At Arnik's residence, the group sat in stunned silence, still processing everything that had just happened.
The air was tense, thick with disbelief. The weight of the revelation hung over them like a storm cloud, pressing down on their chests.
Kai finally broke the silence, his voice laced with both sarcasm and unease. "Lionel is the last demon?"
Arnik paced, his brow furrowed. "From the legends? But... that's just a myth, isn't it?"
Kai gestured toward the ruined skyline. "Well, based on what we just saw? Hardly."
Before anyone could say more, Arnik's attention snapped upward. A shadow moved across the sky. His eyes widened as five pods descended rapidly toward them, their metallic hulls gleaming ominously.
"We're going to die," Kai muttered hopelessly.
"Everyone, get close to me!" Arnik shouted, urgency cutting through their panic.
The group huddled around him. Fear pulsed in the air like static electricity.
Arnik thrust his arm into the air, blue energy crackling to life. "Plasma Mutation—Plasma Barrier!"
A shimmering shield expanded around them just in time. The pods slammed into the ground with deafening force, detonating on impact. The blast sent shockwaves through the neighborhood, obliterating Arnik's house and everything around it.
As the dust settled, only rubble remained. Smoke curled into the air, mingling with the acrid scent of burning debris. The plasma barrier flickered a few times before vanishing, leaving behind a faint hum of dissipating energy.
Arnik exhaled sharply, his shoulders slumping as he braced himself against a jagged piece of debris. Sweat trickled down his face. His breaths were unsteady.
"I've... never had to use it like that before," he admitted, his voice strained.
Kai's voice cut through the destruction. "You're a mutant, Arnik?!"
Arnik's expression hardened, though his tone remained even. "That's for later. Right now, we need to move."
Aika clutched her arms tightly, shaking. "Where the hell are we supposed to go? There's no escape!"
"Stay calm!" Rose snapped.
"Stay calm?!" Aika's voice broke. "How do you expect me to stay calm?! My mom... my mom must be in danger!" Tears streamed down her face, her sobs wracking her body.
Without hesitation, Arnik pulled her into a firm hug.
"Please," he whispered, his voice low but steady. "Just leave it to me."
Aika's breath hitched. Her trembling slowed, but the weight of exhaustion crashed over her all at once. Her body slumped forward.
She had fainted.
Arnik turned to Rose, his voice decisive. "Carry her. We need to move. Now."
Rose nodded, hoisting Aika into her arms with ease. "I've got her."
Kai's gaze flicked toward the impact craters, where the red glow of approaching machines pierced through the smoke. Their movements were slow, calculated. Hunting.
"Where are we even going?" Kai asked.
"Anywhere but here," Arnik said, his eyes narrowing. "Stay close and don't stop moving."
They darted into the streets, weaving through smoke and rubble. The air was thick with the stench of ash and blood. The further they went, the clearer the devastation became—bodies littered the ground, charred remains and broken limbs scattered across the ruins.
Somewhere in the distance, a child screamed. The sound was sharp, raw, cutting through the destruction like a dagger.
Rose bit her lip, her grip on Aika tightening.
Arnik kept moving forward, jaw clenched, scanning for any safe point to regroup. "Don't look. Just keep running."
Kai glanced around frantically. "Where are we even going?"
Arnik didn't answer at first. Then, his eyes locked onto a standing structure ahead. "No—this way!"
Kai frowned. "No?"
Arnik pointed quickly. "Hurry! Get behind that building!"
They sprinted, diving behind the charred remains of a structure. They slumped against the cracked walls, catching their breath.
Kai exhaled shakily. "I'm going to be honest... I don't see a way out of this. Lionel controls everything—every city, every inch of Earth. The only way we get out of this is if we leave the planet entirely."
Rose, still trying to steady herself, shook her head. "We just need to find a sh—"
A thunderous crash interrupted her.
The wall beside them exploded inward as a seven-meter demon machine tore through the structure, its glowing red eyes locking onto them.
The force sent rubble flying in all directions. They barely managed to throw themselves out of the way.
"Move!" Arnik shouted, dragging Kai and Rose to their feet.
Arnik squared his stance, energy crackling around his palms. "Stay behind me!"
The robot lunged, swinging its massive sword. Arnik dodged just in time, the blade carving into the ground where he had stood seconds before. Without hesitation, he retaliated, launching forward with a plasma-infused kick to its core.
The impact sent the machine skidding backward.
But it wasn't done.
It charged again, the two exchanging furious blows. Sparks erupted with each impact, the sheer force shattering what little remained of the pavement beneath them.
Arnik gritted his teeth. His muscles screamed from exertion, his breath coming in sharp gasps. He could barely keep up.
Then, an opening.
The machine overextended, its blade crashing down in a wild, powerful arc—but too slow.
Arnik's eyes flashed.
He countered.
Plasma energy surged around his fist as he drove it forward with everything he had.
His punch connected—hard.
The shockwave ripped through the machine's armor, tearing through its core in a blinding explosion of light and debris. The massive demon machine collapsed in a heap of smoldering parts.
Arnik stumbled back, panting, his hands still flickering with residual energy. He wiped sweat from his brow. "It's done."
Kai peeked out from the rubble, eyes wide. "You… actually took that thing down."
Rose exhaled shakily. "Arnik... are you okay?"
Arnik forced himself to stand. "I'll be fine. But we need to keep moving. That wasn't the last of them."
Before they could regroup, a low, mechanical hum filled the air.
From the craters where the pods had landed, six more robots emerged.
Arnik clenched his fists, plasma crackling around him again. Too many.
Then, a sudden voice rang out—strong, commanding.
"Chain Magic—Chain Barrage!"
The ground trembled as glowing golden chains erupted, striking with pinpoint accuracy.
The robots never stood a chance.
Each one collapsed, cores pierced through in an instant.
From the shadows, a figure stepped forward—his armor battle-worn, pulsing faintly with energy. His mask obscured his face, but his presence radiated authority.
"Are you kids alright?" he asked, tone firm but edged with concern.
Arnik froze.
His heart pounded as the figure removed his mask, revealing a face that was older, hardened by war—but familiar.
Arnik's breath caught. His voice came out barely above a whisper.
"...Dad?"
Andrew Handerfall met his gaze, his own expression unreadable.
"No time for questions. You and your friends—get in the damn ship. Now."
The roar of engines thundered above them as a massive evac ship descended.
For now, survival was all that mattered.
The ship's rear hatch opened with a loud hiss, revealing a cavernous interior large enough to hold them all. The urgency in Andrew's voice left no room for hesitation.
"Hurry—get inside!"
But Arnik didn't move.
He clenched his fists, stepping forward. "Andrew… I can't. There's still someone I need to find. He lives in Sector 4, house—"
Andrew cut him off, his gaze sharp. "House 30. The Sentryon family. I know who you're talking about—I'm going there now. You get in the damn ship so I can go!"
The urgency in his father's voice jolted Arnik into action. He swallowed hard, hesitating only for a second before turning and rushing into the ship. The others followed without question, their breaths heavy with exhaustion and fear.
The hatch sealed shut behind them with a metallic clang.
Engines flared to life, the ship rising sharply as its thrusters roared against the chaos below. From the observation window, Arnik looked out one last time.
The city was burning.
Flames devoured entire buildings. Smoke choked the sky. The streets were littered with bodies—civilians, soldiers, even children—all left behind in the wake of Lionel's attack.
Arnik clenched his jaw, his fists trembling at his sides.
He should have been stronger.
He should have done more.
Somewhere down there, Andrew's smaller craft streaked across the sky, weaving between collapsing structures as it headed toward its destination.
Andrew's hands were steady on the controls, his face grim. Every second counted.
"Hold on, kid," he muttered under his breath. "I'm coming."
Back on the evac ship, silence filled the cabin. The reality of what had happened—what they had lost—weighed down on them like an anchor.
Aika was still unconscious, resting in Rose's lap. Rose, normally composed, sat stiffly, her ears twitching slightly, her tail motionless—a sign of how shaken she truly was.
Kai sat apart from them, staring blankly at the floor, his hand gripping his shirt tightly over his heart. He wasn't crying. He wasn't even speaking.
Arnik hated it.
He hated the silence.
He hated the loss.
And most of all—he hated the feeling of helplessness that clawed at his chest.
He closed his eyes and took a slow breath.
This wasn't over.