Ray floated effortlessly over battlefield. Arms crossed. His sly smile stretched wider. Chaos below swirled. Air seemed to hum with his confidence. Life with the charge of his presence. Amidst madness, he was cool. He was detached and he was in control.
Below Kaku's clones moved. Moved with unnerving precision. Their fluid forms twisted unnaturally. They coiled and slithered. Serpents around battlefield. Each motion was purposeful. Guided by Mint's sharp commands. They rang through the chaos. They were like edge of a blade.
"Left formation, keep it steady!" Mint's voice cut through the din. "Deku, advance and close gap! Kaku, cut off airborne target!"
Clones leapt with grace. Forms shifted mid-air. They were aiming to drag Ray off perch in sky. Ray's chuckles echoed. They were rich with mockery. Mint, Mint, Mint he called. Voice dripping with derision. "You are so predictable."
There was a dramatic wave of hand. Ray vanished. A faint hiss of static remained. Kaku clones faltered. Their bodies were in confusion. They were liquid.
Ray reappeared without warning. He was inches from Mint. His grin was sharp predatory. His words cut deeply. His gaze was as deep. "Did you really think your slime soldiers could stop me?"
Mint's expression remained unreadable. His fingers twitched. The twitch was barely noticeable.
Deku was in motion. The ground cracked. Cracks appeared beneath his weight. He lunged, his fist moving towards Ray. The action was forceful.
Ray's smirk stayed. It did not waver. Ray vanished. The attack of Deku struck nothing. There was only air. From above, Ray's voice taunted. The taunt was amused. "Come on, Deku. Surely you can do better than that!"
Mint stood unmoved. His calm demeanor was unshaken. "Kaku, adapt!"
The clones responded immediately. Their liquid forms hardened. They transformed into sharp spikes that were jagged.
They shifted focus to Ray. The movements were now faster and deliberate. Ray seemed to dance among them. He was teleporting from one spot to another with irritating ease. Every strike missed its mark.
Ray's laughter rose above battlefield. It sounded like a cruel melody. "Is this really the best you got?" he teased. He grinned as he reappeared just beyond their reach. "I thought you were supposed to be threat."
"You underestimate us," Mint replied evenly. His tone was neutral.
"Oh, do I?" Ray's grin widened. "Because from where I'm standing, from where I'm standing—"
His words came to a sudden stop. The ground beneath him erupted. A wave of electromagnetic force surged upward. It caught him off guard. Teleportation briefly flickered. "Now!" Mint's voice rang out like thunder.
Deku rushed forward. His movements were sharp and accurate. This time there was no escape. Ray's form was swallowed whole. It disappeared into Deku's shifting, fluid mass Ray was finally still.
"Huh," Ray muttered. He brushed his shoulders. He was as if wiping away dust. "That was... unexpected."
On a distant rock, Keys was watching the scene with a smirk. His smirk was lazy. "Looks like Mint's got some tricks," he mused. He leaned back and he stretched. The chaos before him was like a mere show for his amusement. Then his gaze shifted to Jacob. Jacob tried to rise. His sword was in his hand.
"What's wrong Jacob?" Keys called. His tone was teasing yet sharp. "Trying to figure it out?"
Jacob glared. He gripped his sword tighter. "Your speed. It's insane."
Keys chuckled. His voice carried across the battlefield. "Oh you've seen nothing yet."
In an instant he was gone. He vanished from the rock and reappeared on the ground below. His movements were fast. Impossibly fast.
Jacob stepped forward. He was confused but also determined. "What are you playing at? Cutting my ear. Is that all you've to show?"
Keys' grin grew wider. "Your ear. Is that all you noticed?" His laughter was cruel mockery. It rang out.
Jacob froze. Unease started to creep over him. His hand patted his body. He searched for wounds. But he hadn't felt any.
Keys smirked. "I was gone for 0.1 seconds Jacob. Do you really think I wasted that time on just your ear?"
He pointed past Jacob. Mint stood frozen. A hole was gaping in his chest.
Jacob's heart sank. He teleported to Mint's side instantly. But it was too late. Mint had collapsed. Before Jacob could act further he saw Keys. Standing right before him. A brilliant energy beam cut through the air. It struck Jacob straight in the chest. He fell beside Mint.
Keys loomed over them. His expression remained unreadable. "Tch. I know you will recover," he muttered.
Before Keys could carry on, Ray patted Deku's shoulder. "Finished my target, you basted" his tone was casual. Deku's form shifted and camouflaged Ray again.
Keys looked at the oncoming wave of Kaku soldiers. Then he sighed. "More of them? "His expression soured as he muttered, "What a hassle."
### EARTH-0A1
Keys slumped on his seat. His elbows were on his knees. His head was burrowed in his hands. His frame trembled. It felt like the entire weight of the world was on his shoulders. Words of Loki echoed in his mind. Each syllable cut deeper. They were like a haunting melody. They filled his head with fear and uncertainty.
His breaths were uneven. They were gasps. His usually sharp eyes hid beneath a shadow. This shadow was of despair. Keys is a boy who rarely shows vulnerability. But now he seemed lost. He was adrift in a sea of doubt.
Sylvie sat beside him. She was silent. She had her delicate hand wrapped around his. Her grip was firm, yet tender. It was a lifeline to anchor him in reality. She watched him carefully. Her heart quite possibly pounded with worry.
The silence was broken. Sylvie spoke the word "Keys". Her voice was trembling. He didn't respond. His head sunk even lower. It was as if he was attempting to protect himself from a storm inside.
The voice of Sylvie grew steadier. My heart still trembled. "Keys, please talk to me. I can see you are not feeling well let's go to the medical room."
For a while, he stayed quiet. Then he moved. Slowly, he lifted his head. Eyes were revealed. They burned with a mix of feelings: fear and resolve. The voice was quiet yet intense.
"I don't know but I want to listen to him." His words were raw, unguarded. Sylvie swallowed hard. Her resolve turned into steel. She was determined not to let him fall apart.
"Why? You don't even like events like this. So why do you want to stay here?" Sylvie's voice was steady but her eyes betrayed a flicker of worry.
Keys straightened in his seat. His gaze turned toward Sylvie with uncharacteristic seriousness. "He's talking about Foster", he said. His voice was low. Almost as if uttering the name carried weight. "Ink Foster."
Sylvie frowned, confusion knitting her brow. "And what difference does it make? Whether it's Ink Foster or somebody else. None of this is more important than your health is it?"
Keys hesitated. He bowed his head slightly, and then the smirk on his lips faded. "It does matter," he admitted softly. "You know my name, right? Maybe. Maybe he's talking about my—"
"What are you saying, man?" Sylvie interrupted. Her tone was tinged with concern now. She leaned forward. She was trying to catch his downcast eyes.
Keys remained silent for a moment. His hand was gripping edge of the table as if to steady himself. Then he looked up his expression was distant. "Where's Geoff?" he asked suddenly. His voice was sharper.
Sylvie blinked. "Geoff?"
"I sent him to bring medication," Keys said his jaw tightening. "He hasn't come back yet."
To be continued...