The Arena
Medical personnel rushed forward. Trying to help. Trying to separate them.
But Bianca held Juli TIGHTER. Not letting go. Not yet.
The crowd was CHEERING. Roaring. Celebrating. Not a draw. Not a loss. A TRIUMPH. Both warriors had given EVERYTHING.
Outer Rim Home
Pietro had tears streaming down his face. Watching his sister embrace his son. FAMILY. His family. Together.
"Look at them," his voice broke. "Mary, LOOK at them."
Mary was crying too. Holding Pietro. "Your sister loves him. She really loves him."
"Of course she does," Pietro sobbed. "He's OURS. He's family. He's... he's everything."
Raider Outpost
Several raiders were literally PACKING. Bags. Belongings. EVERYTHING.
"I'M JOINING ARMADA!"
"I'M JOINING JULI'S SQUAD!"
"Wait, it's not even named yet—"
"I DON'T CARE! I'M JOINING THE MESSIAH'S SQUAD!"
"ME TOO!"
"AND ME!"
The veteran raider was LAUGHING. Actually helping them pack. "You know what? Screw it. I'm coming too."
Ragnar watched. Amused. Impressed. "The boy has a fanclub now. An ARMY. Willing to follow him anywhere."
Across the Galaxy
Viewing centers ERUPTED. Social media CRASHED again. For the fifth time today.
"JULI HAS HIS OWN SQUAD!"
"THE 13TH CONSTELLATION!"
"THE YOUNGEST CAPTAIN EVER!"
"I'M JOINING! I'M APPLYING!"
"ME TOO!"
Juli's fanclub had grown EXPONENTIALLY. From thousands to MILLIONS. All wanting to join. All wanting to follow. All wanting to be part of HISTORY.
VIP Box
The squad captains watched. Some with tears. Some with smiles. All with PRIDE.
Seraphina was crying. Openly. Beautifully. "I wished... I wished 'twas me embracing him. But..." She smiled through tears. "He is her family. 'Tis right. 'Tis BEAUTIFUL."
Saya nodded. Also emotional. "Family comes first. This is... this is honorable. Most honorable."
Both were jealous. Deeply. But happy. GENUINELY happy for Bianca. For Juli. For FAMILY.
Goldberg was SOBBING. All three arms wiping his face. "THAT'S FAMILY! THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT! PASSION! LOVE! BLOOD!"
Sparta's massive form was shaking. Emotional. "The boy has earned his place. Among us. Among LEGENDS."
Olivier was clapping. Elegantly. Tears behind his goggles. "Magnifique. Truly magnifique."
Fang was HOWLING. Literally howling. "THAT'S MY POPS' STUDENT! THAT'S THE LEGACY!"
Samuel's unsettling smile was GENUINE now. Warm. "The boy is... extraordinary. Truly extraordinary."
Rori was GRINNING. Tears on his shark face. "That kid's a bloody LEGEND, mate. Absolute legend."
C'veri's tentacles were WAVING. Celebrating. Colors flashing. "THE BOY'S ONE OF US NOW! ONE OF THE TWELVE! THIRTEEN NOW!"
Andre was clapping. Smiling. "History. We just witnessed history."
Even Louis. LOUIS. Was clapping. Slowly. Deliberately. A SMILE on his face. An actual SMILE.
Everyone noticed. Stared. SHOCKED.
"Did Louis just..." Goldberg couldn't finish.
"He smiled," Sparta confirmed. "Louis Vors Kiel. SMILED."
Aether was STRUGGLING. His tears wouldn't stop. Flowing freely down his feathered face. His wings trembling.
In all his years. All his battles. All his LIFE as a Titan. He'd never been this emotional. This MOVED.
Pietro. Your boy. Your BEAUTIFUL boy. He is MAGNIFICENT.
House Rossi Estate
The elders watched. Some were EMOTIONAL. Tears in their eyes. Seeing their champion's sister embrace the step-son.
Others were SILENT. Processing. Analyzing. Calculating.
But the head elder? He was PLEASED. Genuinely pleased.
"The boy has proven himself," his ancient voice carried satisfaction. "Against our champion. Against tradition. Against EVERYTHING. He has earned respect."
A pause. "House Rossi will support him. The thirteenth constellation. The boy's legacy."
Not full acceptance. Not yet. But... acknowledgment. RESPECT.
It was a start.
The Arena
Juli, still in Bianca's embrace, felt SAFE. Felt PEACE. Despite the pain. Despite the wounds. Despite EVERYTHING.
This was family. This was LOVE. This was home.
His voice came out soft. Muffled against her shoulder. "I wanna be as crazy strong and badass as you, Auntie. So that we can fight again. This time... no time limits."
Bianca pulled back slightly. Looked at his face. His bloody, bruised, BEAUTIFUL face.
Then kissed his forehead. Gently. Lovingly. Tears streaming.
"I'll be waiting, my boy. I'll be waiting."
Fast Forward - Ten Minutes Later
The medical teams had done emergency treatment. Both warriors bandaged. Stabilized. Standing.
Aether stood at center stage. His massive wings spread. His presence OVERWHELMING.
The crowd had settled. Waiting. ANTICIPATING.
"ATTENTION!" His voice boomed. That formal accent carrying across the galaxy. "I, Aether, Sky Marshal of ARMADA, vone of ze Four Titans, haff vitness something UNPRECEDENTED today!"
Silence. Pure. Reverent. LISTENING.
"Julian Veiper has fought vith HONOR! Vith COURAGE! Vith SPIRIT!" His golden eyes swept the arena. "He has proven himself vorthy! Not just as a cadet! Not just as a champion! But as a LEADER!"
The crowd started BUZZING. Excitement building.
"He has EARNED ze right! Ze privilege! Ze HONOR!" Aether's wings spread wider. "To become ze THIRTEENTH CONSTELLATION SQUAD CAPTAIN!"
ERUPTION.
The crowd EXPLODED. Cheering. Screaming. ROARING.
"THE YOUNGEST CAPTAIN IN HISTORY!"
"THIRTEEN SQUADS NOW!"
"A NEW ERA!"
VIP Box
The twelve captains stood. ALL of them. Applauding. ROARING. Welcoming their newest member.
Goldberg was CRYING again. "THAT'S MY BOY! I MEAN, NOT MY BOY, BUT STILL! WELCOME, BROTHER!"
Sparta bowed his head. Respectful. "Welcome, young captain. Thou hast earned thy place."
The others joined. Welcoming. Celebrating. ACCEPTING.
Thirteen now. Thirteen constellation squads. For the first time in HISTORY.
Outer Rim Home
Pietro was in DISBELIEF. Staring at the screen. Unable to process.
"He's... he's a captain. Juli is a CAPTAIN."
Mary was crying. Laughing. "At FOURTEEN! Your son is a squad captain at FOURTEEN!"
Pietro collapsed. Into Mary's arms. Sobbing. Laughing. Overwhelmed. "I'm so proud. SO PROUD. My boy. My beautiful, crazy, MAGNIFICENT boy."
Juno was JUMPING. "JULI'S A CAPTAIN! JULI'S A CAPTAIN!"
The Arena
Aether's voice rang out again. "And now! Ze most important question!" His beak curved into a smile. "Vhat vill you name your squad, young Julian?"
The galaxy held its breath. Waiting. ANTICIPATING.
What would he choose? What name would represent the thirteenth constellation? The newest legend? The FUTURE?
Juli looked... confused. Scratching his head.
He leaned toward Bianca. Whispered. "Um... Auntie? I don't really know... but I see some animals in the flags. So...why not dragon?"
Bianca LAUGHED. Genuine. Warm. LOVING. "Then Draco it is."
She kissed his cheek. Smiled. "Go. Announce it. Claim your legacy."
Juli walked toward Aether. His limp barely noticeable. His presence OVERWHELMING.
He stood before the Titan. Before the galaxy. Before HISTORY.
Then spoke. His voice carrying AUTHORITY. Power. CONFIDENCE.
"DRACO!"
SILENCE.
One second. Two seconds. Processing.
Then DETONATION.
THE ENTIRE GALAXY ERUPTED.
The Arena
"DRACO!"
"DRACO!"
"DRACO!"
The chant started. Grew. EXPLODED. Everyone joining. Everyone SCREAMING.
"DRACO! DRACO! DRACO!"
Like a WAR CRY. Like a BATTLE HYMN. Like the birth of a LEGEND.
Raider Outpost
"DRACO! DRACO! DRACO!"
Every raider. Even Ragnar. ALL joining the chant. Roaring. CELEBRATING.
"THAT'S OUR SQUAD!"
"DRACO SQUAD!"
"THE MESSIAH'S LEGION!"
Outer Rim Home
"DRACO! DRACO! DRACO!"
Pietro, Mary, and Juno. All chanting. Jumping. CELEBRATING.
"THAT'S MY SON'S SQUAD!"
Viewing Centers Across the Galaxy
Every screen. Every location. Every BEING.
"DRACO! DRACO! DRACO!"
The chant echoed. Across planets. Across systems. Across the UNIVERSE.
A war cry. A celebration. A CORONATION.
Undisclosed Location
Even the two Titans joined. Standing. Chanting.
"DRACO! DRACO! DRACO!"
The Barragan male was GRINNING. "The dragon constellation. How fitting. How PERFECT."
The Xistrith lady was crying. Smiling. "A new era begins. Today. RIGHT NOW."
The Arena
The chant wouldn't STOP. Wouldn't FADE. Just grew LOUDER. STRONGER. MORE POWERFUL.
"DRACO! DRACO! DRACO! DRACO!"
Aether spread his wings. WIDE. Majestic. GLORIOUS.
Juli stood beside him. Wounded but STANDING. Victorious but HUMBLE. A captain but still a BOY.
The youngest squad captain in history. The thirteenth constellation. The DRAGON.
The birth of a legend. The beginning of an ERA. The FUTURE made manifest.
And the galaxy chanted his name. His squad's name. His LEGACY.
"DRACO! DRACO! DRACO!"
The sound echoed across the stars. Across TIME itself.
A new constellation had been born.
And the universe would NEVER be the same.