The city loomed around them like a steel behemoth, its skyline dominated by towering structures etched with the empire's emblem. The streets below were a chaotic maze of flashing neon signs, grime-covered walls, and throngs of people moving with hurried indifference. Aedan and Sephira walked among them, their cloaks pulled tight to conceal their identities.
This world was a major hub within the empire's territory, its wealth concentrated in glittering spires high above, while the worst parts of the city festered below. Here, in the underbelly, desperation and decay hung in the air like a toxic fog.
We won't find anything useful up there, Sephira sent, her thoughts brushing against Aedan's mind.
His reply was quick, wordless agreement. They had come here seeking information, a lead, a whisper, anything to guide them toward their next move. But in the shadows of the lower districts, the streets were ruled not by imperial forces but by criminals who thrived in the cracks of the empire's tightening grip.
Aedan paused at the entrance of a rundown cantina, its dim interior illuminated by flickering lights. The noise inside was a mix of muted conversations and the hum of old machines. He glanced at Sephira, her crystalline eyes reflecting the faint glow from the sign above the door.
Stay sharp.
Always.
Inside, the air was thick with smoke and tension. Beings of various species occupied the scattered tables, their gazes flickering with suspicion as the newcomers entered. Aedan scanned the room, his eyes landing on a grizzled alien seated in a corner booth. The figure was hunched over, its leathery skin marred by scars and age, a datapad clutched in its gnarled fingers.
That's our contact, Sephira noted, her thoughts tinged with caution.
Aedan nodded and approached the booth, sliding into the seat across from the alien. The being's eyes flicked up, sharp and calculating.
"You're late," it rasped, its voice like grinding stones.
"We're here now," Aedan replied evenly, his tone devoid of apology. "What do you have for us?"
The alien hesitated, glancing around the room before leaning closer. "Word is, there's movement in the outer systems. The empire's losing its grip. Pirates, rebels, they're growing bolder by the day. Even here, in the heart of their territory, the cracks are showing."
Aedan leaned forward, his voice low. "And the emperor?"
The alien hesitated again, its gaze flicking nervously to Sephira. Her expression remained calm, but her presence was imposing, her crystalline form catching the dim light in an almost ethereal way.
"Rumors," the alien whispered. "The emperor's secrets are old, older than the empire itself. The word 'Enigma' has been whispered, but you won't find answers. Only questions."
Before Aedan could press further, the door to the cantina burst open. A dozen figures stormed in, their armor mismatched but heavily armed. At their center stood a pirate captain, his face obscured by a cracked helmet. The group's weapons gleamed in the dim light, and their presence silenced the room.
Sephira's thoughts were immediate, sharp. Trouble.
Aedan's hand hovered near the Heartbelt at his waist. "Stay close," he murmured under his breath.
The pirates wasted no time, their leader stepping forward with a voice that echoed through the room. "Listen up! This is our turf now. If you've got credits, hand 'em over. If not…" He gestured to his crew, who began spreading out, their weapons raised.
Aedan tensed, his gaze flicking to Sephira. Her expression was calm, her stance poised, but he could feel the tension in their link.
We can't draw attention, she sent, though the words carried a note of inevitability.
The pirates' captain turned his attention to Aedan, his helmet tilting as he gestured with his weapon. "You. Hand over the belt."
Aedan's eyes narrowed, his fingers brushing the Heartbelt. "Not happening."
Suddenly a guy at the back slowly drew his gun and creeped behind the Captain and shot him in the head, it's body slowly falling down.
The room exploded into chaos before Aedan could reply.
The pirates opened fire, sending civilians scrambling for cover. Aedan dove behind a table and inserted three sparks onto the slots, his Heart-belt pulsing as his Anger Suit flared to life. The crimson armor enveloped him, its glow cutting through the smoky air.
Sephira moved with precision, her crystalline form a blur as she disarmed two pirates in quick succession. Her strikes were fluid and calculated, each one disabling her opponents without unnecessary harm.
Aedan was less graceful. His punches were powerful but lacked the finesse of seasoned combatants. The pirates countered with brutal efficiency, forcing him to rely on the raw strength of his suit.
One of them lunged with a plasma blade, the weapon slicing through the air toward Aedan's side. He caught the blade with his armored gauntlet, the metal glowing red-hot as he twisted it away and delivered a crushing blow to the pirate's chest.
Behind you, Sephira's voice cut through the din.
Aedan spun, narrowly avoiding a second attacker who aimed a blaster at his back. He slammed his shoulder into the pirate, sending him sprawling into a table.
These aren't ordinary criminals, he thought, his frustration bleeding into their link.
Sephira's response was immediate. They're deserters. Trained. Experienced. Stay focused.
The fight spilled out into the streets, where the pirates regrouped and called for reinforcements. Dozens more arrived, armed with heavy weaponry and moving with dangerous coordination.
Aedan dodged a hail of blaster fire, his movements growing more frantic as he tried to keep civilians out of the crossfire. His own weapons like his gun and heavier suit abilities remained unused, their destructive potential too risky in the crowded area.
He engaged another pirate in hand-to-hand combat, his strikes heavy but imprecise. The pirate countered with a vicious kick to his knee, sending him stumbling. Aedan barely managed to block the follow-up strike, the clash of fists and armor ringing out above the chaos.
Sephira was a blur of motion nearby, her crystalline fists striking with surgical precision. She moved between enemies, dismantling their formations and disarming their leaders. But even she couldn't keep up with the sheer number of attackers.
"They just keep coming," Aedan muttered, his voice tight with frustration.
We need to end this quickly, Sephira sent, her thoughts tinged with urgency.
As if answering their unspoken fears, the sound of heavy machinery rumbled in the distance. Aedan turned, his stomach sinking as a line of mechs emerged from the shadows.
The towering machines were imperial in design but bore the marks of modification, stolen and repurposed by the pirates. Their weapons glowed ominously as they took aim at the duo.
"I'll handle the mechs," Aedan said, his voice resolute.
Sephira's response was swift. Be careful.
Aedan's suit flared brighter as he charged the nearest mech, his fists slamming into its armored leg. The impact sent the machine staggering, but its pilot quickly recovered, firing a barrage of plasma rounds. Aedan dodged, the blasts narrowly missing as he leapt onto the mech's arm and ripped out a critical joint.
The machine collapsed in a shower of sparks, but three more closed in on him. Aedan pushed himself harder, he inserted six Red Sparks onto the belt.
Liquid fire coated Aedan's body, solidifying into a red crystal armor that resembled a Leviathan in human form. The chest plate pulsed with life, intricate scale-like patterns interlocking perfectly. His gauntlets ended in claw-like points, glowing ominously, while reinforced greaves adorned his legs.
A helmet shaped like a Leviathan's head crowned his transformation, with sweeping horns and glowing red crystal eyes. The faceplate remained open, revealing his determined expression. Finally, ruby-colored wings, jagged and bat-like, sprouted from his back, completing the Ascended Anger Suit.
He tore through the mechs with raw power, his strikes leaving molten scars in their wake. But the energy was unstable, the Anger Spark consuming him with each passing moment.
Sephira felt the shift immediately, their link flooded with Aedan's spiraling emotions.
Aedan, stop! You're losing control!
Her plea cut through the haze, but Aedan was too far gone. The final mech exploded in a blinding flash, its destruction sending shockwaves through the street. Aedan collapsed in the aftermath, his suit dissipating as burns spread across his body.
Sephira was at his side in an instant, her crystalline hands glowing faintly as she scanned him. Her thoughts were a mixture of panic and determination, her focus singular.
We need to move.
The crowd was dispersing, the pirates retreating in disarray. Sephira carried Aedan through the labyrinth of the city's underbelly, finding refuge in an abandoned building.
Aedan lay unconscious on a makeshift bed, his breathing shallow. The burns across his body glowed faintly, remnants of the Anger Spark's unstable energy. Sephira sat beside him, her gaze fixed on his face.
This is my fault, she thought, though she didn't send it.
Her hand hovered over his chest, her touch hesitant. She could feel the faint pulse of his heartbeat through their connection, a steady rhythm that anchored her own chaotic thoughts.
A warm, unfamiliar sensation stirred within her, spreading through their link like a quiet ripple. She focused on it, unsure of its origin but unwilling to let it go. For a moment, the core of Aedan's belt's core glimmered pink, a soft light that faded as quickly as it appeared.
When Aedan stirred hours later, his eyes met hers. Her expression was calm, but the relief in her gaze was unmistakable.
You're reckless, she sent, her tone sharp but edged with something softer. Yet Aedan felt the frustration within her, not underserved he would say but there was a hint of admiration as well.
He managed a faint smile, his voice hoarse. "You're still here, with me."
Always, she replied, the word settling between them like a quiet promise.