Alya stood in tense silence for a long moment.
Then, slowly, she reached into her satchel, pulling out her transparent tablet device.
Noxus's lips curled into a satisfied smile.
"Good girl."
"NO—"
Kaito's voice tore through the tension.
"Alya, don't give it to them—"
Brody's boot pressed harder against his hand.
"Say one more word."
His tone turned venomous.
"And see what happens."
Kaito bit back a groan, glaring up at him in silence.
Noxus extended her hand toward Alya, patient, expectant.
"Give it to me."
Alya took a slow step forward.
Then another.
She stopped just short of Noxus's outstretched palm.
Her fingers moved swiftly across the device's surface.
Then—
She pressed a button.
BOOM!
A pulse of raw auris erupted outward in a violent shockwave, rippling across the battlefield.
Maxwell staggered, dropping to one knee, strength visibly draining from him.
But Noxus remained standing, expression unreadable, entirely unaffected.
"Really?"
She tilted her head, almost amused.
"A shockwave device designed to strip auris from the body?"
"Clever."
Alya's chest heaved, breathless. "Had to do something."
Noxus's smile turned cold.
"Useless, though."
She raised her palm.
A brilliant green beam charged rapidly at her fingertips.
Before anyone could react—
She fired.
The beam shot straight toward Alya.
Everyone froze, horror flashing across their faces.
"ALYA—!"
Then—
A sudden surge of protective auris burst into existence.
Olsen appeared in a blur, hand raised high, a shimmering barrier forming instantly around the group in a wide, glowing circle.
The green beam struck the barrier—
And deflected harmlessly aside, scorching the earth several feet away.
Silence fell.
Olsen lowered his hand slowly, eyes narrowing toward Noxus.
"That's quite enough."
Noxus's eyes narrowed, studying Olsen with cold recognition.
"A Primordeus..."
"The God of Mind."
Olsen stood firm, gaze unwavering.
"Let them go."
Noxus's expression hardened.
"We're not leaving..."
Her fingers curled slightly.
"...until we have that girl."
Olsen stepped forward, positioning himself directly in front of Alya, shielding her fully.
Noxus's lips curled into a thin, dangerous smile.
"Oh, well then."
Green and grey circles bloomed rapidly around her, spinning faster and faster, energy crackling violently at their center.
"If that's how it's going to be—"
A massive beam of searing yellow light surged forward, tearing through the air with devastating force.
"OLSEN—!" Alya screamed.
There was no time to dodge.
Olsen shoved Alya hard to the side, sending her sprawling safely out of the beam's path—
And took the full impact himself.
BOOOOM!
The explosion of light swallowed him whole, smoke and debris scattering violently across the battlefield.
Silence followed, thick and suffocating.
Alya scrambled up, eyes wide with horror, staring toward the settling smoke.
"Olsen—!"
Kaito's breath caught in his throat, still pinned beneath Brody's boot.
"...No way."
Slowly, the smoke began to clear, revealing a scorched crater where Olsen had stood.
Noxus lowered her hand, exhaling calmly.
"That was easy."
She turned toward Alya, advancing slowly.
Alya stumbled back, fear flashing across her face.
Then—
"NOXUS!!"
A commanding voice thundered from above.
All eyes snapped upward.
Alpha stood atop a nearby rooftop, eyes already glowing brilliant white, purple veins pulsing along the sides.
Noxus's expression twisted with irritation.
"Great."
"One of Balance Table..."
Her fingers curled tightly.
"You people are truly irritating."
Alpha didn't wait for further words.
He lunged forward, a blur of speed.
Brody and Maxwell shifted quickly, moving to intercept—
But Alpha's Omniscient eyes tracked every movement instantly, his body weaving effortlessly between them, slipping past their attempted block entirely.
He closed the distance on Noxus in the blink of an eye.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Metal whirred.
A sleek mechanical apparatus burst from her shoulder, rapidly transforming into a compact firearm, aimed directly at him.
BANG!
Alpha twisted aside at the last possible second, blade flashing, slicing the weapon clean in half.
Sparks scattered as the ruined mechanism clattered to the ground.
Noxus stepped back sharply, expression darkening.
More components shifted from her back, folding rapidly around both her arms, reconfiguring into a massive cannon-like weapon.
Energy crackled violently at its core.
"Enough of this."
She raised both arms.
And fired.
Alpha twisted sharply, dodging the blast, and lunged straight for Noxus, blade aimed true—
Then a shimmering portal tore open beneath her.
She dropped through instantly, vanishing just before his blade could connect.
"Damn it—!"
Alpha spun around, scanning the battlefield—
His blood ran cold.
Noxus stood several feet away now, already having reappeared, Alya locked firmly in her grip.
"Sector X..."
Her voice rang out cold and final.
"Retreat."
Without another word, she stepped backward into a second portal, vanishing completely, Alya's terrified eyes the last thing visible before the portal sealed shut.
"ALYA—!"
Kaito's scream tore through the chaos, struggling desperately beneath Brody's boot.
Brody chuckled darkly, glancing down at him.
"Take that, bastards."
A portal opened directly beneath his feet.
He dropped through with a mocking grin, disappearing instantly.
Maxwell turned toward Alpha, giving a small, almost respectful nod.
"Until next time."
A portal bloomed in front of him.
He stepped through without hesitation, gone in an instant.
Across the clearing, Fawn disengaged from Shiro, leaping backward just as a portal opened behind him.
Shiro lunged forward, blade slashing—
Too late.
Fawn slipped through the portal, vanishing completely before the blade could land.
Silence fell over the battlefield.
Smoke drifted lazily through the wreckage. Fallen scientists lay scattered across the ground. The village stood in ruins.
Alpha lowered his blade slowly, breathing hard, eyes scanning the empty space where Noxus had just stood.
His fists clenched tight.
"...They escaped."
His voice was low, seething.
"And they took Alya with them."
Kaito staggered to his feet, cradling his injured hand, eyes burning with fury and fear.
"We have to get her back."
Shiro landed beside them, expression grim.
"We will."
He glanced toward the crater where Olsen had taken the hit.
His breath caught.
"But first..."
His eyes widened with dawning horror.
"...Olsen."
Then—
Footsteps.
Olsen emerged from the settling smoke, dusting off his coat casually, completely unharmed.
"It's alright."
He gave a small, reassuring wave.
"I escaped at the right moment."
Alpha's shoulders sagged with visible relief, exhaling a long breath.
"...Thank the stars."
At that moment, Saito and Lily came sprinting into the clearing, skidding to a halt.
Their eyes widened at the devastation before them — scorched earth, collapsed stalls, fallen scientists, and his crew scattered and wounded.
"Guys—!"
Saito rushed forward, scanning each of them frantically.
"Are you all okay?!"
Kaito lowered his head, voice tight with guilt.
"Saito... I failed you."
His fists clenched.
"They took Alya."
Bomb, still clutching his shattered arm, shook his head firmly.
"No..."
"We failed you."
Fanny nodded beside him, expression heavy with the same guilt.
Saito's expression softened instantly.
"Hey."
He stepped forward, placing a firm hand on Kaito's shoulder.
"It's okay."
His voice was steady, warm despite the chaos around them.
"I'm just glad you're all alive."
He glanced around anxiously.
"Where's Rin?"
Footsteps approached.
Shiro walked over, Rin's arm draped over his shoulder, half-conscious, leaning heavily against him.
Saito rushed forward instantly, eyes scanning Rin's limp form.
"Is he okay?!"
Shiro nodded calmly. "He's just unconscious."
"Took a hard hit protecting a child."
"He'll recover."
Saito let out a long, shaky breath, relief flooding through him.
"...Good."
He looked around at his battered, exhausted crew, jaw tightening with resolve.
"We're getting Alya back."
"Whatever it takes."
Hashima and Makuto arrived moments later, breathless, taking in the wreckage with wide eyes.
"...We're too late."
Hashima's voice was heavy with disbelief.
Shiro nodded grimly.
"They struck suddenly."
"We didn't have time to properly counter."
His jaw tightened.
"We were outnumbered from the start."
Alpha's eyes narrowed, piecing it together.
"So that base..."
His grip tightened around his cane.
"...was just a distraction."
Hashima cursed under his breath.
"Damn it."
"We fell right into it."
He kicked at a piece of rubble, frustration boiling over.
"All that fighting, and it was just to pull us away from here."
Saito turned toward Alpha, expression hard with determination.
"I hope you have a plan."
Alpha was quiet for a moment, gaze distant, calculating.
"I do."
He glanced back toward Saito.
"But I still need to confirm it."
Makuto stepped forward, voice steady. "What do you need from us?"
Alpha's eyes swept over the group — battered, exhausted, but resolute.
"For now..."
"Rest. Regroup."
His expression hardened.
"Sector X made a mistake taking her."
"And I intend to make them regret it."
Saito clenched his fists, nodding firmly.
"Then let's not waste time."
"Whatever the plan is..."
He looked around at his crew, determination blazing in his eyes.
"...we're getting Alya back. Together."