Chapter 158: Trouble on Rhemonic Soil!
Acrid Country: Ocean Roar City
The sleek, heavily armored truck of Bandel Blue cruised through the desolate expanse of Ocean Roar City. Its engine purring softly as they moved. Inside the luxurious vehicle, Tessa sat with Nyala and Bandel Blue, the Kaelrian god. The tension in the air was palpable, but Bandel seemed immune to it, leaning back with an almost bored expression. His body language practically screamed at Tessa to relax.
"You're too tense," his eyes seemed to say, though his lips remained in a perpetual half-smirk. He felt that Tessa wasn't even considering his god status.
Tessa, however, had little patience for his nonchalance. Her mind kept circling back to the past, to the scars she bore from losing her Kaelrian colleagues—Cale, Mari, and Kion—slain by salt bullets, their luminous blue eyes fading into nothingness. The SSG organization had hunted them mercilessly, reducing their numbers to one: her.
For a time, she had believed herself an orphan in every sense of the word, until Ms. Caldwell stepped in, offering her not just a roof but protection from SSG's relentless pursuit. It was during this time that Tessa had awakened her moon legacy abilities, transforming from prey into predator. The tides had turned, and SSG's once-unstoppable force crumbled against her newfound might.
Adrian had entered her life during this storm, another Kaelrian survivor. Their bond had been undeniable, though their relationship was complicated. James, her human ally who turned villian, had added another layer of confusion. Yet, just as the tangled web of her emotions seemed to clear, the devastating truth emerged: Adrian was her half-brother.
Her thoughts darkened further. Rhemon. The name alone sent a chill down her spine. Awakened by Ikehara, a madman blinded by his own thirst for power, who was dubbed the Shadow of the Sun God—was no mere adversary. His cunning, his darkness, were unparalleled.
Lost in her thoughts, Tessa's focus snapped back as a sharp clank resonated through the bus. The sound was deliberate, metallic, and unmistakably hostile.
In an instant, Tessa was on her feet, her body instinctively charging what little moon energy she had left. The draining encounter with the eggs of Anwari had left her reserves dangerously low, but she was ready to unleash everything she had.
Nyala was right behind her, spear in hand, her eyes narrowing as she positioned herself near the entrance. Her grip tightened, prepared to strike the moment the intruder showed itself.
Then, Tessa caught sight of the figure outside. A connection sparked in her mind. Her stance softened slightly, though her heart continued to pound. "It's Chinelle," she whispered, her voice steady.
The great Owl fluttered onto the vehicle's hood, its amber eyes locking with Tessa's. This was no ordinary bird but the guardian Owl she had set over Riverdale, a sentinel she had sent to keep watch in the shadows. Its sudden appearance here could only mean one thing: urgent news.
Tessa opened the side door cautiously, allowing Chinelle to hop inside. The bird's feathers shimmered faintly under the dim light, an ethereal glow hinting at its otherworldly nature. It perched on Tessa's hands, tilting its head as its amber eyes locked onto hers. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Chinelle leaned in, brushing its beak gently against her hair, a gesture so tender it felt almost familial. It was as if the bird sought to comfort her, to rekindle the bond between them—a reunion of two souls who had weathered countless storms apart.
Tessa's chest tightened. The connection she shared with Chinelle wasn't merely physical; it was a thread woven through her Kaelrian heritage, a lifeline to the ancient power that coursed through her veins. She whispered softly, "I've missed you too."
But the tender moment was fleeting. Chinelle suddenly straightened, its demeanor shifting. It let out a low, guttural sound—a warning laced with urgency. The bird extended its talon, revealing a small, jagged metallic shard clutched tightly within. The shard pulsed faintly, its edges glinting ominously.
Chinelle had long transcended the nature of an ordinary owl. Once a mere creature of the night, it had been irrevocably altered by the moon's power, a gift—or perhaps a burden—that Tessa had bestowed upon it. The transformation had imbued the bird with an ethereal glow, a sentience far beyond that of any earthly animal.
Chinelle now communicated with Tessa through various means, each as extraordinary as the bond they shared. At times, it spoke directly to her mind, its thoughts merging seamlessly with her own. Other times, a simple touch was enough—a brush of feathers against her skin to convey urgency or comfort.
But one of its most unique abilities was the power to store and relay events through a shard, a fragment imbued with its collected observations. This method allowed Tessa to witness visions of distant happenings as though she were there herself. It was this very ability that Chinelle now employed, delivering the shard that pulsed faintly in its talons—a window into the chaos unfolding far away.
Nyala, who had been standing guard nearby, stepped closer, her gaze sharp and inquisitive. "What is that?" she asked, her voice low but firm.
Tessa didn't respond immediately. She reached out, her fingers trembling slightly as they made contact with the shard's cold surface. A jolt of energy shot through her fingertips, and she inhaled sharply. Closing her eyes, she allowed her Kaelrian energy to flow, syncing with the shard's essence.
The world around her dissolved into darkness. Fragmented images burst into her mind like shards of glass:
A burning sky split by violent streaks of light and shadow. The air crackled with the sound of battle, of screams swallowed by an unrelenting storm.
She saw familiar faces: Ecdy, his body battered but unyielding as he fought with every ounce of strength he possessed; Nymff, the elusive shadow-dancer, weaving through the chaos with deadly precision; Abdel, ever the strategist, orchestrating their defenses with calm efficiency; and the twin sentinels, Lhize and Lhaze, moving in perfect harmony, their synchronized strikes a lethal symphony of destruction.
Amid the storm of battle, Ms. Caldwell and Mr. Thompson stood defiantly, armed with nothing but a baton and sheer grit. Their human frailty was glaring against the supernatural forces they faced, yet they fought valiantly, their determination burning as fiercely as the fires around them.
Then came the land itself—Green Rhemonic. Its lush, vibrant fields were now a charred wasteland, scarred by the dark tendrils of energy that slithered across the terrain like serpents. The air reeked of sulfur and despair.
At the heart of the destruction stood Rhemon's agents. The lesser ones, from the higher-level 4 operatives to the expendable level 6 grunts, swarmed the battlefield like flies, executing his will without question.
But one figure stood apart: the Level 3 Agent, the only one among them who had survived the harrowing synchronization program. His superhuman presence was unmistakable. He stood tall and composed, a picture of unshakable confidence, casually chewing on dried meat as though the chaos around him were a mere spectacle. His silhouette, framed by the flickering flames, loomed like a malevolent shadow—an embodiment of Rhemon's cold, calculated wrath.
The vision ended abruptly, the horrifying images tearing away like a curtain ripped by violent winds. Tessa gasped, her lungs fighting for air as if she had been underwater. She staggered backward, her eyes snapping open, the weight of the revelation crushing down on her like an avalanche.
"Mom…" Tessa's voice cracked as she shouted, panic lacing every syllable. She turned to Nyala, whose piercing gaze demanded an explanation. "The Rhemonic Lands are under attack," she said, her voice barely more than a whisper but carrying the urgency of a scream. "They've found our campsite. Everyone—Ecdy, Nymff, Abdel, Lhize, Lhaze—could be captured or worse. If Rhemon gets his hands on the green Rhemonics…" Her voice faltered, trembling under the weight of the truth. "None of them will survive the synchronization process."
The gravity of the situation demanded action. Tessa's mission to aid Heziah Eric from the shadows of Reek Manor would have to wait. This was personal. This was about her family—her mother. There was no time for hesitation.
She turned to Bandel Blue, her pride momentarily cast aside. "Oh great Kaelrian god, I need your help," she said, her voice strained. The words felt foreign on her tongue. Tessa had never bowed to anyone, her spirit too wild and fierce. But now, desperation had humbled her. She would do whatever it took to save her mother.
Nyala's grip on her spear tightened, her knuckles turning white. Her eyes blazed with fury. "Rhemon," she hissed, venom dripping from her words. "That insane son of a bitch won't stop until everything's destroyed." She clenched her jaw, torn between rage and helplessness as she watched Tessa—a woman she admired for her unyielding strength—forced into a plea for aid.
Bandel Blue, who had been leaning against the wall with an air of detachment, suddenly straightened. The calm, indifferent mask he wore slipped away, revealing a grim seriousness that made the very air around them feel heavier. The blue hue of his eyes darkened, a storm brewing within.
"Tessa," Bandel Blue said, his voice thrumming with an unearthly power. "If I intervene, it won't be subtle. It could compromise our strategy to rescue your brother, and Rhemon will undoubtedly be alerted." He paused, his piercing gaze locked onto hers, weighing her resolve. "But if this is your choice, I will stand with you. Be warned—this battle will not mirror any you've fought before."
Tessa met his gaze, her own eyes burning with fierce determination. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides as the weight of the decision settled over her. "We don't have a choice," she said firmly, her voice steady. "The Rhemonic Lands must not fall, no matter the cost."