After the enemy's unexpected attack on Yaxoc and Marcus, the trio found themselves summoned to Mr. Hight's office the next day. The atmosphere was tense as they entered, Luna and Marcus following closely behind Yaxoc, who remained unfazed as usual. Mr. Hight sat behind his desk, his stern expression showing just how serious the situation was.
Mr. Hight took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing as he sized them up. "Where were you yesterday?" he asked, his tone leaving no room for excuses.
Marcus, feeling the weight of the question, responded quickly. "We were at the battlefield, sparring. I apologize for the damage to the area—I thought it'd be a good idea to train with Yaxoc—"
But Mr. Hight cut him off sharply. "It's not about the damage, Marcus." His voice held a mix of irritation and concern. "This is far more serious. Do you comprehend that?"
Luna nodded earnestly. "Yes, sir. We understand."
Yaxoc, standing silently, knew better than to interrupt. He understood the gravity of the situation just from the look on Mr. Hight's face.
Mr. Hight leaned forward, crossing his arms. "For those of you living under a rock, there's an invasion set for tomorrow. And I need every savior ready to face it head-on." His eyes flicked between them. "This isn't some random enemy. We're talking about an opponent far stronger than Rammurth."
Marcus, Luna, and Yaxoc all stood still, taking in the severity of the news.
"This enemy," Mr. Hight continued, "possesses something we haven't dealt with in decades: Nuke Magic."
Yaxoc furrowed his brows, confused. "Nuke Magic? What the hell is that?"
Mr. Hight's expression darkened. "It's a forbidden type of ability—an absolute destruction magic. It's what caused the devastation of entire cities during the nuking incident back in 1895. If this enemy activates it, the entire city will be wiped out."
Luna, her voice shaky, asked, "When does this… Nuke Magic activate?"
Mr. Hight nodded, acknowledging the good question. "We don't have a precise answer. The theory is that the magic activates when the enemy is heavily injured, as a final, catastrophic measure. So, you need to avoid causing serious harm until you know you can neutralize them. Do you understand?"
Yaxoc crossed his arms, his confidence never wavering. "So when does this raid start?"
"Tomorrow," Mr. Hight replied. "This enemy has the power to level a city with just one spell. And the three of you—" he looked at them one by one, pausing at Yaxoc, "—are the only ones capable of stopping it."
Luna's eyes widened with disbelief. "But what about the Z+ saviors? They're way stronger than us!"
"The Z+ saviors are tasked with guarding the school," Mr. Hight explained. "They won't engage the enemy unless it's absolutely necessary. That's why you three are the front line." His gaze hardened as he pointed directly at Yaxoc. "And you. Your job is simple: beat this enemy into submission. No holding back, understood?"
Yaxoc smirked, that typical arrogance flashing across his face. "Just watch me. I'll crush them."
Marcus and Luna exchanged a glance, both feeling a mix of concern and exhaustion. Yaxoc's overconfidence was nothing new, but it still baffled them how he could be so nonchalant about something this dire.
Mr. Hight sighed, rubbing his temples. "Dismissed. I'll be sending a report to the principal, and the information will be shared with the entire organization. Prepare yourselves."
The trio exited the office and walked through the school halls, their minds racing after the heavy briefing.
"Why us?" Luna muttered, still processing the magnitude of the situation.
Marcus shrugged, his hands in his pockets. "It's probably because of our fight with Rammurth. We've been in the spotlight since then."
Yaxoc, ever aloof, simply shrugged as well. "No clue. Doesn't matter though. We'll handle it."
Luna sighed, knowing better than to press the issue with Yaxoc. His arrogance was both infuriating and oddly reassuring, though she couldn't help but feel uneasy about the coming battle.
After a few hours of walking, Yaxoc, Luna, and Marcus found themselves growing cautious as they noticed a figure lurking in the shadows.
"Stay on guard," Marcus whispered, pointing toward the shadowy figure. "There's someone watching us."
"The presence... it feels so wrong. Tall, dark, and creepy..." Luna muttered, her voice shaking slightly.
Yaxoc rolled his eyes, clearly unfazed. "Relax, it's probably just some low-life gang member."
Luna glared at Yaxoc, irritated by his nonchalance, while Marcus let out a nervous chuckle.
"Well, only one way to find out." Marcus extended his hand, releasing a blast of energy toward the shadow.
In an instant, the figure vanished.
"Huh? It's gone..." Marcus said, but before he could react further, an intense force hit them like a wave. Air pressure sent Yaxoc and Luna flying backward, but they landed smoothly, instinctively preparing themselves for more.
"Woah! That was one huge blast—wait..." Luna's eyes widened as realization dawned. "No way... isn't that—"
Yaxoc, puzzled by her reaction, asked, "What are you talking about?"
A deep, eerie laugh echoed from the shadows as the figure stepped into the light.
"It's... Lucius..." Luna whispered, her face pale with fear.
"Who the hell is Lucius?" Yaxoc asked, his irritation evident, but he was cut off by the chilling voice of the man who had emerged.
"Yes... It is me." Lucius, cloaked in black with a blood-red bow, stepped forward. His dark blue eyes gleamed under the mask that concealed his mouth. "Did you miss me, Luna Nightes?"
Luna took a step back, visibly shaken.
Yaxoc, now glaring at Lucius, demanded, "Alright, what the hell is going on? And who are you supposed to be?"
Lucius let out a cold chuckle. "Does it matter?"
Yaxoc tried to approach but immediately hesitated, feeling something unnatural. "What the—" His instincts screamed danger, causing him to stumble back in confusion. "What is this?!"
"I see... your instincts are sharper than most," Lucius said, his tone calm but menacing.
Marcus, who had been standing on guard, was now sweating under the immense pressure Lucius exuded. "This... this is bad..."
Lucius glanced at them with cold indifference. "So, you children are preparing for tomorrow's fight? How quaint. But don't think it will be easy."
Yaxoc growled, "What makes you say that, edgelord?"
Lucius didn't even flinch at the insult. "Did no one teach you to respect your elders?" Without warning, he slapped Yaxoc hard, sending him stumbling backward.
Yaxoc's fury ignited as he snarled, "I dare you to do that aga—!" Before he could finish, Lucius launched him several feet away with a swift flick of power. Yaxoc crashed near a trash bin, toppling it over. He shot up, trash falling off him as he yelled, "What the hell just happened?!"
Marcus sighed in relief as Lucius disappeared into the shadows. "You almost got us killed, dumbass."
Luna's glare was even sharper than before. "You really shouldn't underestimate someone like him, you absolute moron!"
Marcus stepped forward and began to explain. "Lucius Midnight, the emperor of the enemy base... He's responsible for many of the attacks on this city."
Yaxoc dusted himself off, still fuming. "So? What's so special about him?"
Marcus took a deep breath, the weight of his words sinking in. "They say his power is unparalleled. Some claim he could destroy entire countries on his own, though that hasn't been confirmed. What is confirmed is his ability to obliterate mountains with a single strike. He's not someone you can just charge at recklessly, Yaxoc."
Luna, still shaken, added, "And now he's after us... tomorrow's battle just became a lot more dangerous."
Yaxoc smirked, unbothered by the rising threat. "Whatever. Doesn't change a thing. I'll just hit him harder next time."