Chapter 21: The Path Opens

The next day dawned quiet over Luria. Pale morning light stretched across the distant hills, spilling over the polished stone walls of the city. Beyond those walls, hidden in the shadow of the low hills to the east, a gathering had already begun.

Sicrus He stood with arms crossed, sharp eyes scanning the valley below. Josar, silent as ever, his face unreadable, kept to the edges of the gathering, his gaze never meeting anyone’s. Mayzen sat nearby on a crumbling stone, relaxed in posture but far from idle. Zan stood with the faintest curl of a grin touching his lips. Penim at the center of the group sat on a flat stone. Tyla leaned form her draped in practical, battle-worn clothes. Fletris stood to her side, silent, his massive arms folded. Baylene hung back, her head low. Norad stood apart from them all. He said nothing, did nothing. The wind was thin in the open plain, kicking up dust as it passed through. The silence was thick between them.

From the distant ridge, Scray emerged. He walked at an easy pace, dragging something behind him, a dead body. Scray let it drop at their feet. The corpse landed heavily, its hollow eyes staring sightlessly upward. The clean insignia of Luria’s military marked the man’s clothing, but the throat was torn open, ragged and raw. The gathering said nothing. Scray stepped back, wiping his hands on the sides of his pants as he settled among them, his expression void of anything resembling remorse.

Mayzen moved toward the corpse without a word, kneeling close to the head. Mayzen pointed his finger to the dead man, a vein coming out of his finger and burrowing its way into the lifeless man. Mayzen retracted his vein and stood.

Mayzen: Excellent job, Scray. Excellent, excellent job.

Sicrus: What did you find?

Mayzen: They enter today. Noon.

Zan: Today!? Let’s go!

Penim: Just like that, huh?

Mayzen: No, it’s never that easy.

Sicrus: So, what’s the plan then?

Mayzen: Same as we discussed before. Follow through with what Penim had for us.

Sicrus: Were you able to find out if we can portal in and out of Krutone after we get past their barrier?

Mayzen: No, I was not. We will have to find out when we get there.

Penim: Risky. Getting to the Void should be possible at least right?

Mayzen: It should be fine. We can return to the Void. I don’t know if now we’re limited to coming back out into Krutone or if we can still portal into somewhere like Troita next. We’ll see how the barrier works.

Penim: Either way, at least we’ll be in Krutone, and from there, I can finally carry out what I want to do.

Sicrus: And Zarnem really isn’t going to do a thing as we get through?

Penim: He better not. He’s eager to earn his place back in Krutone, so he’s most likely to follow with our agreement. Then once we’re in, I can deal with him.

Sicrus: Not so fast. We have to still have to make sure we take them all down first. Our mission matters more than your petty history with Zarnem.  

Penim: That was never the agreement.

Sicrus: It was implied.

Penim: No, no, no. There is no implied agreement. The deal was I get you in, you let me isolate Zarnem.

Mayzen: It’s acceptable, Sicrus. We gave Penim powers of The Orb, he finds a way for us into Krutone, and now he gets Zarnem. The rest isn’t his business. It’s ours.

Penim: Besides, I still have to give you all the hybrids I created. So this time, you can watch your tone with me, Sicrus.

Sicrus gave Penim a small glare.

Sicrus: And we’re for sure that the barrier to Krutone will open today?

Mayzen: I don’t mistake the memories I pull from my subjects. He was on guard duty during Lessa’s resting hours. I can clearly hear her voice speaking to Kyto. But also, I found more details we should know.

The gathering listened closer.

Mayzen: According to the body Scray retrieved, the sphere that encompasses Krutone doesn’t all vanish when opening. There’s a gate they open, and from there, they create an opening of the barrier.

Penim: How small is our opening then?

Mayzen: The satisfying news is that the gates are large. We can sneak through with all the open space.

Scray: And that’s where we come in.

Mayzen: Correct. You, Baylene, Tyla, Fletris and Norad. We need you to go in for the attack. Create chaos. Enough to blur the battle grounds. Be a distraction for us to enter.

Scray: Won’t there be Krutonian guards upon entering?

Mayzen: We’ll wait for the gate to open, then Josar or Zan opens the portal. Scray’s squad creates the distraction, we enter the Void, then come out through their breach. Penim will take care of any security cameras.

Scray: And if the barrier seals before you can create the portal? We don’t even know how long this barrier takes to open or close.

Mayzen: Which is why it’s your job to kill anyone that tries to seal the barrier. Buy us time.

Baylene: We’re dying today, aren’t we?

Penim: Only if you take longer than needed.

Tyla: Yeah right. You expect us to sustain against Zarnem?

Scray: I’ll be fighting by your side.

Penim: And you’ll have plenty of Zagons roaming in that concentrated area.

Fletris: Will you be helping us at least.

Mayzen: We have to—

Penim: Of course, we will!

Norad: No, you aren’t. The mission is us staying behind.

Zan: How about if you just don’t die?

Norad looked to Zan who was grinning.

Scray (to Norad): You’ll be fine. You all will. We’ve all stayed alive so far. If we continue to follow the plan carefully, we’ll be ok.

Sicrus: So, now we just wait?

Mayzen: Yes. When that portal opens, we strike and enter.

The conversation faded, leaving only the soft hiss of the wind as it scraped across the barren plain. Sicrus remained standing, his gaze fixed on the horizon. Josar shifted back into the shadows, his presence ghostlike at the edge of the gathering. Mayzen returned to his seat on the crumbling stone. Zan paced slowly, almost impatient and excited. Penim said nothing more, his hands resting calmly on his. Scray and his squad checked their weapons in practiced silence, the scrape of metal and faint creak of worn leather the only sounds. The air hung heavy with anticipation, time stretching thin as they waited for the gate to open.

Sen sat on the edge of his bed, lacing up his shoes with slow, deliberate movements. The early morning light slipped between the curtains, casting pale bands across the polished wooden floor. Dain stood by the window, stretching his arms overhead before rolling his shoulders with a quiet grunt.

Dain: You sleep well at all?

Sen: A little.

Dain gave a low hum, unconvinced.

Dain: Guess we’re getting closer to Krutone, huh?

Sen: Yeah.

Dain: I hope to get answers too.

Sen paused for a moment, tying the last knot on his shoe before standing.

Sen: What do you mean?

Dain smirked faintly.

Dain: I want to know why all of this is happening. We all do.

Sen gave him a flat look but said nothing as he grabbed his jacket from the nearby dresser. He slipped it over his shoulders.

Dain: You think President Kyto’s gonna be like Lessa?

Sen: I hope not, but since he’s the head of everything, I can’t imagine him being great to work with.

Dain: Great. Can’t wait.

A brief silence passed as they finished gathering their things.

A knock sounded at the door. Three sharp raps.

Makota (from the hallway): Hey! You two ready?

Dain stepped over and opened the door. Makota stood there, fully geared, his usual laid-back expression tempered with urgency.

Makota: Zarnem wants everyone in the lobby. Now.

Sen: Something happen?

Makota: Not sure. But he looks a bit happier.

Dain: We’ll be there in a second.

Makota gave a curt nod and turned back down the hall. Sen and Dain exchanged a glance before grabbing their last few things and heading for the door. Sen and Dain made their way down the polished staircase. The warm glow of lanterns along the walls cast long shadows as they descended into the lobby. The others were already gathered. Yerah, Shera, Ira, and Makota were seated on plush couches. At the far end of the room, near the entrance doors, Zarnem stood motionless.

Dain (whispering to Sen): I guess we’re last.

Sen nodded, his expression unreadable as they crossed the lobby. They came to stand near Makota, who gave them a brief nod before glancing back toward Zarnem.

Zarnem: Everyone’s here. Good.

He let the silence stretch another second before he continued.

Zarnem: I received a word from Lessa. It appears that she spoke to President Kyto last night after we met with her. They’ll be letting us through today at noon.

Ira: That’s wonderful!

Zarnem: Yes. We need to be there by noon. They’ll open the gates and barrier for us.

Ira: That’s incredible.

Makota: Finally! The mission!

Shera: We can finally be together in Krutone!

Ira: Really, Zarnem. This is wonderful.

Sen: Why the sudden change of heart?

Everyone paused.

Zarnem (to Sen): Because they understand the urgency of the situation. 

Sen: You didn’t ask?

Zarnem: We’re making it into Krutone at last, and now you’re questioning it?

Sen: I’m… just asking.

Zarnem: Do you have any objections?

Sen: No. I just wanted to know what the reasons were. It’s just sudden. Not even a full day has gone by and we’re already being given permission to enter.

Zarnem: We’re going in. Let’s take it.

Yerah looked over to Sen, but Sen not returning eye contact. Then she turned back, trying to show excitement about entering Krutone.

Josar and Scray moved through the narrow alleys of Luria with practiced silence, their footsteps muffled against the smooth stone streets. The city’s polished charm and orderly life made their presence feel like a shadow slipping through sunlight. Josar kept to the edges of buildings, his sharp gaze flicking from one potential vantage point to the next, while Scray crouched low behind carts and stairwells, his breathing steady and controlled. They moved as one, a silent rhythm honed by experience. At the corner of an abandoned courtyard, they paused. Josar signaling with two fingers before slipping into the deeper shadow beneath a crumbling archway. Scray followed, his hand briefly grazing the worn stone as he scanned for guards. Above them, thin banners rippled lazily in the breeze, masking their movements from watchful eyes. Josar’s focus narrowed, and pointed, and Scray gave a nod. It was a quarter of a mile from Krutone’s barrier that they could wait, unseen, until the moment to strike came.

Josar (whispering): I think if we stay this distance, it should be ok.

Scray (whispering): That’s pretty far.

Josar: Yeah, but knowing some of the others, they’d be too loud, and it’ll alert the guards.

Scray: Fair. So, should we let them know?

Josar: I think we can wait a little while longer. Mayzen said noon right?

Scray: He did.

Josar: Then we have some time.

Scray: Two more hours.

Josar: You’re going to make it to the other side with us, right?

Scray: That’s the goal.

Josar: And the rest of them?

Scray: I’m not sure… they’ll most likely die in this. Just like Aetrem and Lilan.

Josar: Well, they died because of Zan.

Scray: They were going to die anyways. Zarnem would’ve crushed them. Those two were stronger than the four we have combined.

Josar: They’re just sacrifices.

Scray: Decoys.

Josar: You don’t care about them?

Scray: I don’t care about anyone. I care about change.

Josar: I suppose…

The crew gathered in the palace courtyard as the sun hovered high in the pale sky, its light gleaming off the pristine white stone beneath their feet. Lessa stood at the front of the grand steps, framed by towering pillars and the flowing banners of Luria’s crest. She wore a deep gold cloak over her crimson gown today, the fabric trailing behind her. Her expression was composed, but the sharpness in her eyes left no question as to who was in control. Zarnem stood a short distance ahead of the others, his stance formal and tense. Behind him, Sen, Dain, Yerah, Ira, Makota, and Shera approached in quiet formation, their footsteps echoing softly through the courtyard’s open space. Lessa took a moment to look at Sen once more, making sure she was seeing who she was seeing.

Lessa: Oh, hello there everyone! A pleasure to see you all again!

Lessa stretched out her arms, intending to show her body.

Lessa: Oh, please come on through. President Kyto awaits your presence!

With a graceful turn, Lessa began leading them through the marble halls of the palace. Their boots clicked softly against the polished floors, the faint echo of their steps filling the vast, high-ceilinged corridors. Sunlight streamed in through tall, arched windows, casting shifting patterns across intricately woven tapestries that lined the walls. Lessa walked with slow, confident strides, occasionally glancing back over her shoulder.

Lessa: Oh, Sen right?

Sen (looking up): Yes?

Lessa: Oh, tell me, have you always lived in Clyden?

Sen: For as long as I remember, yes.

Lessa: Oh, I see, I see.

Sen: Do you have to say ‘oh’ to start?

Lessa: Oh, that was rude. Picking at the way I talk. That’s no way to speak to a queen.

Sen: I’m just asking.

Lessa stopped walking and turned around, giving a good look at Sen. She checked for a scar on his cheek that wasn’t there.

Lessa: And why did you join Zarnem on this mission?

Sen: We were drafted.

Lessa: Interesting. Are things that bad out there?

Sen: Worse than here.

Lessa (to Zarnem): How bad?

Zarnem: We didn’t get to talk much, but I’m not sure if you remember the names Penim, Sicrus and Zan.

Lessa: Oh, I don’t know Penim. Heard a little about Sicrus. But Zan, we all know Zan.

Lessa turned forward and continue leading.

Lessa: Oh, you’re telling me they’re behind this?

Zarnem: Yes. We encountered them in Allatora on our way here too.

Lessa: Oh, how fascinating! Very scary. Tell me, how was that like?

Zarnem: I hate how nonchalant you are about this.

Lessa: Oh, what can I say? I wasn’t there, so tell me.

Zarnem: There were a few more of them.

Lessa: Oh, more than just those three?

Zarnem: And it didn’t seem like Penim was their leader.

Lessa: Oh, was it Zan?

Zarnem: No, not even.

Lessa: Oh, no?

Zarnem: I wasn’t sure if it was the Sicrus guy or this other one that stood amongst them.

Lessa: Oh, Sicrus leading them. He’s the one who left a note behind Troita saying he’s going after President Kyto next, right?

Zarnem: That’s what the rumors are.

Lessa: Oh, so fascinating, indeed. That was the very reason Krutone created their Intergy barrier.

Zarnem: That’s what it was?

Lessa: Oh, yes. President Kyto was scared. Riddle me that! But, you mentioned another person?

Zarnem: Yes. Sort of long hair. Dead eyes. Pale. He seemed like the strategist or the one setting these things up. But I’m unsure if he leads, because Sicrus would speak back.

Lessa: Oh, maybe they lead together?

Zarnem: Perhaps.

Lessa stopped walking. Her mood shifting to something serious.

Lessa: Oh, it’s not… Mayzen is it? Did you mention his name?

Zarnem: I don’t remember them saying his name. I do remember his face though. It’s hard to forget someone who looks so… dead.

Lessa slowly picked her pace back up.

Lessa: Oh, hopefully, it isn’t Mayzen.

Sen: Who is that?

Lessa: Oh, Sen wants to know?

Sen: I do. Who is that name? Mayzen.

Lessa: Oh, Mayzen is a man that went missing. He actually worked with Zash every now and then, your father, Zarnem.

Zarnem’s brows narrowed forward.

Lessa: Oh, I’m not sure if you remember these names, but General Veyzik and General Esona were great powerful leaders of Krutone. Their Intergy could be felt in combat, and when they were found, they were found dead. All around the same time, Mayzen was missing. We had thought he died with them and his body was blown into nothing perhaps. Surely, you remember that story right, Zarnem?

Zarnem: I was just a teen back then. I’m remembering parts of it now.

Lessa: Oh, yes. But the thing is, rumor has it that spies of Revano spotted this Mayzen guy. Then that rumors spread over here after several years.

Sen: This Mayzen guy… he killed two generals?

Lessa: Oh, yes. Scary isn’t it? It was already hard on Krutone losing General Zash, but then also losing Veyzik and Esona… that was rough.

Sen: Generals of Krutone are supposed to be… the best of the best, right?

Lessa: Oh, that’s exactly what I’m saying. Who could take on two generals? I know I wouldn’t be able to. Could Mayzen have killed off those two? That’s assuming he’s actually alive of course. That’s why I asked. When you were describing the hair, dead eyes, pale, the only person I could think of was Mayzen. But in all seriousness, I don’t think it can be Mayzen. Mayzen was a strategist. He was a sensory type that was intellectual. No combat abilities.

A few distances away, Zan and Penim emerged from a quiet portal. Josar and Scray stood nearby, their bodies tense but controlled.

Zan: We dive in from here?

Scray: This was the best angle we could find.

Zan noticed the crew approaching the gate with Lessa.

Zan: And look! Little Zashy! It’s your fuckboy, Penim!

Penim: I look forward to when we no longer have to work together.

Zan: You and me both!

Scray: It’s going to happen soon.

At last, Lessa brought the crew to towering walls of Krutone, seamlessly connected to the rear of Luria Palace. The sheer scale of the barrier was staggering smooth, pale stone stretching high into the sky, crowned by faint, swirling lines of Intergy that shimmered subtly in the noon light. Massive gates of reinforced steel and polished obsidian stood closed before them, their surface etched with ancient symbols of power and protection. Dozens of guards flanked either side, clad in dark armor that gleamed beneath the sun, their weapons at the ready. Their movements were precise, their faces expressionless, each one exuding a quiet, disciplined strength that spoke of Krutone’s military supremacy. Despite the serenity of Luria behind them, there was no mistaking it now. They were at the threshold of the world’s most powerful nation, and nothing beyond these gates would be familiar.

Lessa: Oh, are you all ready to go?

Zarnem (looking back at his crew): We are.

Lessa: Oh, be sure to let Kyto know I said hello!

She takes one more look at Sen and smiles at him without him realizing. Lessa turned with a graceful sweep of her cloak, raising one slender hand toward the towering gates. The air around her shimmered as a current of golden Intergy flowed from her fingertips, spiraling in delicate threads that quickly thickened into brilliant streams of light. The energy snaked toward the gates, tracing along ancient engravings that lined their massive frame. A deep hum resonated through the courtyard as the gates responded, their immense mechanisms unlocking with a slow, grinding groan. Beyond the gates, the pale glow of Krutone’s Intergy barrier pulsed faintly, a seamless sphere of energy that enclosed the city like a second sky. Lessa’s other hand rose in tandem, and a second surge of Intergy leapt forward, striking the barrier where the gates met its edge. The barrier rippled like disturbed water before parting, a circular opening slowly widening to align with the gates. For a moment, the energy around the breach crackled, releasing faint arcs of light, before settling into a stable passage. Lessa lowered her hands with a satisfied breath, turning back toward them with a smile as the path into Krutone lay open.

Hidden in the shadows beyond the palace walls, Zan grinned as he reached into the folds of his cloak and withdrew a jagged shard, its surface swirling with black and white Intergy. The shard pulsed faintly in his palm, radiating a sinister heat. Without hesitation, Zan clenched his fist around it, the brittle object cracking loudly before shattering entirely. In an instant, thick tendrils of dark Intergy exploded outward, spiraling and tearing at the air as the ground beneath him fractured. From the rift that burst open at his feet, a torrent of Zagons erupted, twisted forms of fangs, claws, and writhing limbs pouring forth in a chaotic wave. Their screeches pierced the air as they surged toward the palace courtyard, barreling toward the open gates of Krutone. The once orderly space was suddenly consumed by the chaos of snarling beasts and pounding footsteps, their monstrous forms darkening the brilliant light that had bathed the entrance only moments before.

Ira: Zagons! Here!?

Makota: Damn it!

Lessa: Oh Zarnem, what the hell is this!?

Zarnem: We’re being attacked! Just like in Troita and Allatora!

As the Zagons flooded the palace grounds in a frenzied swarm, a second rupture split the air with a sharp, cracking sound. A portal, dark and jagged at its edges, tore open near the side of the courtyard, its swirling vortex distorting the space around it like heat over scorched stone. Without hesitation, four figures stepped through, their movements swift and deliberate. Tyla emerged first, her katana flashing in the light as she sprinted toward the crew with ruthless precision. Baylene followed close behind, her hands already crackling with Intergy as arcs of volatile energy danced between her fingertips. Norad was next, landing silently into the courtyard. Fletris brought up the rear, his gauntlets flexing as he rolled his shoulders, his gaze cold and locked on the crew.

Lessa: Oh, are they who you were talking about?

Zarnem: No! Not at all! I have no clue who any of them are!

Tyla lunged forward with surgical precision, her katana cutting through the air in a gleam of cold steel aimed directly at Shera’s throat. In a blur of motion, Makota threw himself between them, summoning an Intergy barrier with a desperate sweep of his hand. The translucent shield flared to life just as Tyla’s blade struck, releasing a concussive burst of energy that detonated on impact. The force of the explosion sent both Makota and Shera hurtling backward, their bodies crashing through an arched passageway and into an adjacent courtyard. Stone dust billowed around them as they skidded hard across the polished ground, the echoes of their landing swallowed by the rising chaos. Tyla didn’t flinch, already adjusting her stance, eyes locked on where they’d fallen, ready to follow.

Ira: Shera! Makota!

Ira sprang forward, her hands already crackling with energy as she darted toward the cloud of dust where Makota and Shera had fallen. Her focus sharpened, ready to pull them back or shield them from Tyla’s next strike, but she never made it. A dark blur slammed into her side with crushing force, the impact stealing her breath as she was driven violently off course. Scray’s firm shoulder crashed into her ribs, his momentum carrying them both across the courtyard in a brutal arc. Before Ira could recover, a surge of wind erupted from Scray’s hand, exploding point-blank against her. The gust sent her flying through a stone archway and into a long, dim hallway beyond. She struck the ground hard, sliding along the polished floor as Scray stalked after her, his footsteps slow but relentless.

Scray: Let me make this quick.

Fletris moved with eerie calm amidst the chaos, his heavy boots steady as he reached behind his back and unfurled a coiled net glimmering with threads of embedded Intergy. With a sharp twist of his wrists, he launched it forward with brutal precision. The net expanded midair, the glowing veins of energy crackling violently as it engulfed Yerah before she could react. The force of it slammed her to the ground, the weight and pulse of Intergy locking around her limbs, disrupting her ability to summon her water abilities. Before she could gather herself, Fletris yanked hard on the thick rope attached to the net, dragging Yerah across the courtyard’s polished stone like a hooked fish. She struggled against the bindings, her teeth gritted in frustration, but the Intergy tangled around her wrists and ankles hummed with a disruptive force that weakened her strength. Fletris hauled her toward a wide archway, pulling her into the shadows of an adjacent ballroom. The towering doors slammed shut behind them with a thunderous echo, the grand space beyond eerily silent save for the faint hiss of energy from the net.

Sen and Dain gave chase immediately, their feet pounding over stone as they followed in pursuit. But just as they crossed the threshold into the open field beyond the palace courtyard, a crackle of electric energy shot past them. Baylene dropped into their path from a high ledge above, landing with a hiss of Intergy discharging from her palms. Dain barely managed to shift his weight as Baylene surged at him, a vicious arc of Intergy lashing out and forcing him to roll clear. He scrambled to his feet, squaring off as Baylene’s hands ignited with volatile sparks, her stance wide and ready. Sen didn’t hesitate. He bolted toward the ballroom, leaving Dain and Baylene behind.

Inside the darkened chamber, Yerah gritted her teeth and focused. Her breathing slowed as she concentrated on the cold inside her core, channeling her Intergy despite the painful thrum of the net’s disruptive pulse. Water condensed in thin streams around her wrists, seeping into the tiny gaps of the net’s weave. With a sharp flex of her hands, ice exploded outward, shattering the glowing cords in a burst of frost. As the broken net fell limp around her, she rose to her feet just as Sen burst through the grand doors, his eyes locking with hers as they both turned toward the looming figure of Fletris stepping out from the shadowed edge of the ballroom.

Norad (facing Lessa and Zarnem): Of course, I get left with you two.

From the hiding spot, Sicrus and Mayzen joined Josar, Zan and Penim.

Penim: Ready?

Sicrus: Go.

From their concealed vantage point, Penim raised his hand, fingers splayed wide as a low hum of gravitational pressure rippled outward from his palm. Around him, the air shimmered, distorting like heat rising off scorched metal. Without a word, he closed his fist, and the ground beneath them cracked open with a deep, resonant groan. A swirling vortex of dark energy spiraled upward as dozens of shapes emerged from the gaping maw. Hybrid Zagons poured forth in a relentless tide, each one more grotesque and monstrous than the last. Their forms twisted unnaturally, combining jagged bone and sinewy muscle with pulsing veins of Intergy that glowed faintly through armored hides. Some scuttled on bladed limbs, others lumbered forward on hulking, mismatched bodies that dragged heavy tails behind them. Wings sprouted where they shouldn’t, claws too long for any natural beast scraped along the stone with screeching fury.

Their snarls and guttural roars filled the air as they spread out across the battlefield, their glowing eyes scanning for prey. One hybrid, massive and hunched with thick plates of armor fused to its shoulders, let out a bellow that shook the ground as it charged toward the palace walls. Another, serpentine and sleek with spines jutting from its back, slithered at terrifying speed, weaving through the chaos toward the gates of Krutone. Penim watched them go, his expression cold and measured.

Zan: At last. Going back home!

Mayzen: Now, Josar!

The battlefield was consumed by chaos, thick smoke billowed in heavy clouds, churning with dust and debris as blasts of Intergy and the roars of Zagons tore through the air. Shattered stone and broken earth littered the terrain, reducing once-pristine courtyards into jagged ruin. In the midst of the swirling haze, a sudden crack of blinding light split the smoke in two. Jagged bolts of lightning tore through the shroud, lancing forward in a brilliant arc that streaked past the opened gates of Krutone. For a breathless moment, no one understood what had just happened. Josar stood balanced atop the surge of lightning that traveled through Krutone’s gates, his body wreathed in crackling energy, expression cold and focused. Without hesitation, the bolt carried him forward in an instant as he rode on the lightning with his feet, his form vanishing through the breach and into Krutone, leaving only the fading echo of thunder in his wake.

The instant Josar’s feet touched the polished stone streets of Krutone, he darted toward a narrow alley between two towering walls. Without breaking stride, he pressed his palm against the cold surface, summoning a swirling portal. In one fluid motion, he stepped through and vanished, the portal collapsing in a silent ripple behind him.

Moments later, across the battlefield, Zan, Mayzen, Sicrus, and Penim opened a jagged rift of their own, the air distorting as the dark vortex spiraled into being. Without a word, they slipped inside one by one, their forms dissolving into shadow as they crossed into the Void.

A pulse of distorted energy rippled through the alleyway as Josar’s portal reformed, its swirling surface shuddering for a moment before stabilizing. Josar emerged first, stepping out with practiced precision, landing softly on the cold stone. His expression remained unreadable, eyes scanning the area as if confirming his location. But the faint hum of the portal didn’t fade. Instead, its edges flared brighter for a heartbeat before four more figures stepped through in swift succession. Sicrus emerged like a shadow coalescing from mist, his gaze sharp and calculating. Zan followed with a crooked grin, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. Penim’s presence was heavier, his steps measured and deliberate as gravitational energy subtly warped the space around him. Finally, Mayzen slipped out in silence, his cold gaze sweeping the terrain with clinical detachment. The portal flickered once more before sealing shut behind them, leaving the five standing together in the heart of Krutone, the air tense with imminent purpose.

Zan: We are in, baby!

Mayzen: Cameras, Penim? I sense none.

Penim: Luckily none here. I don’t detect anything either.

Mayzen: Excellent.

For a moment, none of them moved. Before them stretched sleek towers of glass and steel soared into the cloudless sky, their mirrored surfaces capturing the glow of the Intergy lines that pulsed through every structure-like veins of living light. Suspended railways hummed silently overhead, carrying high-speed capsules that darted between buildings with seamless precision. The streets below gleamed, embedded with responsive light panels that shifted color and patterns beneath the feet of pedestrians, guiding their movements like an unseen hand. AI-driven drones floated above, scanning and monitoring with mechanical grace. AI-humanoid robots walked amongst the citizens. Hover vehicles glided soundlessly above traffic lanes, their sleek designs a testament to Krutone’s relentless pursuit of technological perfection. Even the air seemed cleaner here, crisp and charged with faint static from the Intergy currents that powered every inch of the metropolis.

Zan: Back home.

Penim: What do you think, Sicrus? Josar?

Josar and Sicrus edged closer to the edge of the shadowed alley, their movements cautious, silent. Slowly, they leaned forward, their gazes lifting as they caught their first true glimpse of Krutone beyond the veil of secrecy and rumor. For a long moment, neither spoke. Towering spires of polished metal and glass reached endlessly into the sky, their smooth surfaces gleaming with threads of Intergy that pulsed like veins of light. Vast networks of hovercraft drifted effortlessly through the air, weaving between the monolithic structures with mechanical grace. The streets were flawless, wide and gleaming, embedded with shifting light patterns that guided the flow of people and vehicles alike with unnerving precision. Everything was orderly, seamless, alive with silent power. Josar exhaled slowly, his breath nearly forgotten in his chest. Sicrus, ever unreadable, stood motionless beside him, but his sharp eyes reflected the cold brilliance of the city. It was their first time seeing Krutone, and for all their years of fighting and surviving in broken lands, this place was something else entirely.

Sicrus: This is… where you’re all from?

Josar: What is all of this?

Penim: This is technology. This is what we meant.

Sicrus: Insane…

Penim: Shall we go get the rest of them?

Mayzen: No.

Sicrus (pulling his head back in): No?

Penim: No?

Josar (joining in): We’re leaving them out there?

Mayzen: They understood the mission. If we reveal ourselves, it’ll make it harder for us to reach Kyto. We made it in, quietly. There’s no need to make ourselves known.

Josar: We’re leaving Scray out there too?

Mayzen: Scray is a man of duty, and right now, he’s carrying out his duty.

Josar: So, what then?

Mayzen: Now we wait in the Void. Now that we’re in Krutone, we can portal in and out of this place. There’s no need to risk saving them and discovering later that the portal doesn’t work in here anymore. Play it safe. Carry out the mission.

Josar: But… Scray.

Mayzen opens a portal.

Mayzen: Let’s secure our silence.

One by one, they stepped through Mayzen’s portal, their forms dissolving into the swirling darkness without hesitation. Penim vanished first, silent and steady. Zan followed with a lazy stride, his grin never fading. Sicrus moved next, his eyes cold and unreadable. Mayzen stood at the threshold, watching Josar for a brief moment before turning and disappearing into the Void. Josar remained still for a breath longer. Doubt twisted in his chest. Then, with a quiet exhale, he stepped forward and let the portal take him.

The faint hum of energy shifted, deepening into a low, resonant thrum that vibrated through the ground. Norad turned his head sharply just in time to see the shimmering breach in Krutone’s barrier ripple and contract. In a matter of time, the circular opening sealed itself, the seamless sphere of Intergy knitting closed. Norad’s jaw tightened. He glanced over the battlefield, Zagons still swarming, smoke rising in thick plumes. His expression didn’t change, but the weight of it settled in his gut like iron. They were alone now. The others were gone. And no one was coming back for them.

Zarnem: Who are you!?

Norad shrugs.

Lessa: Oh, you tried sneaking into Krutone!

Norad: Yeah, well obviously we didn’t.

Lessa: Oh, what is your goal with Krutone?

Norad: It’s not my goal.

Lessa: Oh? Not… your goal?

Norad: Anyways, I’m dead either way. Let’s get this show going.

Zarnem: Lessa, let me deal with him.

Lessa: Oh? Are you forgetting who I am? I worked alongside your parents. I can hold my own!

Zarnem didn’t bother debating. Norad exhaled slowly, the air around him shimmering as heat bled from his skin. Small tongues of flame licked along his forearms, spiraling upward until they flared at his clenched fists. The polished stone beneath his feet cracked faintly, scorched by the growing intensity of his Intergy. Without a word, he rolled his shoulders once, loosening the tension, then lowered his stance. Fire gathered in his palms, burning brighter with each breath, until they pulsed like molten cores ready to explode. His eyes flicked toward the nearest group of enemies, cold and unwavering. If they were abandoned, so be it. He would burn his way through them all.

Lessa: Oh, let’s do this!