Chapter 11: Hybrids

The midday sun cast long shadows over Troita, its light struggling to pierce through the smoke and dust lingering from past destruction. From their vantage point atop a crumbling tower, Penim and Mayzen stood, surveying the city below.

Mayzen: Where’d you go?

Penim: I was making my hybrids.

Mayzen: You sure you didn’t go see Zarnem?

Penim: If I could be in two places at once, I would.

Mayzen: You’re lying.

Penim: Wanna kill me and stick your veins into my brain?

Mayzen didn’t respond.

Penim: That’s what I thought.

Mayzen closes his eyes, and a small flow of Intergy radiated from him.

Mayzen: Andin is not in the palace.

Penim: Where do you sense him?

Mayzen opens his eyes.

Mayzen: He’s northeast.

Penim: I’ll get him.  

Mayzen: No. I will let Sicrus and Scray do it.

Penim: Just let me do it. 

Mayzen doesn’t reply.

Penim: It’s clear you don’t trust me. How about I earn your trust with bringing him back?

Mayzen: You’re careless.

Penim: But we made a deal. I get you all into Krutone, and Zarnem is mine. I’ll hold my end of the agreement first.

Mayzen pauses.

Penim: Just let me.

Mayzen: Don’t fail us.

Penim: I won’t, I won’t.

Mayzen: If you do, we might have to punish you.

Mayzen’s eyes turn completely dark green as an aura of Intergy could be felt from him.

Penim: Calm down there. I’m your ticket into Krutone.

Mayzen: Know your place, Penim.

Penim: Yeah, yeah. Just head back already.

Penim opens a portal. Mayzen’s eyes turn back to normal as he steps through the portal.

Penim: See ya.

Mayzen: Don’t—

The portal seals before Mayzen could finish his statement.

Penim: Shut the hell up, creepy bastard.

Penim stood alone on the rooftop, letting the wind whip against his cloak as he overlooked the unsuspecting city below. The air was thick with the scent of dust and stone, the remnants of Troita’s struggle to rebuild hanging over it like a ghost of its past. He took in the scene— the distant hum of voices, the flickering of torches in the midday light, the soldiers pacing along the city’s perimeter, oblivious to what was coming. Penim exhaled, rolling his shoulders as he extended a hand into the empty space before him. The air rippled, splitting apart like shattered glass, revealing a swirling void. From the portal, they emerged.

First came the Aeris Zagons, their enormous, black-feathered wings unfurling as they took to the sky with effortless grace. With a powerful thrust of their wings, they ascended, ready to strike from above. Then, slithering forth with an unsettling silence, the Viper Zagons coiled through the ruins, their bodies gliding over stone with unnatural ease. Their obsidian scales shimmered under the daylight, lined with faint, glowing streaks that pulsed like veins filled with poison. Following them, the Claw Zagons erupted from the portal with violent, hunched movements, their elongated limbs striking the ground like jagged scythes. Their skeletal frames were adorned with jagged spines, their hooked talons digging into the earth, ready to eviscerate anything in their path. Finally, the Saber Zagons emerged, their hulking forms moving with a terrifying blend of speed and raw power. Thick, sinewy muscles rippled beneath their striped fur, their massive saber-like fangs gleaming as they let out guttural roars that rattled the surrounding buildings.

Penim smirked, watching his creations spread through the city like a disease. Then, in the distance, the bells of Troita rang in alarm. The hunt had begun.

The distant clang of alarm bells shattered the brief calm within the palace walls, their sharp, rhythmic toll reverberating through the grand chamber. Sen’s head snapped toward the nearest window, his pulse quickening at the sight of frantic movement in the streets. Dain set down his half-finished meal, his fingers already tightening into fists as he exchanged a look with Sen. Yerah stood, her expression sharp with concern, while Makota, Shera and Ira moved toward the window, their gazes scanning the horizon. Fex, who had been sitting impatiently propped up, exhaled through his nose and pushed himself upright.

Ira: Troita’s being attacked.

Fex: Zarnem isn’t back yet.

Ira: We gotta go!

Guards and soldiers are seen running out the palace preparing to fight.

Fex (gritted teeth): Damn it. Where the hell is Zarnem?

Makota: Are we going to go fight?

Ira: Yes. We have to go now!

Shera: Oh shit.

Sen (to Dain and Yerah): Let’s stick together.

Dain: You already know it.

Yerah nodded.

The moment they burst through the palace doors, the full scale of the attack crashed into them like a storm. The streets were in chaos— guards and soldiers clashed with monstrous forms, their weapons flashing as they fought to hold the line. Aeris Zagons swooped down from above, talons tearing through flesh before soaring back into the smoke-filled sky. Saber Zagons plowed through formations of soldiers like living battering rams, their guttural roars shaking the very air. The ground trembled as Claw Zagons leapt from walls, slashing through armor and stone with terrifying ease. Viper Zagons coiled through the wreckage, their venomous fangs sinking into the unsuspecting, their victims collapsing before they could even scream.

Ira: Stick together! Protect one another!

Ira moved swiftly through the chaos, weaving between falling debris and slashing claws, her hands surging with fluid streams of water that twisted and lashed like whips. She sent a torrent of high-pressure water crashing into a Claw Zagon, knocking it off balance just as Fex surged forward. He extended his hand, and a violent bolt of lightning arced through the air, crackling as it met Ira’s water. The current traveled instantly, electrocuting the beast mid-motion, its skeletal frame convulsing before it collapsed in a smoking heap. Another came barreling toward them, a Saber Zagon, its massive fangs bared, but before it could pounce, Ira redirected a stream of water beneath it, making the ground slick just as Fex sent a jolt surging through the puddle. The Zagon let out a guttural shriek as lightning coursed through its body, its limbs locking up as it skidded violently into a nearby wall.

Makota and Shera moved in perfect sync, their abilities intertwining like a violent storm ripping through the battlefield. As a Viper Zagon lunged toward them, its fangs glistening with venom, Makota thrust his hands forward, summoning a powerful torrent of wind-infused water that slammed into the creature’s side, sending it tumbling across the broken stone road. Before it could recover, Shera flicked her wrists, the air around her condensing into a razor-sharp gust that sliced through the Zagon’s neck, severing its head cleanly from its body. Another enemy, a Claw Zagon leapt from the rooftops, aiming straight for Shera. Makota reacted instantly, whipping up a swirling cyclone of water and wind, catching the beast mid-air and suspending it in its violent grasp. Shera took a deep breath, then unleashed a single compressed burst of wind, sharp and precise, that struck the Claw Zagon square in the chest. The impact sent it hurtling backward, its body crashing through the remains of a shattered building.

Sen, Dain, and Yerah wasted no time throwing themselves into the fight. A Saber Zagon came charging at them, its fangs bared, but Sen was already moving. In a flash, he forged a blade of pure light in one hand and a blade of darkness in the other, his body twisting as he dodged the beast’s lunging bite. With a powerful, controlled slash, his light sword carved deep into its side, searing flesh on contact. The Zagon howled, but before it could retaliate, Dain appeared in a fiery blur, his own weapon, a sleek concentrated blade of pure fire igniting in his grip. He drove it straight through the creature’s skull, the flames instantly cauterizing the wound as the beast slumped lifeless to the ground.

A Viper Zagon lunged toward Yerah, its venom-dripping fangs seeking flesh, but she was faster. With a movement of her wrist, sharp spears of ice shot up from the ground, piercing straight through the creature’s underbelly. It writhed, but Yerah was relentless. She followed up with a rushing wave of water, freezing it solid mid-motion before shattering it into shards with a precise, calculated strike. Meanwhile, a Claw Zagon pounced from the side, aiming for Sen, but he slammed his dark blade into its gut before twisting and slashing upward with his light sword, bisecting the beast in a flash of brilliance.

From his perch high above the city, Penim remained still, his arms crossed as his gaze lingered over the battlefield below. The carnage played out exactly as he expected, Troita’s forces struggling, Zagons tearing through defenses, but what truly caught his attention was the concentrated surge of Intergy erupting from the palace. He could feel it from here, raw and unmistakable. Light and darkness clashing in perfect sync.

Penim: Oh? Is that Sen I can feel from here?

Penim grinned and opened another portal. Then, in a violent rupture of space, they emerged. The first hybrid creature descended with a thunderous impact, its monstrous form towering over the battlefield. Its serpentine heads, each lined with glistening fangs, hissed in unison, their forked tongues flickering as they scanned the city for prey. The scaled, viper-like necks curled and writhed, while its massive, Aeris-like wings unfurled, casting a dark shadow over the chaos below. The hooked claws of a Claw Zagon scraped against the stone, leaving deep gashes in the pavement as it stomped forward, its three snake heads snapping hungrily at the air. Its presence alone sent soldiers stumbling backward, their weapons trembling in their hands.

Then, another hybrid monstrosity pushed through the portal, its hulking frame easily rivaling the Saber Zagons, but its presence was even more menacing. With the muscular build of a Saber, its razor-sharp claws dug into the ground, each movement exuding raw, unstoppable power. But what truly made it monstrous was the massive pair of Aeris wings that stretched behind it, the tips lined with jagged, bone-like protrusions. It flexed them once, sending a gust of wind so strong it knocked over shattered debris.

Penim: Time to test these out…

Penim looked toward a different direction.

Penim: So, Andin is northeast, right?

Penim slipped into the shadows, his form vanishing into the chaos as the hybrids wreaked havoc behind him. He moved swiftly, weaving through the ruined streets of Troita gliding across the air from building to building. Northeast. That was where Andin was. The sounds of battle faded behind him, drowned out by the mission before him.

From the distance, Sen, Dain, Yerah, Makota, Shera, Ira and Fex could see the huge creatures on top of the building from afar. Both the enormous hybrids charged immediately towards the palace, heading to them.

Makota: What the hell are those? They’re huge!

Fex: I don’t know, but we need to get out of the way quick!

The sky darkened under the sheer size of the incoming hybrids as they tore through the air. The Saber-winged Zagon descended first, its massive wings folding inward as it dove like a meteor, slamming into the stone courtyard with a devastating impact that sent shockwaves rippling through the ground. Makota, Shera, Ira, and Fex barely had time to brace themselves as dust and debris exploded outward, forcing them to shield their eyes. Then, with a deafening screech, the Aeris-Chimera came next, its three viper heads writhing and snapping, its enormous talons raking across the rooftop as it landed with a crushing force that shattered the stone beneath it. Sen, Dain, and Yerah skidded backward from the sheer force of its arrival, their eyes locked onto the hybrid that now loomed before them, its snake heads hissing as venom dripped onto the ground.

The Saber-winged hybrid let out a guttural snarl, its massive claws digging into the stone as it reared back, wings spreading wide. Then, with a single, powerful flap, it sent a violent gust of wind surging forward— but this was no ordinary wind. A split second later, the beast opened its fanged maw, unleashing a torrent of fire that fed off the wind’s force, turning the blaze into a raging inferno that surged toward them like a tidal wave of flame. Makota reacted instantly, thrusting his hands forward, summoning a barrier of water that clashed against the fire, steam erupting into the air as the elements collided. Shera twisted her arms, redirecting the wind, forcing it to swirl away from them instead of feeding the flames. Fex raised his hand, crackling lightning gathering at his fingertips before he hurled a bolt of raw electricity straight into the beast’s chest. It jerked back, momentarily stunned, but the firestorm it had created still raged around them, embers dancing across the battlefield like embers in a storm.

The hybrid recovered fast. With a deafening roar, it rushed forward, its movements impossibly quick for its hulking frame. Before Fex could react, a razor-sharp talon slashed through the air, tearing across his side with a sickening rip. His breath hitched as pain shot through his ribs, his body flung violently backward, crashing into the broken stone. Ira gasped, her heart hammering as she sprinted toward him, her hands already glowing with the soft pulse of healing energy. Makota and Shera barely had time to register what had happened. The beast was already coming for them next. Ira slid beside Fex, grabbing onto his arm as her Intergy surged through him, flowing over his wound to slow the bleeding and numb the pain.

Ira: Fex! Are you good?

She pulled him to the side, shielding him from the battlefield as her energy worked to seal the wound. Meanwhile, Makota and Shera were left alone against the monster. Makota twisted his hands, calling forth blades of condensed water, launching them in rapid succession toward the hybrid’s legs and wings. Shera followed up immediately, sending powerful bursts of wind to throw off the creature’s balance, forcing it to stagger as it swiped at them in fury.

But even with their combined effort, the beast refused to slow down. It was relentless. Every time they forced it back, it retaliated stronger. The heat radiating from its body made the air oppressive, its massive wings fanning the flames around them. Makota and Shera panted, sweat beading along their brows. This thing was getting faster, more aggressive. They were holding on, but barely.

Fex (gritted teeth): Heal me later! They need you now. I’ll be fine!

Ira: You’re going to bleed out!

Fex: And they’ll die if you don’t help them!

Ira (with hesitation): Shit.

Fex: Go, damn it! Help them!

Ira looks over to seeing Makota and Shera struggling. She kept her hands healing Fex.

Fex: Damn it, Ira. I’ll be fine! If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be talking!

The Saber-winged hybrid lunged forward, its talons slashing through the air, aiming straight for Shera with lethal speed. Just as it was about to land the strike, a sudden surge of water crashed into its side, sending the beast skidding across the battlefield. Ira had arrived. With a sharp flick of her wrist, she sent another wave of high-pressure water, forcing the beast further back before it could regain its footing. Makota seized the opportunity, twisting his arms as he summoned a spiraling spear of condensed water before launching it straight at the hybrid’s chest. The attack collided with a heavy impact, sending the creature tumbling backward, but even as it crashed into the stone, it was far from finished.

The hybrid snarled and erupted back onto its feet, its Aeris wings unfurling wide before it reared its head back, sucking in air. Flames roared from its maw, spewing forward in a violent torrent aimed directly at Makota. He threw his hands up, calling forth a rushing wave of water to push against the flames, but the fire was relentless. The heat forced him back, his arms trembling under the pressure. Ira stepped in beside him, her own water ability surging forward, merging with his and creating an even stronger force against the flames. With the hybrid locked in its fiery assault, Shera struck. A razor-sharp gust of wind shot from her hands, cutting across the hybrid’s exposed side, drawing a deep, bloodied gash. The beast jerked in pain, its focus breaking for a split second, enough time for Makota and Ira to overpower its fire.

The battle intensified, their coordination becoming sharper with every attack. The Zagon twisted and thrashed, but the trio had it on the defensive. Ira sent high-pressure jets of water from one side, forcing it to dodge left, straight into Shera’s cutting bursts of wind. Every time the hybrid tried to take to the air, Makota lashed out with torrents of water, knocking it down. The once untouchable beast was now struggling, cornered as it was forced to defend against all three from different angles.

Makota's eyes narrowed as he spotted an opening, the hybrid’s wings flaring wide as it tried to push them back. Now was the moment.

Makota (thinking): Now!

He leaped upward, propelling himself with a burst of wind and water. At the same time, Ira sent a massive tidal surge from below, slamming into the beast and knocking it slightly off-balance, while Shera whipped razor-like currents of wind, slicing deep into the hybrid’s flesh. Makota landed atop the beast’s back, balancing for only a second before raising both hands, gathering a dense sphere of surging water. With a single, decisive motion, he forced all of it into a concentrated beam, driving it straight through the Zagon’s skull. The creature let out a deafening shriek, its body convulsing violently, but it wasn’t done yet.

As the hybrid reeled from the blow, Ira had already been preparing. Behind Makota’s attack, she had been channeling a concentrated spear of pure Intergy, the energy pulsing and crackling with intensity. The moment Makota pierced the skull, she hurled her attack forward, the spear shooting straight into the gaping wound. Shera saw the moment unfold and followed through, sending a tunnel of wind that drove the Intergy deeper, forcing it into the creature’s very core. The beast let out one last piercing cry, then the Intergy exploded, bursting it’s head. Its body shuddering violently before finally collapsing onto the ground.

The hybrid twitched once more, then stilled. Its body began to break apart, the brown blood spilling onto the ground before evaporating into nothing. The air around them was thick with the scent of burnt stone and steam, but the battle was won. Makota, Ira, and Shera stood over the remains of the creature, their bodies heaving from exhaustion.

Meanwhile, Sen, Dain, and Yerah faced the other hybrid. Dain was the first to move, his fire blade igniting with an intense, concentrated heat as he dashed forward. The hybrid’s three viper heads hissed in unison, its massive Aeris-like wings beating against the air, but Dain was already upon it. With a powerful lunge, he swung his blade toward one of the writhing serpent heads, the focused flames carving into its scales. The beast reeled back, but before it could retaliate, Sen appeared at its side in a blur, dual swords of light and darkness flashing in tandem. His light blade carved into the creature’s wing, sending a flare of searing heat through its membrane, while his dark blade slashed against its shoulder, leaving a trail of cold decay in its wake. The hybrid snarled and flapped its wings violently, trying to knock them back, but Yerah was ready. With a precise motion, she lifted her arms, summoning a massive surge of water, molding it into a rotating drill before hurling it straight at the beast’s chest. The attack collided with a deafening crash, sending the creature stumbling backward into the rubble.

The hybrid let out a guttural roar, electricity crackling across its body as it took to the sky, its massive wings beating powerfully. Then, without warning, a burst of wind erupted from its form, sending a shockwave that threw Dain off balance. Before he could react, a powerful stream of high-voltage electricity shot toward him, arcing through the air like a spear. His body tensed in instinct, knowing there was no time to dodge, but before the bolt could strike, Sen was already there. With a quick wave of dark energy, it cancelled out the electric charge entirely.

Sen: You good?

Dain: I’m good.

Sen immediately, turning his light blade into ball of energy, sending it towards the hybrid’s hovering form. The Zagon was hit, forcing the beast to flap wildly and falling to the ground. Dain sent flames swirling around him once more as he charged forward again. The fires ran through the beast as it roared.

Yerah saw her chance and acted swiftly. Pulling moisture from the air, she froze it into razor-sharp spears of ice, launching them in rapid succession toward the hybrid. The spears pierced through the membrane of its left wing.

Yerah (muttering): Try flying now.

But the victory was short-lived. One of the viper heads twisted violently, its fangs glowing with raw energy before releasing a concentrated blast of water and electricity directly at her.

Sen (shouting from across) Yerah!

Yerah barely had time to react as the attack headed towards her, but Sen with a burst of light jetted and took the hit for Yerah while armoring himself in dark matter. His defenses were not strong enough as it shattered and took the residual damage from the lighting. Yerah swiftly created a barrier of ice shielding herself and Sen who was hurt. However, the Zagon swiped at the barrier, breaking through and cutting through Sen’s shoulder.

Sen: Arhhhg!

Yerah: Sen!

Dain wasted no time, his fury igniting as he launched himself forward, flames coiling around his arms. With a sharp flick of his wrists, he hurled a barrage of fireballs at the hybrid, each one streaking through the air like miniature meteors. The first blast struck one of the viper heads, searing its scaled flesh and forcing it to recoil with a shriek of pain. He created another fire blade in his hand before rushing forward again, determined to keep the fight going. Dain pressed forward, his fire blade clashing against the hybrid’s claws as they exchanged brutal, rapid strikes. Every swing of his weapon sent searing flames arcing through the air, but the Zagon moved unnaturally fast, its wings giving it just enough lift to dodge and counter with swift, vicious precision. The beast lashed out with a whip of wind, forcing Dain back, but he retaliated instantly, launching a concentrated stream of fire that pushed across the hybrid’s chest, forcing it to recoil.

Meanwhile, Sen clutched his wounded shoulder and began healing himself.

Sen: I’m fine. Help Dain!

As the hybrid reeled from Dain’s relentless assault, Yerah seized the opening. With a swift motion, she summoned a torrent of water from the surrounding air, shaping it into a spiraling vortex around her arms. She dashed forward, her steps fluid and precise, weaving through the embers left in Dain’s wake. With a sharp thrust of her hands, she unleashed the swirling water like a whip. The hybrid let out a deafening roar, its remaining wing beating furiously as it fought against Yerah’s relentless water assault. A surge of electricity crackled through its body, channeling into the liquid tendrils that wrapped around it. The moment the opposing forces collided— water and raw Intergy— a violent explosion erupted between them. The force of the blast sent Yerah and Dain hurtling backward. The Zagon’s remaining viper head reared back, its fangs crackling with electricity before it spat a concentrated bolt of lightning directly at Dain. The charge slammed into his body, sending violent convulsions ripping through his muscles as he crashed backward.

Dain: Argh!!!

Yerah gritted her teeth, raising both hands as the temperature around her plummeted. The moisture in the air crystallized instantly, forming jagged shards of ice that hovered in a deadly array around her. With a sharp thrust of her arms, she launched them forward, each shard whistling through the air like a missile. The Zagon recoiled, flapping its massive wings in an attempt to escape, but the ice spears struck true. They tore through the delicate membrane, puncturing deep into the flesh and snapping bones beneath. A shrill, ear-piercing screech tore from the beast’s throats as gaping holes riddled its wings, rendering them useless.

Dain refused to back down, his flames roaring to life as he lunged at the hybrid with relentless ferocity. The beast snapped its viper-like heads toward him, fangs crackling with energy, but Dain weaved between their strikes, his fire-coated fists colliding against its hardened scales. Each impact sent shockwaves through the air, his flames scorching deep into its hide. The Zagon retaliated, whipping its tail in a blinding arc, but Dain twisted mid-air, barely dodging before launching a concentrated blast of fire straight at its snarling maw. With a thunderous explosion, the flames engulfed one of the viper heads entirely, searing through flesh and bone until it burst apart in a shower of embers and molten remains. The hybrid screeched in agony, its remaining two heads thrashing wildly as it stumbled back, smoke curling from its charred wound.

A deafening crackle tore through the air as the Zagon released a powerful surge of electricity, the blinding arcs rippling outward in a devastating wave. Yerah and Dain barely had time to react before the force struck them, sending both crashing backward against the rubble. The impact knocked the breath from their lungs, sparks dancing wildly across their bodies as they struggled to regain their footing. But the Zagon wasted no time. It lunged forward, its remaining viper heads locking onto Dain as their fangs crackled with deadly voltage.

Dain gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand, but the beast was already preparing its next strike. A concentrated bolt of lightning gathered in one of its open jaws, the raw energy growing brighter by the second. Dain tensed, realizing he had no time to dodge until a shadow flashed before him.

Sen was there. With a surge of dark energy, he thrust his hand forward, swallowing the incoming lightning in a wave of pure void. The attack dissipated instantly, nullified by his power. Without hesitation, Sen clenched his fist, forming a blade of radiant light in his grip, pulsing with fierce energy. In one fluid motion, Sen dashed forward, his sword cutting through the air in a brilliant arc. Before the Zagon could react, its second viper head was severed.

Yerah took her chance from a distance, her eyes sharp with focus. She raised both hands, summoning a swirling mass of water that snaked around her body before launching toward the wounded beast. The moment the water made contact, she froze it instantly, encasing the Zagon’s legs in solid ice, locking it in place. The hybrid thrashed violently, its remaining head snapping wildly, but it was too late. Sen stood before it, dark energy in one arm, light energy in the other, both swirling and crackling with power. With a single powerful leap, he launched himself onto the beast’s neck, his arms wrapping around its thick throat, the energy surging into his grip. With a roar of exertion, he twisted violently, the sheer force tearing the final head from its body. By doing so, he reopened his shoulder wound, his blood spilling.

The Zagon immediately stopped moving and dropped, brown blood spilling across the ground. Within moments, its form began to disintegrate, the remains evaporating into nothing as the air settled in eerie silence. The battle was over.

Dain: Holy shit.

Sen covers his wound on his shoulder with his hand attempting to heal himself and dropping to his knees.

Dain: Sen!

Dain rushes towards Sen and kneels by him, healing his shoulder as best he could. Yerah from her distance was still healing her own wound.

From afar, Penim had arrived at Andin with a small grin.

Penim: Ahh, Mr. President.

Andin’s guard stood in between the two. Penim tilted his head slightly, his grin never faltering as he raised a single hand, fingers curling ever so slightly. A sudden, crushing force filled the air. The guard barely had time to react before the weight of gravity shifted violently, slamming into him like an invisible hammer. His body lurched sideways, feet ripping from the ground as he was hurled through the air, crashing into the side of a nearby building.

Penim: Get the fuck outta here. This ain’t your business.

Andin: You must be Penim.

Penim: Oh, you know me? I’m famous?

Andin (ignoring Penim’s playfulness): What do you want from me?

Penim: You. Just you.

Andin: Me?

Penim: Yeah. I’m supposed to just capture you.

Guard (struggling): President Andin… Run!

Penim turns to the guard with an annoyed expression. He raises his open hand and with a gradual formation of a fist, the very air around the guard distorted, an invisible force pressing down from every direction at once. The soldier let out a choked gasp, his limbs trembling as the pressure increased, the ground beneath him cracking under the sheer weight crushing his body. Bones snapped. His armor caved inward. Blood trickled from his mouth, his gasps turning into strained, gurgling sounds as the pressure squeezed him from all sides like a vice. Then, with a final, sickening crack, the weight intensified in an instant, folding him inward like paper. The guard's body collapsed into itself, reduced to nothing more than twisted remains as the ground splintered beneath the force. Penim lowered his hand, the gravity returning to normal as if nothing had happened. He tilted his head toward Andin, wearing a lazy smirk.

Penim: Shall I just crush your legs and make you come with me?

Andin: You think I can’t fight back?

Penim: Trust me. You wouldn’t want to fight me.

Andin: But you won’t kill me. You need to capture me, right?

Penim: Don’t think I can’t crush your limbs though.

Andin raised his hand immediately and sent forward a combined beam of fire and lightning. Penim didn’t dodge. A rift opened up mid-air, eating the incoming strike, then closing away. Then the rift opened again and fired back at Andin. Andin dodged. Penim sighs.

Penim: Don’t make this difficult please.

Penim raised his hand toward Andin, using gravity. Andin created a layer of Intergy around him, pressing against the gravity.

Penim: So, you have chosen to be difficult—

A giant stone came out of nowhere crashing into Penim. Zarnem jumped into the scene.

Andin: Zarnem!

Zarnem: President! Stay back!

Penim walked out of the debris.

Penim: Hello again! You arrived quick!

Zarnem: Damn it, Penim! What the hell do you want with Andin?

Penim chuckles.

Zarnem: What kind of deal are you trying to make?

Penim: It’s not a deal. It’s for a very different reason.

Zarnem: Penim, please stop what you’re doing! Can we please talk this through?

Penim: Didn’t we already finish this little talk?

Penim smiles.

Zarnem: I don’t want to have to kill you.

Penim: Eh, you’ll just fail like last time.

A moment of silence.

Penim: But in all fairness, I don’t really want to capture Andin here, so you can cut the attitude.

Zarnem and Andin looked confused.

Penim: Trust me, Zarnem. I’ll kill you. But Krutone is the bigger picture now. And Sen is wanted.

Zarnem: Sen? How do you know about Sen?

Penim: Don’t worry about it. Just don’t break his trust. Does he know who you really are?

Zarnem: Penim, quit your shit.

Penim: I ain’t shitting anywhere. I’m actually asking. Does he really know who you are?

Zarnem doesn’t reply.

Penim: You’re the reason.

Zarnem: I’m the reason? Just get to the point, Penim.

Penim: Tell him you’re the reason why I turned into who I am. You’re the reason for the war. You turned me into this.

Zarnem: You can’t turn that shit on me!

Penim: And none of that would’ve happened if you weren’t so selfish. How’s it like being captain by the way?

Zarnem began to build up Intergy.

Penim: We don’t need to fight here. Let’s actually make a deal. I tell Sicrus that I failed to capture Andin. In return, you get us into Krutone. How’s that sound?

Zarnem lowered his Intergy.

Zarnem: What the hell kind of deal is that? I’d never let you into Krutone.

Penim: To be honest, I have no clue how to get into Krutone with their new security. It’s not me who wants Kyto. It’s them.

Zarnem: Them? Sicrus and Zan?

Penim (shrugs): Sure. Then you and I can handle our business. I just need you to walk through, and when a path opens, you allow my group in. We’ll cause some commotion, but in that time, you don’t do a thing until we get it.

Zarnem: I would never.

Penim: A transaction was already made with the ones I work with and myself. The last part is me getting them in. Then I can have you.

Zarnem paused.

Penim: As for Sen, how about you tell him what you did to me? … tell him exactly how you worked with Osin to get rid of me. Tell him how you worked closely with Osin, emperor of Revano, the very leader that killed Sen’s parents… The very leader that ruined Sen’s life.  

Zarnem froze.

Penim: The true evil one here is you. Not me.

Zarnem couldn’t say anything back.

Penim: Evil disguises itself as good and will watch others suffer in its own selfishness… That’s who you are, Zarnem…

Silence.

Penim: Well, we have a deal here, yeah?

Zarnem doesn’t answer.

Penim: I’ll take that as a yes. I’ll be sure to let Sicrus and Zan know I couldn’t capture Andin because you got in the way. In the meantime, I do expect you to let us in Krutone. When Krutone’s gates open, leave some time for us to enter.

Penim opens a portal and steps into the other side.

Penim: See ya, best friend. Always a pleasure to know you’re still pretending to be a hero!

The portal closes. Zarnem and Andin wait there in silence. The sound of soldiers fighting also stopped as all the Zagons had been killed by then.

Back to Sen, Dain, Yerah, Makota, Shera and Ira. Ira turned, her breath still heavy from the battle, the adrenaline in her veins finally settling. But then, her eyes landed on Fex, unmoving. Her stomach dropped.

Ira: Fex?

Ira ran, rushing toward him.

His body was slumped against the crumbled remains of a broken wall, his once-bright eyes dull and unfocused, staring at nothing. Blood pooled beneath him, dark and thick, the wound that she had started to heal now long past saving. Her hands trembled as she reached for him, pressing against his skin, but it was cold. Too cold. The realization hit her all at once, like a sharp blade to the chest. He had told her to go, told her he’d be fine, but he wasn’t fine. He had never been fine.

Shera: Oh… shit…

Makota: Damn… where the hell is Zarnem?

Sen (looking at Fex): He’s… dead…

Ira: He bled out. I knew it…

Ira’s hands clenched into fists, her breath unsteady as she stared down at Fex’s lifeless body. Her chest ached, but she refused to let the tears fall. Not now. Not here. Her fingers twitched as if wanting to reach for him again, to do something, but there was nothing left to do. Slowly, she straightened, swallowing the grief that threatened to surface, forcing her expression into something steadier, colder. She couldn’t break down.

Ira (voice slightly cracking): Let’s find Zarnem.

Ira turned away, her face unreadable, her steps slow but deliberate as she walked past the wreckage. Makota and Shera exchanged a brief glance before silently following, their usual energy replaced by a heavy, suffocating stillness. Behind them, Sen, Dain, and Yerah remained for a moment longer, their eyes still on Fex. Without a word, they too turned and followed.