Kiro steps out of his healing tank.
Water cascades down his shoulders. Steam rises from his skin. The steel sleeve that kept his arm together?
Busted.
Cracked on both sides. Metal peeled back like a banana. The stitching underneath is still visible pink and freshbut the arm moves. Flexes. Holds.
VEYRA: "Come on, Kiro. Why did you break that?"
She stares at the ruined sleeve. Then at him. Then back at the sleeve.
"That thing was very expensive."
A pause.
"And... do you look bigger? Or is it me?"
Kiro rolls his shoulder.
The muscles shift.
Not dramatically. Not like a bodybuilder. But compared to his old self?
Twice the size.
Chest? Few centimeters wider. Arms? More defined. Veins trace paths across his forearms like rivers on a map. His posture is different too less lean, more rooted.
He's not bulky.
He's dense.
VEYRA: "Okay, you're not that big."
She crosses her arms. Tries to look unimpressed.
"But compared to your old self? You're twice the size. Even more ripped."
Her eyes linger a second too long.
"And I like"
She stops herself.
"Wait. That's not the point."
Her face hardens.
"Do you know how much trouble you're in?"
Raiji steps out of the shadows.
Dripping. Barely healed. But standing.
VEYRA: "Not you too."
She pinches the bridge of her nose.
"You should go back in the healing pod."
RAIJI: "Umm..."
He glances at the shattered glass behind him. The water still spreading across the floor.
AURORA: "He broke it."
VEYRA: "That cost one hundred thousand credits."
Her voice goes sharp. Business sharp.
"Fifty thousand each."
She points at Kiro. Then at Raiji.
"How could you two"
AURORA: "Wait."
A grin spreads across her face.
"Kiro did the same thing?"
She laughs.
Not a small laugh. A real one. The kind that bends her forward and makes her gauntlet flicker.
AURORA: "Both of you. In the same day. Broke the same expensive thing."
She wipes a tear from her eye.
"This crew is terrible with money."
VEYRA: "..."
She wants to be angry. She should be angry.
But Aurora's laugh is contagious.
And Kiro is standing there with his sleeve hanging off like a broken toy.
And Raiji looks like a wet cat who just won a fight he had no business winning.
VEYRA: "I hate this crew."
She turns around so they can't see her smile.
MEANWHILE – DISTANCE BASE
The Center of the City
The building rises like a tombstone.
Not beautiful. Not inviting. Just... inevitable. Glass and steel and the kind of architecture that reminds you who really owns the world.
Huge corporate headquarters.
No flag. No logo.
Just presence.
Inside. Top floor. A room that costs more than most people earn in a lifetime.
The Pastor sits across from the Paladin.
Hugenado stands perfectly still. His regeneration has already erased every mark of the church fight. Not a scratch. Not a bruise. Just perfection.
The Pastor's arm is still in a sling.
Kiro's lightning did something the Paladin's healing couldn't undo.
Not yet.
PASTOR: "I hope this technology will cancel out cube users' powers."
His voice is calm. But there's an edge underneath. A man who lost face and wants it back.
A man in yellow steps forward.
YEN (Yellow Clan Executive): "Our investment had better pay soon."
He doesn't sit. Doesn't need to. His presence fills the room like smoke.
"The Yellow Clan needs more money. How are the latest scams going?"
His fingers tap the table. Impatient. Hungry.
A man in blue doesn't look up from his tablet.
JOHN (Blue Clan Executive – Jr.): "This technology is the latest in its category."
He swipes. Scrolls. Data reflects off his glasses.
"The EMP Shield. Or as I like to call it—the Cube Nullifier."
A pause.
"Based on my investments. In my technology."
He finally looks up. Smiles. It doesn't reach his eyes.
YEN: "Sure. I'm the money, after all."
He leans back. Inspects his nails.
"Without me? You're just a man with expensive toys and no buyers."
John's jaw tightens. But he says nothing.
PASTOR: "You're new at this, John."
He shifts in his chair. The sling pulls at his shoulder.
"But you've already got new technology rolling out."
A nod of respect. Small. Calculated.
"My scams? There's been a slight hiccup. Unhappy customers."
His eyes go cold.
"I told you before. They broke my church. And my credits ran away because of them."
He gestures with his good hand.
"So that'll take a week to fix. Maybe two."
"That's why I need this EMP Shield."
INTRODUCTIONS – THE business alliance members
Name ClanRole Yen Yellow
ClanExecutive. Leader of Investments.
The money. John Blue Clan (Jr.)Executive. Leader of Technology of defense.
The brains. Pastor Rick Church Frontline. The face.
YEN: "A week."
He says it like it's poison.
"We don't have a week, Pastor."
PASTOR: "Then give me the shield early."
JOHN: "It's not ready."
PASTOR: "Make it ready."
Silence.
The kind that bends.
YEN: "Fine."
He stands. Walks to the window. Looks down at the city below the floating monstrosity of Aquanova, the jets burning, the clock ticking.
"You get the prototype."
He turns.
"But if it fails"
PASTOR: "It won't."
YEN: "If it fails... I'm not losing money because of your unhappy customers."
He walks to the door.
"Fix your church, Pastor. And fix it fast."
The door closes.
Yen is gone.
John is already back on his tablet.
And the Pastor sits in silence.
Paladin hasn't moved once.
PASTOR: "The boy without an arm."
He says it to the empty room.
"Find him."
The Paladin's eyes glow.
YEN: "We can wait. But just in case..."
He turns at the door.
"Arm this place with more technology. I'll send my enforcer here."
A figure steps forward from the shadows.
A woman.
Big. Tall. Five-eleven.
Muscle stacked on muscle. Arms like crane cables. A face that's seen war and enjoyed it.
She doesn't speak.
Doesn't need to.
PASTOR: "I'll get to fixing the church."
He stands. Bows slightly. The sling on his arm makes it look almost humble.
Almost.
Outside the building.
A drone watches them.
Hovering. Silent. Red lens unblinking.
Recording everything.