—Masha, are you ready to enter the field?
I was leaning against one of the ship's walls, chewing gum while listening to Minnie speak through the speakers mounted nearby.
—You need to take this as seriously as possible. We're in the twenty-second era of the Y'ivak invasions… —Her previously serious tone softened slightly.
—I understand perfectly, Minnie, but… —I tapped a small plate on the side of my head, and a pair of sleek, orange-tinted glasses appeared before my eyes with a faint glow. —What's the point of being careful if they might be in danger right now?
The ship's hatch opened, and without hesitation, I jumped into the void. The wind whipped against my face as adrenaline coursed through my veins. I tried to push aside my concern for my teammates, replacing it with the exhilarating rush of freefall. I tucked my body in to gain more speed. Through the communicator, I could hear Minnie screaming as she realized I had no parachute. I cut the transmission and locked onto my first target— a hive-class Y'ivak. These creatures are massive and typically spawn more of their kind through boils that feed on living beings.
I spread my arms and legs to slow my descent, gripping my sword tightly. As soon as I reached the creature, I plunged my blade into it. The force and velocity of my attack caused the wound to keep splitting open as I fell, reducing my speed. The moment my feet touched the ground, I spun and slashed the remaining pieces of the creature, causing it to explode in a rain of green blood. The commotion attracted nearby creatures, which quickly surrounded me, chattering in their strange dialect.
Their tall, pale bodies and black exoskeletons would unsettle anyone. They stared at me with those six hollow cranial sockets, each containing tiny white dots that resembled eyes. I pointed my sword at them.
—Shron'tek Kha Y'ivak. —I recited mockingly.
It took a great effort to pronounce their language correctly, but I succeeded in provoking them. They lunged at me, extending their clawed fingers and attacking in a coordinated chain. I launched myself forward, throwing my sword in a spinning motion toward them. As it cut through their ranks, I slid between the legs of one of the creatures, repositioning myself behind the extraterrestrial horde. I extended my hand to the side, catching my weapon mid-air.
When the creatures turned to face me, several lights flickered among them. I raised my hand, grinning.
—Shron'tel Rhi'mok. —I snapped my fingers.
The lights detonated simultaneously, eradicating the swarm in a dazzling green and white spectacle that blended seamlessly with the chaotic sounds of this relentless war.
For a moment, I lost my balance, and my vision blurred. I felt a warm, damp sensation rise in my throat, followed by red droplets splattering onto the ground.
—Masha, what did I tell you about using too much power at once? —The familiar voice of the headmistress echoed in my mind. The suit's communications had been restored.
—Yeah, yeah… You just came to scold me? —I wiped my mouth with my fist.
—I came to inform you that we have pinpointed your teammates' locations. At the northern entrance of the Deux facility—where you are now, in case you didn't know—Tef is engaged in battle, or so we believe based on his accelerated heart rate. As for Luk, he's somewhere in the east wing of the massive structure, but his status is unknown. His suit's readings have desynchronized, and we only have GPS tracking.
—Got it. What route do you recommend? —I began running toward the building where they were located, resting my sword on my shoulder.
—The best option would be to reach Tef first, then head to Luk. They're in a straight line from your position.
—Understood. —A light appeared beneath my foot, propelling me forward at incredible speed, allowing me to cover several meters in an instant.
The transmission was lost, leaving only static in my ears. I opted to turn off the communicator and press on. From my left forearm, I pulled out a translucent holographic screen displaying their real-time locations. That witch had managed to send me the data before the signal cut out.
Now, all that was left was to fight and rescue them.
A red flash ignited in the darkness of a vast lobby. Several Y'ivak fired their laser weapons, aiming at the moving light that never stayed still. One by one, the creatures were sliced in half or decapitated.
For a brief instant, a young man with brown hair appeared against a wall, gripping a translucent red sword.
The few remaining creatures began to glow from cracks beneath their skin—on their arms, legs, and other areas. Some pointed at the corpses, causing them to grow, while severed limbs transformed into new individuals.
In front of them all, the young man reappeared. His black suit, torn in places and streaked with white lines, stood out even in the dimly lit space. His face bore several cuts, and exhaustion was evident.
—I see… you still… have tricks up your sleeve… —he muttered between ragged breaths.
He pointed his sword at the enemy, his gaze filled with anger—not rage, nor hatred, but sheer determination.
—I have no choice, and you won't back down, will you? Then if I'm going to die, I'll at least die standing.
Extending both arms to his sides, red lights emerged, gradually taking the form of a spear and a shield.
—What are you waiting for!? —he roared, striking the shield with his weapon, producing a metallic clang.
The massive army surged forward, firing their weapons and brandishing their claws, ready to tear him apart. The young man swung his spear in a sweeping motion, releasing a crimson energy slash that cut through a large portion of the enemy forces. Many of their warriors and healers were obliterated instantly, yet the creatures continued their eerie mitosis, doubling their numbers.
—Shit… —the boy chuckled.
With a sigh, his weapons dissipated along with the faint breeze in the room. He raised his fists, watching as the Y'ivak advanced with their claws and weapons. They knew it—victory was theirs.
Or so it seemed.
A soft sliding sound from the boy's foot drew their attention. His stance was firm. No weapons. No powers. No tricks. Just him, his fists, and his skill.
The monsters' footsteps and growls were drowned out by the thunderous pounding of his heart. Adrenaline surged wildly through his veins, making them visible beneath his suit.
The attack began. The creatures fired their weapons between the gaps left by the frontline soldiers, while the melee fighters scraped their claws against the floor, preparing to strike.
Feeling the shots barely graze his hair, the young man maneuvered through the gaps, closing the distance. As he neared the front line, he slid across the ground, kicking up a thick cloud of dust from the debris of previous battles.
The creatures' sharp shrieks were his only guide. Moving cautiously, he found his first target.
A downward slash came at him. He blocked it, pressing his forearm against the creature's, and stepped forward, landing a punch to its abdomen. The Y'ivak staggered backward, attempting to skewer him with its stinger. He caught it with both hands, twisted violently, and slammed the beast into the ground, shattering its body.
A faint glimmer caught his eye just in time. He dodged, feeling a claw slice his cheek. Grabbing the attacker's arm, he spun, wrenching it off before kicking the creature to the ground. He leaped up and crushed its skull beneath his landing.
Before he could catch his breath, three creatures charged simultaneously, forcing him to retreat and blend into the dust. But luck betrayed him—his foot slipped, and he fell onto his back. The monsters loomed over him.
A beam of light pierced their skulls, killing them instantly and dispersing the dust.
—Sorry I'm late, Luk. Let me help with this little problem.
A silver-haired girl emerged, walking leisurely. Her radiant smile lit up the entire room.
Forming a finger gun, she aimed at the aliens.
Luk, now grinning, leaped to his feet and summoned a red energy bow.
—I'm counting on you, Masha.