The air in the room was thick with tension, but Loretta Ra was the first to break the silence.
"Commander Ceto, it's been some time, has it not?" His voice was firm, laced with the kind of authority that wasn't meant to intimidate but to ensure he did not appear weak before such a figure.
Agheel Ceto merely chuckled. "Calm yourself, boy. If I wanted a fight, you'd know it."
The commander turned his chair away from Loretta, facing the large oil painting that hung against the far wall. The image depicted a younger Agheel, clad in pure black armor, his divine weapon, Amaware, stamped into the ground beside him, his helmet removed to reveal his weathered face.
The Eternal Dragon of the East, The Embodiment of Strength, Agheel had been called many names, and each one carried the weight of his legend. His reputation was worldwide. The First Song of Ash, the war that shaped the world, made him feared by all, even his own people.
The battle between the powerhouses of the Clan of Ceto and the Order of the Sun was akin to a calamity descending upon the planet. And Agheel was that calamity.
Without turning away from his portrait, Agheel spoke. "Your father… How has he been, boy?"
Loretta's fingers twitched slightly, but he masked it well. "I can't understand his condition. One day, he's barely able to move, and the next, he's brimming with untouchable power… but recently, I don't know. I haven't seen him in maybe a month or two."
Agheel sighed, finally tearing his gaze away from the painting. "The man still hasn't told you? What a father." His voice was thick with something unreadable, pity, perhaps, or disappointment. "You'll understand eventually. Then you'll also understand why he is the Immortal Dragon of the West. He and I are more alike than he'd like to admit."
Loretta pulled out a chair, finally allowing himself to sit in the heavy atmosphere. "The two opposing forces of the world… What makes you two so different from everyone else?"
Agheel's gaze sharpened, intrigued by the question, or perhaps by the fact that Loretta had asked it at all.
"Tell me, boy, are you interested in strength?"
Loretta took a moment to think. His posture relaxed, sinking into the chair slightly. "…I just want to live. If strength comes to me on that path, I won't reject it."
Agheel's smile was wide, bright. "Then, if you were in the place of me or him, you'd be the Eternal Dragon, the exact opposite of your father. Seeking strength, taking it whenever it appears. That strength is his sickness."
Loretta frowned. "So… is he physically sick?"
Though there was a lingering resentment toward his father, concern was still there, buried beneath it all.
Agheel shook his head with a short chuckle. "No, no, no. Far from it. He's as healthy as one can be. He just can't handle it."
The commander leaned forward, elbows resting against the desk as he studied Loretta's expression. "I'm getting old, you see. One day, only the Immortal Dragon will remain. But not for long, of course, because a title can be passed. My essence, my strength… it can all be passed."
Loretta's brow furrowed slightly. "I'm sorry to interrupt, Commander, but what exactly are you getting at?" His words carried no hesitation. It wasn't a question, but a request for Agheel to hurry to the point.
Agheel sighed, leaning back into his chair. "Oh, nothing. Just the ramblings of an old man."
Before Loretta could press him further, Agheel continued. "There's someone I want you to meet. Speaking with him may benefit you. The son of the sea, the second Mikochi, Yagura Mikochi. He's waiting outside this room. Take some time to get to know him."
Loretta nodded and stood, his gaze lingering on Agheel for a moment before he left.
The commander slumped into his chair with a deep breath, muttering softly to himself. "I hope that boy can help him."
As Loretta stepped outside, a figure of similar height stood before him. A curved, bandaged weapon was brandished against his shoulder in an instant.
"What the hell is in those shackles…?"
Though the blade was wrapped, though it merely pressed against him, it felt as if the weapon's aura was tearing through his very being, eating him alive. Sweat gathered at Loretta's brow as he inhaled sharply.
In the Medical Bay
Kaku Roux awoke with a start.
His breath was ragged, his body tense as his eyes darted around the dimly lit room. Slowly, reality settled in.
He was alone.
He lost.
Not only had he failed to defeat Sorin, but he had also lost to Ryai.
A bitter taste filled his mouth as he stared down at his palms, his fingers trembling before he clenched them into fists. His jaw tightened, teeth grinding together in frustration. Am I really this weak?
Then, a sound.
A familiar tune being whistled down the hall, accompanied by slow, deliberate footsteps.
Kaku's body stiffened. His trembling worsened, but now it wasn't from defeat. It was fury. Why the hell is he here?
Elysian Roux appeared at the doorway, his usual cocky smirk plastered across his perfect face. He leaned lazily against the frame, arms crossed.
"My dearest brother… how can you be so weak?"
Kaku's hands clenched even tighter. "Shut your mouth!" he spat.
Elysian feigned fear, chuckling as he pushed off the doorframe and took a step closer. "Why the hostility, brother? You know Father would never approve."
Kaku's body tensed further. His vision blurred with anger. "You're nothing like Father!"
Elysian's smirk only widened. "And you are? Dream on." His gaze sharpened, cold and cutting. "You're weak. A stain on the Roux family."
The words dug deep, not because they were cruel, but because Kaku had whispered them to himself only moments ago. Hearing them from his brother's lips made them all the more painful.
Elysian turned away, whistling that eerie tune once more as he walked down the hall, flickering in and out of visibility until he vanished entirely.
Kaku gritted his teeth so hard he thought they might crack.
The window beside his bed shattered as he launched himself through it, landing on the ground below. His heart pounded, not from fear, but from resolve.
I can't be weak anymore.
The city limits lay behind her as Erenyx stood beneath the vast night sky, her silver locs shimmering under the full moon's glow. Her gaze lingered on the celestial body above, lost in thought.
Finally… I'm going home.
She hoped she had met her grandfather's expectations.
Without another word, she leaped into the air, her hands forming the hand sign for Zeus.
A thunderous clap of lightning split the silence, and in its wake, the massive form of the Thunderbird materialized beneath her. Power radiated from its shimmering form as it let out a piercing shriek, and in the next instant, they soared into the night with breathtaking speed.
Usually, flying like this was liberating, a moment of pure freedom where the world below became nothing but a distant memory. But this time, Erenyx's face was set in a cold, unreadable mask.
Weakness… it's a plague. Once it gets into your mind, it infects everything.
Her hands gripped Zeus's feathers tightly as her thoughts turned dark.
Sorin Leos. A man whose power she could barely comprehend, yet he had overpowered her as if she were nothing.
Agheel Ceto. The strongest man on the planet. That fact alone was insane.
That boy… the one who took out Kaku Roux. She never even got his name, but even his strength was overwhelming.
And then… the invaders.
Their mere presence had frozen her in place, reduced her to nothing more than a helpless spectator. She hadn't fought. She hadn't resisted.
She had pleaded.
Erenyx gritted her teeth. A surge of energy crackled through Zeus as she pushed him faster, the wind whipping violently around her.
Staying weak is not an option.
The Circle was beginning to move. No one knew what they wanted, who they would attack, or when they would strike.
She wasn't looking to get involved. But sitting around, waiting for fate to decide her role? That wasn't an option either.
The eerie wails of the Weeping Forest echoed below as she approached, the ghostly cries of its victims filling the night air. As she descended, the massive trees bent to her will, parting like obedient sentinels to reveal a direct path to her home.
And then, a familiar sound reached her ears, the rhythmic clash of energy against metal.
Her heart leaped.
Blaid… he's working.
A rare, genuine smile spread across her face as she hopped off Zeus, her boots landing softly against the forest floor. But then, a hesitation.
Am I even worthy to face him right now?
She exhaled.
No. Weakness is not an option.
Just as she was about to step forward, a voice resonated in her mind.
"And what use will standing outside like that have?"
Erenyx chuckled. I could never hide from him.
With a smirk, she pushed open the door and stepped inside.
"Blaid!" she called, giving a playful wave.
The man before her, usually composed and unreadable, turned to face her with a genuine smile.
The energy-forged mallet in his hands dissipated into the air, and with slow, fluid movements, almost like a dance, he raised his arms and untied his long black locs, letting them cascade down his back like living serpents.
Then, without hesitation, he stepped forward and pulled her into a firm embrace.
"Don't ever doubt yourself," he said.
This time, he spoke aloud, not through the mind.
Erenyx felt a single tear slip down her cheek. She had promised herself she wouldn't cry anymore. She had made that vow as a child.
Yet here she was.
Blaid pulled away, his eyes calm but resolute. His voice returned to her mind.
"I have something for you."
Erenyx quickly wiped her face, her lips parting in surprise.
Blaid clasped his hands together, energy dripping from his fingertips like liquid light. Slowly, he pulled them apart.
A weapon began to take shape.
The staff was deep obsidian, rough yet uniform, perfect to hold. Intricate lines of glowing energy swirled around its length, pulsing from tip to blade in mesmerizing patterns.
And then, the scythe's blade emerged.
A sleek, glowing white edge, shining with a light reminiscent of the moon itself.
Erenyx stared, breath caught in her throat. The weapon radiated an almost celestial presence, as if it had been forged beneath the very moon she had just flown under.
Blaid lowered his hands, and the scythe hovered in front of him, suspended just slightly above the ground.
Erenyx reached out,
The weapon repelled her.
She gasped, stepping back in confusion.
Blaid chuckled. "Not yet, of course. We still have one more thing to do."
A sly smile crept onto his face. And then,
He vanished.
But Erenyx already knew where he had gone.
Without hesitation, she turned and sprinted toward the training field.
There he was.
Blaid stood with his hands behind his back, waiting.
A thrill shot through Erenyx's veins. She stretched out her arms, and in a flash of light, her twin axes materialized in her grip.
This might be my last battle with them.
She took a deep breath.
I better make it count.
Blaid moved first.
For the first time ever, he took the initiative.
He dashed toward her with terrifying speed, flipping into the air, his leg coming down like a meteor.
Erenyx's instincts screamed.
Blocking was suicide. She dodged, stomping her foot into the ground. A pillar of earth erupted beneath Blaid's falling kick, softening the impact.
She saw her opening.
She rushed in from behind, swinging her axe with all her might,
Blaid didn't even turn.
He leaped over her, landing effortlessly.
A swift motion. A simple movement.
Her balance was gone.
Her legs were swept out from under her.
And before she could react,
A fist was flying toward her chest.
Erenyx threw up an earth dome in desperation. It shattered instantly.
But she was ready.
Her axe swung.
Blaid's eyes flickered toward it,
Disarmed.
The axe left her hand before she even registered what had happened.
Damn it,
But she still had one more card.
Her free hand flashed in the Zeus hand sign.
A massive column of lightning rained down from the sky, striking Blaid square in the back.
The battlefield flashed white.
Erenyx dashed forward,
Blaid lifted his head.
His aura exploded.
Zeus,
Stopped.
The Thunderbird, her summon, her creature of lightning, turned against her.
Blaid had overwritten Zeus's command with sheer fear.
And then,
The moment Zeus touched her, everything went black.
She was still on the battlefield.
Physically.
But in her mind,
She stood before a colossal version of Zeus.
Many miles away, long before Erenyx's return home, another battle was about to begin.
Yagura Mikochi's blade pressed cold against Loretta Ra's shoulder.
The young swordsman didn't flinch. His expression remained unreadable, his voice even.
"Her name is Sol." His golden eyes flickered slightly. "The soul of a goddess is trapped within these shackles."
Yagura tilted his head. "And how did that happen?"
Loretta exhaled softly. "One day, as I watched the sunset, a searing pain ran through my body. Before I could react… the shackles locked onto me." He flexed his fingers, the silver chains faintly glowing under the dim light. "…I've been stuck with her ever since."
Yagura studied him in silence, his expression unreadable. Then, without hesitation, he lowered his sword.
"Do you know how to control it?"
Loretta shook his head. No.
Yagura let out a frustrated sigh. "Dammit, Agheel… got me babysitting again." With an annoyed wave of his hand, he turned. "Follow me."
Loretta obeyed without question.
The Training Grounds
The facility was massive, built for warriors who had long since surpassed human limitations. The stone arena at its center stretched endlessly, its surface scarred with deep gashes and scorch marks, a testament to countless battles fought within its walls.
Yagura strode forward, gripping the bandaged weapon strapped to his back. Without warning, he hurled it into the arena.
The curved blade plunged into the stone like butter.
A pulse of pure malice rippled outward.
Loretta narrowed his eyes. That wasn't just a weapon. It was alive.
Yagura exhaled sharply, cracking his neck as he turned to face him.
"Are you strong?"
Loretta blinked. Then, a small smirk curled at the edge of his lips. "Sometimes."
"Tch." Yagura scoffed. Not good enough.
His fingers unwrapped the bandages around the hilt, revealing the jagged, sinister form of the scimitar beneath. As he muttered under his breath, an invisible force rippled through the air.
"Gate of Opening… Open."
At once, his aura exploded outward, lashing at the ground like the tentacles of a beast. The pressure was immense, heavy enough to crush weaker warriors on the spot.
Yagura brandished the scimitar toward the sky.
"This is The Devil's Fin." His grip tightened.
"He loves to feast on powerful energy."
His eyes gleamed with lethal intent.
"Don't hold back-"
CRACK!
A single slash tore through the air.
A deep cavern split open beneath the weight of his attack.
"Or you'll die."
Loretta didn't hesitate. His own blade ignited in his grasp, flames coiling around the steel like a living entity.
This fight starts now.
With a burst of speed, he launched forward, leaping high into the air. He raised his sword overhead, his strongest opening technique.
Heaven and Earth.
Yagura's expression didn't change.
As Loretta came crashing down, Yagura simply lifted his blade,
SHINK.
In one motion, he sliced straight through Loretta's flaming sword.
The cut was effortless.
Loretta's eyes widened.
Impossible,
Before he could react, Yagura's foot slammed into his stomach.
The impact sent him flying.
His body crashed against the cold stone floor, skidding backward.
Loretta gritted his teeth, forcing himself upright.
"Are you stupid?" Yagura snapped, stepping forward. "Use your cursed power. Unless you want to die."
Loretta clutched his ribs, struggling to breathe.
"I-I can't control it!"
"Tch." Yagura clicked his tongue, his grip on Devil's Fin loosening.
With an effortless flick, he tossed the scimitar into the air.
"That's why I'm here."
Then, he moved.
Loretta braced for an incoming punch, but it never came.
Instead,
A brutal knee slammed into his ribs.
The force lifted him off the ground before he crumpled forward, coughing violently.
Yagura stood over him, his expression cold and unimpressed.
"Pathetic."
A second later, his foot crashed into Loretta's chest, sending him skidding across the floor once more.
A Moment of Choice
Loretta's mind spun.
This wasn't just a fight.
Yagura was forcing him to make a choice.
Let Sol take control.
The thought made his stomach churn.
Was it safe?
Would he still be himself if he gave in?
…Would she consume him?
His breath was ragged. His fingers dug into the dirt. His heart pounded, not from fear,
But from something deeper.
Something waiting to be unleashed.
Commander Agheel wouldn't have left him here unless Yagura could handle it.
Right?
Loretta exhaled.
And then,
The shackles burned.
A volcanic eruption of power burst from his body.
His jet-black locs writhed to life, twisting, flickering like the embers of an eternal flame.
Yagura's grin widened. Finally.
Above them, Devil's Fin descended from the air. Yagura snatched it from the sky, his grip firm and eager.
Loretta looked down at his own weapon. The fire had changed.
His sword was more condensed. More stable.
More his.
Yagura's voice was filled with anticipation.
"This is what I wanted."
He surged forward, swinging Devil's Fin in a wide arc,
And as the blade carved through the air, it made a sound.
Laughter.
A sword that laughed.
Loretta stood firm. His grip tightened. His gaze locked.
With a smooth, elegant motion, he swung his blade upwards to meet Yagura's.
"Heaven…"
In the present time,
Erenyx stood frozen, staring into the burning golden eyes of Zeus. His massive wings beat against the void-like space around them, each movement sending shockwaves through her very soul. The static in the air made her skin prickle, and when he finally spoke, his voice cracked like an unrelenting storm.
"You impudent child. When will you learn your limits?"
His words struck like venom, seeping into her mind, exactly the opposite of what she needed to hear.
Erenyx's fists clenched. She fought to keep her voice steady.
"I need your power… please, Zeus!"
The towering Thunderbird scoffed, his laugh a jagged streak of lightning splitting the darkness.
"You beg for my power while using a false name?" His golden eyes narrowed. "Call me by my name!"
The force of his final words came with a thunderous flap of his wings, the sheer power launching her backward. The void shattered, and reality came rushing back.
Erenyx slammed into the ground, skidding across the field, blood dripping from the corner of her lip.
She wiped it away with the back of her hand, her breath ragged.
I don't need you.
A fierce energy ignited within her, like wildfire consuming dry earth. Her entire arm became engulfed in raging violet Essentia, crackling like a storm desperate to break free.
With a feral roar, she charged.
Her fist crashed into Blaid's guard, the impact shaking the entire battlefield. She screamed, pouring more power into the strike, her energy surging violently. Blaid's stance wavered, just for an instant.
That was all she needed.
Her figure disappeared.
Blaid's eyes flickered,
A devastating blow struck him from behind.
Or so she thought.
His form vanished like a mirage.
Erenyx's heart pounded as she scanned the field. Where-?!
And then, she saw him.
Standing in the center of the battlefield.
Holding the scythe.
Her breath was jagged as she walked toward him. Her body ached, but she kept moving.
Blaid's expression was calm, his smile barely noticeable as she approached.
"Her name is Lalin," he said simply, his tone softer than before. "Treat it well."
Erenyx reached for the scythe's staff,
Pain.
A sudden jolt of electricity shot through her, dropping her to her knees.
And then,
Zeus's voice echoed within her mind.
"Call me by my name!"
She gasped, her hands trembling. Is Zeus not his real name?
She looked up at Blaid, seeking answers.
He only shook his head. "Ask him yourself."
Before she could react, the world shifted again-
Back into the storm.
The void enveloped her once more.
And standing before her, in all his terrifying majesty, was the beast himself.
Lightning roared through his jet-black feathers, coursing through his body like pulsing veins of power. His long tail lashed through the air, each whip of it leaving a thunderous echo.
But the most striking change-
Upon his head sat two jagged, cracked horns. Electricity surged between them, sparking with untamed energy.
Zeus- No.
This was not Zeus.
A monstrous shriek tore through the void, shaking her very core.
And then, his voice.
"Endure the storm… or be devoured by it."
A blinding beam of energy struck Erenyx with unrelenting force. The impact sent her hurtling through the vast expanse of her mindscape, a relentless storm of chaos that seemed determined to swallow her whole.
Lightning rained down from the heavens above, each strike seeking her body like the wrath of a vengeful god. She twisted, contorted, evading the bolts as best as she could, her pulse hammering in her ears. She needed solid ground, she needed somewhere to stand.
Just as the thought crossed her mind, the world around her shuddered. Her body plummeted, falling faster than she could comprehend, until she crashed violently into the earth below. The shock of impact rattled her bones, but she was quick to recover.
Erenyx sprang to her feet, gasping for air as her mind raced. She had to find a way to survive this.
She stomped her foot into the ground. The earth rippled, obeying her command, and a large slope of earth shot up, wrapping around her like a shield. But the shield shattered instantly under the force of another bolt of lightning, leaving nothing but rubble in its wake.
Her eyes widened. Panic flared within her chest. She had no time to think, no time to plan. She needed to keep moving.
She ran, her footfalls echoing in the storm as her mind scattered. She tripped, her legs betraying her as she stumbled. Focus, she told herself. She couldn't afford to be uncoordinated. If she let panic take over, she'd die here.
She took a deep breath, centering herself.
Erenyx knew her strengths. She was gifted, capable of wielding the basic elements without much effort, and even some of the more advanced ones, like lightning. But lightning was wild. Unpredictable. Uncontrollable.
A massive bolt of lightning split the sky, hurling itself toward her like a spear from the gods. Her heart pounded in her chest. This was it.
She didn't hesitate.
With a scream of defiance, Erenyx thrust her hands forward, pulling every ounce of energy from deep within her. Sparks danced along her skin as searing heat enveloped her body, scorching her flesh. But she refused to falter.
With every bit of strength she had, she seized the bolt, grasping it, pulling it into her control. The wild storm raged, but she bent it to her will.
In one explosive motion, she hurled the lightning back into the heavens. The air hummed with the raw force of the strike as it vanished into the sky, dissipating like a broken dream.
But the cost was immense.
Erenyx dropped to her knees, her body shaking. Her breath came in violent gasps, her chest heaving. Nausea overwhelmed her as she doubled over, throwing up violently. She had never expended so much energy before, especially not in the form of lightning.
Her body burned with unrelenting pain, the aftershocks of the power leaving her charred and weakened. She collapsed onto her back, staring up at the sky with ragged breath. Her hands were blackened, the steam rising from them like the remnants of a storm.
But even as the storm raged around her, something swelled within her chest. She let out a victorious scream, not at the storm, not at the heavens, but at Zeus.
She had done it. She had taken control.
It had been there all along, the answer, the power. She couldn't control Zeus, not as he was. But now…
Zeus's form descended upon her, his presence overwhelming. The thunder stopped, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, silence stretched across the battlefield.
"You've… succeeded beyond my expectations, Erenyx."
Erenyx's lips curled into a grin, though exhaustion weighed heavily on her. His words sent a rush of warmth through her veins. For the first time, he acknowledged her, not child, not as girl, but as Erenyx.
"I bestow upon you my name," Zeus continued, his voice now tinged with respect. "Astrapheon. Don't die using my power."
With those words, the real world returned.
Her body dropped to her knees, the weight of the power surge pulling her back into reality. Her breath was heavy, her muscles sore, her body burning from the inside out.
Despite the pain, despite the overwhelming exhaustion, Erenyx's hand gripped Lalin's staff. She forced herself to look up, feeling the weight of the weapon settle in her grasp, her heart still pounding from the storm she had conquered.
She wasn't just surviving anymore.