CHAPTER 2 - Conviction Against Diamond

PART 13
Quartz Castle wasnt just a stronghold for the enemy. It was the shell of a time
machine. The design of the machine itself was so complex that it had to be built
into the infrastructure of a larger building.
But because of this, it could localise temporal waves, Chrono-Waves, inside the
building and transport everything inside with it. Localised Chrono-waves appear
silver to the naked eye but actually fluctuate from invisible light to visible light
in a consistent, blinking rhythm and are strangely cold to the touch.
Dexter and his team learned about the construction of the castle from their mole
inside Shooting Star: His younger brother, Ray.
He was suited for spy work and could not be detected easily because of his
Light, Espionage Project. The ability to project a holographic image by
manipulating light.
Even the advanced technology of Shooting Star could not tell the difference
between the abilitys projection and natural, reflected light.
When they learned of the masterminds plan to travel back in time, they had to
act.
With all of the information they had gathered, they believed that their chances
of success to be extremely low.
But they had no choice. They had to do it.
Outnumbered and outgunned in every way, fighting in the enemys base of
operations only made it worse.
Yet they stood firm and believed in themselves. Travelling back in time to fight
against impossible odds.
However, there was one thing they had not counted on.
With a humanoid appearance, standing three meters tall.

Made from a dark-coloured metal alloy stronger than those of titanium, their
cannon arms are equipped with missiles capable of levelling entire cities.
The strongest machine of Shooting Star.
The Black Destroyers.

PART 14
Dexter and his men could do nothing but stare in awe as they stood witness to a
Meteors battle ingenuity first-hand.
When faced with four gunmen, where would be the worst possible position to
stand?
Obviously, it was right in front of them. You would get peppered with bullets
immediately.
So where would be the best possible position to be in?
It was as obvious as the previous answer, but required something else.
Absolute confidence.
Before anyone could react, a trial of gold light forms a wavy line towards the
centre of the Black Destroyers. The automatic tracking systems of the Black
Destroyers were unable to compensate for the massive difference in speed and
lost target lock. However, their systems could scan the immediate area in a
mere second. It didnt take long for them to find him.
The machines stood at three metres tall, so they were looking down.
He was in the middle of all four of them. The teenage boy with wine-red hair.
Their missiles were capable of destroying the foundations of a building with a
single shot, so nobody ever dared to get close.
Yet, he stood there with a smile on his face.
You idiot!
Click.
One of the pilots releases the safety on the control stick and pulls the trigger.
There isnt a need to hesitate.
As soon as the missile leaves the chamber, even the abnormal teenager would
be reduced to ashes.


Hmm?
However, nothing happened.
A glitch?! Thats not possible!
Click. Click. Click.
That was when he noticed a flashing red box filled with the words WARNING.
FRIENDLY FIRE in the middle of his screen.
Even though he wasnt aiming at any of the other Black Destroyers, the
annoying prompt refused to go away. No matter how much he continuously pulls
the trigger, the system does not allow the missiles to fire.
The blast radius..!
Dexter understood before anyone else did.
What do you mean?
The destructive power of their rockets are great enough to destroy entire
towns. If they fired in such a small area, there is no way for the other machines
to escape unscathed!
The pilots werent sure how to respond. No one had ever tried something like
this before.
Their war machines were turned into useless shells of metal without their ability
to fire. Their fearsome destructive power became their weakness.
As their monitors display the red-haired teenager, they catch a glimpse of gold
light in his left iris before it disappears.
He exhales, relieved that his plan worked. A confident smile starts to form on his
face.
And a red light flares up in his right iris.
Dont get conceited! Even without our rockets, we can still crush you!
The silhouette of something larger than his body comes hurling down.

One of the Black Destroyers swings their imposing cannon arm down on him like
a hammer. The force generated from the motors of a machine this huge was
more than enough to crush a person.
But compared to the heavy club before that was designed for close combat, it
wasnt nearly as terrifying.
A dull thung reverberates through the metal. Axen grabbed the cannon arm of
the Black Destroyer and stopped it in its tracks.
Is that all?
A sharp creaking noise pierces the pilots ears as the metallic shell of the arm
caves in.

All the pilots could do was stare in disbelief. Starlings had absolute confidence in
their engineering; it was their factions pride. Crushing that confidence was
equivalent to destroying their identity.
An even sharper creak, like forcibly opening a rusty gate, screeches into their
ears.
The pilot of the Black Destroyer Axen was fighting notices something off about
the viewpoint on his screen. Almost like someone took the camera and forcibly
changed its angle.
It took him a moment to fully understand.
Ahh
The entirety of his machine has been lifted up into the air with a single
movement of the teenage boy.
It was surreal.
The scene of the strongest machine being toyed with was too surreal.
Axen turns to look at the Black Destroyer next to him. His cold eyes sent a
suffocating pressure into the cockpit.
II have to get out of here!
The pilots body trembles without pause. His subconscious knew what was going
to happen next.

But he was too afraid to even lift a finger.

Mercilessly, Axen swings down the Black Destroyer he was lifting and smashes it
into the other, crushing both of their cockpits. The machinery inside bursts into
flames and scorches the pilots face.
They were not wearing any special protective suits because they believed the
robots themselves were the best protection they had.
EeiiiiKKKKKKKK-
The pilots screams are cut off by the loud roar of their cockpits exploding.
All of a sudden, only two Black Destroyers were left.
FIRE! FIRE!!!
One of the pilots of the remaining Black Destroyer panics. He pulls the trigger
and dismisses the red FRIENDLY FIRE signal by typing in an override code.
A black missile with a yellow-striped tip fires out from the chamber of the
cannon, trailed by the white smoke produced from its tail.
Axen!
As the words leave Dexters mouth, he realizes that it was meaningless. Just like
trying to warn someone the moment a bullet leaves a gun.
There is no way for it to miss as well. Shooting Stars technology was made to
be flawless.
..!
For a moment, Dexter catches a glimpse of a gold light in Axens left eye.
Hmm?
The pilot of the other Black Destroyer receives a strange message on his screen.
Something that didnt make sense in this situation.
-Warning. Incoming Projectile.What did it mean?
The red-eyed teenager they were fighting has not shown signs of using projectile
weapons. And even so, not many projectiles could harm the shell of the Black
Destroyer.

From what he could see, the only projectile on the field was the rocket fired by
his ally, heading straight for him
...!
What?!
His mind finally clicks.
Why is it coming towards me?!
He immediately pulls back a lever to the left side of his seat. The Black
Destroyer leaps backwards at full power, shattering the ground in the process.
But it was too late.
I cant-!
It pierces through the armour of the Black Destroyer.
And a massive outburst of flames engulfs the area.
Ghk!
Dexter and his team are blown away by the blast and crash into the asphalt
floor. They instinctively close their eyes to shield them from the flames and
intense heat as their exclamations of pain are drowned out by the low,
deafening explosion.

The roar of the explosion subsides. Their hot skins start to cool down, indicating
that the worst has passed and they open their eyes.
In front of the translucent castle, two figures remain amidst the scorched earth.
The last Black Destroyer, with smoke emanating from its exterior plating.
And Axen, who upheaved a large portion of the asphalt ground as a shield.
He tosses the seared shield away and it crumbles apart.

WhatWhat just happened?

One of Dexters colleagues asked the question they were all asking themselves.
Even the last remaining pilot.
He frantically presses a few buttons and brings up a video recorded by the Black
Destroyers high speed camera, showing the last few seconds before the
explosion.
He
But Dexter didnt need that kind of technology. What he witnessed answered
that question conclusively.
The white smoke trail that curved in a V-shape.
As the pilot reviews the footage, they both arrive at the same answer.
An answer that surpasses common sense.
He took the missile mid-flight and threw it at the other Black Destroyer!
Dexters colleagues stare at him in disbelief. It was too absurd. To catch a missile
mid-flight, he would require phenomenal speed. To alter its course; an
equivalently absurd amount of strength.
However, the last pilot has no choice but to accept reality as the footage loops.
Axen had moved faster than the rocket itself and redirected it to his ally.
He could feel his heartbeat throughout his entire body. A warm and
uncomfortable sensation overwhelms him as he loses control of his breathing.
His rationality tries to acknowledge a fundamental truth. A fact that had to be
accepted.
But he represses it with the last of his mental strength.
Because if he doesnt, he would lose control of his body.
If he accepts it, the only thing left will be despair.
Yet, he couldnt deny it. He couldnt suppress it.
ImGoing to die!

He starts to hyperventilate. His arms were moving by themselves.

And activates something that could not be stopped.
Look!
A violet light escapes from the gaps of the Black Destroyers left arm, steadily
growing along with faint noises of rushing wind.
Khkk.
The black plating of the arm cracks. Like highly pressurized gas, the light
ferociously gushes out of the crevices.
And almost as if it could no longer contain the tremendous power inside
An explosion scatters metal in every direction.
Thats
A series of metal tubes remain underneath, resembling the skeletal structure of
a persons hand. Reddish-violet flames surge from every part of the skeleton and
jet towards the fingers.
With its terrifying left hand, the machine of death charges towards the redhaired teenager.
AhAHHHHHH!!!!!!
The light stretches out from the fingers and forms into a circular stake. It was
like staring at an intense flame from a torch.
But it was something far more lethal.
The final option available to a Black Destroyer for close combat.
Something that wasnt designed to be used against a single human.
Dont let it get close to you! Thats plasma!
Dexter shouts out to Axen.
The fourth state of matter that could easily cut through steel.

Axen immediately knew what it meant. As the concentrated stake of heat

approaches, the air around them becomes unbearably hot.
A single graze will kill him.
He focuses all of his senses on the approaching black monster.
If he lands even a scratch on me, Im dead. I have to end this immediately
without holding back.
He pulls on the black bandage on his right hand and tightens it. A red light
flickers in his right eye.
And a gold light ignites in his left.
As I thoughtA second Light!
Dexter finally confirms the true nature of the red-haired teenager.
Axen bends his legs, gathering strength in them.
They are both on the edge of each others striking range.
No.
With its large size, there is no doubt that the killing machine will reach the
teenager first.
The Black Destroyer thrusts the devastating stake forward like a spear.
And the purple light suddenly extends-!
!!!

Time grinds to a halt.

Axen could feel the heat on his back and the sound of his rapid heartbeat.
Imalive?

He didnt know how, but he wasnt dead yet.

Was it his Meteor instinct that made him bend his body fast enough to avoid the
fatal blow?
Or purely his muscle memory, honed from years of fighting?
It didnt matter.
Right now, the only thing that matters is..!
Without a word, he leaps forward with all of his strength!
Faster than Dexter or any of his companions could follow, Axen continues
running under the hot plasma stake. Only a tiny gap exists between the violet
light and his flowing jacket.
Even a centimetre off and his back would be burnt to ashes.
Ill worry about it later! Right now, I just have to move forward!!
Like a cannon, his fist strikes loudly against the chassis of the worlds strongest
machine and forces it to bend inwards. A large surge of electricity escapes from
the emerging cracks and the Black Destroyer helplessly flies backward.
A roar of flames erupts from within its body and a loud explosion soon followed.
Is it over?
A meek voice of disbelief comes from Dexter.
They were feared as the strongest machines.
They destroyed entire cities with ease.
Yet, the four death gods that terrified Comets and Meteors alike were defeated.
Normal Meteors did not have special powers like Axen. They had slightly
superior physical abilities, but nothing close to this.
It was the power he had gained from being kidnapped and experimented on.
From the hell that he had to endure unwillingly.
The power of a Light.

The Second-Eye.
No one could say a word as the lights in Axens eyes flickered out.

PART 15
Ray furiously types on the command panel. The final confirmation box pops up
on screen while Valerie rummages through the pouches on her belt restlessly.
Are you done?!
Alright, their automated defences are down and their security has been
unlocked. Theres nothing else to do here.
He breathes in deeply as he finishes his objective. The very thought that an
ambush could kill them at any time rushed his movements a little, but he got
the job done.
What about everything else? Some of them might have robotic suits.
The suits operate in their offline mode. They do not communicate with the
server through commands. Its their failsafe in case they were hacked. Theres
nothing we can do here.
They expected others to hack them? Did they catch on to you?
Maybe. It might just be precautions. They were attacked in the past.
Well, Ok.

The two share a moment of disheartening silence and the spirit in their eyes
disappear.
There was only one thing left to do.
Rays face winches in pain as he forces the words out of his mouth.
Are you ready?
Ray asks the question with his back still turned. He didnt know how to face her.
Yeah.
Valerie answers back with a slight hint of resignation.

They had infiltrated a highly guarded stronghold and disabled their security
systems. They had faced the weapons of the most technologically advanced
culture.
But it wasnt over yet.
The hardest part comes next.
Time to face him.
Yeah.
Their exchange was solemn.
Because they knew.
There was a chance that neither of them would survive.
The two Second-Eyes, users of extraordinary powers forcefully given to them,
steps out of the room.
In any castle, there would be a king.
In any army, there would be a leader.
Taking them out would always mean victory.
Valerie and Ray had only one destination left.
The Throne Room.

PART 16
The Throne Room is in the uppermost part of the castle. Brace yourself; we
have a lot of climbing to do.
Axen and Dexters group charge into the hallway of Quartz Castle. Translucent
silver waves thinly coats every inch of the building, like water on marble.
It looked like something out of a fairy tale. A long staircase leads to the upper
floor, furnished with a red carpet. Three large pillars stood aligned at either side
of it, as if welcoming them.
The only sound they could hear was their footsteps as they ran up to the
staircase.
Tell me something.
What?
Why are you doing this?
Dexter is taken aback at the sudden question from Axen.
What do you mean?
Why are you putting your life on the line? Without me, the Black Destroyers
would have slaughtered you and your men.
Thats
He didnt know how to answer. If he had known about the enemys acquisition of
them, he would have formulated a strategy. But even then, the chances of them
surviving were low at best.
He sincerely felt like there was nothing he could do.
Thatwas not in our intel
Axen turns his head and condescendingly gazes at Dexter. Like the strong telling
the weak that they have no place here.
Even if it wasnt, you still could have died at any point. You might still die later
on.

Its fine. We wouldnt be here if we werent prepared for that. All of us are
risking our lives because this is something important to us.
And Im assuming thats not just the generic humanitarian side of you Comets.
I had thought you believed so and thus helped us. If you didnt trust that my
humanitarian side was my motive, why would you go along with this? You dont
seem like a fool.
Axen was running in front of the group, but his footsteps slowly come to a halt.
He stood on the steps with an odd presence. In response, the rest stopped
moving as well.
Subtly yet noticeably, the look Axen gave to Dexter changes.
It was the same look that he gave before.
When they first met.
The atmosphere around them abruptly changes. A chilling wave of tension
assaults Dexter and his colleagues.
Indeed, there was no mistaking it.
It was a killing intent.
An intangible pressure pushes down on their skin. Their throats close up, robbing
them of their ability to breathe.
Dexters men all stare at Axen without the ability to fight back. Their body
freezes out of fear.
Were they supposed to point their guns at him? Theyll definitely die before they
could pull the trigger.
Were they supposed to reason with him? His beast-like eyes told them that it
was not possible.
In front of him, their lives no longer have any value.
Could they even hope to subdue him? The person who single-handedly
destroyed four Black Destroyers?
No. Even with a hundred of them, it just wasnt possible.
As they stood there helplessly for what felt like an eternity, only a few seconds
had passed.

And the ruthless Second-Eye spoke.

I only needed you until this point. Its common sense to utilize someone until
theyre worthless. Now that Im in this castle, youre no longer useful. So tell me
why youre doing this. Either die now or die later. Choose.
Alright.
With his sense of danger pushing him, Dexter breaks free from the paralyzing
tension and meets Axens glare.
Were trying to save all of the children kidnapped by the Second-Eyes project,
before the massacre of them begins.
And? Do you expect me to believe that? That a group of vigilantes would just
sacrifice themselves for the greater good? I can see it in your actions. This isnt
just some idealistic heroism. Theres something personal that youre willing to
risk it all for, even with almost no chance of survival.
Nothing gets past you, does it?
Axen does not reply.
Dexter understood that his best course of action was to answer truthfully.
My younger brother that you heard over the phone, hes like you.
What?
Like you, he survived. One of the only tw- no. Three Second-Eyes left, including
you.
!
There are.two othersLike me..? They survived? IIm notthe only one?
Your reaction. It is the same as my younger brother when we found Valerie, the
other Second-Eye.

Dexters men could finally exhale. The pair of terrifying eyes could no longer be
found.
Instead, his face was replaced with another kind of expression.

Disbelief.
And behind it, they could see a hint of something else.
A tiny bit of liberation.
Do you understand now? Ive lost him for years. I couldnt find him no matter
how desperate I got. Whatever I did was utterly pointless.
Dexters eyes flare up in indignation. His words start to ignite with a burning ire.
And when he finally gets back, he had burn marks all over his back because of
the explosion. Some parts of his hair couldnt even grow back. He wears a
hoodie all the time to hide them and could never open up to anyone.
Now, I learn that some idiot is trying to kill him after hes finally back. After our
family is finally whole again
Dexter stares at Axens furiously. His composed personality breaks away,
revealing something that had been buried for years.
Now that hes finally back Do you think Ill let them take them him away
again?! I will not allow it. As long as Im alive, I wont allow it. Even if they kill
me, I WONT ALLOW IT.
His words were final. He wouldnt allow any other outcome.
Comets were calm by nature, but when it came to human lives, they were
extremely passionate and emotional. It was their humanitarian side.
If their own families are involved, even the Meteors couldnt match their
aggression.
It doesnt matter how many people I have to kill. As long as I can keep him
safe, thats all that matters. Michael, Franz, Gustav, Dean. All of us have lost our
family to this. This is the only chance we have to save them. And we wont fail.
His rage had toned down, but the flames of determination within him still burned
brightly in his eyes.

Axen could not say anything. Dexters colleagues all share the same look in their
eyes.
Every one of them are here for the same reason. They wouldnt be stopped here.

Not by the Black Destroyers,

Not by Axen,
Not by anyone.
For the first time, he seriously acknowledges the four person behind Dexter.
They no longer looked like simple soldiers following orders.
With conviction forged from pain.
They looked human.
One of them had blonde hair with the face of a model.
To the right of him, a person with spikey hair; an irritated face; and a scar on his
cheek.
Behind them stands a rough, burly man with short white hair and a moustache.
And lastly, a slender teenage boy that looks slightly younger than Axen.
The blonde person steps forward. His voice had a kind and understanding
demeanour.
My name is Michael. I come from Comet like Dexter. I understand why you have
doubts, but we all have a personal stake in this. I lost my kid brother and if
preventing the massacre can somehow save him, Ill lay down my life as many
times as it takes.
Without missing a beat, the scarred person walks up beside Michael and places
his hand on Michaels shoulder.
Franz. Meteor. And I dont care what you think of me, but my little sister is
trapped somewhere. And before she dies again, you can bet Im going to save
her.
The burly man steps forward.
Gustav. Meteor. Eleven years ago, I lost my son. Today, Ill take him back.
Followed by the slender teenager.
Dean! Shooting Star! My sisterMy sister! Ill save her, no matter what!

Suddenly, all four of them seemed far more intimidating than the Black
Destroyers. Axen could almost believe it if they took down the entire floating
continent by themselves.
And with that, a smirk forms on Axens face.
Thats all I needed to hear. What do we need to do?
Take down their chain of command and well win. Well head to the Throne
Room and defeat Wallace Blue, the leader, before he can stop the hero from
saving the Second-Eyes.
Sound simple.
It always is.
When a person has a reason to lay down his life, it becomes impossible to stop
them.
With that insurmountable strength, they continued forward.

PART 17

A person flips through a small, aged notebook in a giant hall. He sits facing the
only object not covered in silver, the giant kaleidoscopic clock made of stained
glass. As if producing its own light, a beautiful multi-coloured glow showers on
him as he turns the pages.
The cover of the notebook is black while the writing is in several random
colours. It resembled a personal diary as it had dates indicated on each page.
His light-grey hair was brushed backwards. With a slightly matured look, anyone
could tell that he is in his twenties. He wore a white, military-styled silk outfit
with a blue-and-white cape, gold cuffs and chains hanging to his chest.
Sitting on a silver throne, he calmly reads through the diary. The antique pages
were stained around the edges alongside random tears and dated back years
ago.
His fingers carefully flip the fragile, decrepit pages until he finally reaches the
date he was looking for.
Eleven years ago.
The summary of the Second-Eyes Project.
Children were kidnapped from the three factions: Meteor, Comet, and Shooting
Star and brought to an underground facility. There, the lead scientist Dorothy
had conducted inhumane experiments in order to artificially implant
supernatural powers called Lights into them.
Dorothy was a genius of her time, even among the Starlings. She invented the
Neuron Palette, a machine that forcefully rewrote DNA and brain chemistry with
intrusive electrical signals. As a result, the Second-Eyes would have a unique
light in their right iris whenever they activated their ability due to their altered
DNA.
The specifics of how they managed to acquire funding for such a cause were not
officially recorded, but it was speculated that the Shooting Star monarchy
secretly supported the experiments.
For a year, the children were kept in solitude, not even aware of each others
existence. It was written that hundreds died from shock, triggered by the
intense pain of the experiments.

Only a handful survived.

There was a detailed list with pictures of children that were still alive before the
eventual massacre and their recorded abilities. He had read this part several
times because he knew some of the Second-Eyes had escaped the carnage and
would definitely come to stop him. However, the very last recorded subject
always caught his eye.
Axen. The last subject of the Second-Eye Project had a special experiment
performed on him. Something no other Second-Eye had.
He flips the page.
1/6/2007.
It was today. Or rather, the day that they travelled to with the time machine,
Quartz Castle.
On this day, a government plan called the Second-Eyes Massacre was activated.
The primary objective of the plan: to kill each and every one of the children.
However, a lone hero would manage to save three of them before the facility
was destroyed by Shooting Stars national army. As they fled, the hero stayed
behind and secured their escape.
Details of what happened afterwards were not recorded, so the next page
skipped to the event directly connected to the massacre.
The Great War between Meteor, Comet and Shooting Star. It happened soon
after the surviving Second-Eyes exposed the inhumane experiments and
massacre.
And he stops reading there.
Everything had been going along as planned. If history were to be changed,
youd have to do it with precise calculations.
That was why he came to the past. That was why a time machine was
constructed.
His goal was to stop the Great War.
And there was only one way to accomplish that. By preventing anyone from
finding out about the experiments.

Thus, he would need to complete the Second-Eyes Massacre. To ensure that

there would be no survivors.
Welcome.
As if rehearsed, he closes his book and calls out to the silver entrance behind
him. There stood a couple of teenagers, both with a deadly expression that told
of their intentions clearly.
Wallace Blue.
Ray calls out to the amused person sitting on the throne.
Their right irises roared with yellow and green light.
There was no need for discussion.
It was simply a fight to the death.

PART 18
There was a reason why Dexter or Ray did not stop the construction of the time
machine, even though they were in a position to do so.
Because just as Wallace Blue had wanted to change the past for his own
reasons, they did too.
They did not just want to keep history the same with three survivors. They
wanted to save everyone. If possible, their plan was to stop the explosion
entirely.
So they allowed the construction of Quartz Castle.
There was a reason why they did not plan to assassinate the leader, Wallace
Blue, while Ray was undercover.
Because it was simply not possible.
They once witnessed an attack from a rival organization that learned of the time
machine and wanted to steal it.
With Black Destroyers and several dozen other war machines, an assault was
launched. Without an army, Wallace Blue alone took them on.
And at the end of it
Wallace Blue alone stepped out.

PART 19
Ahhh!
A short scream pierces the room and Valeries body impacts against the cold
marble floor, rolling and tumbling several metres before finally slowing to a stop.
Give up. If you stay down, I will not kill you here. Once I kill your past self, youll
be erased from existence painlessly.
In your dreams!
She wipes away the red liquid trickling down the cracks of her lips with her
fingers. Her legs feel lighter than usual. Standing back up took surprisingly little
strength.
But she knew. She can feel it at the back of her mind.
The damage to her body is reaching its limit.
If she gives in to the thought of admitting defeat for even an instant, her body
will collapse. She subconsciously stood back up as fast as possible to erase that
thought from her mind.
However, sheer tenacity was not enough to defeat her opponent.
The Throne Room that was once impeccably smooth and grand is now riddled
with craters and grey smoke caused from Valeries attacks. Even the pillars had
inconstant circular holes that ate into them.
Valeries Light, Metal Limit, is a fearsome power that allows her to cause
explosions with metal.
She can rapidly introduce energy into any metal within a range of two metres.
The energy is stored in the metal until it reaches its threshold. After which, she
injects even more energy and pushes it over the limit until it explodes. It was
the same principle as inflating a balloon with too much air until it burst. The
threshold changes with the size and type of metal, so the magnitude of the
explosions varied. With the special metal balls that she carries around, the force
is much stronger than a grenade. She did not need any larger metallic object;
her metal spheres were sufficient to destroy an armoured vehicle.
They would have been enough to win any one-on-one fight instantly.

I wont say it again. You cant win.

A voice comes from behind a dust cloud in the middle of the room. She had
attacked him with enough power to completely turn his body to ash.
But he was unscathed. His silk coat. His skin. His face.
The man called Wallace Blue was completely unscathed.
In the ruined hall, he was the only thing that remained unaffected.
Valerie throws another metal ball infused to the brim with energy at him. Inches
in front of his face
A bright flash.
Scorching wind and fire consumes his skin and clothes. Sound itself is pushed
away by the very force of the explosion.
And
The flames peter out from his smooth military dress.
If the front wouldnt work!
Ray appears from behind one of the ruined pillars and shoots at Wallaces back.
The chamber of the gun mechanically adjusts itself and the bullets hit the joints
and head perfectly.
Youre a Comet alright. Youve managed to sneak behind me while I was
distracted by her.
Yet, it did not matter.
The bullets heads were deformed as they impact against his bare skin and
clothes.
What is going on?!
Ray looks on in disbelief as Wallace shrugs off the bullets.
Eat this! Metal Shotgun!
Valerie grabs a fistful of metallic spheres from her pouch and throws them all at
once. As the name implies, the spheres attack him from every angle and
completely surround Wallace Blue.

There was no way to dodge it. They all vibrate simultaneously and their buzzing
resonates.
Twelve consecutive explosions swallow Wallaces body in a chain reaction. The
image of his figure is completely erased in the fiery cremation of the blasts,
leaving nothing but an unforgiving blaze.

Did I get him-

You should know that its meaningless by now.
A shadow calmly walks out of the inferno, towards Valerie.
But there was something different. Something neither of the Second-Eyes could
even begin to understand.
Thats
Small cracks form on part of his clothes and face.
Youve managed to damage me to this extent, but thats as far as you go.
Wallace leaps forward with a quick spin and thrusts his leg into Valeries
abdomen. Without time to properly defend, the brown-haired girl is thrown into
the air.
-!!
Ray slams his steel baton into the back of Wallaces head, but he couldnt even
make a dent.
His metallic weapon broke instead.
Its..impossible
What can I do?
I have nothing else up my sleeve. No hidden weapon to use.
Grk!

A swift chop to the left side of his face sends Rays body tumbling to the floor.
He didnt get up. Because he could no longer find a reason to continue.
It was a fundamental weakness of most Comets. When all options are exhausted
and there was no logical way to win, they enter a state of resignation.
It was not the wrong thing to do. In fact, it was the only logical course of action.
If all actions produced no result, then the only action to take was no action at all.
But that line of thinking only applied to Comets.
Dont give up, Ray! Ugk..!
Valerie quickly gets back up again and clutches her abdomen with her hand. Her
vision starts to become unfocused from the pain.
Get it together, Valerie! I cant lose here!
She reaches into her last pouch. There are twelve metal balls left.
This should work.
Responding to the anger in her eyes, a yellow light ignites.
Instead of scattering them like beforeIll just use them all at once!
Her slender legs start to move faster and faster.
It was her last ditch effort.
I have nothing else left. So work, damnit!
Running towards Wallace, she grabs her pouch with her left hand and controls
Metal Limit with absolute focus. Energy pours into all of the metallic balls in the
bag simultaneously and they start to tremble.
All she needed to do now was to bring it close enough to inflict maximum
damage.
Wallace Blue tauntingly spreads his arms.
Looking down on me..! Ill make you regret it!

She tugs on the pouch and it unbuckles with a snap. There wouldnt be a second
chance. Her only option is to bring it right to his face and blow it up along with
his overconfident smile!
A close range blast? Your body wont be able to endure it.
A chuckle escapes her lips.
Sorry, but I dont have the intention of dying with you!
What?
Valeries hand releases the dark brown pouch. It falls towards her left leg.
And she thrusts her knee into it with all of her strength!
Like a soccer ball, the pouch full of volatile, vibrating metal flies towards
Wallaces face.
And all at once
EXPLODE!!!
The beautiful stained glass clock shatters as every corner of the Throne Room is
engulfed in violent, scorching flames.

PART 20
Comets were known for their cold, calculating minds yet when it came down to
justice, they were the most passionate.
The innocent should be saved.
And to that end, sacrifices can be made.
They had a simple belief. And that simple belief led to what others see as
calculating and even inhumane.
When asked if it was justified to steal a gun to save the lives of children, anyone
would answer that it was.
It was as simple as that.
Thats why Dexter could easily steal a gun from the Starlings and use it against
them.
When asked if one should kill the ones trying to slaughter these children, anyone
would answer that they should.
Because it was so simple, Dexter did not hesitate.
In the end, he would be punished for murdering others. But no one in Comet
would blame him for his actions.
He had steeled himself for anything he might encounter inside Quartz Castle
before he took a step inside. No matter the situation he would remain calm. He
was sure of it.
He was sure of it.
So what is this foreign feeling?
It was not the calmness that he was used to. It was not the tension of the
situation finally catching up to him.
No. It was none of those things.
It was denial.

He stares at the still faces of his friends as he holds their still bodies in his arms.
Their heads had a small hole in them, with blood trickling down.
One of them was blonde. The other had a scar on his cheek.
A gunshot. During the huge explosion that shook the building.
As Michaels body fell and Franz called out the position of their attacker, he
heard that frightening sound again.
And before he knew it, his friends had fallen lifeless before him. He didnt know
how he managed to return fire during the commotion as their bodies were
falling. His hands moved before his mind could comprehend.
But it was too late.
They returned fire and managed to take the attacker down, but it was too late.
The red-haired teenager looked around for more attackers, but it seemed that
most of them fled when they saw how easily the Black Destroyers were stopped.
You
Dexter tried to force composure into his voice, but that only had the opposite
effect.
Couldnt you have stopped the bullets?
...
Dexter called out to Axen with a lost expression.
The Second-Eye had easily redirected a rocket. It only made sense that he could
have stopped a bullet as well.
No. I dont have lightning reflexes. I cant stop something I have no idea is
coming.
Axen looks at the bodies of Michael and Franz. He couldnt blame Dexter for
losing his composure. Even the Second-Eye, who had only known them for a
moments, felt a vengeful fire in his heart.
Yeah. Of course.
Dexter knew. He knew that if Axen could have stopped it, he would have.

He might have been looking for something to blame and ease the pain. But he
knew deep inside him that he couldnt fault anyone else for not protecting them.
All of them knew their chances of survival were low. They had prepared
themselves for it.
But somewhere, at the back of his mind
He had imagined all of them surviving through this and celebrating with their
rescued families as they shared a drink.
And what tears at his soul
Was the fact that they could no longer see the faces of the ones they were
trying to save.
We have to move. Come on, lets put them to rest.
Gustav pats Dexters shoulder. Even though Dexter is the leader, Gustav is the
oldest one amongst them.
He took it upon himself to push them past this grief.
Alright.
Axen looks on as Dexter places his comrades arms on their chest and closes
their eyes as a final respect.
Michael, Franz, I will save your family for you. I swear on my life."
As they finish, the red-haired teenager starts climbing the steps towards the
upper floor. At the top of the stairs, they will finally reach it.
The Throne Room.

The only footsteps he could hear were his own.

Come on, we have to-
He understood as he turned his head.
Dexter and his two remaining comrades, Gustav and Dean, faced off against a
person surrounded in bright red sparks.

There is no mistaking it. That is undeniably a Light. The Second-Eyes should be

the only ones with these abilities, but there werent any signs within that
persons right pupil.
And there wasnt time to question it.
Go. Theres no point in you fighting him here. You need to defeat Wallace Blue
before he changes history.
A regular person is no match for a Light. Knowing that, Dexter chose to say
those heavy words. Understanding the true meaning behind them, all Axen
could do was accept Dexters resolve.
Understood.
Even more so than their lives, the objective comes first.
Without looking back, Axen continues upwards.

PART 21
Tch. A mere Second-Eye doing this much
With an irritated expression, Wallace dusts off his charred clothes as they chip
off like concrete and shatter into powder. His vision was blurry and unfocused,
but it soon returned to normal.
To say nothing of you, little spy.
He turns around to greet the writhing figure on the ground. Even though it
should have been burnt to ashes, the hoodie was only partially singed. They
must have been prepared for a situation where Valerie had to use her full power
and created it out of resistive material.
Yet, he is not wholly spared. The blunt force of the explosion hit him with what
felt like the force of a car. No matter how much he squirmed, he couldnt find the
strength to get back up.
It was only natural.
He isnt a Meteor. He is a Comet. A tactical race that plans the best options in
battle.
But if they finally run out of options, they had no reason to continue.
Oh? A few of them didnt explode.
Wallace casually remarks at the remaining metal balls on the floor and kicks one
of them towards Valeries unconscious body. She took the most damage even
before her final attack, so there was no way shed be able to stand again.
Ray can feel hot tears well up in his eyes. The final boundary keeping his mind
intact floods to the brim and breaks apart.
Its frustrating.
Its frustrating.
Its frustrating.
Its frustrating to not be able to do anything! Damn it!!!! DAMN IT!!!!!

Ray winches in agony as he desperately searches for the strength to get back
up. Strength that did not exist anywhere in the world.
Why.
Hmm?
Why are you going this far to kill all of us..?
His clenched fists trembled in anger.
It took time, but weve finally started to get along with our families. Even
Valerie, too! We could finally go back to living normal lives! So, why?!
His vision blurs as a wet feeling floods his eyes. He could no longer see Wallace
clearly, but his eyes fixate on that white, unfocused silhouette with pure hatred.
And something changes. The smug demeanour of the king in the Throne Room
slowly disappears.
Up until now, he had not faced them seriously. They were merely flies to be
squatted, so there was no reason for him to get personal.
But now
Those words ignited something deep within him.
Why? Isnt it obvious? Are you that daft?
Hatred. Wrath.
Those emotions contort his face into something almost evil.
And yet, he sounded as if he was the one on the side of justice.
To save innocent lives.

Rays mind grinds to a halt.

What?
Killing us.
To save lives?

His mind could no longer form words. He could only feel them inside of him.
Huh?
There are people wholl die
If we survive?
I
I
My existenceIs it wrong?
What
His very being was afraid, but he had to know.
WhatDo you mean?
Ray asks for an answer that he knows he shouldnt hear.
Even though you are a Comet like me, do you still not understand? Are you
feigning ignorance, or blocking it out entirely?
The Great War that happened after all of you were rescuedHow many do you
think died?
!
Ray immediately understood. As if being shown something obvious he was
subconsciously disregarding.
The reason behind why this person is fighting. His true nature.

If a Comet realized that his continued existence required the sacrifice of lives,
what would he do?
What would be the right reaction?
There wasnt a need for consideration. The obvious answer would be to forfeit
his life.

But can he readily do something like that, even knowing that he is endangering
the life of someone else?
Ray could not answer. His brain had stopped functioning properly.
Hundreds? Thousands?
He felt the answer in his soul, and it terrifies him. He subconsciously tries to
block out the truth in Wallaces voice.
But it was futile.
You already know the answer. In any war, the casualty rate is always
Wallace looks at the hooded boy with indignant, vengeful eyes.
In the millions.
No.
No.
No..
No.
.No
As his thoughts fade into nothingness, his will to live followed.
There is only one correct course of action for a Comet.
The only thing that they could choose to do.
Forfeit his life for the greater good.
Sorry, Brother
Tears flow down the side of his cheek as his heavy eyelids close.
Even though I found my way back
The picture of a two-storey house with a backyard was washed away in white.
Even though Mom and Dad were so happy

The first family reunion dinner with an impromptu birthday cake and a pair of
smiling adult. Washed away in white.
Even though you vowed to protect me
The extremely rare smile of a gentle and awkward older brother. Washed away
in white.
In order for everyone else to live, you must disappear here.
II cant exist.
There was no way for him to fight back. His entire existence was a sin.
The fight was over.
Two unconscious bodies lay in the Throne Room. Wallace pulls back his sleeve
and checks his watch.
Its almost time for me to go and hunt down that hero.

PART 22
The Natural Lights. Or Naturals as they are commonly referred to.
It wasnt a term to specify light in a physical sense. It was coined as a
designation for unique individuals who are born with a Light naturally. Its not
exactly known how many of these people exist and most of them choose to live
a quiet life, away from scrutiny.
But that wasnt the sole reason of their title.
Naturals are able to manipulate the laws of nature according to their whim.
Though each user could only do a specific action in general, they were all
powerful enough to rival natural disasters.
Thus, they were named the Naturals.
With the ability of telekinesis, one could levitate and manipulate objects without
regards to gravity.
With the ability to control water, one could drown opponents in a tidal wave.
With the ability to bend electricity to your every whim, you could be invincible in
the floating continent of technology.

PART 23
Dexter and his men had prepared for every possible scenario. Innumerable
combination attacks for any battlefield.
Without as much as a word, they knew exactly which plan to execute. And with
the deadly precision of Shooting Stars weaponry, their combination attacks
became that much more effective.
Gustav and Dean point their guns at the Natural in the middle the hallway on
the red carpet. They close their eyes simultaneously.
And Dexter throws a cylindrical-shaped object.
A vicious burst of white light explodes, accompanied by a deafening blast.
Even for a Natural, its impossible to defend against an attack when youre
blinded. The auto-tracking of Dexter and Deans gun allowed them to fire with
their eyes closed.
They also wore special receivers in their ears that allowed sound to travel until it
detects the blast from a flashbang and automatically blocks it out.
Without the ability to see or hear, there was no way for the Natural to dodge or
defend against armour piercing bullets. Gustav and Dean pull their triggers
without missing a beat.
37.36.35.34.33
They count the amount of bullets they fire to constantly track their ammunition.
As they are confident that the precise aim of their gun would hit only the head
or the joints, they stop firing to conserve their bullets.
The blinding light subsides. They slowly open their eyes and their vision focuses
on their opponents figure. They knew the result even without confirming the
kill.
When youre faced with several gunmen, the safest place would be in the middle
of them. Because of the possibility of hitting each other, they would likely be
more hesitant to attack.
If youre directly in front of them, youll just be killed by a rain of bullets
Common logic like that


You didnt really think it would be that easy, did you?
Does not apply here. A Natural cant be defeated by a normal person, no
matter how hard they try.
That is the reality they are being forced to accept.
Their opponent had long black hair that stretched down to his waist, wore a
black body suit that shows his navel and a silver metal belt with electricity
crackling around it like several small snakes.
Zanzel Vermillion in the house! All of you must be DYING to know how I
managed to evade those bullets, right?
As if addressing a crowd, he raises his arms.
You see, the trick is...
Our guns are useless.
Before the eccentric Natural could finish his sentence, Dexter calls out to his
friends.
Hey! I wasnt done talking!
In a place like Shooting Star, everythings a toy to an electric user like him.
What the hell! You just took away my best line! Did you sneak a peek at my
script!?
The other two immediately understood. The auto-tracking function in their guns
was fundamentally a set of coding. With meticulous practice, its not absurd for
a Natural to use electricity to hack into anything and modify its code.
They notice holes and cracks in the walls and floors around the Natural. Their
guns have must been programmed to accurately miss their target.
All of their guns were technology stolen from Shooting Star, the faction where
everything is automated. As such, they did not have a piece of firearm to
retaliate against this kind of tactic.
Without their guns, they have no hope of winning. They should be more aware of
that fact than anyone else.

Their facial expressions change.

But it was not one of despair.
They each pull out a sharp piece of metal from inside their suits and their eyes
fixate on the enemys neck.
It was a simple weapon. One that they wouldnt use normally.
A survival knife.
Yet in this situation, it is the obvious choice.
They knew the actions that each of them had to take. One of them was going for
a feint and slash at his eyes. If he dodges backwards, he might retaliate with
electricity. In response, another would go low and stab his feet. As he flinches in
pain, Dexter would slash his neck in a split-second.
All three of them understood the plan like the back of their palm and didnt
hesitate in their steps. It was an incredible strategy that they rehearsed
countless times.
With similar leg movements, they leap into attacking range and simultaneously
carry out their part of the attack. Gustavs metal knife swings at Zanzels eyes.
KA-
..!
The Natural suddenly raises his voice.
-BOOM!
A flash brighter than the sun engulfs all of them. Their bodies are blown away
from the sheer force and slam hard against the walls and pillars as sound itself
disappears. Without time to even feel pain, their consciousness immediately
fades. Dust and pieces of the broken floor fly across the room from the intense
gust of wind following the blast.
A few seconds later, a low roar of intense thunder shakes the castle.
Lightning.
One of the deadliest natural phenomenon on earth. It could carry an electric
current of 30,000 amperes and instantly disintegrate anything that stood
underneath it. Even the blast to the immediate surrounding is potentially fatal.

Zanzel did not use enough power to accurately replicate the output of a real
lightning strike, but it was enough to defeat any opponent.
Currents of electricity travelled around his belt and made popping noises like
firecrackers.
Woo! That was close. Well, not really since I was never in any danger. But I bet
all of you thought it was close!
The Natural of thunder relishes in his victory as he looks at the unconscious
body of Gustav and Dean.
But he realizes that the third body was missing.
Closer than you think.
A small whisper comes from behind him.
Wha..! Ah!
He feels a cold piece of metal slide into his back. It penetrates his skin so
effortlessly that it felt surreal.
Ga..h!
His body convulses as the sickening foreign matter hits his organ.
Weve prepared for this too, Natural.
His tone was condescending.
Dexters head was bleeding. Blood ran down his right eye so he couldnt open it,
but it didnt stop him. He twists the knife inside Zanzels body.
The Natural couldnt even respond as his vision became distorted from the pain.
We knew there was a chance of facing a Light user, so we prepared ourselves.
Along with the gun, I stole a suit that was designed to resist elemental abilities
like yours.
He glanced at his unconscious comrades who were slammed against the wall
and pillar.
They could only steal two of the resistive suits.

As Dexter and Ray were the only complete family among them, they were
unanimously voted as the ones to wear it. Dexter simply wore it as his battle
clothes but Ray had his modified into his hoodie.
But even so, it was not enough. It was merely a secret trick for their only plan
against the Naturals.
They wielded supernatural powers, so there was no way normal people like them
could win in a direct confrontation.
The only path available was to catch them when they were not using their
powers.
When they let their guard down.
Dexter waited for him to use his strongest attack. When a strong opponent uses
their trump card, they usually let their guard down immediately afterwards. In
that moment, it would be his only chance to strike.
They have been training to resist all kinds of supernatural attack in preparation
for this exact situation. After a strong blast, they learned techniques to
immediately bounce back and sneak behind the opponent. Theyve endured
countless hardships to survive.
However, even with the experience they had acquired, only Dexter could remain
conscious. The magnitude of the attack was far greater than anything they could
have simulated.
With a single hit to the back of the neck, the Natural fell just like any human
would.
Dexter didnt choose to kill him immediately, but he knew that the electricity
user will eventually die from the loss of blood anyway.
This was a battlefield. Dexter did not feel any amount of sympathy for him.
He sprints towards his unconscious friends to check their pulse. Gustav had
regained consciousness and suffered minimal damages from crashing into the
pillar. Dean was still unconscious, yet avoided critical injury.
An uncommon smile forms on Dexters face.
You guys are amazing.
Dexter speaks to them under his breath as he stands up. Even with an attack
greater than what they prepared for, they were able to survive.

Look after Dean for me.

Gustav nods.
Aye. Well catch up.
They could not leave him alone, unconscious. One of them had to stay.
The bodies of Michael and Franz were flung aside because of the lightning strike.
Dexter couldnt possibly leave and properly lays his comrades to rest again.
AhRight.
He slides his hands into the holster attached to their legs. His weapon was made
useless, so he had no choice but to take theirs.
Ill be borrowing these.
The two guns were slightly different in colour compared to Dexters. They had
engraved the bottom of the stock with their names as their unique dog tags.
The dark red gun had the word Michael etched while the brown one, Franz.
Dexter presses a button on the back of the guns, running a self-diagnostic test
to confirm that they have not been hacked or damaged. The barrels of the guns
move and twitch for a few seconds before coming to rest again.
No problems detected. Looks like Im still being looked after by you two.
He had already mourned for his friends, so there was no need to do it again.
Instead, he prayed to them for strength.
His legs start running towards the staircase.
Past his dead comrade-in-arms. Past his surviving allies.
Wait for me Ray.
Im coming with Michael and Franz.

PART 24
A little girl was dragging her feet and forced herself into the gap between two
tall buildings.
Her clothes were tattered and worn. Random burn marks and brown spots of
dried blood on her painted a more horrifying story than one could possibly
imagine.
In such a state, a normal girl would call for help.
But she could not speak. She had forgotten how to.
A nail hanging out of the wall tears the skin from her hand and blood starts to
flow. But the girl did not even flinch. This was nothing compared to pain she had
experienced.
She was a Second-Eye who had barely managed to escape and survived
because of her Meteor instincts. After days of hiding in vehicles and trespassing,
she finally reached her home faction. She continues to force her broken body
through the tight gap. It was the final hurdle.
She was almost home.
As she sees the light at the end of the gap, she pushes her head out.
A sudden burst of emotions that she had lost found itself back into her, like
missing pieces of a puzzle finally being rediscovered. It was a warm and
lightening feeling. Her body felt like it weighed a million times less.
A familiar road.
The nostalgic neighbourhood.
And there it was.
The attic she would use whenever she played hide-and-seek. The swing that her
father made for her on her birthday. The mailbox with a stuck-on picture of her
familys smiling faces, including hers.
It didnt change. None of it changed for the one year she was missing.
Her vision shakes uncontrollably as she almost trips again and again.

Her body was screaming in agony, but she did not care.
Shes here. Shes finally here.
Her home.
Not the morbid place she was trapped in.
This was it.
Ah Im..
Her voice starts to come back naturally. After days of sneaking into vehicles and
surviving off discarded food, she was finally back.
.I
Tears flow down her face for the first time in a long while. She made it. It was
not a dream. Her home that she had almost forgotten was definitely not a
dream.
..Im-
A sudden explosion from a metal object near her throws her off balance.
Hah.. ah
The little girl desperately gasped for air.
Almost immediately, the door of the house flew open as a couple rushed out in
response to the noise. Their eyes grew wide and their movements stopped as
they saw the little girl and the flaming remains of their metallic mailbox. The
male readjusted his glasses in disbelief.
I
She could feel it. Her entire body was becoming hot. She had been running a
fever, but adrenaline stopped her from realizing it. The sudden explosion throws
her muddled mind further into chaos.
ImS-sorry
I destroyed something I destroyed our mail box! Ive finally came back and all
I could do is to destroy something!
Im sorry!

She starts running in the opposite direction.

.. Va
And the couple begin to move.
Valerie? Valerie!
Im sorry! Im sorry! I shouldnt have come back! I shouldnt be alive!
No! Wait!
She felt a strong embrace from behind.
Get away from me! Youll explode too!
Her father could feel the metal frame of his glasses vibrating. It was going to
explode at any moment.
But even so, it failed to faze him even in the slightest.
Ive done everything I could to find you. For this one year, everything I could.
But it was not enough! I felt so helpless, unable to do anything. Now that youre
back, an explosion or two isnt capable of forcing me to let go. There is no force
in the world that can!
Her mother came and hugged her tightly too. She had so many things to say
that she didnt know where to start. Tears flowed uncontrollably from everyones
faces.
Welcome home, Valerie.
The metal frame gradually loses its energy and stops vibrating as Valerie falls
unconscious; the last of her tension finally escapes her.
IHome
Remembering that, she woke up.
The suffering she had gone through back then was a million times harder than
this.
Getting back up here is childs play.

PART 25
BecausePeople will dieIs it okay for us to disappear?
What?
A voice from within the solemn Throne Room startles Wallace Blue.
He had defeated the Second-Eyes, Ray and Valerie, so that voice must have
come from a third source.
Wallace turns around.
But he could not find anyone at the entrance.
What?
Suddenly, he felt a metallic object pushed hard against his abdomen. He looks
down, not knowing what to expect.
One of the unconscious bodies was missing.
Or more specifically, it was no longer unconscious.
Who the hell decided that?!
With a ferocious expression on her face, she had crawled up to him. Valerie
picked up the dud metallic ball that was on the floor and forced her body to
move with nothing but the strength from her arms alone.
At least I know one thing now.
In battle, they had no equals.
Youre not invincible.
Her last attack clearly cracked his mysterious defence. Even now, chips of his
clothes and skin are still flaking off.
In a crisis, they had no parallels.
Even though she knows she could not survive another blast and will definitely
die, it was fine. A Meteors pride was winning in any battle, even death couldnt
stop them.

!
Without time to brace himself, a bright flash of yellow light flares up in Valeries
right iris for the last time.
She takes a deep breath.
Its okay. Ill be home again. With Daddy and Mummy. The past me. So its all
worth it. Its okay.
And finally, she smiles brightly as tears run down her cheeks.
For a chance at a new life, she will give up her current one.
The metal ball vibrates. The fervent buzz that she had never heard up close
rang clearly in her ears.
A last explosiDont you idiots go killing yourself after Ive finally found you.
!
Immediately, both Wallace and Valerie turn their heads at the same time.
A teenage boy wearing a red jacket walks into the room slowly. For some reason,
he had an arrogant smug on his face.
Lets see Valerie is a girls name so that must be you.
She stares in bewilderment as the stranger walks into the room so nonchalantly.
And the unconscious hoodie over there must be little brother.
The fingers of the unconscious hooded boy twitch.
And
So you
Their eyes meet for the first time.
Wallace Blue.

He didnt have a well thought-out reason, but the red-haired teenager felt like he
was meant to fight this person the entire time. For all the trouble that he has
experienced, he cant help but smile in excitement. Hes finally able to meet the
person responsible and punch him in the face.
Ive been waiting, Axen.
The military-dressed king grins as well. He was waiting for this.
Axen? I dont know who you are but run! Hes has a supernatural ability! A
Light! Youll be killed!
Both Wallace and Axen chuckle at the same time.
It seems that she doesnt know.
I dont blame her. I didnt know the others survived too.
Wallace Blue calmly twists Valeries hand.
Ahh!
The shock of pain forces her to release the last metal ball in her hand. He
mercilessly thrusts his foot into Valeries abdomen and she collapses on the
floor.
Stay there. Ill take care of you later.
Dont make promises that you cant keep, Blue. Ill smear your face all over the
broken clock behind you and make you the new stained glass.
Wallace knew him as the last surviving Second-Eye. Axen knew him as the final
hurdle.
If they defeat the other, their objectives would be complete.
Wait! You cant-
Do you still not understand?
...Huh?
Valerie gives Axen a confused look.
There was no need for words. It was just easier to show her.

He taps his foot onto the ground and a red light flares in his right iris.
!
Valerie stares in bewilderment. She had only met Ray a few days ago and was
told he was the only survivor beside her, so she naturally erased the possibility
of another Second-Eye existing.
But now, there is one more.
In this room, all three of the survivors were finally gathered.
But their heartfelt reunion would have to be postponed.
Wallace had a few cracks in his suit and skin, but his smile suggested that they
were not a problem.
Whatever his ability was, he had full confidence in it.
And thus, the final battle began.