With multiple lightning bolts descending from the sky to strike Dubh, he rises, his potent aura of pixels surging with vigor. The crowd flees and hides. Buildings begin to crumble under the ominous currents of power radiating from the CEO. Concrete fractures, howling gusts of wind tear through the streets, and thunder reverberates in the chest of every onlooker. The gray clouds march at the whim of the tempestuous winds.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it feels like the end of the world.
"I have to admit, you're giving me more trouble than you should," Dubh says, confident in his victory. "But you will sow the seeds of the future. Your deaths will mark the beginning—yes! The beginning of my new world!"
Aligned and ready for war, Geal, Mathias, and Bredgy brace their weapons in unison.
They are far from certain of victory. In fact, the odds are stacked against them. But they are determined to protect the capital, even if it's the last thing they do. The final battle has begun!
Dubh charges at Geal at full speed, his fist like a spear. She blocks with her shield, taking the blow head-on. Bredgy and Mathias join the fray with their scythe and whip. The villain unleashes rapid, deadly punches, his superhuman strength evident as even a grazing hit sends the trio sprawling.
Though Geal's shield withstands the impact, the force of rolling across the ground leaves her with fresh wounds.
"Give me your Crystal, Geal! Do it, and maybe I'll let you live," Dubh demands, towering over her.
"Never!" Geal shouts, still on the ground.
Struggling, she forces herself to her feet, but Dubh grabs her arm and hurls her against a wall. The impact knocks the wind out of her, leaving her barely conscious.
Bredgy leaps at her father, aiming to pierce him with her weapon's blade, but his force field halts her strike. Dubh retaliates with a punch to her stomach, sending her crashing down.
"Idiots," Dubh scoffs. "I've already told you—you can't hurt me. If the Chosen One couldn't defeat me, what makes you think you can?"
"Shut up!" Mathias yells.
His whip lashes out again and again, striking Dubh's electromagnetic shield. Fierce and relentless, his strikes make no dent.
"How can you so easily harm your own daughter? You're nothing but a disgrace of a man!" Mathias spits, his fury genuine.
Within seconds, Dubh propels himself into the air with a burst of electricity, landing a devastating kick to Mathias's chest that sends him sprawling. Mockingly, the CEO plants his foot on Mathias's face, grinding it against the ground.
"I won't let some meddling brat tell me how to treat Bredgy. She's my property!" Dubh snarls, turning his head dismissively. "You'll be the first to die."
With a deranged glint in his eye, Dubh presses down, ready to crush Mathias's skull. But Bredgy regains her footing and attacks his force field with her scythe, just as Mathias had. Though she doesn't break it, she distracts her father.
"How much more do you want to take from me to be happy, Dad?!" Bredgy cries, her voice trembling.
Diverted, Dubh grabs his daughter by the neck, hoisting her above his head. Her feet kick wildly, but his grip is unyielding.
"Ungrateful brat! I gave you a reason to live. I found you a place in this world despite how you are," Dubh snarls, enraged. "I gave you everything you needed. Friends? What do you need those for when you have a father with the power to rule the world? You know what? I don't need you anymore."
With that, Dubh hurls his daughter into the rubble of a collapsed building.
The impact leaves her bleeding from her nose and mouth. It's a horrifying sight: all three heroes lie on the ground, battered and bleeding, while Dubh stands tall, wielding lightning with ease.
Yet, despite their injuries, each of them fights to rise. Their legs shake, their wounds throb, but they force themselves back onto their feet, ready to face him once more.
Dubh narrows his eyes, unable to comprehend why they refuse to surrender.
"Why won't you just die?" he asks, skeptical of what he sees.
"B-Because I… have a dream I want to fulfill," Geal whispers, raising her shield once more.
Dubh laughs derisively and shakes his head.
"There you go again," he mocks. "Let me remind you of something..."
At those words, something terrible happens.
Scattered hatches across the avenue open, and out rise an array of missile launchers, machine guns, cannons, and other heavy artillery.
Swarms of drones fill the sky, buzzing like giant mosquitoes. Each one bears the insignia: "R.M."
"In a world ruled by those with the most resources and money, dreams have no place," Dubh declares. "Dreams exist for those who lack what I have. I built an empire long before you were even born. Even without the Chosen One's power, I remain the strongest man in the nation. Curie Industries is everywhere! I am the one who decides what is permissible in this world. And from this day forward, I decree that your dreams and hopes… will cease to exist."
Dubh, the owner of Curie Industries, commands an arsenal of weaponry disguised as the nation's defense system. But protecting the Land of the Gem has never been his priority. He wants everything for himself.
Trapped, the trio cannot move.
One wrong step, and the weapons will obliterate them. Dubh has them in the palm of his hand. Injured and desperate, blood dripping from her lip, her legs twisted, Geal lashes out in a frenzy, throwing anything she can from her bag.
"Ants, spiders, cockroaches…" Geal mutters.
The jars shatter against Dubh's force field. He watches her over his shoulder, indifferent.
Slowly, he strides toward Geal, exuding an air of invincibility—and with good reason.
"There's no reasoning with you, is there?" Dubh says coldly.
"I won't let… you dismiss dreams like that," Geal murmurs, barely able to lift an eyelid.
With chilling resolve, Dubh responds by delivering a brutal punch to her face, sending her tumbling. Blood spills from her mouth, staining the ground.
"I've told you, Geal. Your Crystal is wasted in your hands. It's the only tool that can create the world I desire," Dubh says, his voice laced with disdain.
He reflects briefly.
"When I first saw your Crystal, I realized it was what I'd been searching for my entire life. It holds no power, no way to make it stronger. A Crystal without strength—a mere inert piece of jewelry," he states. "I tried to take it when we first met, but with the Chosen One protecting you, I couldn't seize it by force."
Mad with ambition, Dubh continues his assault.
He kicks Geal repeatedly, leaving her too wounded to respond. Barely alive, she can only endure the pain. Her friends attempt to intervene, but the cannons immediately target them, pinning them in place.
"Now it's just you and me!" Dubh proclaims.
Knowing he's already won, Dubh grabs Geal by her shirt, lifting her lifeless form.
"The peculiar nature of your Crystal is the answer. By exploiting its properties, I can develop technology to strip all other Crystals of their power, just like yours," he declares. "No more Chosen Ones, warriors, trials, or any of that nonsense. I'll establish a new regime and become the ultimate ruler of the Land of the Gem!"
Finally, Dubh tosses Geal to the ground, leaving her broken and defeated.
"And when that happens, the whole world will understand how useless dreams really are. No one else will suffer what I suffered because of my father."
To finish humiliating her, Dubh places his foot on Geal's chest as she struggles to breathe. The CEO extends his hand toward her.
"Give it to me, and it's over," he says coldly.
Now that their friend has been defeated, Bredgy and Mathias watch helplessly, feeling utterly crushed—both physically and emotionally.
With empty eyes, resignation on her face, and her mind completely blank, Geal makes a decision.
"I understand. If that's what you want, then..." she murmurs.
Her eyes lose their light, her face turns expressionless. From afar, her friends watch in disbelief, unable to fathom Geal's intent. Until she raises her Crystal in her hand. She looks at it, as if saying goodbye, and finally decides to hand it over to Dubh.
"Take it..." Geal says weakly.
Everyone is shocked, even Dubh appears somewhat surprised. Bredgy and Mathias stare, unable to believe it. The ever-optimistic, energetic Geal… has simply given up.
"I'm sorry… guys," Geal whispers, tears streaming down her face.
She continues to extend her trembling hand, her arm shaking from sadness and frustration. Both heroes and the villain fall silent.
"You win, Dubh. You're right... fighting for dreams is pointless," Geal murmurs. "I'll give you my Crystal, but... please, don't hurt my friends anymore."
It's unbelievable—what seemed impossible has happened. Poor Geal has finally decided to abandon her dreams.
"What are you doing, Geal?" Bredgy exclaims.
"Don't do it..." Mathias adds.
They say that, but deep down, they know there's nothing they can do. Silence fills the air, broken only by Geal's quiet sobs as she laments inwardly.
"You've made the right choice, Geal," Dubh says. "Thanks to you, a much fairer and kinder world will be born by my hand. I'm glad you've finally understood."
With these words, Dubh knows he's won. He lifts his foot off Geal's chest as a gesture of respect. Now that she's been defeated, he no longer sees her as a threat. He deactivates his powers, and with that, all the cannons lower, and the drones deactivate. He takes his time savoring his victory before finishing what he started.
"Now your Crystal is mine..."
Dubh leans down to take the Crystal.
But then...
SMACK! Geal jabs her fingers deep into Dubh's eyes, as though trying to gouge them out. The CEO immediately recoils in pain, clutching his face, rubbing his eyes, kicking, and stumbling erratically.
"You fell for it, you fool!" Geal shouts, still holding her Crystal.
Dubh uncovers his face; his eyes are bloodshot, veins bulging—not from pain but pure rage. Bredgy and Mathias finally realize: it was all a trap! Geal bursts into laughter, watching the "invincible villain" squirm before her.
"It's true! It was so obvious, and we didn't see it...!" Mathias exclaims as clarity dawns on him.
"She never had any powers... but that never stopped her from beating people much stronger than her. The answer was right in front of us this whole time, and we missed it," Bredgy says. "Geal's ultimate strategy is..."
Bredgy and Mathias exchange a look.
"CHEATING!"
Dubh tries to reactivate his powers, but the pain overwhelms him. His nervous system isn't responding properly, and his implant fails. He begins to rage incoherently.
"No! This isn't happening! You're stupid; I'm smart! There's no way I can lose... You don't even know how to use your brain! You're stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid...!"
Desperate, the CEO attempts to hurl lightning at the group, but nothing happens. He tries once, twice, but no sparks come from his hands. He looks ridiculous, flailing as if performing awkward kung-fu moves. A voice from his implant chimes in:
"Battery low. Please recharge."
Dubh's eyes nearly pop out of his head, and snot dribbles from his nose upon hearing this.
"My powers... they're gone!" he wails.
Panicking, he hyperventilates and falls back, crawling crab-like in retreat. The true coward behind the facade has finally been revealed. Trembling, he points a shaky finger at Geal, his lips quivering with terror.
"No-! No-! No-! No-! No-! That's cheating; I can't fight without my powers! This is all that brat Geal's fault!" he stammers before breaking into sobs like a scared little child. "You... Geal... you cheated!"
The group's spirits are rejuvenated—Dubh's defenses have been obliterated! Geal stands confidently before him, cracking her knuckles.
"Cheating? Ha! Of course!" Geal grins.
She points proudly at herself as she marches toward her foe with deliberate, heavy steps. Dubh crawls backward, trembling like a newborn fawn.
"I told you already, my name is Geal, the woman who will become the next Chosen One! And I..." she declares, her voice brimming with mischief.
Geal points to herself with a devilish smile.
"…have NEVER won a fight cleanly!"
"Stay away! Don't come any closer!" Dubh squeaks, his voice high-pitched.
Out of options, Dubh scrambles to his feet and tries to run, crying out for his mother. But there's no way they're letting him get away that easily, right? Geal, Bredgy, and Mathias grab Geal's dusty old backpack together. Let the games begin!
"Itchy powder!" Geal yells.
She tosses a handful, and Dubh starts scratching himself furiously.
"It burns! It burns!"
Next, Mathias throws glass jars filled with various contents. They shatter over Dubh's head, releasing a swarm of insects onto him.
"Jar of ants, cockroaches, and spiders!*" Mathias shouts.
With hundreds of legs crawling all over his skin, Dubh dances wildly in an attempt to shake them off. He looks like he's performing on stage.
"Ahhh! They're in my pants! Get them out!"
"How about a handshake?" Bredgy smirks.
She grabs her father's hand and delivers an electric shock.
"ZAAAAP!"
"And now... the grand finale!" Geal announces, licking her lips.
Our heroine prepares her ultimate attack—the one that finishes every enemy! Channeling indescribable power, Geal delivers a devastating kick to Dubh's crotch, making his soul practically leave his body. Three distant bells chime in the background.
"Those... aren't mechanical..." Dubh whimpers, his eyes crossing as his hands clutch his privates.
To top it all off, Geal breaks a stink bomb in Dubh's face. The effect is so potent it knocks him unconscious.
"Don't mess with my friends again," Geal states firmly.
The knockout is absolute—victory belongs to our heroes! The once-invincible Dubh has been defeated. Bredgy and Mathias rush to Geal, who collapses to her knees, utterly exhausted but happy to have won.
The storm ceases, the clouds part, and the sun reclaims its place in the sky, bathing the capital once again in its golden rays. Everything is finally okay…
Timidly, the citizens who had been hiding emerge from their shelters to uncover the details of what happened. A girl with a White Crystal defeated a man wielding all the technological power of the nation—and she did it with a kick to the #$%@. They are witnessing something extraordinary.
"That young girl… defeated Dubh?"
The people murmur as they gradually gather around their savior.
"Geal, you did it… you beat my dad. After so many years of suffering because of him," says Bredgy, tears streaming down her face—this time, tears of joy. "At last… I'm free."
"I promised I would," Geal replies, a sweet smile lighting up her face. "After all, we're best friends, aren't we?"
The two girls share a tender look. Now that Bredgy's father has been defeated, their friendship can finally bloom without any conditions. The days ahead promise to be filled with happiness.
"No more Royal Mechanic, no more threats—the capital is safe. All thanks to you, Geal," adds Mathias, gazing at the horizon.
"Young Geal..."
Another voice interrupts. It's Magnius, walking toward them. His cape is tattered, and his face is dust-covered, but he retains his usual composure. The crowd parts to make way for him. No one would have imagined the Chosen One looking as worn as he does now.
"Oh! Sir Magnius, are you alright? For a moment, I feared that..." Geal says, her voice filled with concern.
Without a word, Magnius kneels before the group, an action that shocks everyone present. The crowd is stunned—*the Chosen One kneeling before a mere girl with a White Crystal?*
No words escape our heroine's lips—or anyone else's, for that matter.
"Shame courses through every fiber of my being. For the first time in eight years, I was unable to protect the Land of the Ge,," Magnius says, bowing deeply, unbothered by the dirt staining his robes. "But you... you managed to defeat the worst villain this kingdom has ever known. You are the strongest warriors I have ever met. Your bravery deserves my utmost recognition!"
The rays of the setting sun paint Magnius's crimson cape an even deeper shade of red as he prostrates himself on the ground, his head lowered completely.
"Oh, Sir Magnius! There's no need for that…" Geal stammers, ever humble.
"Thank you for protecting the capital, future Chosen One," Magnius says with a smile as he bows lower.
Geal can hardly contain herself. She gasps, her cheeks flushing with excitement. Being called future Chosen One is the greatest honor she could ever receive—especially coming from Magnius himself.
"The Chosen One is bowing to children!" someone exclaims from the crowd. "This will go down in history!"
Recognizing Geal as their hero, the citizens lift her into the air, tossing her upward in celebration, shouting and chanting her name. Geal can hardly believe it.
When they finally set her down, Bredgy wraps her friends in a warm hug, squeezing them as tightly as she can. Both Geal and Mathias return the embrace—a gesture filled with genuine affection.
"This whole adventure has been incredible. Thank you for changing my life! Thank you for being my friends!" Bredgy says, her voice full of emotion.
"Let's keep traveling together, Bredgy," Geal replies.
As if on cue, the Clock Tower begins to chime, announcing the start of a new hour. But the tolling bells also herald the beginning of a new era—one free from the grasp of greed. In this symbolic moment, everyone looks up at the grand clock.
And so, thanks to the ingenuity and determination of three young dreamers, the capital has been saved. Bredgy is finally free from her father's control, and the threat of Royal Mechanic is no more.
The Land of the Gem can now breathe the fresh air of peace.
But this story is far from over…