Chapter 30: Preparations

The Prism Tower. Kyto. Catyen. Lessa. Osin. Esren. Forim. Andin.

Kyto: Is that the last of your soldiers, Osin?

Osin: That’s all of them.

Kyto cleared his throat, his tone calm but commanding.

Kyto: Thank you all for gathering. With Sen’s agreement to work alongside us, it’s time we finalize our strategy. Let’s ensure the next time Aku moves, it’s his last.

Lessa: Oh, this is going to be so interesting.

Kyto: Our enemy controls the Zagons. We don’t have precise numbers, but we anticipate overwhelming force. What we do have is superior coordination, technological dominance, and the support of Krutone’s finest Intergy engineers. Many of our magnet users are already embedded in our combat units to ensure seamless mobility across our machine fleet.

Cayten: Have we decided how we’re going to split our soldiers?

Kyto: With Mayzen in their ranks, we can safely assume the Intergy Power Plant is a high-priority target. Forim— Andin— your troops will secure that facility at all times. No exceptions.

Kyto turned to Lessa and Osin.

Kyto: Your forces will guard the border walls. Luria is the most exposed flank. We’ll concentrate deployments there. It’s only a matter of time before Aku reveals himself. When he does, we’ll unleash Zarnem. He’s desperate to reclaim his standing. He’ll do whatever’s asked of him. Once he makes contact, Jaze and his team will engage and eliminate Aku.

Forim: And if Aku manages to get to us?

Kyto: That would be ideal. He’s arrogant enough to think he can. When he reaches us, we strike. He forgets who we are. We may lead now, but we were all forged in battle. He will underestimate us— just once. And in that moment, we kill him and recover The Orb.

Osin: The Orb is powerful.

Kyto: It is. But not more powerful than a united front of world leaders and their full military might. Within Prism Tower, we have hundreds of high-grade war machines, elite guards, and an Intergy-embedded defensive grid. If Aku steps through our walls, he walks into his end.

Lessa: Oh, and how do we deal with the rest of them?

Kyto exhaled slowly.

Kyto: Once Aku falls, their morale will fracture. But we plan for every scenario. Zan, Sicrus, and Penim are the most active threats. Penim is manageable— General Esako alone will be enough to end him. Zan is more volatile. Deploy our best ice users. Freeze him. Contain him— just like we did before.

Cayten: And Mayzen?

Kyto: Do not kill him. Capture him. We’ll extract everything we can— locations, strategies, and most importantly, his motive. I want to know why he turned his back on us.

Osin: So, don’t kill Mayzen is what I’m hearing?

Kyto: Correct. He is their mind. The strategist. The sensor. The rest are muscle. He is data.

Lessa: Oh, and Aku? Shouldn’t we keep him alive and interrogate him?

Kyto: Aku is the heart. Their reason. Their center. Remove him, and the body collapses. He’s the one that binds them, and for that reason, he must be neutralized swiftly and without error.

Osin: So, what now?

Kyto: We wait. Aku will move soon. Once we eliminate him, we deal with Sen.

Esren: And the rest of Sen’s friends? Those used to be my Clyden soldiers.

Kyto: They’re expendable. Once this is over, we’ll report them as fallen heroes—killed defending Krutone. That’s the story the world will remember.

Lessa: Oh, how cruel. Funny, but still cruel.

Kyto paused, his voice low and precise.

Kyto: Necessary.

The Void. Aku. Sicrus. Josar. Penim. Zan. Mayzen. Scray.

Aku: It is settled. Ten thousand Zagons created and ready to go.

Penim: When do we strike?

Aku: After Sen makes his decision.

Penim: And when will that be?

Aku: I have to see him again. I believe he met with Kyto and the rest of them by now.

Penim: And if he declines?

Aku: I will wait a little longer for him to change his mind.

Penim: Damn it, man. I hate this waiting game.

Sicrus’s head tilted slightly, his voice sharp with reprimand.

Sicrus: Know your place, Penim.

Penim turned on him, eyes flashing with irritation.

Penim: Hell with you, Sicrus. Little dog.

Sicrus: You agreed you’d wait for Aku’s orders. You can’t change your mind now because you’re getting impatient.

Penim scoffed and gestured broadly to the others.

Penim: Everyone is getting their end of the deal. Aku has access to Krutone now. Hell, even Zan got to kill his father before I could get my hands on Zarnem.

Aku’s voice came steady.

Aku: You’ll have your turn, Penim.

Penim: Yeah, until I actually don’t.

Zan, lounging lazily with half-lidded eyes, didn’t miss the opportunity.

Zan: Then go. Go get Zarnem. What’s stopping you?

No answer came.

Zan: You’re a little pussy. Got it.

Mayzen’s voice entered cool and analytical.

Mayzen: He can’t take on all of Krutone’s soldiers. That’s why.

Zan: Ahhh. Gotta get through them before you can get to Zarnem. Like I said, pussy.

Penim’s hands curled into fists.

Penim: Don’t test me. I’ll go. I have the Komodo under my command still.

The Void fell quiet— tense.

Aku: You can go.

Sicrus straightened, surprised.

Sicrus: Aku?

Aku: You can go, Penim.

Sicrus: You’re letting him do what he wants?

Aku’s voice remained cool, unwavering.

Aku: Penim completed his part of the deal, and he’s waited long enough. If he wants Zarnem, he can go on his own.

Sicrus: But it may jeopardize our plan.

Aku turned his gaze toward the shadows in the Void, his tone unchanged.

Aku: How exactly? Kyto knows we’re going to strike. He’s just waiting.

Sicrus: How do you know that?

Aku: Because it’s Kyto. Kyto usually knows everything. Penim attacking won’t change a thing.

Aku’s eyes met Penim’s.

Aku: So, you can go if you’d like. Just don’t come back.

Mayzen calmly reached for the portal shard.

Mayzen: The portal shard.

Penim pulled out the black and white Intergy shard and threw it to the ground.

Penim: You’re going to have to let me out then.

Aku’s expression didn’t shift.

Aku: Are you sure about this, Penim?

Penim: I’ve worked with you all long enough. I’m going to kill Zarnem, with or without you.

Zan grinned.

Zan: In this case, without us.

Penim: You’re all going to fail. All of you.

Sicrus’s fingers glowed with Intergy.

Aku (to Sicrus): It’s fine. You don’t need to attack him.

Reluctantly, Sicrus retracted his Intergy.

Penim: You’re all going to die before you can even get close to Kyto. His soldiers will eliminate every single one of you before you know it. Ten thousand Zagons is no match for his military.

Mayzen activated the shard and opened a portal.

Mayzen: You can leave.

Penim: So long, bastards.

He stepped through without looking back. The portal closed behind him.

Sicrus: Finally, we don’t have to deal with that piece of shit anymore.

Zan: Not like he really did much anyways. We’d get into Krutone at some point, with or without pushing Zarnem.

Aku: He did fight by us though. His hybrids were useful.

Mayzen: What now?

Aku’s gaze dropped slightly.

Aku: We wait.

Mayzen: We wait for Krutone to kill him?

Aku: Yes. That way our plans don’t get altered by him.

Sicrus: What exactly is our plan now?

Aku sighed and stood slowly.

Aku: They’ll meet at Prism Tower. At some point they will. When Mayzen is able to confirm they’ve gathered, we’ll release every last Zagon into Krutone. Five thousand from the walls that touch Luria, and five thousand directly into their military. They’ll be desperate to preserve the gate, but the other five thousand Zagons will be fighting their militia.

Mayzen: And Prism Tower?

Aku: I will go there alone after we’ve already made our attack. Kyto and the rest of them will hide as soon as they know they’re being attacked. As soon as I think they’ve gathered to safety, I’ll go after them alone.

Sicrus: You can’t go alone. That’s suicide.

Aku: I’m going to kill all of them.

Zan: On your own?

Aku: I’ll try to.

Josar raised his head.

Josar: That isn’t safe, Aku.

Aku: None of this is safe.

Sicrus: And what are we to do?

Aku turned toward him, steady.

Aku: Sicrus, I will need you to wipe out the north side of Krutone. According to Mayzen, that’s where all the combat robots are produced. See if you can find a way to shut down all their technological weapons.

Sicrus: Will I go alone?

Aku looked to Josar.

Aku: Josar will be with you.

Josar gave a single nod. Orders received.

Aku: And Zan, I will need you to strike at the south side of Krutone. Take out their Intergy Power Plant. Scray will be with you. If for whatever reason, the robots are still fighting, maybe destroying the power plant will shut them all down. If not, then at least Krutone’s Intergy system that brings life to its land.

Zan’s smile sharpened.

Zan: I’m assuming since this is Krutone, no restraints?

Aku: No restraints. Destroy anything and everything that gets in your way.

Sicrus: What if Penim never acts?

Aku: He will. It’s Penim. He’s rash.

Aku turned to Mayzen.

Aku: If Penim never uses the Komodo, you still have access to it, right?

Mayzen: I do.

Aku: Release it as you see fit.

Mayzen: Understood.

Sicrus: So, now is just the waiting game?

Aku looked toward the horizon of the Void, his eyes distant, yet focused.

Aku: Yes. We wait. I will see Sen soon. My hope is he joins us.

Sen, Dain, and Yerah sat together at a sleek, curved park table sculpted from polished stone and glowing lightly with embedded Intergy veins. The remnants of their neatly packaged meals lay before them— empty boxes folded with precision, utensils resting inside eco-capsules that self-sealed when done. Around them, Krutone bustled with life. People walked past in streamlined uniforms or minimalist fashion, their movements smooth and purposeful beneath arching trees that shimmered with artificial biolight. Overhead, silent vehicles glided along the skyline, casting soft shadows as they weaved between aerial lanes. A few drones zipped by in clean intervals, scanning street panels and projecting directional prompts with gentle flickers. The atmosphere hummed with order and progress. Yerah leaned slightly toward Sen, her voice quiet but curious.

Yerah (to Sen): So, what was your meeting about?

Sen didn’t answer right away. Instead, he finished the last bite on his plate with deliberate slowness, then reached for his glass of water. He took a sip— too long to just be thirsty— his eyes distant as if buying time to put his thoughts in order.

Sen (calmly): I’ll be working with them.

Dain straightened slightly in his seat, surprised.

Dain: You are? Are you sure?

Sen: I mean, we’re in Krutone. What other choice do I even have?

Dain rested his arms on the table.

Dain: I mean, you can always try to make agreements.

Sen: No. I rather not. Besides, I don’t have to fight. Kyto never mentioned me getting involved in combat. I’m just bait.

There was a beat of silence. Yerah leaned back slightly, the concern in her voice rising.

Yerah: That already is dangerous in itself. You’re bait.

Sen: Right, but we’re in Krutone. The world’s best soldiers, right?

Dain: Yeah, but that doesn’t mean you’re exactly safe.

Sen: I mean, I can always fight for myself too if I need. It’s not like I’ll just stand there as bait.

Yerah glanced between them, then asked the obvious.

Yerah: So, who are you trying to bait exactly? The Aku person?

Sen paused. He turned toward Dain, their eyes locking in a subtle, silent agreement. Play dumb. Pretend they don’t know.

Sen: Yeah. Some guy named Aku who wants me.

Yerah: And why does he want you?

Sen: Something to do with my dark and light powers. I guess it can be used for The Orb.

Dain raised a brow, slipping into character.

Dain (playing along): And what if he captures you?

Sen: Then, I guess I’ll fight back. I’m not going to help someone who’s releasing all these Zagons. Many have died because of these monsters. We lost Fex and Ira.

Dain looked at him again. This time with more weight in his gaze— trying to figure out how much of that was real and how much was part of the act.

Dain: Yeah, a lot of lives are gone because of these Zagons. So, I’m with you there. I’d fight by you if I can.

Yerah: Me too.

Sen looked up, his expression softening as he met their eyes. But there was something behind his look. Not relief. Not resolve. Guilt, maybe. Grief. He glanced down, staring at his hands resting on the bench beside him.

Sen: You both don’t have to. We quite literally have Krutone’s soldiers. Also, all the other soldiers from Luria, Revano, and all those places are here too.

Dain blinked.

Dain: Oh wow. We’re that stacked?

Sen: Yeah. Whoever this Aku guy is, is going to get put in his place before he knows it.

Dain: But the Zagons?

Sen: And we have technology here. No matter what ends up happening, we’re winning.

Dain: Shouldn’t be so confident.

Sen: True. But some things are just so obvious, you know?

The moment lingered in the air before Yerah changed the subject, her voice softer now.

Yerah: After this is all over, let’s go back to Clyden and just be home again.

Sen glanced up at her.

Sen: You want to go back to Clyden?

Yerah: Yeah. After thinking about it, I realized I would rather be in a place I’m familiar with. Krutone is amazing, but I think it’s a great place to visit.

Dain: Oh wow. I thought you’d like to stay here if anything.

Yerah: I did at first.

Dain smirked.

Dain: I want to stay here.

Sen: But your mom and dad.

Dain: Yeah, we’re all moving here.

Sen: You are?

Dain: Yeah. President Kyto better treat us like royalty since we traveled all this way to help Krutone.

Sen gave him a tired half-smile.

Sen: You’re telling President Kyto what to do?

Dain: Hell yeah. Boy better show some gratitude.

Sen: Haha. So, you’re fighting alongside Krutone.

Dain: Aren’t we all? We’re literally eating and sleeping in Krutone.

Sen: What I meant was… you’ll consider yourself a Krutonian now?

Dain: Why not? This place beats Clyden any day. Plus, I know my mom and dad would love being here. Might be a bit of a culture shock, but they’ll love it.

Yerah: It’s a culture shock for all of us.

Dain: Isn’t it crazy though? A place like this exists, and about a hundred miles down, there are literal people starving in Allatora.

A quiet fell over them.

Sen: Yeah… kind of crazy how the world works.

Dain: So strange. I don’t get why.

Sen stayed quiet, eyes distant, pretending not to have the answer—because admitting he knew the truth might have broken everything right there.

Yerah: I wonder when this Aku guy will make his move.

Sen: Yeah. Beats me.

Dain: So as bait, are you supposed to just stand there while he comes?

Sen: Not sure. Kyto hasn’t given me all the details yet. They’re finalizing their plan, I think.

Dain: Got it. Have they said anything about us?

Sen: What do you mean?

Dain: Like, me. Yerah. Makota. Shera?

Sen: Oh. You know, not really.

Yerah: I don’t think they’d be all that interested in us. They already have soldiers.

Sen: Right… and many of them are probably as strong as Zarnem is.

Dain: Yeah, but we’re quite competent ourselves.

Sen: True.

Dain: Either way, if you can get us to fight by your side, let us know. We have your back.

Sen didn’t answer. He just gave a quiet nod and a faint smile, eyes still fixed on his hands.

Miles away, beneath the softly humming lights of Krutone’s Prism Shopping Center, Zarnem, Jaze, and Esako sat together on a sleek obsidian bench near the edge of a cascading light fountain. Around them, citizens in tailored coats passed by with shopping bags that shimmered faintly under the glass-paneled ceiling. Holograms danced above storefronts, advertising luxury Intergy gear and tech-infused fashion, while children ran through color-shifting tile floors that lit up with every step. Zarnem sat with his arms folded, his gaze distant, unmoved by the beauty around him. Esako leaned back, one leg crossed over the other, chewing on a skewer of grilled meat he bought from a vendor nearby. Jaze sat between them, calm but alert.

Jaze: I wonder what that meeting with Sen was about.

Zarnem: Kyto wanted us all out of the room.

Esako: What’s so special about him anyways? The enemy wants him, and now President Kyto wants him.

Jaze: He said something about being bait.

Esako: Who is he though, Zarnem? And how did you know to bring him here?

Zarnem: I didn’t know he was that important. To be honest, he was just a soldier from Clyden.

Jaze: He doesn’t strike me as one who went through military training.

Zarnem: Well, he didn’t.

Esako: You said he was a soldier though.

Zarnem: Yeah. Well. He and Dain killed a Zagon during the time we first discovered them. And I recruited them. And then we already came here.

Esako: That’s rather immature of you. Bringing in beginning soldiers on a heavy mission like that isn’t like you.

Zarnem: I know. But they were some of Clyden’s best fighters.

Jaze: And how would you know that?

Zarnem: Word was around that they were strong. Stronger than Clyden’s own soldiers.

Jaze: So, basically you drafted them?

Zarnem didn’t answer.

Esako: Of course you did, didn’t you?

Zarnem: Dain is an extremely powerful fire user, and Sen can use both dark and light. That in itself is unique enough for even Kyto to have an interest. I just never thought Kyto would want him this badly.

Esako: Dain’s a fire user you say? Extremely powerful you say?

Zarnem: Where are you getting at?

Esako: Better than me?

Zarnem: Well, I wouldn’t know how to judge that.

Esako: We should have a sparring session sometime. Friendly of course.

Zarnem: Why? Are you feeling threatened?

Esako: No. It’s just unlike you to mention someone else as extremely powerful. You never say anything like that about me, and I like to think I’m the best fire user alive.

Zarnem: Well, you are a good one, I’ll give you that.

Esako: That’s right. You haven’t exactly seen what I can do now, have you? Let alone Jaze.

Zarnem: What are you getting at?

Esako: Hmmm. Me versus Dain. You versus Jaze.

Zarnem: That’s pointless.

Esako: Why? I think it’d be fun. Kind of like the good ole days right? Remember how you used to kick our butts all the time? Let’s see if you can do it now!

Zarnem: Cut it out.

Esako: Scared?

Zarnem: You’re a general now. You shouldn’t be sparring with a captain.

Esako: Right, except for you’re not a captain anymore. I mean like, you were once a captain, but since you’ve been gone, I don’t think you have that title anymore right?

Jaze: That’s rude. Haha.

Esako: What? I’m right, you know? Come on, Zarnem. It’ll be fun. Just like the days you would train me and Jaze.

Zarnem: How has your development been, Jaze?

Jaze: Huh?

Esako: Oh, don’t change the topic.

Zarnem: Well, I am curious.

Jaze: So far, I seem to be doing fine.

Zarnem: You turned out to be one of the very special ones right?

Jaze: Yeah, I guess you can say that.

Esako: Boo. Mutants. Boo.

Jaze: Haha. Well, I couldn’t help that my parents wanted me to be a part of the experiments.

Zarnem: Good to hear you turned out ok.

Jaze: Yeah. I didn’t turn out a freak like Zan did.

Esako: Imagine needed mutations to be strong. Couldn’t be me.

Jaze: Hey, I didn’t choose it.

Zarnem: I’m glad everything worked out with you.

Jaze: Yeah, like a hundred people or so turned out to be successful mutants.

Zarnem: Any other unique abilities out there?

Jaze: Hmm. Most of them are just sensory or magnet users. Although, one has the ability to manipulate their bones. One can sever limbs and reconnect, so super healing. I remember hearing about one who can control their own and other’s blood, but it’s easily resisted with Intergy.

Zarnem: So, nothing like yours?

Jaze: No. Not really. Aside from Captain Penim with his Rift, or Zan with his acid, or even Mayzen with his memory extraction… there’s really no one else all that special.

Zarnem: So, the same ole sensory and magnet users, huh?

Jaze: Yeah. They’re still helpful though. Just not as… powerful.

Esako: So, back to the real topic. Spar yeah?

Zarnem sighs.

Zarnem: Sure. But nothing serious.

Esako: Let’s gooooo!!!

Zarnem: We can settle a place and time another day though. Let’s take things a little easy now. Times are very serious, especially with all the leaders gathering.

Esako: Yeah, yeah. Won’t take much for me to put down Dain.

Jaze: You’re assuming he even agrees to a spar.

Esako: He will. I’ll beg him for it. Gotta show Zarnem how far I’ve gone.

Zarnem: Fascinating you’re ranked higher than me, but you still seek my approval like you’re still my student.

Esako: Oh, hell with you.