Then suddenly—Rex let out a thunderous roar, so loud and raw that the ground trembled beneath their feet. The air itself seemed to shake. Adrik and Draxil winced, covering their ears as the echo tore through the forest.
From the shadows between the trees, a horde of zombies began to appear, their glowing eyes flickering in the dark, their slow, heavy footsteps surrounding the area.
Draxil (grinning slightly, eyes scanning the woods): Looks like we've got company.
Adrik (tightening his grip on his sword): I guess… So, you take the zombies, I'll take Re—
Draxil (cutting him off with a smirk): Nah. I'll take Rex. You handle the zombies. We've got an unfinished fight.
Adrik (sighing, half-smiling): Fine… don't get your ass kicked.
Draxil (grinning wider, adjusting his blades): Don't worry—I'll be the one kicking his ass.
As the zombies drew closer, Adrik dashed forward, blurring through the horde with incredible speed. Each swing of his blade sliced cleanly through rotting flesh, sparks of energy flaring with every strike.
Meanwhile, Draxil turned his gaze back to Rex. The creature had already regenerated, standing tall again with his claws glinting in the moonlight.
Draxil (raising his swords, voice cold and firm): So… let's end this shit here and now.
Rex (snarling): Let's see then… who'll win.
Draxil (smirking, confident): I'd bet on me.
Chrono Guardianz.
Episode 15 : Echo of the fallen.
Then in a flash, Draxil and Rex rushed toward each other, the ground cracking beneath their feet. Their blades and claws met with a deafening CLANG!
The collision unleashed a shockwave that blasted dirt and debris outward, sending nearby zombies tumbling back into the darkness.
Rex's crimson eyes burned hotter as his rage spiked. He swung his massive claws again, aiming straight for Draxil's chest. Draxil crossed both blades, blocking it—but the sheer force pushed him back a few steps, boots digging into the dirt.
Rex (snarling): DIE!
He lunged forward, jaws wide open, trying to bite Draxil's head clean off.
But Draxil dropped low at the last second, sliding beneath Rex's snapping fangs. In one swift move, he jammed a blade straight up through Rex's chin, the steel bursting out from the top of his skull in a flash of blue sparks.
Rex howled in agony.
Draxil (grinning): Yeah, didn't expect that, huh?
Without wasting a second, Draxil climbed onto Rex's back, using the monster's own spine as leverage. He yanked his second blade from its sheath and drove it deep into Rex's back, twisting it until blood sprayed out like mist.
Rex screamed again, thrashing wildly, clawing at his own back trying to grab Draxil—but Draxil stayed latched on tight like a beast himself.
Rex (roaring): GET—OFF—ME!!
The ground shook with his rage.
Draxil (grinning, breathless): Relax, man… no need to scream this much. I'll finish you without pain an—
Then suddenly—his instincts screamed. Draxil's eyes widened. He felt danger closing in from both sides.
Without thinking, he jumped off Rex's back just as two monstrous figures leaped out of the shadows. They landed beside Rex with a thunderous thud, shaking the ground.
They looked human… but weren't.
Their skin dripped crimson like fresh blood, two horns curling out of their skulls, and jagged lower teeth jutted past their lips. Their eyes glowed a deep, hateful red.
Draxil glanced at Rex, noticing his blades still impaled in his body.
Draxil (smirking): Hah… looks like you're too scared to fight alone, huh?
He clenched his fists, inhaling deeply, grounding himself in silence.
The air grew tense. The monsters exchanged glances—then one of them lunged forward with a guttural roar.
Rex just stood there, pulling the blades out of his chin and back, flesh healing rapidly, watching the fight with a grin.
The red creature swung its massive claws at Draxil—but before the strike could land, Draxil's fist shot forward like lightning, burying itself into the monster's stomach.
The shockwave exploded outward.
The monster's eyes bulged, blood spraying from its mouth as it was launched backward, crashing into a rock so hard the boulder cracked in half.
It didn't even scream—it was dead before it hit the ground.
Draxil didn't move. Eyes still closed. Silent.
The second monster hesitated, growling, then roared and charged.
As it swung down to strike—Draxil spun and kicked upward, his heel connecting with the creature's skull.
CRACK!
The head flew off its shoulders, body collapsing like a puppet with its strings cut.
Then… silence. Only Rex's slow, mocking chuckle.
Fully healed, Rex stood tall again, his crimson aura burning like fire.
Draxil opened his eyes then sprinted forward.
Rex swung his claws in a rage—but Draxil ducked low, sliding beneath him.
In that single motion, he snatched his blades from the dirt, twirled them, and slashed.
Blood exploded into the air as Rex's legs were severed clean off, followed by both his arms.
Rex roared in agony and collapsed backward, helpless, thrashing in the dirt.
Draxil stepped onto Rex's chest, pressing his boot down firmly.
Draxil (smirking coldly): Told you… I'd win.
Rex let out a furious, ear-splitting roar that shook the woods. His veins pulsed red, muscles tensing as he forced his body to heal faster — flesh bubbling and twisting as limbs started to regrow.
But Draxil wasn't waiting. He clenched his fist tight, knuckles cracking, then drew in a sharp, focused breath.
Draxil (low, calm): Time to end this.
In one explosive motion, he drove his hand straight into Rex's chest.
SHUNK!
Blood splattered across his arm. Rex roared — louder than before — claws digging into the dirt, body thrashing in pain.
Draxil gritted his teeth, feeling through the pulsing, burning flesh… then his fingers brushed against something solid.
Not a heart. Not bone. Something harder. Alive.
Draxil (grunting): What the hell… is this—
With a savage pull, he ripped his hand free, blood and smoke spraying into the air.
And there, glowing faintly in his bloodied palm…
was a blue luminite, pulsing like a dying heartbeat.
Draxil froze for a moment, staring at it — then his eyes widened in shock. He looked back down at Rex, who now lay still, chest torn open. The monstrous body twitched, but his wounds… stopped healing.
Rex's eyes flickered weakly, confusion overtaking rage as the regeneration faded away.
Draxil (smirking coldly): Guess I found the source that kept fixing you every time.
He wiped the blood from his arm, still holding the luminite between his fingers. Then, putting two fingers to his mouth, he whistled sharply — a piercing sound that echoed through the forest.
Within seconds, Adrik burst through the smoke, sprinting out from between the shattered trees. His clothes were torn, blood streaked across his face, but his grip on the sword was steady. He slid to a stop beside Draxil, boots scraping the dirt, his eyes sharp and focused — no glow, just raw determination burning in them.
Adrik (catching his breath): You called.
Draxil (grinning): Yeah… looks like we've got something you might wanna see.
Adrik (grinning faintly): oh… you really kicked his ass.
Then his eyes caught something — the faint blue shimmer in Draxil's hand.
Adrik (frowning): wait—what? Luminite? Where did you get that?
He followed the faint trail of blood to Rex, who now lay half-broken on the ground, his chest hollowed open, the wound refusing to heal.
Adrik (eyes widening): don't tell me you go—
Draxil (smirking): yep… got it straight from his chest.
Adrik's eye twitched, then he sighed deeply, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Adrik: now… answers.
Rex only smirked weakly and spat blood onto the dirt. Draxil's jaw tightened, his grip on the Luminite tightening out of frustration. But the moment he did—
Rex screamed.
The sound was raw, ripping through the silence. Adrik flinched, staring in shock as Rex writhed in agony. Draxil loosened his hold, confused—then realization hit. He looked at the glowing crystal, then back at Rex, and his lips curved into a slow smirk.
Draxil: Adrik…
Adrik tilted his head, curious. Draxil raised the Luminite slightly, its glow flickering against his bloody fingers. That was all Adrik needed to understand.
Adrik (dark grin): ohhh… so now you have to talk… or else.
Draxil clenched the crystal just enough to make Rex groan in pain again, then loosened his grip. Adrik grabbed Rex by the neck and dragged him to a nearby tree, slamming him back against it. Rex gasped, his breath shaky.
Adrik (coldly): how did you turn into this… and why did you kill those innocents?
Rex's glowing red eyes flickered dimly, fading into a dull crimson. He looked up at the sky for a long moment, his voice low, broken.
Rex: I turned into a monster… when that cave collapsed. When Colt and I went back in… to save our brother, Axel.
Scene changed back to 3051.
In the collapsing cave everything was chaos. Luminites fell from the ceiling—small sparks and little blasts popping where they hit. Dust filled the air and the ground trembled.
Colt and Rex pushed through the rubble into a wide chamber. Shadows moved in the blue glow. They saw Axel standing near a shimmering portal, his back to them. He didn't move.
Rex (annoyed, shouting): What the fuck are you doing? Come on, before you get smashed like a tomato!
Rex grabbed Axel by the shoulder and shook him. Axel turned slowly. One side of his face was caved in, bleeding. Where his eye should be there was nothing—just a hollow socket. Colt and Rex both flinched.
Colt (stunned): Axel?
No answer. A huge blue luminite hung above them, swaying like a storm about to fall. The air hummed. Axel stumbled forward, staring into the portal. He stepped in—just before the glow snapped shut.
Rex (panicked, yelling): AXEL!
No time — the luminite smashed to the floor and exploded in a shockwave. Stone and dust flew everywhere. Rex shoved Colt and covered him with his body. The big crystal shattered into shards that rained out like blue sparks. One sharp piece flew straight into Rex's back and lodged into his chest.
At the same moment a portal opened. The pull was violent. Both Rex and Colt were sucked in before they could fight it. The cave collapsed behind them.
Some time later, under a full moon in a quiet forest, things were still wrong. Fireflies blinked over the grass. A fallen tree lay near a dark lake. Colt woke first, head pounding, stomach burning with a deep wound. He looked around and saw Rex kneeling by the water, staring into his own reflection.
Colt (soft, worried): Rex?
Rex turned slowly. His face looked wrong — like rot spreading under skin, features shifting like a disease taking hold. He clutched his head and screamed, a sound that started human and curved into a roar.
Colt (panicked): Rex?
The screaming stopped. Rex stood, breathing heavy.
Rex (whispering, strange): Colt… do you hear it?
Colt (dizzy): Hear what?
Pain stabbed Colt's skull. He dropped to his knees as a voice pushed into his mind.
Voice (cold, one word): Destroy.
Colt's eyes went wide and blank for a second. He looked up at Rex — but the eyes staring back weren't Rex's. They were empty and cold.
Rex (flat, calm): Colt… we are here to destroy the world.
Colt (shaking, confused): Destroy? For what reason?
The voice slammed into Colt again. Pain. A pressure like drowning. Then his eyes cleared and something inside him snapped off and back on. He sounded like a machine remembering its line.
Colt (cold, empty): Destroying the world is our destiny.
They stood up. Behind a tree two small children peered out — a boy and a girl, holding sticks and eyes wide with fear. In a flash, Rex moved. He grabbed them both by the throat with superhuman speed.
Rex (calm, hungry): So… let's start with them.
Rex raised his hand to crush them — but Colt stopped, thinking in that cold, new way.
Colt (cold smile): We'll start… differently.
Minutes passed like a nightmare. Colt dragged the girl forward by her hair. Rex cut his palm and pressed blood into the boy's mouth, forcing it there.
Colt (cold, commanding): Drink my blood… or you won't live.
The boy gagged, forced to swallow. He threw up at first, then his breath changed — faster, deeper, animal. Hunger slid into his eyes. Colt shoved the girl toward him. The boy attacked, teeth tearing her throat open. Her scream was short and full of wet sound.
They fell silent. Then the wounded bodies stopped moving. Slowly, the two children rose — skin gray, eyes dull. Their steps were wrong, jerky. They started walking toward the nearest village like puppets pulled by a cruel hand.
Rex (soft, satisfied): This is the starting.
They watched the children disappear into the trees, then turned and walked back into the dark, leaving smoke and crushed leaves behind. The forest seemed quieter when they left — but it was the quiet of something that had already died.
Back to the present time. Adrik and Draxil stood over Rex, anger and confusion burning in their eyes. The air around them was thick, the smell of blood and smoke still fresh.
Draxil: you bitch... what did those children ever do to you?
Draxil lifted the luminite, his hand trembling with fury—but Adrik caught his wrist, stopping him.
Adrik: why do you want to destroy the world—
Rex (roaring): BECAUSE WE ARE MONSTERS!
Both of them froze. Their eyes widened at the raw rage in his voice.
Rex: we live to destroy humans. We destroy the world… and rebuild a new one.
Draxil: you're human, Rex... uh, I mean, you were human. You just look like a monster, that doesn't make yo—
Rex's eyes suddenly turned white, glowing like blind fire.
Rex (in a hollow voice): We will kill all humans.
His eyes snapped back to normal, cold and cruel.
Adrik: what the heck happened to you?
Rex (ignoring him): I will fight against humanity and capture this world. I don't give a damn, you humans!
Draxil: Adrik... just say a word, and I'll tear his head off.
Adrik: wait... we need to know what happened to Rex. Why is he saying he's a monster?
Draxil: yeah, but—
Rex: I want to know something first... Draxil. Who healed you from death?
Draxil: I told you already. A brave boy. His name's Lior.
Rex: how did he heal you? It takes the most powerful luminite to bring someone back... especially from death.
Adrik: what do you mean, the most powerful luminite? The red one?
Rex: no. The purple one. It's the rarest, and the strongest. No one truly understands its power.
Adrik (blinking fast): wai—WHAT? The purple one's the strongest? I thought it was the red one!
Draxil: Lior didn't have a purple luminite. He had a blue one.
Rex (smirking): blue, huh... then you're in trouble. When the first ray of sunlight hits a blue luminite... it turns purple. And when it does—it might explode.
Adrik and Draxil froze. Their eyes shot toward the horizon. The sky was already glowing with the first trace of dawn.
Adrik: shit... Draxil, you stay here! I'll go to Lior and the others before the luminite blows!
In a flash of wind, Adrik vanished—gone with inhuman speed.
Rex's head tilted down slightly, and a low, twisted laugh crawled from his throat.
Draxil: what was that supposed to mean...?
Rex (low, almost whispering): you still don't get it, Draxil… huh.
I'm not Rex. I'm the monster… the one who entered his body and took everything he had. His memories, his pain, his rage. You could say that—
Draxil (eyes widening, voice shaking): you're… a monster who inherited all of Rex's memories… thoughts… habits… even how he talks.
Rex (grinning, his teeth bloodstained): you got it.
And your friend, Adrik… he's no different. He's got a monster sleeping inside him too.
But somehow, that thing hasn't woken up yet.
Rex tilted his head, his glowing eyes narrowing as a faint smirk crept across his face.
Rex: and trust me… the monster inside him is many times stronger than me.
Draxil froze. His breath hitched. Slowly, his gaze turned in the direction Adrik had just vanished.
His heart pounded once, hard.
Draxil (whispering): ...Adrik...
The faint sound of the wind answered back, carrying the scent of smoke and dawnlight.
The soft rustle of leaves echoed in the quiet morning air as the first light of dawn crept through the trees.
Lyra slowly opened her eyes, her vision blurry and body weak. She saw Jeff and Carla crouched beside her, carefully bandaging the wound on her arm. A few steps away, Liza held Clara close, whispering softly to keep her calm. Near them, the mother and her two sons were huddled together, finally resting after the long, brutal night.
Lyra blinked a few times, her breath shallow as she turned her head. Her eyes searched the clearing—then stopped.
There, sitting against a tree, was Lior. His staff rested beside him, his head tilted slightly, eyes half open but conscious.
Lyra (weakly): L-Lior...?
Lior stirred at the sound of her voice. Despite the pain on his face, he managed a small, faint smile.
Lior (softly): big sis...
Lyra's eyes filled with tears. She reached out, her trembling hand cupping his cheek.
Lyra (teary smile): you're alive... thank the stars...
Lior leaned into her touch just slightly, his eyes gentle. Then both of them turned their gaze toward the rising sun on the horizon.
The first golden ray touched the forest floor… and then brushed against Lior's staff.
A faint hum escaped it. The luminite embedded at its tip began to tremble—its blue glow flickering wildly.
Lior's eyes widened. He gripped the staff firmly as the color within the crystal began to shift—from deep blue… to violet… and finally into a glowing purple, swirling with unstable energy.
Lior (confused whisper): w-what's happening?
TO BE CONTINUED...