The base was restless.
Reports captured by data interception indicated abnormal movements by HelionTech in the outer regions of the Restricted Zone. Aria gathered the group early, her face serious and her posture firm.
—We have received confirmation: an advanced HelionTech convoy has been spotted moving towards one of our old access points. They are looking for forgotten technology… or for us.
Kael crossed his arms.
—What is the plan?
—Intercept. We will split into two teams. Group One: me, Lyon and Kael. Group Two: Selene, Ryo and Daz. Monitoring and extraction. No direct confrontation… unless it is unavoidable.
The journey to the point was tense. Kael felt the energy vibrating inside his chest like a drum about to explode. Lyon at his side was quieter than usual. The silence between the two was heavy, but not hostile. There was a mutual understanding now: survival came before pride. When they arrived, the artificial clearing in the middle of the forest was home to four armored trucks. Drones circled the perimeter, and soldiers in black suits and mirrored helmets stood guard. In the center, a tarpaulin-covered artifact glowed with a familiar energy—something that seemed… solar. "They're trying to replicate what's in you," Aria whispered. "We need to stop them." The group advanced silently, but a mistake in Ryo's cover caused one of the drones to alert the enemy team. Chaos broke out. Lights, gunfire, screams. Lyon activated his gravity field, knocking the drones down. Aria moved like a ghost among the soldiers, using dual blades with deadly precision. Kael hesitated for a second… and then ran toward the center of the conflict. One of the taller soldiers, equipped with an energy containment suit, charged straight at him. "We found the prototype. Initiate capture."
Kael stopped thinking.
His energy exploded like lightning.
The ground cracked beneath his feet. A golden aura completely enveloped him, burning everything around him. He dodged the blows with pure instinct, his speed and strength amplified. A punch straight to the soldier's chest threw him against one of the trucks, which exploded immediately.
But they were not unprepared.
Another enemy activated a shadow field, sucking in the light around him. Kael felt his connection to the sun weaken for seconds. His body grew heavy. The glow on his skin wavered.
"I told you... you won't erase me."
With a scream, he concentrated his energy in the center of his chest. A golden sphere grew between his hands, pulsating like a second sun. He launched the attack with everything he had, destroying the core of the shadow generator and releasing the light back.
The field was defeated.
The soldiers retreated, the abandoned trucks in flames. Aria gave the signal to retreat.
Back at the base, Kael fell to his knees, panting, his hands shaking.
"It was the first time… I fought like this," he said, staring at his fingers covered in golden soot.
Aria placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It was your first real battle. And you won."
But inside Kael… something whispered.
"It's only the beginning."