Kenzo: Never Give Up
Chapter: 9
The grand hall of Aetheria Kingdom was alive with laughter and celebration. Music filled the air, and the clinking of glasses echoed through the palace as nobles, knights, and warriors enjoyed the festivities. Yet, amidst the joy, Kenzo felt a strange unease creeping into his mind.
Then, he saw it.
A vision—one that sent a chill down his spine.
A darkened sky. A towering figure. A fleet of ominous ships.
Kenzo clenched his fists as the vision faded, his breath uneven. He stepped forward, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Something is coming to Earth…"
Suddenly, the sky above the kingdom darkened. A futuristic warrior appeared in midair, his presence unlike anything they had ever seen. His cybernetic arm gleamed under the moonlight, and his single, HUD-enhanced eye glowed red. A sleek, high-tech bodysuit clung to his frame, enhancing his every movement. He wielded a nano-blade that shimmered with deadly energy, and on his other hand, a hacking glove pulsed with unseen power. His grav-boots let him hover effortlessly, defying gravity itself.
And behind him…
A massive UFO loomed over the kingdom.
More followed, their metallic hulls blotting out the stars, covering Aetheria in an ominous shadow.
Inside the palace, the music stopped. The laughter died. A suffocating silence took over as fear settled into the hearts of those who witnessed the impossible sight.
Yuto's expression hardened.
"They're coming again…"
Beside him, Kiyomi gripped the hilt of her sword. "What should we do now?"
Ayame took a deep breath, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. "We'll handle this."
The Mighty Hero of Aetheria stepped forward, his presence commanding. "Don't worry. Knights, go!"
The kingdom's elite magic knights raised their hands toward the sky, their auras flaring as they unleashed devastating spells. Explosions of fire, ice, and lightning rocketed toward the UFOs, illuminating the night with dazzling power.
But then…
A blue energy barrier appeared around the Xenon ships. The magic attacks struck the barriers—yet they did nothing. The energy absorbed the spells effortlessly, rendering the kingdom's strongest defenses useless.
A single figure emerged from one of the ships, stepping onto a floating platform. His dark gray armor gleamed under the moonlight, intricate blue circuitry glowing like veins across his body. His piercing, icy eyes scanned the kingdom below with an unreadable expression.
"I am Leon."
Yuto took a step forward, his golden eyes flashing. "We don't care about your name. What do you want?"
Leon smirked. "Don't worry. I am a Xenon, but I have no interest in your Cursed Heroes or your so-called Ring Bearers." He extended a hand toward the city below. "I seek only one thing—destruction. This kingdom will soon be trapped under my barrier."
A deep, electric hum resonated through the air.
Suddenly, a massive blue dome of energy materialized, enclosing the entire kingdom. The once-open sky was now an impenetrable prison.
Yuto narrowed his eyes. "So that means… you're the villain."
Leon chuckled, his voice cold and distant. "Villain? I was once like you… but not anymore." His gaze sharpened. "This time, I'll change everything. The Xenons will attack."
Without warning, a devastating blue laser shot down from the UFOs, obliterating everything in its path. Warriors scrambled to defend themselves, casting barrier spells in a desperate attempt to survive.
Leon watched, unimpressed. "Your magic is based on your Ether Zone… but our technology? It runs on an endless power source—batteries that never deplete."
Kiyomi gritted her teeth. "He's right… What do we do?"
Another laser beam targeted Ayame.
"Princess Ayame, look out!" Kiyomi shouted.
At the last second, Kenzo moved. He dashed in front of Ayame, his blade flashing as he blocked the attack with sheer force. The impact sent him skidding back, but he remained standing.
"Are you okay, Ayame?" Kenzo asked, turning to her.
Ayame's face flushed. "Y-Yes…"
Kenzo exhaled, gripping his sword. "I think we need to go straight to Leon's base. Yuto, are you ready?"
Yuto cracked his knuckles. "No doubt."
"We're coming too!" Ayame and Kiyomi declared.
Kenzo shook his head. "No. You two stay and protect the kingdom."
—Meanwhile, in the Demon Castle…—
A dark presence loomed over an obsidian throne. The Super Demon Lord watched through a swirling portal, his lips curling into a sinister grin.
"This is getting interesting…"
—Back in Zephyros Kingdom—
Elder Kaito, the wisest of the kingdom's elders, looked uneasy. His hands trembled as he placed them on his staff.
"We can't connect with Aetheria…"
Deep within the Demon Castle, the Super Demon Lord chuckled darkly.
"Oh, poor Elder. He doesn't realize… if I cut off Aetheria', its knights can't connect to any kingdom. Hahaha!"
—Inside the UFO—
Kenzo and Yuto materialized in a dark corridor, the walls pulsing with eerie blue lights.
Yuto scanned the area. "Where are we?"
Kenzo tightened his grip on his sword. "I think we're inside the UFO."
Above them, a Xenon soldier noticed their presence and quickly reported into his communicator.
"Sir, two boys have infiltrated the lower deck!"
Leon's voice echoed through the comms. "Good."
—Back on the Ground—
Kiyomi watched in disbelief as the Xenons soared through the air without magic.
"They have no magic, so how are they flying?"
Ayame pointed at their feet. "Look at their boots…"
Rocket-powered thrusters emitted a faint blue glow, keeping them airborne.
Kiyomi narrowed her eyes. "What are those?"
Ayame shook her head. "I don't know…"
Above them, laser beams continued to rain down. The girls raised their hands, reinforcing the barrier over the kingdom as explosions lit up the battlefield.
—Inside the UFO—
Kenzo and Yuto moved cautiously through the dimly lit halls. Then—
Leon stepped forward, his presence radiating authority.
"Welcome, boys." He smirked. "You've come all this way… now prove you're not afraid."
A shadow loomed behind him.
"No fear, huh?"
Yuto's eyes widened in shock. "Oh no… Iron Ball is here."
Leon let out a laugh. "Iron Ball?"
The figure beside him—Voidron—gritted his teeth, a faint blush dusting his cheeks. "Shut up!"
Voidron cracked his knuckles. "I'll fight this lightning idiot."
Leon smirked. "Fine. Then I'll handle the boy in black."
Kenzo and Yuto exchanged glances before nodding.
"Alright then…"
With a burst of energy, the battlefield split—Yuto and Voidron were teleported to another UFO, while Kenzo and Leon remained. Kenzo's ring began to glow, a deep purple light swirling within.
—Back on the Ground—
Two monstrous creatures emerged from the shadows.
Ayame's eyes widened. "Monsters?!"
She drew her sword and charged.
Kiyomi turned to the knights. "Ike! Kaiden sorry Mighty Hero! Can you handle the barrier?"
Ike kaiden nodded. "Of course!"
A monster lunged at Ayame, but before it could strike—
Kiyomi intercepted, her blade flashing.
"I'll handle this."
The battle for Aetheria had begun.