Before the boy's body could hit the ground, Whale dashed forward and caught him in her arms.
"Uhhhhh... Now, how do I go about this?" she muttered, glancing at the boy's pale, unconscious face. Who even is this kid? she wondered, her mind racing. Awakening naturally as if it's nothing, and with a unique element too—something that hadn't been seen before.
Sighing, she shook her head. "Anyways, I guess I should report that the target has been neutralized." She tapped the white, watch-like gadget on her wrist, fingers swiftly navigating through a series of panels until she clicked the checkmark button to confirm the update.
Just then, a voice crackled through her earpiece.
"Nite to base. Status report. We can't hold these two off much longer," the voice said, strained and tense.
Another voice, this one gruff and worn-out, chimed in, "Echo that. We're at our limit. Tell me this is over."
A third voice, sharp and efficient, interrupted the chatter. "Mission accomplished. All 33 targets have been successfully neutralized."
Whale took a deep breath, steadying herself before she relayed the unexpected development. "Whale to base. Reporting… there's something else. Something… unexpected." She hesitated, glancing down at the boy in her arms. "There's a certain boy... with white hair. He's awakened on his own. And… it's… it's a unique element."
There was silence on the other end, the stillness unsettling. Finally, a voice—this time unfamiliar, firm, and regal, as if the speaker radiated nobility and authority—came through.
"Whale, clarify. A unique element? Confirm the nature and stability of this individual's power."
Whale's gaze flickered over the unconscious boy, noting the strange black and scarlet flames still faintly clinging to his form. "I... can't confirm that," she admitted. "The element is... intense. During combat, it manifested as black and red flames."
The voice on the other end paused momentarily, then resumed with a composed, authoritative tone, issuing precise orders.
"Understood. Specter, Nite—hold position for five more minutes. Beaver, initiate preparations for member transfer back to the ship. Crane, relay to New Age that Silent Dawn's task is complete and to prepare for immediate retreat. Whale, secure the boy and stand by for transfer; I intend to speak with him personally. Quake and Serpens, prepare yourselves and ensure that the extracted sample remains secure."
A chorus of acknowledgments followed:
"Roger that."
"Right."
"OKAY BOSSSS!"
"Understood."
"Affirmative."
"acknowledged."
"Yes, sir!"
As the acknowledgments rolled in, Whale glanced down at the unconscious boy in her arms. His face, pale beneath the grime and streaks of soot, seemed oddly serene now that the fury of battle had faded. She could still feel the residual heat from his strange, seething flames, though they had all but vanished. A flicker of something like curiosity crept into her mind.
What exactly are you, kid? she wondered, feeling the weight of his mystery settle on her.
"Whale to base," she said into her communicator, her tone calm but focused. "Securing the boy now. Beginning extraction preparations."
With a grunt, she adjusted Wynn's slight frame, shifting him so he rested more securely against her as she moved through the alley. Shadows stretched long and dark around her, remnants of Silent Dawn's clean-up operation sprawled in every direction.
The distant, thunderous booms from Specter and Nite's ongoing clash with the Dukes reverberated through the atmosphere, echoing far across the barren landscapes of Zerith, Practically every corner of the planet would have been shaken to its core, had it not been for Beaver's makeshift barrier.
Deployed by Specter and Nite, it kept the planet from being reduced to rubble—a testament to just how devastatingly powerful the Dukes were in the hierarchy of things and these were only the Dukes of Sorith and Zerith, considered the weakest among the Dukes.
A voice crackled over her earpiece again, a gruff, familiar voice that she recognized as Specters, laced with strain. "Holding out's gonna get us killed if you don't get that kid out quick, princess. We're at our limit over here."
"Extraction's in motion. Just keep them occupied a few more minutes," she replied, her tone calm but urgent. She adjusted her hold on Wynn, eyeing the extraction point as the comm line filled with Specter's strained, sarcastic laugh—sharp but devoid of malice.
"Easy for you to say," he retorted, breathing heavily between words, "you're not the one keeping a literal planet-destroyer off your back."
"Quit your whining, old man," another voice chimed in—Nite, darkly sardonic yet effortlessly taunting, her voice edged with a hint of humor despite the circumstances. "What happened to all that big talk about outlasting your Duke? Don't tell me it was all bluster."
Specter scoffed, the exhaustion creeping into his words. "I'd like to see you fight this flamey narcissistic bastard, Grandma Nite."
"Focus, all of you," came the crisp, familiar command of Crane, "Full extraction in ninety seconds. Silent Dawn does not leave anything to chance."
The team's steady focus and discipline restored order to the comm line. Whale secured Wynn with a final tug, glancing around to make sure the path to the extraction point was clear. She began to move quickly, her eyes scanning her surroundings for any potential threat, she caught a glimpse of the towering Dukes in the distance—hulking figures with an unmistakable aura of raw power. Even with the protective barrier in place, the sheer force radiating from them was staggering, making her inadvertently tremble and palpitate.
BURST
A deafening burst shattered the silence as Nite shot through the air on the back of a colossal raven, a creature formed entirely of shadow, its wings slicing through the air with an eerie fluidity. Specter held on behind her laughing loudly, both riders cloaked in the darkness of their spectral steed, moving at a speed that left afterimages in their wake.
"Ten seconds," Crane announced, his voice carrying a weight that was both familiar and reassuring to the team. "All members, report in."
"Nite and specter, ready."
"Hippo and Serpens, in position with the sample secured."
Whale arrived at the extraction point, the unconscious boy's head lolling slightly against her shoulder. She tapped her communicator one last time.
"Whale and… the boy, ready."
"BEAVER DESU, ACTIVATING RUNE DESU!" A bright, tiny voice crackled over the comms, echoing through their earpieces with a surprising cheerfulness.
In the span of a heartbeat, a dazzling white beam struck down from the sky, wrapping around Whale and Wynn in a spiraling torrent of light. The cityscape faded from view as they were enveloped in the blinding energy, the sensation both weightless and overwhelming. Moments later, the brilliant light dissipated, revealing the interior of the Silent Dawn's transport ship.
Whale blinked, her eyes adjusting to the sterile, gleaming surroundings. The Silent Dawn's transport ship was a marvel of advanced engineering—a blend of sleek, metallic walls that reflected a faint blue light, soft but eerie. Overhead, thin panels of soft lighting stretched in seamless lines, bathing the cabin in a clinical glow that seemed to hum with the quiet power of the engines. The walls were lined with reinforced compartments and advanced consoles, each one buzzing with data streams displayed in holographic panels.
She carefully laid Wynn on the floor, reaching up to remove her blue whale mask. As she pulled back her hood, her face emerged from beneath—a soft, cutesy beauty, her deep yellow eyes gleaming with a quiet warmth. Her sky-blue hair, with hints of navy at the edges, framed her features delicately. No longer Whale, she was now Aliya, and for the first time that night, her gentle spirit showed through her stunning exterior.
She took a deep breath, letting go of the tension from their mission. "Well, that was... an eventful extraction," she murmured, her gaze narrowing as she looked at Wynn.
A few feet away, two more figures materialized, shadows slipping off them as they removed their masks. The first was a tall boisterous man, Specter, who slipped off his minotaur mask to reveal a face hardened by years, yet unmistakably handsome. His brown hair fell around his face in rugged waves, and his sharp jawline seemed carved from stone. His light brown beard framed a pair of serious brown eyes, sharp and intense. Jaxon, as he was known outside of his codename, exhaled as he adjusted to the calm of the ship.
"Nice to breathe without the mask," Jaxon said, stretching his neck. He glanced at Aliya. "You held your own back there, princess. Thought that 'soft spot' of yours might get in the way," he teased, his tone softening.
Aliya rolled her eyes, a faint smirk pulling at the corner of her lips. "Mr. Jaxon, my only soft spot is for not letting kids end up as collateral," she replied, her voice laced with dry humor.
A warm yet haunting voice broke through their banter. "Father-daughter duo at it again, I see."
Beside Jaxon, a middle-aged woman slipped off her raven-shaped mask, unveiling herself with a striking, almost predatory beauty. Long, inky-black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her midnight-dark eyes held undeniable power. Her name was Vera, and she regarded Aliya and Jaxon with a knowing smile.
Aliya flushed, her confidence faltering for just a moment. "For the LAST time, we're not related by blood!" she retorted, clearly embarrassed.
Jaxon chuckled, crossing his arms with an exaggerated sigh. "Oh dear dear, Where'd that sweet little girl who used to follow me around everywhere I go? She was so much more agreeable," he teased, pretending to pout.
Aliya threw her hands up in exasperation. "Oh, you're the worst!" she groaned, giving him a look of mock betrayal.
"Worser than the Dukes?" Jaxon asked, raising an eyebrow and smirking as if he had truly stumped her.
Aliya shot him a glare. "Don't flatter yourself, Mr. Jaxon. Those Dukes wrecked you in a fight." She folded her arms and looked away with a playful huff.
A soft voice cut through their back and forth. "The drama never stops with you two, does it?"
They turned to find Sera, her snake-shaped mask now absent, revealing the striking features of a young woman in her early twenties. Her narrow-slit orange eyes, narrow with sharp pupils that gleamed like amber, had a mischievous, almost otherworldly quality to them. Sera's words were always carefully chosen, and when she spoke, it was often with an almost otherworldly calmness that made her presence felt even when she said very little.
"Nothing new there," Jaxon quipped with a lazy grin.
Aliya let out a soft laugh. "True enough."
Before the conversation could spiral further into sarcasm, a loud, high-pitched voice cut through the air.
"EVERYONE'S HERE DESUUU!!!"
The group froze, turning toward the source of the chaotic outburst. From behind a stack of crates, a tiny, orange-haired blur came tumbling out, the girl's oversized coat covered in mechanical tools. Wrenches, screws, and other gadgets were stuck to her like a human toolbox, and her wild pink eyes shone with pure, uncontained excitement.
Lily, or Beaver as she was known, skidded to a halt in front of them, hands on her hips as she beamed at the group. "Look at you all, getting all cozy without me! What's this? I thought I was the one supposed to save you from disaster DESU!"
Jaxon groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Not the 35-year-old sly little loli that acts like she's 12…"
"Excuse You, Lily's 26, thank you very much!" Lily huffed, pouting dramatically.
"26?" Jaxon raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Right, sure. And I'm 18."
Lily rolled her eyes and pointed a finger at him. "Don't start with me, Mr.I got wrecked by a narcissistic man with a need for admiration issues."
"Oh, here we go," Jaxon muttered, trying to hide a small smile.
A deep, warm laugh chimed in, and everyone turned to see George stepping forward, his hippo mask pushed back on his head, his eyes soft and calm as always. His soft blue eyes and tousled dark buzz-cut hair gave him a comforting, grounded aura, like he was somehow more mature than the rest of them—a steady anchor in their usual chaos. He looked around the group with a patient smile, though his gaze lingered a bit longer on Sera, who was watching him with a barely hidden smirk.
"Finally, the voice of reason arrives," Jaxon said, throwing his hands up in mock relief. "Maybe we'll actually have some order now."
"Reason? Here?" George chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "That's rich, coming from you."
Before Jaxon could retort, Lily grinned mischievously and cut in.
"GUYS QUIET DESU!"
They all paused, some in amusement, others in exasperation.
"How about… a supercharged potato cannon?" she announced, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
""""Huh""""
That was completely and utterly random.
George let out a hearty laugh, his shoulders shaking as he tried to keep a straight face. "A potato cannon? Really Lily?"
Lily looked around at them proudly. "Not just any potato cannon—a supercharged one. Think about it! Flying potatoes at maximum velocity! Impact power for days!"
Jaxon's head fell into his hands. "Lily, we're supposed to be a tactical unit, not… the vegetable artillery squad."
"Oh, come on, Jaxon!" Lily protested, pouting. "It's a multipurpose weapon. Just imagine the shock value! They'd never see it coming."
Sera smirked, her amber eyes gleaming. "Sounds like Lily's potato cannon is the weapon of the future."
George rubbed his chin, pretending to consider it. "You know, it could work. Especially if you figure out the trajectory..."
"See? George gets it!" Lily said triumphantly, pointing a finger at him. "I knew I liked you."
"Don't encourage her, George," Jaxon muttered. "Next, she'll be suggesting we use celery as swords."
"Oh, celery's terrible for combat," Lily dismissed him with a wave. "Too flimsy. Now a reinforced carrot dagger, though…"
Aliya, who had been absorbing the entire conversation with growing exasperation, finally threw up her hands. "Are we really going to stand around debating produce warfare?"
Sera raised her hand with a grin. "I, for one, would love to see Lily test her potato cannon. Just… maybe not while we're in range."
"Exactly!" Lily said, now fully on a roll. "I mean, it's harmless fun. We could even turn it into a distraction tactic. Imagine—bam! Potato to the face!"
Jaxon sighed, shaking his head. "Only you would think of that, Lily."
"But do remember whatever you do do not blow up the hangar again this time otherwis-"
"Can we not talk about blowing up the hangar this time?"
Speak of the Devil
The group turned to see Cane leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, his tall frame nearly blending into the shadows. His expression was as calm as ever, but the slight twitch of his eyebrow betrayed the exhaustion he always seemed to carry.
Cane wasn't one for dramatics or flashy entrances. He was the quiet, no-nonsense type who preferred to observe rather than participate. His violet hair fell neatly around his face, and his golden eyes seemed to always be sizing up the situation—probably looking for the quickest escape route if things went south.
"Cane!" Lily grinned, already bouncing on the soles of her feet. "You're just in time! I was about to show them my new invention DESU!"
"I already regret this," Cane's voice was dry, as if he'd heard the same line too many times.
"Oh, don't be such a killjoy," Lily said, skipping over to him. "This one's going to be epic! You'll love it!"
"Epic usually means 'dangerous' in your vocabulary," Cane remarked, narrowing his eyes at her.
Lily scoffed. "Dangerous is an overstatement. I prefer to think of it as... adventurous."
"Just promise me we won't end up destroying half the fleet," Cane said, shaking his head but walking closer. "What's the plan?"
Lily's eyes sparkled as she leaned in. "Okay, so: supercharged potato cannon."
Cane's lips twitched. "A .... potato cannon?"
"Supercharged!" Lily emphasized, her grin widening.
"Right." Cane looked at her, unamused.
But then....
From across the hangar, a groan sounded. The team turned, their laughter fading as their eyes settled on a figure stirring, disoriented, his shock of yellowish hair now stark white, standing up in wild tufts. His gaze was dazed, lost in the haze of awakening.
"Ugh… where the hell am I?"
Before anyone could answer, a voice sliced through the air—a voice cold, unyielding, laced with an authority that could silence mountains.
"Welcome."
The single word was regal, echoing with a weight that stilled everyone in an instant. Jaxon, Vera, George, Sera, Aliya, Cane, even the normally unflappable Lily—each of them froze, rooted in place. If you'd asked any one of them about their greatest fear, the answer would be the same:
Him
The man stood just inside the hangar as if he'd materialized out of space itself. His silver hair cascaded down to his shoulders, each strand catching the faint light, and his violet eyes glinted with a sharp, unassailable dominance. The very air seemed to bend under the weight of his presence, charged with a tension so thick it was almost suffocating.
His gaze fell on Wynn, assessing, cutting straight to the core. "Wynn of Grimhaven, unique element wielder… best friend to the daughter of the Barony of Darnall."
He advanced with slow, deliberate steps, each one echoing through the hangar, like the ticking of a deadly countdown.
Step. Step. Step.
The entire world felt suspended as if time itself dared not move against him.
"I am Aldric Von Ashford,"
"Leader of Silent Dawn… and cast-out first-born of Henry Di Von Valkrin, Ruler of The Human Empire."