From a distance, shadows loomed over the hill overlooking the Wren mansion. A group of Shattered Star soldiers crouched behind the trees, watching the grand building in silence.
A tall man stood among them, his long coat bearing the emblem of a crystal. His sharp eyes locked onto the mansion as he spoke in a low, commanding tone.
"This is the last place he was seen?"
One of his men nodded. "Yes, sir. Our informant confirmed it."
Ferris smirked slightly. "Good. The boy is our priority. The rest? Eliminate them."
Inside the mansion, Bayu let out a relieved breath after finally breaking free from his restraints. His heart was still pounding after the terrifying encounter with the so-called doctor.
In front of him, a short-haired girl grinned. "Well, you're free now."
Bayu eyed her suspiciously. "Ahh finally, thaks. By The way, Who are you?"
She smiled. "I'm Yuni, a mechanic here."
Bayu blinked in disbelief. "A mechanic? Seriously? I was almost turned into an experiment, and you're acting like this is normal?"
Yuni chuckled. "Oh, you mean him? Yeah, he's... different."
"Different?" Bayu scoffed. "He was about to saw me in half!"
She laughed again. "Yeah, he can be a bit much, but don't worry. I'm not like him. I just like... weird mechanical stuff."
Bayu sighed. "Great. I'm surrounded by lunatics."
Before he could say more, Yuni suddenly grabbed his hand.
"Hey, what are you—"
"Come on, let's take a walk!" she said cheerfully.
Bayu frowned. "What? Why?"
Yuni grinned. "You're Bagas' friend, right? That means you're my friend too!"
Without waiting for a response, she pulled him out of the room.
The doctor, who had been standing guard outside, returned to the room with a look of disappointment on his face. He glanced around, expecting to find Bayu still sitting in the bed, but the room was empty. A sense of confusion settled over him as he stepped inside, searching the corners of the room. "Where did he go?"
Meanwhile, Bayu and Yuni wandered through the expansive, machine-filled corridors of Wren Mansion. The metallic scent of oil and steam filled the air, and the rhythmic hum of turning gears seemed to echo in every corner. Yuni moved confidently through the maze of machinery, occasionally pointing out various contraptions along the way, but Bayu was still lost in thought. His mind raced as he tried to make sense of the situation.
"Woah, there are so many steam machines here," Bayu said, amazed. "Are you all entrepreneurs or something?"
Yuni turned gracefully and answered casually, "No, we're actually mercenaries."
"Mercenaries?" Bayu was taken aback.
He instinctively took a step back, instinctively trying to distance himself. He knew what mercenaries were, and the thought of meeting one sent a chill down his spine. But Yuni just chuckled softly, not at all fazed by his reaction.
"It's not the kind of mercenaries you're thinking of," she said, a smile playing at her lips. "We're different."
"What's the difference between regular mercenaries and you?" Bayu asked, still cautious.
Yuni raised two fingers in a playful gesture and replied, "We're actually a special task force formed by the European high command for specific missions. You could say we're agents."
Bayu crossed his arms, still skeptical. "Agents, huh? That sounds… complicated. So, do you take orders directly from the government?"
Yuni smirked. "Something like that. We're more independent, though. We take on high-risk missions, handle things normal soldiers can't. And, well… we get paid handsomely for it."
"So, mercenaries with a fancy title." Bayu raised an eyebrow.
Yuni let out a light laugh. "If that makes it easier for you to understand, sure. But unlike regular mercenaries, we have a moral code. We don't fight for just anyone with money. We fight to keep balance."
Bayu glanced around at the vast network of pipes and gears surrounding them. "Balance, huh? That's a nice way of putting it. So, what exactly is this place? A weapons factory? A research lab?"
Yuni tapped her chin thoughtfully. "A little of both. Wren Mansion used to be a noble's estate, but over time, it was converted into an advanced engineering facility. Now, it's one of the few places where cutting-edge steam technology is developed."
Bayu ran his fingers along a metal railing as they walked. The deeper they went, the more complex the machinery became. The scent of burning coal and oil thickened in the air. Then, something caught his eye.
At the far end of the hall, a large glass capsule stood, filled with wires and glowing faintly from within. As he stepped closer, he saw a crystal suspended inside—a shimmering green gem, pulsating with an eerie light.
"What… is this?" Bayu whispered, his eyes locked onto the mysterious object.
Yuni walked up beside him, her expression turning serious. "That," she said, placing a hand on her hip, "is Aetherium. Or, as some call it—the Aetherium Crystal."
"So this is… Aetherium Crystal, huh," Bayu muttered in awe.
Yuni nodded. "That's right. This crystal symbolizes the world's revolution and marks the beginning of the steam-powered era. Many steam technologies now use it as their main energy source."
She continued talking excitedly, like the smartest person in the world, while Bayu just stared at her, lost in thought. Then, drawn by curiosity, he reached out to touch the crystal. But just as his fingers brushed against the glass capsule, a vision flashed before his eyes.
An operating room. Experiments. Green steam. A professor observing him. Then—gunfire. The sound of a gunshot echoed in his mind.
Bayu gasped and stumbled back, falling to his knees. A sharp pain shot through his head, making him wince. "Ughhh..." He clutched his head, trying to steady himself.
"Bayu!" Yuni rushed to his side, panic in her voice. "Are you okay?"
Bayu took a deep breath, struggling to compose himself. His breath was ragged, his body tense. "I'm fine… just… give me a second…" he murmured weakly.
Yuni watched him with concern, her eyes filled with worry. "You don't look fine. Are you sure?" She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, but Bayu only gave a small nod, signaling that he was okay.
Before Yuni could say more, a deep rumbling sound echoed from outside the mansion. Heavy footsteps approached quickly.
"what happen?"ask Yuni Confuse.
Both of them Run to the noise. The tension in the air was undeniable.
Outside the mansion, a squad of Shattered Star soldiers, led by Commander Ferris, moved swiftly toward the grand estate.
"Storm the mansion! Don't let a single person escape—including him!" Ferris ordered, his gaze locked on the towering structure before him.
Raising his hand, he signaled the attack. The Shattered Star soldiers took their positions, their weapons roaring to life. Bullets shattered windows, tore through furniture, and sent debris flying in every direction.
Meanwhile, inside the mansion, Bagas stood at the front line, gripping his rifle tightly. "Hold your ground! Don't let them inside!" he shouted.
Servants, now turned into makeshift soldiers, rushed forward, each armed with a rifle. The mansion's halls echoed with hurried footsteps and the metallic clatter of weapons being prepared.
Just then, Bayu and Yuni arrived, stopping in their tracks as they spotted Bagas leading the defense. Without hesitation, Yuni ran up to him.
"Bagas! What's happening?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.
"We're under attack by Shattered Star soldiers. We either hold the line, or this place falls," Bagas answered firmly.
Yuni's eyes widened in shock. "Shattered Star? But... we're not ready for this!"
Hendra stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on Yuni's shoulder. "Yuni, protect the mansion. Bagas and I will handle them."
"No! You'll get hurt!" Yuni snapped, her voice laced with worry.
Bagas averted his gaze, offering no response. Without another word, he and Hendra strode toward the battlefield.
Yuni clenched her fists, sorrow welling up inside her as she watched them go. "Why does it always have to be like this?" she thought, blinking back tears.
Beside her, Bayu felt a familiar weight settle in his chest. Flashes of his past resurfaced—a smiling figure collapsing right in front of him.
"No... I can't let this happen again," he thought, his resolve hardening.
Without hesitation, Bayu turned and sprinted deeper into the mansion, his footsteps echoing with determination.
Realizing his intent, Yuni's eyes widened in alarm. "Bayu, wait!" she called out, immediately chasing after him.
Bayu rushed into the Machine chamber, his steps firm with determination. He stopped in front of a massive glass cylinder, inside of which a glowing green Aetherium crystal pulsed ominously.
His eyes locked onto the crystal, filled with a deep sense of purpose. Without hesitation, he unsealed the glass chamber and reached for the crystal.
Before he could move further, Yuni hurried into the room, quickly stepping in front of him, blocking his path.
"Bayu! Stop!" she shouted. "That thing is dangerous! You don't know what it could do!"
Bayu met her gaze, his expression unreadable but serious. "I'm the reason they came here," he said, his voice heavy with guilt. "So, I'm the only one who has to drive them away."
Yuni's breath hitched, uncertainty and worry flashing in her eyes. She wanted to stop him, to tell him there had to be another way—but the words wouldn't come.
Bayu closed his eyes, gripping the crystal tightly. He could feel its energy surging, a strange warmth flowing through his body, filling him with a new strength.
"Please... give me power."
Meanwhile, outside the mansion, the battle grew fiercer. Bagas and his troops fought with everything they had against the incoming enemies.
"Don't let them win!" Bagas ordered as he fired his rifle.
Suddenly, a massive figure stepped forward amidst the chaos. A man with a body as hard as iron, his skin gleaming like polished metal.
Gunfire erupted in his direction, but strangely, every bullet that struck him either ricocheted off or fell uselessly to the ground, broken and ineffective. The sound of bullets failing to penetrate sent a wave of shock through the Vanguard soldiers.
"He... he can't be hurt," one of them murmured, his voice trembling.
"Haha, what can you do now?" the figure sneered—Ferris. He advanced confidently, forcing the defenders to fall back under his overwhelming presence.
"That's a Crystal Abomination," Hendra said grimly. "He's evolved! Be careful, don't get too close!"
The iron-bodied man kept moving forward, destroying everything in his path. The tension in the battlefield soared, and the soldiers had to think fast if they wanted to survive.
"We have to do something!" Bagas shouted, stepping forward with determination.
"Bagas! Don't!" Hendra yelled, panic in his voice.
But Bagas ignored him and charged ahead, facing Ferris alone.
Meanwhile, a green light enveloped Bayu's body, flowing from the Aetherium crystal into every part of him. Yet, despite the energy surrounding him, he felt nothing. No surge of strength, no transformation—nothing. Frustration welled up inside him.
"Why isn't this working?" he whispered, his voice filled with confusion.
Overcome with anger, Bayu threw the crystal to the ground, shattering it into pieces. He clenched his fists, slamming the table in frustration, causing a few metal scraps to bounce slightly. His eyes then landed on a pipe wrench nearby. His hands trembled as he reached for it, gripping the cold metal tightly. Without hesitation, he grabbed it and sprinted forward, leaving Yuni standing frozen behind him. Her gaze shifted toward the scattered metal pieces on the table, a thought forming in her mind.
Outside, the battle grew more intense. Ferris, his iron-like body gleaming under the moonlight, continued to dominate the battlefield. Hendra's troops were slowly being pushed back, overwhelmed by the sheer strength of the Crystal Abomination.
With no other choice, Bagas engaged Ferris in close combat, wielding a knife and a pistol equipped with a compressed air-powered booster on his hips. He moved swiftly, launching rapid strikes at Ferris, aiming for weak spots. But no matter how precise or fast his attacks were, they had no effect. Ferris merely chuckled and pressed forward.
Bagas fought relentlessly, his body growing exhausted with each passing second. Every strike he delivered only bounced off Ferris's metallic skin, leaving him drained and breathless. Eventually, fatigue overtook him, and he collapsed to one knee. Ferris stepped closer, ready to finish off the remaining soldiers.
Then suddenly, from the side, Bayu appeared, rushing toward the battlefield. Without hesitation, he leaped high into the air and swung the pipe wrench straight at Ferris's head with all his strength. The impact was solid—but to his horror, the wrench bent on contact, completely ineffective against Ferris's reinforced body.
Bayu wiped the blood from his lips and glared at Ferris with burning defiance. "Hey, you walking scrap heap!" he spat, gripping the wrench tighter. "I'm right here!"
Ferris stopped in his tracks, his expression shifting into a wicked grin. Then, he threw his head back and laughed—a deep, mocking sound that echoed across the battlefield. "Oh? Finally! ready to stop running?" He cracked his knuckles, his metal joints whirring. "Good. This will be fun."
Without hesitation, Bayu roared and dashed forward, swinging the heavy pipe wrench with all his strength. His first strike aimed straight at Ferris's head. CLANG! The impact rang out, but Ferris barely moved—only tilting his head slightly, still smirking.
Undeterred, Bayu spun around and struck again, aiming for Ferris's joints, his chest—any weak point he could reach. But it was useless. The wrench bounced off Ferris's metal body like a toy against steel.
Ferris didn't even bother defending himself. He stood there, arms crossed, watching Bayu struggle. "That all you got?" he mocked. "Come on, experiment boy, make this worth my time."
Bayu gritted his teeth and kept attacking, but after only a few more strikes, the wrench began to bend. The head of the tool cracked, then—snap!—it broke off completely, clattering to the ground.
With his wrench now shattered, Bayu clenched his fist and threw a punch straight at Ferris's chest. It was a desperate move—one fueled by frustration rather than strategy.
The moment his knuckles met Ferris's solid metal body, pain shot up his arm like a bolt of electricity. His fingers throbbed, his wrist screaming in protest. It was like punching a steel wall.
Ferris didn't even flinch. Instead, he let out a deep, mocking laugh. "Pathetic."
Before Bayu could react, Ferris swung his arm, striking Bayu across the face with the back of his hand. The force sent him flying, his body hitting the ground hard. The world spun around him as the taste of iron filled his mouth.
Ferris laughed louder. "Pathetic! And to think the great Shattered Star had to waste so much effort just to capture a runaway like you!" He smirked, his voice dripping with mockery. "You have no idea how much trouble you've caused us, do you? A failed experiment that refuses to die… What a nuisance."
Hendra and Bagas, who had been struggling to regain their footing, froze. Their eyes widened at Ferris's words. "Experiment? Runaway?"
CRACK!
Pain exploded through his body as Ferris's foot crushed him against the ground. Bayu gasped, struggling to breathe. His entire body screamed in agony, but no matter how much he fought, he couldn't move.
"You're not going anywhere," Ferris said coldly, pressing down harder. "I think it's time you finally stop running."
Blood trickled down Bayu's forehead, blurring his vision as it dripped into his eyes. His breath was ragged, his body refusing to move under Ferris's crushing weight. He could feel the pressure digging into his shoulder, the bones beneath threatening to snap.
Through the haze of pain, his gaze flickered toward Hendra and Bagas, both sprawled across the battlefield, wounded and barely holding on. Their armor was cracked, their weapons discarded, their faces twisted in pain. Bayu's fingers twitched against the dirt.
"I'm sorry… I wasn't strong enough."
The thought weighed heavier than the pain. His mind drifted to the past—faces he could barely remember, voices calling his name, reaching for him—people he had failed to save. And now, it was happening again.
"No… not again."
But before despair could fully consume him, a deafening whoosh cut through the battlefield. A blur of movement shot through the air, heading straight for Ferris.
BOOM!
A massive impact sent Ferris stumbling backward, metal scraping against stone as he skidded across the battlefield. Tools, gears, and scraps of machinery scattered everywhere as a force crashed into him.
Bayu gasped for breath as the pressure on his shoulder lifted. His body screamed in pain, but he forced himself to turn his head.
There, standing triumphantly, was Yuni—panting, gripping the handles of a metal trolley, its wheels still spinning wildly from the rocket-powered boost she had used to ram into Ferris.
Her wide eyes locked onto Bayu. "Get up!" she shouted. "I didn't fly in here just for you to stay down!"
Bayu coughed, feeling strength return to his limbs. He gritted his teeth, using the scattered debris to pull himself up. His legs wobbled, but he planted his feet firmly on the ground. His vision blurred as he looked at the broken machines scattered around him. Confused, he tried to make sense of it.
"Bayu! Use them!" Yuni shouted.
He frowned, still unsure. "What does she mean...?"
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something—some of the metal pieces were trembling, moving ever so slightly. His breath caught.
That's when it clicked.