The sky above the Golden Globe was calm.
Too calm.
Then—
A low hum cut through the air.
Heads turned.
From the horizon, ten Iron Wheels tore through the sky in perfect formation, their metallic bodies gleaming under the sun. The insignia engraved on their surface—the mark of the Troopers—caught the light as they passed overhead.
Citizens stopped in their tracks..Children pointed upward. Whispers spread like wildfire.
"The Troopers…"
"They've returned…"
The Wheels roared across the capital, heading straight for the heart of it all—
The Golden Tower.
At the tower's grand entrance, the Golden Guardian stood waiting.
Behind her, a small group of Scouts remained at attention, their posture straight, eyes fixed on the approaching crafts.
The air shifted as the Iron Wheels descended.
One by one—.They landed.
A deep, heavy thud echoed across the marble grounds. Steam hissed..Hatches opened.
He stepped out first.
Ty'tilian.
Behind him, the remaining Troopers followed—nearly seventy in number. Their armor bore marks of battle. Their faces… carried the weight of something far heavier than victory.
Ty'tilian walked forward.
Stopped in front of the Golden Guardian.
For a moment— They simply looked at each other.
Then—
She stepped forward and pulled him into a firm embrace.
"Welcome back, Ty."
Ty'tilian's expression softened. A small smile formed.
"…It's good to be back."
Inside the Golden Tower
Silence filled the council chamber.
Ty'tilian stood at its center. Crystal stood just behind him, her expression calm—but her eyes observant.
The Four Elders sat above, their presence as imposing as ever.
Ty'tilian spoke.
"A day didn't pass… that our eyes weren't on him." His voice was steady. Controlled.
"But it didn't matter."
A pause.
"We saw many fall. We saw him destroy everything in his path…" His fists clenched slightly. "…and we couldn't do anything."
The room felt heavier.
"His power…" Ty'tilian continued, "…was overwhelming."
Then—
He bowed.
"I'm sorry. We failed to gain any form of advantage."
"Rise, Ty'tilian." The Spirit Elder's voice echoed gently. "This outcome… is not your burden alone."
Ty'tilian straightened.
The Iron Elder leaned forward slightly. "Ekekiri may be powerful…"
A pause.
"…but he is not immortal."
Silence followed.
Which meant— There was still hope.
"We proceed to Plan B," the Iron Elder concluded.
The meeting ended shortly after.
Hall of the Golden Tower
Ty'tilian walked beside the Golden Guardian. Her voice was light. Warm.
"I'm really glad you made it back safely," she said. "You don't know how worried we were. The reports we received—"
Her words continued.
But Ty'tilian wasn't listening. Not fully.
Something… was wrong.
A faint ringing echoed in his ears. Low. Distorted. Like whispers buried beneath noise. He slowed.
Then stopped.
The Golden Guardian took a few more steps before noticing.
She turned.
"Ty?" Her brows furrowed slightly. "Are you okay?"
Ty'tilian stared at her. For just a second too long.
Then—
The sound vanished. His expression softened. A calm smile appeared.
"…I'm fine."
Flow Star
Energy filled the air.
Children laughed, shouted, and trained all across the open grounds. Streams of water twisted through the air, sparks of flame danced wildly, bursts of wind scattered leaves across the field.
Carers moved among them, watching closely. Guiding. Correcting. Encouraging.
All preparing for their day.
Nearby, Koya sat with Anna and Cal.
For once— There was no tension. No pressure. Just peace.
"So you're telling me," Cal said, leaning back, "you actually enjoyed being here for a whole year?"
Koya smiled faintly. "Enjoyed is… not the word I'd use."
Anna laughed. "She means she survived it."
"Barely," Koya added.
They all laughed.
Then—
A shadow passed overhead.
They looked up.
An Iron Wheel descended. Landing not far from them.
The entire field grew quiet.
The hatch opened.
And she stepped out.
White hair. Calm presence. Familiar.
"Crystal…?" Anna whispered.
Then—
"CRYSTAL!"
Anna and Cal ran toward her at the same time.
They didn't stop. They crashed into her—Pulling her into a tight embrace.
Crystal laughed softly.
"I missed you guys too."
They pulled back, grinning.
"You're back!" Anna said, her voice filled with excitement.
"When did you return?" Cal added quickly. "How did you even know we were here?"
Crystal smiled. "We got back earlier today. The Golden Guardian told me."
Koya approached slowly.
Anna turned, grabbed her hand, and pulled her forward.
"Crystal, this is my best friend—Koya." Then she beamed. "And Koya… this is my big sister."
Koya and Crystal met each other's gaze.
A quiet understanding passed between them.
Then—
They both smiled.
The Cal'lian Household
Laughter filled the estate.
Servants moved quickly, preparing, celebrating—
Word had spread fast.
Ty'tilian had returned.
Family members gathered around him, joy evident in every expression.
Ty'tilian smiled as he walked among them, exchanging greetings.
For a moment— He looked like someone who had returned home.
Le'on stepped forward. No words. Just— A firm embrace.
Ty'tilian returned it.
Behind them, Ra'an stood silently. Watching.
His expression calm. But his thoughts weren't.
He was glad. Truly.
His brother had returned safely.
But beneath that— Something else stirred. Frustration. Anger. He hadn't surpassed him. Not yet.
Golden Tower – Night
The Golden Tower stood quiet under the night sky.
Most had retired for the day. But not everyone.
Crystal walked through the long, dimly lit halls, her steps calm—but her expression serious.
She stopped in front of a large door. The Golden Guardian's office.
A brief pause.
Then—
She knocked.
"Come in."
Crystal entered.
The Golden Guardian stood by the window, overlooking the capital.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then—
She reached up and removed her mask. Revealing her face.
"Hi, Crystal."
Crystal stepped closer. Her usual calm presence remained—but something in her eyes had changed.
"Debra… there's something important I need to tell you."
The Golden Guardian—straightened slightly.
Her expression sharpened.
"I'm listening."
Crystal exhaled softly.
"We were supposed to return months ago."
A pause.
"But we ran into something… out there."
Her gaze lowered slightly. "Beasts. Not like anything we've faced before."
The Golden Guardian eyes narrowed.
Crystal continued.
"We fought them. Hard." Her voice remained steady—but the memory lingered beneath it.
"And in the middle of it… we got separated."
A beat.
"Ty'tilian… and three others went missing."
Silence filled the room.
"We searched for months," Crystal said. "Everywhere we could. But we found nothing." Her hands clenched slightly. "So… we made the call to return without them."
Debra didn't interrupt. Didn't move. She just listened.
Crystal lifted her gaze again.
"And then…"
A pause.
"They came back."
The Golden Guardian's expression shifted.
"Came back…?"
Crystal nodded slowly.
"Unharmed."
Another pause.
"They said they were hiding. That the beasts had become highly alert after the fight."
Silence again. Heavier this time.
Crystal stepped closer.
Lowering her voice slightly.
"The thing is…"
She hesitated. Just for a second.
"…something doesn't feel right."
The Golden Guardian's gaze hardened.
"Ty'tilian…" Crystal continued, "…he doesn't seem like himself."
The room fell completely silent.
Outside— The night remained calm.
Unaware— Of what was coming.
Watch Office
The Watch Office stood tall at the edge of the Golden Globe. Massive walls..Endless surveillance.
The only gateway in and out of the capital.
Inside, Scouts moved with discipline.
Focused. Alert.
The doors opened.
A Trooper stepped in. Instantly—.Every Scout straightened.
Attention snapped into place.
He bore the insignia of the house that oversaw the Watch Office.
Respect followed naturally.
"I need access to the central power core," he said calmly.
No hesitation.
"Of course, sir," one of the Scouts replied
.
They began to lead him.
The deeper they went— The quieter it became.
The Scout hesitated.
"…Sir?"
No response.
"…Why do you need access to the core?"
Silence.
Then—
The air shifted. Cold. Sharp.
Ice formed in the Trooper's hand.
A spear.
Before the Scouts could react— He moved. Fast..Precise.
Two strikes. Clean..The bodies fell.
He didn't look back.
The core chamber stood before him.
Massive.
Radiant.
A source of divine energy.
The power of Onwura—the Goddess of Earth.
It pulsed steadily.
Maintaining the invisible barrier that protected the Golden Globe from the outside world. From him.
The Trooper stepped forward. Raised his hand.
And— Destroyed it.
The moment it shattered— Everything changed.
A dark cloud formed above the capital.
Heavy. Violent.
Black lightning tore through the sky. Thunder roared. The air trembled.
Then—
Space itself裂.
A tear. A portal. And from it— He stepped out.
High above the Golden Globe.
Calm. Unchallenged. Unstoppable.
EKEKIRI.
To be continue...