Caelus followed Alina through the metallic corridor, the hum of machinery fading beneath the storm of his thoughts. His mother's face consumed his mind, along with the distant memory of his father—the one and only time they had met, when he was just six years old. He could still see those cold, detached eyes staring at him, not with warmth, but as if he were an enemy.

  And then his mother's voice from that same day echoed in his mind. "Why? Are you jealous of our own children?"

  The memory shattered as Alina came to an abrupt stop before a massive metal door.

  "Wait!" she commanded, raising a hand.

  But Caelus couldn't afford to wait. Not when his mother's life was at stake.

  Without hesitation, he surged forward just as the door slid open automatically. Lorcan followed close behind.

  "Caelus, stop!" Alina's voice rang out, but before she could step through, the door sealed shut with a hiss, locking her out.

  "Reckless fools!" Her muffled shout barely penetrated the barrier.

  Lorcan exhaled through his nose, smirking. "Well, it's just the two of us now. It's her fault for being too slow."

  Caelus didn't respond. He had no time for Lorcan's usual attitude. His mind was fixed on one thing—his mother. Every second counted. He wouldn't let her suffer a moment longer.

  As they pressed forward into the vast chamber, his breath caught. There, at the center, bound to an elevated ptform, was his mother.

  A pulsing energy field surrounded her, flickering ominously. Luminous chains bound her wrists, crackling with power.

  Then, from above, a shadow descended. Valkyrex.

  The twin-winged automaton nded with a resonant thud, its bck metal frame absorbing the impact like a predator settling into pce. Slowly, it lifted its head, piercing luminescent blue eyes locking onto them—cold, calcuting, hunting.

  "What the? I've never seen that kind of automaton before," Lorcan said, eyes furrowed in confusion.

  Caelus had already readied his stance, ignoring Lorcan completely. Then it came—without warning, a sharp hum cut through the air as Valkyrex's wing fred with energy. A blue thrust ignited, and its right hand became enveloped in a shimmering azure energy bde. Caelus barely raised his spear in time—the impact sent a jarring tremor through his arms.

  Gritting his teeth, he sidestepped as Valkyrex followed up with another ssh from its other arm, the second energy bde cutting through the space where he had just stood. Beside him, Lorcan unleashed Ebon Barrage, a flurry of dark energy bsts tearing toward their foe. But Valkyrex disengaged in a blur, moving with terrifying agility. Every shot missed its mark, the only casualties being the metallic walls behind them, now scorched and shattered.

  As Valkyrex moved with frightening speed while evading Lorcan's Ebon Barrage, its two hands aimed at both Lorcan and Caelus, releasing volleys of blue energy bsts with incredible speed. Their natural barriers flickered as they parried and evaded the identical attacks.

  "It's too fast... way too fast," Lorcan growled.

  Then Valkyrex appeared in front of Caelus, sshing with its blue energy bde, but Caelus ducked, feeling the heat of its bde pass by. He countered by casting Volt Tempest, spinning his spear to create a whirling vortex of violet energy. The automaton evaded using Morpho Wings, blue butterfly-like energy formations in its wing boosting its already incredible speed as it retaliated with energy projectiles from above.

  Lorcan gritted his teeth, bracing himself as he raised both hands. Dark energy coiled around him, forming a yered defense—Veil of Shadow. The dark barrier absorbed the incoming bsts, pulses of energy rippling across its surface.

  Meanwhile, Caelus kept moving, parrying what he could with his spear. Each impact sent violet sparks scattering through the air. Then, his gaze flicked upward, locking onto the steel ptform overhead. An idea struck him—if he timed it right, he could turn the tide.

  "Follow me!" he commanded.

  "Got it," Lorcan replied without hesitation.

  Caelus became a blur of violet energy, dashing forward with Stormstride, while Lorcan, wreathed in a dark aura, kept pace beside him. Just as pnned, Valkyrex pursued them, its glowing blue eyes locked onto their every movement.

  As they neared the ptform, Lorcan suddenly skidded to a stop, turning to engage Valkyrex head-on. Blue energy bdes cshed against his dark energy fists in a flurry of rapid strikes. Meanwhile, Caelus pressed forward, gripping his spear tightly as he channeled violet lightning along its shaft. Sweat beaded on his brow, but he kept his focus.

  Lorcan, seemingly struggling, began to step back—deliberately baiting Valkyrex in. The automaton lunged after him, just as they had pnned.

  In that instant, shadowy tendrils erupted from the ground, coiling around Valkyrex’s limbs and locking it in pce. Dusk Shackle. Lorcan had already set the trap during their exchange.

  “Gotcha... fell for it,” Lorcan said smugly.

  Wasting no time, he unleashed Lorcan's Special—an unrelenting storm of dark energy punches. A hundred strikes in mere seconds. The battlefield trembled from the sheer force, each blow carrying the weight of his power.

  But Valkyrex reacted instantly. Its Zero Point Shield fred to life—a shimmering blue energy barrier forming around its hand, absorbing the full brunt of Lorcan’s attack.

  Caelus didn’t hesitate. His charge finally complete, he unleashed Voltaic Burst through his spear—a devastating lightning bst hurtling toward the ptform above. A massive discharge of violet lightning erupted upon impact, shattering the structure. As debris began to colpse, Valkyrex finally broke free from the shadowy binds.

  But it was already too te.

  Through their Evocyte Link, Caelus and Lorcan channeled their energy, maniputing energy threads that pulled the falling wreckage down onto Valkyrex. The automaton’s barrier fred brilliantly in defiance, its blue light pulsing as it was pinned beneath the rubble.

  For the first time, Valkyrex was forced into a corner.

  Caelus wasted no time. The moment Valkyrex was pinned, he channeled his energy and cast Skyward Thrust. His form crackled with violet lightning as he transformed into a bolt of pure energy, shooting upward in an instant. Then, with blinding speed, he lunged downward, his spear charged with raw power.

  At the same time, Lorcan unleashed Ebon Fist—a single, devastating strike charged with dark energy. The very moment Caelus’s lightning spear struck, both attacks collided with Valkyrex in perfect unison.

  The impact erupted in a violent explosion of darkness and lightning, tearing through the ptform. The force shattered the structure completely, consuming Valkyrex in the destruction and sending shockwaves rippling through the chamber.

  Finally, silence fell over the chamber.

  Caelus turned, his breath unsteady as he spotted the control panel. With a swift motion, he pressed the console button, and the energy shield surrounding his mother flickered before dying out completely.

  His heart clenched as she stumbled forward, eyes wide with emotion. Then, with a choked sob, she ran to embrace him, her tears falling freely.

  “Caelus!” Lyriel’s voice trembled as she held him tight.

  He stood rigid before slowly returning her embrace, but their reunion was cut short. The floor shook violently as three more Valkyrex units descended from above, moving with energy bdes in hand.

  "Three more? Seriously? How do we even fight these?" Lorcan's ft tone matched Caelus's own rising concern.

  Caelus gripped his mother's hand tightly, eyes darting toward their escape route when a thunderous explosion rocked the chamber. Through the smoke emerged familiar faces - Drifter, Friedrich, and Alina, their weapons at the ready.

  "We can't fight them all here. Fall back to the entrance!" Friedrich commanded.

  The group quickly formed a defensive formation, retreating. But the Valkyrex units surged forward with their glowing wings, encircling them with mechanical precision. Friedrich cast Blessing of Light as a golden aura enveloped them, strengthening their natural barrier defenses and providing minor healing regeneration, yet the automatons pressed their advantage relentlessly.

  Caelus watched his companions engage the enemy as they ran.

  Drifter confronted the first Valkyrex, surrounding the automaton with a barrage of spectral swords that hovered in the air before unching relentless attacks. As he closed the distance, he swung his bde toward Valkyrex’s chest, but the automaton reacted instantly, its energy wings fring to life as it soared into the air.

  His spectral swords pursued, slicing through the air toward their target. However, with a sudden burst, Valkyrex’s butterfly-like energy wings unleashed a rain of blue energy bsts, shattering the incoming swords before they could nd a hit.

  Undeterred, Drifter teleported behind the airborne Valkyrex, sshing in a streak of blue light in an attempt to catch it off guard. But the automaton reacted swiftly, folding its glowing wings in a defensive maneuver. Sparks flew as Drifter’s bde cshed against the energy barrier. He gritted his teeth, pushing forward as he attempted to materialize more spectral swords around his opponent.

  Before he could strike again, a second Valkyrex intervened. From behind, its energy bde sshed across his back, forcing Drifter into a desperate retreat. His natural barrier fred upon impact, absorbing most of the damage, but the force of the blow sent him reeling.

  As he fell, both Valkyrex units unleashed a relentless barrage of energy bsts, their attacks raining down from above while he steadied himself on the ground. His spectral swords shifted into a defensive formation, struggling to block the incoming fire. Even so, several bsts broke through, striking him head-on.

  Gritting his teeth, Drifter reacted instantly. His left hand fred with blue light as he cast Exalt Barrier, the protective energy fring to life just as the barrage reached its peak. The onsught finally ceased, leaving trails of smoke in its wake.

  Wasting no time, Drifter took a sharp breath, teleported to a safe distance, and broke into a sprint. Without hesitation, he retaliated—Exalt Bolt, volley of concentrated blue energy surged from his palm, streaking toward the nearest Valkyrex. His spectral swords remained close, shifting into a tight defensive formation as he braced for the enemy’s next move.

  Yet the attack failed to nd. Drifter didn’t falter—he kept moving, maintaining his distance, waiting for the perfect opening.

  On the other side of the battlefield, Friedrich faced the third Valkyrex. He remained steady, his stance unwavering as he focused entirely on defense. With practiced precision, he raised his greatshield, Lexivane, intercepting the automaton’s energy bde with ease. His gaze remained locked onto his opponent, carefully analyzing its movements, staying calm. He made no attempt to counter—waiting for the perfect moment.

  Meanwhile, at the front, Alina led the group forward, moving swiftly alongside Lorcan and Caelus, who held his mother close. They pressed on while Drifter and Friedrich kept the Valkyrex at bay. Though her focus remained ahead, Alina occasionally gnced back, ready to intervene if necessary.

  Then, she saw Drifter pinned down by two Valkyrex. Her decision was immediate.

  With a swift motion, she transformed Frostshard Legacy into an ice nce. In a single fluid strike, she unleashed Cerulean Spiral—her weapon spun rapidly, releasing a spiraling torrent of icy energy toward the second Valkyrex, which was locked in a fierce duel against Drifter and his spectral bdes.

  But the automaton reacted instantly. Its Zero Point Shield fred to life, absorbing the ice attack before reflecting it back. In the same instant, another unit fired a barrage of blue projectiles at Alina. She remained composed, spinning her nce in a precise arc, deflecting each bst effortlessly.

  Sensing an opening, the first Valkyrex disengaged and surged toward Alina in a blur, its butterfly-like energy wings fring beautifully. Yet she was already prepared. Without hesitation, she executed Cerulean Impale—her form dissolved into an icy mist before reappearing high above her target. The automaton's glowing eyes flickered as its wings faltered, momentarily frozen by her chilling energy

  She hurled her nce downward. The weapon struck true, detonating on impact as massive frozen spikes erupted from the ground, encasing the first Valkyrex in jagged ice.

  The third Valkyrex halted its attack and fred its energy wings, as if preparing to assist the first Valkyrex. But just as it began to lower its bde, Friedrich was ready. He raised his radiant mace, Criven, the weapon glowing with divine light.

  "Radiant Smite!" he intoned.

  The mace crashed down with immense force, unleashing a brilliant shockwave of holy energy. The Valkyrex convulsed, its joints locking in pce as divine energy immobilized it.

  Drifter wasted no time. Even as he remained locked in a fierce bde exchange with the second Valkyrex, he seized the moment to unleash Exalt Edge from a distance. A wave of blue energy sliced through the air, striking the immobilized Valkyrex head-on. A sharp crack echoed through the chamber as its natural barrier shattered like fragile gss.

  Without hesitation, his spectral swords followed, converging upon the automaton in a relentless flurry of sshes. Sparks flew as the enchanted bdes carved through its metallic frame—until nothing remained but lifeless fragments scattered across the battlefield.

  With the first Valkyrex still frozen and the third one defeated, Alina wasting no movement. Her nce shimmered before shifting into a massive greatsword, pulsating with arcane frost.

  "Buzorn Frostbreaker!" she intoned.

  With a mighty swing, she brought her bde down upon the frozen Valkyrex. The impact unleashed a brilliant explosion of blue energy, ice shards scattering in every direction. The sheer force of the strike shattered it into jagged fragments, utterly destroyed.

  "Two down—finally!" Lorcan exhaled, shaking off the tension.

  But their victory was short-lived. The floor shook violently as more Vexor units entered the room, unching bright red projectiles that filled the air with explosions.

  The group sprinted toward the exit, urgency fueling their movements. Alina reached the control panel beside the door, her fingers flying across the interface.

  "Wait, I'm trying to open it!" she shouted.

  Before she could finish, Lorcan stepped forward with a wild grin. "No need for that!"

  Lorcan smmed his fists into the door, each punch echoing loudly throughout the room. Dark energy from Ebon Fist enveloped his strikes, causing the metal door to shudder and warp.

  As the door began to crack, Caelus stepped in. His spear crackled with dancing lightning.

  "Thunderbolt Strike!" he yelled.

  The thunderous explosion shattered the door, sending cracks spiraling outward before it finally burst open.

  The night wind whipped against them as they plummeted through darkness. Caelus held his mother close, shielding her from the rushing air as the Verm Pins rushed up to meet them - a dark expanse growing rger by the second.

  "Better pray our barriers don't crap out on us!" Lorcan's ugh carried an edge of hysteria.

  The sky erupted in light above them. Caelus watched panels slide open along the skyship's bck hull, revealing rows of charging cannons. His heart nearly stopped as massive red energy beams formed at their tips.

  Friedrich raised his hand, materializing radiant sigils as he intoned his ultimate spell—Celestial Aegis. Golden runes materialized around them, forming a protective dome just as the first devastating beam struck. The energy scattered into golden fragments, but Caelus could see the relentless barrage continuing.

  Inside their sanctuary, Caelus felt his mother's silent tears as she csped her hands in prayer beside him. His own breathing came in shallow gasps as he watched cracks spread across their shield like a glowing web. Friedrich poured everything into maintaining the barrier, the golden light fring brilliantly as it deflected the final bst.

  When the dome finally shattered, its fragments fell like stars around them. Caelus watched the skyship vanish into the crimson sky, leaving them to face the rapidly approaching ground. Their impact sent natural barriers fring, barely cushioning their fall.

  "We... we're alive. Seriously, we're still alive!" Lorcan's incredulous ugh broke the silence.

  Caelus y there, chest heaving, his body aching from the battle. Beside him, his mother slowly sat up, her breath unsteady. With a trembling hand, she reached for his cheek, her touch warm despite her weakness.

  "Thank you… all of you. You saved us." Her voice wavered with emotion.

  Caelus swallowed hard, his own emotions caught in his throat. He lowered his head in gratitude. "Thank you… I… I don’t know what else to say."

  Their rescuers exchanged knowing smiles. Above them, the bck cylindrical skyship ascended, vanishing into the night’s embrace, its silent departure leaving them beneath the vast, dark sky.

  Without hesitation, they made their way toward the nearby Translocator. As soon as they stepped into its activation zone, a surge of blue light engulfed them, distorting the world around them.

  A heartbeat ter, the light faded, revealing the sprawling cityscape of Nethia. The glow of towering buildings and winding streets stretched into the distance, alive with the motion of a city.

  Caelus tightened his grip on his mother’s hand, sensing her frailty. Her pale complexion deepened his concern, but there was no time to stop. As they moved forward, they were guided toward a waiting Alcherider Titan.

  Ahead of them stood a man with dark blue hair, cd in bck attire. His piercing gaze was unreadable, his presence exuding quiet authority. Beyond him, the Evocaier Order’s headquarters loomed—a crystalline monolith against the night sky. The grand structure bore the emblem of a lotus entwined with wings.

  The underground parking area felt oppressive as they ascended to a sparse interrogation room. Caelus remained by his mother's side as she settled shakily into a chair, the Magisterial Console between them like an unwelcome witness.

  "Mrs. Lyriel, we need an expnation. Why did you leave the city without informing anyone? And how did you end up as a hostage?" Friedrich's voice was firm.

  "For now, your son can stay, but we need your full honesty."

  "It's... my husband..." His mother's whisper sent ice through Caelus's veins.

  "What? Father... is alive?" Caelus felt his world tilt as the words left his mouth.

  The Magisterial Console holographically projected an image that struck him like a physical blow - his father's face, alongside text identifying him as Kalevi Amelioris, Affiliation: Concve of Eldoria, Css: Mage, Element Mastery: Light, Expertise: Technological Researcher.

  Friedrich's questioning continued, each answer from his mother revealing more painful truths. She spoke of secrets, artifacts, and betrayal. Caelus listened, his grip on her hand tightening with each revetion. It seemed his father had once been involved in mysterious artifact research and had changed after that. She feared him, so she left the country and came here. But recently, she had contacted his father with good news about staying with them... but it was all a lie.

  "He said he wanted to stay with us. But then he started asking about my visitors... about Drifter. And then he asked about the Cube. When I refused to answer, he... abducted me."

  Drifter narrowed his eyes at Friedrich, wondering why they would want it.

  "I'm sorry, Caelus," his mother whispered.

  "It's okay, Mom. It's not your fault," Caelus said, while holding her hand and looking into her gaze.

  As Friedrich ordered Vilreth, the man with dark blue hair, to lead them safely home, Caelus felt the weight of these revetions settling onto his shoulders like a physical burden. His father was alive, but this truth brought more questions than answers, and none of them promised comfort.

  As Vilreth, Lyriel, and Caelus left, silence settled in the room.

  Drifter broke the silence. "Professor, could this be the Cult of Shadronis?"

  Friedrich shook his head. "No. Their tech isn’t this advanced. And no one's funding some obscure cult—not at this scale." He hesitated, his gaze darkening. "This feels bigger. More organized. This is the work of a major nation."

  Drifter’s eyes narrowed. "But… who? And why the Cube?"

  Alina, silent until now, finally spoke. "Ever since we found it, the danger hasn’t stopped. It’s only getting worse. What if we’re not ready for what’s coming?"

  Friedrich exhaled, his tone firm. "I'll report this to the Grandmasters. We’ll tighten security. We don’t have a choice."

  His gaze shifted between Drifter and Alina. "Get some rest. You’ve both done well."

  They nodded and left. The door closed softly behind them,

  Drifter walked in silence, his mind restless. Too many threats loomed over him, and the possibility of multiple factions seeking the Cube only deepened his unease. Yet the greatest question remained—what did the Cube truly do?

  As they left, Friedrich remained motionless. Slowly, his hand reached for the old pendant around his neck. Inside was a faded photograph of a pink-haired woman and two pink-haired children. His expression softened, but his jaw tightened.

  He gripped the pendant tightly. He had sworn to protect them, and he would not break that promise.