The walk back to the academy felt longer than usual, a tension hanging in the air between the group. Kai kept a steady pace, but his mind was spinning with Kaito's revelations. The Umbra Syndicate, weaponized Spirit Energy cores, and the possibility of catastrophic destruction—it was all a lot to take in.
Reina walked beside him, her face thoughtful, but her eyes kept flicking back to Kaito, who trailed just a few steps behind. Arion, ever the skeptic, stayed a bit further back, his hand still resting on the hilt of his sword, ready for any sudden moves.
After a few minutes of silence, Reina finally broke it. "So, what's the plan, Kai? We've got two locations… that's not much to go on, but it's something. We need to act fast before they activate those cores."
Kai nodded, his jaw set with determination. "Agreed. We'll split into two teams. One team will go to the first location, and the second will head to the other. We need to gather intel, figure out what kind of defenses they have, and disable those cores. The element of surprise will be our biggest advantage."
Arion cut in, his voice laced with suspicion. "And who exactly is going to be in charge of the teams? Because I'm not too keen on taking orders from a traitor."
Kaito smirked, clearly unfazed by Arion's hostility. "Don't worry, I have no intention of giving orders. I'll provide the intel and guide you through the defenses, but you call the shots. It's your mission, after all."
Reina nodded, but there was still doubt in her eyes. "Fine, but we need to be smart about this. We don't know what kind of tricks they have up their sleeves. And we don't know how much of what you've told us is the truth."
Kaito's expression turned serious. "I get it. You don't trust me… and I don't blame you. But I'm risking a lot by being here. The Syndicate doesn't forgive traitors. If they find out I've switched sides, they'll come after me, too."
Kai studied Kaito for a moment, then spoke quietly. "We're all risking a lot, Kaito. Just know that if you cross us, you won't get a second chance."
Kaito held Kai's gaze, his voice firm. "Understood."
They continued on in silence for a few more moments before Kai stopped, turning to face the others. "Alright, let's get back to the academy and brief the team. We need everyone on the same page. We'll regroup in the war room in an hour."
Reina nodded, her expression resolute. "I'll find Mei and the others. We'll need every fighter we have for this."
Arion, still eyeing Kaito warily, added, "And I'll make sure we have enough gear. If we're going up against elite forces, we can't afford to be under-equipped."
Kai turned to Kaito. "You come with me. I want to know everything you know about the Syndicate's tactics, their strengths, and their weaknesses. If we're going to do this, we need every advantage we can get."
Kaito nodded, following Kai's lead. As they walked side by side, Kaito glanced over at him. "You've changed, Kai. You're… different from the last time I saw you."
Kai didn't look at him, his focus straight ahead. "People change, Kaito. War has a way of doing that."
Kaito's smile was faint but genuine. "Yeah, I guess it does."
---
Back at the academy, the war room buzzed with nervous energy. Maps and blueprints were spread across the table, and the team was already gathered when Kai and Kaito walked in. Mei, a strategist with a sharp mind and quick reflexes, was already poring over the documents. She looked up, her eyes narrowing at the sight of Kaito.
"Kaito," she said, her voice flat. "So, the rumors are true. You're on our side now?"
Kaito gave a slight nod. "I'm here to help. Whether you believe me or not is up to you."
Mei didn't respond immediately, her gaze shifting to Kai. "And you trust him?"
Kai hesitated for only a moment. "I trust that he wants to survive. And right now, helping us is his best chance of doing that."
Mei sighed, glancing back at the documents. "Alright, let's get down to business. What do we know about these cores, and how do we deactivate them?"
Kaito leaned over the table, tapping a point on the map. "The cores are built with Spirit Energy containment units. To shut them down, you'll need to disrupt the energy flow. Each core has a central control point, heavily guarded, but if you can reach it, you can initiate a manual shutdown. The problem is, they're designed to detect any tampering. If you make even the slightest mistake, the core will go into overdrive."
Arion crossed his arms. "So, we have to be precise. One wrong move, and we're looking at a city-leveling disaster. No pressure, right?"
Kaito nodded. "Exactly. But there's more. The Syndicate's top enforcers will be guarding these cores. You're going to face their best fighters—people who are trained to kill without hesitation."
Kai glanced at the others, his expression serious. "Then we'll need our best, too. Arion, you'll lead one team. Mei, you're with me. Reina, you'll handle support. We need to move fast, and we need to be coordinated."
Reina nodded, her eyes sharp with focus. "What about you, Kaito? Where will you be?"
Kaito met her gaze evenly. "I'll be at the front. If there's one thing I know, it's their defenses. I can get you past the outer layers, but after that… it's up to you."
Kai nodded. "Good. Then let's prepare. We move at first light."
---
As the team dispersed to make their preparations, Kai pulled Kaito aside. "There's something I don't get, Kaito. Why did you really switch sides? And don't give me the 'I'm tired' speech again. I want the truth."
Kaito hesitated, his eyes searching Kai's. "Fine. You want the truth? I switched sides because I realized the Syndicate's vision was a lie. They don't want control to bring order. They want power for its own sake, and they're willing to destroy anything and anyone to get it. I've done things, Kai… things I'm not proud of. But I want to make things right, or at least try."
Kai studied him for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Alright. But remember, Kaito, redemption isn't something you ask for. It's something you earn. And you'll have to earn it every step of the way."
Kaito gave a faint smile. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
With a final nod, Kai turned back to the war room, ready to face the fight ahead.