Sunrise.
No clouds. Just the beautiful skies.
Although the skies were usually tainted, today they weren't.
Kael sat in his room. Nila and Alex talked quietly across the hall.
Archangel and Raegal shared beers in another, their low hum filling the calm morning.
Raegal's gaze drifted toward the horizon, catching the shimmer of city lights on glass and steel.
Something felt… off.
Then the sirens rang.
"What's that?" Raegal asked.
"It's time," Archangel said. Calm.
Unshakable.
He spoke into his mic. "Everyone gather at the assembly ground. Now."
The assembly ground was enormous — a perfect sphere of grass. In the center, a long white dining table sat like a stage set, chairs waiting for their audience.
Alex and Kael arrived first.
"Pretty fast, huh?" Alex smirked.
"You too," Kael replied.
Alex pulled a cigar, flicking it open with casual flair.
"What are you doing?" Kael asked.
"Snatched it from Raegal's pocket while he was sleeping. Ha!"
"Smoking won't make you look cool… Alex."
"I'm a superhuman, goddamn it. It won't affect me."
"We don't even know our powers!" Kael shot back.
"Whatever…" Alex groaned, taking a drag.
"Hey, boys!" Raegal's voice boomed as he entered with Archangel.
"Didn't expect you to get along so well with a… dictator," Kael said, nodding at Archangel.
"Oh! I didn't tell you — we were partners back in my assassination days," Raegal replied.
"PARTNERS?!" Alex and Kael exclaimed.
"Yeah… I remember how Raegal screamed when he got shot in the leg. Like a little girl!" Archangel laughed.
"Shut up," Raegal muttered, chuckling despite himself.
"Hard to believe you held us at gunpoint a few days ago…" Kael murmured.
"You killed some of my men, Kael," Archangel replied flatly.
"…You've got a point." Kael sighed.
Raegal's eyes flicked to the horizon again.
The sirens still echoed faintly, a reminder only he seemed to hear. His grip tightened on his beer. Something was coming.
"Oh wow, such a lovely gathering. Would be nice if I could get a cup of tea," Noir shrugged.
"You… again?" Kael whispered.
"Pardon?" Alex asked, confused.
"Oh, nothing."
"I see…" Alex shook his head.
Archangel clapped his hands. "Alright, boys. Now let's be serious."
"Ryuzaki… we have to put him down," Archangel said.
"We have to," Kael answered coldly.
"Are you crazy, Kael? Even thinking of killing him is suicide!" Raegal snapped.
"If we don't do something first, we're dead anyway!" Kael shouted.
"We left our home because my dead sister appeared out of nowhere and tried to blow it up… because she thinks YOU sold her," Kael said, pointing at Raegal.
"I can't keep running. Not again. Not anymore.
I want to finish this — all of it — once and for all.
…Thank you for nothing, Raegal."
Silence. The words hung heavy. Even the sirens seemed muted, as if the city itself was holding its breath.
Then Alex's voice rose, shaking but firm.
"No voice to speak."
"No will to cry."
"No mind to break," Kael joined.
"This is survival."
"That's what they taught us."
"Or forced us to believe," Alex said.
"…I agree with Kael.
If there's anything I want to do before I die, it's put that son of a bitch down."
"Fine… but if I die, it's all on you," Raegal muttered.
"Alright. Ready?" Archangel smirked.
"Yes." Kael's reply was sharp.
"Good. You remember the deal, Kael?"
"Yeah. I have to kill somebody, right?"
"Not just somebody. He's Ryuzaki's ally. If we don't put him down first, he'll see us coming a mile away."
"I've got a question, John," Raegal cut in.
"Hm?" Archangel replied.
"Why are you helping us?"
"I have my reasons," John said coldly, eyes distant.
"Ohhh, he's hiding something!" Noir laughed.
Kael smirked.
John slid a tablet onto the table. A hologram flickered to life.
"Ali Hussein. Top weapons dealer. Famous in the underworld. I've done deals with him myself," John explained.
"He's in Italy, honeymoon with his wife."
"Location?" Alex asked.
"I'll send coordinates later," John replied.
"So who's going?"
"Not me. I've got an army to run," John said.
"I'll go," Kael replied.
"Great. Someone else?"
"I'll go with him," Raegal offered.
"Good. It's settled. I'll tell you when."
Everyone left for their rooms.
Kael sat on his bed. Preparing. Not physically — mentally.
"Just this mission. Just one more… and I'll be free."
"I sure hope so." Noir appeared from the dark.
Kael thought it sounded sarcastic. Maybe he was overthinking.
"God, you're soo corny," Noir sneered.
"I'm just tired," Kael muttered.
"Yeah, take a rest. Me? I'm hyped for the action."
"So you're hyped just to slaughter people?"
"You know what they say, Kael… savor every moment."
"Yeah. Savor every moment, my ass."
"You're no fun." Noir groaned, fading away.
Outside the room, Alex peeked through the door.
"I know you're watching. Come in," Kael said.
"W-what, me? Nooo, I was just… walking down the hall!" Alex stammered.
Kael's hand clenched, he almost fell trying to get up from the bed.
He trembled.
"I know what you're thinking: 'Kael's lost it.'" He mocked Alex's voice.
"Yeah, well, FUCK, I have!" Kael screamed.
"I've fucking lost it!
"My family… my childhood…
"even my FUCKING SANITY!"
"I'm just a useless brat who gives excuses every single fucking time!"
"..."
His breath slowed. Calming.
"You know why I still wear this pendant?"
"It .....reminds me when I was still ...human."
He pushed through the front door.
"W-what happened to him…" Alex thought.
"Kael..." Alex whispered.
"Everyone's feeling the same way you are."
"You're not alone...not at all."
...
"I....I'm sorry.." Kael murmured.
"It's alright.." Alex said calmly.
"..."