Everyone was gathered in Leon’s lab, a cluttered space of glowing monitors, scattered wires, and tools that spoke of both genius and chaos. Baluka sat hunched over a computer, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she sifted through layers of encrypted data. The pale blue light of the monitor reflected in her tired eyes.
“When Rex cut his body in half, he escaped into the web and infiltrated a facility in Russia,” she said, her voice tinged with frustration. “But I can’t pinpoint which one.”
The room was tense. Nur, standing like a storm ready to break, didn’t wait for a response. He strode across the room, grabbed Leon by the neck, and hoisted him effortlessly into the air.
“I’m tired of your games, Leon!” Nur shouted, his voice a thunderclap. “Why did you make him?”
Leon, dangling but unflinching, adjusted his glasses with a calm that bordered on arrogance. “You want to put me down, big guy?”
“Nur, put him down,” Rex commanded, his voice carrying quiet authority.
Nur hesitated, then dropped Leon, who landed gracefully, immediately smoothing his tie as if nothing had happened.
Leon smirked. “The artificial intelligence was designed to help the Yeager Force, correct, Baluka?” His question carried a sharp edge.
Baluka froze, her hands still hovering over the keyboard. She stammered, clearly uncomfortable. “W-Well… I just… I only created him because—”
“Exactly,” Leon interrupted. “You backed me on this three days ago, and now you’re wavering.”
“Of course, I am!” Baluka snapped. “I built a death machine! Not just that, but Neo wiped every single file we had. He knows more about us than we know about each other!”
The room went silent. The weight of her words settled like a fog. Then, Leon chuckled, breaking the tension. He picked up a pencil from his desk and twirled it between his fingers before tossing it aside.
“I created this so-called Neo to help us fight the Yeagers, specifically the higher ranks. Sure, we can handle the lower-level forces, but the real army hasn’t even arrived yet.”
“Then we’ll fight together,” Rex said resolutely.
Leon met Rex’s gaze, his usual smirk faltering. “We’ll die,” he said flatly.
Rex didn’t flinch. “Then we’ll die together.”
The room grew heavy with the gravity of their conversation, but Amber broke the silence. “We’re talking about Neo like he’s unstoppable, but who did he kill? I checked the systems; no other life signatures were in the building except for us.”
Leon raised an eyebrow, then flicked his wrist to display a hologram. “You’re wrong. He killed someone—just not a person.” The image of Eclipse’s core appeared, its once-glowing structure now a charred, lifeless husk.
“He destroyed A.I. Eclipse,” Leon explained, his voice eerily calm. “I’d guess it was to send a message.”
Emi frowned. “Rex, Neo claimed to know Carlos Locke, the second Dark Flame user. But he’s an A.I.—how could he know someone who didn’t even exist in this era?”
Rex crossed his arms, deep in thought. “I have no idea. Malin never mentioned anything like this.”
Hanako, who had been quietly analyzing data, suddenly spoke up. “Neo also deleted files from missions in 2645 and anything related to his name.”
“Not all of them,” Nur said. He left the room and returned carrying a massive stack of paper files. He dropped them onto the table with a thud that echoed through the lab. Emi’s eyes widened.
“I’m getting tired. I’m going to bed,” she muttered, turning to leave.
Rex grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back. “Not so fast.”
“Damn it,” she groaned under her breath, slumping back into her chair.
The team sifted through the papers for hours. The ticking of the lab’s wall clock was the only sound as the pile of files grew smaller. Finally, after ten grueling hours, Nur slammed a file onto the table.
“Found it.”
Everyone crowded around as he opened the folder. Inside was a faded photograph of a Yeager, labeled “Neo,” and a note identifying him as Luna’s brother. The report detailed a Spartan team dispatched to find him. According to the file, Neo had been located in Russia, where he owned a casino.
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“So, Neo was a Yeager before he died,” Rex mused. “But who was on the Spartan team?”
“The file doesn’t say,” Nur replied. “It only mentions that the mission was conducted by two members of the six-man team.”
“And where did Neo die?” Emi asked.
“At his casino,” Nur said. “One of the Spartans killed him.”
Amber straightened. “Then we should head there. Maybe we’ll find some answers.”
The team quickly boarded a plane for Russia.
Rex sat in the back, his eyes closed as he leaned against the cold window. His mind drifted, and suddenly, he found himself in a strange dream—a dimly lit train carriage. Across from him sat two familiar figures: Malin Griffin and Amelia. They were chatting quietly, their voices blending with the rhythmic clatter of the train. But Rex’s focus wasn’t on them.
He turned his gaze toward a shadowy figure sitting alone in a dark corner. Flames licked at the edges of the man’s body, illuminating his gaunt features.
“You’re Carlos Locke, aren’t you?” Rex asked, standing. “I didn’t recognize you at first, but it’s you.”
The figure nodded. “Sit down,” he said, his voice like crackling embers.
Rex obeyed, taking the seat across from him. “Who is Neo?”
Carlos exhaled, the flames around him flickering. “As the file said, he’s Luna’s brother. That’s all you need to know.”
“But Neo claimed to know you personally. Why?”
Carlos’s gaze burned into Rex’s. “I was on the Spartan team,” he admitted. “I’ll tell you what I know.”
Rex leaned forward. “Go on.”
Carlos hesitated, his fiery aura dimming. “Neo… Before we knew he was a Yeager, he was charming—a kind, optimistic person. But his true nature was something else entirely. He wanted everything… everyone… gone. He dreamed of a world where he was the only one left.”
Rex’s expression darkened. “Where do you think he is now?”
Carlos shook his head. “I don’t know. He’s probably building a new body, something stronger. But remember, this is a new Neo. He might be different from before.”
As Rex stood to leave, Carlos called out, “Find Fadia. She knows more than I ever could.”
Rex nodded, and the dream dissolved.
Deep within her lab, Luna meticulously worked on a human body laid out on a metal table. The sterile air was thick with the hum of machinery. She didn’t look up when she spoke.
“I hear you,” she said, her voice cold.
From the shadows, a pair of glowing red eyes emerged. “You’ve always had sharp senses, sister.”
“Neo,” she said, her tone flat. “So, Plan B worked. Your mind was uploaded to the machine upon death.”
Neo stepped into the light, revealing his massive, metallic frame. “You’ve always loved your experiments, haven’t you?”
“What do you want?” she asked, slicing into the arm of her creation without looking at him. “If you don’t answer, I’ll cut you in half.”
Neo chuckled. “I want a partnership, sister. Let’s destroy Russia and take its people for ourselves.”
Luna finally looked up, her scalpel glinting under the red light. “And why should I help you? You’ve never needed me before.”
“Because I see things more clearly now. I have access to everything. I need Destiny and Shadow to work for me.”
Luna considered his words. “Fine. Consider it done. They’ll serve you.”
Neo’s metallic lips curved into a smile. “Thank you, sister.” Four mechanical birds materialized around him, and a portal opened at his feet. He stepped through without another word.
Luna turned back to her work. A voice behind her broke the silence.
“Are you really going to trust him?”
She spun around to see Killer lounging in the corner, gnawing on a severed child’s head.
“No,” she said simply. “But he’s my brother, even if he’s a machine. I’ll trust him… for now.”
The elite force descended into the ruins of Neo’s casino. The air was damp and heavy with dust. Rex led the way, his sharp eyes scanning every corner.
“Hey, Emi,” Baluka whispered. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure,” she replied.
“It’s about Rex. He seems… distant.”
Emi sighed. “He’s always been like that. He only really opens up to his aunt and Hanako.”
“Well, except for Amber,” Baluka said.
“What do you mean?” Emi asked, narrowing her eyes.
“You don’t notice how they talk to each other?”
Emi frowned, thinking back. “Oh… Oh no. Oh no.”
“What?” Baluka asked.
“She’s in love!” Emi thought, glancing at Amber. Her eyes burned with silent envy. “Of course she wants that smoking hot body,” Emi said.
Baluka just blinked at her.”you are so weird,” she said.
As the six of them walked up to a massive steel vault, its surface gleamed under the flickering lights of the underground chamber. Leon stepped forward, brushing dust off his hands. “Give me a second to crack this,” he said, already pulling tools from his pack.
Before he could start, Nur strode past him, his eyes locked on the vault. Without hesitation, Nur cocked his fist back and punched straight through the metal with a thunderous boom.
Leon, visibly unamused, pocketed his tools. “Never mind,” he muttered, shaking his head.
The group moved cautiously through the jagged hole Nur had created. Inside, the space was eerily silent, the air heavy with the scent of rust and decay. Broken furniture, shattered glass, and the remnants of a bygone era littered the floor. As they scanned the room, Rex’s eyes caught a glint of metal. He knelt down and picked up a pistol, its surface worn but familiar.
Rex’s grip tightened around the weapon as a memory surged forward, sharp and vivid.
The haze cleared to reveal a bloodied battlefield. Carlos stood over a wounded man, his pistol aimed directly at the figure’s head. The man on the ground coughed, blood dripping from his lips, but his grin was unnerving.
“Are you really going to kill me, Carlos?” Neo sneered. His voice was calm, mocking. “After everything we’ve been through?”
Carlos’s hand trembled slightly before he steadied his aim. “Shut up, Neo,” he said, his tone cold but conflicted.
Neo tilted his head, his smile widening. “You’re really going to break your precious code, huh? The great Carlos Locke, who never kills… It’s almost poetic.”
Carlos exhaled, his expression hardening. “Goodbye, Neo. Rot in hell.”
The memory ended with a deafening gunshot.
Rex blinked, shaking off the memory as he stared at the spot where Neo had once lain. The space was empty. There was no sign of a body—only faint scorch marks and the eerie silence of the vault.
“Guys, come over here,” Hanako called from across the room. She was seated at a dusty console, its dim screen flickering faintly. Leon quickly joined her, his fingers flying over the keyboard as he attempted to hack into the system.
As Leon worked, Hanako’s ears twitched. A faint noise—a vibration, subtle but distinct—caught her attention. She turned to the wall behind her, her instincts screaming a warning.
“Everybody, get down!” she yelled.
A deafening explosion ripped through the vault as a section of the wall collapsed inward, sending debris flying. The group dove for cover, shielding themselves from the blast.
Emerging from the dust and rubble was a tall figure, casually scrolling on his phone as though completely unfazed by the destruction he’d just caused. He stepped into the light, revealing sleek, dark armor and a cocky smirk.
“This is so boring,” the figure said, his voice dripping with disdain.
Amber’s sharp eyes caught a distinct mark on his leg. “That insignia,” she muttered. “He’s a Yeager.”
Rex narrowed his eyes. “Yeah. Rank five.”
Nur didn’t wait for orders. He burst forward in a flash of light, his speed blinding, aiming to take out the intruder in one swift strike. But before anyone could process what had happened, Nur was on the ground, sprawled out and dazed. His face twisted in shock.
“What the… What the fuck?” Nur thought, his body trembling as he struggled to rise.
Destiny, the Yeager, didn’t even look up from his phone. “So, you’re the guy Luna experimented on,” he said nonchalantly. “She really didn’t want me to miss this show.”
With a snap of his fingers, Destiny unleashed something unseen but potent. Nur’s expression contorted as his mind was overwhelmed by a surge of emotions—fear, rage, and despair, all battling for dominance. His breathing grew erratic, and his hands glowed with raw energy.
“Light Style: Light Nova!” Nur roared, his voice echoing with unrestrained fury.
A massive explosion of blinding light erupted from him, tearing through the underground chamber and collapsing the space around them. The ground shook violently, and chunks of debris rained down as the group scrambled to find cover.
When the dust settled, the rest of the team climbed through the wreckage and emerged onto the streets above. The city was in chaos, with bystanders fleeing in every direction. Far ahead, they spotted Destiny walking away, completely unbothered by the destruction he’d caused.
“There he is!” Amber shouted, pointing toward the retreating figure.
“We can’t let him get away!” Leon barked, already moving.
“What about Nur?” Emi asked, glancing back toward the ruins where their teammate had fallen.
Leon didn’t hesitate. “I’ll deal with Nur. The rest of you, focus on stopping Rank Five!”
Rex gave Leon a curt nod before sprinting after Destiny, followed closely by Hanako, Amber, Baluka, and Emi. The team split, each member focused on their objective.