"Leon, wake up," Codey kept shouting.
Leon remained unconscious, and Annarrgeal was utterly exhausted.Ash had been pierced through by a void, leaving him in a critical condition.
Codey and Menoetius bore the heavy responsibility of defending against the relentless horde of voids.
In the midst of this chaos, an unfamiliar figure suddenly entered, releasing a colossal surge of mana that rippled through the heart of the void horde.
This mysterious figure wasted no time and commanded urgently, "Codey, take Ash, Menoetius, and Annarrgeal and leave."
Codey, bewildered and astonished, stammered, "Mickey? Why are you here?"
Mickey replied urgently, "No time for explanations. Let's go."
Codey and Menoetius hurriedly gathered Annarrgeal and Ash. However, when Menoetius reached out to grab Leon.
Mickey intervened, declaring, "I'll handle Leon. You two, go ahead."
As they made their escape, Mickey unleashed another powerful surge of mana, carving a path through the void horde. The voids pursued him relentlessly as the group fought their way back to the surface.
Their emergence from the underground left them stunned. Despite an entire minute passing, the moon still loomed overhead, obscuring the sun. A sense of disbelief gripped them all.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, everyone continued to fight the voids with unwavering determination, fully aware that their survival depended on their resilience.
Everett turned to the Commander and asked, "Sir, the moon started moving away, and then it abruptly returned to its original position. What's happening?"
The Commander, equally perplexed, responded, "I don't know, but it appears that our mana is depleting faster than before, and the voids are growing stronger. We can't afford to tire out now."
With a resounding call, the Commander rallied his troops, shouting, "Soldiers, fight with all your might. Losing hope is the ultimate defeat!"
In the midst of this chaos, Commander Kenzo couldn't help but think, "Give me some guidance, Che. At this rate, Earth is on the brink of destruction."
Meanwhile, in Sector A1 (Soul Advanced Soul Search and Ancient Link Technology),
Doctor Che Cadell was trying to make sense of the situation. "What's happening? Why did the moon suddenly come to a halt, and why is our mana depleting at an accelerated rate?"
One researcher rushed forward, offering an explanation, "Doctor Che, we've identified the reason behind the increased mana depletion. The moon seems to be assisting the sun in its observational efforts, but we've yet to determine the cause."
Another researcher, gripped by panic, kept muttering, "This is the end, this is the end."
With a sense of urgency, Che Cadell examined the visual data, revealing the moon's abrupt stop. Shockwaves spread through the scientific community as the video was disseminated across the universe.
Che Cadell, his face a mask of shock and terror, exclaimed, "What is that colossal hand-like structure extending from the sun and restraining the moon?"
Researchers on DEXTERS Planet immediately began working tirelessly to devise a way to dismantle the colossal entity.
Back on the battlefield on Earth, chaos continued to unfold. Rocks rained down from the sky alongside the relentless void onslaught. The warriors on Earth had no choice but to continue their battle against the voids.
Suddenly, a resounding, earth-shaking noise echoed from above, piercing through the dusty shroud of debris. Through the obscured heavens, a colossal hand, engulfed in a blazing inferno, came into view. It moved with deliberate intent, encircling the moon as though grasping it firmly.
The collective realization that gripped everyone was singular and undeniable: the Sun was preventing the moon from any movement, and a grim certainty hung in the air — the moon was destined to be crushed.
Upon witnessing this astonishing sight,Commander Kenzo wasted no time. He hoisted his colossal sword and, with a mighty leap, propelled himself into the air. As he ascended, his sword sliced through both the moon's rocky fragments and the encroaching voids. The soldiers below watched in awe as their fearless commander battled the celestial forces.
Commander Kenzo raised his hand high, his voice unwavering, "Soldiers, our comrades from distant DEXTERS planets are currently engaged in combating that colossal hand holding the Sun. We must focus on our adversaries here on Earth. Fear nothing, and fight with unwavering determination."
Commander shouted, "To the DEXTERS!"
In response, a resounding cry emerged from the soldiers, "For the DEXTERS!"
In Sector A1 (Soul Advanced Soul Search and Ancient Link Technology),
As Commander Kenzo issued his orders, Che Cadell urgently relayed the message to DEXTERS to dismantle the massive restraining hand.
Another researcher explained, "Sir, Che Cadell, the moon isn't being crushed. Its velocity is what keeps it in orbit. If it suddenly stops moving, Earth's gravitational mana will pull it back down. This hand is aiding the moon in accelerating its movement."
With determination, Che Cadell reassured them, "Don't lose hope. Transmit this message to DEXTERS, and we will cut down that hand as swiftly as possible, restoring the moon's trajectory."
Inwardly, Che Cadell thought, "Hang in there, Kenzo."
Back in the battlefield's tunnel cave,
Codey gazed at the sky and pondered, "Are we going to die?"
Menoetius responded with resolve, "This is no time for such thoughts. Let's first get the others to the infirmary. Ash's condition is critical."
Codey agreed, saying, "You're right, Menoetius. Can you take them? I'll find Leon and Mickey."
"Of course, Codey," Menoetius replied.
As he departed, a deafening roar echoed through the tunnel, and it began to collapse. At the last possible moment, Mickey emerged before the cave crumbled entirely.
Codey rushed towards Mickey, his voice filled with concern, "Mickey, are you alright? Why are you alone? Where's Leon?"
Mickey's expression remained cold as he explained, "I tried to save him, even tried to grab him, but he refused, saying Ash died because of him. Before I could ask why you weren't coming, the tunnel started collapsing. I had no choice but to leave him."
Codey's anger flared, and he struck Mickey across the face. "I know you harbor resentment towards the Colorless because of Sam(Ash's sister). But if you're lying about Leon, Ash and I won't forgive you."
Mickey responded, his expression filled with sorrow, "Now isn't the time for grudges. You need to return to the battlefield."
Codey, still seething with anger, demanded, "Where are you going? Why are you on the surface? Weren't you supposed to be in Sector A's hospital?"
Mickey explained calmly, "I'm part of the backup squad. I'll explain everything once this crisis is over."
With that, Mickey turned and headed in the opposite direction of the battle.
Codey, his mind filled with confusion, rushed back towards the battlefield.
Time since the Solar Eclipse battle began: 10 minutes
On Unit 7, Amelia continued to shout orders. "You all heard what Commander said, right? Don't lose hope. Jung, move your squad to the right, and Billie, provide support for Jung's squad. Don't engage the enemy head-on; use coordinated tactics."
As Codey returned and reported for duty, a collective sigh of relief swept through the unit.
Amelia inquired, "Where are the others?"
Codey replied, his voice heavy with emotion, "They're all injured. I sent them to the infirmary."
Amelia pressed further, asking about Leon. Codey remained silent, and Amelia understood the unspoken truth.
She rallied the troops with a resounding declaration, "Our comrades have returned safely. Soldiers, fight on so we can reunite with them in the infirmary."
Codey wiped away his tears, a determined glint in his eye.
" Yes, soldiers, Ash would laugh at us if we lose this battle."
The unit responded with unwavering resolve, their voices echoing in unison, "We won't let that happen!"
In the realm of the Sun,
DEXTERS planet had employed the
Upon arrival, they were met with a staggering sight: a colossal hand composed of voids, stretching from the sun to the moon. Its radius measured 1,737.4 kilometers, with a length of 93 million miles, firmly holding the moon in its grip.
Despite their valiant efforts, the DEXTERS soldiers struggled to cut through the voids. It became evident that the Sun's mana absorption was intensifying, drawing energy from Earth. With each attempt to dismantle the void hand, it grew ever more formidable. Eventually, they were left with no choice but to report their situation to DEXTERS HQ.
Soon, DEXTERS HQ reached a decision.
Back on the Earth battlefield, the Commander received the order from HQ. At first, he was shocked, but he quickly recognized the necessity of the directive.
He instructed his A.I., "Connect me to every individual on Earth."
***"Yes, Commander Kenzo,"*** responded the A.I.
The Commander addressed everyone on Earth through his A.I., proclaiming.
"Soldiers, we are retreating to the underground. This battle has reached its conclusion."
The news sent shockwaves through the hearts of those listening.
Commander Kenzo continued, "Retreat immediately while defending against the voids."
Numerous voices rose in a cacophony of questions. "What about the Dollows (Soulless People)? What will become of our planet? What about us?"
The Commander's voice cut through the turmoil. "This is an order. Retreat, and there will be no further questions."
One by one, the units retreated, while voids relentlessly tried to penetrate the underground and break through the doors. The echoing sound of cracking doors reverberated throughout the entire Underground Sector as fear gripped everyone.
The fate of Earth would be revealed in the forthcoming chapter.
[End of Chapter]
***
***
About:
Name: Mickey
Position: Private
Rank: D
Soul: Blue
Species: Human
Description: Mickey is a childhood friend of Ash and Codey, and he has a deep affection for Sam(Ash's sister), whom he grew up with. He harbors grudges against Colorless.