✦ “Starbreaker Protocol: Active” ✦
image [https://i.ibb.co/vxDtTKZ/00043.jpg]
Cogs groaned and ground into motion. Pistons hissed, then slammed into a rhythmic pulse, sending up bursts of steam that spiraled like ghosts into the air. An ancient invention stirred, shaking off the weight of centuries
The machine flickered to life in a brilliant violet glow, illuminating the chamber. The room’s seamless metallic walls reflected the light, carved by conduits that pulsed faintly with alien energy. Cables and pipes coiled out from the colossal structure, disappearing into unseen depths, as if fueling something even more monumental
The hiss of an automatic door broke the silence. A group of five stepped into the room, their faces painted with awe.. and something sharper. Triumph? Relief?
At the head of the group, a woman in stiletto heels strode forward with confidence. She was dressed head-to-toe in designer sharpness, her tailored outfit glinting under the violet glow. Her smile was as precise as her steps, each one echoing in the vast chamber as she closed the distance to the awakening machine
image [https://i.ibb.co/175HGmX/00042.jpg]
Akemi: “Are you there, StarIa?!”
✦ : Feminine digital voice
“Yes, Madame Akemi, Master Ao has given me permission to activate the Starbreaker protocol..
I will soon be able to welcome the stars of our clan, and attempt to create the first artificial constellation.”
Akemi: “Incredible.. it worked! Can you start the ship?”
✦: “One of my sub-processes is taking care of it, Madame Akemi”
Akemi: “Perfect!”
A soft shuffle of footsteps drew her attention. From the shadows of the room, a man approached..
a limp in his stride, his black glasses reflecting the machine’s violet glow. His left sleeve hung empty where an arm had once been
Kai (Not final)
image [https://i.ibb.co/dpM4K4m/00046.png]
???: “So this is it.. it's started”
Akemi: She turned to him, her eyes alight “Yes Kai..”
They exchanged a brief glance, weighted with the years behind them and the task ahead
Akemi: “Where are we going, Captain?”
Kai: “Direction.. Kamelott”
----- On the Arthur Pendragon side -----
Arthur and his five knights of the round table are speeding on their horses towards a large bridge that leads to the kingdom of Artand, to confront King Geirford, but they all seem very intrigued, as they receive a telepathic transmission of Ao's speech
Ao: Telepathically, to all those around the veil
“To you who have lost hope,
To you who have lost your old lives, imprisoned by the lies of the Pendragons,
To you who try to be fair in these times of constant battle,
[...]
The Starbreaker clan are coming for you!
And we'll take back everything they took from us!!”
Arthur scowled, his grip tightening on his reins
Arthur: “What's he talking about?!”
Karadoc: Galope at the king's side “Another message to destabilize us, my king, pay no attention to it!!”
Arthur: “First that half-demon who told us we didn't exist.. and now him?!”
Gauvain: Galope at the king's side “My king, stay focused!!”
The words barely left his lips when the air thickened with an oppressive energy
A deep, jagged voice boomed, cutting through the rhythmic pounding of hooves
???: “You'd better listen to your knights, Arthur Pendragon!”
Arthur: “Huh?!”
???: “Blade SABLE”
SLASH
The ground before them shuddered. A razor-thin gash of sand carved through the air, racing toward the knights like a living blade. Horses whinnied and reared, the knights pulling sharply on their reins
Arthur thrust his hand forward, flames roaring to life in his palm. The sand hissed as it burned, hardening into molten-red glass. With a sharp motion, he flung the glass upward, redirecting the attack over their heads. The shattered remains rained down in harmless fragments, glowing faintly in the fading sunlight
Arthur: Stops and dismounts, his boots hitting the stone bridge with a solid thud
“SHOW YOURSELF, GEIRFORD!”
The wind howled across the great bridge of Artand, whipping up clouds of sand that twisted and danced like ghostly veils. Amid the chaos, heavy, deliberate footsteps echoed—metal against stone. Arthur and his knights strained their eyes, the swirling sand obscuring everything beyond a few meters
Then, a voice—deep and commanding—cut through the storm
King Geirford: “SABLE… SCATTER”
With a single word, the wind obeyed. The sand parted as though cleaved by an invisible blade, revealing King Geirford. He stood alone in the center of the bridge, his black-and-brown sword, SAND, pointed directly at Arthur. His crimson cape flared behind him, emblazoned with a star emblem that glinted faintly in the sunlight
King Geirford (not final)
image [https://i.ibb.co/6ZktCNv/00029-3881015947.png]
Arthur’s gaze flicked to the emblem, his jaw tightening
King Geirford: “I’ll reiterate what I told your right-hand man: You are not welcome here, Pendragon. Return to your kingdom.”
Arthur: Steps forward, his voice sharp “You will pay for infiltrating the Red Cult at an official event!”
King Geirford: His expression darkens, his grip on SAND tightening
“What did you just say, boy? Are you accusing the kingdom of Artand of treachery?”
Arthur: “You’re under arrest, King Geirford, and you’ll answer for your crimes before a Pendragon court!”
King Geirford: A growl rumbled in his throat, his fury palpable
“We haven’t infiltrated anything at all! It’s your alliance, still scheming to frame us and bring us down!”
Arthur: Fixes him with a cold stare “Then defend your honor in court. Resist, and you’ll only prove your guilt.”
Geirford snarled, his anger spilling over. His iron armor crackled as his muscles tensed beneath its plates. His matte face was set in a grimace of pure rage and resentment. Raising his blade, SAND, he pointed it at Arthur’s knights
King Geirford: “I’m not going anywhere!”
Arthur’s knights responded in unison, their swords ringing as they left their scabbards. Only Arthur remained still, his hand resting on the hilt of his legendary sword. He held Geirford’s gaze, unflinching.
The wind howled again, carrying the tension between the two kings like a live wire.
Arthur: Steps forward, his hand outstretched “It doesn’t have to come to this, Geirford!”
Geirford: His voice dripped with disdain as his eyes narrowed at the young king
“You’re young.. and I can smell the pestilence of the engram magic you give off! You'd better retreat and get out of their mischiefs before it's too late for you!”
Karadoc: Steps up beside the knight, pointing his royal sword at Geirford
“SHUT UP, MANIPULATOR!”
As the confrontation was about to clash.. before either side could move, the earth itself rebelled. A violent tremor erupted from the depths of the Artand desert, the bridge beneath their feet shuddering violently. Arthur stumbled, his knights struggling to keep their balance as the ground roared in defiance
Arthur: Shouting over the chaos “Is this your doing, Geirford?!!”
But Geirford wasn’t looking at Arthur anymore. His gaze was fixed on the distance, toward the shimmering heat haze of the tournament veil. His brow furrowed, and his voice dropped to a whisper
Geirford: “What’s going on over there?.. Ao?!”
The air grew cold, as if the desert had suddenly forgotten the sun. And then, a voice—inhuman and unfeeling—echoed in Geirford's mind
⚝: “Let death find you where fate has long decreed”
Geirford: His entire body tensed, his eyes wide with terror “This.. voice.. No.. IMPOSSIBLE!!”
Arthur: Whipping around to look at him “What voice?!”
Karadoc: Pointing his sword at Geirford “Don’t listen to him, my king! He’s trying to fool us!”
But Geirford wasn’t listening. His chest rose and fell in shallow, panicked breaths, sweat streaming down his face. He stumbled back, his voice trembling as he looked desperately at Arthur
Geirford: “F-Flee! You must flee! ARGH—”
His words cut off with a sickening crack as a blade erupted through his chest. It was long, jagged, and impossibly sharp, like a sword carved from living shadow. Blood splattered across the bridge as the weapon tore through his iron armor with ease. Geirford’s body went rigid, his mouth opening in a silent scream. Arthur froze, his eyes wide with shock, as the wounded king slumped forward, the blade still protruding from his chest
Arthur: His voice boomed over the roaring sandstorm “WHAT’S HAPPENING, KARADOC?!”
Karadoc: Shielding his face with one arm, his sword in the other
“There’s no one behind him! What the hell is this?!”
Geirford staggered forward, his breaths ragged and shallow as blood dripped from his mouth. His trembling hand rose, pointing directly at Arthur and his knights. His eyes burned with pain, but his voice was resolute, cutting through the chaos
Geirford: Spitting blood “SABLE.. PUSH!”
The air erupted with a deafening roar. A torrent of sand exploded outward, surging with the force of a tidal wave. It slammed into Arthur and his knights, the sheer velocity sending them flying off the bridge. Horses reared and whinnied in terror as the sandstorm howled like a living beast
Arthur’s instincts took over. He thrust his hand toward the horses, summoning a radiant golden shield that expanded to protect them from the storm’s fury. The effort left him trembling, his magic flickering like a guttering flame. He cursed under his breath as he watched his knights disappear into the churning sand, their armor glinting as they were hurled farther and farther back
Arthur himself hit the ground hard, the red sand rushing up to meet him. Pain shot through his body, but he dug his boots into the ground, anchoring himself as best he could against the relentless wind. The sand tore at his skin and clothes, its heat biting like fire
He turned his head toward the shimmering tournament veil in the distance, his mind racing. Clenching his fists, he reached out telepathically
Arthur (Telepathically): “What’s going on?!.. William?! Siegfried?! Answer me!”
Only silence met him. He gritted his teeth, pushing harder
Arthur (Telepathically): “Siegfried? William? Report! What’s happening?!”
Still, nothing. The silence was deafening, heavier than the storm raging around him. He narrowed his eyes at the veil, now flickering unnaturally, its edges distorting as if trapped in an unseen storm
Arthur’s stomach sank. Whatever was happening on Ao’s side, it was no ordinary disturbance
----- Ao's side -----
----- 10 minutes earlier -----
As Ao raised his arm to finish his speech to the cameras, the distant thunder of galloping hooves echoed across the desert. He turned his head, spotting a troop of knights speeding toward him. With a snap of his fingers, the camera feed cut off, the broadcast vanishing into static. His expression smoothed into a calm, neutral mask as he turned back to the group
Ao: Looking at Yumi, Gin, and Kin (still unconscious)
“The forces of your kingdom are here. You can go home.”
Gin: Pushing himself to his feet, frustration etched across his face
“What the hell kind of speech was that, Ao?! And I’m not going anywhere! I still have to take the tournament prize back to my—”
Ao’s sharp tone cut through Gin’s words
Ao: “This isn’t the time for this. All the participants were massacred by the Red Cult last night. Only we survived.”
Gin froze. Yumi’s eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. Shock turned to disbelief, and disbelief turned to rage.
Yumi: Stepping forward, dangerously close to Ao, her voice trembling with anger
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
“You knew, you bastard?! You knew, and you didn’t do anything to stop it?! Why didn’t we try to save them?!”
Ao: His voice was calm, steady “It was either you three.. or them. I made my choice."
Yumi grabbed Ao by the collar, her knuckles white with fury.
Yumi: “Because you think we couldn’t have managed without you? You arrogant son of a—”
Ao: Interrupting, his voice cold and emotionless.
“I don’t think so. I’m sure of it. Without me, the prophet would’ve killed you all where you stood. Do you really believe sentimentality would’ve saved you?”
He grabbed Yumi’s hand, pried it off his collar with ease, and pushed her back. Yumi stumbled, her eyes brimming with tears as she glared at him, her chest heaving with frustration and anger
Yumi: Her voice cracked, trembling with fury “And you say you and your clan are going to save us?! Save us from what?!”
The ground trembled slightly as the Pendragon knights arrived, their armored horses pulling up alongside the group. The thunder of hooves slowed to a halt, but the weight of their presence lingered like a storm on the horizon. Yumi didn’t flinch, her burning gaze fixed on Ao’s unchanging face. Ao, in turn, refused to answer, his silence more cutting than any response he could have given
Ao's thoughts
They’re still under their spell... Blind to the truth, clinging to their illusions.
I can’t afford distractions now
I hope StarIa understood the directives. This must end cleanly
Two men dismounted their horses, their boots crunching against the desert floor as they strode forward. Their movements were deliberate, their eyes fixed on Ao with grim determination
Siegfried: His voice was calm but edged with steel
“I suppose you're Aotahi, or rather... Blue light?”
Ao: Turns his head towards the man speaking “Yes, that's me.”
William: “Let my childs go !!” Starts to walk forward but..
Siegfried: Stops William by blocking his way with his arm
“Wait William.. Let’s try to negotiate the release of the hostages.”
Yumi: “We're not hostages!” Starts walking towards her father
She walked quickly past Ao, her steps unsteady but purposeful. Tears welled in her eyes as she reached her father and threw herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. William’s arms wrapped around her, his stern expression softening as he held her close
William: Looks worriedly at Kin “What... What happened to Kin?”
Ao: Turns his gaze at Kin and casts “Release Curse”
A faint glow surrounded Kin as the curse unraveled, dissipating like smoke in the wind. Kin stirred, his eyelids fluttering as if waking from a fevered sleep. He blinked at the sunlight, his voice groggy
Kin: “Wha… I… hot…”
Gin knelt by his brother’s side, his small hands gripping Kin’s arm tightly as relief flooded his face
Gin: “I’m here, brother”
William and Siegfried exchanged stunned glances, the situation unraveling before them in a way they hadn’t expected. This wasn’t the standoff they had envisioned. Their gazes flicked to Ao, who stood silently, watching the scene unfold, his expression as unreadable as ever
William is relieved, and releases a great sigh of relief, as Yumi cries in his arms and tells him
Yumi: Her voice broke between cries “Mu is dead, Daddy.. They killed him.”
William: His voice was soft, steady, and heavy with grief “I know, sweetheart. I felt his death all the way from Kamelott. That’s how we uncovered the Red Cult’s infiltration here.”
Ao, standing a few paces away, crossed his arms, his face cold and detached.
Ao: “That’s right.. But it wasn’t Mu’s death that brought you here, was it? It’s because I titillated your precious engram magic.”
Siegfried’s gaze snapped to Ao, his eyes blazing with a flicker of violet fire. His expression was hard, unforgiving, as if daring Ao to continue. William, by contrast, remained calm, his attention shifting to Ao with an almost eerie softness
Compassion?
William: Gently, as if addressing a student “You’re fighting forces you cannot stop, Ao.”
Ao: His voice sharpened “Don’t bother. Nothing’s going to make me back down.. It’s too late anyway.”
William: Nods slowly “You’re right.. but let me ask you a question.”
Ao: Frowning slightly, wary “Hm?”
William: His voice dropped, calm yet impossibly heavy “What would you prefer? A lie filled with joy and goodness… or a truth without hope and mercy?”
Yumi: In her father's arms, raises her head in confusion
“Wha... What are you talking about, Dad?”
Ao’s frown deepened, anger flashing in his eyes. But behind the anger, something else stirred—confusion. The question seemed to strike deeper than he expected, forcing him to hesitate. He narrowed his gaze at William, studying him as if trying to pierce a veil obscuring the man’s true identity
Who was this man standing before him?
Ao: “What's your name, baldy?”
Siegfried: Snapping with fury “Don’t disrespect my friend, you insolent fool!”
William: Raising a hand to calm Siegfried, his voice steady “My name is... HUH—” His words faltered as his gaze shifted past Ao, astonishment lighting his face
Slowly, faintly, the sound of an organ drifted through the air, growing louder with every passing second. Its deep, resonant tones gave way to a melody—gentle, mournful, and laden with sorrow. It wrapped itself around them like a shroud, heavy with grief. Ao froze, his breath catching as the music burrowed into his soul, dragging old memories to the surface
Unbidden, names began to spill from his lips
Ao: Blankly, his voice trembling “Sic... Arlon... Marianna... Aurone... Danid... Eintö...”
Siegfried: Frowning, glancing at William with confusion “What’s he doing?... William?”
William: His expression softening, tears brimming in his eyes “Can’t you hear it, Siegfried? The music…”
Siegfried: Stiffening, his voice uneasy “Wh-What music?”
The melody cut off abruptly, leaving an oppressive silence in its wake. From the thick smoke rising near the totem explosion, a deep, resonant voice boomed, carrying both weight and menace.
⚝: “May the dead be honored, and forge your existence|consciousness”
Ao’s body jolted, his trance broken. His fists clenched as he spun around, dropping into a fighting stance. His narrowed eyes scanned the smoke, his heart pounding.
This way of speaking... existence|consciousness... Don't tell me
⚝: “In this cruel world, where immortality has become banality, causality... always finds a way, so never forget
MEMENTO MORI”
INTENSE CHILLS
The air itself seemed to shudder, a bone-deep cold sweeping through the Artand desert. The insidious voice burrowed into the minds of random people, deep and heartbreaking, like a curse whispering directly to their souls. It was a voice of inevitability.
⚝: “Let death find you where fate has long decreed”
Gin: His voice trembled as he stumbled backward “Wh.. What?!”
Ao’s instincts screamed a warning. He turned toward Gin, his eyes darting upward, and froze. Above him
Ice.. ice picks?!!
Jagged shards of ice shimmered into existence .They hovered ominously for a brief moment, before hurtling toward Gin with deadly speed
Gin’s body froze, paralyzed by fear. But before the shards could strike, two figures moved simultaneously. Ao lunged forward, twisting his body midair as he delivered a spinning kick that shattered multiple shards into a spray of glittering frost. At the same time, William’s fist smashed into another pack of shards with brutal force, the ice exploding into harmless fragments. Both landed in front of Gin, their eyes locking for a brief moment of astonished recognition
Gin: Clutching his head, panic overtaking him “Wha.. What's going on?!!”
Ao, William (simultaneously): “An impossible creature!”
They scowled at each other, equally annoyed that they’d reached the same conclusion.
Kin: Still dazed, trying to speak “An... im-” A scream tore through the air, silencing him.
Pendragon Knights: “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGHH!!!”
Ao whirled around to see the Pendragon troop descending into chaos. Invisible spears materialized midair, tearing through knights with gruesome precision. Blood sprayed across the sand as bodies crumpled. Others cried out as the ground beneath them fractured and gave way, swallowing them into gaping pits. The once-proud troop was reduced to screams and desperation in moments.
Ao: Shouting above the carnage “Whoever’s leading this troop, pull them back NOW!”
Siegfried: Snarling “No one retreats! I repeat, no one falls back!”
Turns to William
“William! Can you reach the king?!”
William: “That's what I'm trying to do!! But I can't!!”
Ao: Scream in frustration “You'll have time for that later!! You've got to go!!”
Gin: Clinging desperately to Ao’s poncho, his voice cracking
“I CAN’T LEAVE! I NEED THAT ARTIFACT TO SAVE MY SISTER! I WON’T LET HER DIE!”
Ao: Tries to push Gin away, but he hangs on tight
“You idiot! If you stay there you'll all die!!!”
Screams continued to echo through the desert as death rained down on the Pendragon troop. Each death was stranger than the last, an unrelenting display of carnage.
Ao’s jaw clenched as his mind raced
Those bastards aren't going anywhere!!.. I've got to find out who's behind this carnage!!!
⚝: “I'm here, Aotahi.. grrr...”
INTENSE CHILLS
The desert stilled as a collective shiver ran through everyone present. All eyes turned toward the thick smoke, formed by the previous explosion of the Red Cult's totem.. Slowly, a figure began to emerge, silhouetted against the haze. It stepped forward, deliberate and unhurried, its shape becoming clearer.
⚝: “I see you want to save these people from their destined deaths, so.. how about you face..
YOUR FATED DEATH”
A woman stepped out of the smoke, her crimson hair shimmering like fire. Her glowing red eyes locked onto Ao as the desert fell silent, the weight of her presence suffocating
image [https://i.ibb.co/vL2XSqW/00012.jpg]
While Ao didn’t recognize the red-haired woman before him, Gin and his family were frozen in place, their expressions twisted with disbelief. William’s voice broke the silence, trembling with equal parts shock and devastation
William: “Akane..?!!”
Ao: “Hmm?!”
Akane?!.. That's Gin's sister's name.. But.. it's im-
⚝: The creature smiled, her red eyes glinting with malice
“Impossible, isn’t it? But you said it yourself, I’m an impossible creature!”
Everyone stood stunned, the weight of the revelation sinking in. Gin’s knees buckled, his trembling hand clutching at his chest
William: Stepping forward, his fists trembling
“Using my daughter's appearance.. Why?! Why her?!!”
⚝: “My poor prophet 「Alpha」 returned with an interesting conundrum. He recovered a blood sample he couldn’t read—oh, he was furious! So I read it for him and what did I find? An exceptional fighter”
William: “Akane, an exceptional fighter?!”
⚝: She turned her gaze to Ao, her smile twisting into something terrifying
“Aotahi! This woman you see before you is the one who will take your life!”
The group turned toward Ao, their gazes filled with apprehension. But Ao… laughed. His voice echoed across the desert, sharp and mocking
Ao: “HAHAHA!!! You can dress up in all the costumes you want, you’re still pathetic!”
In an instant, the creature disappeared in a blur of red light. Before Ao could react, she appeared right in front of him, her fist drawn back and wreathed in crimson energy. The punch connected with a deafening crack, the force rippling through the air as Ao was hurled backward, skidding across the sand. Blood dripped from his nose as he stumbled to his feet, wiping his face with the back of his hand.
Oof.. That's one hell of a punch!!...
Ao blew out his nose, wiping away the blood as he realized it was broken.
Despite the pain, a defiant grin spread across his face
Ao: “Aaaah.. As long as you don’t hurt anyone else, I’m fine with it.. Red Beast!”
With that, Ao dashed forward, his movements a blur as he launched himself into the air. Twisting mid-flight, he delivered a flying kick aimed squarely at the creature’s chest. The Red Beast caught his leg effortlessly, her crimson aura rippling with energy as she shoved him back. Ao skidded across the sand but recovered quickly, his eyes blazing with determination
William: Staring in disbelief “The… The Red Beast?! But it’s supposed to be a myth!”
Ao: “Yep! But everything points to her, the Red Beast is a creature of death, literally, she can materialize the death you're supposed to have in the future! But in exchange, it needs an absurd amount of blood to cast its spell!
I thought this was just a classic red cult extermination mission, but it looks like you've brought out the heavy artillery!
Is there any particular reason why an impossible creature would emerge from its lair?!”
⚝: “Hmm.. Your master taught you well, Aotahi.. But he should have calmed your invasive self-confidence!”
The red beast chatters its teeth and sneered.. and a scream pierced the air from within the Pendragon troop. Ao’s head snapped toward the sound, but the Red Beast’s sneer deepened, her crimson aura pulsating with malevolence
Ao: His voice thundered across the desert as he glared at her
“I’M YOUR OPPONENT! LEAVE THEM OUT OF IT!”
The Red Beast tilted her head, her crimson eyes narrowing with amusement. She cracked her fingers and then her neck, her joints popping unnaturally as she turned to look at Siegfried and William
⚝: “Aotahi, a young vagabond of 21, abandoned like a stray dog by his master 10 years ago. Oh, he taught you how to fight, yes… but did he teach you how to tell the difference between a deadly situation and an advantageous one?”
Ao: “You think I don't know the risks of your presence?”
⚝: Her laughter was low and guttural, rattling through the desert like an earthquake
“Hmm.. Are you stupid? Suicidal? Overconfident? Perhaps all three?”
The red sand at her feet began to tremble and swirl as her aura intensified, sending waves of dread through the Pendragon troops. The knights stood frozen in terror, sweat dripping down their faces as their weapons trembled in their hands. None dared to move, as though even a twitch might draw the beast’s wrath
⚝: Her voice rose to a roar as her aura flared brighter
“ANSWER ME, Aotahi! I am a creature that has existed since time immemorial! I could crush your pitiful life at any moment! So.. why don’t you run away?!”
Ao stared at the Red Beast, his eyes wide with realization. His lips curled into a disbelieving smile as a strange laugh bubbled out of him
Ao: “Ah… Ahah… Hahaha! Hahahahaha!! It can’t be”
The Red Beast’s crimson aura pulsed erratically, her patience visibly thinning. Her face—Akane’s face—twisted into a snarl of pure rage, her teeth grinding audibly.
⚝: “Enough with your games, Aotahi!”
But Ao didn’t stop. He placed a hand on his face, his shoulders shaking as he laughed harder, his voice teetering on the edge of hysteria
Ao: “I’m scared, Red Beast… I really am. I’m human, after all. I’m afraid to die!”
His laughter faded, his hand falling away from his face. He took a deep breath, his tone dropping, heavy and deliberate
Ao: “But it’s with deep sincerity that I’m going to tell you this…”
Y E S
The atmosphere shifted. Ao’s voice resonated like a thunderclap, vibrating the ribcages and bodies of everyone around him. Even the Red Beast shivered as the sheer force of his tone pressed against her
Ao: “I've... faced the worst opponent you can have on this planet! Countless times.. and I've never managed to land even one blow.. on him.
But..”
A N G E R _ I S _ T A K I N G _ O V E R _ U S
Ao: “If I could.. just get a little closer to his level.. Then never mind the fear, the doubt, the risk..”
The words echoed across the desert, and Ao’s blazing blue eyes locked onto the Red Beast. The heat around him intensified, the air growing suffocating as his body radiated a searing energy
I G N I T E
The heat rolled off him in waves, the ground beneath him sizzling as he crouched low, his body coiled like a spring
Ao: “You.. Red beast.. You're just another stepping stone.. TOWARDS THIS GOAL!!!”
A shockwave bursts around Ao, and prepares to launch herself at the red beast with lightning force
The Red Beast sneered, her crimson aura flaring in response
⚝: “AHAHAHA!! A SUICIDAL MAN! THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE, AOTAHI!!!”
But before the confrontation could erupt, William’s voice echoed in Ao’s mind
William (Telepathically): “Kid!!! This is death waiting for you!!!”
Ao (Telepathically): “Don’t worry, old man. As soon as I throw myself at her.. Get the hell out of here!”
William clenched his fists, his teeth grinding in frustration, thinking bitterly
Damn it, kid !!
Why do you always have to do this?!
As Siegfried and William shouted orders for the troops to retreat to Artand’s kingdom, the air around Ao and the Red Beast crackled with tension. With a blinding flash, the two forces collided, blue and red light exploding outward in a violent storm of energy. The shockwave rocked the desert, scattering sand and shaking the ground as if the very heavens had erupted in battle
Who will emerge victorious from this clash of power?
But above all… what is one of my creations doing in the desert of Artand?