The night was no longer a silent veil—it was a canvas of fury.
The sky, bathed in crimson, pulsed like a bleeding wound in the heavens. Clouds churned in unnatural spirals as streaks of thunder lit the red firmament. Far above Hanzora, monstrous silhouettes emerged from an expanding portal, their roars echoing across the city like war drums.
Zorin and Auren stood atop the ashore of the beach near the city's edge, gazing at the apocalyptic sight. From the portal, wave after wave of creatures poured out—grotesque, towering beasts with horns, wings, scales, and skeletal bodies, each radiating raw malevolence. Zorin's fists clenched.
Auren's phone buzzed. It was Chairman Tenjin.
"Auren," Tenjin's voice rang with steely urgency. "It's time to show your strength. Don't let those monsters reach the city center. Hanzora will fall if they do. Stop them. No matter what."
Auren looked at Zorin, who gave a sharp nod. Without another word, both shot into the sky—two blurs streaking toward the oncoming flood of destruction.
"I'm heading into the portal!" Auren shouted over the wind. "Hold them off out here!"
Zorin grinned. "Go. I'll make sure nothing gets past me."
He spun in the air and dived into the monster horde.
"Zorin's Solo Combat — Sky Inferno"
Zorin charged into the aerial onslaught like a meteor. A three-headed drake launched toward him, spewing acid from one jaw, ice from another, and fire from the third. Zorin twisted mid-air, dodging all three and drove a blazing energy kick into its gut, tearing it in half. Before the pieces hit the ground, two arachnid flyers wrapped him in thick webs.
With a burst of Neo Energy, Zorin's body flared. "You think webs can hold me?"
He broke free mid-air, spun backward, and shot a flurry of radiant orbs that exploded like sunflares, annihilating the arachnids.
Just then, a monstrous kraken-like beast sprouted wings and swept through the sky, grabbing Zorin in its tentacles.
"Too slow," Zorin whispered. His body glowed, his suit shifting. Neo Strike Mode: Chrono Pulse.
Time slowed. He moved like lightning, slicing through every tentacle in milliseconds, then conjured a blade of radiant time energy and cleaved the kraken in two.
More monsters came, hundreds—surrounding him like a living wall. But Zorin hovered in the center, eyes locked.
Suddenly, a barrage of light erupted behind him.
The Heroic Squad had arrived—six elite fighters in sleek suits, each commanding a unique elemental force. Lira the Flame Caller, Ro the Thunder Arm, Mino the Steel Pulse, Keira the Sky Whisper, and the twins Yek & Yara—the Phantom Shadows.
"We got your back, Zorin!" Ro shouted, landing beside him.
Zorin nodded, a flicker of relief in his eyes. "Let's tear them apart."
And they did. A symphony of light and fury raged in the sky, the Heroic Squad slicing, burning, freezing, and shattering monsters while Zorin became their bladed vanguard.
Below them, Hanzora burned. The streets were flooded with abominations—small, insectoid swarms devouring vehicles, serpent beasts coiling around buildings and dragging them down, shadow-like figures entering homes and extinguishing all life within.
Inside the Portal – Auren's Trial
Meanwhile, Auren dashed through the dimensional tear. He arrived at an obsidian chamber, glowing faintly from below. Ahead stood a towering, hulking monster of S-rank class. Its breath alone warped the space.
Auren clenched his fists. But before he could charge—
Another portal shimmered open behind him, sucking him through.
He landed with a harsh thud in a crumbled ruin—a forgotten shrine swallowed by vines and time. The silence was thick.
Then, footsteps.
A silhouette emerged. Velvet Fang.
He stood tall, draped in a regal coat, fur-lined and pristine white, tailored with gold patterns. His silver fur shimmered, his monocle glinted under the crimson moonlight, and his sharp claws glowed faintly blue.
"A pleasure," Velvet said, voice smooth and posh. "You must be the little Gatewalker. Following in your grandfather's pitiful path. Predictable."
"You killed him," Auren growled, eyes blazing.
Velvet smiled. "Indeed. He begged at the end. Pathetic. Do you plan to do better?"
"Way better," Auren said, fists glowing.
Fight Begins – Auren vs. Velvet Fang
Velvet moved first—disappearing into a flicker. Auren was hit with a slash across the cheek. Blood sprayed.
"Fast," Auren said, wiping it. "But I'm faster now."
Auren launched toward him. Fists clashed. Velvet spun like a dancer, dodging and slashing with elegance. Auren countered, using terrain, summoning energy blasts, and channeling Rate Power.
Suddenly, Velvet raised his paw—and time around Auren froze.
"You can't win, dear boy," Velvet whispered.
But something stirred. Auren's body pulsed with light. He broke the time lock. "Wrong."
They clashed again—Auren's fists like meteors, Velvet's claws like razors. Explosions rocked the ruins. Statues shattered. The ground cracked.
Then Velvet struck true—Auren fell.
He hit the lower floor of the ruin, coughing blood. Velvet descended slowly, paw pressing on Auren's chest.
"End of legacy," Velvet said.
"Not yet," came Daigo's voice. A vision.
Auren saw him standing above. "Get up, Auren. Zorin's dying. Hanzora's dying. You… must rise."
Auren's breath grew ragged. His eyes rolled.
Then—Ravel appeared in a burst of light.
"You have two options," Ravel said. "Save them or abandon all. Choose."
Auren, gritting his teeth, answered mentally. Save them.
Ravel nodded. "But you'll lose this body. Your original form will return. Are you sure?"
Auren growled. "Yes."
A new light engulfed him.
Velvet's foot flew off his chest as Auren rose—reborn.
His body shifted—sleeker, taller, more radiant. Divine symbols glowed across his arms. His eyes gleamed pure gold.
"Neo Mode: Awakening."
Final Clash: Auren vs. Velvet Fang
Auren charged with blinding speed, fists smashing into Velvet's ribs. Velvet howled, slashing back, but Auren caught the claws mid-air.
"You're done," Auren whispered.
They traded blows, each shaking the ground. Auren blasted energy beams, Velvet teleported and countered with devastating kicks. Every second scorched the air.
Finally, Auren summoned all his Rate Power into one strike—a divine hammer-fist of energy.
Velvet's monocle shattered.
Auren roared. "FOR MY GRANDFATHER!"
He struck. A blinding explosion. Velvet's scream echoed.
The portal trembled and collapsed. Monsters faded. The sky cleared.
Aftermath
Morning light broke across the battered Hanzora. Smoke drifted above destroyed blocks. Bodies of both monsters and brave fighters lay scattered. Heroic Squad stood injured but alive. Zorin sat bloodied, panting, surrounded by broken monsters.
Auren emerged from the ruin, dragging his feet.
He looked up.
Then his heart spasmed.
Pain.
He clutched his chest and fell to one knee.
A strange light flickered from within his core.
A pain in his heart made him fell to the ground.
Something was… changing.
Something old.
To be continued....