While joy, confusion, and pain played out in the plaza, where Brandon's world was rewritten by the presence of his children, something darker, more sinister was taking place just at the periphery of attention.
Unnoticed by the chaos of revelations and family reunions, a sudden chill swept through the battlefield.
An ominous cloud of smoke, tinged with grey and crimson, began to form around the unconscious body of Devon.
The smoke twisted and writhed, coalescing into something more tangible yet remaining obscure, like a mirage just out of focus.
The very air seemed to thicken, heavy with foreboding and menace.
As the warriors of Brandon's army, caught up in the emotional whirlwind of their leader, continued to talk and celebrate, the dark mist wrapped around Devon, embracing him like a shroud.
A low, haunting whisper filled the air, a voice like the rustle of dead leaves or the murmur of distant thunder.
It was a voice devoid of emotion, a voice that resonated with the void.
"Come…"
The words, soft and chilling, brushed against something primal within Brandon.
Despite the emotional revelations and the presence of his children, something stirred within him.
His instincts, honed through countless battles and close encounters with the unknown, screamed a warning.
His head snapped towards the direction of the ominous cloud, eyes narrowing as they fell upon the swirling mass of black and crimson.
"What is that?"
He muttered, more to himself than to anyone else.
Without another word, he stomped on the ground with a force that resonated through the plaza.
A piece of rubble, dislodged from the impact, leaped into the air.
In a fluid motion, Brandon kicked it, sending it hurtling toward the cloud of smoke.
*VRRRRRRSSSSHHHHH*
The rock, infused with Brandon's dark energy, streaked through the air like a missile, aimed directly at the center of the dark mist.
But just as it was about to connect, the cloud seemed to pulse, and both it and Devon vanished, leaving behind nothing but the lingering scent of something otherworldly and malevolent.
The piece of rubble crashed into the ground, its target gone.
Silence descended upon the plaza as everyone stared at the spot where the ominous presence had been just a moment ago.
Brandon's face was a mask of controlled fury and confusion.
His acute instincts had sensed the danger, but he had been a fraction of a second too late.
"What was that Boss?"
Baph finally asked, breaking the silence, his voice tinged with concern.
Brandon's eyes remained fixed on the spot, his mind working through the implications.
"I don't know,"
He replied, his voice tight.
"But it's taken Devon, and it's no ally."
'Where had Devon been taken? Why? By whom or what?' Brandon pondered.
The questions hung in the air, unanswered, but one thing was certain: the game had changed, and whatever had taken Devon was a player they had not yet understood.
Brandon took a deep breath, there were more pressing issues, this enigmatic enemy can be discussed later.
He lowered himself to his knees and patted both twins on their heads and ask with a soft smile,
"Are you afraid?"
Jade retreated shyly back to the embrace of Crystal.
Baron however, looked straight into Brandon's eyes and said,
"I want two be a superhero like daddy~"
Brandon's lips curled further, surprised by his response,
"Why do you want to be a superhero?"
Baron clenched his little fists and held it up cutely,
"I will prowtect mommy and Jade frowm bad guys!"
Brandon gently grasp him by the shoulders and said,
"Your daddy is a King, that means you are a prince! Do you know what that means?"
Brandon watched as Baron's gaze drifted to the sky, his little brows furrowing as if wrestling with the most profound question in the universe.
His chubby cheeks puffed out as he pondered, and his tiny lips pursed in deep contemplation.
The moment was impossibly cute, a snapshot of innocence and earnestness that melted the hearts of everyone who witnessed it.
The battle-hardened warriors who looked on couldn't help but feel a tug at their heartstrings, seeing this small child wrestling with a concept so beyond his years.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity but was only a matter of seconds, Baron's eyes sparkled with a light of understanding, and he looked back at Brandon, his expression filled with the confidence only a child can muster.
"I will get a pwretty pwincess!"
He declared triumphantly, his little chest puffing out with pride.
A ripple of laughter spread through the crowd, and even Brandon couldn't suppress a chuckle.
He hugged Baron close, feeling a surge of love and pride for this little boy who he had just met.
Baron's eyes twinkled with pure innocence and love as he turned to kiss Brandon's cheek.
His little arms reached out, wrapping around his father's neck as he pressed his lips to Brandon's armored face.
"Ish Daddy going to stay with us frowm now on? Down't go~ I'll gwive you my priwncess~"
He whispered, his voice filled with a longing and sincerity that only a child's could contain.
The question was simple, but it carried the weight of a promise, a hope that had been born in this very moment.
Brandon's heart ached as he set his son down, his eyes moist with unshed tears.
The emotional impact of the question, combined with the soft touch of his son's lips, was more than he had expected.
He turned away, struggling to control his emotions.
A mixture of joy at discovering his children, a connection he never knew he had, and pain at the realization of the time lost and the uncertainty of the future weighed heavily on him.
Brandon's gaze locked onto Crystal, who clutched Jade closely.
There was a sternness in his voice that belied the conflict evident in his eyes.
"Go! We will talk later,"
As two of Baph's soldiers advanced to guide her to a waiting vehicle, Crystal hesitated, her concerned gaze searching Brandon's.
Crystal's eyes, already glistening with concern, showed a flash of indignation at being dismissed so curtly.
The raw vulnerability in her gaze hinted at the silent pleas she held back.
"Brandon, what became of Devon? What's next for us?"
With a steely gaze, he responded tersely,
"I will not repeat myself."