~ Terestia Outskirts, Vakora ~
Aiko and Johan circle the buried device like predators, each step heavy with tension. Johan's eyes lock onto Aiko, dark and unyielding. "How did you get in here? You have no idea how long I've been preparing for this," he says.Aiko smirks, unfazed. "And you have no idea how much I'm going to enjoy tearing it all down.""Aiko," Johan's voice sharpens, frustration evident, "you're the second smartest person I know. How can you not see that what you're doing is wrong?""Right back at you," she shoots back without hesitation."Take this seriously!" His voice rises, the intensity unmistakable."I've never been more serious, Johan.""You'll regret siding against me.""Care to bet on that?" Aiko snaps, extending her arm and summoning a mana blast aimed at the device. But before she can release it, Johan is suddenly in front of her, gripping her wrist with inhuman speed."How the hell is he so fast?" The thought races through Aiko's mind as Johan hurls her across the field. She crashes through trees and shatters boulders before skidding across the ground. Dazed, but not defeated, she forces herself up, just in time to see Johan charging at her again.Aiko ducks and sweeps his legs, sending him tumbling. She follows up with a powerful surge of condensed mana, unleashing a guttural scream as Johan is driven deep into the earth. "Hraaaaagh!"With him momentarily subdued, Aiko dashes to the gate looming overhead. Her mind races. "I'm not used to issuing commands yet, but I think I can handle myself here." A strange energy washes over her, pulling her from her thoughts.She turns, her breath catching in her throat as she sees it—a massive pillar of light erupting from the crater where Johan had been buried. The ground shakes as debris is flung into the air, mana spiralling wildly, choking the atmosphere with raw power."He's not going to let me near that device... I'll have to take him out first." She wipes the sweat from her brow, shifting into a fighting stance as Johan slowly rises from the debris, eyes blazing with power. "If I even can..."Suddenly, a blinding ball of light rockets toward the device, stopping midair to reveal Johan, poised to unleash a command.Before Johan can react, Aiko darts forward, grabbing him by the arms and yanking him away from the device now slowly floating into the sky. "Why are you still trying to save this thing? Haven't you seen the damage it's caused?!""We're going to combine its technology with Katai's," Johan replies. "To "What?" Aiko's disbelief is short-lived as Johan slams his knee into hers, followed by a brutal punch to her gut. She stumbles back, collapsing to one knee, gasping for air.Johan continues, unphased. "This device... it was always doomed to fail. I knew that from the start. But that failure gave me hope—hope that I could upgrade it using the same tech Katai's been working with. Kian thinks this is just another experiment, something we can wipe away when we're done, but I see it differently. This is an opportunity."He steps closer, towering over her. "Katai's been hiding from Kian for years, terrified of becoming a slave to his ambition. I used that fear and pushed Kian's drive even further so that Katai couldn't ignore us anymore. He was ready to abandon his mission to resurrect his wife, but I made sure that didn't happen."Aiko struggles to stand, clutching her stomach. "What are you saying? You... manipulated him?"Johan's smirk widens, his eyes gleaming with dark satisfaction. "I dragged Katai out of hiding and exposed his precious secret project. Now that Kian's in on it, my Plan B is inevitable. Once I'm through with you, I'll send this device back to the real world... and you'll lead me straight to where you're hiding."Aiko's breath hitches as Johan's mana flares violently around him, crackling with volatile energy. His voice drops, cold and menacing. "Brace yourself."Aiko clenches her fists, her body shaking—not with fear, but with the weight of what's to come. "I have to stop him... no matter what."Meanwhile, back in the real world, Katai narrowly avoids a barrage of shots from the guards chasing him on hoverboards. He weaves through buildings, nearly losing his balance twice. "These guys are relentless!" he mutters, swerving to avoid another guard closing in.He takes a quick glance behind then widen his eyes as the realization strikes. "Wait... they're not aiming at me!" He immediately lifts his foot just in time to dodge a bullet whizzing past his hoverboard. "They're trying to bring me down!"Accelerating, Katai soars higher into the sky, dodging drones and weaving through narrow obstacles. Once he's high enough, he scans the city below, his eyes darting in every direction. "I need a landing spot... fast."Suddenly, his holo-phone screen crackles to life in front of him. "Katai!"He jolts slightly, putting his hand on the screen and guiding it to his ear. "Y-Yeah? What is it, Keiko?""I need you to focus, this is important.""Now's not really the best time!""I know! But listen—there are hovercopters in the area broadcasting the chase.""Wait, what?! Are they seriously about to stream my death live on TV?""No... it's worse. I have a plan."Katai's expression hardens. "A plan?! What the hell do you mean—"Back in Vakora, Johan and Aiko's clashes send shockwaves ripping through Terestia's plains, even causing mountains to crumble under their might. Aiko manages to land a brutal gut punch on Johan, sending him flying across the battlefield. Retracting her fist, she grins. "I'm getting the hang of this! I can win!"But her smile fades as she glances up at the massive rift in the sky, where the device still floats ominously. "It's still levitating... I can't waste any more time." Her focus sharpens as Johan speeds toward her, fist pulled back. He lets out a battle cry as he swings, but Aiko sidesteps and drives her knee into his stomach, sending him rocketing upwards, his body ragdolling through the air."Using mana is as simple as breathing!" Aiko realises. With a surge of power, she launches herself into the sky, moving faster than before. Johan's eyes widen as she twists midair, building momentum for a devastating dropkick. The impact sends him crashing to the ground, shaking the very earth beneath them.Aiko lands gracefully, her eyes locked on Johan as he struggles to get up. But before she can make her next move, pillars of stone erupt from the terrain around Johan, spiralling toward her like writhing tendrils."It's pointless!" Aiko shouts, effortlessly dodging the pillars and accelerating past them. She reaches Johan just as he tries to launch another attack, grabbing his arm mid-motion and halting him. "It's over. I have the upper hand—""Let go!" Johan growls.Aiko gives him a pitying look. "Give up, please.""Never!" Johan snarls. "The longer you keep me here, the more time you're giving my team to pull up the device on the other side.""I know," Aiko replies calmly.Johan's face twists in confusion. "Then why are you so calm?!"Aiko smirks. "Because I just thought of a great idea." Slowly, she raises her arm and points toward the floating device near the gate in the sky."What—what are you doing?!" Johan's voice quivers with desperation."Doing my part. Sit still and watch.""You're not seriously going to destroy it while the gate's still open, are you?!""...Watch me.""Be reasonable! The explosion will affect both this world and ours! You were planning to destroy it and escape before it hit you, right?""I was," Aiko says, her gaze steely. "But you're more of a problem than I anticipated. If I take my eyes off you for even a second, who knows what you'll do."Johan's shoulders slump, his fight fading. "...Aiko.""Yeah?""Let's stop fighting. I want you to survive this.""What?!" Aiko's expression flickers with surprise."I said—" Johan starts, but his words falter as he looks at Aiko and freezes. Tears stream down her face, her voice trembling with fury and heartbreak. "Shut your mouth!" she yells, her voice cracking. "You've gone too far!"Johan remains silent, his expression shifting from defiance to something unreadable. Aiko's breath hitches, her anger overwhelming. "Do you think you're the only one who wants to stop this?! The only one who wants to survive?! Johan, you've destroyed everything—our friendship, our trust—and now you want to stop?!"Johan still doesn't respond, his gaze lowering in defeat."You made your choice, and we made ours." Aiko's voice softens, but her conviction doesn't waver. "I really am sorry."With that, she releases his arm, her hand gently pressing against his chest. Johan glances down, his eyes widening as light begins to glow beneath her palm. "Aiko, wait—please think about this! We can still work together! You and Katai can help us. Forget about the world for a second... I just want the three of us to be together again."Aiko's expression hardens. "If you really meant that, none of this would've started in the first place."Johan's shoulders slump, and his arms fall to his sides. He no longer tries to argue, just stares blankly at her."Goodbye, Johan." Aiko's voice is quiet but firm.In an instant, Johan's body flickers and glows brighter and brighter until he vanishes completely. Aiko stands there, breathing heavily, her hand trembling as she exhales a long, exhausted sigh. She turns her gaze back toward the device in the distance.Suddenly, a holographic screen flickers to life beside her displaying Keiko's face appearing in a panic. "Aiko! Why did Johan just warp out of Vakora?!""I warped him out," Aiko replies calmly. "Can you close the gate?""Not yet—the device is still blocking it, and the guys outside are trying to pull it up right now! You have to hurry!"Aiko's eyes narrow in determination. "...That's perfect.""Perfect?" Keiko's confusion is palpable."I've got a plan." With that, Aiko stands tall and ends the transmission, her mind set on what comes next.Back in the real world, Katai accepts an incoming call from Aiko, still flying through the air, narrowly evading the guards chasing him. "Aiko? What's happening in there?""I sent Johan back, and I'm about to destroy the device," Aiko replies, her voice tense. "But there's a problem... I can't close the gate."Katai's eyes widen. "Wait, he opened the gate?""Yeah, the device is stuck between our world and Vakora.""Hold on—don't destroy it yet!" Katai shouts. "That device has an amped genesis shard inside. It's emitting a LOT of energy. If it gets caught in an explosion—""I don't have a choice right now!" Aiko interrupts, her frustration rising."Just wait! Let it pass through the gate first, then you can destroy it.""But that means—""It's fine!" Katai reassures her, speeding up to dodge another shot. "We can always do this again, but we can't risk that explosion now!""Only we have this chance, Katai." Aiko's voice trembles as she releases a ball of mana from her arm, hurling it into the device hovering near the gate. The impact triggers a massive explosion that momentarily freezes before collapsing inward, forming a black hole. It begins to pull everything around it into its dark, swirling void. "I'm sorry," she whispers, and the call cuts off.Katai stares at his holo-screen in disbelief, his mind spiralling. The weight of her words hits him like a wave, and a storm of emotions floods through him. Distracted, he barely notices the guards taking advantage of his vulnerable state. With precise shots, they strike his hoverboard, sending him careening out of control.At the safehouse, Keiko's screens suddenly flash white, then blink off entirely. Her heart skips a beat as she frantically attempts to reboot the system, fingers flying over the keyboard. But no matter how many windows she opens, she's met with a chilling message: Connection to 'Vakora' couldn't be established. Panic tightens her chest. She pushes away from her desk, her breath coming in shallow bursts. But before her fear overtakes her, she forces herself to regain composure. "I-I can still find her..." Keiko mutters, pulling up an empty preview screen, and summoning a stationary female avatar. Meanwhile, back in Tokyo, Katai snaps out of his anguish, shaking himself back to reality. "No, this isn't over! Aiko's not dead. And neither am I!" But as he gathers his resolve, his hoverboard lurches violently. He glances up, eyes widening in shock as a towering pillar of dark purple energy—almost identical to the ominous hues of Genesis—shoots up from the Yuuhi building, piercing the clouds like a beacon of impending doom. Mesmerized by the sight, he fails to notice the guard aiming.Crack!Another shot slams into his hoverboard, forcing it downward. Katai struggles to stay balanced as the board wobbles and lowers him, bit by bit, toward the ground. Then, Tokyo Bridge looms ahead, offering an unintended landing spot. "No time to panic," he mutters. Letting himself fall, he skids across the bridge, barely keeping his footing until his hoverboard finally sputters out and his feet slip off.The guards trailing him charge onto the bridge, surrounding him in seconds. One of them raises his gun and shouts, "Stop! Or we'll shoot!"Katai stops dead in his tracks, raising his hands as he glares at the guard. "What are you waiting for?" he demands, his voice thick with defiance. A hover car swiftly pulls up alongside him. The vehicle halts, and Kian steps out, his expression grim but resolute. "Don't shoot!" he orders the guards, raising an arm. They lower their weapons but remain on edge, standing behind him in a tight formation. Kian's gaze locks on Katai. "I need to speak with him." His voice is calm but urgent. He approaches slowly, his steps heavy. "Katai... it's been a long night.""You don't say," Katai snaps.Kian sighs, glancing at the dark pillar of Genesis energy lighting up the sky in the distance. "This—what's happening right now—we can still fix this if we work together. Forget about everything else. Akahana, the past—all of it. Let's save the world, son." He steps forward, extending his hand toward Katai, his tone softening as he speaks.Katai doesn't hesitate. He smacks Kian's hand away, the sharp rejection sending Kian stumbling back slightly. The look in Katai's eyes is one of pure anger, but beneath it, there's deep hurt. "You think this is what it takes to make you forget about Mom? 'Save the world?' Don't insult me." His voice cracks slightly. "You didn't care what happened to the world when it suited you. As long as your plans stayed intact, nothing else mattered. And now, after everything, you think you can swoop in and be the hero?"Kian stands frozen, the force of Katai's words hitting him like a physical blow. Katai's voice lowers, but his anger remains palpable. "You threw away your sanity, the world, and even me. All for your boundless ambition." His words hang in the air like a cold, final judgment.For the briefest moment, Kian's face softens. It's a flicker of the father he once was. But Katai doesn't waver. "You've done enough. Now it's my turn." He takes a step back, then turns his back on his father, heading toward the edge of the bridge. The guards tense, raising their weapons again. The hum of their energy rifles fills the air."Wait..." Kian pleads, his voice trembling, showing the last shred of humanity he can muster. "Where are you going?""Away from you." Katai's voice is calm and resolute. A gust of wind ruffles his hair as he looks up at the night sky. The city below is eerily silent, evacuated in the chaos that's erupted. As he gazes at the stars, a strange sense of peace washes over him. In the quiet of the moment, Katai reflects, "Even with the world falling apart... and everything I've been through... this view—it's beautiful."One of the guards turns to Kian, their voice tense. "Sir, do we shoot him?""Wait..." Kian's eyes lock on Katai. "Just watch him.""But sir, he's about to jump! Don't you want to save your son?"Kian's gaze doesn't waver. "Just... wait for his move.""Sir...?""Katai!" Kian finally shouts, desperation creeping into his voice. "What do you think you're doing?"Katai barely glances back. "Since when did you care?"Kian falters, his voice breaking. "I've always cared. Life without Akahana has been... unbearable. But losing you?" His voice cracks, raw with emotion. "I'd rather die than lose another person I love."Katai scoffs, though there's a flicker of something in his eyes. "Why couldn't you realize this earlier? When I needed you the most?"Kian lowers his head, staring at his open palms. "I..." The weight of regret pulls his arms down. "I'm sorry." His voice is barely above a whisper.Katai's holo-phone buzzes, a message from Keiko flashing on the screen: 'It's ready, jump in now. I sent someone to help you search.' Katai reads it silently and then nods. He glances back at his father one last time. "I'll be back soon. And when I come back, we'll talk more."Without waiting for a response, Katai braces himself, spreading his legs slightly as he watches the shimmering gate form below. His brow furrows—something about the gate looks... off like it's unstable. He shakes his head, pushing aside the unsettling feeling. "They're not going to shoot me," he thinks to himself. "But if I stall, they'll figure out I can see something."He takes a deep breath, flexing his hands to shake off the tension. "I'm diving in to find Aiko, then we'll make a new plan... This might take a few days." With one final grunt of effort, Katai leaps forward, launching himself into the unknown.Kian rushes to the edge, heart pounding. "Katai!" he shouts, but Katai is already too far, disappearing into the abyss below.As Katai nears the gate, an overwhelming sense of dread creeps into his chest. He's been to Vakora before, but something about this gate feels different—more dangerous. Panic grips him as a wave of regret crashes down. Before he can gather his thoughts or steel his nerves, the gate swallows him whole. Katai's body goes limp, consciousness fading as he tumbles into the darkness.