A flash of white lightning split the sky.
A figure dropped from the sky like a meteor, armored in sleek cobalt-blue plating, glowing with white energy. He landed hard on one knee, a pulse of force rippling beneath him.
The air shimmered around his body.
His visor lit up.
A soft voice rang to life inside his helmet.
/Systems online: Athena Activated. /
/Transport complete. /
/Codename: Apex Nova: Vital signs green. /
/Objective: Locate and Protect Worldheart. Neutralize confirmed Worldeaters. /
He stood tall. A perfect silhouette against the moonlight. His blue armor shined bright; the visor hid his dark brown eyes.
"Athena, initiate a short-range scan," Apex said.
Athena appeared on his hud. Her green avatar shined with her favorite Goddess dress.
/I'm on it Apex! Scanning… No immediate threats detected. You can proceed with mission! /
Apex started walking in the vast forest.
/Wow, so this is Embera's world, it's so pretty!/
"Agreed. It's odd Worldeaters would come here. General Gears assumed it was a glitch or false data."
/They deployed us so it has to be confirmed./
Apex stopped.
/Apex? What's wrong?/
"It's just, Urithax. He would never allow Worldeaters in his world. Every time we've detected them their energy they either flatlined or disappeared."
/You have a point. The only reason we have access to police this world is because he approved it./
"Yet it was Embera who convinced him. The dragon doesn't trust easily."
/APEX!/
"What is it?"
/I just seen an odd mushroom, turn to the left./
"Athena, we're on a mission."
/Awe-/
"Athena no goofing off. Expand to long-range sweeps. Prioritize high-magic signatures, it is always the ones who use magic."
/Understood, scan initialized… Target acquired. Proximity ping displayed. /
His head turned.
/Apex sending details: Warning: Target identified as Worldeater. Scan indicates high fire magic output. Species: Elf. Worldheart Status: Dormant. Threat Level… scanning…Titan./
Athena's visual grew big in his hud.
/Apex the magic output of this Worldeater is close to Nightmare. Please, proceed with extreme caution. /
Apex activated his jetpack and flew to the target's location.
The man landed as his thrusters hissed.
/Thats an unidentified Worldeater./
"They just keep popping up don't they." He stepped forward, walking up to the red cloaked Worldeater, who was lost in thought.
"Hello, Worldeater." His voice cold and measured.
"Huh? My name's Willow!"
Willow stepped back. The flames from his fingertips reflected off the soldier's armor.
"…what the fuck are you supposed to be?" Willow asked, eyes narrowing. "You don't look like a spirit beast. Or a God."
"I'm field officer Apex Nova," he replied. "Of the intergalactic army of mankind. Assigned to police this realm. I have been sent here to secure the Worldheart's safety and neutralize active threats."
Willow frowned. "Threats? Wait, what are you talking about?"
"Scan him again," Apex ordered.
/Confirming identity… Target: Willow. Fire affinity. Two divine artifacts detected. Worldeater confirmed. Emotional state: confusion. Non-hostile. /
"Target is verified," Apex said. "Non-hostile. Engaging restraint protocol."
/Apex wait- /
He raised his arm. A sleek rifle unfolded from his gauntlet with a metallic click, and he loaded a compact energy capsule.
"Whoa, hey! Hold on!" Willow stepped back, flames rising around him. "I don't think you're an enemy!"
"Can he survive a direct hit?"
/Yes, it's possible he will be rendered unconscious. Maybe you could- /
"Good."
Apex fired.
A silver bolt exploded from the weapon. Willow spun to the side, his cloak waving behind him. The blast tore into the rock behind him, leaving a flattened patch of scorched stone.
"Damn." Apex muttered. "He dodged."
He fired another blast; Willow deflected it mid-air with a burst of fire, the recoil flinging him back.
"This thing!" Willow landed hard, rolling once before springing up, fists ablaze. "Okay asshole. You wanna fight? You got one."
"Athena."
/On it. Calibrating armors resistance to fire magic. /
A pillar of flame surged from Willow's palm.
A direct hit. The fire engulfed Apex.
Smoke curled.
Silence.
Then a hum.
The smoke cleared.
Apex stepped through it, completely unharmed. The fire had blackened some of his armor, but the inner glow still pulsed brightly.
"Magic is ineffective," Apex said. "Armor calibration was successful. Engaging in close-range suppression."
He dashed forward, faster than any normal human. Willow barely blocked the incoming strike with a conjured wall of flame, it shattered from the force, and he reeled back.
Apex's hand went to his side. A clamp-like device extended with a hiss from his hand, energy crackling from its edges.
"I don't want to kill you," Apex said, dead serious. "But I will stop you."
Willow's eyes flared.
"I'm not a Worldeater," he snapped. "I'm trying to save the Worldheart!"
Apex didn't blink.
/Apex, the Worldeater isn't lying. Try talk- /
"Intent doesn't matter. Outcome does."
/...Understood. /
He lunged again.
Apex struck again, clean, precise, and relentless.
Every step was calculated. Every motion was efficient.
Willow backpedaled, launching blasts of fire at odd angles.
Apex didn't slow.
/Worldeater showing hesitation. Emotional conflict confirmed. Recommend immediate suppression. Apex, he's not trying to kill you./
"Run one more scan on his mental state."
/Scanning… Worldeater, mental scans show, intent to harm but not kill. /
Interesting this one is better alive; my intuition was right.
A curved blade hissed from Apex's arm. He slashed through Willow's fire, parting the flames.
Willow shouted, "I'm not your enemy!"
"You're not my ally either," Apex replied. "We're at war and in war, hesitation is fatal."
/Warning!!! /
"Fine!" Willow spun midair, cloak trailing, and unleashed a wheel of fire like a burning halo from his feet. It slammed into Apex's chest, throwing sparks across his armor. He staggered but didn't fall.
Willow danced in a wildfire, engulfing everything. Apex took another hit.
/Major energy shield damage. Armor integrity: 44%. Apex the armor's shields can not survive another hit like that. Suggestion: engage binding countermeasure- /
"Or I can eliminate-"
/Listen! This Worldeater-/
Apex flipped over a boulder, landed behind Willow in a single move, and swept his leg.
Willow crashed to the ground.
The clamp hissed open.
"Don't!"
A flick of his gauntlet.
Click.
The anti-magic clamp locked around Willow's neck.
Suddenly his flames went out.
His power vanished.
/Good job./
He gasped. "Wha- what did you do?!"
"Status." Apex asked.
/Subject: Willow - Magic levels nullified. Combat capability reduced by 82%. /
Willow struggled to rise, his strength dulled, his instincts numb.
/Subject: Willow - Physically weakened without magic. Life signs dropping. Perhaps this species longevity requires their connection to their magic? /
"It doesn't matter Athena." Apex leveled his arm cannon at Willow's chest.
"I told you. I was here to stop threats. And you have been identified." Apex's cannon pressed into Willow's chest.
Willow froze.
"…I didn't want to destroy my world."
His voice cracked.
"I never asked for this. I never wanted any of this…"
Apex hesitated, for just a second.
Then: "Intent is irrelevant. Impact is what destroys worlds."
He drew closer.
"Until proven otherwise… you are a danger."
Willow looked up, eyes wide, hurt, vulnerable.
"…I did it for love."
Silence.
The words didn't compute for Apex at first. But then it did. He stood there; weapon still aimed, unreadable behind the glowing visor.
A faint pulse from his helmet lit the space.
"Athena, scan him. Is he lying?" Apex asked his AI.
/Moral integrity request queued. Awaiting additional data… /
In the distance, trees rustled. A howl broke through the still air. Spirit beasts stirred.
Apex turned his head. "Reinforcements," he muttered.
He deactivated his cannon.
"Stay down, Worldeater. I've suppressed your magic. If you resist again, I won't hesitate to kill you."
Apex turned away.
Willow, still on the ground, clutched his neck where the clamp glowed white, cut off from himself. From the fire.
"Rhen…" he whispered.
But the wind only carried the sound away.