(A/N):
Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.
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As Asta arrived at the spectator booth, he spotted Yuno already waiting there.
The moment they stepped inside,
Spectator Booth...
Ben was on his feet, his expression lighting up like the sun breaking through clouds.
Without a word, he pulled them both into a strong, brotherly hug —
The kind that spoke of years spent together under the same roof, sharing the same meals, and playing together.
For a moment, none of them said anything.
"____"
"____"
"____"
It was just the steady thump of hearts and the warmth of family.
When Ben finally pulled back, his smile was tinged with pride.
"You've both come so far,"
He said, his voice thick with emotion.
"Congratulations."
Asta grinned, feeling ten feet tall.
Yuno gave a small, content nod.
Nod~
No matter how high they aimed, no matter where the road took them,
Ben would always be their big brother.
After chatting and laughing together for a while —
Reminiscing about old days at the orphanage and trading light jabs about who had grown taller —
The time finally came for them to leave.
Asta and Yuno knew their squad captains would be waiting at the assigned meeting spots to take them to the Magic Knights' secret bases.
Ben clasped their shoulders firmly, his gaze lingering as if memorizing their faces.
"Go on,"
He said with a grin, though there was a flicker of protectiveness in his eyes.
"Your new journeys are waiting."
Asta gave him an enthusiastic wave.
"We'll make you proud, Ben!"
Yuno simply met his gaze, his quiet confidence saying all that needed to be said.
As they walked away,
Ben stood there for a moment longer, watching the two boys he'd once helped look after stride toward their futures.
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
No matter where they went, a part of them would always be the kids from the orphanage…
And his little brothers.
After sending Asta and Yuno off,
Ben exhaled softly, his smile fading into the calm, composed expression expected of a king.
The Royal Knights, led by Captain Darius, stepped forward in perfect formation, their polished armor catching the sunlight.
"Your Majesty,"
Darius said with a respectful bow, gesturing toward the waiting royal carriage.
Ben nodded and followed,
Nod~
the familiar weight of duty settling on his shoulders once more.
The door shut behind him,
And the carriage rolled away, returning him to the palace where a king's responsibilities awaited.
The moment he stepped into the grand marble hall, a sharp flutter of wings cut through the air.
Something small and fast darted straight toward his face.
"____"
Ben instinctively tilted his head back —
And found himself staring at a very familiar sight.
"Nero?"
He said, blinking.
The little anti-bird hovered in front of him, her tiny eyes wide and intense.
She landed on his shoulder, feathers ruffling as if she'd flown here at full speed.
She let out an urgent cry, wings flicking rapidly in sharp, purposeful motions.
"Where have you been all these days?"
Ben asked, a note of surprise in his voice.
Nero didn't bother answering in her usual aloof manner.
Instead, she signaled again —
Short, quick gestures, her feathers bristling with urgency.
Ben's expression hardened.
"____"
He knew that look.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Ben turned sharply toward Captain Darius, his eyes narrowing.
"I'll be heading out immediately. Assemble a squad — they're coming with me,"
He ordered, his tone leaving no room for questions.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Darius snapped to attention, signaling the nearest Royal Knights to fall in.
Ben stepped aside, already raising his wrist.
His fingers found the familiar dial on the Omnitrix, and with a smooth click,
The device's core popped up, glowing with an emerald pulse.
The holographic silhouettes flickered until he stopped on one —
The sleek, winged form of Jetray.
Without hesitation, he slammed the dial back down.
FLASH!
A surge of green light exploded outward, racing across his body in rippling arcs.
His skin shimmered, his frame elongating and streamlining as the transformation overtook him.
His hands became clawed fins, a long, muscular tail unfurled, and his eyes gleamed bright gold against a crimson hide.
When the final flash faded, the King of the Clover Kingdom was gone —
And in his place hovered Jetray, wings humming with barely restrained speed.
Cradling Nero securely in one clawed hand, Jetray crouched low.
With a single, powerful leap and a hard snap of his wings, he blasted upward, tearing through the air like a scarlet missile.
The wind howled past his face as he shot into the open sky,
The sun flashing across his sleek form.
Behind him, the assembled Royal Knights kicked off from the palace courtyard,
Their brooms slicing through the air in tight formation.
Nero squirmed in his grip,
Her feathers twitching rapidly as she pointed with urgent jerks of her beak.
Jetray angled his body and banked sharply in that direction,
The air vibrating with the speed of his flight.
They streaked over sprawling farmland and quiet villages, their shadows flashing over rooftops below.
But the peaceful view soon gave way to something darker —
Black smoke spiraling into the sky ahead.
Moments later, they arrived.
A house stood half-collapsed, charred timbers still crackling as smoke bled from the wreckage.
Outside, an elderly man sat slumped on the ground, his face pale and streaked with soot.
Two small children clung desperately to his arms,
Their tear-streaked faces pressed into his sleeves as they wept.
Jetray's gaze swept over the scene —
The smoldering ruins, the trembling children, the pain etched into the old man's face.
Slowly, he turned his head toward Nero.
The bird met his eyes and gave a single, firm nod.
Nod~
"____"
Ben's eyes narrowed, a cold spark of recognition flickering in them.
'Could it be…?'
The thought coiled in his mind like a shadowy whisper.
'Eye of the Midnight Sun… are they finally making their move?'
His wings tightened against the wind as a grim certainty settled over him.
If this was their doing… then the real game had just begun.
Jetray angled his wings,
Descending in a smooth arc before touching down.
A burst of red light washed over him, and in the blink of an eye, the alien form melted away —
Leaving Ben standing in the dirt, his boots crunching on scattered debris.
His gaze fixed on the small trio huddled before him.
The old man clutched two children to his chest, his arms trembling.
Both kids were limp, their small faces slack in unconsciousness.
Dark streaks of blood stained the man's hands and clothes, pooling slowly beneath them.
Ben's chest tightened.
He strode forward and dropped to one knee beside them, the earth cool against his leg.
Up close, he could see the old man's face —
Pale, sweat beading on his brow, each breath shallow and strained.
Carefully,
Ben reached out, checking the man's pulse, his eyes scanning for the worst of the injuries.
The old man's grip was weak, yet desperate, as if letting go meant losing everything.
Minutes dragged by, every second feeling heavier than the last —
Until the sound of beating wings and rustling wind announced the Royal Knight squad's arrival.
Their enchanted mounts descended in a sweeping arc, boots hitting the ground in perfect unison.
Ben stood immediately, his voice firm but urgent.
"Get the healer over here — now!"
A robed figure broke from the group and hurried to his side, kneeling beside the old man and the unconscious children.
As glowing magic surged from the healer's hands,
Ben stepped back just enough to give them room, his eyes never leaving the wounded family.
Half an hour later...
The healer finally let out a weary sigh,
Sigh~
Pulling back as the last traces of glowing magic faded from his hands.
"The worst of it's done,"
He told Ben, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"But…"
His expression darkened,
"…the old man's injuries were too severe. He's in a coma. There's no telling when—or if—he'll wake."
Ben's jaw tightened.
"____"
"As for the children,"
The healer continued, glancing at the two small forms lying side by side,
"they're only unconscious. No lasting harm. A bit of rest, and they'll recover."
Ben rose to his feet, his gaze shifting from the injured family to the smoldering ruins nearby.
"Fan out,"
He ordered, his voice firm.
"Search every inch of the area—inside, outside, even the tree lines. If the enemy left anything behind, I want it found."
The Royal Knights moved without hesitation, sweeping through the wreckage, overturning debris, and combing the ground for tracks or magical residue.
Minutes stretched into nearly an hour, the only sounds being the crackle of dying embers and the scrape of boots over scorched earth.
At last, the lead knight approached Ben, helmet tucked under his arm.
"Nothing, sir. No traces. Whoever did this… covered their tracks perfectly."
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(Author's POV)
(A/N)Thanks for reading the chapter!
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