David, bleeding, shaking, but alive, slowly pushed himself up.
His vision swam. The world tilted. But he was standing.
DAVID: (Voice hoarse, squinting at the twins) "Who... who are you two? Carpenters? You're the Foreman's crew?"
TWIN 2 — FUZANGLONG: (Glancing back, a ghost of a grin) "That's us. We fix things. Build houses. Woodwork." He cracked his neck. "Let's say... for now? Go fight for us. Not against."
TWIN 1 — XUELONG: (Scanning the chaos, already moving) "And find someone stronger. Not weaker." He glanced at David's battered form. No cruelty just fact.
DAVID: (Stumbling after them, desperate for something to hold onto) "What are your names? At least tell me that!"
FUZANGLONG: Didn't slow down. Didn't look back. Just let the name hang in the smoke behind him.
"Fuzanglong. "
XUELONG: A half-turn, just enough to catch David's eye.
"Xuelong. "
Then they were gone two shadows vanishing into the fire and screams.
David stood alone, bleeding, holding those names like talismans.
Across the dome...
The Foreman moved like a force of nature. His axe sang. Thieves fell. Bodies piled in his wake.
He carved through another cluster, barely winded and then he saw him.
The leader.
Standing on an elevated cargo platform, arms crossed, watching the chaos below like a director observing his play. Red armor. Polished. Still clean.
The Foreman's lips pulled back from his teeth in a predator's smile.
FOREMAN: (Quiet, to himself and smile) "There you are."
He adjusted his grip on the axe and moved.
The Thief Boss stood on the edge of a building overlooking the dome's interior a artificial cliff surrounded by scaffolded trees, a pocket of forest green in the industrial chaos.
He jumped.
The Foreman watched him descend, then glanced at Aurora, who had materialized at his side.
FOREMAN: "I think... I'll test the waters. Before I hand him off to you."
AURORA: (Calm, observing) "Sure. Just don't beat him too bad. I need answers."
The Foreman grinned and stepped forward
And Air Force Captain dropped from above, wing-gliders folding, landing hard between them and the approaching boss.
CAPTAIN: (Arms spread, blocking) "You civilians. Stay out of the way. I've got this."
He flung his arm forward grenades. Three small canisters arced toward the boss.
The boss moved. A sidestep. A pivot. A lean. Each explosive detonated exactly where he wasn't.
THIEF BOSS: (Dusting his shoulder) "Good try. Not good enough."
CAPTAIN: "Then we'll try this."
He drew twin pistols fired a stream of precision shots.
The boss dodged. Weaved. Raised one hand.
THIEF BOSS: "Activated."
A shockwave erupted around him. The bullets the grenade fragments still in the air pushed back, deflected by an invisible field. He walked through the explosion's aftermath untouched.
Then he ran.
A blur. A fist aimed at the Captain's chest.
The Captain parried. They traded blows lightning fast, none landing until the Captain's arms began to change.
Skin shifted to scales. Fingers fused. His forearms elongated, narrowed, became blades.
KIRO: (Watching from the sidelines, to Aurora) "Are you upset? He's stealing your fight."
AURORA: (Not looking up from her phone, fingers tapping notes) "Not even close. I'm curious. I'm taking notes."
She typed calmly as a Captain became... something else.
Fully transformed.
He was still humanoid but his head had elongated into a sharp, silvery rostrum. His nose were long nose blade His skin was slick, scaled, gleaming.
A swordfish man.
CAPTAIN: (Voice gurgling, inhuman) "Now... you face the depths."
He lunged. The blade nose shot forward aimed to impale.
BOOM.
A massive impact. An explosion of force.
When the smoke cleared, the Captain was human again, lying flat on his back, groaning.
The boss stood over him, breathing hard but upright.
THIEF BOSS: (Stepping past) "Interesting. But not enough."
The Captain stood up.
CAPTAIN: (Voice cracking, body warping) "Get... back here..."
He transformed again. Bigger this time. Six feet became six and a half. His arms weren't just blades they were swords. Full length. Double-edged. His face was all sharp angles and dead eyes.
A humanoid swordfish predator.
THIEF BOSS: (Turning, a genuine smile spreading) "Now that's more interesting."
They circled each other, predator and thief, as the dome burned around them.
The Captain—fully transformed, sword-arms gleaming—launched himself skyward. His bladed limbs caught the light as he glided down, a predator diving for the kill.
THIEF BOSS: (Watching him descend, almost amused) "Flying fish. Interesting."
He raised one hand.
A shockwave met the Captain mid-dive—staggering him—followed by a devastating punch that drove him straight into the ground. The transformation shattered. The Captain lay crumpled, human again, gasping.
CAPTAIN: (Struggling to rise) "How... how is that even possible?"
The Boss ignored him. He stepped forward—
And the Foreman was suddenly there, planted between them. One swing of his massive axe sent a whirlwind of force howling outward, pushing the Boss back a step.
THIEF BOSS: (Regaining his balance, smiling) "You next?"
FOREMAN: (Stepping aside, gesturing) "No. She is."
A blur of motion.
AURORA descended from nowhere—staff extended, leg snapping out in a flying kick that caught the Boss square in the chin. She landed, spun, and swept his legs. A final staff strike sent him tumbling away.
AURORA: (Staff planted, voice cold) "You. Who can't even use my technology properly."
She tapped the Gauntlet on his wrist with her staff.
AURORA (CONT'D): "The Omega Artifact. It can make even a weakling look strong. But it still requires skill to use. You're only good at stopping the Gifted." She tilted her head. "But no one else knows—if used right..."
She lunged.
The Boss raised his free hand—an EMP shield flared to life.
Aurora planted her staff, vaulted over the shield entirely, and brought a brutal kick across his face in mid-air.
He stumbled, bleeding, confused.
THIEF BOSS: "How who are you?!"
She didn't answer with words.
She grabbed his wrist. Twisted. The Gauntlet's seals released with a hiss. It slid off his arm and onto hers.
The Boss's eyes went wide.
THIEF BOSS: "You give that BACK"
He lunged.
Aurora raised her newly reclaimed Gauntlet. Pulsed.
BANG.
An EMP bullet pure concussive force caught him in the chest and sent him flying across the loading bay. He crashed into stacked lumber and didn't move.
Aurora lowered her arm. Flexed her fingers. The Gauntlet glowed faintly, home.
AURORA: (Quiet, satisfied) "That's how you use it."
CROSS: (Pushing himself up, spitting blood) "Now... get up. This can't be finished yet."
He swayed, but stood. His eyes burned with wounded pride.
CROSS (CONT'D): "I can't believe I let one of your men steal it from under my nose." He laughed—bitter, dangerous. "You're good. For a girl."
He rolled his shoulders. Cracked his neck.
CROSS (CONT'D): "But just for you? I'm Cross. And nobody crosses me."
He tore off his hoodie, revealing a lean, scarred frame. From his back, he drew a blade—curved, wicked, gleaming.
CROSS (CONT'D): "Got this one from a sword thief. Wonder what happened to him." A nasty grin. "Heard he got beaten by some random swordsman that can cut elements. Pathetic."
He settled into a defensive stance, blade ready.
CROSS (CONT'D): "Come at me."
Aurora didn't hesitate.
She dashed forward. Closed fist—the Gauntlet hummed. The sword in Cross's hand jerked—then flew out of his grip, clattering across the floor.
His eyes went wide.
She was already there. Staff extended. The tip crackled with EMP energy—right into his face. The other tip—into his gut. A swift kick launched him into the air, and she slammed him down with the staff across his chest.
AURORA: (Breathing hard, standing over him) "Phew. I can't do that much damage in one go. But with that many blows..." She stepped back. "You're done."
She turned. Walked away.
CROSS: (Struggling to his knees, then his feet) "I said... I'm not done!" He swayed, vision blurry. "You hit like a girl!"
Aurora stopped walking. Didn't turn.
AURORA: "Is that so?" A pause. "I am a girl."
She raised one hand—still walking away—and snapped her fingers.
BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG.
Multiple shock points erupted across Cross's body—the places she'd struck with EMP-charged blows. Each impact site discharged in sequence, a chain reaction of agony.
He fell backward. Didn't move.
AURORA: (Finally glancing back, voice calm) "Did I say the damage would finish you? No. It's the after-effect."
She kept walking.
Cross lay still.
AURORA: (Walking toward Kiro, Gauntlet gleaming) "Kiro! Did you see that? I'm a technology expert. I could do all kinds of tech stuff for your village. Upgrades. Defenses. The works."
KIRO: (Staring at the smoke where Cross fell, jaw tight) "Okay. But when's my turn? I want to fight too."
BOOM.
The other side of the dome erupted—a massive explosion that shook the ground beneath their feet.
Meanwhile, at the explosion site...
Smoke cleared. Rubble settled. And the Crimson Manager stepped through the flames, untouched.
His eyes found David.
MANAGER: "You. Air Force rookie." He cracked his neck. "Fight me. Let's see if you can take a punch."
David spun—looking behind him for the twins.
They were there. But they were... lagging. Leaning against a collapsed cart. Fuzanglong picking splinters from his nails. Xuelong examining a scratch on his arm. Bored. Lazy. In no hurry.
David's stomach dropped.
DAVID: (Turning back, squaring his shoulders) "Looks like... I'll have to keep you busy. Until they get here." A pause. "Or beat you myself."
He dashed.
The Manager didn't move.
A gut punch—David's fist connected—and then David was hovering in mid-air, confused, because the Manager hadn't flinched and David hadn't landed.
DAVID: (Floating, stunned) "How—I didn't even see that—"
MANAGER: (Amused) "Hi, kid. I'll give you a handicap." He spread his arms. "I won't move from this spot. You hit me with your best shot."
David landed. Kicked.
The Manager caught his ankle.
Punched him in the face.
David reeled—threw a right hook.
The Manager caught it with his open palm. Squeezed. David's fingers crunched.
Then he threw David across the loading bay.
BANG.
A gunshot echoed. Smoke rose from the Manager's back.
MANAGER: (Wincing, touching the wound) "Ouch." He turned. "Good thing for tough skin and armor." His eyes narrowed. "Who shot me? That's a coward's move."
VEYRA: (Stepping from the shadows, pistols holstered, rolling her shoulders) "Here."
She kicked.
A blur of motion—her boot connected with his face, sending him gliding sideways, feet scraping grooves in the concrete.
MANAGER: (Regaining balance, a genuine smile spreading) "Now you... you know how to fight. That was a strong kick."
He punched.
Veyra flew backward—caught herself—hands and boots carving long marks in the ground as she skidded to a stop.
VEYRA: (Breathing hard, not looking away from him) "Hi, rookie." Her voice was calm, controlled. "Stay out of this one."
She cracked her neck.
VEYRA (CONT'D): "I've got it."