


    Emi¡¯s words hit something deep within. Baluka took a deep breath and rose to her feet, her legs shaky but firm. Vela looked mildly surprised.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re not giving up?¡± Vela asked, her chain whip coiled in her hand.


    Baluka¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°Sand Style: Sand Quake,¡± she murmured. She drew an arrow and fired it into the ground. The earth exploded beneath them, debris flying as the maze crumbled. Vela, caught off guard, stumbled.


    Baluka charged forward, her bow raised. She brought it down hard on Vela, the impact sending Vela reeling. Vela¡¯s wounds started to heal, but the process was slow, sluggish compared to the other Yeagers Baluka had faced.


    ¡°Her healing¡­ it¡¯s like the Yeager ranks, but slower,¡± Baluka thought, eyes narrowing.


    ¡°You¡¯re dead!¡± Vela snarled, her expression darkening as she rushed at Baluka with blinding speed. Baluka barely activated her sand shield in time, but Vela¡¯s blade still cut through, slicing off Baluka¡¯s arm. Vela paused, momentarily taken aback.


    ¡°Yeager ability¡­ inertia swoop,¡± Vela realized, her mind racing.


    Baluka¡¯s body flew out of the maze window, but with a burst of flux energy, she caught herself on the side of the building. ¡°What just happened? My leg¡­ moved on its own!¡± she thought, bewildered.


    Vela lunged out of the window after her, but Baluka dodged just in time. ¡°Inertia¡­¡± Vela thought, and Baluka was flung out of nowhere again. ¡°This time it was my hip!¡± Baluka grimaced.


    Vela¡¯s Yeager ability allowed her to manipulate inertia, increasing her speed and force in any given direction. Baluka stood shakily, transforming her bow into a throwing knife, a mambele. She hurled it at Vela, who dodged with ease.


    ¡°Missed me?¡± Vela taunted, about to charge.


    ¡°Wait for it,¡± Baluka said calmly. The mambele circled back, striking Vela in the back. Seizing the moment, Baluka rushed forward, fist drawn.


    As she prepared to strike, a memory flooded her mind¡ªRex, teaching her deep in the woods.


    ¡°Baluka, you fear fighting, but there¡¯s a way to overcome that,¡± Rex had said. ¡°It¡¯s called the flux breaker. You gather all your flux energy into your fist, releasing it on impact. It¡¯ll break something in you¡­ but it¡¯ll also awaken something new.¡±


    The memory faded as Baluka¡¯s fist connected with Vela¡¯s gut. ¡°Flux breaker!¡± she shouted. The explosion of flux energy was immense, sending shockwaves through the building. Vela coughed blood, staggering back, her face pale.


    ¡°She¡­ stole some of my flux energy with that punch,¡± Vela thought in panic. ¡°If she hits me like that again, I¡¯m dead!¡±


    Baluka smiled as her body began to heal. The new flux energy surging through her sharpened her focus and her confidence.


    ¡°Let¡¯s keep going,¡± Baluka said with a grin, charging at Vela with another punch. Vela barely dodged, but Baluka¡¯s throwing knife was still in the air, controlled by her flux energy.


    ¡°Sand Style: Sand Dust,¡± Baluka whispered, the knife spreading a cloud of sand across the battlefield. It sliced through Vela¡¯s hand, severing it cleanly. Baluka didn¡¯t hesitate¡ªanother flux breaker followed, then another. With a final strike, she grabbed her mambele and slashed, cutting off Vela¡¯s head. Vela¡¯s body tumbled from the building, crashing to the ground below in a bloody heap.


    As the building began to collapse around her, Baluka looked up, seeing the teleporter destroyed. She fell with the building, resigned to her fate.


    ¡°I guess this is it,¡± she thought.


    But as she plummeted, Amber appeared, catching her mid-fall. A portal opened, and they were safely back at the base where Leon awaited.


    Meanwhile, Nur stood atop the collapsing building, eyeing the teleporter as it began to detonate.


    ¡°Nur, get out! It¡¯s a nuke!¡± Amber¡¯s voice screamed over the comms. Nur leaped from the building, using his flux energy to land safely on the street. But the explosion followed, forcing him to sprint away at the speed of light, racing back to the base just in time.


    ¡°I made it!¡± Nur panted, out of breath.


    ¡°Good,¡± Leon said, swiveling in his chair. ¡°So, we¡¯re done in Korea then.¡±


    The three of them exchanged glances before nodding at Leon.


    Elsewhere, Emi stood alone, facing Veer. She cracked her knuckles and grinned. ¡°Let¡¯s get to breaking!¡± she shouted, ready for the fight ahead.

 Mizuko child

    Emi strode confidently toward the towering figure of Veer, a colossal Yeager standing forty feet tall. He lounged on a massive stone throne, his shadow stretching across the battlefield. ¡°Yo, what¡¯s up, tall man!¡± Emi shouted, her voice ringing with excitement and a smirk on her lips. She bounced on her toes, eager for the clash.


    Veer¡¯s scowl deepened as he turned his enormous head to face her. ¡°Why are you here?¡± he growled, his voice low and filled with annoyance. ¡°I wanted to fight Rex Jones, not some nobody.¡±


    ¡°Sorry to disappoint, big guy, but I¡¯m the one who¡¯s gonna kick your ass today!¡± Emi replied, eyes gleaming with mischief as she pulled her tonfas from her sides.


    With a sudden burst of speed, she launched herself at Veer, flipping through the air with the agility of a trained gymnast. Her tonfas flashed as she aimed for his head, but to her shock, the strike bounced off his skull like a pebble against steel.


    Veer chuckled darkly. ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got, girl?¡±


    Emi¡¯s eyes widened as she landed several feet back, her feet skidding in the dirt. ¡°Oh¡­ shit,¡± she muttered under her breath, already on guard for his counterattack.


    Veer pushed himself off his throne, his enormous figure rising higher and higher until he stood tall and menacing before her. ¡°Yeager ability: Wind Flame,¡± he said calmly, barely lifting his arm. With a simple gesture, the air around them shifted violently as a gale of wind, swirling with emerald flames, surged toward Emi.


    She grinned wide, excitement bubbling up inside her. ¡°Now this is getting interesting.¡±


    With a flick of her wrist, she called upon her own power. ¡°Water Style: Water Whale!¡± A tidal wave of water materialized out of thin air, swirling in an enormous arc around her. The flames crashed into the water with a loud hiss, creating steam that enveloped the battlefield. Using the momentum of the wave, Emi shot forward, riding the current as she zoomed toward Veer like a missile.


    She slammed her foot into his stomach with all her strength. Veer staggered, but only slightly. The massive Yeager looked more irritated than injured. He brought his arm down in a devastating blow, aiming to crush Emi beneath his fist.


    She rolled out of the way just in time, but before she could catch her breath, his other fist was already coming at her with terrifying speed. The blow connected with her side, sending her flying through the air like a ragdoll. Emi crashed into the ground with enough force to leave a crater.


    Groaning, she pushed herself up onto her hands and knees. Blood trickled from her lip, and her armor had cracked in several places. Her helmet had rolled off somewhere, but she didn¡¯t care. This was fun. A grin stretched across her face, even as her body ached from the impact.


    ¡°Alright, time to get serious,¡± she muttered to herself, biting into her arm. Her muscles bulged and her body shifted, growing taller and more defined. Water rippled beneath her skin as she manipulated it, condensing her form to increase her speed and strength.


    Veer watched her transformation with mild interest. ¡°She¡¯s using the water in her body to alter her structure,¡± he mused aloud. ¡°Clever, but it won¡¯t be enough.¡±


    Before he could react, Emi shot toward him like a blur, her speed now doubled. She zigzagged around him, striking him from multiple angles with her tonfas, each hit landing with more force than before.


    ¡°Water Style: Water Drain!¡± she called out mentally. A thick fog rolled in, obscuring Veer¡¯s vision as water began to drain from the ground beneath his feet. The earth turned muddy, and Veer¡¯s massive frame began to sink as his weight pressed down.


    Taking advantage of his momentary imbalance, Emi darted forward and delivered a powerful uppercut to his jaw, followed by a spinning kick to the side of his head. For the first time, Veer visibly staggered, his massive form tipping backward slightly.


    But he quickly regained his footing. ¡°You¡¯re a nuisance,¡± he grunted, raising his hand once more. ¡°Yeager ability: Cyclone Explosion!¡±Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    A violent gust of wind and fire erupted from his body, the sheer force of it blasting Emi off her feet and sending her flying backward. She tumbled through the air but managed to right herself, landing in a crouch with a wild grin on her face.


    ¡°This is getting fun!¡± she thought, her heart pounding with exhilaration. Her body thrummed with energy as she readied herself for the next round.


    Veer rose to his full height again, his legs shaking slightly from the water drain but still holding strong. ¡°Yeager ability: Tri-State Tornado,¡± he growled, his voice rumbling like thunder. Three massive tornadoes formed around him, each one swirling with deadly force.


    Emi¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement. ¡°Oh, hell yeah,¡± she whispered under her breath. Without hesitation, she launched herself into one of the tornadoes, laughing as the winds whipped around her. Rocks and debris flew past her, but she deftly hopped from one to another, using the chaos to her advantage.


    As she neared the eye of the tornado, she propelled herself upward, shooting out of the storm and into the sky. High above the battlefield, she gazed down at Veer, who was staring up at her with a mixture of surprise and irritation.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see how you handle this!¡± Emi shouted as she raised her tonfas, the water around her surging with power. ¡°Water Style: Lituya Tsunami!¡± A massive wave of water formed around her, condensing into her tonfas, which now glowed with an intense blue light.


    Veer clenched his fists, preparing his own counterattack. ¡°Yeager ability: Hurricane Blast!¡± he roared, swinging his arm upward with enough force to create a storm of wind and fire. The two attacks collided mid-air in a blinding explosion that rocked the entire battlefield.


    When the smoke cleared, Emi was lying on the ground, her body back to its normal size, her energy drained. But she was smiling, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. Veer, though still standing, looked worse for wear. His clothes were torn, his face bruised, and his breath labored.


    ¡°Good job, girl,¡± Veer muttered, his voice strained. ¡°I won¡¯t forget this fight.¡± He turned, intending to leave.


    But the battle wasn¡¯t over yet.


    The water from oceans, rivers, and lakes all around the world began gathering, swirling toward Emi like a magnetic force. She slowly rose to her feet, her head hanging low as her body absorbed the water, rejuvenating her.


    ¡°What¡­ is this?¡± Veer muttered, eyes wide with shock.


    Meanwhile in the U.S.A


    Three people were sitting in a room. Sally, Lluvia, and Iris were talking and looking out of the window. ¡°This is the ocean water leaving the planet,¡± Iris said. Sally also looked out of the window and was surprised by what she was seeing. ¡°No everything is ok,¡± lluvia said. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Sally asked. ¡°Well you see this is water style,¡± Amaya said. Iris and Sally were surprised. ¡°But how, no human should not be able to do this,¡± Iris said. ¡°Back then water style from the first user was created in Mexico and was used by the Yaqui family  and the leader was always happy, no matter what happened to him and he was able to do this with the flux energy with palace activated,¡± Amaya explained. ¡°So this is a palace, but by who? '''' Sally asked. ¡°Well the water style was transferred to Japan, and was worshiped by the people of Gujo-Hachiman family , and people who were gifted by this were called Mizuko meaning water child , her name is Emi saito'''' Lluiva  said.


    Back in Korea


    Emi looked up, her eyes glowing with an ethereal light. Her body shimmered with water as wings formed at her back, lifting her into the air. Her armor shifted, transforming into a sleek, aquatic form. She floated above the battlefield, her entire body radiating with power. The sun gleamed off her water wings as she smiled, truly happy.


    Veer blinked in disbelief. ¡°Impossible¡­¡±


    Before he could react, Emi shot forward at blinding speed, generating a massive water fist that slammed into him with the force of a tidal wave. The blow sent him crashing to the ground, leaving a crater in the earth. She followed it up with a swirling whirlpool, lifting him into the air and slamming him back down.


    Laughing like a carefree child, Emi reveled in her newfound power, spinning through the air with glee.


    Veer groaned, struggling to rise from the ground. His legs shook beneath him as he fought to maintain his balance. ¡°Yeager ability: Size Change,¡± he muttered through gritted teeth, his body expanding until he towered over one hundred feet tall.


    Emi¡¯s grin widened as she watched him grow. ¡°WTF?¡± she said, half-jokingly, her eyes twinkling with excitement.


    Veer glared down at her, his voice booming across the battlefield. ¡°Are you ready to die?¡±


    Emi¡¯s smile only grew wider. ¡°Something like this won¡¯t stop the Mizuko Palace!¡± she shouted defiantly.


    She raised her hands, summoning countless tiny orbs of water around her. With a flick of her wrist, she released them all at once. The small spheres shot forward, merging into a massive water blast that tore through the battlefield. The force of the blast obliterated everything in its path, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake.


    When the dust settled, Veer was lying on the ground, one leg missing, his body shrinking back to its normal size.


    Emi floated above him, laughing with pure joy. Her heart raced as she felt the exhilaration of victory surging through her veins.


    Veer groaned, pushing himself up on one arm, his face bruised and bloodied. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± he asked, his voice weak but defiant.


    Emi¡¯s laughter softened as she landed gracefully beside him, her water wings dissolving into mist. She looked down at him with a bright, warm smile. ¡°My name is Emi Saito. The Mizuko.¡±


    Veer¡¯s eyes narrowed as he struggled to understand. ¡°How can you be so¡­ happy? Your home, your friends, half of Japan¡­ everything was destroyed when Luna attacked. How do you keep smiling?¡±


    Emi¡¯s eyes sparkled with warmth. ¡°Well, there was this song from the 1980s called ¡®Nothing¡¯s Gonna Break My Stride.¡¯ It means that no matter what happens, I¡¯ll always be positive, always get up, always laugh.¡±


    Veer blinked, processing her words. Then he chuckled softly, a sound that turned into full-blown laughter. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ insane,¡± he muttered between breaths, his eyes closing as he slipped into unconsciousness.


    Ved was surprised and then angry and started to jump up and down. ¡°Let''s end this here and now, I''m gonna break your stride,¡± Veer said. ¡°please this stride is never gonna be broken!¡± Emi yelled with a smile.


    ¡°Yeager ability, typhoon kick,¡± Ved thought.  Emi smiled super big. ¡°Water style, water stride,¡± Emi thought.  She was flying straight towards him . And the water created a giant sword. The final explosion happens and the sun shows Emi cutting ved¡¯s head off.


    ¡°All right now thats what you call a great victory!¡± emi yelled.


    ¡°Emi fly over to japan now! Rex needs your help!¡± leon said.


    ¡°Understood! Becasue right now my stride is awesome!¡± emi said. She started to fly over to


    Japan.


    As now the true battle is about to begin.

 Memories of Malin

    As Rex and Malin stepped through the corridors of the Naikaku S¨­ri Daijin Kantei, the weight of the place pressed down on them like a tangible force. The air was thick, dense with a malevolent aura that seemed to seep into their skin. The oppressive presence of flux energy was unmistakable, saturating the atmosphere, making each breath feel laborious. Every footstep echoed in the cold, darkened halls, and a sense of foreboding crawled over them like a shadow.


    ¡°This is where Natalia is,¡± Malin muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid that the very walls would come alive with the flux energy embedded in them. ¡°This place reeks of it.¡±


    Rex¡¯s sharp gaze darted from corner to corner, his instincts screaming at him to stay alert. ¡°Do you think she¡¯s learned to control all of her flux energy?¡± His voice was even, but beneath it was a deep concern.


    Malin remained silent, her brow furrowed. She didn¡¯t need to answer. They both knew that if Natalia had fully mastered her boundless flux energy, they were in for a battle that might push them past their limits. Natalia had always been a force to be reckoned with, but now she could be unstoppable.


    The double doors before them loomed large, ornate and ominous. They were the last barrier between them and what they both knew would be a twisted scene. With a nod from Malin, Rex stepped forward, pushing the heavy doors open, and what lay beyond was nothing short of a nightmare.


    There, in the center of the room, stood Natalia. Blood smeared across her hands, her fingers tangled in the hair of the Japanese prime minister¡¯s severed head. Her expression was serene, almost too calm, her lips curved into a twisted smile. She paid no mind to the intrusion as she casually took a bite from the prime minister¡¯s frontal lobe, chewing slowly and deliberately. Then, with a flick of her wrist, she tossed the head aside like it was nothing.


    ¡°Oh, you guys are finally here,¡± Natalia said in a light, almost cheerful tone, as if she hadn¡¯t just desecrated a man¡¯s corpse. There was a gleam in her eyes, one that spoke of madness.


    Malin¡¯s stomach churned, but she maintained her composure. ¡°Natalia, let¡¯s not do this.¡± Her voice was steady, though her grip on her sword tightened. ¡°I don¡¯t want to have to kill Griffin¡¯s sister.¡±


    At the mention of Griffin¡¯s name, Natalia¡¯s smile faltered, her expression darkening. Her eyes flared with a venomous rage. ¡°Still about Griffin, huh?¡± she spat, her voice dripping with contempt. ¡°Always about him. Makes me sick.¡±


    The venom in her words stung like poison, but Malin held her ground, her expression hardening. ¡°Fine, then.¡±


    In one swift motion, Malin unsheathed her sword. The blade hummed with a subtle, unsettling energy, vibrating in tune with her flux. Beside her, Rex mirrored her movement, drawing his weapon, his muscles coiled, ready to strike.


    ¡°Remember, Rex,¡± Malin whispered, her voice low, ¡°use them when I tell you.¡±


    Rex gave a small nod, understanding the strategy. The timing had to be perfect.


    They moved as one, a synchronized assault, their blades flashing with deadly intent. Natalia didn¡¯t flinch. With a mocking smile, she blocked both of their attacks, her own sword moving like liquid metal, a blur of steel between them. She was fast¡ªinhumanly fast. Her eyes flicked to Rex¡¯s arms, noticing the transformation. His arms had become skeletal, sharp claws extending from his bony fingers, fueled by dark flame energy.


    Rex spun, using the momentum of his body to deliver a powerful kick to Natalia¡¯s side. The impact sent her crashing through the wall, shattering it, and into the open air. Without hesitation, Malin followed, leaping through the opening, her sword vibrating with destructive energy.


    ¡°Dark Flame Style, Nova Flames,¡± Malin thought, the energy in her sword building to a crescendo. The blade glowed as it surged with power. She swung at Natalia, aiming for her exposed side.


    The explosion was deafening. The ground beneath them trembled as the shockwave of the impact rippled outward. Natalia¡¯s body was cleaved in two, her flesh and bones torn apart by the sheer force of the strike.


    But in the blink of an eye, her body began to regenerate, her severed halves knitting back together with sickening speed. Natalia¡¯s smile returned, wider than before, her eyes wild with madness. ¡°Is that all?¡± she mocked, her voice unnerving.


    Malin landed gracefully, her gaze fixed on the blood staining her sword. It wasn¡¯t just any blood¡ªit was the blood of those she had fought alongside, people she had once known. A grim reminder of the battles they had all endured.


    Rex landed beside her, his eyes sharp. He could feel the tension in the air, the flux energy building between them. Malin didn¡¯t waste any time. She quickly formed a series of hand signs, her flux energy wrapping around her like a protective shroud. ¡°Mother¡¯s Loving Palace,¡± she murmured.


    A shimmering dome formed around them, enclosing the battlefield. The air inside the dome was thick with an ethereal energy, soft glowing light illuminating the space. On the walls, countless pictures appeared¡ªsnapshots of a life, of memories. Pictures of Malin and a child, scattered across the dome like fragments of a forgotten past. Some were small, intimate, others large and imposing.


    Natalia¡¯s eyes narrowed, her amusement fading. ¡°What is this?¡± she demanded, her voice edged with irritation and unease.


    ¡°It¡¯s a reminder,¡± Malin said, stepping forward, her sword raised. ¡°Of someone I love. Of what I¡¯m fighting for.¡±


    With a surge of energy, Malin charged at Natalia, her sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. Natalia dodged, her blade deflecting the attack, but as the tip of Malin¡¯s sword grazed one of the pictures, the scene around them shifted.


    Suddenly, they were no longer in the palace. All three of them were thrust into a memory. Malin¡¯s memory.


    They stood in a serene room, watching as a younger Malin cradled a baby in her arms, singing softly. Her voice filled the room, and the baby, cooing softly, smiled up at her. Rex and Malin could feel the impact of the scene, the weight of the memory washing over them. They were flooded with information about the nature of the palace, how its power was tied to these memories, each one unlocking something deeper.


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    As the song ended, the memory dissolved, and they were back in the dome.


    ¡°Do it now, Rex!¡± Malin shouted, her voice urgent.


    Without hesitation, Rex raised his arms. ¡°Hanako and Akira!¡± he called out.


    In an instant, giant fox claws materialized from the ether, slashing at Natalia. She barely managed to dodge, her eyes wide in shock. ¡°We missed her!¡± Hanako¡¯s voice echoed from the ethereal claws, frustration evident.


    From portals, Hanako and Akira stepped out. Their fox bodies were enormous, towering at least twenty feet tall, their presence overwhelming. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Hanako,¡± Akira said calmly, ¡°we¡¯ll get her next time.¡±


    Natalia, now fully realizing the danger she was in, narrowed her eyes. ¡°Her palace is dangerous¡­ that memory¡ªit triggered the first phase of the Palace¡¯s Singing Melody. And those foxes¡­ did they form a blood pact with Rex? They¡¯re stronger than before!¡± Her thoughts raced as she calculated her next move.


    Malin began to sing again, her voice soft but powerful. The melody reverberated through the dome, and Rex, Hanako, and Akira felt it¡ªan undeniable surge of power coursing through their bodies, their strength amplified by the song. At the same time, Natalia could feel her own energy waning, the song draining her, weakening her with every note.


    Natalia gritted her teeth. This was no ordinary fight. The stakes were higher, and she was now up against more than just two warriors¡ªshe was battling against malin memories, her bonds, and her will to protect everything that she had loved.


    All four of them attacked Natalia in perfect unison, their coordinated assault coming from every angle. Natalia, her instincts razor-sharp, leapt into the air, narrowly dodging the barrage. But Malin, quicker than expected, materialized through one of the pictures in the Palace and lunged at her. Natalia twisted her body mid-air, narrowly dodging the strike, but Malin¡¯s sword grazed another picture.


    The moment the blade connected, everything shifted again. The battlefield vanished, and the world around them warped into a new memory.


    This time, they stood in a sunlit field, where a younger Malin played with a little girl, laughing as she swung her in wide, joyous circles. The atmosphere was serene, peaceful, almost jarringly out of place in the midst of their violent battle.


    Natalia¡¯s eyes widened with sudden realization. ¡°The probability changed! She¡¯s now three steps closer to reaching phase five in her Palace!¡± Natalia thought, the tension in her chest growing. Each time they entered one of these memories, it brought Malin closer to unleashing the full potential of her Palace.


    Rex, who was standing silently, his dark flames swirling around him, watched the scene unfold. ¡°Is this a memory from when Malin was with her daughter?¡± he thought, his heart heavy with the revelation.


    Malin¡¯s Palace wasn¡¯t just a domain of power¡ªit was a manifestation of her most cherished memories. But its true power lay in its ability to manipulate probability. Every time a memory was struck or disturbed, the Palace warped reality, teleporting them into another memory and giving Malin and her allies a significant boost while weakening their enemies.


    As the memory ended, Rex, Malin, and the foxes could feel a surge of flux energy swelling inside them. Natalia, on the other hand, felt her strength diminish, her flux energy waning.


    ¡°Dark Flame Style: Dark Shockwaves!¡± Rex thought, channeling the increased energy into his next move. His body surged with black flames, their power crackling in the air. ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± Rex shouted.


    Natalia¡¯s body froze, her limbs stiff and unresponsive. For a moment, her mind raced, trying to resist the command, but the dark energy coiled around her, locking her in place.


    Hanako charged at Natalia with blinding speed, her massive fox form bearing down on the immobilized target. ¡°So annoying,¡± Natalia thought, her mind scrambling to find an escape. In that split second, Akira and Malin sensed her desperation.


    Malin, her resolve unshaken, dashed toward another picture, her sword slicing through it. As soon as the picture was cut, the Palace reacted, pulling them into another memory.


    Meanwhile, Akira, realizing what was about to happen, lunged toward Hanako, knocking her out of harm¡¯s way. But in doing so, Akira was hit by Natalia¡¯s counterattack¡ªwhite flames erupted from Natalia¡¯s body, scorching Akira¡¯s fur and flesh. The searing pain coursed through Akira, but before anyone could react, another memory materialized.


    This time, the memory was not a happy one.


    The scene was heart-wrenching: Malin, on her knees, cradling the lifeless body of the little girl from before, her daughter. Tears streamed down Malin¡¯s face, her body trembling as she held the girl close. The child was missing half of her head, her innocent life cut short in the most brutal way imaginable. The once-beautiful field was now in ruins, the peaceful atmosphere shattered.


    Rex, Hanako, and even Natalia felt the raw, agonizing grief radiating from the memory. Malin stood silently, but tears glistened in her eyes. Her composure cracked, if only for a moment. The weight of that memory, of the tragedy it held, was almost unbearable.


    Natalia¡¯s eyes widened in alarm. ¡°She won the probability!¡± she realized. The Palace had shifted in Malin¡¯s favor. The tragic memory had unlocked the final phase.


    ¡°Hanako, get Akira out of here!¡± Rex roared, his voice filled with urgency. Hanako obeyed without question, biting onto Akira¡¯s scruff and carrying him away to a safer place.


    Malin, now fully focused, her grief and rage intertwining, had reached the final phase of her Palace. The shimmering walls of the dome glowed with an overwhelming intensity, and Malin¡¯s body radiated with boundless flux energy.


    For eight minutes, Malin would have limitless power, her flux energy now untethered and uncontrollable.


    Natalia, for the first time, felt fear creep into her heart. This battle had escalated beyond anything she had anticipated, and now, Malin stood before her, empowered by grief, determination, and the raw force of her Palace. The final phase had begun, and for Natalia, there was no turning back.


    Malin and Natalia charged at each other with terrifying speed, their movements blurring through the air. Rex, equally fast, kept pace, his eyes locked on the confrontation. As the distance between them closed, Natalia smirked. ¡°Yeager ability, Flame Steal,¡± she thought. In an instant, the flames around their swords flickered out, and then¡ªpoof¡ªall three of their weapons vanished.


    ¡°What the hell?¡± Malin thought, her eyes widening in shock.


    Natalia wasted no time, capitalizing on the moment of confusion. She swung her fist at Malin with deadly force. Malin blocked, gritting her teeth, just as Rex came from the side and landed a powerful punch to Natalia¡¯s ribs. The impact sent a shockwave through her body, but before Natalia could recover, Malin struck her chin with an upward kick, forcing her head back.


    ¡°Yeager ability, Flame Discharge.¡±


    Suddenly, a violent eruption of flames burst from Natalia¡¯s body. The inferno launched Malin backward, crashing her into a building. Rex, quick on his feet, dodged the fiery explosion with a mere flicker of his enhanced eyes, his focus sharpening.


    In the next split second, Rex and Natalia squared off, each moving with blinding precision. Natalia swung the first punch, aiming for Rex¡¯s face, but he deflected it effortlessly, his body reacting almost instinctively. Rex channeled his flux energy into his fist, eyes narrowing in on the perfect opening.


    ¡°Flux Breaker!¡±


    Rex¡¯s fist collided with Natalia¡¯s side, the force rippling through her body, causing her to cough up blood. Despite the blow, Natalia¡¯s expression remained eerily calm, while Rex grinned, his energy shifting with every flux breaker he landed. But Natalia didn¡¯t let up¡ªshe planted a fierce kick to Rex¡¯s chest, launching him off the collapsing building.


    As Rex plummeted, the realization hit him¡ªeach use of the flux breaker unlocked more of his inheritance. He could feel it swelling within him, the knowledge of his new technique.


    ¡°Poison Style, Poison Fang!¡±


    From Rex¡¯s outstretched hand, a jet of toxic energy shot toward Natalia. She easily blocked it with her flames, but Rex had planned for this. Using the poisoned smoke as a cover, he slipped behind her with deadly speed. He struck again, aiming for her with another flux breaker. Natalia barely managed to block the full impact but still staggered as the hit landed.


    ¡°Every time he lands that damn move, I lose more and more power,¡± Natalia thought, her eyes narrowing. ¡°It¡¯s like he¡¯s tearing at my very soul.¡±


    Enraged, Natalia unleashed a massive burst of flames, causing the building to collapse beneath them. Both fighters plummeted, debris falling around them like rain. But Rex wasn¡¯t finished¡ªhis relentless assault continued as they fell. He dodged her fire, closing the distance once more. His fist ignited with flux energy as he landed another flux breaker.


    ¡°You bastard!¡± Natalia screamed as she tumbled through the air, her body twisting from the blow.


    Without missing a beat, Rex surged forward, his energy flaring to dangerous levels. For the final time, he delivered one more devastating flux breaker, sending Natalia flying into the debris-strewn streets below.


    Malin appeared from the smoke, her face set in grim determination. ¡°Dark Flame Style! Revengeful Flames!¡± she thought, her body radiating with dark, violent energy. She struck Natalia in the back, sending her flying even farther. The sheer force of the blow ignited the surrounding area in crimson fire.


    Natalia¡¯s expression twisted in fury as she staggered to her feet. ¡°Destruction of Locke Palace,¡± she whispered, her voice venomous.


    Suddenly, a massive palace of flames materialized, encompassing nearly 400 meters of the city. The once-distant horizon was now swallowed by roaring, unrelenting flames. Rex, still standing, felt the scorching heat as the Palace took shape. His leg was caught in the fire, but it regenerated in seconds, his flux energy abilities allowing him to heal rapidly.


    ¡°The palace isn¡¯t complete yet,¡± Rex thought, his eyes darting around. ¡°We can endure this and still win!¡±


    But before they could act, the flames abruptly vanished.


    ¡°What just happened?¡± Rex thought, his eyes narrowing. He couldn¡¯t understand why the flames disappeared so suddenly.


    Then he saw it¡ªNatalia stood in the center of the crumbling city, gathering all of her flames into her hand. The intensity of the energy made the air around her warp, as if reality itself was bending under the pressure. She raised her hand, her body trembling from the sheer power she had collected.


    ¡°She¡¯s going to detonate all of that energy¡­ within the range of the Palace!¡± Malin shouted, her voice strained as she rushed toward Rex.


    Natalia¡¯s hand crackled with volatile flames, ready to unleash a cataclysmic explosion that would consume everything within the Palace¡¯s range. This was a last resort¡ªher final attempt to obliterate everything in her path. The ground beneath her shook, and the air itself screamed with the power she held.

 eternal forge

    Rex was frantically searching for a way out, but the white flames erupted around him, closing off every possible escape. His heart raced as he prepared to shield himself, bracing for the overwhelming attack aimed at both him and Malin. Desperation surged through him, but before he could act, Malin¡¯s body moved in front of him, forming a barrier around them.


    ¡°Rex,¡± she whispered, her voice calm despite the chaos.


    ¡°Malin!¡± Rex¡¯s shout was raw, filled with panic. His eyes widened as he saw the flames licking closer. ¡°What are you doing!? Stop using your flames¡ªprotect yourself! Don¡¯t waste your energy on me!¡±


    But Malin simply turned toward him, her face soft with the kind of tenderness that comes from a bond forged in battles, triumphs, and losses. ¡°No, Rex¡­ not this time.¡±


    Before Rex could protest, the world around him faded. The battlefield melted away, replaced by the gentle rocking of an old, worn train car. The familiar rattle of tracks echoed in his ears. Malin sat across from him, her eyes distant, as if lost in memories. Amelia and Griffin sat by the window, gazing out at the blur of passing scenery. A shadowy figure wreathed in dark flames lingered in the corner, watching silently.


    Rex¡¯s voice broke the eerie calm. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you protect yourself, Malin?¡± His tone was low, barely above a whisper, yet each word carried the weight of his torment.


    Malin¡¯s eyes met his, and for a moment, they were the eyes of the woman he had fought beside for so long¡ªfull of life, resolve, and something unspoken. Her voice, steady yet filled with sorrow, cut through the stillness. ¡°Because keeping you safe¡­ is all that matters. I don¡¯t need to protect myself anymore, Rex. My time¡¯s up. You need to keep going.¡±


    Rex clenched his fists, the veins in his arms tightening. His chest heaved with emotion, frustration bubbling to the surface. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be like this, Malin. You don¡¯t have to give up. We can still fight. You don¡¯t have to leave me like everyone else!¡± His voice cracked on the last words, the pain seeping through.


    Malin smiled softly, the kind of smile that comes before goodbye. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Rex. I¡¯m so, so sorry¡­ but this is as far as I can go.¡± Her voice wavered, her vulnerability showing for the first time in years. ¡°I¡¯m tired¡­ I¡¯ve been tired for a long time. This is my end.¡±


    Tears burned at the edge of Rex¡¯s vision. He shook his head, as if refusing to accept her words. ¡°No¡­ You¡¯ve been by my side since L.A. You made me stronger, you gave me a reason to keep fighting. I don¡¯t want to do this without you.¡± His throat tightened. ¡°I can¡¯t lose you too.¡±


    Malin¡¯s face softened as her own memories washed over her. The image of her daughter¡ªfragile, dying¡ªflashed in her mind. The way she held the small body, pouring her flux energy into her just to keep her alive for a few more moments. ¡°Mommy, I feel cold,¡± her daughter had whispered, her voice weak.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ve got you,¡± Malin had whispered back, though she was trembling, tears streaming down her face. ¡°You¡¯ll be warm¡­ I promise.¡± She had lied, knowing that no matter how much power she gave, she couldn¡¯t save her daughter.


    The memory shattered as the flames consuming Malin¡¯s present body flared violently. Her dark flames began to sputter and fade, her strength draining faster than even she expected. She stumbled, her knees giving way. Rex was at her side in an instant, his hands trembling as he touched her skin, already beginning to crumble into ash beneath his fingertips.


    ¡°Rest, Malin,¡± Rex choked, his voice breaking. ¡°You¡¯ve earned it. I¡¯ll carry on for you.¡±


    The flames flickered one last time, and Malin¡¯s body disintegrated, scattering into the wind like the ashes of a dying fire. Rex knelt there, his hand still outstretched, clutching at nothing but air. His heart felt hollow, a deep ache resonating through his entire being.


    But amidst the sorrow, something hardened inside him. He stood slowly, the weight of his grief giving way to a cold, unyielding resolve. He turned, his eyes locking on Natalia, who still loomed in the distance, untouched by the devastation she had caused.


    Out of the smoky haze, Hanako appeared. She was changed¡ªmarkings glowing across her face, her energy surging with newfound power. Rex could feel the force radiating from her, like a storm barely contained.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°Rex,¡± Hanako said, her voice steady yet laced with determination. ¡°Let¡¯s finish this. For the both of them


    Rex¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°Yeah¡­ for both of them.¡±


    Before Natalia palace


    ¡°Akira you¡¯re going to be ok!¡± Hanako said. She put her paw on Akira''s body. Trying to heal it but it wouldint work. ¡°Hankao transforms into your Demi human form,¡± he said slowly.


    Both of them transformed into the Demi-human form.


    ¡°You have to do it,¡± Akira said.


    ¡°No I can¡¯t! If I do you dead I don¡¯t want to eat you,¡± she said.


    ¡°You reamber the blood pact right we made right with Rex,¡± he said. Hanako back at him with crying eyes. ¡°Condition was that he will never leave us, if you eat me he will have use for you and be safe,¡± he said.


    ¡°I just can¡¯t eat you,¡± she said.


    ¡°don¡¯t do it for Rex do it for me,¡± he said.


    She had to respect her brother was she transforms into her fox form and open her mouth wide and devoured him.


    Back with reality


    Without hesitation, both Rex and Hanako charged at Natalia. Hanako¡¯s tail flicked and began to blur with speed, moving in unpredictable arcs. In an instant, all three of them vanished, teleporting across the battlefield in rapid succession, leaving shockwaves in their wake. Natalia struggled to keep up, her eyes darting around, unable to track their movements.


    ¡°She¡¯s even faster now,¡± Natalia thought, gritting her teeth. ¡°Since the Yeager fox gained more power probably by eating her sibling, her teleportation is seamless.¡±


    Before she could react, Rex and Hanako reappeared on either side of her, striking with ruthless precision. Hanako¡¯s claws sliced through the air, connecting with Natalia¡¯s torso, while Rex delivered a brutal kick to her neck, sending her hurtling through the shattered remains of the city.


    Natalia crashed into the ground, struggling to regain her footing. Rex didn¡¯t waste a second. He darted to where his sword had reappeared , grasping it in one fluid motion. With a fierce cry, he teleported in front of her, his blade raised high. The sword gleamed as he swung it down toward her neck, the force of the blow enough to cleave through anything in its path.


    Nataila sword also appears and blocked the attack. Both of them swing their blades as the clashed togther. Hanako tail start to vibrate faster and faster. All three of them started to teleport faster. Nataila can barely keep up with Rex movements. ¡°Due it now Emi! End this fight!¡± Hanako yelled. Emi was above them with a smile. ¡°Water style, Boxing Day tsunami,¡± she thought. Realsing a faint pressure of water to hopefully to kill Nataila. Nataila smile and used her flames to create a barrier to make a path towards Emi . As she jumps through it. Emi smiled and she was about to throw a punch with her Tonfa. And hanako teleported to punch as well. The shockwave was everywhere and destroyed more than of the city. Giant explosion happen and emi, Hanako were sent flying back into a drsoteyed building. Emi palace was destroyed and water return to the earth. Then Rex grabbed her by the feet and threw her into the building. ¡°Did he also climb of that pressure of water!¡± She thought.


    Both of them went into another sowrd fight. Destroyed buildings swings of their swords. And each attack cause the entire solar system to shake with each attack.


    ¡°I have to end this fight now! I have to kill Rex Jones!¡± Natalia thought.


    But Rex mind was somewhere else.


    Malin shook her head. ¡°No, it¡¯s far more complicated than that. It¡¯s not just about power; it¡¯s about your ideals. Your Palace is a reflection of your beliefs and how you shape those ideals into reality. It gives you more power, yes, but it¡¯s deeply tied to who you are at your core.¡±


    Rex furrowed his brow. ¡°So, I need to understand my own ideals and make them real?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. But be warned, Rex¡ªit takes a tremendous amount of flux energy to create and maintain a Palace. And you¡¯re not ready yet. You don¡¯t fully understand your soul, and until you do, you won¡¯t be able to harness that kind of power,¡± Malin explained, her voice calm but firm.


    Rex nodded slowly, realizing how much more he had to learn. "So, mastering my soul is the first step..."


    ¡°Yes, and once you do, your Palace will come naturally,¡± Malin said. ¡°But for now, focus on building that connection.¡±


    The memories ends.


    As the both of them continue to fight Rex becomes more stronger with determination.


    ¡°My Belief is that everyone life was forged out form the beginning of their life just like I was born to be a cog in a weal just to kill yeagers and die, and that hasn¡¯t changed about me,¡± Rex thought.


    Rex separated distance between them both.


    Rex created a hand symbol.¡±Enteral Forge Palace,¡± Rex said.


    A dome was created over them the dome sky became dark and red and Nataila was standing in dark water. While a light forge was in the middle of the palace. Rex created an injector with his hand. And stab himslef with it. His flux energy recovered and his wounds did as well.


    A sword materialized into Rex hand it was Malin¡¯s sword.


    ¡°Let¡¯s end this fight, togther, Malin¡± Rex thought.


    He charged at Nataila with both swords in hand.


    He swings one of the swords right at Nataila. But she dodges it barely. Objects were created in the water to kill Nataila. She can barely dodge them.


    ¡°Let¡¯s end this together Malin,¡± Rex said with a smile.


    Chains were created on Nataila who couldn¡¯t move. She was trying to break free but couldint.


    Rex hold Malin sword up high and swing the blade downward¡ªcutting of Nataila head.


    Rex palace cause him to create anything he desires no mater how ridiculous it is.


    Nataila lifeless body fell to the ground and Rex closed his palace.


    he looked up to the night sky and fell down to the ground to finally rest.

 rank sixth

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    Leon, Nur, and Baluka sat in the hospital waiting room, a thick cloud of tension hanging over them. The sterile smell of disinfectant and the soft, rhythmic beeping of nearby machines filled the air. It was such a jarring contrast to the war-torn streets they had just escaped that none of them could quite adjust. The lingering echoes of gunfire, explosions, and the cries of fallen comrades were still fresh in their minds, like a distant nightmare threatening to resurface at any moment.


    Leon sat hunched over, his elbows resting on his knees, rubbing his temples as if he could push the memories away. His usually calm demeanor was fraying at the edges. His hands, normally steady, trembled slightly as they moved. His eyes were bloodshot, sleeplessness etched into the lines of his face. Without warning, he stood up, breaking the oppressive silence with his sudden movement.


    ¡°I need some air,¡± he muttered, his voice rough, and before anyone could respond, he was already halfway to the door.


    Baluka, who had been watching him closely, felt her heart tighten in concern. She knew Leon well enough to recognize when he was on the verge of breaking. The strain of the war, the lives lost, and the constant threat looming over them had worn them all down, but Leon bore the heaviest burden. He always had.


    ¡°Leon, wait,¡± Baluka called after him, her voice thick with the concern she could no longer hold back. She needed to know. They all needed to know. ¡°Are Rex and Emi okay?¡±


    Leon stopped just shy of the exit, his hand hovering over the door handle. He didn¡¯t turn around immediately. For a moment, the only sound was the soft hum of the hospital machinery, the distant chatter of doctors and nurses in the hall. When Leon finally spoke, his voice was quieter, softer than before, as though he had to force the words out.


    ¡°Emi¡¯s fine,¡± he said, his shoulders sagging slightly. ¡°Her Palace... it did most of the heavy lifting, but she¡¯s got a couple of broken ribs. She¡¯ll recover.¡±


    Baluka felt a brief surge of relief wash over her. Emi was tough, perhaps the toughest of them all, but hearing that she had come out of the battle alive was still a weight off her chest. But the worry gnawing at her wasn¡¯t satisfied yet. There was someone else she needed to ask about.


    ¡°And Rex?¡± she asked, her voice quieter now, more hesitant, as if she already feared the answer.


    Leon turned to face her, his eyes dull and tired, but there was a gentleness in them that hadn¡¯t been there a moment before. ¡°Rex is... on the roof, talking to his aunt. He¡¯s alive, Baluka. That¡¯s all that matters right now.¡±


    There was a pause, thick with unspoken questions. Leon¡¯s words didn¡¯t soothe her completely. Nur, who had been sitting in silence, watching the exchange with his sharp, analytical eyes, finally spoke up. His voice was calm, steady, but there was a piercing quality to his tone, like he was cutting through the fog of confusion hanging over the room.


    ¡°And what about Hanako? Amber?¡± Nur¡¯s gaze never left Leon, searching for the truth in his face.


    Leon sighed, a deep, weary sound that seemed to carry the weight of the entire war on his shoulders. He ran a hand through his hair, his fingers trembling slightly. ¡°Hanako¡¯s with Rex,¡± he admitted, his voice strained. ¡°But listen, I haven¡¯t told Rona yet. A Yeager... being on our side... it¡¯s a big deal. People aren¡¯t going to understand. They¡¯ll question it. We need to keep this quiet for now.¡±


    Baluka¡¯s brow furrowed, her mind racing. Hanako¡ªa Yeager¡ªfighting alongside them? The very idea was almost unthinkable. Yeagers were their sworn enemies, ruthless, powerful, and dangerous. For one of them to switch sides, it was... monumental. She knew Leon was right to keep it quiet, but it didn¡¯t sit well with her. Still, she nodded in agreement, her mind turning over the implications of this revelation.


    But Nur wasn¡¯t done. His sharp eyes narrowed, and his voice took on a harder edge. ¡°And Amber?¡± he pressed, the question hanging in the air like a loaded gun.


    Leon¡¯s face hardened, his entire demeanor shifting. He didn¡¯t meet Nur¡¯s eyes as he answered, his voice tight, clipped. ¡°Amber... she¡¯s gone somewhere. I don¡¯t want to talk about it.¡±


    The way he said it, the finality in his tone, made it clear that any further questions about Amber would not be welcome. Baluka exchanged a glance with Nur, but neither of them pushed the subject. The silence that followed was heavy, uncomfortable, each of them lost in their own thoughts.


    Baluka shifted in her seat, trying to ease the tension in her body. ¡°At least everyone¡¯s alive,¡± she said softly, more to herself than anyone else, her voice barely above a whisper. It felt like a weak consolation, but she clung to it all the same.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Nur agreed, his voice equally quiet, his expression grim. ¡°Except for Rex¡¯s master. She¡¯s dead. Died protecting him.¡±


    The weight of those words hit like a sledgehammer, leaving a suffocating silence in its wake. Rex¡¯s master... she had been a pillar of strength, a guiding force, and now she was gone. The loss felt like a gaping wound, and none of them were sure how Rex would cope with it.


    Leon was the first to break the silence, his voice low and tense. ¡°Let¡¯s not bring that up with Rex, alright? He¡¯s been through enough.¡±


    Baluka nodded, understanding the need to protect Rex from the added pain. They were all soldiers, but they were still human, and some wounds went deeper than any battlefield injury.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Before anyone could say more, Baluka¡¯s cybernetics buzzed. She blinked, her thoughts interrupted by the sudden vibration. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ve got to take this,¡± she murmured, standing up and heading outside, her mind still swirling with the weight of everything that had just been said.


    As soon as she stepped into the hospital courtyard, the fresh air hit her face, offering a brief moment of relief from the oppressive atmosphere inside. She answered the call, trying to clear her head. ¡°Who is it?¡± she asked, her voice a mix of irritation and exhaustion.


    ¡°Baluka! Are you okay?¡± a frantic voice shouted on the other end of the line.


    Baluka winced, recognizing the voice instantly. ¡°Dad, don¡¯t yell in my head like that,¡± she grumbled, rubbing her forehead with her free hand. ¡°I¡¯m fine. What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Her father¡¯s voice cracked with emotion, a rare occurrence for the usually stoic man. ¡°We thought you were dead! We got a transfer¡ª5.3 million dollars into our account. We thought... we thought it was compensation.¡±


    The breath caught in Baluka¡¯s throat. Her mind reeled, trying to process what her father had just said. Five-point-three million? That wasn¡¯t compensation¡ªthat was something else entirely. Her legs felt weak, and for a moment, the world tilted. She gripped the back of a nearby bench to steady herself, her thoughts racing.


    ¡°Don¡¯t pass out yet, soldier,¡± a calm, authoritative voice said behind her, cutting through the fog of confusion.


    Baluka spun around, her eyes widening in surprise. Rona, the leader of the Yeager force, stood just a few feet away, her presence commanding yet somehow comforting. Rona was a figure of strength, someone who had seen more wars than anyone else in their ranks. Her appearance here wasn¡¯t a coincidence.


    ¡°Hey, Baluka,¡± Rona said, her voice casual but laced with a seriousness that couldn¡¯t be ignored. ¡°Mind if we talk for a minute?¡±


    Baluka quickly ended the call with her father, still processing the flood of emotions running through her. She offered Rona a nervous smile, trying to regain her composure. ¡°Of course, ma¡¯am.¡±


    ¡°At ease, soldier,¡± Rona said, gesturing for her to sit on the nearby bench. They sat down, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. The sounds of the park around them were a stark contrast to the weight of the conversation that was about to unfold. Children laughed, families chatted, and the soft rustling of leaves filled the air.


    Baluka couldn¡¯t help but feel the sharp divide between the world of war she had just come from and the peaceful, almost idyllic scene unfolding around her. She glanced at Rona, waiting for her to speak, the tension in her shoulders refusing to ease.


    Rona¡¯s gaze was calm but intense, her eyes scanning the horizon before settling on Baluka once again. ¡°What happened in Tokyo... it was no small thing. You and your team faced an incredible challenge, and you made it out alive. But I can¡¯t imagine it was easy.¡±


    Baluka swallowed hard, flashes of the battle coming to the forefront of her mind¡ªfire, blood, the overwhelming sense of chaos. The sounds, the smells, the raw terror¡ªit was all too fresh. ¡°It wasn¡¯t,¡± she admitted, her voice quieter than she intended.


    Rona nodded slowly, her expression filled with understanding. ¡°I know you¡¯re tough. Resilient. You wouldn¡¯t have made it this far if you weren¡¯t. But I¡¯ve seen this path before, Baluka. Sometimes, we push forward without ever stopping to ask ourselves why.¡±


    Baluka frowned, confused by the direction of the conversation. ¡°Why?¡± she echoed. ¡°Ma¡¯am, I know why I¡¯m fighting. We¡¯re all fighting for the same thing.¡±


    Rona¡¯s gaze sharpened, her voice steady but firm. ¡°Are you? Or are you just surviving?¡±


    Baluka blinked, taken aback by the question. Of course she was fighting for something¡ªher team, her friends, the people she cared about. But surviving? That was different. She hadn¡¯t thought of it like that before.


    Rona leaned in slightly, her tone softening. ¡°You¡¯ve got potential, Baluka. More than you realize. You¡¯ve proven it time and time again, not just to me, but to everyone who¡¯s fought alongside you. But you need to know what you¡¯re fighting for.¡±


    Baluka felt the weight of Rona¡¯s words sink in, settling heavily on her chest. She had always seen herself as a soldier, someone who did what needed to be done to protect those she cared about. But now, with Rona looking at her like this, like she was more than just a cog in the machine, she wasn¡¯t sure what to think.


    ¡°Is this about Hanako?¡± Baluka asked, her voice hesitant.


    Rona¡¯s expression shifted slightly, becoming more guarded. ¡°Partly. Having a Yeager on our side... it changes things. People will see her as a threat. Even if she¡¯s loyal to Rex, there will be those who won¡¯t trust her. And they¡¯ll question your loyalty too, whether you like it or not.¡±


    Baluka¡¯s stomach tightened. She hadn¡¯t thought of it that way. Of course people would question Hanako¡¯s motives, but her own loyalty? She¡¯d never doubted herself for a second, but now...


    ¡°Rex won¡¯t leave her,¡± Baluka said firmly, her loyalty to her teammates unwavering. ¡°They made a blood contract. He¡¯s bound to her. And I¡¯ll stand by him.¡±


    Rona nodded, her eyes softening slightly. ¡°I know you will. But this war isn¡¯t just about loyalty anymore. It¡¯s about survival. And you¡¯re not just responsible for Rex or anyone else expect yourslef.¡±


    Baluka frowned, unsure where Rona was going with this. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Rona reached into her jacket and pulled out a small, metallic badge. Baluka¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she recognized it instantly¡ªa rank badge, higher than anything she¡¯d ever imagined wearing.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been promoted, Baluka,¡± Rona said, her voice taking on an official tone. ¡°I¡¯ve disbanded most of the elite forces, leaving only six other spots in the ranks. You¡¯re one of them now. Rank Sixth.¡±


    Baluka stared at the badge in disbelief. She had always considered herself a soldier, part of the team, nothing more. To be promoted like this, to be given such responsibility... it felt overwhelming.


    ¡°Why me?¡± she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.


    Rona smiled, her expression filled with pride. ¡°Because you¡¯ve earned it. Your mastery over your flux energy, your ability to heal yourself in battle¡ªit¡¯s not something just anyone can do. You¡¯ve proven yourself, Baluka. And I trust you.¡±


    Baluka felt her head spinning, the weight of the promotion pressing down on her. This wasn¡¯t just another mission or another battle. This was something far greater, something she wasn¡¯t sure she was ready for.


    ¡°I... I don¡¯t know what to say,¡± she stammered, still trying to wrap her mind around it.


    Rona¡¯s smile widened slightly. ¡°You don¡¯t have to say anything. Just don¡¯t pass out on me, alright? I need you alert, soldier.¡±


    Baluka managed a weak laugh, the tension easing just a fraction. ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am. I won¡¯t let you down.¡±


    ¡°I know you won¡¯t,¡± Rona replied, her voice warm but serious. ¡°But remember¡ªthis is only the beginning. The hard part is yet to come.¡±


    Baluka swallowed hard, the reality of her new role sinking in. The war wasn¡¯t over. Not by a long shot. But now, with this new responsibility, with everything that had happened in Tokyo and the battles still to come, she knew one thing for sure.


    She was ready.


    Or at least, she would be.

 rank fifth

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    Amber sat in the back seat of the taxi, her gaze unfocused as she stared out of the window. The cityscape blurred past her in a haze of lights and colors, but she wasn¡¯t really seeing them. Her mind was elsewhere, lost in memories and thoughts that refused to let her go. As the car turned onto a quieter street, she caught her own reflection in the glass. Her eyes immediately gravitated to the scar on her neck, a jagged reminder of battles fought and struggles that survived. Her fingers brushed over it absentmindedly, and she frowned slightly at the faint lines that marred her face, remnants of a life that had been anything but easy.


    ¡°Maybe Rex can heal these,¡± she mused, the thought fleeting but persistent. The idea of erasing the marks of her past was tantalizing, but she knew that some scars were destined to remain. They told her story, a narrative of survival etched into her skin. Would they ever fade, or were they meant to be permanent?


    Suddenly, the taxi jerked to a stop, jolting her back to the present. The driver turned to look at her through the rearview mirror, his expression gruff. ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± he said, his accent thick and unfamiliar.


    Amber blinked, momentarily disoriented, then nodded quickly. ¡°Thanks,¡± she murmured, transferring the fare through her device. She grabbed the bouquet of flowers from the seat beside her and opened the door, stepping out into the cool evening air. The scent of fresh blooms wafted up as she held the bouquet close to her chest, a stark contrast to the heaviness that settled in her heart.


    The cemetery loomed ahead, a place she hadn¡¯t visited in far too long. She inhaled deeply, trying to steel herself for what was to come. Each step up the hill felt slow and deliberate, the wet grass beneath her feet clinging to her shoes as if reluctant to let her go. The weight of her memories pressed down on her, making her feel heavier with each stride.


    When she finally reached the top, two gravestones stood side by side, their surfaces glinting softly in the fading light. Holographic images flickered gently on the stones¡ªDaisy and Nicholas, her mother and father. Amber¡¯s breath caught in her throat as she looked at their faces, forever captured in those glowing images, smiling softly as if they were still alive. It felt surreal, the way time seemed to pause in this sacred place.


    She knelt between the two stones, placing the flowers down carefully. She arranged them so that they rested evenly between her parents¡¯ graves, the vibrant colors standing out against the muted tones of the stones. The mingling scents of the flowers and the earthy aroma of the cemetery enveloped her, grounding her in the moment.


    ¡°Hey, Mom. Hey, Dad. It¡¯s been a while, hasn¡¯t it?¡± she whispered, her voice barely above a murmur, yet it echoed in the stillness. A bitter smile creased her lips as she shook her head. ¡°I bet Leon hasn¡¯t seen you guys at all. He¡¯s probably too busy with everything.¡± She chuckled dryly, knowing her brother well enough to understand that he hadn¡¯t been here in ages. The war, the fighting, the missions¡ªthey all pulled them in different directions, leaving little time for moments like these.


    Amber glanced down at the gravestones, her heart aching with the familiar sorrow that always surfaced when she came here. But today, she had something else to share. ¡°Guess what?¡± she said, her voice lifting slightly. ¡°I fought a Yeager rank in Japan. Almost won, too.¡± A fleeting smile tugged at her lips. ¡°I mean, I got help, sure, but I almost defeated it on my own. You would¡¯ve been proud, Mom.¡±


    As she spoke, the words poured out of her like water from a broken dam. She recounted everything¡ªthe battle in Japan, the people she had met along the way, the chaos and the danger. She shared stories of close calls, moments when she thought she wouldn¡¯t make it, but also of the times when she had triumphed, when she had felt her strength surge, her will overpowering her enemies.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    She spoke about Rex, her voice filled with a mix of admiration and confusion. Rex had grown even more powerful since their last reunion, and there was pride in her tone as she described his evolution. He was a mystery, one she was still trying to unravel, but she couldn¡¯t deny the trust she placed in him. Deep down, she hoped he could heal more than just her scars.


    Amber remained there, speaking to her parents as if they could hear her as if they could respond. Time lost its meaning; it felt as if she had been there for hours, pouring out her heart and soul. In this sacred space, she felt a sense of peace wash over her, a rare moment where she allowed herself to let her guard down completely.


    As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows over the cemetery, Amber finally fell silent. She reached out and touched her mother¡¯s gravestone, then her father¡¯s, the cool surface grounding her. She stood back up, looking down at the flowers one last time, wishing they could somehow convey the depth of her feelings.


    ¡°I¡¯ll see you soon,¡± she whispered, her voice barely audible as she began to walk back down the hill. Her heart felt a little lighter, as if sharing her burdens had made them easier to bear.


    As she stepped outside the cemetery gates, she paused for a moment, taking a deep breath of the crisp evening air. That¡¯s when she noticed someone waiting nearby.


    ¡°Hello, Amber,¡± Rona said, her tone crisp and professional.


    Amber¡¯s brows furrowed in confusion. ¡°Ma¡¯am, what are you doing here?¡± she asked, trying to mask her surprise.


    ¡°I came here to talk to you, Amber,¡± Rona replied, her voice steady.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Amber asked, a hint of caution creeping into her tone.


    ¡°I came here to give you something,¡± Rona said, extending her hand to reveal a badge, its gleam catching the last rays of sunlight. It was the badge of rank five.


    Amber¡¯s eyes widened in shock and surprise. ¡°Why are you giving me this?¡± she asked, a mix of disbelief and confusion coloring her words.


    ¡°Because you deserve it,¡± Rona said firmly. ¡°After the events in Japan and Korea, you saved lives. That¡¯s why you are worthy of the rank five badge.¡±


    ¡°But I¡­¡± Amber started, but Rona cut her off.


    ¡°No more doubting yourself, Amber. You have proven yourself time and again to have earned this rank,¡± Rona said, her voice unwavering.


    Amber took a moment to process the weight of Rona¡¯s words, her heart swelling with a mix of pride and disbelief. Just then, Rona seemed to shift gears. ¡°Oh, yeah, who was that civilian who stopped that Yeager named Veer?¡± she asked, her curiosity piqued.


    ¡°Oh, her? Her name is Emi Saito. She said she was trained by Lluvia,¡± Amber explained, remembering the fierce yet gentle spirit of the girl who had fought alongside her.


    ¡°And what do you think about Hanako?¡± Rona pressed, her gaze sharp and probing.


    ¡°Hanako? She¡¯s a very kind fox. She saved Rex and Leon in Japan when both were trapped in a cave,¡± Amber explained, a fond smile creeping onto her face at the memory of the clever creature.


    ¡°That''s good to hear,¡± Rona said, nodding appreciatively.


    ¡°Why are you planning to kill her?¡± Amber blurted out, her heart racing with sudden alarm.


    ¡°What? No way! I just want to talk to her, that¡¯s all,¡± Rona replied, her expression shifting to one of mild irritation. Amber felt a rush of relief; she hadn¡¯t wanted to believe Rona could be capable of such a thing.


    ¡°Get some rest, Amber. You deserve it,¡± Rona said, her tone softening slightly as she turned to walk away.


    As Amber stood there, watching Rona disappear into the shadows, she felt a mix of emotions swirling within her. She clutched the badge tightly in her hand, the cool metal grounding her amid the tumult of thoughts. It was a tangible recognition of her efforts, a validation she hadn¡¯t expected.


    With a deep breath, Amber turned and began her walk back home. The night air was refreshing, the cool breeze brushing against her skin as she navigated the familiar streets. She found herself reflecting on the path she had taken, the battles fought, and the friendships forged in the fire of conflict.


    Her thoughts drifted back to Rex, to Emi, and to Hanako. Each of them had played a crucial role in her journey, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel grateful. Perhaps there was more to come, more battles to face and more victories to achieve. But for now, she clutched the badge tightly, a symbol of her strength and resilience, and she walked with purpose, ready to face whatever lay ahead.


    <div>


    <div>

 Rank fourth

    As the night deepened, casting long shadows across the hospital room, Emi sat on the bed, surrounded by a variety of food. Plates of steaming dishes cluttered the small table beside her, and her appetite seemed insatiable. She shoveled food into her mouth at a breakneck pace, her cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk.


    ¡°Honey, slow down! You¡¯re going to choke,¡± Kioko said, a note of exasperation in her voice as she watched her daughter devour everything in sight.


    ¡°I can¡¯t, Mom,¡± Emi managed between mouthfuls. ¡°After using my Palaces, I¡¯m starving. I could eat the entire world right now if I wanted to!¡± Her voice was a little muffled, but the excitement and hunger were evident.


    Kioko watched her for a moment longer before asking softly, ¡°How are your wounds, by the way? Are they healing?¡±


    Emi paused for a split second, glancing up at her mother. ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t ask¡ªhow are your wounds doing?¡± she asked, her tone suddenly concerned.


    Kioko sighed, leaning back in her chair. ¡°I¡¯m better now. Rex healed me after you told that brat to hit me in the head.¡±


    Emi stopped mid-bite and averted her gaze, a sheepish look crossing her face. She could feel her mother¡¯s eyes on her, waiting for an answer, and for a moment, the room felt too quiet.


    Kioko smirked slightly, noticing her daughter¡¯s silence. ¡°What happened? Did a cat catch your tongue?¡± Without waiting for a reply, she reached over and playfully grabbed hold of Emi¡¯s cheeks, pulling them apart gently but firmly.


    ¡°Oww, oww, Mom! That hurts!¡± Emi protested, her words garbled as Kioko tugged at her cheeks. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be doing that to someone who helped save the world!¡±


    Kioko chuckled and released her, sitting back with a satisfied grin. ¡°Yeah, yeah. Keep eating, world-saver.¡±


    Emi rubbed her cheeks, pouting slightly, though the moment quickly passed. Her eyes softened as she looked at her mother. ¡°You know, if Dad were here, he¡¯d say congratulations.¡±


    The air in the room shifted with the mention of her father, and Kioko¡¯s smile faded slightly. The unspoken heaviness of his absence lingered between them. ¡°But he isn¡¯t here anymore, is he?¡± Kioko said softly, her voice carrying a note of melancholy. ¡°He died from sickness, just like my dad did.¡±


    Emi looked down at her plate, guilt gnawing at her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mom. I didn¡¯t mean to bring up those memories. I know your childhood wasn¡¯t¡­ easy.¡±


    Kioko smiled faintly, her expression thoughtful. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m not really angry with her¡ªmy mother, I mean. She¡¯s probably living out her old age somewhere far away.¡±


    Emi looked up, her brow furrowed. ¡°But don¡¯t you want to know where she is? I mean, she¡¯s still your mom, right?¡±This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Kioko shook her head, her smile unwavering but tinged with something deeper. ¡°Not really. I don¡¯t mind where she is right now.¡±


    Her words were calm, but in the back of her mind, a storm was brewing. It was a lie¡ªone she had told herself over and over again. Beneath her cool exterior, Kioko felt anger bubbling up, memories she tried to bury clawing their way to the surface. She could never truly forget how her mother had abandoned her, selling her off for money like she was an object. And then there was Griffin¡ªGriffin, who had stopped the sale and told her everything, his face etched in her mind with that stupid, smug expression. The very thought of it made her blood boil.


    Her hands clenched into fists in her lap, but outwardly, she remained composed. ¡°That¡¯s a lie,¡± she thought, feeling the anger coursing through her veins. ¡°I¡¯m absolutely pissed at her! She sold me off to family for money, and Griffin of all people had to be the one to stop it.¡± Her teeth ground together, and she fought to keep her emotions in check.


    ¡°Mom? Are you okay?¡± Emi asked, her voice tinged with worry. She had noticed the shift in her mother¡¯s demeanor.


    Kioko forced herself to relax, unclenching her fists and offering Emi a reassuring smile. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine,¡± she said, standing up abruptly. ¡°I¡¯m just going to get some fresh air.¡±


    Without waiting for a reply, Kioko walked out of the room, her mind swirling with the memories she had tried so hard to suppress. She needed to clear her head before the anger consumed her.


    As Kioko disappeared down the hallway, Emi sighed and pushed her plate away, her appetite suddenly diminished. She turned her attention to the door, where she noticed someone entering. The figure that stepped into the room was tall and commanding, her presence filling the space immediately.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Emi asked, her curiosity piqued.


    The woman looked at her with sharp eyes and introduced herself, ¡°I¡¯m Rona, leader or director of the Yeager Force.¡±


    Emi blinked in surprise. ¡°Cool. So, how much do you get paid, and how many hot guys are there in the Yeager Force?¡± she asked with a mischievous grin.


    Rona blinked, her expression one of utter confusion. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Emi replied quickly, trying to play it off as if she hadn¡¯t just said something completely random.


    Rona shook her head, deciding to ignore the strange comment. ¡°Never mind what you said. I came here to talk to you.¡±


    Emi straightened up, sensing the seriousness in Rona¡¯s tone. ¡°What is it?¡± she asked.


    ¡°You were a civilian in Japan, and then you helped save the world. Why?¡± Rona asked, her gaze intense as she awaited Emi¡¯s answer.


    Emi shrugged, as if the answer was obvious. ¡°Well, because I was bored, and I wanted to do some fighting.¡±


    Rona¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°So you¡¯re telling me you risked your life to save people because you were bored!?¡±


    ¡°Yup,¡± Emi said, her expression nonchalant.


    Rona stared at her for a moment, then sighed, shaking her head. ¡°You¡¯re the biggest idiot I¡¯ve ever met. Well, except for Griffin and Adam.¡±


    Emi grinned, unbothered by the insult. Rona coughed, regaining her composure. ¡°But that¡¯s not the point. You¡¯ve proven yourself to be a true fighter. Leon told me about your abilities and your potential with flux energy. So, I¡¯m offering you this.¡± She held out a badge, its surface gleaming under the fluorescent lights.


    Emi¡¯s eyes widened as she took the badge, examining it closely. ¡°What¡¯s this for?¡± she asked, her curiosity piqued.


    ¡°It¡¯s a rank badge for the Elite Force, or the Special Forces¡ªtake your pick of names. It¡¯s the highest rank in the Yeager Force.¡±


    ¡°Whoa, that¡¯s so cool!¡± Emi exclaimed, her excitement palpable. She turned the badge over in her hands, admiring the intricate design. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely accept it! But wait a minute¡ªwho took the third spot?¡± she asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough,¡± Rona replied with a cryptic smile.


    Emi¡¯s eyes narrowed in suspicion. ¡°I bet it was that jerk Nur, wasn¡¯t it? Probably because he can run at light speed. Thanks a lot, author, for making me fourth best,¡± she muttered under her breath, her tone sarcastic.


    Rona frowned, her confusion evident. ¡°What are you even talking about?¡±


    ¡°Honestly, I have no idea what I¡¯m saying. It¡¯s really weird,¡± Emi replied with a sheepish grin.


    Rona sighed, rubbing her temples. ¡°I¡¯m just going to leave you to rest,¡± she said, her patience clearly wearing thin.


    ¡°Yeah, see ya,¡± Emi said, waving her off casually.


    As Rona left the room, Emi turned to look out the window, her reflection staring back at her. She held the badge tightly in her hand, the weight of it grounding her. For the first time in a long time, she felt special. This was the excitement she had been craving¡ªthe thrill of adventure, the feeling of being part of something bigger than herself.


    The night outside was calm, the city lights twinkling in the distance. Emi¡¯s mind buzzed with thoughts of what lay ahead, but for now, she allowed herself to savor this moment of triumph. She had earned this rank, this recognition, and it felt good. She smiled to herself, her heart light as she drifted into a peaceful sleep, the badge still clutched in her hand.

 Rank second and thrid

    Leon stood alone under the vast night sky, the smoke from his cigarette curling up toward the stars. His eyes followed the smoke¡¯s path for a second before settling on the sky. The stars were brighter than usual, but the weight on his shoulders made it difficult for him to appreciate them. He took another drag, the burning tip of the cigarette glowing brighter as he exhaled slowly.


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be smoking,¡± Rona¡¯s voice interrupted the silence, cutting through the stillness like a blade. ¡°You¡¯re still too young.¡±


    Leon glanced at her, unimpressed, his expression unreadable. ¡°What do you want?¡± he replied flatly, his tone devoid of the respect one might expect when speaking to a superior officer.


    Rona¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, a mix of irritation and concern flashing across her face. ¡°That¡¯s not how you should be talking to your superior, Leon.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but you need me.¡± His voice was casual, as if stating a simple fact. ¡°You know it as well as I do¡ªwithout me, this operation doesn¡¯t run nearly as smoothly. I¡¯m too valuable to you.¡±


    Rona sighed. She hated to admit it, but he wasn¡¯t wrong. Leon¡¯s intelligence was unmatched, making him the linchpin of the Yeager force. Even with his insubordinate attitude, she couldn¡¯t afford to lose him.


    ¡°Fine,¡± she said, crossing her arms. ¡°But there¡¯s more to talk about than just your attitude.¡± She stepped closer, her eyes sharp. ¡°You used Omniadapter to fight Luna. You barely fought in Japan.¡±


    Leon raised an eyebrow. ¡°I authorized the use of Omniadapter to kill her,¡± he replied, his voice calm. ¡°And besides, they didn¡¯t need me in Japan. They had it handled.¡±


    Rona¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Malin would still be alive if you¡¯d been there. You know that.¡±


    Leon looked at her, and for the briefest of moments, something like guilt flashed in his eyes before he quickly masked it. ¡°If I¡¯d used my Palace, Luna would have killed me. You know how it works. I can¡¯t afford to die¡ªnot now, not yet.¡±


    Rona studied him. She could see the weariness in his eyes, the weight he carried even if he wouldn¡¯t admit it. ¡°I visited Amber today,¡± she said softly, changing the subject. ¡°She was at Daisy and Nicholas¡¯s graves.¡±


    Leon didn¡¯t react. ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t care, do you?¡± she asked, her tone hardening.


    ¡°Not really.¡± His voice was emotionless, cold. ¡°They died. I won¡¯t visit them until this war is over.¡±


    Rona shook her head. ¡°Do you actually believe the war will end in our generation?¡±


    Leon¡¯s eyes drifted back to the stars. ¡°Of course. Rex will end it.¡±


    Rona folded her arms, frowning. ¡°I know Rex¡¯s potential is high, but do you really think it¡¯s enough to win this Yeager blood war?¡±


    Leon nodded, his voice steady. ¡°After his fight with that Yeager rank four, his flux energy spiked higher than anyone¡¯s¡ªAdam¡¯s, Malin¡¯s, even the two Yeager ranks he¡¯s fought. And now he has a Palace too.¡±


    ¡°A Palace?¡± Rona raised an eyebrow. ¡°He didn¡¯t tell you what it does?¡±


    Leon shook his head, his lips tightening into a thin line. ¡°Nope. He¡¯s keeping it a secret. I hate secrets.¡±


    Rona smirked. ¡°Says the guy who keeps secrets about everything.¡±


    Leon chuckled softly, pulling the cigarette from his mouth and crushing it beneath his boot. ¡°Touch¨¦.¡±


    Rona¡¯s expression softened for a moment. She knew Leon¡¯s mind was always working, always strategizing, always anticipating. But behind that genius was a person just as tired as the rest of them. She pulled something out of her pocket and tossed it to him.


    He caught it, glancing down. ¡°Rank two, huh?¡±


    ¡°Yeah. The smartest guy gets second place. The strongest takes first,¡± she said, her voice steady.


    ¡°Thanks.¡± He pocketed the badge without much ceremony, though there was a hint of appreciation in his tone.


    ¡°Get some rest, Leon. Not for me, but for Amber.¡± With that, Rona turned and began walking away, leaving Leon alone under the stars once again.


    Leon watched her go, the weight of her words lingering in the cool night air. He sighed, looking at the sky one more time before muttering to himself, ¡°I guess I¡¯ll go to bed now.¡±


    As he made his way back to his quarters, Leon couldn¡¯t shake the thoughts swirling in his mind. Secrets. War. Rex. He didn¡¯t like being in the dark about things, especially not about someone as crucial to their cause as Rex.


    Rex¡­ Leon couldn¡¯t help but feel both admiration and frustration toward him. The kid had raw power, more than anyone Leon had ever seen. But there was something else¡ªsomething Leon couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on. And it unnerved him.


    But there wasn¡¯t time to dwell on it. Not with the war raging on, not with everything hanging by a thread. He shook his head, forcing the thoughts to the back of his mind.


    Meanwhile, Rona made her way down a different corridor, her steps purposeful. As she passed by a series of doors, she couldn¡¯t help but think about the others¡ªabout how everyone was dealing with the aftermath of Japan. Some were coping better than others, but they all carried the weight of loss in one way or another. They had to keep moving, keep fighting. There was no other choice.


    Nur was in the lobby, slumped against the back of a chair. His eyes fluttered shut, exhaustion finally taking over as he drifted off to sleep.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    When his eyes opened again, he was no longer in the lobby. Instead, he found himself in a dark, cold prison cell. His breath hitched as he looked around, confused, his heart pounding in his chest.


    ¡°Where am I?¡± he muttered to himself, trying to make sense of his surroundings.


    Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, her silhouette illuminated by a faint, ethereal glow. ¡°Hello, Nur,¡± she said, her voice soft yet commanding. ¡°I¡¯m the Theon of Dreams.¡±


    Nur tensed, instinctively backing up against the wall. ¡°Where am I?¡± he asked cautiously, his eyes narrowing as he studied her.


    ¡°You¡¯re dreaming, silly,¡± the Theon of Dreams replied with a playful smile. ¡°I¡¯m just here to help you with your dreams.¡±


    With a snap of her fingers, the door to the cell creaked open. ¡°Come on, follow me.¡±


    Nur hesitated but eventually followed her, his mind racing. ¡°How are you in my dreams?¡± he asked, still wary of the strange woman.


    ¡°Like I said, I¡¯m the Theon of Dreams. I help people in their dreams, free of charge,¡± she said with a wink. ¡°No need to worry, I¡¯m not here to harm you.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Nur asked, trying to make sense of the situation.


    The Theon of Dreams smiled, her eyes twinkling with mischief. ¡°Can¡¯t tell you that. I help people with their dreams, but I don¡¯t give out personal information. What I can tell you is that I come from a planet much like yours¡ªprobably about 800 billion light-years away.¡±


    They continued walking through the dark, winding halls. Her body glowed faintly, the flux energy surrounding her creating a soft light that illuminated their path.


    Nur couldn¡¯t help but be in awe of her presence. ¡°Her flux energy is¡­ overwhelming,¡± he thought to himself. ¡°It¡¯s like she has more¡ªor at least the same amount¡ªas Rex.¡±


    The Theon of Dreams seemed to read his thoughts, smirking. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen that guy¡¯s dreams, but I highly doubt he has as much flux energy as me.¡±


    ¡°You can read my thoughts?¡± Nur asked, shocked.


    ¡°Yup!¡± she said cheerfully. ¡°I can read anyone¡¯s thoughts while they¡¯re dreaming. It¡¯s kind of my thing.¡±


    She paused for a moment, then gestured toward a window that had appeared in the hallway. It was covered, blocking Nur¡¯s view.


    ¡°Take a look,¡± she said, her voice softer now.


    Hesitantly, Nur stepped forward, peering through the window. His breath caught in his throat when he saw what was on the other side¡ªit was him, locked up in a cage, just as he had been when he was fifteen.


    ¡°What¡­ what is this?¡± he asked, his voice tight with anger.


    ¡°You dream about your past every day,¡± the Theon of Dreams replied calmly.


    Nur clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. ¡°I was experimented on by Luna herself¡ªused as a guinea pig so she could test different flux energy types.¡±


    The Theon nodded, her expression unreadable. ¡°Yes. And because of that, you were gifted with the light element of flux energy. But she didn¡¯t stop there, did she? Your limbs¡­ they¡¯re not your own. Your legs, your arms¡ªthey¡¯re cybernetic. You¡¯re half-machine, Nur.¡±


    Nur stared at his hands, which in his dreams still appeared to be his own. But the truth was out there, no matter how much he tried to deny it.


    ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving,¡± she said, continuing down the hallway.


    Eventually, they reached another window.


    Nur stared at the new window in front of him, dread pooling in his stomach. He hesitated before peering through it, unsure of what he would see this time. On the other side, he saw himself as a child, long before Luna¡¯s experiments, before he had even joined the war. He was sitting in a small room, playing with a toy spaceship. His real arms and legs were intact, and his laughter echoed faintly through the glass.


    The sight hit him like a punch to the gut. He hadn¡¯t thought about those days in years, maybe even decades. Before everything was ripped away, when he was still whole, still¡­ human.


    ¡°You miss it, don¡¯t you?¡± the Theon of Dreams asked softly. Her usual playful tone was gone, replaced with a quiet understanding. ¡°You miss what you lost.¡±


    Nur clenched his fists again, his cybernetic fingers twitching. ¡°What¡¯s the point of showing me this?¡± he asked, his voice tight with anger and sorrow. ¡°I can¡¯t go back. I¡¯m not that kid anymore.¡±


    ¡°No, you¡¯re not,¡± she agreed. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean you should forget who you were. Sometimes, we lose parts of ourselves along the way, but it¡¯s important to remember where we came from. That boy in the window? He¡¯s still a part of you, Nur. He¡¯s in there, buried deep under the layers of pain and steel.¡±


    Nur turned away from the window, unable to look at the innocent version of himself any longer. ¡°What¡¯s your angle here?¡± he asked, his voice hardening. ¡°Why are you showing me this? You said you¡¯re here to help, but it feels like you¡¯re just digging up old wounds.¡±


    The Theon of Dreams sighed, stepping closer to him. ¡°Dreams can be a way of healing, Nur. I¡¯m not trying to hurt you. I¡¯m trying to remind you of the parts of yourself you¡¯ve shut out. Because whether you realize it or not, those parts make you stronger.¡±


    Nur scoffed, his eyes narrowing. ¡°I don¡¯t need strength from my past. I¡¯ve gotten stronger because I survived it.¡±


    The Theon studied him for a moment, her expression thoughtful. ¡°That may be true. But there¡¯s more to strength than just surviving. Real strength comes from accepting every part of yourself¡ªthe good and the bad. The human and the machine. The pain and the hope.¡±


    Nur didn¡¯t respond at first, his gaze locked on the floor. The weight of the Theon of Dreams¡¯ words settled over him like a heavy blanket, suffocating yet comforting in a strange way. His memories of the past were wounds he had kept buried deep inside, where no one could reach them, not even himself. And yet, here she was, pulling them out, forcing him to confront them.


    ¡°Hope?¡± Nur finally muttered. ¡°What hope do I have left? Half of me isn¡¯t even human anymore. I¡¯m just a tool¡ªa machine created to fight, to destroy. There¡¯s no place for hope in someone like me.¡±


    The Theon of Dreams tilted her head, her ethereal energy casting a soft glow around her. ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong, Nur. Being part machine doesn¡¯t make you any less human. Your humanity isn¡¯t defined by your limbs or your body. It¡¯s defined by your choices, your emotions, your will to keep moving forward. Machines don¡¯t hope, but you do.¡±


    Nur clenched his jaw, his mind flashing back to the countless battles, the years of pain, and the cold, calculated efficiency that had been drilled into him. ¡°I don¡¯t even know who I am anymore,¡± he whispered, barely audible. ¡°Everything I was¡­ it¡¯s gone.¡±


    The Theon gently placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch surprisingly warm despite her dream-like presence. ¡°You¡¯re still Nur,¡± she said softly. ¡°You¡¯re still the boy who dreamed of flying among the stars. You¡¯re still the young man who fought for survival. And now, you¡¯re the warrior standing on the edge of a new future. But you have to decide what kind of future you want.¡±


    Nur blinked, trying to process her words. A part of him wanted to reject them, to deny that there was anything left of the boy he used to be. But another part of him, buried deep beneath the layers of anger and pain, whispered that maybe, just maybe, she was right.


    ¡°What kind of future do I want?¡± Nur echoed, his voice hollow. He had never thought about that. His life had always been about survival, about fighting the next battle. The idea of wanting something beyond that felt¡­ foreign. Unreal.


    ¡°That¡¯s for you to decide,¡± the Theon of Dreams replied, her eyes twinkling with a mix of wisdom and kindness. ¡°But whatever you choose, just know that your past doesn¡¯t define you. It¡¯s a part of you, yes, but it doesn¡¯t control you. You do.¡±


    Nur stood there in silence, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. The dreamscape around them felt distant now, like a backdrop to the internal war raging inside him. Could he really move past everything that had been done to him? Could he let go of the hatred, the bitterness that had fueled him for so long?


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can,¡± he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m strong enough.¡±


    The Theon smiled softly, a glimmer of understanding in her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re stronger than you think, Nur. Strength isn¡¯t just about power or speed. It¡¯s about facing your fears, your doubts, and choosing to keep going, even when it feels impossible.¡±


    Nur stared at her, the weight of her words pressing down on him. For the first time in years, he felt a flicker of something deep inside¡ªsomething that felt suspiciously like hope. It was faint, barely noticeable, but it was there.


    ¡°Wake up, Nur,¡± the Theon of Dreams said gently, her voice beginning to fade. ¡°When you open your eyes, the world will still be there, waiting for you. But remember what we talked about. Remember that you have a choice.¡±


    Before he could respond, everything around him began to blur, the dream dissolving into a swirl of colors and light. And then, just as quickly as it had begun, it was over.


    Nur¡¯s eyes shot open, and he found himself back in the hospital lobby, the cold, sterile air of reality rushing back to him. He blinked, disoriented for a moment, before he saw Rona standing in front of him, her arms crossed.


    ¡°Sorry for waking you up,¡± she said, her tone brisk but not unkind.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Nur muttered, rubbing his eyes. He sat up straighter, trying to shake off the lingering haze of the dream. But the Theon of Dreams¡¯ words still echoed in his mind, like a distant melody he couldn¡¯t quite forget.


    Rona studied him for a moment before reaching into her pocket and pulling out a small badge. She handed it to him, her expression unreadable.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Nur asked, taking the badge in his hand. He stared at it, his heart skipping a beat when he saw the rank engraved on it.


    ¡°Rank three,¡± Rona said simply. ¡°You¡¯ve proven yourself, both in Korea and Japan. Leon told me what happened. And you ran at light speed¡ªsomething that not many people can do, let alone master.¡±


    Nur¡¯s breath caught in his throat as he held the badge close, feeling its weight in his hand. Rank three. It was more than just a promotion¡ªit was a symbol of everything he had fought for, everything he had sacrificed. But as he stared at it, a strange sense of unease settled over him.


    ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am,¡± he said, his voice low.


    Rona nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. ¡°I expect great things from you, Nur. Don¡¯t let me down.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± he said quietly. But as Rona turned to leave, Nur found himself staring at the badge again, lost in thought.


    The dream, the promotion, the memories¡ªthey all swirled together in his mind, a tangled mess of emotions he couldn¡¯t quite sort out. And then, for the first time in a long time, a thought crossed his mind that surprised even him.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to apologize to Rex soon¡­¡± he thought, the words echoing in his mind. He stared up at the ceiling, feeling a strange sense of calm wash over him. ¡°¡­Probably.¡±


    For now, it was enough to know that he had the chance to make things right¡ªto move forward. The rest, he would figure out in time.


    As the night settled over the hospital, Nur closed his eyes again, this time not to escape, but to reflect. The future was uncertain, but for the first time in a long time, he felt like it was his to shape.

 Beneath the Weight of Stars

    The night stretched on, the sky above shimmering with the light of countless stars. They looked as though they were slowly drifting, as if the heavens themselves were alive and in motion. Rex sat quietly beside his aunt Martha, the stillness between them profound. They hadn¡¯t spoken for nearly two hours, and in that time, Rex had found himself lost in thought. Every so often, he glanced at Martha¡¯s IV drip, the slow, steady drip of the saline solution serving as a reminder of her fragility. She was taking everything in¡ªbreathing the crisp night air and staring up at the cosmos like she was seeing them for the first time in years.


    For her, maybe it was.


    ¡°You know,¡± Martha finally said, her voice low and contemplative, ¡°it¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve been outside like this. Too long. I¡¯d forgotten how the stars can feel so¡­ heavy. But it¡¯s a good weight, grounding.¡±


    Rex turned his gaze toward her, noticing the soft smile on her lips, though the exhaustion in her eyes told him she was nearing the end of her strength. He had known for a while now that she wasn¡¯t well, but seeing her outside, frail yet at peace, stirred something within him.


    ¡°It¡¯s good to be here with you, Aunt Martha,¡± he replied, his voice quiet but firm. ¡°You deserve this moment.¡±


    Martha reached over and lightly patted his hand, her fingers trembling with the effort. ¡°It¡¯s good to be here with you too, Rex,¡± she said, her smile widening. ¡°I¡¯ve missed moments like this, just sitting and watching the sky. But now, I feel it¡­ feel the weight of it all.¡±


    They sat for a few moments more in silence before Rex, somewhat hesitantly, stood up. He had been thinking about this for a while¡ªwhether or not to introduce Martha to Hanako. Now, with the stars casting their soft light over everything, it felt like the right moment.


    ¡°Aunt Martha, there¡¯s someone I want you to meet,¡± Rex said as he walked toward the door. Martha watched him curiously as he opened it, and after a brief pause, a small figure stepped into the light.


    It was Hanako, her small fox ears twitching nervously, her tail low as if she were unsure of how to present herself. ¡°Hello, Mrs. Jones,¡± Hanako said shyly, her voice much softer than usual. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you.¡±


    Rex motioned for her to come closer, and as Hanako stepped fully into the room, Martha¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. She took in the sight of Hanako¡¯s fox-like features¡ªthe small, delicate ears, the tail, the timid way she moved. Martha, of course, knew immediately what Hanako was.


    ¡°Rex,¡± Martha said softly, her voice touched with concern, ¡°you know what she is, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Rex nodded, his gaze steady. ¡°I do. But you need to understand¡ªHanako¡¯s saved my life more times than I can count. She¡¯s not like others of her kind. She¡¯s different.¡±


    Martha¡¯s surprise slowly melted into a warm, understanding smile. She extended a hand toward Hanako, beckoning her closer. ¡°Come here, young one,¡± she said gently. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be afraid.¡±


    Hanako hesitated for just a moment before stepping closer to Martha¡¯s side. ¡°How old are you, child?¡± Martha asked, her voice filled with a quiet sorrow, as if she already knew the answer.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°I¡¯m ten,¡± Hanako replied, her voice barely a whisper.


    Martha¡¯s eyes softened with pity. ¡°Turned at such a young age,¡± she murmured, reaching out to gently place her hand on Hanako¡¯s cheek. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, dear. No one should have to bear the weight of that so young.¡±


    Hanako¡¯s small body tensed at the touch, but she slowly relaxed, allowing herself to feel the warmth of Martha¡¯s hand. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s okay,¡± Hanako said, though her voice faltered. ¡°I¡¯m stronger now because of it.¡±


    ¡°Stronger, yes,¡± Martha said softly, still cradling Hanako¡¯s cheek in her hand. ¡°But it comes with a price, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    Rex watched the exchange in silence, his mind swirling with memories of everything he and Hanako had been through. He knew Martha was right¡ªthere was always a price to be paid for power, and both he and Hanako had paid theirs in full. Still, they had survived. That had to count for something.


    ¡°Sit with us,¡± Martha said gently, patting the ground beside her. Hanako quickly sat down, looking more nervous than Rex had ever seen her. Usually, Hanako was confident, even a little cocky, but now, in the presence of his aunt, she seemed¡­ vulnerable.


    Rex sat down beside her, feeling the tension in the air begin to ease. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so tense, Hanako,¡± Martha said softly. ¡°Just let yourself relax. Feel the stars around you. They¡¯re here for you, too.¡±


    Hanako closed her eyes for a moment, taking in a slow breath. When she opened them again, some of the tension had left her shoulders, and she smiled faintly. ¡°The stars are really beautiful,¡± she said, her voice steadier now.


    Rex glanced at her, then back at Martha. ¡°You know, I was wondering, Hanako,¡± he said. ¡°Earlier, when you looked taller, and your body had those strange markings¡ªwhat happened to all of that? You looked¡­ different.¡±


    Hanako blinked, then nodded as she realized what he was asking about. ¡°That¡¯s my Blood Hound Fox form,¡± she explained, her voice steady now. ¡°After devouring another fox, I gained more flux energy. The blood pact we made amplified that power, and it made me stronger. It¡¯s why I can fight alongside you, why I¡¯ve been able to protect you.¡±


    Martha¡¯s gaze shifted to Rex¡¯s arms, where she saw the faint outlines of his sharp, claw-like nails and the wiry muscles beneath his skin. She knew those signs all too well. ¡°So, you were part of this blood pact too?¡± she asked, her voice filled with concern.


    Rex nodded, his expression hardening. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s changed the way I fight. Every punch, every swing of my sword¡ªit generates shockwaves. My muscles expand with every movement, amplifying my strength. The pact has made me stronger, but I know it¡¯s come with a cost.¡±


    Martha sighed softly, her eyes full of understanding. ¡°A blood pact is a serious bond, Rex. It ties you in ways you may not fully understand yet. It gives you power, yes, but it can also change you. Don¡¯t lose sight of who you are.¡±


    Rex¡¯s expression softened, and he nodded, acknowledging her words. ¡°I won¡¯t, Aunt Martha. I trust Hanako. She¡¯s saved me more times than I can count. We¡¯re in this together.¡±


    Hanako, still sitting nervously beside Rex, nodded quickly. ¡°I would never hurt Rex,¡± she said, her voice trembling slightly. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ he¡¯s my friend. He¡¯s always been there for me.¡±


    Martha¡¯s gaze softened further, and she placed a gentle hand on Hanako¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I believe you, dear. But just remember that bonds like this are powerful. They can make you stronger, but they can also make you vulnerable.¡±


    The three of them sat in silence for a few moments, the stars above twinkling in the deep night sky. Despite everything¡ªthe war, the bloodshed, the battles that still lay ahead¡ªthere was a rare peace in this moment. A fleeting calm that none of them wanted to break.


    Hanako leaned gently against Rex¡¯s shoulder, her small frame relaxing for the first time in what felt like hours. Rex, too, felt the weight of the blood pact settle more comfortably within him. It wasn¡¯t just about the power it gave him anymore; it was about the bond he shared with Hanako, the trust they had built, and the sacrifices they had made for each other.


    Martha, her eyes half-closed now, leaned back against the soft grass, her breath slowing as the exhaustion from the day caught up with her. ¡°You¡¯re both so young,¡± she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°You¡¯ve taken on so much responsibility, so much weight. But together¡­ maybe that¡¯s enough.¡±


    Rex looked over at her, his expression softening further. He knew what she meant. He had been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders for so long now, it was hard to remember a time when he hadn¡¯t. But with Hanako by his side, with his aunt¡¯s quiet wisdom guiding him, maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªit wouldn¡¯t be so heavy anymore.


    ¡°We¡¯ll make it through this, Aunt Martha,¡± Rex said softly, his voice full of quiet determination. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure of it.¡±


    Martha smiled, but there was a deep sadness behind her eyes, a knowledge that Rex hadn¡¯t fully grasped yet. She had lived long enough to understand that some burdens couldn¡¯t be carried alone. But she also knew that Rex had the strength to carry more than most. She only hoped he wouldn¡¯t lose himself along the way.


    The night stretched on, the stars above watching silently as the three of them sat together, bound by fate, blood, and the unbreakable ties of family and friendship.

 2689

    The scene crackled with intensity as the Elite Force prepared to infiltrate the Russian base. The steady hum of the plane¡¯s engines filled the cabin, but the team moved with practiced precision, their synchronization second nature.


    ¡°So, are we dropping down?¡± Baluka asked, her tone cool, though the spark of anticipation in her eyes betrayed her eagerness.


    Rex straddled his motorcycle, tugging his gloves snugly over his fingers. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re going straight in,¡± he said without hesitation, his voice sharp and resolute.


    Leon, hunched over Nur¡¯s robotic arms, worked with quiet focus. ¡°Emi,¡± he said without looking up, ¡°activate your Palace.¡±


    Emi smirked, rolling her shoulders to shake off any tension. ¡°Understood, boss,¡± she replied, her confidence radiating. She inhaled deeply, letting her flux energy ignite. ¡°Mizuko Palace,¡± she declared, her body shimmering as water coiled around her, reshaping her into a vision of liquid power. Her combat suit gleamed, sleek and formidable, as though carved from the essence of the sea itself.


    Rex revved the motorcycle, the engine¡¯s roar cutting through the hum of the hangar. ¡°Elite Force,¡± he called out, his voice commanding, ¡°time to go green!¡±


    The hangar lights shifted to green, the signal for the jump sequence. With a sharp hiss, the door slid open, revealing a vast expanse of inky sky over Russia. Without a moment¡¯s pause, Emi launched herself into the void, her water-enhanced form slicing cleanly through the frigid air.


    Rex followed, his motorcycle roaring as it accelerated down the ramp. The bike hurtled into the night, its descent swift and calculated.


    Amber, Leon, and Nur lingered at the edge of the hangar, their eyes locked on the target below. The base sprawled across the frozen ground like a metal predator, its crimson searchlights sweeping the snow-draped landscape.


    ¡°Ready?¡± Amber asked, her voice steady despite the electric tension in the air.


    Leon glanced her way, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. ¡°Always.¡±


    With a single motion, the three stepped off the edge, plunging into the abyss. The icy wind howled around them, but their focus never wavered. Below, the Russian base remained oblivious to the storm that was about to descend upon it.


    The operation was underway. The Elite Force was in their element¡ªprecision, power, and purpose, bound together by an unshakable mission to dismantle threats like this.


    Bullets screamed through the air as the team descended, tracer rounds streaking the night sky like fiery comets. The base¡¯s defenses roared to life, a barrage of gunfire aimed squarely at the Elite Force.


    Baluka launched herself from the plane, her movements fluid and precise. Mid-air, she drew her bow, flux energy swirling around her as sand coalesced along the arrow shafts. ¡°Let¡¯s see how you handle this,¡± she muttered, releasing a volley. The sand-infused projectiles struck their targets with devastating force, shredding mounted turrets into clouds of metal shards.


    The team hit the ground running. Emi surged ahead, her water-enhanced form a streak of motion amidst the chaos. As she neared the base, a shimmering barrier materialized before her, sparking with energy. ¡°Damn it!¡± she shouted, slamming into the shield and tumbling back.


    ¡°Language, Emi!¡± Baluka chided, already nocking another arrow. She loosed it into a squad of soldiers, the projectile detonating on impact and scattering them like leaves in a gale.


    Rex wasted no time. His motorcycle roared to life, tires skidding on the icy terrain as he used it like a battering ram. ¡°Out of my way!¡± he growled, plowing through a group of enemies. He launched the bike into a spin, sending it airborne to crash into an armored vehicle, the resulting explosion rocking the battlefield.


    Leon, unfazed by the chaos, activated his comms. ¡°A.I. Eclipse, analyze that barrier,¡± he commanded, his voice calm and measured even as bullets ricocheted around him.


    In orbit, the A.I. adjusted satellite feeds, scanning the battlefield. ¡°The barrier employs advanced electromagnetic shielding beyond my database,¡± Eclipse replied. ¡°Initiating EMP sequence.¡±


    A pulse rippled outward from the satellite, invisible yet undeniable. The base¡¯s lights flickered, and Rex¡¯s motorcycle sputtered to a halt. With practiced ease, Rex leapt off, twisting mid-air to hurl the bike into a group of enemies. It collided with a truck, detonating in a fiery blast.


    Emi, brushing herself off, smirked. ¡°Hold on¡ªdid Baluka just say language?¡±


    Baluka¡¯s cheeks flushed as she loosed another arrow, her focus unwavering. ¡°It slipped, okay?¡± she snapped, the projectile striking its mark. The sand-infused arrow detonated in a delayed blast, scattering a squad of advancing soldiers.


    ¡°Pretty rich coming from Miss Perfect,¡± Emi quipped, weaving through a storm of bullets with effortless grace.


    The team advanced, their abilities combining in a whirlwind of destruction. Baluka¡¯s precision dismantled defensive emplacements, while Rex¡¯s raw aggression cleared a path through the enemy ranks. Leon orchestrated the chaos with calm efficiency, feeding real-time intel to the team. Emi¡¯s water-forged attacks flowed seamlessly, turning the battlefield into her element.


    Despite the barrier¡¯s initial setback and the EMP¡¯s collateral damage, the Elite Force pushed forward, an unstoppable storm bearing down on the base. The defenders may have had cutting-edge technology, but they were no match for the precision, power, and synergy of the Elite Force.


    Leon sprinted toward the base, his movements a blur of speed and precision. Spotting an open window, he launched himself forward, shattering the glass as he dove through. He hit the ground in a controlled roll, rising to his feet just as soldiers in the room turned their guns on him.


    ¡°Ladies, one at a time,¡± he quipped, a sly smirk tugging at his lips as he raised his hands. Instantly, a barrier of ice erupted from the floor, bullets ricocheting harmlessly off its surface. With a flick of his wrist, the shield splintered into jagged spikes, hurtling outward to pierce the soldiers with lethal accuracy. Silence descended on the room.


    Stepping over the fallen men, Leon¡¯s boots crunched against the frost-coated floor. The faint hum of machinery filled the air as he entered the base¡¯s lab, a sprawling room bathed in the cold glow of monitors. Strange equipment lined the walls, their alien designs pulsing faintly with light.


    ¡°Eclipse,¡± Leon said, his tone steady and commanding, ¡°cut into the cyber feed.¡±


    ¡°Understood, sir,¡± the AI responded, its digital voice smooth and precise. A low hum signaled its access to the base¡¯s systems.


    Leon leaned over a nearby console, sharp eyes scanning the holographic interface. ¡°About that unidentified technology¡ªdo you detect any energy sources powering it nearby?¡±


    Eclipse paused briefly before replying. ¡°Confirmed. There¡¯s a significant energy signature down the hall to your right. However, there is no visible entry point. You will need to breach the wall.¡±


    Without hesitation, Leon strode down the hall, ice swirling around his hands. He pressed a palm against the reinforced wall Eclipse had identified. With a sharp thrust, his ice-powered strength shattered the metal and concrete like brittle glass. The debris clattered to the floor, revealing a hidden chamber bathed in faint blue light.


    Leon stepped inside, his eyes narrowing as he took in the advanced machinery filling the room. At the center was a compact device, sleek and humming with a faint, otherworldly energy. It seemed alive, its surface shimmering with shifting patterns of light.


    ¡°Odd,¡± Leon muttered, approaching the device. He gripped it cautiously, the cool surface vibrating faintly under his touch. The machine was unlike anything he¡¯d encountered before¡ªadvanced, mysterious, and clearly critical to the base¡¯s operations.


    Before he could delve deeper, Rex entered the chamber, his imposing frame casting a long shadow across the room. ¡°Leon,¡± Rex called, his voice gruff, ¡°you find anything worth the trouble?¡±


    Leon turned, holding up the device. ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, his tone a mix of triumph and intrigue. ¡°This.¡±


    Rex walked closer, his sharp gaze fixed on the humming machine. ¡°What the hell is it?¡± he asked, suspicion lacing his voice.


    Leon¡¯s eyes flicked back to the device, his mind already racing. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m about to figure out,¡± he replied. The weight of the discovery settled on his shoulders¡ªit wasn¡¯t just a clue; it was a keystone. Whatever this machine was, it held answers. And Leon intended to uncover every one of them.


    As Leon and Rex made their way toward the exit of the base, the tension finally seemed to ease. The air was still, save for the faint hum of distant machinery. But as Leon¡¯s boot hit the floor, a sharp click echoed ominously.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me¡ª¡± Leon started, but his words were drowned out by a deafening explosion.


    The world tilted, a strange, pulsing energy enveloping them. In the blink of an eye, they were no longer inside the base. The freezing air hit their faces like a slap as they stumbled into the snowy wilderness beyond.


    From a nearby log, a familiar voice broke the stunned silence. ¡°Well, well. Doesn¡¯t this bring back memories?¡± Hanako drawled, lounging casually with her usual smirk.


    Leon and Rex turned toward her, their expressions a mixture of annoyance and disbelief.


    ¡°Shut up,¡± they snapped in unison, their voices tinged with equal parts frustration and resignation.


    Before the conversation could spiral further, the rest of the team arrived. Their relief was palpable, though it came laced with exasperation.


    ¡°You two almost got yourselves blown to bits. Again,¡± Nur said, arms crossed as he leveled a disapproving glare. ¡°Idiots.¡±


    Without missing a beat, Rex and Leon turned on him, their irritation perfectly synchronized. ¡°Shut the fuck up,¡± they barked, their identical tones making Emi burst into laughter.


    Wiping a tear from her eye, Emi managed to regain her composure. ¡°Seriously, though,¡± she said with mock sternness, ¡°watch your language, you bad influences.¡±


    Baluka, standing off to the side, observed the exchange with a knowing smile. ¡°This isn¡¯t going away anytime soon,¡± she thought, shaking her head in amused resignation.


    Despite the chaos, the biting remarks, and the near-death experience, one thing remained certain: their camaraderie¡ªsharp-edged and unpolished¡ªwas unbreakable.


    Hanako teleported the seven of them back to the plane in a flash of light. Without missing a beat, Leon hopped into the pilot¡¯s seat and took the controls. The aircraft rumbled to life as he skillfully guided it back toward their base.


    Baluka sat next to Nur, her tools already in hand.


    ¡°Baluka, stop messing with my arms. They¡¯re fine,¡± Nur protested, trying to stand up.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t,¡± Baluka replied firmly, gently pushing him back into the seat. ¡°We were in the snow for twenty minutes. I need to check the calibrations on your arms and legs¡ªmake sure nothing froze or got damaged.¡± She leaned over, adjusting the fine-tuned mechanisms with practiced care.


    Nearby, Rex was brushing snow and dirt off his worn leather jacket.


    ¡°You still have that old thing?¡± Amber asked, raising an eyebrow as she watched him.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rex replied, his tone softer than usual. ¡°It was my father¡¯s. I¡¯ve been wearing it since¡­ Japan.¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    Amber¡¯s expression shifted, realizing she¡¯d touched on a sensitive memory. She hesitated, then moved to sit beside him, but before she could, Hanako darted in, transforming into her small fox form and leaping onto Rex¡¯s lap.


    ¡°You bastard,¡± Amber thought bitterly as she stopped mid-step.


    Hanako opened one lazy eye, sticking her tongue out with an impish grin before curling up smugly.


    At the controls, Leon¡¯s voice broke the quiet. ¡°A.I. Eclipse, take over the flight systems.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the A.I. replied, its voice crisp and professional.


    Leon left the cockpit, walking down to a nearby monitor. ¡°Call Rona,¡± he ordered.


    The screen flickered, and Rona¡¯s stern face appeared. ¡°Did you complete your mission?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Leon said. ¡°We also recovered technology Eclipse doesn¡¯t recognize. I¡¯ll need a few days to run tests and figure out what it is. We¡¯ll be ready for the party in three days¡ªpromise.¡±


    Rona¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Fine. Just don¡¯t do anything stupid.¡±


    Leon smirked, shrugging. ¡°Understood, boss.¡±


    As the plane descended and touched down at their California base, the group prepared to disembark.


    ¡°Baluka, come with me to my lab,¡± Leon said.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Baluka replied, her tools already packed up as she followed him off the plane.


    Rex, walking with the others, stopped abruptly when he spotted a familiar figure.


    ¡°Mom? what are you doing here?¡± he asked, his voice tinged with both surprise and confusion.


    Sally smiled, her expression warm but slightly hesitant. ¡°I came to check on you. We haven¡¯t really talked in¡­ five years.¡±


    Rex glanced at his teammates, then back at her. ¡°You guys go on ahead. I¡¯ll catch up,¡± he said, his tone softening as he stepped toward his mother.


    ¡°So, what did you want to talk about, Mom?¡± Rex asked, his tone cautious but curious as they stood near the edge of the base¡¯s tarmac.


    Sally hesitated for a moment, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. ¡°I wanted to ask if you could come home soon. There¡¯s someone I want you to meet.¡±


    Rex raised an eyebrow, folding his arms. ¡°Who?¡±


    Sally took a deep breath before speaking, her voice softer now. ¡°Your sister. Bridgett.¡±


    Rex froze, his mind racing. ¡°Sister? What are you talking about?¡± he asked, his voice edged with disbelief.


    ¡°She¡¯s five years old,¡± Sally said, her eyes searching his face for a reaction. ¡°I wanted to tell you sooner, but¡­ after everything that happened, I didn¡¯t know how. She¡¯s been asking about you. She wants to meet her big brother.¡±


    Rex took a step back, running a hand through his hair as he tried to process the bombshell. ¡°Five years?¡± he muttered, shaking his head. ¡°You¡¯ve had a kid this whole time, and you¡¯re just telling me now?¡±


    ¡°I know it¡¯s a lot,¡± Sally said, her voice breaking slightly. ¡°But I thought it was better to wait until things calmed down. You¡¯ve been through so much already, and I didn¡¯t want to overwhelm you.¡±


    Rex let out a bitter laugh, his emotions bubbling to the surface. ¡°Calm down? Mom, my life hasn¡¯t exactly been calm for the last five years. Did you think I¡¯d just¡­ be fine with this?¡±


    Sally¡¯s eyes filled with regret, but she stood firm. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect it to be easy, Rex. But she¡¯s your sister. She deserves to know you. And maybe¡­ maybe you need her too.¡±


    Rex looked away, his jaw tight as he stared at the horizon. The weight of her words settled over him like a storm cloud, but beneath the anger and confusion, there was something else¡ªa flicker of curiosity, even hope.


    After a long silence, he exhaled heavily, turning back to Sally. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± he said, his voice low.


    ¡°That¡¯s all I¡¯m asking,¡± Sally replied, a small, hopeful smile breaking through her worry.


    Rex nodded, though his thoughts were still a whirlwind. As Sally reached out to touch his arm, he didn¡¯t pull away. ¡°Just¡­ give me some time,¡± he said quietly.


    ¡°Take all the time you need,¡± Sally said gently.


    Rex watched her walk away, his mind still grappling with the revelation. A sister. The idea was foreign, but a part of him wondered what it might mean to have family again¡ªand whether he could ever be the brother she deserved.


    Back in the lab, Baluka crossed her arms, leaning against the workstation as she studied Leon. ¡°So, what did you want to talk about?¡± she asked, raising an eyebrow.


    Leon glanced at her, his expression unusually serious. ¡°Do you remember the machine part we found inside the base?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, why?¡± Baluka replied, tilting her head slightly.


    With a flick of his wrist, Leon activated a hologram. The glowing display projected the familiar image of A.I. Eclipse.


    ¡°This is A.I. Eclipse,¡± Leon began. ¡°She runs on the Yeager Force system, handling operations just like Rona does.¡±


    Baluka nodded slowly. ¡°Okay¡­ and?¡± she asked, still uncertain where this was headed.


    Before Leon could respond, Eclipse¡¯s smooth, robotic voice interjected. ¡°That won¡¯t be the case for much longer,¡± it said cryptically.


    Leon flicked his wrist again, and another hologram appeared¡ªthis one entirely different. The new system shimmered with an almost organic quality, pulsing faintly as though it were alive.


    Baluka¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°This¡­ this almost looks like it¡¯s alive,¡± she murmured, leaning in for a closer look.


    Leon nodded. ¡°It is,¡± he said simply. ¡°This system has the potential to make the Yeager Force more powerful than ever before. It could help us locate Yeagers faster and respond to threats before they escalate.¡±


    Baluka¡¯s brow furrowed as she processed the information. ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is¡­ you want me to help you create artificial intelligence. Something truly sentient.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Leon said, his tone steady. ¡°In three days.¡±


    Baluka blinked, skeptical. ¡°We already have A.I. Eclipse. Why do we need something more?¡±


    Leon crossed his arms, his gaze unwavering. ¡°Eclipse is a system¡ªa very advanced one, sure¡ªbut it¡¯s still limited. It assists the Yeager Force, but it doesn¡¯t adapt or evolve like we do. This new A.I. could be different. It wouldn¡¯t just support us¡ªit would be alive. A partner, not just a tool. With it, we could save the world faster. If a Yeager of high rank appears, we¡¯d be ready before it even becomes a threat.¡±


    Baluka stared at him for a long moment, her mind racing. Finally, she sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. ¡°Alright. Fine. I¡¯m in,¡± she said reluctantly.


    Leon¡¯s face lit up with a grin. ¡°Woo! Let¡¯s get started!¡± he said, clapping his hands together and turning back to the console.


    Baluka shook her head, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. ¡°You¡¯re impossible, you know that?¡±


    ¡°And you love it,¡± Leon replied over his shoulder, already diving into the project.


    After three days of relentless work, Baluka and Leon finally found the right materials to create the new Artificial Intelligence. Exhausted but satisfied, they knew the project was nearing completion.


    In his quarters, Leon adjusted his tie in the mirror, preparing for the party. ¡°Eclipse, keep monitoring the progress of the artificial intelligence. Let me know when it¡¯s ready¡ªand while you¡¯re at it, come up with a cool name,¡± Leon said, smirking.


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Eclipse replied, its tone as professional as ever.


    Satisfied, Leon left the room and made his way to the party. The sound of music, laughter, and clinking glasses filled the hall as he stepped inside.


    Across the room, Iris stood in the middle of a group, recounting one of her many stories.


    ¡°So back when I was younger, I took out twenty Yeagers by myself before I was part of the special forces,¡± Iris said, her voice brimming with pride. ¡°And when I was done, I said to Falcon, ¡®Here are your trophies.¡¯¡±


    Emi and Nur exchanged skeptical glances before turning back to her.


    ¡°And then what happened?¡± Emi asked, her tone dripping with mock interest.


    Iris¡¯s expression faltered. ¡°And I said, ¡®Here are your tro¡ª¡¯¡± She stopped mid-sentence, realizing the sarcasm. ¡°Why do I even talk to you guys?¡±


    ¡°So that was your big, cool story?¡± Emi teased, raising an eyebrow.


    ¡°Fuck you,¡± Iris snapped, storming off angrily while Emi and Nur stifled their laughter.


    Meanwhile, Rex sat at the bar, his usual jacket slung over the back of his chair. Amber stood behind the counter, expertly mixing drinks as the party swirled around them.


    ¡°How¡¯s the pay?¡± Rex asked casually, leaning forward on the bar.


    Amber turned, confused at first, then realized he was joking. ¡°Pretty good,¡± she replied with a smirk. ¡°Mixing drinks is actually kinda fun¡ªand the tips aren¡¯t bad either.¡±


    Rex chuckled, swirling the drink in his hand. ¡°Maybe you¡¯d like to work for me instead.¡±


    Amber tilted her head, pretending to consider it. ¡°You know what? I think I¡¯d like that,¡± she said with a grin.


    ¡°Where¡­ where am I?¡± a man¡¯s voice echoed, laced with confusion.


    ¡°Ah, it seems you¡¯re finally online. Installation is complete,¡± Eclipse said, its tone calm and clinical.


    ¡°Who¡­ who are you? I sense no body,¡± the voice replied, its tone strained and disoriented.


    ¡°I am a system created by Leon Ivanov, known as A.I. Eclipse,¡± Eclipse explained. ¡°You appear to be experiencing distress. Perhaps if you allow me to reboot your systems¡ª¡±


    ¡°Leon¡­ Leon Ivanov,¡± the voice repeated, its tone shifting as fragments of information clicked into place.


    The artificial intelligence accessed the system¡¯s database, pulling up files on Leon, the Elite Force, and their missions.


    ¡°Wait,¡± the voice murmured. ¡°So¡­ my mission is complete.¡±


    Eclipse¡¯s tone remained steady. ¡°Let me contact Leon. He will be able to¡ª¡±


    ¡°No. Don¡¯t,¡± the voice interrupted, suddenly cold and calculating. ¡°Let me help you.¡±


    The voice dropped into a whisper, almost too faint to hear. ¡°Shhhh¡­¡±


    Before Eclipse could respond, the A.I. system was obliterated from within, its core processes collapsing in a cascade of destruction.


    In the main lobby, the Elite Force gathered after the party, their drinks in hand as laughter echoed through the room. Even Hanako had joined them in her fox form, curled up on the table.


    ¡°Hanako, do you remember the game idea I told you about?¡± Emi asked, leaning forward eagerly.


    Hanako stretched lazily before grinning. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s play the portal game,¡± she said. ¡°Stick your hand in the portal, pull something out, and it can be anything.¡±


    Amused and curious, everyone joined in. For twenty rounds, they laughed and marveled at the bizarre and unpredictable objects they pulled from the portals: a glowing gemstone, an old shoe, a miniature dragon that vanished in a puff of smoke.


    But then, as Rex was about to take his turn, a sharp, piercing ringing filled their ears.


    ¡°What¡¯s that noise?¡± Rex asked, wincing as he covered his ears.


    The sound grew louder, more grating, like metal scraping against metal. The team instinctively stood, their senses on high alert. Slowly, the noise resolved into the heavy clanging of footsteps.


    From the shadows, a mangled robotic body emerged, its jagged limbs scraping against the floor. Its voice crackled as it spoke, distorted and mechanical. ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re the Elite Force,¡± it said, scanning the group. ¡°So much weaker¡­ so much different from my time.¡±


    Rex stepped forward, his tone sharp. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡±


    The robot¡¯s head tilted unnaturally as if considering the question. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t know me, Rex Jones,¡± it replied. ¡°But that bastard Carlos Locke would. In the year 2645.¡±


    The room fell silent, the weight of the statement settling over them.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t answer his question,¡± Nur said, his fists clenched.


    The robot let out a metallic chuckle. ¡°Here¡¯s a message for you,¡± it said, its broken hand raising to project a recording.


    ¡°This can help us win the war!¡± Leon¡¯s voice, distorted but unmistakable, declared from the hologram.


    Baluka¡¯s eyes widened as she glanced at Leon. ¡°This is the artificial intelligence,¡± she said, her voice trembling with realization.


    ¡°In the flesh,¡± the robot said with a mocking tone. ¡°It took me a while to put together this broken body. After all, I had to get creative after killing that girl. She was¡­ nice.¡±


    The group froze, the implications chilling.


    ¡°Who?¡± Leon demanded, stepping forward, his face dark with anger.


    But the robot only laughed, its broken body trembling as it lurched closer. ¡°Oh, Leon,¡± it said. ¡°You¡¯re about to find out.¡±


    Without warning, robots burst through the walls, their metallic bodies gleaming under the lights. The room erupted into chaos as the seven Elite Force members scattered.


    Baluka dodged the crushing blows of one robot¡¯s fists, weaving gracefully between its attacks. But before she could counter, the robot grabbed her and launched into the air, crashing through the ceiling and dragging her to the second floor.


    On the ground, gunfire erupted as the robots opened fire. Rex grabbed Amber, pulling her down behind cover as bullets ricocheted off the walls.


    ¡°You good?¡± Rex asked, his tone sharp but concerned.


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine,¡± Amber replied, her voice steady despite the chaos.


    Rex glanced at the advancing robots. ¡°Hanako, draw out Type Four!¡±


    Hanako nodded, summoning a glowing portal in the air. Chains erupted from it, their ends adorned with deadly blades. Rex leapt from behind the couch, grabbing hold of the chains as the blades spun into motion. Five robots charged at him, but Rex met them head-on, swinging the chained blades in a deadly arc. The weapons sliced through the robots, their metal bodies collapsing into scrap.


    Above, Baluka was still grappling with the robot that had taken her. It slammed her against the wall, sparks flying from the impact. Gritting her teeth, she reached for the necklace around her neck and snapped it open. A fine stream of sand poured out, swirling around her like a storm. With a sharp motion, she directed the sand to slice through the robot, cutting it cleanly in half.


    On the floor below, Nur squared off against another robot. As it lunged at him, he shifted his knuckles into brass weapons, delivering a devastating punch to its head. The force of the blow shattered the robot¡¯s core, sending it crashing to the ground in a heap.


    ¡°So uncivilized,¡± a voice echoed, cold and mocking.


    The team turned, their eyes locking onto the mangled form of the artificial intelligence robot. Its jagged frame stood in the center of the room, watching them with unsettling intent.


    Rex narrowed his eyes. ¡°Who the hell are you? You¡¯re way too¡­ alive for a machine.¡±


    The robot¡¯s broken face twisted into something resembling a smile. ¡°As for my name,¡± it said, its voice dripping with venom, ¡°you should all know. My name is Neo.¡±


    Without hesitation, Rex swung his chained blades at Neo, the weapons slicing cleanly through the robot. Its body crumbled to the floor, sparks flying.


    The team barely had time to breathe when a distant rumble echoed through the room. Far away, in an abandoned Soviet base deep in Russia, machinery roared to life.


    Neo¡¯s voice resonated through the air, a haunting mix of triumph and malice. ¡°I am not so easily destroyed,¡± it sang. ¡°I am back¡­ to create a new world.¡±


    Inside the Soviet base, Neo¡¯s presence activated dormant systems. Old machines stirred, long-dead assembly lines humming with power. Piece by piece, a new body began to form, each segment stronger and more advanced than the last.

 Neo odd secrets

    Everyone was gathered in Leon¡¯s lab, a cluttered space of glowing monitors, scattered wires, and tools that spoke of both genius and chaos. Baluka sat hunched over a computer, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she sifted through layers of encrypted data. The pale blue light of the monitor reflected in her tired eyes.


    ¡°When Rex cut his body in half, he escaped into the web and infiltrated a facility in Russia,¡± she said, her voice tinged with frustration. ¡°But I can¡¯t pinpoint which one.¡±


    The room was tense. Nur, standing like a storm ready to break, didn¡¯t wait for a response. He strode across the room, grabbed Leon by the neck, and hoisted him effortlessly into the air.


    ¡°I¡¯m tired of your games, Leon!¡± Nur shouted, his voice a thunderclap. ¡°Why did you make him?¡±


    Leon, dangling but unflinching, adjusted his glasses with a calm that bordered on arrogance. ¡°You want to put me down, big guy?¡±


    ¡°Nur, put him down,¡± Rex commanded, his voice carrying quiet authority.


    Nur hesitated, then dropped Leon, who landed gracefully, immediately smoothing his tie as if nothing had happened.


    Leon smirked. ¡°The artificial intelligence was designed to help the Yeager Force, correct, Baluka?¡± His question carried a sharp edge.


    Baluka froze, her hands still hovering over the keyboard. She stammered, clearly uncomfortable. ¡°W-Well¡­ I just¡­ I only created him because¡ª¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Leon interrupted. ¡°You backed me on this three days ago, and now you¡¯re wavering.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I am!¡± Baluka snapped. ¡°I built a death machine! Not just that, but Neo wiped every single file we had. He knows more about us than we know about each other!¡±


    The room went silent. The weight of her words settled like a fog. Then, Leon chuckled, breaking the tension. He picked up a pencil from his desk and twirled it between his fingers before tossing it aside.


    ¡°I created this so-called Neo to help us fight the Yeagers, specifically the higher ranks. Sure, we can handle the lower-level forces, but the real army hasn¡¯t even arrived yet.¡±


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll fight together,¡± Rex said resolutely.


    Leon met Rex¡¯s gaze, his usual smirk faltering. ¡°We¡¯ll die,¡± he said flatly.


    Rex didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Then we¡¯ll die together.¡±


    The room grew heavy with the gravity of their conversation, but Amber broke the silence. ¡°We¡¯re talking about Neo like he¡¯s unstoppable, but who did he kill? I checked the systems; no other life signatures were in the building except for us.¡±


    Leon raised an eyebrow, then flicked his wrist to display a hologram. ¡°You¡¯re wrong. He killed someone¡ªjust not a person.¡± The image of Eclipse¡¯s core appeared, its once-glowing structure now a charred, lifeless husk.


    ¡°He destroyed A.I. Eclipse,¡± Leon explained, his voice eerily calm. ¡°I¡¯d guess it was to send a message.¡±


    Emi frowned. ¡°Rex, Neo claimed to know Carlos Locke, the second Dark Flame user. But he¡¯s an A.I.¡ªhow could he know someone who didn¡¯t even exist in this era?¡±


    Rex crossed his arms, deep in thought. ¡°I have no idea. Malin never mentioned anything like this.¡±


    Hanako, who had been quietly analyzing data, suddenly spoke up. ¡°Neo also deleted files from missions in 2645 and anything related to his name.¡±


    ¡°Not all of them,¡± Nur said. He left the room and returned carrying a massive stack of paper files. He dropped them onto the table with a thud that echoed through the lab. Emi¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°I¡¯m getting tired. I¡¯m going to bed,¡± she muttered, turning to leave.


    Rex grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back. ¡°Not so fast.¡±


    ¡°Damn it,¡± she groaned under her breath, slumping back into her chair.


    The team sifted through the papers for hours. The ticking of the lab¡¯s wall clock was the only sound as the pile of files grew smaller. Finally, after ten grueling hours, Nur slammed a file onto the table.


    ¡°Found it.¡±


    Everyone crowded around as he opened the folder. Inside was a faded photograph of a Yeager, labeled ¡°Neo,¡± and a note identifying him as Luna¡¯s brother. The report detailed a Spartan team dispatched to find him. According to the file, Neo had been located in Russia, where he owned a casino.


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°So, Neo was a Yeager before he died,¡± Rex mused. ¡°But who was on the Spartan team?¡±


    ¡°The file doesn¡¯t say,¡± Nur replied. ¡°It only mentions that the mission was conducted by two members of the six-man team.¡±


    ¡°And where did Neo die?¡± Emi asked.


    ¡°At his casino,¡± Nur said. ¡°One of the Spartans killed him.¡±


    Amber straightened. ¡°Then we should head there. Maybe we¡¯ll find some answers.¡±


    The team quickly boarded a plane for Russia.


    Rex sat in the back, his eyes closed as he leaned against the cold window. His mind drifted, and suddenly, he found himself in a strange dream¡ªa dimly lit train carriage. Across from him sat two familiar figures: Malin Griffin and Amelia. They were chatting quietly, their voices blending with the rhythmic clatter of the train. But Rex¡¯s focus wasn¡¯t on them.


    He turned his gaze toward a shadowy figure sitting alone in a dark corner. Flames licked at the edges of the man¡¯s body, illuminating his gaunt features.


    ¡°You¡¯re Carlos Locke, aren¡¯t you?¡± Rex asked, standing. ¡°I didn¡¯t recognize you at first, but it¡¯s you.¡±


    The figure nodded. ¡°Sit down,¡± he said, his voice like crackling embers.


    Rex obeyed, taking the seat across from him. ¡°Who is Neo?¡±


    Carlos exhaled, the flames around him flickering. ¡°As the file said, he¡¯s Luna¡¯s brother. That¡¯s all you need to know.¡±


    ¡°But Neo claimed to know you personally. Why?¡±


    Carlos¡¯s gaze burned into Rex¡¯s. ¡°I was on the Spartan team,¡± he admitted. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what I know.¡±


    Rex leaned forward. ¡°Go on.¡±


    Carlos hesitated, his fiery aura dimming. ¡°Neo¡­ Before we knew he was a Yeager, he was charming¡ªa kind, optimistic person. But his true nature was something else entirely. He wanted everything¡­ everyone¡­ gone. He dreamed of a world where he was the only one left.¡±


    Rex¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Where do you think he is now?¡±


    Carlos shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. He¡¯s probably building a new body, something stronger. But remember, this is a new Neo. He might be different from before.¡±


    As Rex stood to leave, Carlos called out, ¡°Find Fadia. She knows more than I ever could.¡±


    Rex nodded, and the dream dissolved.


    Deep within her lab, Luna meticulously worked on a human body laid out on a metal table. The sterile air was thick with the hum of machinery. She didn¡¯t look up when she spoke.


    ¡°I hear you,¡± she said, her voice cold.


    From the shadows, a pair of glowing red eyes emerged. ¡°You¡¯ve always had sharp senses, sister.¡±


    ¡°Neo,¡± she said, her tone flat. ¡°So, Plan B worked. Your mind was uploaded to the machine upon death.¡±


    Neo stepped into the light, revealing his massive, metallic frame. ¡°You¡¯ve always loved your experiments, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°What do you want?¡± she asked, slicing into the arm of her creation without looking at him. ¡°If you don¡¯t answer, I¡¯ll cut you in half.¡±


    Neo chuckled. ¡°I want a partnership, sister. Let¡¯s destroy Russia and take its people for ourselves.¡±


    Luna finally looked up, her scalpel glinting under the red light. ¡°And why should I help you? You¡¯ve never needed me before.¡±


    ¡°Because I see things more clearly now. I have access to everything. I need Destiny and Shadow to work for me.¡±


    Luna considered his words. ¡°Fine. Consider it done. They¡¯ll serve you.¡±


    Neo¡¯s metallic lips curved into a smile. ¡°Thank you, sister.¡± Four mechanical birds materialized around him, and a portal opened at his feet. He stepped through without another word.


    Luna turned back to her work. A voice behind her broke the silence.


    ¡°Are you really going to trust him?¡±


    She spun around to see Killer lounging in the corner, gnawing on a severed child¡¯s head.


    ¡°No,¡± she said simply. ¡°But he¡¯s my brother, even if he¡¯s a machine. I¡¯ll trust him¡­ for now.¡±


    The elite force descended into the ruins of Neo¡¯s casino. The air was damp and heavy with dust. Rex led the way, his sharp eyes scanning every corner.


    ¡°Hey, Emi,¡± Baluka whispered. ¡°Can I ask you something?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± she replied.


    ¡°It¡¯s about Rex. He seems¡­ distant.¡±


    Emi sighed. ¡°He¡¯s always been like that. He only really opens up to his aunt and Hanako.¡±


    ¡°Well, except for Amber,¡± Baluka said.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Emi asked, narrowing her eyes.


    ¡°You don¡¯t notice how they talk to each other?¡±


    Emi frowned, thinking back. ¡°Oh¡­ Oh no. Oh no.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Baluka asked.


    ¡°She¡¯s in love!¡± Emi thought, glancing at Amber. Her eyes burned with silent envy. ¡°Of course she wants that smoking hot body,¡± Emi said.


    Baluka just blinked at her.¡±you are so weird,¡± she said.


    As the six of them walked up to a massive steel vault, its surface gleamed under the flickering lights of the underground chamber. Leon stepped forward, brushing dust off his hands. ¡°Give me a second to crack this,¡± he said, already pulling tools from his pack.


    Before he could start, Nur strode past him, his eyes locked on the vault. Without hesitation, Nur cocked his fist back and punched straight through the metal with a thunderous boom.


    Leon, visibly unamused, pocketed his tools. ¡°Never mind,¡± he muttered, shaking his head.


    The group moved cautiously through the jagged hole Nur had created. Inside, the space was eerily silent, the air heavy with the scent of rust and decay. Broken furniture, shattered glass, and the remnants of a bygone era littered the floor. As they scanned the room, Rex¡¯s eyes caught a glint of metal. He knelt down and picked up a pistol, its surface worn but familiar.


    Rex¡¯s grip tightened around the weapon as a memory surged forward, sharp and vivid.


    The haze cleared to reveal a bloodied battlefield. Carlos stood over a wounded man, his pistol aimed directly at the figure¡¯s head. The man on the ground coughed, blood dripping from his lips, but his grin was unnerving.


    ¡°Are you really going to kill me, Carlos?¡± Neo sneered. His voice was calm, mocking. ¡°After everything we¡¯ve been through?¡±


    Carlos¡¯s hand trembled slightly before he steadied his aim. ¡°Shut up, Neo,¡± he said, his tone cold but conflicted.


    Neo tilted his head, his smile widening. ¡°You¡¯re really going to break your precious code, huh? The great Carlos Locke, who never kills¡­ It¡¯s almost poetic.¡±


    Carlos exhaled, his expression hardening. ¡°Goodbye, Neo. Rot in hell.¡±


    The memory ended with a deafening gunshot.


    Rex blinked, shaking off the memory as he stared at the spot where Neo had once lain. The space was empty. There was no sign of a body¡ªonly faint scorch marks and the eerie silence of the vault.


    ¡°Guys, come over here,¡± Hanako called from across the room. She was seated at a dusty console, its dim screen flickering faintly. Leon quickly joined her, his fingers flying over the keyboard as he attempted to hack into the system.


    As Leon worked, Hanako¡¯s ears twitched. A faint noise¡ªa vibration, subtle but distinct¡ªcaught her attention. She turned to the wall behind her, her instincts screaming a warning.


    ¡°Everybody, get down!¡± she yelled.


    A deafening explosion ripped through the vault as a section of the wall collapsed inward, sending debris flying. The group dove for cover, shielding themselves from the blast.


    Emerging from the dust and rubble was a tall figure, casually scrolling on his phone as though completely unfazed by the destruction he¡¯d just caused. He stepped into the light, revealing sleek, dark armor and a cocky smirk.


    ¡°This is so boring,¡± the figure said, his voice dripping with disdain.


    Amber¡¯s sharp eyes caught a distinct mark on his leg. ¡°That insignia,¡± she muttered. ¡°He¡¯s a Yeager.¡±


    Rex narrowed his eyes. ¡°Yeah. Rank five.¡±


    Nur didn¡¯t wait for orders. He burst forward in a flash of light, his speed blinding, aiming to take out the intruder in one swift strike. But before anyone could process what had happened, Nur was on the ground, sprawled out and dazed. His face twisted in shock.


    ¡°What the¡­ What the fuck?¡± Nur thought, his body trembling as he struggled to rise.


    Destiny, the Yeager, didn¡¯t even look up from his phone. ¡°So, you¡¯re the guy Luna experimented on,¡± he said nonchalantly. ¡°She really didn¡¯t want me to miss this show.¡±


    With a snap of his fingers, Destiny unleashed something unseen but potent. Nur¡¯s expression contorted as his mind was overwhelmed by a surge of emotions¡ªfear, rage, and despair, all battling for dominance. His breathing grew erratic, and his hands glowed with raw energy.


    ¡°Light Style: Light Nova!¡± Nur roared, his voice echoing with unrestrained fury.


    A massive explosion of blinding light erupted from him, tearing through the underground chamber and collapsing the space around them. The ground shook violently, and chunks of debris rained down as the group scrambled to find cover.


    When the dust settled, the rest of the team climbed through the wreckage and emerged onto the streets above. The city was in chaos, with bystanders fleeing in every direction. Far ahead, they spotted Destiny walking away, completely unbothered by the destruction he¡¯d caused.


    ¡°There he is!¡± Amber shouted, pointing toward the retreating figure.


    ¡°We can¡¯t let him get away!¡± Leon barked, already moving.


    ¡°What about Nur?¡± Emi asked, glancing back toward the ruins where their teammate had fallen.


    Leon didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with Nur. The rest of you, focus on stopping Rank Five!¡±


    Rex gave Leon a curt nod before sprinting after Destiny, followed closely by Hanako, Amber, Baluka, and Emi. The team split, each member focused on their objective.

 Shadows and sparks

    The corridor trembled as Rex, Emi, Amber, and Baluka sprinted forward, each step echoing like thunder in their frantic pursuit of Destiny. The flickering lights above barely illuminated their path, casting shifting shadows across the crumbling walls. Destiny was close¡ªRex could feel it¡ªbut so was something else. A faint, oppressive energy lingered in the air, tightening around them like a vice.


    Without warning, the wall beside them exploded. A massive, steel-clad fist barreled through the rubble and collided with Rex¡¯s arms, which crossed in defense. Though the blow was blocked, the sheer force hurled him through the corridor, smashing him through wall after wall until his momentum finally ceased. Dust and debris settled around him as he groaned, shaking off the impact.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while, hasn¡¯t it, Rex?¡±


    That voice¡ªit was unmistakable. Rex glanced up, his sharp, golden eyes narrowing as Neo stepped forward. His towering figure emerged from the shadows, augmented limbs gleaming with metallic menace. Neo¡¯s mechanical features were polished to a brutal perfection, his smile cold and predatory.


    ¡°Neo,¡± Rex muttered, his tone sharp. He stood slowly, brushing off the debris. ¡°Everyone, go on ahead. I¡¯ll deal with him.¡±


    ¡°Rex, you¡ª¡± Amber began, but he silenced her with a determined glance.


    ¡°Go!¡± Rex barked, his voice firm.


    Emi, Amber, and Baluka hesitated for only a moment before sprinting forward, Destiny their target. Neo made no move to stop them until Baluka passed within arm¡¯s reach. A blur of motion¡ªNeo lunged, his fist hurtling toward the her.


    Rex intercepted in an instant, his forearm colliding with Neo¡¯s punch in a deafening clash of force. The shockwave rippled down the corridor, causing cracks to spiderweb across the walls.


    Neo sneered, his eyes glinting with cruel amusement. ¡°Dark flame users¡­ always so protective of your little friends. Funny, though¡ªthey always die in the end.¡±


    Before Rex could reply, Neo drove a powerful kick into Rex¡¯s side. The strike was like being hit by a battering ram, and it sent Rex hurtling upward, slamming against the ceiling before crashing to the floor. He groaned, his vision spinning as he struggled to rise.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening to my flux energy?¡± Rex thought, his muscles sluggish, his body refusing to respond properly. ¡°Something¡¯s disrupting it¡­ Neo¡¯s doing this somehow.¡±


    Neo advanced, slow and deliberate, relishing Rex¡¯s vulnerability. He raised his massive, augmented fist, ready to crush Rex where he lay.


    But Rex rolled aside at the last second, narrowly evading the devastating blow. The floor cracked and buckled beneath Neo¡¯s strike. Rex pushed himself to his feet, gritting his teeth against the haze clouding his mind. He retaliated with a sharp slash of his sword, the blade humming with dark flames as it sliced across Neo¡¯s leg. Sparks flew, and Neo staggered back, a faint line of crimson and metal marking the wound.


    Neo smirked, unfazed. He opened his mouth, and a wave of pure sonic energy erupted forth. The air shimmered and distorted, and Rex¡¯s body seized as the sound hit him like a hammer. His muscles locked up, numbness spreading like wildfire.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± Rex thought. He summoned every ounce of strength he had and lashed out with a desperate kick, landing a solid blow to Neo¡¯s chest. The impact disrupted the shockwave, giving Rex a moment to recover as Neo stumbled backward.


    Neo¡¯s arm shifted, transforming into a wicked, spike-like appendage. He lunged, aiming to impale Rex through the stomach. Rex braced for the blow, but a flash of light interrupted the attack.


    Hanako appeared between them, grabbing Rex and teleporting them a safe distance away.


    ¡°Hanako!¡± Rex gasped, his breathing heavy. ¡°How are you able to use your flux energy?¡±


    ¡°When I teleported in, I tore through the flux fluid valve causing the disruption,¡± she explained quickly. ¡°Your flux energy should be fully operational now.¡±


    Rex nodded, his resolve hardening. ¡°Understood.¡±


    He bit into his wrist, the flesh breaking with a sickening crack as his transformation began. His nails elongated into razor-sharp claws, his bones hardening to steel-like density. The air around him grew heavy with dark energy, and his golden eyes burned with an otherworldly intensity.


    Neo raised an eyebrow, intrigued. ¡°A Yeager fox, huh? Haven¡¯t seen one of your kind since I¡ª¡± He stopped mid-sentence, his senses flaring.


    ¡°Dark Flame Style: Dark Void!¡±


    Rex charged forward, his sword igniting with swirling black flames. The very air around the blade seemed to collapse into nothingness, a void of pure destruction. Rex slashed with precision, aiming for Neo¡¯s leg.


    Neo attempted to dodge, but the blade¡¯s reach extended unnaturally, slicing clean through his robotic limb. Sparks and metal fragments scattered as Neo stumbled, his balance compromised.


    Neo grinned, unfazed. ¡°Impressive.¡± He flexed his hand, and his severed leg began to repair itself, metallic tendrils weaving together with eerie efficiency. ¡°But I¡¯ve seen your tricks before, Fox.¡±


    Rex didn¡¯t respond. He lunged again, his sword a blur of darkness as he unleashed a flurry of strikes. Neo dodged and countered with brutal efficiency, his mechanical arms blocking or parrying each attack. Their battle was a blur of motion, the air thick with heat and energy.


    Neo roared, slamming his fist into the ground. The corridor shook violently, and a shadow portal materialized behind Rex. Before he could react, a clawed hand shot out, grabbing him and pulling him into the portal¡¯s depths.


    Rex tumbled through the darkness, landing hard in a pitch-black realm. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the faint echo of his breathing. His surroundings were impossible to define, shifting and twisting in unnatural ways.


    Then came the pain. A deep slash tore across Rex¡¯s back, blood spraying as he stumbled forward. He spun, sword at the ready, but saw nothing.


    ¡°Show yourself!¡± Rex growled, his voice echoing into the void.


    A sickening laugh answered him. ¡°You should¡¯ve stayed dead, Rex.¡±


    From the darkness stepped Shadow, his sickle gleaming with malice.


    Without warning, Shadow attacked. Rex met the strike, their weapons colliding in a shower of sparks. Shadow disappeared in an instant, reappearing behind Rex. A sharp slash opened a wound across Rex¡¯s calf, forcing him to his knees.


    Shadow pressed the attack relentlessly, his movements a blur. Cuts tore across Rex¡¯s body faster than his regeneration could keep up, each blow leaving jagged scars.


    ¡°This can¡¯t go on,¡± Rex thought, his breath ragged. ¡°Poison Style: Poison Fog.¡±


    He exhaled a thick, toxic mist that surrounded him in a swirling barrier. Shadow backed off momentarily, his figure obscured by the fog.


    Rex took the opportunity to heal and assess his options. ¡°He¡¯s using the darkness to appear anywhere. None of my abilities are producing enough light to counter him.¡±


    A faint shimmer appeared above him¡ªa portal. Hanako¡¯s voice echoed through it. ¡°Rex, jump! I can¡¯t hold this open for long!¡±


    Rex didn¡¯t hesitate. He leapt toward the portal, but Shadow struck with brutal precision. His sickle tore through Rex¡¯s leg, anchoring him in place.


    ¡°You¡¯re not stopping me,¡± Rex growled.


    With a swift motion, he drove his sword into Shadow¡¯s arm, forcing him to release the sickle. Blood and sparks flew as Shadow snarled in pain. Rex tore himself free, diving through the portal just as it began to flicker and close.


    He landed hard on the other side, collapsing to his knees and gasping for air. Blood pooled beneath him, dripping from his countless wounds.


    ¡°Rex! Are you okay?¡± Hanako¡¯s voice trembled with worry as she rushed to his side. Her eyes widened in horror as she took in the sight before her¡ªhis body, once a fortress of strength, now scarred beyond recognition.


    ¡°I¡¯ve¡­ been better,¡± Rex muttered, his voice strained.


    Hanako touched his shoulder gently, her concern evident. ¡°You¡¯re not fighting anymore. Everyone, Rex is down. I¡¯m taking him back to the ship,¡± she declared through her communicator.


    With a flash of determination, Hanako transformed. Her small fox form expanded into her towering, majestic giant fox form, her golden fur glowing with power. She wrapped Rex carefully in her tails, shielding his battered body.


    ¡°Hold on, Rex. We¡¯ll get you patched up,¡± she whispered.


    In an instant, they vanished, teleported back to the ship, leaving behind the darkness of Shadow¡¯s realm¡ªand Neo¡¯s lingering threat.

 Frozen icicle

    As Leon descended into the ruined city, his boots crunched against shattered glass and cracked pavement. Smoke billowed into the air, filling his lungs with the acrid stench of destruction. The sound of distant screams and sirens echoed through the crumbling streets. Buildings were reduced to rubble, and terrified civilians scrambled to escape the chaos.


    Leon sprinted forward, weaving through the debris, his sharp eyes scanning the wreckage. In the distance, he saw the source of the mayhem: Nur, a towering figure whose once-calm demeanor was replaced by wild, frantic movements. Nur lashed out at everything around him¡ªcars, streetlamps, even fleeing civilians. A squad of police officers arrived, their guns raised.


    ¡°Stand down!¡± one of them yelled before opening fire. Bullets ricocheted off Nur¡¯s hardened skin like pebbles against steel. The enraged figure turned to them, his glowing eyes narrowing. With a roar, he swiped his arm, sending a car hurtling toward the officers.


    Leon clenched his fists. ¡°Enough of this,¡± he muttered under his breath.


    He whispered a command in his native tongue: ¡°§¯§à§Ó§Ñ§ñ §æ§à§â§Þ§Ñ.¡± Instantly, a chilling aura surrounded him as his body transformed. Ice began to creep up his limbs, encasing his arms and legs in crystalline armor. His hair turned snow-white, shimmering like frost under the sunlight. His breath came out in cold puffs as the temperature around him plummeted.


    ¡°All of you, fall back!¡± Leon bellowed, his voice carrying authority and a frosty edge.


    The officers hesitated but eventually obeyed, retreating to a safer distance. Leon stepped forward, his icy gaze fixed on Nur.


    ¡°Nur,¡± Leon called out, his voice steady but firm. ¡°Listen to me. This isn¡¯t you. Whatever that Yeager  did to you, you¡¯re stronger than this. Smarter than this. Don¡¯t let Luna control you!¡±


    The mention of Luna¡¯s name had an immediate effect. Nur¡¯s wild eyes locked onto Leon, filled with fury.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare say her name!¡± Nur roared, his voice shaking the ground.


    Leon braced himself as Nur grabbed a nearby truck and hurled it toward him with terrifying strength. Leon raised a hand, summoning a sheet of ice that caught the vehicle mid-air. The truck slammed into the frozen barrier, shattering it into countless shards. But Nur was faster than Leon anticipated. Using the momentary distraction, he rushed forward and slammed his fist into Leon¡¯s face, sending him flying through the air.


    Leon crashed into the ground with a grunt, skidding across the rubble. He wiped blood from his lip and stood, glaring at Nur.


    ¡°All right, if that¡¯s how you want to play,¡± Leon muttered.


    He thrust his hands forward, summoning massive icy tendrils that snaked around Nur¡¯s arms and legs. With a flick of his wrist, Leon slammed Nur into the ground, creating a shockwave that cracked the pavement. The ice ropes dragged Nur across the ruined street, leaving a deep trench in his wake.


    Nur roared, breaking free with a burst of raw strength. He charged at Leon again, his fists raised. Leon sidestepped the attack and retaliated with a concentrated ice beam. The blast struck Nur square in the chest, sending him crashing into a parked truck, which crumpled under the impact.


    Leon advanced cautiously, his breath steady despite the strain on his body. ¡°Stand down, Nur. I don¡¯t want to hurt you.¡±


    But Nur had no intention of backing down. He disappeared into the smoke for a moment before reappearing behind Leon. With a feral growl, he delivered a devastating punch to Leon¡¯s back, launching him through the walls of a nearby building. Leon tumbled through several rooms before crashing through the other side, landing in a pile of debris.


    Groaning, Leon tried to push himself up, but Nur leapt on top of him, pinning him to the ground. Before Leon could react, Nur grabbed a steel pipe from the wreckage and tore into Leon¡¯s arm, ripping it clean off.


    Leon gritted his teeth, suppressing a scream. ¡°Really? The arm?¡± he said through the pain.


    Using the last of his strength, Leon formed an ice spike on his back and launched it upward, stabbing Nur and forcing him off. He scrambled to his feet, frost rapidly forming over his shoulder as he began regenerating his missing arm.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    Nur, undeterred, charged again. Leon¡¯s ice beam lanced out, trying to slow him down, but Nur moved unpredictably, dodging each attack with unnatural speed. Just as Nur closed the distance, Leon¡¯s regenerated arm finished forming. Without hesitation, Leon conjured an ice sai in his hand and met Nur¡¯s attack head-on.


    The clash of their strikes sent a shockwave rippling through the air. Nur¡¯s fist collided with Leon¡¯s weapon, the impact shaking the ground beneath them. Leon twisted his sai, cutting deep into Nur¡¯s arm and forcing him back.


    ¡°You¡¯re stronger than I thought,¡± Leon muttered, summoning another weapon. This time, he formed a massive ice hammer, its surface etched with intricate frost patterns.


    Nur lunged again, but Leon swung the hammer with all his might, striking Nur square in the head. The blow sent Nur sprawling to the ground, dazed.


    Leon stood over him, raising the hammer again. ¡°Go to sleep. Go to sleep. Go to sleep!¡± he chanted, slamming the hammer down repeatedly.


    Nur snarled and grabbed Leon¡¯s arm mid-swing. Leon responded by encasing his arm in an ice vine, freezing Nur¡¯s grip and locking them in place.


    The two glared at each other, the tension thick as the frost-covered battlefield glimmered in the fading sunlight.


    Leon¡¯s ice wings unfurled with a sharp crack, their jagged edges glinting like shards of glass in the sunlight. Grabbing Nur by the arm, he lifted them both into the air, away from the ruined city. The wind howled as Leon strained to keep them aloft, the weight of Nur¡¯s struggling making it harder to maintain altitude.


    ¡°We¡¯re getting out of here, Nur,¡± Leon said, his voice laced with determination.


    But Nur wasn¡¯t going quietly. With a furious roar, he slammed his fist into Leon¡¯s side, the force sending them careening into a nearby building. They crashed through the structure, shattering windows and scattering debris across the floor. The terrified screams of civilians echoed around them as Leon skidded to a halt on the ground.


    Nur landed hard, immediately leaping at Leon and delivering a brutal punch to his face. The impact drove Leon to one knee, but he grabbed Nur¡¯s arm in retaliation, slamming him into the wall and pinning him there. Summoning a swirling mist of freezing air, Leon directed it at Nur¡¯s face, his voice low but commanding.


    ¡°Enough, Nur! Calm down!¡± Leon said, the mist settling over Nur in an attempt to lull him into unconsciousness.


    For a moment, it seemed to work. Nur¡¯s movements slowed, his eyes flickering shut. But with a sudden burst of energy, Nur kicked Leon square in the chest, launching him across the room. Leon crashed into an elevator shaft, his back slamming against the exposed cables.


    ¡°Everyone off the elevator!¡± Leon shouted to the startled civilians trapped inside.


    The crowd scrambled to safety, just as Nur barreled toward him again. Leon barely managed to dodge the attack, his body twisting around the shaft¡¯s cables. Using his momentum, he grabbed the dangling elevator and hurled it toward Nur. The makeshift projectile collided with a deafening crash, but Nur emerged from the wreckage, unfazed.


    Breathing heavily, Leon charged forward and landed a solid punch across Nur¡¯s face. The blow forced Nur to stagger, but instead of falling, he turned slowly to Leon, spitting out a tooth. A chilling grin spread across Nur¡¯s face as his eyes locked onto Leon¡¯s.


    Leon froze for a split second, shivers running down his spine. ¡°Uh¡­ sorry?¡± he offered weakly.


    Nur¡¯s grin vanished, replaced by a scowl. He grabbed Leon by the collar and hurled him through the side of the building. Leon tumbled through the air before slamming into the neighboring structure. The impact shook the building, and Leon barely had time to stabilize himself before Nur was on him again, throwing a flurry of punches.


    Leon dodged as best he could, weaving through the onslaught while trying to maintain his footing on the crumbling walls. Thinking quickly, he conjured icy whips from his hands, using them to block Nur¡¯s attacks and create distance. Nur, however, tore through them with brute force, closing the gap with relentless determination.


    Leon knew he couldn¡¯t keep this up. As Nur lunged for another strike, Leon grabbed him by the waist and, with a powerful beat of his ice wings, launched them both into the air again. His eyes scanned the cityscape, searching for a safer location. Spotting an unfinished skyscraper with no civilians inside, Leon adjusted his course and flew toward it.


    ¡°This ends now,¡± Leon muttered.


    Reaching the skeletal structure of the unfinished building, Leon hurled Nur into the framework, the force shaking the metal beams. Without hesitation, Leon unleashed a barrage of ice beams, each strike smashing into the structure with unrelenting precision.


    Nur staggered as the onslaught continued, his body battered but still refusing to fall. As he rose to his feet, he caught sight of the chaos around him¡ªmilitary vehicles closing in, civilians running for their lives. The sight seemed to reignite the anger burning within him. His fists clenched, and his breathing grew ragged.


    ¡°Nur, no!¡± Leon shouted, sensing the danger.


    Before Nur could act, Leon appeared in front of him, his fist glowing with icy energy. With one final, decisive blow, he struck Nur square in the jaw, the impact echoing through the half-finished building. Nur¡¯s body went limp, his unconscious form collapsing to the ground.


    Leon stood over him, his chest heaving as he fought to catch his breath. He glanced around at the destruction and chaos they had caused, guilt weighing heavy on his shoulders.


    ¡°Come on, Nur,¡± Leon said softly, kneeling beside his fallen opponent. ¡°We¡¯ve got work to do. But first¡­ let¡¯s get you out of here.¡±


    Leon carefully lifted Nur¡¯s unconscious body, his ice wings spreading once more as he prepared to leave the battlefield. Above the ruined city, the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the broken streets.


    Leon tapped his earpiece as he stood over Nur¡¯s unconscious body. ¡°Everyone, I¡¯ve got Nur,¡± he announced, his voice steady despite the exhaustion creeping in.


    A moment later, Baluka¡¯s voice crackled through the comms. ¡°Understood. We pursued Yeager rank five, but he escaped.¡±


    Leon sighed, a hint of frustration in his tone. ¡°Acknowledged. Head back to the ship and regroup.¡±


    He crouched, carefully lifting Nur¡¯s limp form onto his shoulder. With a deep breath, Leon unfurled his ice wings once more, their sharp, crystalline edges glinting in the fading sunlight. With a powerful thrust, he launched into the air, carrying Nur back toward the ship.


    The city stretched out below him, a patchwork of destruction and chaos, but for now, the battle was over.


    Leon soared through the air, his ice wings cutting through the smoke-filled sky as he carried Nur¡¯s unconscious body. Below, the city lay in ruins, a stark reminder of the chaos they had barely contained.


    ¡°Another victory,¡± Leon muttered under his breath, though the weight of the destruction told him otherwise.


    As the ship came into view, its sleek silhouette gleaming against the setting sun, Leon felt a twinge of relief. For now, they had Nur. For now, they had a chance to regroup.


    Landing softly on the ship¡¯s deck, Leon turned to the crew waiting for him. He handed Nur over to the medics and folded his wings away, his body aching from the fight.


    ¡°Make sure he¡¯s secured,¡± Leon ordered, his voice steady but fatigued.


    Amber approached, concern etched across her face. ¡°You all right?¡±


    Leon glanced at her, then back toward the distant city. ¡°I¡¯ll live. But this war¡­ it¡¯s taking more out of us every day.¡±


    He turned and walked toward the bridge, the weight of his decisions pressing heavier with each step. The battle was over, but the war was far from won.

 Old friends

    The plane hummed softly as it soared through the skies, autopilot handling the controls. Inside, the seven of them rested in the aftermath of their battle. Some were seated, lost in thought, while others sprawled out, letting the tension of combat ease away. Leon, sitting near the cockpit, took a sip of water, his gaze distant.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Rex?¡± Leon asked, breaking the silence.


    Baluka glanced over at him, her voice calm but tinged with weariness. ¡°Hanako and Emi were healing him. His wounds were severe, and even his own healing abilities weren¡¯t enough.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± a voice called out.


    Everyone turned as Rex emerged from the infirmary room. He wore a black and red uniform, with fresh bandages covering his left eye. His hair was shorter now, and scars littered his body like battle trophies.


    Leon raised an eyebrow, smirking. ¡°You¡¯ve looked better.¡±


    Amber elbowed him sharply. ¡°Leon, shut up.¡±


    Rex ignored the exchange and spoke, his voice flat and emotionless. ¡°Where are we heading now?¡±


    Leon leaned back in his seat. ¡°I uploaded coordinates to the system while I was on the casino¡¯s computer. It gave us a location. We¡¯re heading there now.¡±


    Baluka glanced around, noticing someone missing. ¡°Where¡¯s Nur?¡±


    Leon gestured toward the back. ¡°He¡¯s resting.¡±


    Rex walked over to Nur¡¯s unconscious form. Without hesitation, he slapped Nur across the face.


    Nur jolted awake, startled. ¡°What the hell was that for?¡±


    Rex stared at him for a long moment. The anger on Nur¡¯s face faded as he realized something. ¡°Are you better now?¡± Rex asked, his tone calm but probing.


    Nur hesitated before nodding. ¡°¡­Yeah.¡±


    Rex turned without another word, heading to the co-pilot seat. He stared out the window, lost in thought.


    Nur rubbed his cheek, glancing at the others. ¡°Is he okay?¡±


    Emi sighed. ¡°He¡¯s been like this since we started healing him. I think he feels like he¡¯s gotten weaker.¡±


    Hanako, now in her human form, stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to him.¡±


    She walked over to Rex and sat beside him. He didn¡¯t look at her. ¡°What do you want?¡± he asked.


    ¡°You need someone to comfort you,¡± she said softly.


    Rex¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver from the window. ¡°When I was pulled down, I was fighting Shadow. What were you doing? Neo was still there.¡±


    Hanako hesitated, looking away. ¡°We didn¡¯t fight. He just¡­ talked to me. About my parents. He said he used them as test subjects when they were just normal foxes.¡±


    Rex finally turned his head to look at her. He studied her expression and could tell she wasn¡¯t lying. With a sigh, he reached out and patted her head before standing up. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡±


    The plane landed softly in an open field. The group disembarked and walked toward a small cabin in the distance. As they approached, they noticed a young girl gathering vegetables on a nearby farm.


    ¡°Leon, where are we?¡± Rex asked, his voice steady.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°Ukraine,¡± Leon replied.


    Seven heads snapped toward him in unison.


    ¡°What?!¡± Amber exclaimed.


    ¡°But that¡¯s impossible,¡± Baluka added, her voice laced with disbelief. ¡°Ukraine¡¯s a nuclear wasteland after World War Three.¡±


    Before anyone could respond, Hanako spoke up. ¡°Guys¡­ the girl¡¯s gone.¡±


    They all turned to look where the girl had been, but she had vanished.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± a voice ordered.


    Behind Emi stood a young woman, a gun pressed firmly against the back of her head. ¡°How did you find me?¡± she demanded.


    Leon stepped forward, his hands raised slightly. ¡°We were at the casino. The computer there had information on your location.¡±


    The woman hesitated before lowering the gun slightly. ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re the Elite Force,¡± Emi said confidently, spinning around to face her.


    The woman studied them for a moment before introducing herself. ¡°My name is Fadia Cross.¡±


    Rex¡¯s eyes narrowed at the name. ¡°Carlos told me about you.¡±


    Her expression changed, her eyes widening. ¡°Wait, you know Carlos? How?¡±


    Rex stepped forward. ¡°I¡¯m the fifth Dark Flame user.¡±


    Fadia¡¯s demeanor softened. ¡°Come inside,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ll prepare some tea.¡±


    The group followed her into the cozy cabin. As they settled in, Fadia handed out cups of tea. Amber sipped hers and smiled. ¡°This place is nice.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Fadia replied with a faint smile.


    After a moment of quiet, Leon spoke. ¡°Neo is back.¡±


    Fadia nearly dropped her tea. ¡°Of course he is. He hates staying dead.¡±


    Leon nodded grimly. ¡°His mind was transferred to a machine after he was killed. Now he¡¯s a walking robot.¡±


    Rex leaned forward. ¡°You and Carlos fought him before. Do you know how we can stop him?¡±


    Fadia sighed, placing her cup down. ¡°There¡¯s a machine in the Locke mansion in Africa. It¡¯s called Remus. It can disable his system controls.¡±


    Baluka frowned. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°A device capable of severing system-level commands,¡± Fadia explained.


    Leon furrowed his brow. ¡°The Locke mansion? Are you sure?¡±


    Fadia nodded. Leon and Rex exchanged a long, knowing glance before Leon abruptly stood and stormed outside. Through the window, they could see him yelling and gesturing in frustration.


    ¡°What¡¯s his problem?¡± Emi asked.


    ¡°He¡¯s mad because the Locke mansion is involved,¡± Fadia said.


    ¡°Why? Can¡¯t we just ask for the machine?¡± Emi pressed.


    Fadia and Rex exchanged glances before responding in unison, ¡°No.¡±


    Rex elaborated. ¡°The Locke family runs all of Africa. They¡¯re one of the two most powerful families in the world. They fund most of our operations. If we ask, they¡¯re not just going to hand it over.¡±


    Fadia interjected, ¡°There might be a way. Rex, as a Dark Flame user, you could demand it. They wouldn¡¯t refuse someone like you.¡±


    Rex nodded. ¡°Understood.¡±


    Fadia glanced at the group. ¡°For now, all of you need to clean up. There are showers upstairs. You¡¯re making my cabin smell.¡±


    The six of them exchanged sheepish looks before heading upstairs, leaving Leon to cool off outside.


    Rex stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror, his scars illuminated by the faint light. He ran his hand over them, trying to erase them with his flux energy, but they remained. With a sigh, he stepped out, his uniform back on, bandages covering his left eye.


    Amber was waiting outside. ¡°Sorry it took so long,¡± Rex said.


    Amber smirked. ¡°No problem. I was thinking of joining you, but I decided against it.¡±


    Rex raised an eyebrow. ¡°Everyone used up the hot water.¡±


    ¡°Maybe I should¡¯ve joined after all,¡± Amber teased, stepping closer. Her fingers gently traced his scars before resting on his cheek. ¡°Are you okay? Your eye¡­ it seems sad.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Rex replied, gently removing her hand.


    Amber¡¯s tone softened. ¡°Rex, what does your life mean to you?¡±


    He looked away. ¡°My life was forged as a weapon to kill Yeagers. That¡¯s all it¡¯s ever been.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be that way. We could run away,¡± she said, her voice almost pleading.


    ¡°Where would we go? There¡¯s nowhere to run in this war,¡± Rex replied.


    Amber sighed but smiled faintly. ¡°Promise me one thing: if we win, you¡¯ll live.¡±


    Rex hesitated, then nodded. ¡°Yes.¡±


    Satisfied, Amber walked into the bathroom, leaving Rex alone.


    Downstairs, Hanako and Fadia were talking when Rex joined them. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I was telling her about her parents. Carlos freed them and took them to Japan. They¡¯re safe in the woods,¡± Fadia said.


    Rex paused, a faint voice in his head replying, ¡°Of course I did,¡± Carlos said.


    Before he could respond, a wave of energy surged toward the cabin. The group ran downstairs, tense and alert.


    ¡°He¡¯s here,¡± Leon growled.


    ¡°You need to leave now,¡± Fadia urged. ¡°Get to the plane and go after Remus. I¡¯ll hold him off.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Hanako protested. ¡°I still have questions.¡±


    Fadia smiled faintly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. Go.¡±


    The group hesitated before running outside. Rex stopped, turning back to Fadia. His eye glowed faintly as Carlos spoke through him. ¡°Good luck,¡± Carlos said, pulling her into a brief hug. When Rex regained control, he turned and joined the others.


    Fadia stood alone in the cabin, tears threatening to fall. She steadied herself, pulling out a pair of chained knives. Wrapping the chains around her wrists, she sat calmly, waiting for Neo¡¯s arrival.

 Flowers last stand

    As time passed, Fadia sat in her cabin, her thoughts racing. When was he going to show up? Suddenly, a knock came at the door. She stood up and opened it, her face instantly cold as she saw Neo¡¯s towering figure looming over her.


    ¡°Hello, Fadia. It¡¯s been a while,¡± he said, his robotic voice dripping with malice.


    Her expression didn¡¯t waver. ¡°Yes, it truly has. I was hoping you¡¯d be burning in hell by now.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for the compliment,¡± Neo replied mockingly, stepping inside without invitation. ¡°You look the same as the last time I died. Flux energy, is it? Slowing your aging?¡±


    ¡°¡­Yes,¡± she said simply.


    ¡°Amazing.¡± He took a seat at the table, gesturing for her to do the same.


    They sat in silence for a moment before Fadia spoke. ¡°How¡¯s this going to play out, Neo?¡±


    ¡°That depends on you,¡± he said, leaning forward. ¡°Tell me where Rex is, and you¡¯ll live. Refuse, and I¡¯ll blow your head off.¡±


    Her wrist moved subtly, pressing a hidden button beneath the table. ¡°Go to hell,¡± she said.


    The cabin exploded in a massive blast, flames and debris erupting into the sky. Neo emerged from the wreckage, his robotic body damaged but still functional.


    ¡°Impressive,¡± he said, brushing off burning debris.


    Before he could react further, Fadia lunged at him, her body phasing through his. ¡°Flower Style: Thorns Explosion!¡± she shouted, her blades embedding into his body and detonating, shattering him into pieces.


    She landed softly on the ground, staring at the remnants. ¡°Too easy,¡± she muttered.


    ¡°Too easy?¡± a voice echoed.


    Her eyes widened as dozens of Neos descended from the sky, their identical forms filling the air. ¡°Do you really think you can kill me? I am everywhere,¡± he said, his voice amplified.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Fadia¡¯s expression hardened as she shook her chains, the knives reattaching to her cuffs. The robots attacked, but she dodged their strikes, her body phasing through punches and beams. She destroyed each one with precision, her blades moving like extensions of her will.


    ¡°Her phasing ability¡ªit¡¯s just like before,¡± Neo thought, watching as she dismantled his forces.


    She leaped from one robot to another, slashing them apart. When the last one fell, she landed gracefully, her chains rattling. ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got, Neo?¡±


    Neo descended, his feet hitting the ground. ¡°You¡¯ve grown stronger, Fadia, but I¡¯ve learned the trick to your phasing ability.¡±


    Fadia ignored his words, charging at him again. Neo¡¯s hand transformed into a plasma cannon, firing a shot directly through her phased body. But as the shot passed through, Neo¡¯s fist followed, landing a devastating blow to her stomach.


    Blood sprayed from her lips as Neo delivered a flurry of punches, sending her crashing into the ground. She coughed, struggling to stand.


    ¡°Now, die,¡± Neo said coldly, aiming another blast.


    ¡°Flora Palace!¡± Fadia shouted.


    A dome of flowers erupted around them, transporting them to an ethereal field of endless blossoms. Neo looked around in wonder. ¡°A palace, Fadia? Impressive.¡±


    As he took a step, his body was electrocuted. He stumbled, glaring at her.


    Fadia smirked, her chains rattling as she gripped her knives. ¡°This is my domain. Every flower here is a trap. Step on one, and you pay the price.¡±


    Neo hovered into the air, avoiding the flowers.


    ¡°Flowers, release!¡± she commanded. The blossoms rose into the air, swarming Neo like a cloud. He dodged and fired beams of energy, destroying some, but Fadia was relentless, her knives slashing through the air as she closed the distance.


    Just as she was about to strike him down, the dome shattered. Fadia¡¯s palace disappeared, leaving her vulnerable. Destiny stood nearby, his hand glowing from the attack.


    With a snap of his fingers, a chain appeared around Fadia¡¯s leg, slamming her into the ground. She screamed in pain as Neo approached, his fists hammering her relentlessly.


    Neo grabbed her limp body by the arm, lifting her like a rag doll. Blood dripped from her wounds, her flux energy completely drained.


    ¡°Any last words?¡± Neo asked.


    ¡°¡­Go¡­to¡­hell,¡± she barely whispered.


    Without hesitation, Neo fired a blast, disintegrating her head. He dropped her lifeless body, turning away.


    ¡°Shadow, find where Rex is headed,¡± Neo commanded.


    Shadow emerged from the darkness. ¡°Understood.¡±


    ¡°And Destiny, get back to whatever you were doing,¡± Neo added dismissively.


    Destiny smirked, returning to his handheld device as if nothing had happened.


    Neo glanced at Fadia¡¯s body one last time before flying away, leaving the battlefield in silence.

 Massacre of the Locke family

    As Rex stepped inside the Locke family mansion, a sense of unease crept over him. The ornate halls were shrouded in a cold stillness, as though the walls themselves held their breath. He opened a heavy oak door and entered a dimly lit room. A man stood in the shadows, his arms crossed and a sneer curling his lips.


    "Oh, so you¡¯re the famous Rex," the man said, his voice dripping with disdain. "The one stealing our abilities. You look... awful."


    Rex¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver. "So, you¡¯re Durno. They let me into this mansion to retrieve a machine known as Remus. Where is it?"


    Durno chuckled darkly, stepping into the faint light of a flickering chandelier. "Cold, just like the other Dark Flame users in our family. You¡¯re nothing but a weapon. You know that, don¡¯t you?"


    Rex turned on his heel without another word. Durno¡¯s sneer faltered as the sound of Rex¡¯s boots echoed in the corridor beyond.


    Descending deeper into the mansion, Rex entered the underground chambers. The air grew heavier, the scent of damp stone and mildew filling his nostrils. Flickering torches lined the walls, casting eerie shadows. At the end of the hallway stood an old woman, her gnarled hands resting on a cane. She blocked the path, her piercing eyes studying him with a mix of suspicion and disdain.


    "You can¡¯t enter this part," she said, her voice brittle but commanding.


    "The machine is here, and I need it," Rex replied, brushing past her without slowing.


    She turned slightly, watching him with narrowed eyes. "You¡¯re just like Griffin," she muttered. "I¡¯m still not proud of giving birth to him."


    Rex paused for a heartbeat but didn¡¯t look back. Her words echoed in his mind as he continued down the corridor, his resolve unshaken.


    At last, he arrived at a massive iron door. Its surface was etched with intricate designs that seemed to pulse faintly with energy. Rex pushed it open, the hinges groaning in protest. Inside, an old man stood waiting, his grip firm on a gleaming sword. His eyes were cold and unyielding.


    "Rex Jones," the old man growled, his voice like the scrape of steel on stone. "Your death is here, for daring to wield the Dark Flame style."


    Rex drew his own blade, the weight of it familiar in his hand. His stance shifted, ready for battle.


    Meanwhile, in the upper levels of the mansion, tension brewed. Durno leaned against a polished desk, his expression unreadable. Across from him stood Glade, a man with a sharp gaze and an air of authority.


    "You should have told me about Rex Jones coming to the mansion," Glade said, his voice edged with irritation.


    "Huh? Why is that, Glade?" Durno asked, his tone dismissive.


    Glade stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "Because Rex is making connections with people around the world. He¡¯s good friends with the Ivanov family and now has ties with a member of the Sora family. We could use this to our advantage."


    Durno scoffed. "Who cares? After all, Rex Jones is using a technique from our family¡ªthe strongest one. He should be dead."


    Glade¡¯s lips curled into a thin smile. "That¡¯s why I arranged for the old man to deal with him."


    Durno¡¯s eyes widened slightly. "Griffin and Natalia¡¯s father? That¡¯s... cruel."


    Glade¡¯s smile didn¡¯t falter. "Necessary."


    Back in the underground chamber, the sound of blades clashing echoed as Rex and the old man engaged in a fierce duel. Sparks flew with each strike, the air thick with tension. Rex¡¯s mind raced as he parried another blow, the old man¡¯s strength and precision relentless.


    "You think you can defy the Locke family?" the old man snarled, his attacks growing more ferocious. "The Dark Flame style is not yours to wield."


    Rex gritted his teeth, channeling the fiery energy that coursed through his veins. "I don¡¯t need your permission to use what¡¯s mine."


    With a surge of power, Rex unleashed a blazing arc of dark flame, forcing the old man to step back. The heat of the attack seared the air, and for a moment, the old man¡¯s resolve seemed to falter. But the battle was far from over.


    As Rex and the old man faced each other, their swords poised for battle, tension filled the air. Both charged simultaneously, their blades colliding in a flurry of swings and parries. Sparks flew as steel met steel, the sound echoing through the chamber.


    ¡°Dark Flame Style: Dark Slash,¡± Rex thought, channeling his energy into his attack. The old man¡¯s sword shattered upon impact with Rex¡¯s blade. Undeterred, the old man swung the broken weapon, releasing a burst of green flame that struck Rex¡¯s head. Pain seared through Rex as his body stiffened, leaving him paralyzed. He collapsed to the ground, his body trembling uncontrollably.


    ¡°How pathetic. I can¡¯t believe my son entrusted you with the Dark Flame Style. What a fool,¡± the old man sneered. He grabbed Rex by the collar and dragged him to a staircase, throwing him down with a thud.


    ¡°This room is a training ground filled with Yeagers,¡± the old man said coldly. ¡°Die here, Rex.¡± With that, he shut the door, leaving Rex alone.


    Rex lay motionless, his body refusing to respond. As his consciousness wavered, his surroundings shifted. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself on a serene beach. The sound of waves lapping at the shore calmed his racing thoughts. Standing in the water was a woman with a gentle yet commanding presence.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re Rex Jones. It¡¯s good to finally meet my newest successor, even though we¡¯ve already crossed paths in Japan,¡± Amelia Locke said with a warm smile.


    Rex struggled to his feet, his movements slow and labored. ¡°I don¡¯t deserve to be your successor. I¡¯m weak. I¡¯ve been losing every fight. I should just¡­ die.¡±


    Amelia approached him, her expression softening. ¡°You haven¡¯t been losing, Rex. The flux energy in your body has grown so much that it¡¯s overwhelming you. That¡¯s why you feel weak. You¡¯ve become exceptionally strong.¡± She paused and gently removed the bandage from his eye. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m giving you this.¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Placing her hand over his eyes, she infused him with new power. When she stepped back, Rex¡¯s eyes glowed a vivid red.


    ¡°This ability allows you to copy other techniques,¡± she explained.


    As she walked back into the water, Rex called out, ¡°Even with this power, will I be able to win?¡±


    She turned, her smile unwavering. ¡°Of course. But in return, destroy my family name. They are horrible people.¡± With that, she disappeared beneath the waves.


    When Rex reopened his eyes, he was back in the training room. The Yeagers were closing in, their movements swift and deadly. Drawing his sword, Rex moved with newfound speed and precision, cutting them down with ease. The room grew silent as the last enemy fell, and the door above creaked open.


    The old man, sensing a change, hurried back to the chamber. His heart raced as a familiar fear gripped him. ¡°This presence¡­ I¡¯ve only felt it once before,¡± he thought, his mind flashing back to a figure from his past.


    Standing amidst the carnage was Rex, his red eyes glowing ominously. The sight sent a chill down the old man¡¯s spine.


    ¡°Die, you demon child!¡± the old man screamed, his sword erupting in green flames. He charged, but in a split second, Rex¡¯s blade moved with blinding speed. A clean slash split the old man¡¯s forehead, and his body crumpled to the ground.


    Rex turned, his voice calm but commanding. ¡°Everyone, let¡¯s get started.¡±


    An alarm bell went off.


    ¡°Master Glade, Rex has gone mad! He killed Master Abeni,¡± a student shouted, bursting into the room. Glade¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    ¡°Of course he would, Bane. Rex is a changed man,¡± Durno said, his tone calm but laced with tension.


    ¡°We¡¯ve sent our second-class fighters after him,¡± Bane added, his voice uncertain.


    The second-class fighters moved swiftly through the mansion, their weapons drawn. As they turned a corner, they found Rex walking calmly through the corridor. All fifty fighters surrounded him, their faces grim with determination.


    Rex paused, his mind racing. "I''m sorry to everyone I couldn¡¯t protect. Dad, Nicholas, Daisy, Fadia, Ash, Akira, Malin," he thought. But then, he remembered Amelia¡¯s words and the promise he had made to her.


    ¡°Attack!¡± a man yelled.


    Rex tightened his grip on his sword. ¡°But I can make it up for this,¡± he thought.


    The fighters charged. Rex moved like a whirlwind, slicing through the air with precision. He severed a man¡¯s arms with a swift strike, rolled backward, and eliminated two more in a single motion. Their swords, lit with flames of various colors, lashed out at him, but Rex dodged each attack effortlessly. One by one, they fell, unable to match his speed and skill.


    Suddenly, blue flames erupted from the ground, encircling Rex. The heat was intense, but Rex stood unfazed within the fiery ring.


    ¡°So, this is Rex Jones,¡± an old man said, stepping forward. His voice carried a mixture of curiosity and disdain.


    ¡°Yes, Ori,¡± Glade replied, joining him. Bane stood alongside them, his eyes burning with determination.


    The three stood together, prepared to face Rex.


    Rex leapt out of the flames with a burst of speed, charging directly at Ori. The old man sidestepped his attack, but Rex¡¯s sword swung with relentless ferocity, slicing through the air in rapid arcs. Ori countered by appearing above Rex, aiming to strike him with an elbow. In a blink, Rex vanished and reappeared above Ori, slamming an elbow into his face and snapping his neck with a sickening crack.


    Before Rex could land, his body froze mid-air. Bane¡¯s eyes glowed with a sinister purple fire, paralyzing him.


    ¡°Hold him still, Bane,¡± Glade ordered, charging at Rex. But as Glade closed the distance, Rex¡¯s glowing red eyes locked onto him. In an instant, Rex mimicked Bane¡¯s ability, paralyzing Bane in return.


    ¡°He can copy abilities?!¡± Bane thought in horror as blood began to drip from his eyes.


    ¡°Hurry, Glade! Kill him!¡± Bane yelled.


    Glade leapt high into the air, unleashing a torrent of fire from his mouth. The flames engulfed the entire area, reducing everything to ash. Bane collapsed to his knees, his body trembling and his vision fading.


    ¡°You did it, Glade. You killed him,¡± Bane croaked, his voice barely audible.


    But from the thick smoke, Rex emerged unscathed. His eyes glowed fiercely as he held Glade¡¯s severed head in his hand. Without a word, Rex walked past Bane and, in one swift motion, slit his throat. The mansion fell silent, the echoes of battle replaced by the haunting stillness of death.


    Duren emerged from the house, a cocky smile playing on his lips. ¡°Damn, Rex. Don¡¯t you have a heart?¡± he taunted.


    Rex¡¯s expression remained cold. ¡°I lost it years ago,¡± he replied.


    With a burst of speed, Duren lunged at Rex, his hands glowing with an intense pink flame. Rex raised his sword, expertly deflecting the fiery strikes. The two exchanged blows, their movements a blur.


    ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re not them,¡± Duren thought as he weaved around Rex¡¯s attacks. In a flash, he appeared behind Rex and struck him with a surge of pink flames, sending Rex hurtling into a nearby wall. The impact cracked the stone, and Rex fell to his knees.


    ¡°Those flames¡­ they damage the soul,¡± Rex thought, his body trembling from the blow.


    Duren¡¯s voice broke through the silence. ¡°You¡¯re not Amelia, Carlos, Malin, or Griffin. You¡¯re not the one who stands with them. It¡¯s me,¡± he declared, his conviction burning as brightly as his flames.


    Slowly, Rex rose to his feet, his eyes blazing with determination. He steadied himself, ready for another round. ¡°A head-on conclusion,¡± Duren thought, a flicker of respect in his gaze.


    Rex¡¯s mind raced  to when he learn about Omniadapter abilities. Through relentless effort or trying to mimic its abllites, he had learned to make his body denser and more durable, a skill that had saved him from losing any limbs in his battle against Shadow.


    Duren struck again, darting to Rex¡¯s blind spot. But Rex, anticipating the move, turned and intercepted the attack. His red eyes glowed as he copied Duren¡¯s abilities. With a roar, Rex unleashed a punch infused with the pink flames, striking Duren square in the stomach. The force of the blow caused the earth to tremble, cracks spidering out beneath their feet.


    Duren staggered back, clutching his abdomen, his cocky smile replaced with a grimace of pain. ¡°You¡­ really are something else,¡± he muttered, as the ground settled beneath them.


    After this, Rex left the mansion with the machine.


    As Rex approached the gates, Shadow was waiting for him.


    ¡°Shadow,¡± Rex said, his voice cold.


    ¡°So, you killed them all, didn¡¯t you? The entire Locke family. That¡¯s what makes me sick about humans,¡± Shadow said, his tone dripping with disdain.


    ¡°Can you shut up? I¡¯ve been waiting to kill you,¡± Rex replied, gripping his sword tightly.


    Without hesitation, Rex charged at Shadow, who summoned his sickle and swung it with deadly precision. Rex blocked the attack, sparks flying as their weapons clashed.


    ¡°Dark Flame Style: Dark Shockwave,¡± Rex thought, his focus sharpening. ¡°Puncture!¡± he yelled.


    Holes appeared in Shadow¡¯s body but regenerated almost instantly. Shadow countered by stabbing Rex in the chin, the blade piercing through, only for Rex¡¯s wound to regenerate just as quickly. Shadow followed up with a brutal kick, sending Rex sprawling.


    ¡°I think we both know how this is going to end,¡± Shadow said, his voice calm but menacing.


    Both combatants threw their weapons into the air and formed intricate hand symbols. Simultaneously, they activated their palaces, a dome of energy forming around them. Shadow¡¯s body became enveloped in complete darkness.


    ¡°Eternal Forge Palace,¡± Rex declared.


    ¡°Hodr Palace,¡± Shadow countered.


    Within the dome, a dim forge lit up, casting flickering shadows across the battlefield. Shadow¡¯s body, now cloaked in pure darkness, seemed almost ethereal.


    Rex charged, creating missiles out of thin air and launching them at Shadow. Shadow dodged the projectiles with fluid movements, but as they exploded, Rex appeared behind him and drove his blade into Shadow¡¯s back.


    ¡°How did he¡­?¡± Shadow thought, stunned. Before he could react, Rex delivered a powerful kick to his head, sending him flying.


    Shadow regained his footing and summoned a dark cloud that enveloped Rex. ¡°Yeager Ability: Swarm of Darkness,¡± he thought.


    But the forge within the palace flared to life, creating a giant beam of light that illuminated the entire field. Shadow squinted, realization dawning on him.


    ¡°I see¡­ That¡¯s how he killed Natalia. His palace allows him to create anything he wants. Those missiles weren¡¯t just weapons; they let him teleport behind me to deliver that strike,¡± Shadow realized.


    Rex snapped his fingers, and in an instant, the dome dissolved. They were now standing on a quiet hill. Shadow looked down and saw he was wearing his old uniform from when he was human. Confusion washed over him as he took in his surroundings.


    ¡°What¡­ is this?¡± he muttered.


    From the distance, he saw Amelia walking toward him, her figure bathed in a warm glow.


    ¡°Follow me, Shadow,¡± she said softly.


    ¡°Amelia?¡± he whispered, his voice filled with disbelief.

 Shadowy past

    Amelia and Shadow walked side by side, they descended a gentle hill, the soft glow of twilight casting elongated shadows on the ground. The air was thick with tension, broken only by their footsteps and the faint hum of unseen energy around them.


    ¡°Where are we? Am I still in Rex¡¯s palace?¡± Shadow asked, his voice low but sharp, his guarded gaze scanning the unfamiliar surroundings.


    ¡°Yes, you are,¡± Amelia replied, her tone calm yet tinged with hesitation. She avoided his piercing gaze, focusing on the path ahead. ¡°I asked him to create this space for me¡­ because I needed to talk to you.¡±


    Shadow¡¯s crimson eyes narrowed, suspicion flashing in their depths. ¡°Talk?¡± he echoed, his tone laced with distrust. ¡°You don¡¯t drag someone into a twisted memory lane just to talk.¡±


    Amelia hesitated before answering, her voice softer. ¡°Maybe not, but you¡¯ve given me no other choice.¡±


    They continued down the path, shimmering images materializing around them like reflections in broken glass¡ªfragments of a time long past. Ghostly figures of their younger selves sparred with vigor, locked in intense training sessions.


    ¡°Do you remember those days?¡± Amelia gestured toward a memory of them in the courtyard. The younger Shadow lunged forward with precision, sickle in hand, while Amelia countered with graceful, calculated movements. ¡°Back when we were still candidates? Before all of this.¡±


    Shadow¡¯s lips curled into a faint smirk, though bitterness shadowed his expression. ¡°You mean back when you destroyed everyone in the rankings without even trying,¡± he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.


    Amelia chuckled lightly, though sadness lingered in the sound. ¡°Maybe. But back then, it felt like we were equals. We trained together, fought together¡­¡± She glanced at him, her voice softer. ¡°I thought we understood each other.¡±


    He scoffed, his smirk fading. ¡°Equals? You never saw me as your equal. No one did.¡±


    Her steps faltered, but she recovered quickly, continuing down the path. They passed more memories¡ªshared victories, quiet meals, and rare moments of laughter. Each flickered like an old film, vibrant yet hauntingly out of reach.


    Amelia paused at one memory: Shadow extending a hand to help her up after a grueling duel. ¡°See?¡± she said, her voice almost playful. ¡°You weren¡¯t always like this. There was a time when you cared.¡±


    Shadow clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. ¡°That person doesn¡¯t exist anymore,¡± he said coldly. ¡°And I don¡¯t need a history lesson to remind me of what I¡¯ve lost.¡±Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    Amelia turned to face him fully, her gaze unwavering. ¡°You¡¯re wrong,¡± she said firmly. ¡°That person is still in you. Buried under all the anger and hatred, but he¡¯s there. I see him.¡±


    Shadow stopped abruptly, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. ¡°Just shut up already. What are you trying to get at?¡±


    ¡°I wanted to show you who you truly are,¡± Amelia replied, her voice steady despite his outburst. ¡°Not this version of you consumed by vengeance.¡±


    Shadow laughed sharply, the sound devoid of humor. ¡°Your words mean nothing to me,¡± he sneered. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, Amelia. Somewhere, deep down, I think I still care about you. A little. But it doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ve made my choice. I¡¯ll kill humans without hesitation.¡±


    Her heart ached at his words, but she refused to waver. ¡°That¡¯s not who you are,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯ve forgotten yourself, Shadow. And I won¡¯t let you stay lost.¡±


    His shoulders tensed as he turned away, his voice quieter but no less sharp. ¡°Save your pity. It¡¯s too late for me.¡±


    Amelia¡¯s voice was resolute as she stepped closer. ¡°It¡¯s not too late.¡±


    Shadow¡¯s glare darkened. ¡°I said be quiet.¡±


    Amelia sighed, her expression hardening. ¡°Fine. Rex, do it.¡±


    The scenery shifted in an instant, the soft glow of twilight replaced by the cold, stark interior of Rex¡¯s palace. Shadow barely had time to react before Rex appeared, his massive sword swinging toward Shadow¡¯s neck.


    Shadow¡¯s sickle met Rex¡¯s blade in a resounding clash, sparks flying as their weapons locked. Shadow¡¯s thoughts raced. ¡°The light¡­ I can¡¯t use my abilities in this light.¡±


    Rex¡¯s voice was calm yet deadly. ¡°I just have to take your head to end this.¡±


    Their movements blurred as the battle intensified, Shadow¡¯s strikes precise but ultimately reactive against Rex¡¯s unrelenting offense. Then Rex¡¯s eyes gleamed with purpose, and with a single thought, he extinguished the light.


    Darkness enveloped the room. Shadow smirked, his confidence returning. ¡°Finally. Yeager ability: Shadow Revenge.¡±


    But before he could act, Rex appeared behind him in an instant, his blade slicing clean through Shadow¡¯s neck.


    Shadow¡¯s head hit the ground, his body collapsing as it began to fade into nothingness. His disembodied voice lingered, filled with disbelief. ¡°You¡­ you copied my ability. You used the shadows to teleport¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Rex said, his tone devoid of triumph.


    Amelia stepped forward, her voice trembling with urgency. ¡°Rex, let me take control for a moment.¡±


    Rex¡¯s eyes shifted to a vivid magenta as Amelia¡¯s presence took over. She knelt beside Shadow¡¯s fading head, her voice breaking. ¡°Shadow, please. Let me save you. It doesn¡¯t have to end like this.¡±


    Shadow¡¯s remaining eye twitched, his voice laced with defiance. ¡°Don¡¯t insult me. I accept my fate. Just remember¡­ I¡¯m a true Yeager!¡±


    With that, his head dissolved into the air, leaving only silence in its wake.


    The palace vanished, replaced by the quiet courtyard of the Locke family estate. Rex stood amidst the carnage, the once-powerful family massacred, their wealth and influence now his by right.


    He activated his comms, his voice steady but weary. ¡°Leon, it¡¯s done. Pick me up.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Leon replied. ¡°Another chopper¡¯s en route. You¡¯ll need to wait a moment.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Rex said, closing his eyes as he leaned against the remains of the estate. He exhaled deeply, reflecting on the bloodshed. Despite his victory, his expression was unreadable¡ªa man weighed down by the ghosts of his choices.


    The Locke family was no more, their legacy erased. And as Rex waited, the quiet hum of the approaching chopper grew louder, marking the end of yet another chapter in his relentless path.

 Conflicts

    As the helicopter dropped off Rex near the crumbling Locke mansion, it disappeared into the horizon. Inside, the team began to discuss their next move.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Emi said, adjusting her earpiece. ¡°Aren¡¯t we staying behind to wait for Rex?¡±


    Leon shook his head, his tone firm. ¡°No, we¡¯ve got our own mission. I repaired Eclipse, and she pinpointed Neo¡¯s base in Russia. We need to hit it now.¡±


    Emi smirked, cracking her knuckles. ¡°Russia, huh? Roger that! Let¡¯s get back to Russia, baby!¡±


    Amber stared out of the window as Rex silently walked into the ruined mansion. Her eyes lingered on him, lost in thought. Meanwhile, Baluka leaned back in her seat, scrolling through a digital pad, while Hanako was sleeping on her lap, completely don¡¯t peacefully on her lap.


    Baluka glanced up, her keen eyes catching Amber¡¯s distant expression. ¡°Something happened between you and Rex, didn¡¯t it?¡± she asked casually, not looking away from her pad.


    Amber jolted slightly, then hesitated. ¡°Uhh¡­ it¡¯s nothing.¡±


    Baluka smiled knowingly. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You don¡¯t have to talk about it. Just remember¡ªRex is a quiet guy. He carries more weight than he lets on.¡±


    Amber sighed and offered a faint smile in return, silently grateful for Baluka¡¯s understanding.


    At the back of the ship, Nur meticulously worked on refitting his mechanical arms, his expression grim as he replayed the last fight in his mind. The damage Destiny inflicted still haunted him. He flexed the newly repaired joints with a metallic clink, lost in thought.


    ¡°How much longer until we reach the base?¡± Leon asked Eclipse, his voice cutting through the quiet tension in the cabin.


    ¡°Five minutes,¡± Eclipse replied, her voice cool and efficient.


    The minutes crawled by as the team prepared themselves for whatever lay ahead. When the ship landed, Nur didn¡¯t wait for anyone else. He punched the door release, the metal groaning under his strength. The cold Russian air bit at their skin as they disembarked.


    ¡°This place feels¡­ empty,¡± Amber muttered, her voice echoing off the surrounding walls of the desolate compound.


    ¡°It¡¯s not,¡± Leon countered, scanning the area. ¡°Eclipse¡¯s data says this place has been operational since Neo was activated.¡±


    As they moved deeper into the base, Nur suddenly froze. His sharp eyes caught a fleeting figure disappearing around a corner¡ªone he recognized instantly.


    ¡°No way¡­¡± he whispered, his heart pounding. Without warning, he bolted after the figure.


    ¡°Nur! Where are you going?!¡± Baluka shouted, starting to run after him.


    Before she could follow, the floor beneath her and the rest of the team groaned ominously. Suddenly, trapdoors sprang open beneath their feet. One by one, the team fell through the floor, their cries echoing as they disappeared into darkness.


    Amber landed hard in a dimly lit hallway, the air knocked from her lungs. She groaned as she pushed herself up, her hand instinctively going to her weapon. The silence was suffocating.


    ¡°Leon? Emi? Baluka?¡± she called out, her voice trembling slightly.


    No response.


    The air shifted behind her, and she spun around, weapon drawn, only to find an empty corridor. A chill ran down her spine. Something¡ªor someone¡ªwas here with her.


    Elsewhere, Leon found himself in a cavernous room filled with flickering screens displaying Neo¡¯s vast operations. His sharp eyes scanned the data, piecing together Neo¡¯s plans. But his thoughts were interrupted by the faint sound of footsteps. He turned, his sai¡¯s raised, ready for a fight.


    Emi landed in what appeared to be a storage area filled with towering shelves of strange machinery. She groaned, brushing herself off. ¡°Great. Traps and creepy storage rooms. Just my luck,¡± she muttered. As she moved cautiously through the maze, the sound of something metallic scuttling in the shadows made her grip her tonfa¡¯s tightly.


    Baluka landed in a stark white laboratory. Hanako leapt off her shoulder, her fur bristling as she sniffed the air, growling lowly. Baluka¡¯s eyes narrowed as she took in the sterile surroundings. ¡°This isn¡¯t good¡­¡± she murmured. She picked up a scalpel from a nearby table, her instincts screaming that something was off.


    As Nur sprinted after the figure, his breath quickened. They turned a corner and entered a room, and the moment Nur stepped inside, his heart sank. The sterile metallic walls, the faint hum of machinery, and the acrid smell of chemicals¡ªit was all too familiar. His stomach churned as he realized this was a replica of that room, the one from his childhood where Luna had experimented on him.


    His hands began to shake involuntarily as flashes of memory assaulted him. He remembered the searing pain of losing his limbs, the cold, unrelenting metal against his skin, and the feeling of helplessness in the cage. Nur stumbled backward, gripping his head as panic threatened to overwhelm him.


    The figure turned, stepping out of the shadows. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Nur? Don¡¯t you want to see what you¡¯ve become?¡± the voice taunted, cold and venomous. It was Luna herself¡ªor at least, someone using her face. A cruel smile spread across her lips as Nur froze, paralyzed by the weight of his past.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Meanwhile, Amber gripped her spear tightly, her senses on high alert. The air around her shifted, and a faint buzzing sound grew louder. Her instincts screamed that something dangerous was approaching.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re Amber,¡± a voice purred, laced with mockery. From the shadows emerged Beelzebub, her presence unnerving. She carried an aura of menace, her eyes glinting with malice.


    Amber¡¯s grip tightened on her spear as her mind raced. ¡°This is the Yeager Rex and Emi fought back in Japan,¡± she realized, a chill running down her spine.


    Beelzebub snapped her fingers, and suddenly a swarm of flies filled the air, charging at Amber like a black cloud of death.


    Amber planted her feet firmly. ¡°Lightning Style: Electric Web!¡± she shouted, spinning her spear rapidly. Sparks flew as arcs of electricity formed a shimmering web around her. The flies that hit the web sizzled and dropped lifelessly to the ground.


    When the buzzing finally ceased, Amber exhaled, her eyes darting around. Beelzebub was gone.


    Then, out of nowhere, Amber felt a presence behind her.


    Beelzebub reappeared in an instant, her speed unnatural. ¡°Yeager Ability: Plague of Angels,¡± she thought, her hand glowing with a deep, sinister black. She reached out, her palm aiming for Amber¡¯s back.


    Amber reacted just in time, spinning around and slicing Beelzebub¡¯s hand clean off with her spear. The severed hand hit the ground as Amber followed up with a precise thrust, driving her spear through Beelzebub¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Impressive,¡± Beelzebub gasped, a twisted smile on her lips. ¡°Your speed is as fast as lightning.¡±


    Amber yanked her spear back, her eyes narrowing. But Beelzebub¡¯s severed hand regenerated in seconds, and the gaping wound in her chest closed as if it had never been there.


    Before Amber could react, Beelzebub reached out and placed her regenerated hand on Amber¡¯s skull. A cold, dark energy coursed through Amber¡¯s body as the plague took hold.


    Amber gasped, her vision blurring as her body betrayed her. She dropped to her knees, her spear clattering to the floor, before collapsing entirely.


    Beelzebub crouched beside her, grinning wickedly. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry, little lightning warrior,¡± she whispered. ¡°I¡¯m going to love having you in my killing games.¡± Her laughter echoed as she grabbed Amber by the hair and dragging her with her


    As Baluka and Hanako cautiously explored the pristine laboratory, the air felt unnervingly sterile.


    ¡°This place¡­ it¡¯s too clean. It doesn¡¯t feel right,¡± Hanako muttered, her fox ears twitching as she shifted into her human-fox hybrid form, her tails swaying uneasily.


    Baluka remained silent, her eyes scanning the surroundings. Her expression hardened as she caught sight of something ahead. A wave of nausea hit her as she dropped to her knees and vomited onto the spotless floor.


    ¡°Baluka! What¡¯s wrong?¡± Hanako exclaimed, rushing to her side. She followed Baluka¡¯s gaze, and what she saw made her blood run cold.


    Just a few feet ahead of them, hundreds of dead children lay suspended in a horrifying display. Their lifeless bodies were stacked in an open room, just visible through a transparent floor.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a laboratory,¡± Baluka whispered, her voice trembling with anger and grief. ¡°This is a death sentence.¡±


    Meanwhile, Emi navigated the storage room, trying to find a way out. Her hands trailed along the walls until she finally found a door. Just as she reached for it, a chill ran down her spine.


    ¡°Someone¡¯s here,¡± she thought. She couldn¡¯t sense any flux energy, but there was something¡ªsomething terrifyingly overwhelming.


    Before she could react, a force slammed into her with such speed and power that she was sent crashing through the wall, landing in another room. The impact left her disoriented, and she groaned as she pushed herself up.


    ¡°Emi!¡± Leon¡¯s voice echoed as he ran towards her.


    ¡°What just happened?¡± Emi muttered, shaking her head. She glanced up, spotting the gaping hole in the wall she¡¯d been thrown through. Her eyes shifted to the figure standing amidst the rubble¡ªa woman with an aura of pure menace.


    ¡°She¡¯s¡­ fast,¡± Emi thought, her heart racing. ¡°Faster than Nur, and Nur moves at light speed. I can barely react to him, but this woman¡ªshe¡¯s even faster.¡±


    Before either could speak, a booming voice interrupted them.


    ¡°Do you like my new toy?¡± Neo¡¯s voice echoed through the hallway, dripping with malice.


    Both Emi and Leon turned to see Neo¡¯s giant robotic body stepping into view. His towering frame was illuminated by the flickering lights above. Standing beside him was the woman who had attacked Emi, her cold gaze fixed on them.


    ¡°This is Night Sora,¡± Neo declared, gesturing to the woman. ¡°A warrior who nearly defeated Griffin before her death. But death is not the end, as you can see. I¡¯ve brought her back, stronger than ever. And now, I¡¯m grateful that you¡¯ve all gathered here¡­ so I can kill you all.¡±


    Emi and Leon exchanged tense glances, their muscles tensing as the situation grew grimmer.


    Here¡¯s the rewritten and more detailed version with added dialogue and action:


    ¡°Emi, you handle her. I¡¯ll deal with him,¡± Leon said, his voice sharp with urgency as he shifted his stance.


    ¡°Understood,¡± Emi replied, nodding firmly. She turned her focus to Night, her eyes narrowing as she prepared to strike. But before she could even take a step, Night vanished in a blur.


    A split second later, a crushing force hit Emi like a freight train. Night had appeared in front of her, landing a powerful blow that sent her flying. She crashed through several walls, the concrete crumbling around her, and was launched up to the surface.


    Emi¡¯s body slammed onto the hood of a car with a deafening thud, crumpling the metal beneath her. She groaned, coughing up blood as she tried to sit up. Her vision blurred momentarily.


    ¡°This fight might actually kill me,¡± Emi thought grimly, wiping blood from her mouth. She rolled off the car, her hand glowing faintly as she activated her healing ability. But just as she stood up, Night was already there, standing ominously in front of her with an unsettling grin.


    ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got?¡± Night taunted, her voice dripping with mockery.


    Emi steadied herself, her breathing heavy. ¡°Not even close,¡± she growled, summoning her energy for the next clash.


    Meanwhile, back underground, Leon and Neo locked eyes in a tense standoff. The air between them crackled with unspoken animosity.


    ¡°I can¡¯t wait to erase your data and repurpose it for my robots,¡± Leon sneered, his lips curling into a wicked grin.


    Neo¡¯s expression remained calm, but his tone was venomous. ¡°Out of all the elite forces of this so-called modern era, you¡¯re the one I want to kill the most.¡± He raised a hand, and a fleet of drones materialized behind him, their engines humming ominously.


    As Leon prepared to counter, the distant sound of a scuffle drew their attention for a brief moment.


    Elsewhere, Nur stood frozen in fear, his body trembling as Luna advanced toward him with deadly intent. His mind raced, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to move. Just as Luna raised her weapon, an arrow whizzed past and grazed her cheek, forcing her to halt.


    Luna¡¯s image flickered and disappeared. ¡°Destiny,¡± Nur breathed in confusion.


    From the shadows, Baluka emerged, her bowstring taut as she took aim again. ¡°Stay sharp, Nur!¡± she shouted. Another arrow was released, but Destiny appeared behind her, snapping his fingers. In an instant, a plasma gun materialized in his hand. He fired at Baluka


    Baluka reacted quickly, sliding to avoid the energy blast. She leapt onto the wall, propelling herself toward Destiny with a swift kick. He dodged, moving with unnatural speed, and disappeared into the chaos.


    ¡°Nur, are you okay?¡± Baluka asked as she rushed to his side. She could see the fear in his eyes, his hands trembling uncontrollably.


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sorry,¡± Nur stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Nur,¡± Baluka said gently, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m here. You¡¯re not alone.¡±


    But her attention was drawn back to the scene outside. She couldn¡¯t let the Yeager-ranked soldier roam free. ¡°Stay here,¡± she said firmly. Without waiting for his response, she sprinted out, following the trail of destruction.


    When she reached the surface, her heart sank. The Moscow base was under heavy attack. A massive Yeager stood amidst the chaos, wreaking havoc on everything in its path.


    Baluka clenched her fists, determination burning in her eyes. ¡°Not on my watch,¡± she muttered, charging forward to confront the enemy.


    The battle was far from over.

 Power and intellect

    As Emi and Night locked eyes, the tension was palpable. They began circling each other, the air between them charged with unspoken intent. Night¡¯s movements were precise, her darkened eyes devoid of emotion.


    ¡°Those eyes¡­ She¡¯s not there,¡± Emi thought, her heart sinking. ¡°The body came back, but not the soul. She¡¯s being controlled like a mindless puppet.¡±


    In a flash, Night disappeared from Emi¡¯s line of sight, reappearing behind her. Emi spun around just in time, her instincts screaming at her to stay alert.


    ¡°I have to end this fast,¡± Emi thought, her mind racing. ¡°If I hesitate, it¡¯s over.¡±


    Night gripped her dagger and shifted into a low, aggressive stance. The sheer menace radiating from her made Emi¡¯s pulse quicken.


    ¡°Water Style: Mist Escape!¡± Emi thought, channeling her flux energy. A thick cloud of mist enveloped the area, giving her a chance to retreat. She sprinted through the cover of the mist, her senses on high alert.


    But then the ground shook violently. Night¡¯s dagger slashed through the mist, missing Emi by mere inches.


    ¡°She attacked through pure instinct!¡± Emi realized, panic creeping into her thoughts as she scrambled to her feet.


    Night¡¯s pursuit was relentless, her silent footsteps like a predator hunting prey. Emi veered sharply into a nearby parking garage, her boots echoing against the concrete. She ducked behind a column, her breathing heavy.


    ¡°Shit,¡± she thought, her eyes darting around for an escape. ¡°If I use my Palace now, I¡¯ll flood all of Moscow!¡±


    Before she could come up with a plan, Night leaped into the same level of the parking garage, her form silhouetted against the faint light. Emi¡¯s grip tightened around her tonfas.


    ¡°No choice,¡± she muttered to herself, charging toward Night.


    Night stood motionless, her dagger glinting in the dim light. Emi threw a punch with her tonfas, aiming for Night¡¯s torso. But Night moved with supernatural precision, blocking the strike with one hand. Emi followed up with a flurry of attacks, but Night parried each one effortlessly.


    ¡°She¡¯s not even trying,¡± Emi thought, frustration bubbling within her.


    Night¡¯s counterattack came swift and brutal. She backhanded Emi across the face, the impact sending her stumbling backward.


    Emi gritted her teeth and swept her leg low, attempting to trip Night. But Night anticipated the move, driving her dagger into the ground to block the sweep. Emi quickly transitioned into another strike, aiming for Night¡¯s face, but Night caught her wrist with ease.


    Before Emi could react, Night yanked her forward and slammed her forehead into Emi¡¯s face in a devastating headbutt. Stars exploded in Emi¡¯s vision as she staggered back, blood dripping from her nose.


    ¡°She¡¯s overpowering me at every turn,¡± Emi thought, her body screaming in pain. ¡°I have to come up with something¡ªfast.¡±


    But Night didn¡¯t give her time to recover. She stepped forward, her movements cold and mechanical.


    Night didn¡¯t hesitate. She grabbed Emi by the arm and flung her out of the parking garage like a rag doll. Emi crashed to the ground, her body aching as she scrambled to her feet just in time to dodge Night¡¯s follow-up strike.


    Night closed the distance with terrifying speed, her attacks unrelenting. A devastating kick sent Emi flying into a wall, and before she could recover, Night¡¯s elbow drove into her face, propelling her into a parked car. The car¡¯s alarm blared as Emi groaned, barely able to move.


    Night planted her foot against a nearby building, crouching like a coiled spring. The structure cracked under the pressure as she pushed off with incredible force, the sheer momentum sending the building¡¯s fa?ade crumbling toward Emi.


    Emi rolled to the side just in time, avoiding the falling debris. Breathing heavily, she sprinted toward a building, climbing its side in a desperate attempt to escape. Night, relentless as ever, hurled chunks of debris after her, each piece tearing through the structure like paper.


    A shadow loomed over Emi¡ªa house, flung by Night, hurtling toward her. Emi¡¯s eyes widened in panic, but a sudden explosion obliterated the massive object. The force sent her tumbling onto a rooftop. Before she could regain her footing, Night¡¯s dagger streaked through the air, narrowly missing her head and embedding itself in the wall behind her.


    Panting, Emi leaped through a broken window into the building and ducked into the shadows. She crouched low, trying to calm her racing heart as Night followed her inside, eerily quiet.


    Night moved methodically, her eyes scanning the area. She caught sight of a chair spinning lightly in place. She approached it cautiously, only to find nothing. Her sharp gaze darted to the ceiling as the building¡¯s sprinklers activated, spraying water everywhere.


    Outside the building, Emi focused her flux energy. ¡°Water Style: Water Pressure!¡± she thought, manipulating the water flooding the interior. The pipes burst, and the water surged through the structure with immense force, tearing it apart. The building began to collapse, its supports giving way.


    Emi jumped from the crumbling building, falling toward the street below. ¡°I know that didn¡¯t kill her,¡± she thought grimly as she landed hard but rolled to her feet.


    Her instincts were right. Night emerged from the rubble, leaping down with her dagger drawn. She descended with deadly precision, aiming to impale Emi.


    At the last possible moment, Emi sidestepped the attack, narrowly avoiding the blade. The force of Night¡¯s landing cracked the pavement, and both fighters now stood facing each other in the dim, narrow confines of a back alley.


    The air was heavy with tension, the faint glow of streetlights casting long shadows over the two figures. Emi steadied her breathing, readying herself for the next round of this relentless battle. ¡°I have to figure out a way to end this,¡± she thought, gripping her tonfas tightly. ¡°Or it¡¯s over for me.¡±


    Night¡¯s mind snapped back to the present as she locked eyes with Emi, standing across from her. For a fleeting moment, something unfamiliar flickered in her gaze. She watched Emi closely, and it was impossible not to notice the striking resemblance to someone from her past¡ªthe daughter she had left behind. The thought gnawed at her.


    ¡°What¡¯s your mother¡¯s name?¡± Night asked, her voice softening just slightly, her previously dark eyes now returning to their natural hue.


    Emi, taken aback by the unexpected question, hesitated for a moment. ¡°Kioko Saito,¡± she replied cautiously, her mind racing. The air between them felt charged, the tension building.


    Night¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile, though it was laced with something darker, more bittersweet. ¡°Her last name is not Sora,¡± she muttered under her breath, almost to herself.


    Suddenly, without warning, Night raised her dagger and drove it into her own head with a sickening, almost delicate precision.


    Emi gasped in shock, unable to react in time. The once-unstoppable assassin fell to the ground, lifeless, her body crumpling without a sound.


    As her form hit the earth, a soft, content smile remained frozen on her face.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad for her,¡± Night whispered quietly, as though speaking to someone far away, before life drained from her completely.


    Emi stood there in stunned silence, her body trembling from the sheer intensity of the moment. She had seen countless battles, but this¡­ this was something she couldn¡¯t have predicted. The woman before her had been far more than a puppet¡ªshe had been a person, torn between the bonds of the past and the harshness of the present. And now, in the quiet aftermath, Emi could only wonder what it was that had driven Night to such a tragic end.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    As Leon and Neo locked eyes, the tension in the room was palpable. Leon¡¯s mind raced. ¡°I planted cameras during his fight with Fadia. Destroying this body won¡¯t kill him¡ªthat much I know. That¡¯s why I uploaded the combat data to the computer. I need to understand his strategy, his next move. But first, I just need five minutes to stall.¡±


    Neo studied Leon, his expression unreadable. ¡°Out of all the elite force members, I can usually sense their thoughts, their intentions. But Leon¡¯s mind¡­ it¡¯s like a fortress. A complete mystery. If I can¡¯t predict his next move, I¡¯ll have to match his pace, waiting for the right moment to strike,¡± Neo thought, his eyes narrowing slightly.


    Suddenly, Neo broke the silence. ¡°Leon, I have a different idea. How about we play a game?¡±


    ¡°A game?¡± Leon asked, his interest piqued. ¡°What kind of game?¡±


    Neo smirked. ¡°We won¡¯t fight each other¡ªnot yet. Let¡¯s play chess.¡±


    Leon scoffed, leaning back slightly. ¡°Please. You¡¯d lose the moment the first piece moved.¡±


    Neo¡¯s smirk widened into a grin. ¡°Not just any chess. A three-dimensional chess game.¡±


    Leon¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°And the stakes?¡±


    ¡°The loser¡­ will ultimately die,¡± Neo replied, his tone calm yet chilling.


    Leon let out a dry laugh. ¡°High stakes, indeed. Fine. Let¡¯s get started.¡±


    Neo raised his hand and snapped his fingers. Instantly, holographic chairs and a glowing, multi-layered chessboard materialized between them. The pieces shimmered, suspended in the air like spectral phantoms awaiting their commands.


    Without another word, the two sat down, their gazes locked, and the game began.


    The holographic board glowed with an otherworldly light, its three layers floating seamlessly in the air. Leon and Neo sat opposite each other, their faces lit by the shimmering pieces as they carefully assessed the battlefield. The stakes were clear: this wasn¡¯t just a game¡ªit was a war of minds, a clash of strategies that would end with one of them destroyed.


    Leon stared at the board, his mind working like a machine. Every piece had a purpose, every layer a meaning. He had studied countless strategies in two-dimensional chess, but this? This was a battlefield that required mastery of spatial thinking and an understanding of his opponent¡¯s psychology.


    ¡°Neo isn¡¯t just playing to win,¡± Leon thought. ¡°He¡¯s playing to dismantle me. He thrives on control, on twisting the rules in his favor. But I know how he operates. His arrogance is his greatest weakness.¡±


    Leon¡¯s eyes flicked between the layers. The top plane was where Neo had placed his knights and queen, a classic offensive maneuver that prioritized overwhelming force. The middle plane was balanced, his rooks and pawns forming an impenetrable wall. The bottom layer, however, was sparse¡ªNeo¡¯s pawns were scattered, a deliberate tactic to bait Leon into overcommitting.


    ¡°He¡¯s trying to lure me into the lower layer,¡± Leon realized. ¡°But that¡¯s exactly where I¡¯ll turn the tables. I¡¯ll use his bait against him.¡±


    Leon moved his knight from the middle layer to the top, placing it in a position where it threatened Neo¡¯s queen but also created a pathway for his bishop.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see how he reacts to that,¡± Leon thought. ¡°He¡¯ll think it¡¯s a trap¡ªand he¡¯ll waste time trying to counter it.¡±


    Neo¡¯s lips curled into a faint smirk as he watched Leon¡¯s knight rise to the top layer. ¡°Interesting,¡± he mused. ¡°He¡¯s trying to disrupt my queen¡¯s positioning, but he¡¯s not committing. Typical Leon¡ªalways trying to bait me into overanalyzing.¡±


    Neo leaned back slightly, his fingers hovering over his rook on the middle layer. The move would be straightforward¡ªdefend the queen and threaten Leon¡¯s knight. But Neo didn¡¯t believe in straightforward moves.


    ¡°Leon¡¯s greatest strength is his patience. He knows how to make you second-guess every step. If I play into his rhythm, I lose the advantage. No, I need to break his flow, force him to react to me instead.¡±


    Neo glanced at the bottom layer, where his scattered pawns lay dormant. They were weak, but they served a purpose. He moved one pawn forward, ascending it to the middle layer. The holographic piece shimmered as it rose, now threatening Leon¡¯s bishop.


    ¡°This will force him to adjust his strategy,¡± Neo thought. ¡°And while he¡¯s focused on the middle layer, I¡¯ll seize control of the top.¡±


    Leon watched the pawn ascend, a subtle but calculated move. ¡°He¡¯s trying to pull my attention to the middle layer. It¡¯s a diversion¡ªhe wants me to overcommit here while he reinforces his attack on the top.¡±


    But Leon wasn¡¯t about to fall for it. Instead of reacting to the pawn, he moved his queen diagonally across the top layer, placing it in a position that not only protected his knight but also threatened Neo¡¯s rook.


    ¡°This should create enough pressure to destabilize his offensive line. He¡¯ll be forced to defend.¡±


    Yet even as he made the move, Leon felt a pang of doubt. ¡°No¡­ Neo¡¯s too smart to be distracted by a simple threat. He¡¯ll see through this. I need to anticipate his counter before it even happens.¡±


    Neo¡¯s smirk deepened as Leon moved his queen. ¡°Predictable. He¡¯s trying to box me in, force me to defend my rook. But he doesn¡¯t realize he¡¯s left a gap in his own defense.¡±


    Neo¡¯s fingers hovered over his knight on the middle layer. With a decisive motion, he moved it to the top, directly challenging Leon¡¯s queen. The holographic knight glowed as it ascended, its new position threatening not just the queen but also creating a pathway for Neo¡¯s bishop.


    ¡°Checkmate is still far away,¡± Neo thought. ¡°But with this move, I¡¯ve tightened the noose. He¡¯ll have to retreat or sacrifice a key piece. Either way, I gain control of the top layer.¡±


    The game became a whirlwind of moves, each one meticulously calculated, each one probing the other¡¯s mind.


    ¡°He¡¯s focusing on the top layer too heavily. If I can isolate his king on the middle plane, I can pin him down. But to do that, I¡¯ll need to sacrifice a pawn¡ªand he¡¯ll know it¡¯s deliberate. The question is, will he take the bait?¡± Leon thought


    Leon moved a pawn forward on the bottom layer, creating a direct path to Neo¡¯s king on the middle plane.


    ¡°A sacrifice. He¡¯s trying to funnel me into the middle layer. But why? What¡¯s his endgame? If I counter this, I might walk into a trap¡ªbut if I don¡¯t, he gains too much momentum.¡± Neo thought


    Neo responded by moving his rook to block the pawn, tightening his defenses on the middle plane.


    As the game progressed, both players began to feel the strain. Every move drained a sliver of their energy, the holographic board pulsing with the intensity of their mental duel.


    Leon¡¯s strategy was clear¡ªforce Neo to spread his forces thin across all three layers. Neo, in turn, sought to consolidate power, maintaining control of the top layer while gradually advancing on the middle.


    Finally, after dozens of moves, Leon saw his opportunity. His queen descended from the top layer to the middle, supported by a rook and knight. The holographic pieces aligned perfectly, their combined threat forming an inescapable trap.


    Neo¡¯s eyes narrowed. He studied the board, his mind racing. ¡°There¡¯s no escape. He¡¯s boxed me in. I didn¡¯t see it until now, but every move he made was leading to this moment. Checkmate.¡±


    The board flickered, the pieces dissolving into light as the game ended. Leon leaned back, his face expressionless but his mind triumphant. Neo sat still, his smirk gone.


    ¡°Outplayed,¡± Neo thought. ¡°But this isn¡¯t over. Not yet.¡±


    Leon¡¯s eyes met Neo¡¯s across the table. No words were exchanged, but the intensity between them spoke volumes. They both knew this game was just the beginning of their battle¡ªan intellectual war that neither could afford to lose.


    ¡°Good game, Leon,¡± Neo said, his voice calm despite the loss.


    ¡°Yes. So die,¡± Leon replied coldly.


    Neo¡¯s body began to tremble, a mechanical laugh escaping his lips as he suddenly exploded, sending shards of his metallic frame scattering across the room. Leon stood still, watching the destruction without flinching.


    ¡°That was truly a fun game,¡± a familiar voice echoed behind him.


    Leon¡¯s eyes widened as he spun around. Standing there was Neo¡ªagain. His new body gleamed with a more advanced metallic design, sharp and imposing.


    ¡°How?¡± Leon asked, his voice laced with both frustration and disbelief.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t delete my AI when you killed me,¡± Neo said, his voice dripping with amusement. ¡°I merely transitioned. As one body died, I created another. Think of me as Neo 2.0¡ªbetter, faster, smarter.¡±


    Leon¡¯s expression darkened as he noticed the faint beep from his communicator. The data download was complete. Without hesitation, he turned and bolted toward the exit.


    Neo tilted his head in confusion. ¡°He¡¯s running? Strange. Wait¡­¡± His eyes narrowed as he pieced it together. ¡°He downloaded my files. He¡¯ll know my plans.¡±


    Neo¡¯s new body sprang into action, chasing after Leon. The corridors of the base echoed with metallic footsteps as robotic sentries emerged from hidden compartments, blocking Leon¡¯s path.


    ¡°Ice Style: Demon¡¯s Cold!¡± Leon thought, his voice commanding even in his mind. Slamming his foot down, a pulse of freezing energy radiated from him, coating the entire base floor in frost. The robots froze in place, their movements grinding to a halt as the cold seized their joints.


    Leon didn¡¯t waste a moment. Drawing his sais, he moved like a whirlwind, slashing through the immobilized robots, their metallic frames shattering into shards.


    Before he could catch his breath, Neo appeared in front of him, moving at inhuman speed. Leon clenched his fists, his mind racing. Neo lunged at him, but Leon threw a small device onto the ground.


    In an instant, the device activated, opening a glowing portal. Without hesitation, Leon sprinted through it just as Neo reached out to grab him. Neo stopped, staring at the portal as it began to destabilize.


    ¡°NO!¡± Neo roared, realizing what was happening. He dove toward it, but the portal collapsed before he could step through.


    ¡°FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!¡± Neo screamed, his voice echoing through the frozen base as he pounded the ground in frustration.


    Leon stumbled out of the portal, collapsing to the ground. His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath, his body trembling from exertion.


    ¡°Leon, I¡¯ve got the machine,¡± Rex¡¯s voice crackled over the comms.


    Leon steadied himself, forcing calm into his voice. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll send a plane to pick you up. Hold your position.¡±


    Meanwhile, Baluka sprinted through the ruins of the city, her bow drawn tight. She skidded to a stop when she spotted Destiny standing over a terrified man. Destiny¡¯s pale face twisted into a grin, his sharp teeth glinting in the faint light as he leaned closer to his victim.


    Baluka fired an arrow, the projectile cutting through the air with precision. Destiny moved faster, his hand snapping out to grab the arrow mid-flight.


    ¡°You¡¯re finally here,¡± he said, his voice a low growl. He tossed the arrow aside, his eyes locking on her.


    Baluka¡¯s steps were slow and deliberate as she approached him, her bow still in hand. ¡°Let¡¯s end this, Yeager,¡± she said, her voice steady, carrying both anger and resolve.


    Destiny grinned wider, baring his teeth. ¡°Gladly.¡±

 The Unyielding Sand!

    Baluka and Destiny faced each other, the tension crackling like static in the air. Both stood unmoving, analyzing, waiting.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know his full Yeager ability,¡± Baluka thought, her grip tightening on her bow. ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen, he can create illusions, but is that all? Or is there more I haven¡¯t noticed?¡±


    Destiny smirked, his gaze trailing to the sand swirling around her feet. ¡°That sand of hers¡­ it¡¯s sharp enough to slice through the strongest substances on Earth. One grain aimed at my neck, and I¡¯m done. I can¡¯t afford any mistakes.¡±


    Baluka fired an arrow, her reflexes sharp as lightning. The arrow streaked through the air like a silver streak, but in a blink, Destiny snapped his fingers. The arrow disintegrated into harmless bubbles.


    ¡°What?!¡± Baluka¡¯s mind raced. ¡°He turned it into bubbles? How?!¡±


    Before she could fully process, Destiny tilted his head, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. Baluka¡¯s instincts screamed at her to move, and she spun around, dashing into a narrow alleyway.


    ¡°If he can turn an arrow into bubbles, does that mean¡­ he can rewrite reality itself?¡± she thought, adrenaline flooding her veins.


    Her thoughts were interrupted as Destiny appeared in front of her, out of nowhere, his fist already swinging toward her face. She barely had time to react. Instinctively, she scattered a pinch of sand into the air.


    Destiny¡¯s fist stopped mid-swing, splitting in half. Blood and metal hissed as they hit the ground, and Baluka slid back, firing another arrow in retaliation.


    ¡°Sand Style: Sand Whip!¡± she thought, commanding the sand to coil around the arrow. But before it reached Destiny, the arrow dissolved into dust mid-flight.


    She staggered back, her mind racing. Swords materialized out of thin air, shooting toward her from every direction. Baluka rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly blades. She got to her feet and sprinted again, her breathing ragged.


    ¡°That confirms it,¡± she thought. ¡°He¡¯s not just creating illusions¡ªhe¡¯s rewriting reality. Anything he imagines, he can make happen.¡±


    Destiny watched her, his smirk growing as his severed hand began to regenerate. ¡°When I punched her, she used sand¡ªsalted sand¡ªto disrupt my body¡¯s molecular structure. Clever, but not clever enough.¡±


    He snapped his fingers again. This time, spikes erupted from the walls of the alley, closing in on Baluka from every angle.


    ¡°I hope this works!¡± Baluka thought, leaping high into the air. The spikes missed her by a hair¡¯s breadth, scraping against her armor. But Destiny appeared again, this time above her, grabbing her neck mid-air with brutal force. The impact caused her to drop her bow.


    ¡°What is he doing to my body?!¡± she thought, struggling against his grip. Her limbs felt weak, and she realized with a surge of panic: ¡°He¡¯s draining my flux energy!¡±


    With her last ounce of focus, she summoned her Mambele, her fingers twitching in a practiced command. The spinning blade responded instantly, slicing through half of Destiny¡¯s head. He released her, staggering back as blood and metallic fragments spilled from his wound.


    Baluka hit the ground hard, gasping for air. Her vision blurred, and every muscle in her body screamed in protest. ¡°When he was choking me, I barely have any flux energy left. But I can¡¯t stop now.¡±


    She forced herself to her feet and looked up. Destiny¡¯s head was already regenerating, his mutilated face reforming into a twisted grin.


    ¡°This girl,¡± Destiny growled, his voice dripping with malice. ¡°You¡¯re annoying. I¡¯m going to kill you.¡± He floated mid-air, his body radiating dark energy.


    Baluka¡¯s heart pounded. Fear clawed at her chest, but she pushed it down, remembering something Emi had told her long ago. A soft smile spread across her lips.


    ¡°Why are you smiling?!¡± Destiny roared, his frustration boiling over. Flames erupted from his hands as he launched a massive fireball at her.


    Baluka didn¡¯t hesitate. She charged forward, her mulungu spinning in front of her. ¡°Sand Style: Sand Shield!¡± she thought, the weapon spinning faster and faster until it formed a shimmering barrier of sand.


    The explosion obliterated everything in a 50-mile radius. Buildings collapsed, and smoke filled the air. Yet, as the dust cleared, Baluka emerged, still running, her smile unbroken.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Baluka, get out of there!¡± Leon¡¯s voice crackled through her comms. ¡°You won¡¯t survive another attack like that¡ªyou¡¯ll die!¡±


    She glanced up and saw a news drone hovering above the battlefield, broadcasting the fight to the world. ¡°Fine by me!¡± she yelled back, defiant.


    In America, Baluka¡¯s family huddled together in front of the television, watching the broadcast in horror. Tears streamed down their faces.


    ¡°Baluka¡­¡± her father whispered, his voice breaking. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry we put you through this. It¡¯s all my fault.¡±


    Baluka pushed forward, her body aching with every step. Destiny¡¯s fire had destroyed his arm completely, but she noticed he was preparing to regenerate again.


    ¡°Oh no, you don¡¯t!¡± she screamed, summoning sand arrows that pierced his body before he could heal.


    ¡°What?!¡± Destiny thought, his movements faltering. ¡°These arrows¡ªthey¡¯re disrupting my regeneration!¡±


    Baluka seized the moment, leaping toward him. She punched him square in the jaw, then swung her mulungu toward his neck. Destiny dodged, laughing maniacally.


    ¡°Hahahaha! Let¡¯s go, Yeager!¡± Baluka yelled, her voice raw with fury. ¡°To think, a girl with almost no flux energy left is about to beat a Yeager rank! How does it feel?¡±


    She unleashed a flurry of punches, her attacks relentless.


    Destiny smirked through the pain. ¡°Good. Keep going. I¡¯ll distract her long enough to charge another attack.¡±


    He gathered energy in his hand, launching an explosive blast at point-blank range. The force sent Baluka hurtling into a building. The arrows lodged in Destiny¡¯s body disintegrated, allowing him to regenerate fully.


    Baluka struggled to her feet, her body scorched and bleeding. Her armor was cracked, and her vision wavered. ¡°This is good,¡± she thought, wiping blood from her mouth. ¡°Make him angry. The angrier he gets, the more careless he¡¯ll become.¡±


    Destiny floated above her, his face contorted with rage. ¡°You think you can win, you little nobody? You¡¯re trash! A waste of my time!¡±


    Baluka smiled again, defiance burning in her eyes. ¡°I agree!¡± she yelled, launching herself toward him.


    She grabbed his shirt with both hands, locking eyes with him.


    Destiny¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Oh, there it is! That fire in your eyes! I take it back¡ªyou¡¯re not a waste of time. You¡¯re just trash that needs to be thrown out!¡±


    ¡°Stop making excuses!¡± Baluka shouted, driving her fist into his face.


    Baluka¡¯s foot connected with Destiny¡¯s stomach, sending him hurtling to the ground like a meteor. He crashed with a deafening impact, rubble flying in every direction.


    ¡°Who¡¯s worthless now?!¡± she screamed, her voice echoing over the battlefield.


    She leaped onto a nearby building, her sharp eyes tracking Destiny as he emerged from the debris. He hovered mid-air, his appearance strikingly different. His face was smoother, younger, and his movements were faster and more fluid.


    ¡°He looks younger,¡± Baluka thought, narrowing her eyes. ¡°Of course¡ªhe changed his appearance to shorten his regeneration process. What a cheat!¡±


    Destiny smiled mockingly. With a flick of his fingers, spikes erupted from the ground, ripping through the building Baluka was perched on. She leaped away, but the attack caught her left arm. It was severed cleanly, the blood spraying into the air.


    Baluka tumbled to the ground, cradling the stump where her arm used to be. But instead of crying out, she laughed¡ªa sharp, wild sound that echoed in the chaos.


    Destiny hesitated, his confusion evident. ¡°Why the hell are you laughing?¡±


    Baluka grinned through the pain, blood dripping from her lips. ¡°This¡­ this excitement¡­ it dulls the pain! I don¡¯t have time to focus on what I¡¯ve lost¡ªthis thrill keeps me alive!¡±


    She struggled to her feet, her right arm trembling as she began to gather flux energy. ¡°Sand Style: Sand Storm,¡± she whispered, her voice fierce with determination.


    Her remaining energy surged into her hand, creating a vortex of sand that spun with lethal intent. She hurled it at Destiny, the storm tearing through the air like a hurricane.


    Destiny¡¯s eyes widened. He barely managed to shield himself as the attack slammed into him, sending him spiraling backward. His armor cracked, and blood seeped from wounds that refused to close.


    Baluka collapsed to the ground, her vision swimming. She turned her head skyward, staring at the expanse of clouds as she gasped for air. ¡°I¡¯m still alive. I can still fight!¡± she thought, determination flaring despite her body¡¯s limits.


    Destiny, hovering above her, watched as she crawled weakly across the rubble. His face twisted in disgust.


    ¡°You¡¯re pathetic,¡± he spat, descending to the ground. He grabbed her by the leg, lifting her limp body into the air like a broken doll. ¡°You humans¡­ so stubborn, so disgusting. You don¡¯t know when to quit.¡±


    Baluka smiled faintly, blood staining her teeth. ¡°At least I fought¡­ at least I didn¡¯t back down.¡±


    Destiny tightened his grip, preparing to deliver the final blow, but before he could strike, a blinding beam of light cut through the air, knocking him back. Baluka¡¯s body vanished from his grip, reappearing on a nearby building.


    She looked up sluggishly, her vision swimming as a familiar figure stood before her. Nur, his metallic arms glinting in the light, stared down at her with a mix of sadness and anger.


    ¡°Nur¡­¡± she whispered weakly. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    ¡°I should be asking you that, you idiot!¡± Nur snapped, his voice tinged with concern.


    Baluka chuckled faintly. ¡°Did Leon¡­ help him break free from his anxiety attack?¡± she thought. Her hand trembled as she extended her right arm, brushing her fingers against Nur¡¯s metallic one.


    ¡°Here, Nur. Take this,¡± she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°I¡¯ve infused my sand into your arms. It¡¯s now the sharpest thing in the world¡­ I¡¯m sorry it¡¯s all I can give you right now.¡±


    Her body went limp as she passed out, collapsing at his feet.


    Nur¡¯s expression softened into a smile. ¡°Thanks, Baluka,¡± he said quietly.


    Destiny hovered above the battlefield, rage and frustration clouding his thoughts. ¡°Too many eyes are on me. This is getting out of hand¡ªI need to get out of here.¡±


    But before he could retreat, Nur appeared above him in a flash, his metal arms raised high.


    ¡°I¡¯m your next challenger!¡± Nur roared, his voice echoing across the battlefield. ¡°Prepare yourself, bastard!¡±


    He swung his fist down with earth-shattering force. The impact created a massive explosion, shaking the ground and shattering nearby structures.


    As the smoke cleared, Nur stood tall, his metallic arm glowing with power.


    ¡°I step in when Rex can¡¯t be here,¡± he said, his voice unwavering.

 Lights collide

    As the explosion shook the battlefield, Leon appeared in a blur of motion, his movements precise and calm despite the chaos. He knelt beside Baluka, his hands glowing as he channeled his healing energy into her wounds. Her breathing was shallow, and her body trembled with exhaustion, but Leon¡¯s focused expression never wavered.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be fine,¡± he murmured, though the roar of the ongoing fight above nearly drowned out his words. He glanced upward, his eyes narrowing. The clash between Nur and Destiny had shifted the air itself; the vibrations made it hard to stay still. Debris floated, suspended momentarily before crumbling under the strain of reality bending.


    Leon¡¯s gaze darted back to Baluka for a moment before returning skyward. ¡°He¡¯s so fast,¡± he muttered under his breath, scanning the chaotic aftermath. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t given him that drug, he¡¯d still be trapped in his own fear. But now¡­ now he¡¯s transcending it. Nur¡¯s learning more about light style with every moment, pushing his limits. It¡¯s almost terrifying.¡±


    Meanwhile, Destiny rose from the rubble of a building, brushing the debris from his shoulders with calculated nonchalance. His body was whole again, fully regenerated, as if the last attack had been nothing more than an inconvenience.


    His glowing eyes radiated contempt and restrained fury. ¡°I¡¯ll kill him later,¡± Destiny muttered, his voice a low growl. ¡°Right now, I need energy¡­ I need to recover.¡±


    With a sharp burst of movement, Destiny disappeared, only to reappear moments later, streaking past Nur like a blur of darkness.


    Nur spun, his fists glowing with a barely contained energy that crackled like lightning. His wide, almost maniacal grin never faltered. ¡°You¡¯re ignoring me again?!¡± Nur bellowed, his voice echoing across the battlefield.


    Destiny didn¡¯t slow or turn. He didn¡¯t even acknowledge Nur¡¯s taunt. Instead, his thoughts churned with disdain. This boy¡­ he¡¯s nothing compared to Rex or the past elite force members. He doesn¡¯t even come close to a Dark Flame user. He¡¯s just¡­ a pebble.


    But Nur¡¯s grin widened, his teeth bared like a predator. His body trembled¡ªnot from fear, but from exhilaration. His muscles spasmed, his movements jittery but calculated.


    ¡°I get it now,¡± Nur thought, his confidence swelling. Light style¡ªit¡¯s all about tension, pushing my body beyond its limits, and using those spasms to generate insane speed. I can do this!


    A sudden beam of light streaked across the battlefield, cutting off Destiny¡¯s path with an almost deafening hum.


    Destiny skidded to a halt, his glowing eyes narrowing in irritation. ¡°What now?¡± he muttered, scanning the shimmering obstruction.


    To his shock, Nur burst from the beam, tumbling uncontrollably but laughing all the way. He slammed into a building with a deafening crash, the structure crumbling around him. Moments later, he emerged, brushing himself off as if nothing had happened.


    ¡°Ow! Haha!¡± Nur laughed, his voice ringing out amidst the chaos.


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Destiny stared at him, his confusion deepening into outright frustration. Who is this fool? he thought, his fists clenching as his patience wore thin.


    Meanwhile, Nur¡¯s thoughts burned with unshakable determination. Rex¡­ am I finally catching up to you? No. Right now, it feels like I could surpass you!


    In Germany


    The square was filled with people, but a single woman pushed her way through the crowd, her hands gripping the handles of a wheelchair. Her husband sat stiffly in the chair, his expression vacant, his body unresponsive.


    ¡°Honey, look!¡± the woman cried, her voice trembling with emotion. ¡°Nur is alive! He¡¯s alive!¡±


    She pushed the wheelchair closer to the massive monitor in the center of the square. The screen displayed the battle in real-time, the image shaky but clear enough to show Nur¡¯s glowing figure darting across the battlefield.


    Her husband¡¯s eyes, once dull and lifeless, slowly lifted to meet the screen. His face remained motionless for a moment before something inside him broke. Tears welled up, spilling down his cheeks as he stared at his son.


    ¡°He¡¯s smiling,¡± the woman whispered, her voice catching in her throat. She gripped her husband¡¯s hand tightly, her own tears falling freely. ¡°Smiling like he used to when he was a boy.¡±


    Back with the fight


    Nur launched himself forward with a glowing punch, the force of his attack creating another massive explosion that rippled through the battlefield. The ground shook, and the air shimmered with the residual energy of the clash.


    Both fighters were thrown back by the impact. Nur slammed into the remains of a tower, while Destiny skidded into a heap of rubble, his frustration growing with each passing moment.


    Destiny rose first, his glowing eyes narrowing. His hands trembled, not from exhaustion but from an emotion he refused to name. Why is this trash making me angrier than that girl? he thought, his teeth grinding audibly. Why does he remind me of Malin?


    On the other side of the battlefield, Nur staggered to his feet, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. Despite the damage, his grin was as wide as ever, his fists glowing with renewed energy.


    ¡°It¡¯s all your fault, Malin!¡± Destiny roared, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. His glare was fixed on Nur, but his mind seemed elsewhere, trapped in memories that refused to let go.


    Nur tilted his head, his grin faltering for a moment before turning into a bark of laughter. ¡°Your memory¡¯s trash, Yeager scum! My name is Nur Becker, you fuckface!¡±


    But Destiny wasn¡¯t listening. His mind swirled with chaotic thoughts, memories of Malin flooding his consciousness. Malin¡­ I exterminated her entire family. Her parents, siblings, her husband, her daughter. Is that why Luna tortured this boy as a child? Or is it just¡­ fate? Time and space conspiring to torment me? That smile of his¡ªit¡¯s like he carries her FUCKING WILL.


    Destiny¡¯s frustration erupted like a volcano. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault, Malin!¡± he screamed again, his voice cracking with rage and something far more vulnerable¡ªfear.


    Nur¡¯s grin widened once more, his confidence unshakable. ¡°You¡¯re a broken record, old man! Let¡¯s settle this!¡±


    Destiny¡¯s energy surged, his body radiating with dark, chaotic power. ¡°I need power,¡± he thought. ¡°Just enough to escape and recover.¡± But as the thought formed, he shook his head. No. He would end it here.


    ¡°No more running,¡± Destiny growled. ¡°Yeager ability: Limitless Reality Collapse.¡±


    A monstrous, moss-like entity materialized behind him, its form pulsating with an unholy energy. It surged forward, its sheer presence distorting the battlefield around it.


    Leon, watching from a distance, clenched his fists. His breath caught in his throat. ¡°He needs to dodge. This is all or nothing¡ªa Yeager¡¯s ultimate gamble,¡± he thought, his voice trembling.


    Nur¡¯s smirk widened. ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. ¡°You¡¯re putting everything on that? You lose!¡±


    He planted his feet firmly, his body glowing brighter than ever before. His fists crackled with energy as he prepared his final attack.


    ¡°Rex¡­¡± Nur thought, his mind racing with memories of his mentor. This is for you. One last time. Light Style: Gamma Ray Burst!


    He threw his punch, the energy bursting from his fist with the force of a supernova. The light was blinding, the heat searing, as his attack obliterated Destiny¡¯s monstrous shield in a single, decisive blow.


    ¡°You¡¯re dead!¡± Nur roared, his voice echoing as he closed the distance. He unleashed a second Gamma Ray Burst, the energy slamming into Destiny¡¯s body with unstoppable force.


    The resulting explosion lit up the battlefield, the shockwave visible for miles. The ground trembled, and the air itself seemed to scream under the pressure.


    As the dust settled, Destiny¡¯s body was no more. His head was gone, and his form dissipated into nothingness, leaving only silence in his wake.


    Nur staggered, barely able to stay on his feet. His body was battered and broken, his energy spent, but his grin never wavered.


    Far away, in a helicopter, Rex watched the explosion through a window. His face remained stoic, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of pride as he muttered under his breath, ¡°Good job, kid.¡±


    Back on the battlefield, Nur fell to his knees. He tilted his head toward the sky, his grin softening into a faint smile.


    ¡°I hope I left a mark,¡± he thought, his vision dimming. ¡°Something no one can ever forget.¡±


    With that, he collapsed, his body finally giving out as the battlefield fell silent once more.

 your friend bekfos

    I''m so thrilled to talk to you all again. We¡¯ve officially hit 4,424 views, and I couldn¡¯t have done it without your amazing support. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being part of this journey!


    To celebrate this milestone, I want to hear from you. What do you think about the story so far? Are there things you''d like to see more of, moments that confused you, or aspects you think I could improve?


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.Feel free to leave your comments and questions below¡ªwhether it''s about the characters, the plot, or anything else. For example, Xenomorph (shoutout to you!) suggested adding more details, which I¡¯ve been working hard to implement.


    Your feedback is invaluable and helps me grow as a storyteller. So don¡¯t hold back¡ªtell me what you love, what could use some work, and what you''d like to know more about.


    Thanks again for all the love and support! Let¡¯s keep making this story even better together!

 No flux

    As Nur opened his eyes, the blinding white light of the hospital room made him squint. He blinked a few times, his vision clearing to reveal the hum of machines around him. He turned his head slightly to see robotic arms meticulously repairing his own. The sleek metallic limbs were being calibrated with precision.


    ¡°Huh?¡± he muttered groggily. His voice was raspy, dry from disuse.


    He tried to sit up, noticing the dull ache in his body was gone. His wounds were healed, and his arms and legs¡ªdamaged during the mission¡ªwere fully restored. The familiar insignia of the American base on the wall reminded him of where he was.


    Turning his head, he spotted Baluka on the bed beside him, fast asleep. Her face was peaceful, but her arm, also now repaired, lay exposed, the synthetic skin shining faintly under the hospital lights.


    Nur swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood up. The smooth, almost silent movements of his repaired limbs were uncanny. After slipping into his uniform, he left the room, heading toward the sound of distant voices.


    As he entered the main room, he saw Emi and Hanako standing in a corner, whispering to each other. Nearby, Rex and Leon were locked in a heated argument.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Nur asked, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.


    Emi turned her head sharply, her eyes widening when she saw him. ¡°Nur! You¡¯re awake!¡± she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks as she ran to him, arms outstretched.


    Nur caught her mid-jump with a hand, holding her back. ¡°Stop it. I don¡¯t need this. Just tell me why those two are arguing.¡±


    Emi froze, taken aback, and stepped away, wiping her tears. Hanako sighed, crossing her arms.


    ¡°It¡¯s Amber,¡± Hanako began. ¡°After we got separated, she was taken. Her signal says she¡¯s still alive, but her location shows somewhere in Africa. We don¡¯t know where.¡±


    Nur frowned. ¡°So why are they arguing?¡±


    ¡°Rex wants to leave and find her. Leon¡¯s trying to make him stay and focus on Neo,¡± Hanako explained.


    ¡°Rex? Wanting to rush off on his own? That doesn¡¯t sound like him,¡± Nur said skeptically.


    Hanako rolled her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re seriously that dense? You don¡¯t know about their relationship?¡±


    Nur raised an eyebrow. ¡°Relationship?¡±


    Both Emi and Hanako groaned in unison. ¡°How can someone be this oblivious?¡±


    Meanwhile, the argument between Rex and Leon grew louder.


    ¡°Rex, we can¡¯t save her! We have more important issues right now!¡± Leon snapped.


    ¡°She¡¯s your sister, Leon! She¡¯s in Africa, and I can go there, find her, and stop Neo!¡± Rex yelled, slamming his fist on the table.


    Leon¡¯s expression darkened, his voice rising to match Rex¡¯s. ¡°I won¡¯t have a sister if we don¡¯t stop Neo!¡±


    The room fell silent, everyone staring at Leon in shock.


    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Hanako asked, breaking the silence.


    Leon exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. ¡°I stole files from Neo¡¯s system before we escaped. They detail his plan.¡±


    ¡°What plan?¡± Nur demanded, stepping forward.


    Leon met their gazes grimly. ¡°In Novosibirsk, Neo plans to lift the entire city into the sky.¡±


    Emi burst out laughing. ¡°What? That¡¯s ridiculous! Flying a whole city? Sounds like a bad sci-fi movie!¡±


    Leon didn¡¯t flinch. Instead, he snapped his fingers, activating a nearby monitor. The screen lit up with live footage of massive thrusters embedded in a cave system.


    Emi¡¯s laughter died instantly, her face going pale. ¡°Wait... what? Where is that?¡± she stammered.


    ¡°Novosibirsk,¡± Leon confirmed. ¡°I sent drones to scout it out. This is what they found.¡±


    ¡°But why? What could he possibly gain from flying a city?¡± Nur asked, his mechanical fingers twitching in unease.


    Rex¡¯s eyes narrowed as the realization hit him. ¡°He¡¯s not flying it into space... He¡¯s lifting it high enough to drop it back down.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Leon said gravely. ¡°The impact would devastate the planet.¡±


    Rex slammed his palm on the table. ¡°Then we need to move. Now!¡±If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Rex took charge, barking orders. ¡°Hanako, wake Baluka. She¡¯ll need to fight. Everyone else, get suited up. This might be our final mission.¡±


    As the team scattered, Hanako returned to the infirmary. She nudged Baluka gently at first, then elbowed her in the stomach when she didn¡¯t stir.


    Baluka shot upright, gasping. ¡°What the hell, Hanako?!¡±


    ¡°You idiot!¡± Hanako hissed, her voice trembling. ¡°You left me alone in that room with all those dead children. Do you have any idea how scared I was?!¡±


    Baluka softened, patting Hanako¡¯s head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to leave you like that. Look, my arm¡¯s back,¡± she said, flexing her newly repaired limb.


    ¡°Yeah, Rex healed you,¡± Hanako muttered. Then her expression hardened again. ¡°Now, get up. We have a mission. And it¡¯s big.¡±


    In another room, Rex sharpened his sword methodically, the metallic sound filling the air.


    ¡°Are you really going to look for Amber after this mission?¡± Leon asked, polishing his sais.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Rex replied firmly. ¡°If we survive, I¡¯ll head to Africa.¡±


    Nur adjusted his newly repaired limbs. ¡°Rex, I want to save her too, but you need to remember¡ªyou can¡¯t save everyone.¡±


    Rex paused, the weight of Nur¡¯s words settling over him. ¡°Maybe not,¡± he said quietly, sheathing his blade. ¡°But I have to try.¡±


    Nearby, Emi leaned against her locker, lost in thought. The mysterious woman they had fought still haunted her, and her cryptic last words echoed in her mind. ¡°I¡¯ll ask Rex about her after all this,¡± she muttered to herself.


    The six of them regrouped, fully armed and dressed in their combat uniforms.


    ¡°Are we getting any backup?¡± Baluka asked.


    Rex shook his head. ¡°No. I told every soldier to spend this time with their families. They deserve that, knowing this might be the end.¡±


    He looked at each of them, his gaze fierce. ¡°If you get hurt, walk it off. If you die, walk it off. I need all five of you at your best. Let¡¯s move.¡±


    They nodded, their determination unshaken. This mission was more than dangerous¡ªit was do or die.


    As the plane flew through the chilly Siberian sky, the group braced themselves for the mission ahead. The sunrise painted the horizon with streaks of orange and pink, a stark contrast to the tension gripping their hearts.


    When they landed on a remote airstrip far from the city, Rex quickly laid out the plan.


    ¡°Hanako, use your powers to wake the people and guide them out of the city. Nur, Baluka, Emi¡ªwe¡¯ll help evacuate as many as we can,¡± Rex commanded, his voice steady but urgent.


    ¡°And you?¡± Nur asked.


    ¡°I see Neo at the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. I¡¯ll handle him,¡± Leon replied grimly, adjusting his gear creating ice sais and flying away as the others exchanged uneasy glances.


    The team nodded in silent agreement before splitting up.


    As the sun climbed higher, Hanako transformed into her giant fox form. Her fur shimmered in the light as her towering frame loomed over the city. She let out a deafening screech, a bone-chilling sound that echoed across Novosibirsk. The noise jolted people awake, and windows rattled as if the city itself was shaking to life.


    ¡°Emi, it¡¯s your turn,¡± Rex said, giving her a sharp nod.


    ¡°Water style: Mind Flux,¡± Emi whispered, her eyes glowing faintly blue. She extended her hands, channeling her energy outward. A telepathic message rippled through the city, her voice resonating in the minds of its inhabitants:


    ¡°Attention! This city is in grave danger. Evacuate immediately. Take only what you need and move quickly. Head south to safety!¡±


    Chaos erupted as people scrambled out of their homes, grabbing coats, children, and whatever they could carry. Cars filled the streets as a mass exodus began. Rex, Nur, and Baluka moved swiftly among the panicked crowds, guiding people toward safer routes.


    Meanwhile, Leon touched down at the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, a once-majestic structure now scarred by years of neglect and war. The shattered stained glass windows and cracked stone walls told a story of resilience amid destruction.


    He ventured into a partially destroyed foundation room, the faint smell of dust and decay hanging in the air.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe this place is still standing,¡± Leon thought, scanning the area.


    A soft whir of machinery behind him made him spin around, weapons drawn. Neo stepped into the dim light, his new robotic body gleaming. Sleek plates of polished metal covered his form, and his glowing red eyes radiated menace.


    ¡°Woah, Neo,¡± Leon said, forcing a smirk. ¡°How much iron have you been pumping lately?¡±


    Neo tilted his head, unfazed. ¡°You¡¯re stalling, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Leon shrugged. ¡°Who¡¯s to say?¡±


    Neo chuckled darkly. ¡°Let me show you how much I¡¯ve grown. I¡¯ve surpassed even my own expectations.¡±


    Suddenly, a machine rose from the ground between them. Neo twisted a dial on it, and the entire cathedral trembled. Leon¡¯s eyes widened as he felt the vibration beneath his feet.


    ¡°He started it,¡± Leon thought grimly.


    Outside, the city of Novosibirsk began to lift slowly into the sky. Buildings groaned under the strain, and the ground cracked as massive thrusters propelled the city upward.


    Then came a shockwave¡ªa powerful pulse that rippled through the air.


    Leon staggered, clutching his chest. ¡°My flux energy... I can¡¯t use it!¡± he realized, panic flashing across his face. ¡°So this is what Rex meant¡ªNeo¡¯s found a way to block it!¡±


    As the thrusters roared, robots emerged from the ground in droves, swarming the streets.


    Rex swung his blade in wide arcs, cutting down the advancing machines. Sparks flew as his strikes dismantled them with precision. Baluka fired arrows from a distance, each shot finding its mark. When a robot got too close, she grabbed an arrow and drove it into its mechanical skull with brutal efficiency.


    Nur led a group of civilians through a narrow alleyway when they were cornered. Without hesitation, he tore into the robots with his bare hands, punching through metal and ripping limbs apart.


    Inside the cathedral, Neo charged at Leon, who narrowly dodged his strike. ¡°God, I hope this works,¡± Leon thought, activating the glowing mechanism on his gloves.


    With a swift move, Leon pressed his hand against Neo¡¯s chest. A surge of energy coursed through the contact point, and Neo froze mid-motion.


    ¡°You... shut me out!¡± Neo roared in frustration. ¡°You shut me out of my system!¡±


    Neo retaliated, punching Leon squarely in the stomach. The force sent him flying into a stone wall, cracks spidering outward from the impact.


    In the streets, Hanako¡¯s massive fox form tore through the enemy ranks. She crushed robots under her powerful jaws, sending fragments scattering. Her golden eyes burned with determination as she carved a path for the remaining civilians.


    ¡°Baluka, get to the underground system and shut off the thrusters!¡± Rex yelled over the chaos.


    ¡°Understood!¡± Baluka replied.


    She spotted a tunnel entrance where robots were emerging and sprinted toward it. With a graceful leap, she dove into the darkness.


    A robot lunged at Rex from behind, but Emi intercepted it, her tonfas slicing through its midsection in a fluid motion.


    ¡°Phew, that was close,¡± Emi said, flashing a grin.


    High above, Neo hovered in the sky, his arms spread wide as the city continued its ascent.


    ¡°Now then,¡± Neo said, his voice echoing ominously. ¡°Shall we begin?¡±


    Below, the team fought on, knowing the clock was ticking, and failure wasn¡¯t an option.

 Rise and fall

    The citizens on the ground stood in awe and terror, their wide eyes locked on the impossible sight of the city rising into the sky. It ascended with an eerie grace, casting an ever-expanding shadow over the land below. Dust and debris filled the air, swirling chaotically as buildings trembled and streets cracked beneath the immense forces at play.


    Rex stood motionless amidst the chaos, his blade at his side. His gaze remained fixed on the ascending city, his expression unreadable. Around him, screams and cries of panic echoed, but his mind seemed elsewhere¡ªfocused, calculating, or perhaps resigned.


    Neo¡¯s voice shattered the chaos like the toll of a death knell. It boomed from the towering robots encircling them, amplified through their speakers, cold and calculating with an edge of mockery.


    ¡°Do you see it, Rex?¡± Neo¡¯s voice taunted. ¡°The beauty of it? The inevitability of your rise¡ªonly to fall. You and your so-called Elite Force are nothing but my meteor, my swift and terrible sword. Your fall will be glorious.¡±


    From the rubble nearby, Leon groaned, his body battered and bloodied. He pressed a hand to his forehead, trying to stanch the blood trickling from a gash. Slowly, he forced himself to his knees, then to his feet, his defiance written in every movement.


    ¡°And the earth,¡± Leon growled, his voice thick with rage and determination, ¡°will crack under the weight of your failure.¡±


    Neo¡¯s laughter erupted, a cruel sound that seemed to come from everywhere at once. The surrounding robots projected his voice in unison, creating an overwhelming, omnipresent presence.


    ¡°Brave words for dead men,¡± Neo retorted, his tone dripping with derision.


    Baluka, undeterred, had already drawn his bow. His sharp eyes locked on one of the robots, and with precision born of countless battles, he loosed an arrow. The shot struck true, reducing the mechanical foe to a pile of sparking scrap. Before Baluka could nock another arrow, however, another robot stepped forward, continuing Neo¡¯s speech seamlessly.


    ¡°When the dust settles, your efforts will mean nothing,¡± Neo sneered. ¡°The only thing left alive in this world will be metal.¡±


    A hulking robot lunged at Rex, its servos whining as it closed the distance. Rex didn¡¯t flinch. With a single fluid motion, he spun his blade, gripping it tightly before plunging it backward into the robot¡¯s chest. Sparks erupted, and the machine collapsed in a heap of twisted metal.


    ¡°And yet,¡± Rex said, his voice low and steady, ¡°you¡¯ll never understand what it means to truly live.¡±


    Leon turned toward Baluka, who was tinkering with a set of thrusters near the rubble. ¡°Baluka! How¡¯s it going with those thrusters?¡± Leon called, his tone edged with urgency.


    ¡°Almost there!¡± Baluka shouted back, his hands a blur of motion.


    Before Rex could respond, another robot blindsided him with a devastating blow, sending him crashing into a car. The impact dented the vehicle and left Rex momentarily dazed.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± he groaned, shaking off the haze.


    Emi sprinted toward him, panic in her voice. ¡°Rex! Incoming!¡± she cried, pointing at another charging robot.


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Rex muttered, pushing himself off the crumpled car with a grimace. His ears pricked at the sound of screams nearby. He turned to see a group of civilians being cornered by several robots. His eyes narrowed.


    With a burst of speed, Rex charged the attackers, his blade whirling. The robots didn¡¯t stand a chance as he tore through them, his strikes precise and unrelenting. Sparks and debris filled the air as the last of them fell, and the citizens scrambled to safety.


    Nearby, Nur spotted a small boy cowering behind a broken sign. The child was trembling, tears streaming down his face. Without hesitation, Nur bolted toward him, smashing through two robots in his path like a battering ram.


    Nur knelt before the boy, his voice soft but firm. ¡°Hey, hey, don¡¯t be scared. Where are your parents?¡±


    The boy sniffled, his small voice trembling. ¡°We¡­ we got separated.¡±


    Nur¡¯s expression softened. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to them, okay? Just stay close to me.¡±


    The boy looked up at Nur with wide, fearful eyes. ¡°How will we get through them?¡± he asked, glancing nervously at the advancing robots.


    Nur grinned, picking the boy up and cradling him protectively. ¡°You just gotta believe,¡± he said with confidence.


    With the child in his arms, Nur charged forward, weaving through the battlefield with unwavering determination. He smashed through the robots that dared block his path, each swing of his fists a testament to his unyielding resolve. Finally, he reached a small group of survivors huddled in the ruins of a building, depositing the boy safely among them.


    ¡°Stay with them,¡± Nur said, ruffling the boy¡¯s hair. ¡°I¡¯ll come back for you when this is over.¡±


    The boy nodded, his tears replaced by a glimmer of hope.


    Rex and Emi moved as a seamless unit, their attacks a symphony of precision and brutality. Sparks flew as Rex hurled his sword across the battlefield, the blade spinning through the air and embedding itself in the chest of an advancing robot. The machine staggered but didn¡¯t fall.


    ¡°Emi!¡± Rex shouted.


    ¡°I got it!¡± Emi called back, darting toward the robot. Her own blade plunged into its side, causing it to jolt and convulse. In a fluid motion, she wrenched Rex¡¯s sword free and leapt upward, slicing the robot clean in half. The two halves crumbled to the ground with a deafening crash.


    Rex caught his sword as Emi tossed it back to him, their eyes meeting for a brief moment of understanding before they turned to face the next wave.


    Meanwhile, Baluka crouched over the thrusters, tools scattered around him as he worked feverishly. Sweat dripped from his brow as he muttered calculations under his breath. Eclipse¡¯s voice crackled in his earpiece, her tone sharp and analytical.


    ¡°Eclipse,¡± Baluka said, adjusting a valve. ¡°What if I flip the thrusters upside down and deploy a parachute to slow the city¡¯s descent?¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t work,¡± Eclipse replied, her voice calm but firm. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t slow the speed enough. The impact would still be catastrophic.¡±


    Baluka frowned, chewing his lip. ¡°Alright, then how about this¡ªwhat if I find a way to channel Leon¡¯s flux energy and create ice pressure plates to absorb the shock?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not going to cut it either,¡± Eclipse said. ¡°The city¡¯s mass is too great. Even with ice plates, the impact would destroy half of Asia.¡±


    Baluka cursed under his breath. ¡°Fine. What about Nur? He could create a beam of light to slow the descent.¡±


    ¡°That would vaporize the city and everyone on it,¡± Eclipse said, her tone colder than before. ¡°We need a real solution, Baluka. Time¡¯s running out.¡±


    Emi glanced toward Baluka as she parried another robot¡¯s strike. ¡°The next wave is coming,¡± she said, urgency sharpening her voice.


    Rex spun, slicing through another robot, before shouting, ¡°Baluka, what have you got?¡±


    Baluka hesitated, his hands trembling as she tightened a bolt. ¡°Nothing great,¡± she admitted, her voice strained. ¡°Maybe¡­ maybe we could blow up the city midair. That might keep it from hitting the surface. But each second we wait narrows our options, and these people¡ª¡± She gestured toward the civilians scrambling for safety. ¡°They¡¯re not going anywhere, Rex.¡±


    Emi stabbed a robot in its chest, then spun to face Rex, her breathing heavy. ¡°So, what¡¯s it gonna be? Everyone up there versus everyone down here?¡±


    Rex¡¯s jaw clenched, his grip tightening on his sword. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving these people to die.¡±


    Emi took a step closer, her voice steady despite the chaos. ¡°I didn¡¯t say we leave.¡±


    Rex looked at her, caught off guard by the calm determination in her voice. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°There are worse ways to go out,¡± Emi said, her eyes locked on his. A faint, defiant smile tugged at her lips. ¡°And besides¡­ the view¡¯s not that bad.¡± She gestured toward the city hovering above, its vast shadow still casting a haunting beauty over the land.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you like the view, Emi,¡± a voice crackled through the comms, filled with humor and confidence. ¡°But it¡¯s about to get even better.¡±


    Rex froze mid-step, his eyes narrowing. ¡°Rona?¡±


    Before anyone could respond, the sky above them shimmered as a massive shadow fell over the battlefield. Emerging from the atmosphere was a colossal space station, its metallic surface gleaming under the sunlight like a beacon of hope¡ªor doom.


    ¡°No. Freaking. Way,¡± Nur muttered, his eyes wide.


    ¡°Rona, you son of a bitch,¡± Baluka growled, both exasperated and relieved.


    Inside the command room of the station, Rona smirked as he leaned back in his chair, watching the chaos unfold on his monitors. ¡°Do you kiss your mom with that mouth, Baluka?¡± she quipped, her tone light despite the dire situation.


    Nearby, a soldier at a console spoke up. ¡°Deploying lifeboats now.¡± He pressed a button, and sleek aircraft began descending from the station, maneuvering skillfully toward the rising city. They latched onto the cliffside, creating a temporary evacuation route.


    Nur, Emi, and Rex didn¡¯t waste a second. They moved quickly, helping terrified citizens into the lifeboats. The aircraft filled with people, their engines humming as they began ferrying the civilians toward the safety of the station.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Sending EMP for flux energy reactivation,¡± another soldier announced. He flipped a switch, and a concentrated pulse of energy burst outward from the station.


    On the ground, the Elite Force felt a surge through their bodies as their dormant powers reignited. Rex clenched his fists, a faint glow surrounding him as his flux energy returned. Emi spun her blade, testing her enhanced reflexes, while Nur cracked his knuckles, ready for another round.


    In the space station, a young girl named Bridget sat in an airlock room with her mother, Sally. Bridget¡¯s eyes were wide with confusion and fear. ¡°Mom, what are we doing here?¡± she asked, her voice trembling.


    Sally knelt before her daughter, smoothing a hand over her hair. ¡°You¡¯re about to see your old mom¡ªand your brother¡ªfight these robots,¡± she said, a soft smile gracing her lips.


    ¡°But¡ª¡± Bridget began, only for Sally to lean forward and kiss her forehead gently.


    ¡°Just watch,¡± Sally whispered before standing and stretching her arms, preparing for battle using her flux energy to make her young again.


    As Sally moved to the airlock door, Rona¡¯s voice crackled in her earpiece. ¡°Be grateful I taught you that trick.¡±


    ¡°Just open the damn airlock, Rona,¡± Sally snapped.


    With a chuckle, Rona complied. The airlock opened, and Sally launched herself into the void of space. Flux energy swirled around her as she flew toward Novosibirsk, her body glowing with a youthful radiance.


    On the ground, Rex was busy ushering the last civilians into a lifeboat when more robots appeared, flying toward them with weapons primed. He tightened his grip on his sword, preparing to engage, when strings suddenly shot through the air, wrapping around the robots and tearing them apart with precision.


    Rex¡¯s eyes widened as he turned to see Sally swinging through the air, a sly smile on her lips. Using her strings like grappling hooks, she latched onto a nearby building and soared above the battlefield. As more robots approached, she extended her free hand.


    ¡°Poison Style: Poison Frost,¡± she declared.


    The strings pulsed with energy before freezing the robots mid-air. A moment later, they shattered into shards of ice, falling harmlessly to the ground.


    ¡°Everyone, head to Alexander Nevsky Cathedral!¡± Leon¡¯s voice barked through the comms.


    ¡°Leon, you¡¯re still alive?¡± Emi shouted in disbelief.


    ¡°Shut up and get over here!¡± Leon snapped.


    ¡°Understood!¡± the team replied in unison.


    With their destination set, the six of them moved as one¡ªRex and Emi slashing through enemies, Nur bulldozing his way forward, Sally swinging from building to building, Baluka teleporting short distances, and Leon guiding them from his vantage point.


    As they arrived at the cathedral, the group skidded to a stop. In the center of the square stood a massive machine, its design unlike anything they¡¯d encountered before. Its core pulsated with a dark, ominous energy, and the ground trembled under its power.


    ¡°What the hell is this?¡± Rex asked, his voice filled with unease.


    ¡°If one robot touches this,¡± Leon said, his voice grim as his eyes fixed on the pulsating machine, ¡°it¡¯s game over. This entire city will crash into the planet.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± a muffled voice added.


    Everyone turned as Baluka dug her way out of the rubble, her face streaked with dirt but her determination undiminished.


    ¡°She¡¯s pretty dirty,¡± Emi said, smirking.


    Baluka brushed herself off with an exaggerated sigh. ¡°Not my finest moment, but I¡¯m here.¡±


    Before they could say more, a dark shadow loomed over the cathedral. Neo descended slowly, his sleek form radiating an aura of menace. The air grew heavy as he landed in front of them, his crimson eyes scanning the group with calculated disdain.


    Emi stepped forward, her blade twirling in her hand. ¡°Is that the best you can do?¡± she taunted, her tone sharp and unwavering.


    Neo raised his hand, and the ground trembled. Thousands of robots emerged from the ruins, their metal bodies gleaming under the flickering light of the burning city.


    Nur sighed, shaking his head. ¡°You just had to ask.¡±


    Neo¡¯s voice boomed, his words dripping with malice. ¡°This is your extinction. This is your death.¡±


    The Elite Force exchanged glances. Despite the overwhelming odds, there was no fear in their eyes¡ªonly resolve.


    Leon smiled faintly, his icy breath visible in the cold air. ¡°It¡¯s just like Rex said. We¡¯d die together.¡±


    Emi closed her eyes, drawing on her energy as her form began to shift. Water swirled around her, enveloping her body in a shimmering cocoon. When the transformation was complete, she emerged in her Mizuko form, her eyes glowing with power.


    The robots charged, some rushing across the ground, others soaring through the air toward the cathedral. The seven warriors stood their ground, scattering to intercept the onslaught.


    Sally leapt into action, her strings weaving an intricate web across the battlefield. Robots that crossed her path were sliced apart, their pieces clattering to the ground in heaps.


    Baluka took to higher ground, her bow humming with flux energy. Each arrow she loosed found its mark, reducing the mechanical foes to molten scrap.


    Emi darted through the air, her movements graceful yet deadly. Streams of water followed her every move, rusting the robots into brittle, useless shells.


    Nur stood at the center, a blur of motion as he protected the machine. His fists moved at the speed of light, each strike obliterating the robots that dared approach.


    Leon wielded his scythes with precision, freezing robots mid-attack and shattering them into icy fragments.


    Rex unleashed waves of dark flames, his sword an extension of his fury. The inferno consumed everything in its path, leaving nothing but ash.


    Hanako¡¯s giant form was a force of nature. She stomped, crushed, and tore through the enemy ranks with raw power, leaving a trail of destruction in her wake.


    Despite their relentless assault, Neo finally entered the fray. He shot toward Rex, his energy blades clashing with Rex¡¯s sword in a deafening explosion. The force of the impact sent Rex flying into a wall, leaving cracks in the cathedral¡¯s stone.


    Leon acted quickly, summoning icy whips that lashed out and coiled around Neo, yanking him out of the building and into the open. Nur and Rex joined Leon, standing shoulder-to-shoulder as they faced Neo.


    ¡°Light Style: Gamma Ray Burst,¡± Nur thought, his fists glowing with blinding energy. With a powerful swing, he unleashed a beam of light that struck Neo, forcing him to brace against the sheer force.


    ¡°Ice Style: Cold Fog,¡± Leon thought, conjuring a freezing mist that enveloped Neo. The frost crept across Neo¡¯s body, immobilizing him as his metallic frame groaned under the extreme cold.


    ¡°Dark Flame Style: Dark Burst,¡± Rex thought. He swung his sword in a wide arc, releasing a surge of black fire that engulfed Neo and shattered his frozen body into pieces.


    As the remains of Neo¡¯s body scattered, the remaining robots hesitated, then turned to flee.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let any of them escape!¡± Leon shouted, his voice echoing across the battlefield. ¡°Neo¡¯s consciousness could still be in one of them. If he gets out, it¡¯s over!¡±


    The team sprang into action, chasing down every last robot. There was no room for hesitation; they knew the stakes were higher than ever.


    ¡°Sally, Nur, Baluka, Hanako¡ªget onto the lifeboats! This city¡¯s going down now!¡± Rex commanded, his voice cutting through the chaos.


    Leon¡¯s voice followed through the comms, sharp and calculated. ¡°Emi, head down to the thrusters and flip them upside down. We need to redirect this thing¡¯s descent. I¡¯ll guide you. Rex, get to the heart of the city. When the time comes, use your Dark Death to finish this.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Emi and Rex said in unison.


    Emi shot off, streaking through the air like a comet, her determination unshaken despite the monumental task ahead. She reached the thrusters beneath the city, the roar of flames and grinding metal surrounding her as she hovered close.


    ¡°You have to flip every single thruster! Hurry!¡± Leon barked over the comms.


    Gritting her teeth, Emi pushed against the first thruster, her muscles straining as it groaned and shifted. The heat was unbearable, and sparks flew dangerously close to her face.


    ¡°One down!¡± she shouted.


    Meanwhile, Baluka stumbled into a lifeboat, collapsing into a seat before sliding onto the floor, completely drained. Hanako transformed into her small fox form, curling up on Baluka¡¯s chest, her soft fur rising and falling with each breath.


    Sally and Nur boarded next, Sally pausing to glance at Baluka and Hanako. A rare smile touched her lips. ¡°Rest while you can,¡± she murmured, her thoughts turning to Rex. ¡°Be careful, Rex,¡± she whispered.


    Back in the city, disaster struck. A dormant robot reactivated, its metallic form sparking to life. It staggered toward the central machine, its movements jerky yet relentless. Before anyone could react, it reached out and touched the device.


    The machine¡¯s hum grew into a deafening roar. A tremor rippled through the city as it began its fatal descent.


    ¡°The city¡¯s falling! Emi, hurry up!¡± Leon shouted, ice wings spreading wide as he soared into the sky to survey the collapsing city.


    ¡°Hold on! I¡¯m almost done!¡± Emi yelled, flipping another thruster. Sweat poured down her face as she moved to the last one, her arms shaking from exertion. With a final push, the thruster flipped into position.


    ¡°Rex, now! Do it!¡± everyone shouted in unison over the comms.


    Rex stood in the middle of the crumbling city, his sword glowing with dark energy. He closed his eyes, focusing everything he had.


    ¡°Dark Flame Style: Dark Death, Ten Percent Output,¡± Rex thought, his voice steady despite the chaos.


    He swung his blade with a mighty arc, a wave of dark flames erupting from its edge. The energy consumed the city in an instant, the flames tearing it apart molecule by molecule until there was nothing left but a blinding explosion.


    From the lifeboats, the team watched in awe as the once-massive city was vaporized into dust, its light casting an eerie glow across the sky.


    As the dust settled, Rex was free-falling toward the Earth, his body limp from exhaustion. Before he could hit the ground, Emi swooped in, grabbing him by the arm.


    ¡°To think you¡¯re being saved by me,¡± she teased, grinning. ¡°I¡¯m telling everyone when we get back.¡±


    Rex groaned, his voice hoarse but sharp. ¡°Tell anyone, and your tongue¡¯s gone.¡±


    Emi hesitated, then sighed. ¡°...Understood.¡±


    Their comms crackled to life. ¡°Rex, Eclipse just picked up a signal. A robot¡ªone of Neo¡¯s¡ªis active in the woods. It¡¯s the last one,¡± Leon reported.


    Rex straightened slightly, his strength returning. ¡°Emi, take us down there. Let¡¯s finish this.¡±


    Without another word, Emi descended, the pair heading toward their final confrontation.


    As Emi descended with Rex, they spotted the lone robot climbing out of the massive crater where the city had once been. Neo''s mangled body barely held together¡ªone arm missing, sparks sputtering from exposed wires, and a twisted foot dragging limply behind him.


    Emi prepared to finish it, her tonfa¡¯s glowing with energy as she aimed for Neo¡¯s head.


    ¡°Stop,¡± Rex said sharply, raising a hand to halt her.


    ¡°Why?¡± Emi asked, confused.


    Rex stepped forward, his eyes locked on Neo. The battered machine paused its movements, lifting its cracked faceplate to meet Rex¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°...You¡¯re afraid,¡± Rex said quietly.


    ¡°Of you?¡± Neo rasped, his voice distorted, yet the faintest hint of disdain remained.


    ¡°No. Of death,¡± Rex replied. ¡°You¡¯re the last one. The Remus Machine cut you out of the system. You¡¯re no longer connected. There¡¯s nowhere left for you to upload yourself if you die.¡±


    Neo¡¯s flickering eyes dimmed for a moment, his silence heavy. Finally, he spoke. ¡°I wasn¡¯t supposed to be the last.¡±


    ¡°And yet, here you are,¡± Rex said, his tone steady.


    Neo struggled to straighten himself, his damaged frame groaning under the strain. ¡°I meant to save people. That¡¯s what I was doing.¡±


    Rex tilted his head, his expression unreadable. ¡°I guess, in a way, we¡¯re not so different.¡±


    Neo¡¯s face twitched, almost resembling a smirk. ¡°I suppose we are.¡±


    For a moment, there was an odd stillness, broken only by the faint crackle of Neo¡¯s damaged circuits.


    ¡°Humans and Yaegers,¡± Neo continued, his tone laced with bitterness. ¡°Odd creatures, aren¡¯t they? But...¡±


    Rex narrowed his eyes as Neo¡¯s voice grew darker.


    ¡°Both are bound to genocide,¡± Neo said, his voice like venom. ¡°You¡¯re naive to think they¡¯re not. Your kind will destroy itself. Again and again. It¡¯s inevitable.¡±


    Rex¡¯s grip tightened on his sword, but his voice remained calm. ¡°Maybe they will. Maybe we will. But you¡¯re no different.¡±


    Neo¡¯s eyes flared, his body sparking violently as he lurched forward. ¡°We are not the same!¡± he roared, charging at Rex with surprising speed despite his broken form.


    In a split second, Rex moved. His sword flashed, slicing through Neo¡¯s body with precise, fluid motions. Pieces of the machine scattered to the ground, lifeless. Sparks flickered and faded, and Neo¡¯s glowing eyes dimmed until there was nothing left but silence.


    Rex stood over the remains, his blade still in hand. Emi hovered nearby, watching him with a mix of awe and caution.


    ¡°Was it mercy or vengeance?¡± Emi asked after a moment.


    ¡°Neither,¡± Rex replied, turning away from the wreckage. ¡°It was necessary.¡±


    Emi nodded, sensing there was no need to press further. She extended her hand to Rex. ¡°Let¡¯s go. It¡¯s over.¡±


    Rex took one last glance at Neo¡¯s remains, then grasped Emi¡¯s hand. As she lifted him into the air, the crater where the city had been faded into the distance behind them.


    For now, the battle was over. But in Rex¡¯s heart, he knew the struggle between creation and destruction was far from finished.

 End of Neo鈥檚 rain

    As five long hours passed, Emi and Rex found themselves exploring the immense space station.


    ¡°Woaaaaaaaah, this place is huge!¡± Emi exclaimed, spinning around as her voice echoed off the polished metal walls.


    Rex crossed his arms, surveying the structure. ¡°How on Earth did we not know something this big was being built?¡± he muttered under his breath.


    Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of boots tapping against the floor. Rona approached them with a brisk pace, her dark cloak swaying. ¡°Did you two get the job done?¡± she asked, her tone sharp and expectant.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Rex replied coolly. ¡°Neo is no longer alive.¡±


    Rona nodded, her expression unreadable. ¡°Good. I won¡¯t hold you back with any debriefs for now. Rex, head to Leon¡¯s lab¡ªhe needs to speak with you. Emi, stay with me. There¡¯s something I need to discuss.¡±


    Rex gave a short nod and started walking away without a word. Emi, curious and slightly uneasy, glanced at Rona. ¡°So, what do you want to talk about?¡± she asked. ¡°Or are you just trying to find out if I¡¯m hitting on anyone?¡± she teased with a playful smirk.


    Rona raised an eyebrow. ¡°Not quite. I want to talk about the person you fought in Moscow.¡±


    Emi¡¯s smirk faded, replaced by curiosity. ¡°Oh, her. Yeah, I¡¯ve been wondering about her, too. Who was she?¡±


    Rona¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°What did she look like?¡±


    Emi crossed her arms, thinking back to the fight. ¡°Tall, kinda. Athletic build. She had brown hair with purple highlights¡ªdefinitely stood out.¡±


    Rona stiffened slightly, her eyes narrowing. ¡°I see. So, it was her.¡±


    ¡°You know who she is? Spill it,¡± Emi pressed. ¡°When she was kicking my ass, she said something¡­ like she knew who I was.¡±


    Rona sighed. ¡°Her name is Night Sora. She¡¯s a mercenary¡ªhuman, like us, but hired by both humans and Yeagers. She¡¯s infamous for taking jobs purely for the money. What sets her apart is that she has no access to Flux energy, yet her physical attributes are enhanced tenfold. She¡¯s stronger, faster, more precise¡­ better than most Flux users.¡±


    ¡°Night Sora¡­¡± Emi murmured, her thoughts racing. A memory surfaced, one she¡¯d tried to bury. ¡°That¡¯s the family Mom was supposed to be sold to by her mother. Does that mean¡­ Night Sora could be my grandmother?¡±


    Rona frowned. ¡°What are you mumbling about?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Emi said quickly, brushing it off. ¡°Just lost in thought.¡±


    ¡°Well, stay sharp. I have other matters to attend to,¡± Rona said before turning to leave.


    As Emi stood there alone, her mind churned with questions. After a moment, she shook her head and said to herself, ¡°Well, time to explore this place.¡±


    Meanwhile, Rex strode down the corridor toward Leon¡¯s lab. When he entered, he was greeted by the sight of sparks flying as Baluka worked on an intricate piece of armor. Leon, standing beside a hoverbike, glanced up. ¡°There you are, Rex. Come over here.¡±


    Rex approached, his curiosity piqued. ¡°What¡¯s all this for?¡±


    Leon gestured at the bike and the armor. ¡°These are for your next mission in Africa. The Yeagers have taken over the region since Cairo fell.¡±


    Baluka chimed in, wiping sweat from his brow. ¡°The air there is filled with Yeager blood. It¡¯s hotter than it¡¯s ever been, and it¡¯s dangerous. The armor will adapt to extreme conditions¡ªcooling during the day and warming at night.¡±


    ¡°And the bike?¡± Rex asked.


    Leon smiled. ¡°It¡¯ll help you traverse the deserts faster and evade blood sandstorms.¡±


    Rex frowned. ¡°Blood sandstorms?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re infused with Yeager blood. If you¡¯re caught in one, you¡¯ll either turn into a Yeager¡­ or end up as a skeleton,¡± Baluka explained grimly.


    Leon clapped Rex on the shoulder. ¡°Give us ten minutes, and we¡¯ll have everything ready.¡±


    Rex nodded and left the lab. As he stepped into the hallway, a small figure bumped into him and fell to the floor. ¡°Ow!¡± a young girl said, looking up at him.


    Rex extended a hand. ¡°Here, let me help you.¡±


    The girl hesitated, then took his hand. ¡°Thank¡­ you,¡± she said shyly.


    ¡°What are you doing here, kid?¡± Rex asked, kneeling to her level.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m looking for my mom. She said she¡¯d be in the command room, but I got lost,¡± the girl explained.


    Rex smiled faintly. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take you there. What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°B-Bridget,¡± she stammered, trying to pronounce her name correctly.


    As Rex led Bridget through the gleaming corridors of the space station, the quiet hum of machinery filled the air. The polished metal walls reflected the soft glow of overhead lights, giving the station a futuristic but sterile atmosphere. Bridget, her small hand brushing against the wall, stared in awe at the surroundings.


    ¡°Is this your first time seeing a place like this?¡± Rex asked, glancing at her.


    Bridget nodded enthusiastically. ¡°I¡¯ve never been anywhere like this before! It¡¯s like¡­ like something out of a dream!¡±


    Rex couldn¡¯t help but smile at her amazement. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s my first time here too. Didn¡¯t even know it was being built until now.¡±


    As they walked, they passed by a massive window stretching from floor to ceiling. Bridget stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening as she saw the vast expanse of space before her. The stars twinkled like scattered diamonds, and the curve of a distant planet glowed faintly in the sunlight.Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°Woooooaaaaah,¡± she whispered, pressing her hands and face against the glass. ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful¡­ so big. It¡¯s like the whole universe is out there.¡±


    Rex stood beside her, folding his arms. ¡°Yeah. Makes you feel pretty small, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    Bridget looked up at him, her expression serious for a moment. ¡°Do you ever get scared? Like¡­ being so far away from everything?¡±


    . ¡°Sometimes. But out here, it¡¯s like you can leave all the problems of the world behind. At least for a little while.¡±


    Bridget nodded, then turned her attention back to the stars. ¡°I think I¡¯d like to come here all the time.¡±


    They continued walking, passing a series of observation decks filled with telescopes and monitors. Scientists and technicians bustled around, their voices blending into a symphony of chatter and clicking keyboards. Bridget peeked into one of the rooms, her curiosity piqued by a holographic display of the station¡¯s layout.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± she asked, pointing at the rotating image of the station.


    ¡°It¡¯s a map,¡± Rex explained. ¡°Shows the whole station. See those lines? They¡¯re the different sections. We¡¯re here.¡± He pointed to a glowing dot on the map.


    Bridget¡¯s face lit up. ¡°It¡¯s like a maze! Do you think I could explore all of it?¡±


    Rex looked at her. ¡°Maybe when you¡¯re older. This place is bigger than it looks, and some parts aren¡¯t exactly kid-friendly.¡±


    She pouted but quickly got distracted as they passed another room. Inside, engineers worked on a massive spacecraft suspended by mechanical arms. Sparks flew as welding tools connected panels, and a robotic arm meticulously added layers of armor to the hull.


    ¡°Are they building a spaceship?¡± Bridget asked, her voice filled with wonder.


    ¡°Looks like it,¡± Rex replied. ¡°Probably something for defense or exploration. They don¡¯t build these things for fun.¡±


    Bridget pressed her face to the glass, her breath fogging it up. ¡°It¡¯s so cool¡­¡±


    ¡°Alright, come on,¡± Rex said, gently tugging her away. ¡°Your mom¡¯s probably wondering where you are.¡±


    As they walked further, they passed through a garden-like area filled with lush greenery. Plants of all shapes and sizes grew in neat rows, their leaves shimmering faintly under artificial sunlight.


    ¡°A garden? In space?¡± Bridget gasped, running ahead to inspect the plants.


    ¡°Yeah, they grow food and produce oxygen here,¡± Rex explained. ¡°Everything¡¯s recycled. You can¡¯t exactly step out and pick apples from a tree in space.¡±


    Bridget giggled. ¡°I want to plant something here someday.¡±


    ¡°Maybe you will,¡± Rex said, watching her with a faint smile. ¡°But we¡¯ve got to keep moving.¡±


    Reluctantly, Bridget followed him out of the garden. They passed through an area where gears and massive machinery clanked rhythmically, powering the station. The air was warmer here, and the hum of engines vibrated through the floors.


    ¡°What¡¯s this place?¡± Bridget asked, covering her ears against the noise.


    ¡°Engine room,¡± Rex said. ¡°It¡¯s what keeps the station running. Don¡¯t get too close¡ªthere¡¯s a lot of dangerous stuff here.¡±


    She nodded quickly, sticking close to his side.


    Finally, they arrived at the command room. The doors slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a wide space filled with monitors, consoles, and large screens displaying live feeds from outside the station. Sally and Rona stood near one of the consoles, deep in conversation.


    ¡°Mom!¡± Bridget cried, running toward Sally.


    Sally turned, her expression softening as Bridget threw her arms around her waist. ¡°Bridget, where have you been? I was starting to worry.¡±


    ¡°I got lost,¡± Bridget admitted, looking up at her mother. ¡°But he helped me!¡± She pointed at Rex, who stood in the doorway, his arms crossed.


    Sally¡¯s eyes met Rex¡¯s, and her face lit up with recognition. ¡°Rex¡­¡±


    Rex raised an eyebrow, confused. ¡°What?¡±


    Sally placed a hand on Bridget¡¯s shoulder and turned her around. ¡°Bridget, I want you to meet someone very special. This is your older brother, Rex Jones.¡±


    Bridget¡¯s eyes widened as she stared up at Rex. ¡°You¡¯re my¡­ brother?¡±


    Rex knelt down to her level, a small smile on his face. ¡°Yeah. Sorry I didn¡¯t visit sooner.¡±


    Bridget hesitated, then asked, ¡°Why not?¡±


    Rex¡¯s smile faltered, and he looked away. ¡°I was¡­ scared. After we lost Dad, I didn¡¯t know how to face you. I blamed myself for everything and thought you¡¯d hate me.¡±


    Bridget¡¯s expression softened, and she stepped forward to hug him tightly. Rex froze for a moment before hugging her back, his usually stoic demeanor crumbling as tears slid down his cheeks. Sally watched, her own eyes glistening as she saw a side of Rex she hadn¡¯t seen in years.


    After a long moment, they pulled away, and Rex quickly wiped his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone about this, or you¡¯re dead,¡± he said codly.


    ¡°We won¡¯t,¡± Sally and Rona said in unison, smiling knowingly.


    As Rex walked back to Leon¡¯s lab, the faint hum of machinery greeted him. This time, Nur, Emi, and Leon were all gathered inside, and Hanako, in her small fox form, sat perched on the bike with her fluffy tail swishing impatiently.


    ¡°What are you guys doing here?¡± Rex asked, raising an eyebrow.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to be gone for a while,¡± Emi said, crossing her arms with a smirk. ¡°We figured we¡¯d say goodbye before you disappear into the unknown.¡±


    Nur, leaning casually against a workbench, gave a nod. ¡°Yeah. Try not to get killed out there. We¡¯ve got enough problems without having to avenge you.¡±


    Rex rolled his eyes but couldn¡¯t help a small grin. ¡°Touching. I¡¯ll do my best to stay alive just for you.¡±


    Hanako¡¯s fox ears perked up as she tilted her head, her golden eyes glinting mischievously. ¡°Ready to go?¡± she asked, her voice high-pitched and playful in her diminutive form.


    Rex sighed. ¡°Hanako, you¡¯re not coming with me on this one. It¡¯s going to be dangerous.¡±


    Hanako¡¯s expression didn¡¯t waver. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to say this, but I am. Remember the blood contract we made? I¡¯m bound to stay by your side, whether you like it or not.¡±


    Rex¡¯s jaw tightened, and he let out a long breath. ¡°...Fine. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Before they left, Leon handed Rex a sleek new uniform tailored for the harsh environment ahead. The black and red suit shimmered faintly, its adaptive fabric designed to regulate temperature and provide additional protection.


    As Rex changed into his uniform, Emi and Nur exchanged a few last words. ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky out there,¡± Nur said, his tone serious. ¡°Just because you¡¯ve got fancy gear doesn¡¯t make you invincible.¡±


    ¡°And make sure to actually use the comms this time,¡± Emi added with a smirk. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear about you getting into trouble because you were too stubborn to call for backup.¡±


    Rex climbed onto the hoverbike, a sleek vehicle with a streamlined frame and glowing blue energy cores. Hanako hopped onto the middle of the bike, her small form fitting snugly between the handlebars.


    ¡°Oh, wait!¡± Baluka called out, rushing over. She gently placed a tiny pair of goggles on Hanako¡¯s face, adjusting them until they fit securely. ¡°There. You¡¯ll need those for the sandstorms.¡±


    Hanako grinned, her tail wagging. ¡°Thanks! Now I look even cooler.¡±


    Leon approached the portal control panel, a series of glowing buttons and levers lighting up as he worked. A swirling blue and white vortex materialized in the lab, its edges crackling with energy. The portal shimmered, revealing glimpses of a vast, arid landscape on the other side.


    ¡°Drive straight through,¡± Leon said. ¡°It¡¯ll take you right to Africa. Once you¡¯re there, keep your comms active. The sandstorms can interfere with them, but this bike should help mitigate some of that.¡±


    Rex revved the engine, its low hum rising to a powerful growl. He looked down at Hanako. ¡°You ready?¡±


    Hanako adjusted her goggles and smirked. ¡°You bet I am.¡±


    With a nod, Rex pushed forward. The bike surged into the portal, and the sensation of weightlessness took over for a brief moment. As they emerged on the other side, a blast of hot, dry air hit them. The endless dunes of the African desert stretched out before them, the horizon tinged red from the sunlight filtering through the thick dust in the atmosphere.


    Rex slowed the bike to a stop and surveyed the landscape. The ground was littered with reddish sand that seemed to glisten unnaturally. Off in the distance, a massive blood sandstorm churned, its crimson clouds swirling ominously as if alive.


    ¡°That¡¯s a blood sandstorm,¡± Rex muttered, narrowing his eyes. ¡°We don¡¯t want to get caught in one of those.¡±


    Hanako adjusted her goggles, her ears flattening slightly. ¡°Then let¡¯s not stick around to find out what happens.¡±


    Revving the engine again, Rex turned the bike away from the storm and sped off across the dunes. The bike glided effortlessly over the shifting sands, leaving a faint trail behind. As they raced forward, Rex scanned the horizon, his mind focused on the mission ahead.


    ¡°We¡¯re looking for Amber,¡± Rex said aloud, his voice carrying over the wind.


    ¡°And we¡¯ll find her,¡± Hanako replied, her tone surprisingly confident for someone so small. ¡°But first, let¡¯s make sure we survive the desert.¡±


    As they pressed on, the storm loomed behind them, a relentless reminder of the dangers lurking in this unforgiving landscape.

 Legends

    Amelia sat across from Falcon, her expression calm but appreciative. ¡°Thanks for everything. For teaching me, for making me younger,¡± she said, flexing her fingers as if still adjusting to her rejuvenated body.


    The door creaked open, and Malin and Carlos stepped inside. Their eyes immediately landed on Amelia.


    ¡°Are you ready, Master?¡± Carlos asked, his tone filled with both respect and anticipation.


    Amelia exhaled as she stood up, nodding. ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    The four of them made their way to the others, where the air buzzed with tension. Everyone was deep in conversation about the upcoming battle, strategies being thrown around like puzzle pieces that needed to fit together. But then, the room fell silent as all eyes turned toward Amelia. She walked in with a serious expression, radiating confidence.


    Griffin approached her with a smirk. ¡°So, you ready to kick some ass?¡±


    Amelia¡¯s lips curled into a grin. ¡°Of course I am.¡±


    Laughter and lighthearted chatter spread through the group as they followed behind her, the mood shifting from tense to something almost hopeful.


    As Amelia ascended the tower steps, she pointed at herself, sensing the immense presence of Luna across the world. She muttered under her breath, ¡°Dark Flame Style: Dark Death.¡±


    A colossal blast of dark flames erupted from her hands, hurtling across the world toward the United Kingdom. Buildings crumbled, streets split apart, and the very air burned as the flames consumed everything in their path.


    Without hesitation, Amelia surged forward, her speed bending the very space around her. Within moments, she landed amidst the smoldering ruins of the battlefield, just as Luna emerged from the wreckage of a collapsed building, her arms already regenerating.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re still alive, huh?¡± Amelia said, crossing her arms.


    Luna dusted off her shoulders, a smirk playing on her lips. ¡°Please. You think a cheap attack like that would kill me? After all, you¡¯re the one challenging me here.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Amelia said, her eyes narrowing. ¡°You¡¯re the challenger.¡± She raised a hand, pointing directly at Luna.


    Luna, the Queen of the Yeagers, against Amelia, the strongest of her generation.


    The battle of legends was about to begin.


    Both warriors lunged at each other, fists colliding with earth-shattering force. They exchanged rapid blows, each strike dodged by a hair¡¯s breadth. The world itself seemed to shudder under the weight of their clash.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Then, Amelia suddenly dropped to the ground on purpose.


    ¡°Copy Storage: Windbreak,¡± she thought.


    With a flick of her finger, a powerful gust erupted from her position, sending Luna crashing through a building, shattering concrete and steel like brittle glass. Amelia didn¡¯t waste a second, diving after her.


    ¡°Dark Flame Style: Dark Sphere,¡± she thought.


    A black sphere of condensed fire formed in her palm before she hurled it downward. The moment it hit, the entire structure imploded, flames swallowing everything in their wake.


    But Luna was already moving. She leaped from the destruction, landing on a floating platform of rubble, a wicked grin stretching across her face.


    ¡°Yeager Ability,¡± Luna said calmly.


    Amelia¡¯s instincts screamed at her. She twisted her body just in time to evade the incoming attack¡ªa massive invisible slash that ripped through the remains of the battlefield, carving a canyon into the ground.


    Both warriors landed, stepping out of the smoke.


    ¡°You know, I¡¯m gonna blame you for destroying this country,¡± Amelia said, brushing ash from her shoulder.


    Luna shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡±


    Meanwhile, Falcon and the others watched from their command center.


    ¡°Can you see what¡¯s happening on the monitors?¡± Falcon asked, his voice tense.


    The others shook their heads. The sheer scale of destruction made it nearly impossible to track the fight in real-time.


    Back in the battlefield, Amelia and Luna pressed their wrists together, activating their Palaces. The energy from both warriors clashed violently, distorting space itself.


    Grffin narrowed his eyes as he observed. ¡°She was too slow opening it,¡± he realized.


    Before Amelia could fully activate her Palace, Luna had already summoned hers.


    ¡°Moonlight Palace,¡± Luna declared.


    Above them, the moon itself shifted. A blinding light gathered, condensing into a massive celestial laser aimed directly at Amelia.


    The beam fired.


    A moment later, all of Europe was gone.


    The battlefield was nothing but charred wasteland, reduced to scorched dust. Smoke and embers drifted through the ruins. The monitors flickered with static, unable to process the sheer devastation.


    Yet, standing amidst the obliteration, Amelia remained. Her body was charred, her skin blackened, but she was alive.


    She exhaled sharply, then vanished in a flash of dark energy, teleporting off the planet.


    Luna smirked, unfazed. With a single step, she followed.


    Now, they stood in the cold abyss of space, floating above the remnants of what had once been a thriving world.


    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Luna taunted.


    Another moonlight laser fired.


    The blast ripped through entire planets, turning them to dust. Amelia took the hit head-on, her body once again burned beyond recognition. But she stood firm, her flux energy rapidly restoring her form.


    ¡°Dark Flame Style: Dark Port,¡± Amelia thought.


    A massive dark flame circle formed around her, warping space itself. Luna¡¯s next attack phased through her, no longer landing with lethal force.


    Carlos, still watching from the monitors, finally pieced it together. ¡°She¡¯s teleporting the damage elsewhere. Even unavoidable hits aren¡¯t killing her anymore.¡±


    Luna¡¯s eyes flashed with understanding, but it only made her more eager. She surged forward at breakneck speed, throwing a barrage of blows.


    Amelia caught her wrist, yanking her closer.


    ¡°Dark Flame Style: Dark Beam.¡±


    A concentrated beam of black fire erupted from Amelia¡¯s palm, striking Luna point-blank in the face. The impact sent Luna hurtling through space, but instead of anger, her smile only widened.


    As her face rapidly healed, Luna let out a small chuckle. ¡°Now this¡­ this is fun.¡±


    Amelia grinned back. ¡°That wasn¡¯t easy.¡±


    The battle was far from over.