Melvin was wounded—deep gashes carved across his chest and leg, the price of clashing against two elite commanders: Shiori and Senko. The two had been longtime partners in combat, their synergy making them formidable. They had the upper hand but not without cost—Senko had taken a blow to the shoulder, while Shiori bore a cut on her forehead.
Their battle had raged for what felt like an eternity before both sides paused, standing across from one another, breathing heavily. Then, words were exchanged amid the smoldering battlefield.
Senko stepped forward, voice stern:
"According to the intel we've gathered… you're Melvin , one of the Moon Division commanders."
Melvin replied with a calm nod, though his voice betrayed his fatigue
"That's me."
Shiori : "You're a strong fighter, I'll give you that. But this is the end. You won't escape us—we already disposed of the side units who were supporting you."
Melvin smirked weakly, blood dripping from his lip.
"You overlooked something."
"What are you talking about?"
"My allies... they'll come for me. I trust them."
Senko scoffed.
"Still clinging to dreams, aren't you ?"
Melvin tilted his head slightly.
"Then look behind you."
"What?"
Shiori and Senko turned—and their eyes widened.
A figure approached slowly, her metal staff resting lazily over her shoulder. It was Luna Ribwan, calm and unbothered, as though strolling through a garden rather than stepping into a battlefield.
Both Shiori and Senko turned fully now, astonishment etched on their faces.
"How… how are you alive?" Senko asked. "You and your twin were targeted by three elite commanders. You should be dead!"
Luna shrugged nonchalantly.
"We kicked their asses. My twin and I. Simple."
"Impossible!"
"Not really."
"You're lying!"
"Believe me or not. Doesn't change anything for me."
With that, Luna hurled her flaming star weapon toward them. Senko reacted swiftly, intercepting it with his energy-forged bat. But just as he lifted his weapon, Luna was suddenly above him, her staff crashing down on his already injured shoulder.
He cried out in pain, his guard dropping. Luna summoned her star back to her hand, aiming for his neck. The strike would have been fatal—
—but Shiori lunged in just in time, blasting Luna with a surge of lightning. Luna dodged using a short-range teleport, reappearing meters away.
Shiori rushed to Senko, helping him to his feet and binding his reopened wound. As she worked, the two shared a whispered conversation.
"How the hell did this happen?" Senko muttered. "Warren and the others should've dealt with the Ribwan twins. They're just two girls. And our side had three commanders."
"I don't know either. But we'll need to investigate this. Soon."
Meanwhile, Luna had returned to Melvin, kneeling beside him and using a vial of Yuna's blood to treat his wounds. The healing effect was nearly immediate.
"Thanks for the help," Melvin said quietly.
"Anytime, Commander," Luna replied with a grin. "Though you owe me a promotion."
"You want to be a commander? I wouldn't recommend it—it's a tough road."
"Fine. Then buy me and Yuna some sweets. She helped too "
"Deal."
But there was no time for banter. Both of them sensed Shiori and Senko approaching again.
Weapons drawn, the four stood face-to-face once more. Melvin's wounds were healing but not fully—yet he could still fight. Luna, with Yuna's blood in her system, had access to quadruple the energy storage and the power of all four elements. Neither of her enemies knew this.
Weapons gleamed. The second round began.
Shiori and Senko attacked in tandem—a frost orb from Shiori and a bolt of lightning from Senko aimed at their foes. Melvin and Luna conjured shields and deflected both.
Then, Luna vanished.
She reappeared mid-air, casting her flaming star down—this time, it split into five burning blades. Two flew toward Shiori. The other three targeted Senko.
The two elites blocked the attacks but Senko, injured and slower, took longer—just enough time for Melvin to lunge in, his electrical saw weapon sparking with voltage.
Shiori spotted the danger and tried to assist her comrade but Luna intercepted her, swinging her metal staff. Shiori blocked with her energy-infused mace, the weapons clashing in a burst of sparks.
Senko wasn't as lucky. Melvin slashed his chest, knocking him to the ground.
Melvin raised his weapon to finish him but Senko gritted his teeth and retaliated, striking upward with his water-charged bat, forcing Melvin back.
They stepped away from each other, both battered.
Melvin spoke first.
"We're both wounded, yet still fighting."
"Seems we're evenly matched," Senko replied. "This time, the battle will go to whoever is stronger."
"Agreed."
Their weapons clashed once more, neither giving way. But something puzzled Senko—Melvin's wounds were healing far too quickly. Something was off.
Meanwhile, Luna was battling Shiori head-on. With Yuna's blood empowering her, Luna could now wield four elemental powers and store energy at four times the normal limit. She fought with two weapons in perfect harmony.
After a fierce exchange, Shiori was sent flying back, collapsing to the ground. She looked up to see Luna approaching, holding her blazing star weapon.
"Will you kill me now that you've won?" Shiori asked bitterly.
Luna's expression softened.
"Not if you apologize. And swear never to harm us again. Though… I doubt you will."
"You want me to beg?"
"No. I want you to admit you were wrong , Admitting fault isn't weakness, Shiori. Not like you think."
Shiori stared up at her.
"Are you serious? In the middle of battle, you want me to confess instead of fighting for my Division?"
"Yes. What's the problem? I fight for the Moon Division too. Our goals are different—but only one of us can be right."
Shiori remained silent… but then—
A sudden sonic wave blasted toward Luna from behind.
One of Shiori and Senko's side agents had intervened, seeing Shiori's condition. Luna raised an air barrier in time but Shiori seized the opening and attacked with her mace. Luna deflected with her staff.
The agent attacked again. Luna dodged high but before she could strike back, he used rapid teleportation, grabbed Shiori and vanished from the battlefield.
Luna didn't pursue—she rushed back to check on Melvin, who had just finished his own duel with Senko. That opponent, too, had fled with aid.
Elsewhere on the battlefield—
Jayden was locked in combat with Karaido, the elite warrior. They exchanged vicious blows, neither holding back. But then—
Joey appeared behind Jayden, firing a missile at him.
Jayden barely reacted in time, using his weapon to deflect the projectile. But Karaido seized the distraction, slashing Jayden's side. Though the wound wasn't fatal, it slowed him down.
The odds were unfair—two against one. Joey continued launching explosives, keeping Jayden constantly on the move. Jayden blocked and dodged but fatigue was catching up with him.
He stood, panting, sweat and blood staining his clothes. Karaido and Joey were tired too—but not as much. Still, Jayden had managed to wear them down despite being alone.
"You're strong," Karaido admitted. "But your time is up."
"If you hadn't teamed up, I would've taken one of you down for sure." Jayden spat blood.
"You're mistaken," Karaido said. "You might beat Joey, but I'm your equal. Alone, we'd draw."
"Whatever. Doesn't matter."
Jayden realized he couldn't win. Not here. Not now. He had to escape—not out of cowardice but because he needed to check on Yuna and the others. They might be in danger—or worse.
He gathered lightning energy and unleashed a barrage of iron spikes, masking his retreat.
As Joey and Karaido blocked the projectiles, Jayden vanished.
He sprinted through the ruins, scanning for any sign of Melvin, Luna or Yuna but Karaido appeared suddenly, attacking.
Jayden parried the strike but then Joey's missile hit him square in the back, sending him crashing down. Burn marks and bleeding wounds covered his body.
Karaido and Joey approached, looming over him.
"This time, you're finished, scum," Joey sneered.
"Damn you both," Jayden groaned.
"Want me to do the final blow?" Karaido asked.
Joey : "No, Durbin killed my brother. I'll do it."
"Your brother tried to betray me. He had to die," Jayden snapped.
"Liar!"
Joey smashed his cannon into Jayden. The latter tried to block but he was too weak.
Jayden hit the ground again, helpless.
Joey readied one last missile.
But then—a volley of arrows struck the ground where Joey stood. Each arrow crackled with electricity.
He leapt back, shocked.
Yuna appeared in a blink, using teleportation to land beside Jayden. She reached out a hand.
"Take my hand—we'll teleport multiple times and get out of here. I need to treat you."
Jayden took her hand, groaning, "Alright..."
But before they could escape—
Karaido lunged, weapon ready. Yuna blocked with an ice shield.
Joey fired again—but Jayden, summoning his last strength, destroyed the missile with his lightning-charged weapon.
Yuna shoved Karaido away then grabbed Jayden.
The two vanished in a flurry of teleportation, darting away faster than their enemies could follow.
Joey and Karaido stared, stunned.
"Did… did you see that?" Joey muttered. "She used three different elements. But the intel said she can only use two!"
"We'll ask questions later," Karaido growled. "Let's find them first."