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The skies trembled as Captain Zarius Blacktide’s colossal mega Superbolt descended onto the battlefield, its size dwarfing the entire village below. The devastating strike was accompanied by smaller Superbolts erupting in all directions, their raw energy scarring the land and engulfing the entire region in a burst of blinding white light.
As the light cleared, Captain Blacktide’s voice echoed loudly, filled with manic energy and confidence. “Ha-ha-ha-ha-haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
But the victory he sought was far from achieved.
When the light faded, the sight before him was both shocking and horrifying. The entire village and surrounding land had been obliterated, reduced to jagged debris and scorched land. Yet amidst the destruction stood an untouched 100-meter circle, its borders rising like a pillar of unyielding defiance against the devastation.
Within the center of the circle stood King Arion surrounded by all 100 First Generation Sentients, huddled together in perfect formation. All of them left unharmed. Even the land and structures within the circle were pristine.
Captain Blacktide descended to the base of the pillar, his breathing heavy as his glowing eyes flickered with a mix of exhaustion and frustration.
King Arion stepped forward, his expression serene yet commanding. “Impressive. I didn’t expect someone like you to carry so much power. Perhaps I should grant you the honor of becoming a Third Generation Sentient.”
Blacktide wiped the sweat from his brow, his breath steadying as a grin spread across his face. “You’re trickier than I thought. What power do you possess?”
Arion’s voice was calm, his tone dripping with condescension. “I’d love to tell you, though I believe you will share too much with your friends. How about you join us, and I’ll tell you all about my power?”
Blacktide laughed, his voice booming across the battlefield. “You’ve got it all wrong. I’m not interested in knowing your power so I can serve you or lick your boots. I want to know so when I defeat you, I can tell everyone the story of how I defeated the one who thought himself untouchable.”
The Sentients surrounding Arion began to laugh mockingly, their voices overlapping in waves of cruel amusement. A few made comments about how absurd Blacktide sounded, their words cutting through the air like daggers.
Blacktide’s grin twisted into a snarl, his anger flaring as his lightning aura intensified. He unsheathed his Tempest Blade, its crackling energy reflecting his fury. He began to step forward, his voice low and dangerous. “Mock me again, and I’ll—”
SLASH!
Blacktide froze in place as searing pain erupted in his chest. He looked down to see the glinting silver edge of a dagger—Sentient Xian Vatra’s Dagger of the Laughing God—pierced through his side.
The dagger’s shifting symbol shimmered strangely, its ancient, unreadable markings pulsing faintly as if alive. Blacktide’s lightning aura flickered weakly as the unpredictable nature of the dagger’s power took hold.
Unpredictable Effects: The dagger’s ability triggered, and in an instant, the chosen effect was revealed: “Insta Kill.”
Before Blacktide could react, his body erupted in a violent explosion, scattering debris and traces of his blood across the battlefield.
Xian Vatra chuckled darkly, twirling his dagger casually as he turned to King Arion. “I didn’t expect him to be killed instantly. I would have used a different ability.”
Arion sighed, his tone unaffected by the loss. “It’s alright. Everyone, gather up the others lying on the ground. As for him…” He gestured toward the remnants of Blacktide’s exploded body. “Take his blood and any other DNA left behind. We can recreate his body and go from there.”
The Sentients moved swiftly, their synchronized movements mechanical as they retrieved the unconscious bodies of Sir Cedric Lionheart, Ryuzen Takeda, and Kai Raiden, while Xian carefully gathered samples of Blacktide’s blood and fragments of his limbs.
As King Arion began to turn away from the scene, a new figure appeared behind him: Third Generation Sentient Commander Aiden.
Aiden’s aura pulsed faintly as he stepped forward. “Kael and Kenshiro have escaped us back at the White Castle. Their current location is unknown, as Kael has likely masked their presence.”
Arion glanced back at Aiden, his expression remaining calm. Before he could respond, a sudden alert blared across the battlefield.
A voice crackled through their communication system—a researcher’s panicked cries layered with background screams. “Help! They’ve—”
The message cut off abruptly, leaving the Sentients standing in silence.
The walls of the Main Lab were sterile and cold, their surface etched with glowing runes and pulsing lines of energy that hinted at the advanced technology hidden within. The hum of machinery filled the space, but it was drowned out by the charged silence between King Kael and Dr. Kalmaris Vorst, the Head Researcher of the lab.
Kael stood tall, his shadow aura writhed faintly as his sword glimmered with power. The sharp edge of his blade hovered dangerously close to Dr. Vorst’s neck, his eyes piercing and unrelenting.
“Where are they?!?!” Kael barked, his voice echoing with the weight of authority and rage.
Dr. Vorst’s gaze flickered nervously, his usual calm demeanor faltering under the sheer intensity of Kael’s presence. “I don’t know who you are talking about,” he stammered weakly, his voice lacking conviction.
Before Kael could press further, Kenshiro Takamura stepped forward, his eyes narrowed and his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his katana. “Elder Moros and Captain Elowen,” Kenshiro said, his voice steady but sharp. “Where are they?”
Dr. Vorst hesitated, his gaze darting between Kael and Kenshiro. A bead of sweat trickled down his temple as he swallowed hard. “We… we don’t know. I’ve already told you—we don’t know!”
The air seemed to shift as the tension in the room thickened. The faint hum of energy in the lab faltered for a moment before the door slid open with a sharp hiss.
Two figures stepped into the room, their presence imposing and unnatural.
The first was Second Generation Sentient Morrigan, her striking figure adorned with ethereal armor that emanated a soft, ghostly glow. Her smirk carried an unnerving confidence as her crimson eyes scanned the scene.
The second was Second Generation Sentient Zephyros, his sleek form radiating an aura of sharp precision. His movements were calculated, the faint shimmer of wind magic trailing his steps.
Morrigan was the first to speak, her tone smooth and mocking. “Alright, alright—everyone calm down. No need for hysteria. It seems we’re welcoming a royal guest today!” She gestured dramatically toward Kael. “King Kael, how are you?”
Kael turned his gaze toward her, his tone sharp and unyielding. “I’ll be better when I know where Captain Elowen and Elder Moros are.”
Morrigan chuckled, her laugh lilting and dismissive. “Oh, them? The Eclipse Sovereignty has them, not us.”
Kael frowned, his grip on his sword tightening. “And how do you expect me to believe that?”
Morrigan tilted her head, her smirk widening. “Not to disrespect your sensory skills, King Kael, but don’t you think you would be able to sense them? I’m sure your abilities surpass even the elite of levels.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed as her words lingered in the air. His mind raced, considering the possibility.
She has a point, Kael thought. I don’t sense either of them here. Could they really be telling the truth?
But doubt lingered in his mind, and Kael spoke firmly. “I still don’t believe you. Just look at the operation you have going on here. Do you think I would trust monsters like you?”
Zephyros stepped forward, his voice calm but sharp. “We’re doing what’s necessary to defeat The Eclipse Sovereignty. Recovering Captain Elowen and Elder Moros is our priority as well, but here you are—slowing us down and ruining everything.”
Kael’s shadow aura flickered dangerously as he responded. “Had you had them right now, you would’ve turned them into abominations—like everything else you’ve touched.”
Morrigan leaned casually against a nearby console, her tone playful. “You have proof of no such thing, your highness.”
Kael’s voice grew colder, the weight of his conviction pressing into the room. “Even if you haven’t, you’ve still done the same to countless innocents. We will put a stop to this operation. Victory by absolute power is not the way to go. We will end up doing more destruction than good in the long term.”
Morrigan yawned loudly, her mockery cutting through Kael’s words like a blade. “Please—spare us the lecture, King Kael. None of us are interested in your moral philosophy.”
She straightened, her smirk fading slightly. “But I will ask nicely since you are royalty. Can you please release Dr. Vorst?”
Kenshiro stepped forward, his tone steady and resolute. “What the King said stands. I don’t know if you understand that principle, but Dr. Vorst isn’t going anywhere until we figure this out.”
Kael nodded, his gaze unwavering. “We’ll take Vorst with us and leave now.”
Zephyros’s laughter rang out, his green eyes glittering with menace. “Do you think that’s a good idea? Do you know whose planet you’re on? Whose universe you’re standing in? You dare make threats like that?”
Morrigan sighed theatrically, her tone dripping with boredom. “If a fight is what you want, your majesty, we have more than enough manpower to handle you two.”
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