At the heart of the battlefield, Shiro moved like a phantom — slicing through one scientist, twisting fluidly to dodge another's strike.
Gunfire erupted around him.
But the bullets passed harmlessly through his form as his body dissolved into swirling mist mid-motion, reforming instantly behind his attackers.
In one fluid motion, he cut them all down.
Then—
A massive dark blade swung toward him from the shadows.
Shiro's eyes widened, quickly raising his own weapon to block.
The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the ground beneath him.
Standing before him, blade still pressed against his own, was Fawn — deer-headed, eyes gleaming with unnatural focus.
Shiro's expression hardened.
"Fawn."
Fawn tilted his head, voice low and guttural.
"Another Primordeus."
A pause.
"But not my target."
Without warning, Fawn's leg swept up, kicking Shiro hard aside.
Shiro grunted, skidding across the ground, quickly pushing himself back to his feet.
He glanced up—
And froze.
Brody stood at the edge of the clearing, adjusting his glasses calmly.
Beside him, another hulking figure emerged from the shadows, dragging an enormous hammer along the ground, sparks scattering with each drag.
Shiro's jaw tightened.
"...Oh."
"This is not good."
Shiro surged forward, weapon raised, clashing hard against Fawn.
Kaito rushed to his side, breathless.
"Shiro—they're after Alya!"
Shiro's eyes flicked toward him, startled.
"What could they possibly want from her?"
Kaito gritted his teeth, blocking another swing. "No clue!"
Before either could react further, Brody lunged forward, aiming straight for Kaito.
Kaito twisted aside, intercepting the strike.
The hammer-wielding brute's voice boomed across the battlefield.
"Find that girl. Now!"
Fawn and Brody shoved hard against Shiro and Kaito, breaking free momentarily—
But both recovered fast, grabbing hold of their targets, forcing them back.
The hammer man pressed forward regardless, dragging his weapon across the dirt, ignoring the chaos around him entirely.
Rin's eyes locked onto him.
"Oh, no you don't!"
He charged, blade clashing against the massive hammer's shaft.
Sparks flew.
Then—
Rin's eyes caught movement.
A small girl, frozen in fear, standing directly in the hammer man's path.
"Crap—!"
The hammer man swung, aiming straight for her.
Rin moved on instinct, throwing himself forward, shielding the girl's small body with his own.
CRACK!
The impact sent him flying, crashing hard into a nearby stall, wood splintering around him as he crumpled, unmoving.
The girl stood frozen, completely unharmed, tears welling in her eyes.
The hammer man paused for a brief moment, staring down at Rin's motionless form.
"...Sorry."
Then, without further hesitation, he turned, continuing his relentless march deeper into the village.
Kaito's voice tore through the chaos.
"RIN!"
Before he could move, Brody's fist slammed into his side, knocking him to the ground.
Brody stepped forward, pressing his boot firmly onto Kaito's hand.
Kaito gritted his teeth, a sharp cry of pain escaping him.
"Gah—!"
Brody knelt slightly, adjusting his glasses, voice cold.
"Should I break it for you?"
"Would certainly keep you out of the way."
From further ahead, Maxwell's booming voice cut through.
"Stop it, Brody."
"That's not what we're here for."
Brody's eyes narrowed in irritation.
"Annoying, as always..."
He glanced toward the hammer-wielding brute.
"...Maxwell."
Maxwell ignored him entirely, continuing his relentless march through the village, hammer dragging heavily across the dirt, eyes scanning every direction.
"The girl. Where is she?"
Brody straightened, pressure easing slightly off Kaito's hand, though his cold gaze remained fixed downward.
"Focus, Maxwell."
"We came for the target. Not for petty distractions."
Kaito groaned, clutching his throbbing hand, glaring up at them both.
"You're not... getting anywhere near her."
Brody tilted his head, unimpressed.
"We'll see about that."
Behind them, the sounds of battle raged on — Shiro locked in combat with Fawn, villagers fleeing in terror, and Maxwell's heavy footsteps drawing ever closer to the hotel where Alya remained hidden.
Fanny's eyes widened in horror as she spotted Rin and Kaito lying motionless.
"Oh no—"
She started forward instinctively, but Bomb grabbed her arm firmly.
"We need to stay here."
"Protect the hotel entrance. That's our priority right now."
Fanny hesitated, torn, glancing back toward her fallen friends.
Before either of them could act further—
Brody reached into his coat, pulling out a small vial filled with a strange, glowing serum.
Without hesitation, he injected it directly into his own arm.
His eyes flashed briefly, pupils dilating unnaturally.
He inhaled sharply through his nose, tilting his head, scenting the air like a predator.
A slow, unsettling smile crept across his face.
"...She's in that hotel."
Maxwell's grip tightened around his hammer, nodding once.
Together, they turned, advancing steadily toward the hotel entrance.
Bomb's jaw tightened.
"Here he comes."
Fanny steadied her stance beside him, claws extending, eyes sharp with focus.
"We're not letting them through."
Bomb cracked his knuckles, planting his feet firmly.
"Damn right we're not."
Together, they braced themselves, standing firm between Sector X's approaching threat and the hotel doors, ready to make their stand.
Maxwell leapt into the air, hammer raised high, momentum building with terrifying speed.
Bomb braced himself, throwing his fist forward to meet the strike—
CRACK!
The impact shattered clean through his arm.
Bomb screamed in agony.
Before he could recover, Maxwell swung again, the hammer connecting solidly.
Bomb's body flew backward, crashing violently through the hotel doors, skidding across the floor inside.
Fanny's eyes blazed with fury.
"BOMB!"
She lunged forward instantly, claws extended, delivering a fierce kick straight into Maxwell's face.
Maxwell staggered, crashing hard onto the ground.
Fanny didn't hesitate, rushing toward him to press the advantage—
But a hand shot out, gripping her arm with brutal force.
Brody.
With a sharp twist, he slammed her hard into the ground.
Fanny gasped, the wind knocked from her lungs, pain flaring through her body.
Brody loomed over her, adjusting his glasses calmly despite the chaos.
"Persistent little fox."
Fanny gritted her teeth, struggling against his grip, glaring up at him with fierce defiance.
"Get... off me—"
Maxwell pushed himself back up, rubbing his jaw, glancing toward the hotel entrance now left unguarded.
"...Nice kick."
He turned toward the doors.
"But you've just made this easier."
He stepped forward, hammer dragging once more, heading straight for the now-undefended entrance.
Alya burst through the hotel doors, voice ringing out with desperate force.
"STOP!!"
Everyone froze.
Brody's grip on Fanny loosened slightly. Maxwell halted mid-step. Even across the clearing, Fawn and Shiro paused their clash, blades locked but motionless.
Alya stood trembling, fists clenched at her sides.
"I'm here."
"Just... stop hurting them."
Maxwell's expression shifted, something almost respectful crossing his face.
"Good choice."
"You'll be honored for protecting your friends."
He began walking toward her, hammer dragging heavily behind him.
Then—
"Stop."
A sharp, commanding voice cut through the air.
Maxwell froze instantly.
Footsteps echoed calmly across the battlefield.
A woman emerged from the smoke — long green hair flowing behind her, sharp glasses perched on her nose, a pristine scientist's uniform hugging her frame.
Noxus.
She approached Alya slowly, expression cold, calculating.
"Where is your device?"
Alya blinked; confusion flickering across her face.
"...My device?"
Noxus's eyes narrowed sharply, patience thinning instantly.
"WHERE IS IT?!"
Her voice cracked like a whip across the clearing, silencing everything else, all eyes now fixed on Alya as the true purpose behind this attack finally began to surface.