The warrior and the copies of his students stand in a corridor, flanked by a pair of guards standing rigidly before a massive door that leads to a chamber. The elder watches as a blue-skinned Oksilis gestures with her arm, inviting them inside. They proceed into the room, where several red-skinned servants arrange cushions along one side of a wide, long carpet that divides the chamber in half. The walls are decorated with ancient armor and weapons.
The clone of the brown-haired boy studies the many paintings lining the walls—each depicting a spiked, faceless being dressed in extravagantly ornate attire. Practically every wall is covered with such portraits. He leans toward the blonde and whispers, "Looks like someone's obsessed with himself." He is ignored, but his comment draws the attention of a woman of that species, dressed in a black suit with a white shirt and black tie. He immediately bows and apologizes.
The blue-eyed clone then asks the adult, "Master, how long do Oksilis live?"
The warrior glances toward the enormous metallic throne piled with cushions at the far end of the carpet and replies, "As far as I know, their lifespan ranges from fifty to one hundred fifty years."
Assistant (nervous and frightened): "E-excuse me, oh Great Barrier of Power, please wait a moment longer. The King often takes time in discussions with economists about the budget assigned to each sector!"
Her words barely affect the warrior. He cracks his neck and raises his right hand. The blue-skinned alien swallows hard as he says, "He often takes time? Are you telling me that the inept leader of your bland race not only dares to waste a Barrier's time—forcing me to take some ridiculous paper just to speak face-to-face—but also has the audacity to make me wait…?"
His open hand remains raised. Across the planet, people freeze in shock as an immense red sphere of energy begins to form and slowly descend. Some tremble; others scream, "It's the Final Judgment!" Red-skinned Oksilis in golden armor storm the chamber, weapons aimed at Jayden, while thousands more in blue armor attempt to maintain order across the floating citadels. Panic spreads as the orb grows larger than the cities themselves.
In a three-story building, a blue-skinned man stares out the window in disbelief. "What the hell is that?! Please tell me this is a joke…"
Assistant (dropping to her knees): "PLEASE, I BEG YOU—HAVE MERCY!"
Head of the Guard (nervously): "LOWER YOUR HAND!"
Jayden glances at the guards. That brief attention releases such a surge of Fiu that they are flung backward, crashing into the walls. Those at the door part instinctively, revealing a long corridor beyond. He looks down at the pleading woman. "If you want to save your people, run. You have ten seconds. If the King isn't here by then—goodbye."
With no other choice, the assistant scrambles to her feet and sprints down the corridor as the doors slam shut behind her. The countdown begins. "Ten…"
The clones of the students don't know whether this is a joke—except for the black-haired girl's clone, who swallows hard.
At the same time, the real students hidden behind columns notice guards rushing toward the throne room. Tyron whispers, "What do you think happened?"
Two of the girls shrug. Francesca scans the area and spots a floating black orb.
"Careful," Alexa warns. "That's a Society of Users security camera."
"I don't know what Master—or our clones—did," Francesca says quietly, "but this is our chance. The guards are gone."
They nod and sprint down the corridor to a bend where a single camera watches a door. Emily notices a faint red glow beneath it—someone might be inside. Without hesitation, Alexa thrusts her hand forward, unleashing a gust strong enough to fling the door open. The hallway beyond is empty. Tyron flicks a small lightning bolt from his fingers, disabling the floating camera. They surge forward, flooding their muscles with energy in case the device is still active.
The doors shut behind them on their own. Grateful there are no more cameras, they take stock: one door to the side, another at the end, and a corridor branching left. Before moving on, Emily realizes the red light came from a window showing the sky. She peeks out—and recoils in terror.
"W-what is that?!"
The others look and freeze. A monstrous sphere of energy looms in the sky. None of them can speak.
Back in the throne room, guards surround the warrior, weapons trained on him, begging him to stop.
"Nine," Jayden says calmly.
Clone Emily (nervous laugh): "Heh… you think he's joking?"
"Eight."
Clone Alexa (swallowing): "No… it doesn't look like it."
"Seven."
Clone Tyron (forced smile): "M-Master, are you really planning to destroy this planet?"
Jayden nods. "Six."
Clone Francesca (serious): "Master, you can't commit mass genocide just because the King didn't come! You said yourself you can't intervene unless there's a risk of geno—"
He winks at her clone. "Five."
Clone Emily (terrified): "You can't punish an entire species because one offended you!"
"Four."
Clone Alexa (pleading): "Please don't do it! You can't kill everyone on this planet!"
"Three."
At that moment, the main doors burst open. The assistant staggers in, followed by gray-skinned Oksilis escorting a figure distinguished by golden spikes on his head. Servants part to reveal a being with rugged skin, a silk shirt and fitted white vest dotted with blue, padded trousers, silk leggings, square-toed shoes adorned with large silk pom-poms, and a heavy, layered cape. The Oksilis King steps down from the throne borne by his servants and bows.
"Forgive the delay, Barrier of Power."
Jayden lowers his hand. Guards and the assistant exhale in relief. The red sphere vanishes. "The Oksilis are spared," he mutters. "This time."
The four hidden youths move to a side door with an electronic lock. Alexa raises her leg to kick it open—
"Are you an idiot?" Francesca hisses, grabbing her. "We're infiltrating. We can't leave broken doors."
"Then what, Sherlock?" Alexa snaps.
Francesca grabs Tyron's hand—his heart racing, cheeks flushing—then presses it to the cold metal. "Shock it. Slowly."
He nods, focuses, and releases a steady, low-voltage current. The light shifts from red to green. They slip inside.
The room holds golden spears and armor—more a meeting room than an armory. Another door leads to crates filled with advanced pistols and assault rifles. In a third room, they find thick green armor.
"These look like they're for high-level threats," Emily murmurs.
Alexa stabs one breastplate with her katana. It doesn't pierce. "They're made to resist Society of Users weapons."
They regroup in the main room, where an electronic board displays profiles. They recognize Niter—and another name Tyron can read.
"Roxy?"
They photograph everything and leave.
Meanwhile, in the throne room, the King seats himself. "Again, my apologies. What brings you here?"
Jayden steps forward, releasing a gust of air that sends soldiers flying back. He sits calmly. "You're aware of the gray Oksilis disappearances."
"Yes. An investigation is ongoing. But why send someone of your rank?"
"It's the only reason you need to know."
The King chuckles nervously. "You speak as if threatening me."
Jayden cracks his neck, smiling darkly. "What makes you think I'm not?"
Swallowing, the King bows. "Who requested your aid?"
The clones exchange looks. The students silently think, Don't say it.
"Minister Niter," Jayden answers cheerfully.
The girls' clones smack their foreheads.
"I see," the King sighs. "That stubborn man. He should let professionals handle this."
"Indeed," Jayden replies, stepping behind his students. "But he won't. My students have questions."
The King gestures for them to speak.
Clone Francesca: "Why do gray Oksilis live so poorly if you claim to manage the economy fairly?"
King: "Those more useful to society receive better status."
Clone Emily: "Then why criticize Niter for charity?"
King: "That's not how things work here."
Clone Francesca (standing): "Then why allow slavery? A mining company beats its workers—including children."
The King falters, sweat beading on his skin.
At that moment, the doors open. A black-skinned Oksilis in a suit strides in. "Who do you think you are, attacking my employees? Just because our ways differ from Earth's doesn't give you the right—"
Outside, the real students finish searching the rooms. In one office, Francesca discovers a hidden compartment behind a painting—five golden cubes etched with smaller squares. Despite Emily's warning, she pockets one.
"Someone's coming!" Tyron hisses.
They bolt, slip into the palace garden, and watch as Jayden and the clones exit the main doors. Using the distraction, they sprint to the wall. Exhausted from maintaining Fiu all day, Alexa boosts them with wind, and they vault the wall, landing on a nearby rooftop—unseen.