The war room was filled with a suffocating silence, the air thick with exhaustion and unspoken grief. The dim overhead lights cast long shadows across the table where Angel Squad sat, their bodies battered, their wounds hastily wrapped. The weight of the battle still clung to them, pressing into their bones.
Arnik flexed his fingers, wincing as the bandages around his forearms stretched. Deep cuts lined his arms, a reminder of how close the enemy had come. Rose sat slightly hunched, her ribs aching with every breath. Aika's hands trembled faintly as she held a cup of water, her magic drained nearly to nothing. Kai's burned shoulder was stiff, his uniform still singed from the last wave of attacks.
And Markus—he hadn't spoken since they returned.
He sat at the far end of the table, his posture rigid, his head slightly lowered. His coat was torn, streaked with dried blood—some of it his, some of it not. His gaze was locked on the surface before him, unmoving.
"Markus," Arnik finally broke the silence, his voice rough. "Say something."
Nothing.
Markus didn't flinch, didn't react, didn't acknowledge anyone in the room.
Andrew Handerfall stood at the head of the table, arms crossed. His sharp gaze remained on Markus. He had seen this before—soldiers coming back from battle, drowning in the weight of everything they couldn't save.
"You did everything you could," Andrew said, his voice steady.
Markus's fingers twitched slightly against the table.
"You saved countless lives," Andrew continued. "That wasn't a battle we could have won, but we got out, and that means something."
Still, Markus didn't answer.
Rose, despite the pain in her ribs, crossed her arms. "Markus…" Her voice was quieter than usual. "The kid… that wasn't your fault."
Markus's fingers curled into fists.
If I can't save everyone… what's the point?
The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.
Then—
Laughter.
Loud, sharp, cutting through the tension like a knife.
The doors swung open, and Crowne sauntered in, his usual grin stretched wide across his face. His footsteps echoed in the heavy silence as he spread his arms dramatically.
"Exactly!"
Rose sat up, her expression twisting with fury. "You're a seriously sick person."
Crowne turned to her with a smirk, unfazed. "You're acting like I'm wrong."
Everyone turned, their exhaustion momentarily replaced with irritation—or, in Kai's case, pure dread.
"Oh great," Kai muttered, rubbing his temples. "Here we go."
Crowne leaned against the nearest chair, tilting his head toward Markus. "That's the right attitude, kid. What is the point? Why bother saving anyone at all? I mean, they're just gonna die later anyway." His grin widened, something dangerous glinting in his eyes. "That's war, right?"
Markus's grip on the table tightened, his breath slow and controlled.
Arnik shot Crowne a glare. "Not the time."
Crowne ignored him, pacing around the room. "But you did save people, didn't you? A whole lot of them, actually." He made a lazy gesture toward Andrew. "Even the big man here says you did good. But look at you." His gaze locked onto Markus, his grin shifting into something sharper. "Sitting here like a sad little puppy, wondering why you couldn't save one kid."
Markus's jaw tensed.
Crowne leaned in slightly, voice lowering just enough to make it sting. "Tell me, Markus. How many people do you think that kid would've saved if you had died instead?"
Silence.
Markus's breath hitched, his shoulders barely shifting.
Crowne chuckled, straightening up. "The way I see it, you're still breathing. Which means you've got two choices." He flicked up two fingers. "One, you keep crying over the people you couldn't save and drown in it. Or two…" He lowered one finger. "You get stronger. Strong enough that next time, you don't have to lose anyone."
The room was dead still.
Then Crowne's smirk sharpened, his voice dropping lower. "And you must be willing to sacrifice what is necessary—or who is necessary—for the greater good. No matter who they are."
Markus slowly exhaled through his nose. His hands relaxed—just slightly—but the storm in his eyes didn't fade.
"…We need better weapons."
Crowne grinned, clapping his hands together. "Now that's what I like to hear."
Andrew's gaze flickered toward Arnik, his tone unwavering. "Not for you, though."
Arnik blinked. "What? Why!?"
Andrew folded his arms. "Any magic item is only a hindrance when you have a mutation like yours. You'd be fighting against your own abilities."
Arnik grumbled, crossing his arms. "I see your point…" He pouted slightly, kicking at the floor. "Still feels unfair."
Kai smirked, nudging him with his elbow. "Cheer up. You've already got built-in superpowers."
"Not the same," Arnik muttered.
Rose chuckled, shaking her head. "Let's just get moving before Andrew decides to start another lecture."
The team moved through the dimly lit corridors of the base, exhaustion still weighing on their bodies. The only sound was the steady echo of their footsteps against the reinforced steel floors.
The doors hissed open, and the team stepped into the weapons testing facility. The air was thick with the hum of latent energy, experimental weapons lining the walls—each one pulsing with untapped potential.
Andrew stood at the center, arms crossed, his sharp gaze sweeping over the squad. Crowne leaned lazily against a table, his ever-present smirk playing at his lips.
And Takashima was there, standing in front of them, holding a glowing magic orb.
The orb pulsed, its swirling energy eerily similar to the one used for sectioning magic. The faint glow reflected in his glasses as he observed it, his expression unreadable.
Andrew strode in, his expression as sharp as ever. "We need those weapons."
Takashima exhaled sharply, his grip on the glowing orb tightening. "For the last time, they are still in testing!"
"You understand our position," Andrew countered, his voice even but firm.
Takashima's jaw clenched. "I do, but we can't just hand them untested weapons. If they malfunction in combat—"
Markus stepped forward.
His eyes burned with something dark—something deep and unrelenting.
Takashima hesitated.
For the first time, the composed researcher looked… unsettled. There was something in Markus's gaze that struck him—something that made the room feel colder, heavier.
Crowne chuckled from the corner. "Well, they do say the best test is on the battlefield."
Takashima sighed, rolling his shoulders as he held the glowing orb in his hands. Its surface pulsed with faint energy, shimmering like liquid light.
"Please line up and touch the orb," he instructed, his tone clipped with impatience.
Kai groaned, crossing his arms. "This again?"
Takashima shot him a sharp look. "Yes, this again. The orb will determine the best-suited magic weapon for each of you. We're not handing out random blades and calling it a day."
Rose smirked, cracking her knuckles. "Fine by me. Let's see what I get."
Markus stepped forward first, his gaze locked onto the orb. His fingers twitched slightly, the fire in his eyes never dimming.
Takashima watched him carefully. "Whenever you're ready."
Kai stepped forward, rolling his shoulders before reluctantly placing his hand on the orb. The moment his fingers made contact, the room filled with a brilliant light.
Energy pulsed through his arm, heat surging as something began to take shape in his grasp. The others leaned in, eyes widening as the weapon materialized, its glow almost blinding.
"What is it?" Arnik muttered.
The light faded.
Everyone stared.
In Kai's hand was… a metal rod.
With a sword handle.
Silence.
Then—
Rose burst out laughing, clutching her sides. "PFFFT—That's it?! All that glowing and hype for a fancy stick?!"
Kai's eye twitched. "Shut up."
Rose wiped a tear from her eye. "No, seriously—where's the blade? Did the orb mess up?"
Takashima examined the weapon, rubbing his chin. "Hmm… interesting."
Kai sighed, his fingers tightening around the hilt. "Great. I get a glorified baton while everyone else gets actual weapons."
Takashima smirked. "I wouldn't be so quick to judge. This may be more powerful than it appears."
Kai wasn't convinced. "It's a stick."
Arnik patted his shoulder, grinning. "Looks like you'll be beating people up the old-fashioned way."
Kai groaned. "I hate all of you."
Kai's eyes widened as the metal in his hand rippled like liquid, shifting and extending. Within seconds, it solidified into a sleek, perfectly balanced sword.
"Whoa," Arnik muttered.
Rose leaned in, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Okay… that's actually pretty cool."
Everyone stared as Kai turned the weapon in his hand, watching how seamlessly it had transformed.
Takashima folded his arms. "This is called the Shapeless Blade."
Kai tested the weight of the sword, his grip tightening. "Shapeless?"
Takashima nodded. "It can become any weapon you want, adapting instantly to your needs."
Kai's smirk returned. "Now that's more like it."
With a flick of his wrist, the sword melted back into its original rod form.
Aika tilted her head. "So, it's not just a sword?"
"No," Takashima confirmed. "It responds to your will. A hammer, a spear, even a whip if you focus hard enough."
Kai's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Oh, I am gonna have fun with this."
Takashima smirked. "Don't get too excited. You still have to master it."
Kai spun the rod between his fingers before resting it on his shoulder. "Yeah, yeah. I'll figure it out."
Andrew crossed his arms. "Good. Now, let's see what weapons the rest of you get."
The others stepped forward, anticipation!