CHAPTER 13: LET THERE BE CHAOS [PART 2 of 3]
Kaloi's district was a battlefield, a warzone where the very air felt heavy with despair and defiance. The faint glow of neon lights flickered erratically, casting long shadows across the decaying cityscape. The sounds of distant explosions and the screeching of sirens echoed through the desolate streets. The stench of smoke, blood, and burning debris lingered in the air, thick and suffocating.
In the heart of this chaos, a single supply drop fell from the sky, its parachute trailing behind it like a beacon of hope—or a target. The Harajin trio—Sionu, Blitz, and Ultimo—moved quickly, instinctively, their bodies honed by years of survival in a city where every day was a fight for life.
Blitz, her icy-blue eyes sharp and focused, led the way. She had learned to trust her instincts in these kinds of situations, to expect the worst and prepare for it. The supply crates were no longer just a way to feed the hungry—they were now an opportunity to gain an edge, to ensure survival in a city on the brink of collapse.
"I'll handle the lock," Blitz muttered, her breath visible in the chilly air as she pulled a jagged shard of ice from her wristband. Her powers manifested easily in moments of need, and with a swift movement, she cut through the crate's rusted lock.
Sionu, his golden eyes scanning the perimeter, was on edge. Every step, every sound felt like it could be the precursor to an ambush. His body hummed with barely contained energy, the raw power of the STAR⭐️BORNE gene coursing through him. His hand brushed the hilt of his katana, a constant reminder of the danger that had become his new reality.
"Stay alert," Sionu murmured. "The Revenants will be here soon."
Ultimo, the dark and brooding warrior, was already on high alert. His shadows swirled around him, stretching out like tendrils of darkness, feeling for any sign of movement. He had seen enough of the Revenants to know that they were always close when a supply drop occurred. And this time would be no different.
"I don't think they'll be the only ones to show up," Ultimo said, his voice low, tinged with the familiarity of someone who had long since stopped hoping for peace.
Blitz didn't respond as she finished prying the crate open. Inside, the usual assortment of medical supplies, rations, and tools lay in disarray. She tossed some items into their packs, her eyes scanning for anything more valuable when the unmistakable sound of distant footfalls reached their ears.
"Too late," Sionu hissed.
Before they could react, the Revenants appeared—shadowy figures with bodies twisted and mutated, their forms a grotesque parody of human and monstrous anatomy. Their leader, Moloch, stepped forward from the crowd, his cruel smile a grim warning of what was to come.
"You thought you could take what's ours?" Moloch's voice was a low, thunderous growl that reverberated through the air. His towering figure, half-clad in bone armor, was a terrifying sight, as though the very essence of destruction clung to him. His eyes, burning with a malevolent red glow, locked onto Sionu.
Sionu tensed, his golden eyes narrowing. "You won't get away with this."
Moloch's smile widened, his sharp teeth glinting in the dim light. "I won't just take what's yours," he sneered. "I'll take everything."
Before Sionu could react, the Revenants lunged. Their speed was unnerving, and within moments, Blitz and Ultimo were forced to engage in a desperate battle. Sionu moved to protect them, but his mind kept flickering back to one thing—the one thing he couldn't lose.
"Sirius!" Blitz shouted, her voice cracking with panic.
Sionu's heart stopped.
Across the chaos, he saw it—two Revenants, carrying his son, Sirius, through the smoke. The child was struggling, his small cries piercing through the violence, a sound that struck deep into Sionu's soul.
"No!" Sionu roared, breaking away from the fray and charging toward the Revenants.
But Moloch was ready. With a flick of his hand, he sent a pulse of dark energy that slammed into Sionu, sending him sprawling to the ground. Moloch's laughter echoed through the air, cold and hollow.
"You think you can protect him?" Moloch taunted, his voice cruel. "He'll make a fine hostage—something to draw you all out."
Blitz and Ultimo continued to battle the Revenants, but each blow they struck seemed to only make the mutants stronger. Moloch's presence loomed over them, a constant reminder of the futility of their fight.
"Sionu! We have to get to Sirius!" Blitz cried, her ice powers flaring as she froze one of the Revenants mid-strike, but it did little to slow down their relentless advance.
"I know," Sionu spat through gritted teeth, his body already moving toward the nearest entrance to the Citadel, the fortress where Moloch's followers had holed up. He couldn't afford to wait anymore—Sirius was in danger, and every second spent fighting was another second closer to losing him.
But as they approached the Citadel, a massive explosion tore through the building, sending debris raining down upon them. Moloch's laughter filled the air, mocking their desperation.
"You think you can save him?" Moloch's voice boomed from the ruins of the Citadel. "You can't even save yourselves!"
The tension reached a boiling point. With their backs against the wall and no choice but to fight, Sionu, Blitz, and Ultimo prepared for the final confrontation. The Revenants continued to swarm, relentless and vicious. But it was Moloch who towered above them all—a monstrous figure, unstoppable in his sheer force.
Meanwhile, far from the battle, Drego Harajin moved through the rubble-strewn streets of a neighboring district. The air was still thick with the remnants of battle, but it didn't slow him. His footsteps were purposeful, his eyes scanning for any sign of his brothers, his family.
"Where are you, Lightaze?" he muttered to himself, his voice rough. The weight of the task before him was almost too much to bear. He had been searching for hours, his mind racing with thoughts of Sionu and Blitz, the terrible things happening in Kaloi, and the one brother who had disappeared—Lightaze.
Drego's thoughts kept returning to that fateful moment when Lightaze had been knocked out during the explosion. The force of the blast had torn through the city, sending Drego and his brothers scattering in all directions. It wasn't until hours later that Drego realized Lightaze was nowhere to be found.
As Drego moved through the city, he saw signs of Lightaze's power, traces of light woven into the streets—indicators that Lightaze was somewhere nearby, unleashing his destructive potential. But each trail only seemed to lead him deeper into the heart of enemy territory.
He reached the outskirts of the district, the same district where the supply drop had taken place. His heart sank when he saw the remnants of the battle—burned-out husks of vehicles, shattered glass, and bodies scattered among the ruins.
And then he felt it—a surge of light. His golden eyes flicked to the horizon, narrowing as he saw a figure in the distance.
It was Lightaze.
But this wasn't the brother Drego knew. The Lightaze before him was a feral force of energy, his golden aura flaring uncontrollably. His eyes were wild, his body rippling with raw power as he moved through the district, unleashing bursts of energy with every step.
Drego's heart raced as he stepped forward, calling out. "Lightaze! It's me—Drego!"
But the words fell on deaf ears. Lightaze's eyes didn't register him. The battle rage in his chest was all-consuming, and his body seemed to crackle with power, his light warping the air around him.
"You have to stop!" Drego shouted, desperation creeping into his voice. But Lightaze's only response was a blast of energy that sent Drego flying back.
The battle began.
Drego stood, wiping blood from his lip, his eyes steely with resolve. He wasn't going to let his brother fall like this.
"Lightaze!" Drego shouted again, his voice a deep, resonant growl. "I'm here to bring you back!"
But Lightaze was beyond hearing.
Back in the Citadel, the battle raged on, each side bloodied and bruised. Moloch's monstrous Bahamut form stood at the center of the chaos, his bone wings outstretched, roaring in fury. Sionu, Blitz, and Ultimo, battered and on the edge of collapse, fought on, but it was clear that they were being pushed to their limits.
Blitz was the first to fall, her strength depleted, her ice barriers shattered. Ultimo wasn't far behind, his shadows flickering and dissipating.
And Sionu, despite every ounce of his power, found himself faltering.
Moloch's bone claws crashed down, sending Sionu
sprawling. His golden eyes flashed, and for a moment, the stars in his veins flared—he was ready to unleash everything.
But then, in the distance, a familiar voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Let there be Chaos."