The air was thick with tension. Cyrus's voice broke the silence first, his tone edged with urgency.
"My king, we'll have to fight our way out. The great nations know of your existence now. We need a base of operations."
Rex rose slowly, his eyes burning with resolve. "I know where. We'll take the volcanic mountains of Hawaii. But first… I must find a blacksmith and a scientist who can create a weapon worthy of what's coming. A sword unlike any other."
As Rex turned to leave, Takeda called out."Wait."
Rex paused.
"You should take my daughter, Artemis," Takeda said firmly. "She is a genius hunter—deadly with both blade and gun. She can aid you on this journey. If she stays, she'll be hunted down and executed. I will remain here. I'll take the blame."
Before Rex could answer, dawn broke. From the treeline, a figure emerged, dragging a bear's severed head behind her. Artemis. She was returning from a long hunt, her dark hair wild, her expression cold and sharp as a blade.
Takeda quickly explained the situation. Artemis listened without hesitation. When he finished, she bowed to Rex."My king," she said, her voice steady, "I can help you escape. The forest is rigged with traps I laid myself. If we move now, it will take us an hour to reach safety. Are you prepared to run?"
Rex's eyes narrowed. "We leave now. Time is against us."
Gunfire erupted as they broke into the forest. Bullets screamed through the trees, tearing bark and earth. Just as the enemy's forces closed around them, a sudden explosion tore the ground apart.
BOOM!
A landmine obliterated half a unit. Seconds later, another eruption swallowed a column of tanks.
"Too dangerous to fly!" Artemis shouted. "We take a boat!"
Rex spun, drawing Cerberus. Twelve shots cracked through the chaos—three forward, two to the left, three to the right, two overhead. Each bullet found its mark with deadly precision. Soldiers dropped before they could even cry out.
Without slowing, Rex unsheathed Silent Fang. With a single swing, he cut down a massive tree, sending it crashing into the advancing soldiers, halting their pursuit.
Artemis pulled free her weapon—Luna. Forged in secret from moon rock, the blade shimmered with pale silver light, as though the moon itself had descended into the forest.
Enemy soldiers froze, awestruck by its glow. They had only a moment to wonder before their heads fell from their shoulders, the strike so swift it was unseen.
The three reached the river and seized a waiting boat. Engines roared to life as enemy vessels gave chase, bullets slicing the waves. Rex and Cyrus returned fire, each shot deliberate, aimed only at drivers. Boats veered, capsized, and crashed into the current.
Still, the enemy swarmed. Artemis dragged them below deck, where she kept her personal arsenal. Beneath a hidden hatch, she revealed an escape chute. They dropped into the water just as a submarine surfaced and launched a torpedo, reducing their boat to fire and splinters.
Clinging to the sub's hull, they remained unseen."Submarine Delta, reporting," a voice crackled over comms. "Target destroyed. No survivors.""Copy that, Delta," answered Warship Ghost. "Reading loud and clear."
Cyrus forced the hatch open. Water poured in, flooding the chamber. Rex stepped through first, unleashing Eclipse Slash. The strike painted the walls red, navy soldiers collapsing before they could raise a weapon.
Cyrus followed with a barrage of arrows, clearing the way as Rex carved a path through steel corridors. They reached the main deck, where Rex pressed Eclipse to the captain's throat.
"All who oppose me," he growled, "will only fuel the revolution."
The captain—Gabe—met his glare."So it's bigger than me, huh? Save the speech, Rex. This isn't that kind of movie."
Rex smirked."No. It's smaller than you think. The truth will come when I conquer the world."
He withdrew his blade. Before Gabe could breathe relief, a gunshot cracked. Artemis lowered her pistol, smoke curling from the barrel. The captain slumped to the deck.
"My king," she said, "we must go deeper—another hundred meters down. There's a hidden cave, and inside, an old World War II submarine. We can reach it before they regroup."
Rex's eyes flared. "Not yet. Load the torpedoes. Let them believe their own men turned against them."
Cyrus prepared the tubes. "Three shots ready."
"Artemis," Rex ordered, "fire on my mark."
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
Three torpedoes struck the fleet. Explosions split the horizon in thunder and flame.
On the flagship, Admiral Zo staggered as the deck shook beneath him."What happened?!""Direct hit from Submarine Delta!" a soldier cried."Traitors?! Contact them—now!""Submarine Delta, this is Warship Ghost bearing six-nine-seven, over—"
Another torpedo ripped through the hull. Panic spread."Abandon ship!" Admiral Zo bellowed. "Send word to headquarters—the targets still live!"
Rex switched the submarine to autopilot and aimed it into the enemy's formation. Moments later, the fleet erupted in fire as steel crashed against steel.
In the silence that followed, Rex, Cyrus, and Artemis swam through the hidden passage into the cave. Dripping, battered, but alive, they stood together in the shadows.
"Where to now, my king?" Cyrus asked. Artemis's voice joined his.
"Mexico," Rex said.
The name hung heavy in the damp air.
"The Commandment Faith," Cyrus murmured. "They may already be waiting for you there."
"He's right," Artemis added.
Rex's gaze was aflame, unyielding. "The law does not rule Mexico," he said. "Only money does."