Tia squinted at Luna. "You really want to see Kuro?"
Luna nodded. "Yeah."
"Does Aiden know about this?"
Yuna shook her head quickly. "No, we didn't tell him, Commander."
Tia crossed her arms. "Fine. But tell me—why do you want to see him?"
Yuna took a breath and answered. "It's me. Kuro and I… we spent part of our childhood together. I came to ask him to leave the National Division and join the Moon Division instead."
Tia raised an eyebrow. "Honestly, I doubt you'll convince him. But you can try. You've got nothing to lose."
"Exactly. I have to try."
"Alright then. Let's go see him."
They followed Tia toward a small hut. Inside, a trapdoor led them into an underground passage. After a long walk, they reached a cell at the end. Tristan was standing by the door—it was his turn to guard Kuro. His eyes widened the second he saw Luna and Yuna walking in with Tia.
"Luna! Yuna!" he blurted, hurrying to them.
Luna : "Hey, Tristan."
Yuna : "Hi, teammate."
Tristan looked uneasy. "Not to be rude, but… why are you two here?"
"I want to see Kuro. He's in that cell, right?"
Tristan nodded. "Yeah. He's in there."
They stepped inside. Kuro was slumped in a chair, bound tightly, unconscious. Tristan explained, "He's knocked out. We keep him sedated from time to time, so he won't cause trouble while we've got him locked up."
Yuna frowned. "Can you wake him up?"
"Sure. But be careful. He could lash out and try to escape."
Tristan leaned forward and gave Kuro a sharp slap across the face. Slowly, Kuro stirred, groaning as his eyes blinked open. His gaze landed on the twins. He froze, stunned, then whispered hoarsely, "You came to see me… sister?"
"Yes," Yuna said softly. "I also came to convince you of something."
He tilted his head. "Convince me of what?"
"I want you to leave the National Division. Join the Moon Division instead. Don't we both want the same thing? To save our kind from extinction?"
Kuro sighed. "Yeah… but the way we do it is different. You know that."
"I do. But in my opinion, the Moon Division's way is better than the National or the Fighter Division's. Don't you agree?"
Kuro stayed silent, eyes darkening as an old memory rushed back—
He remembered the day the old Kaos base had been taken. Yossan had summoned him and David to his throne room. The two of them stood before him, tension heavy in the air. Yossan leaned forward in his chair, studying their faces.
"Do you know why I called you here?" Yossan asked.
David shook his head. "Honestly, no, sir."
Kuro muttered, "I might have an idea."
Yossan : "Oh? Tell me."
"You called us to scold us for agreeing to the truce with Kaos Team."
"Not exactly but close."
David and Kuro exchanged confused glances.
Yossan's voice dropped lower. "I know very well that you two have… feelings toward Luna and Yuna."
Both men froze, silence choking the air.
"You cannot let your personal feelings interfere with your duties as members of the National Division. You're two of my strongest assets. It would be a disaster if those girls weakened your resolve."
David : "We're sorry, sir. It won't happen again."
Kuro : "Yeah. We'll cut ties with them… forever."
"Good," Yossan said. "You've chosen your path. Now keep walking it."
Back in the cell, Kuro's eyes hardened as he whispered to Yuna, "I've chosen my path… and I have to keep walking it."
Yuna's heart tightened. "What do you mean?"
"I can't turn back now. I can't abandon the National Division, no matter what you say."
"But you can," Yuna pleaded. "We all have the right to change. At any time."
Kuro shook his head. "Sorry, Yuna. I won't back down. The National Division is my home, my family. I'll follow them until my last breath."
Yuna's lips trembled. She wanted to argue but Tristan raised his hand and unleashed a wave of sound. Kuro's head dropped, unconscious again.
Silence fell. Yuna stared at her brother, sadness filling her chest. She hadn't wanted to fight him. But with Kuro still loyal to the National Division, a fight between them was now unavoidable. She had to accept the truth: Kuro was no longer someone she could save. He was an enemy now—and enemies had to be defeated.
That night, the twins returned to their quarters, each collapsing into sleep with heavy thoughts.
The next morning, Yuna's phone rang. The name on the screen made her blink—Aiden. She picked up quickly. "Good morning, Leader."
"Morning, Yuna," Aiden's calm voice replied. "Bring Luna with you. I want to see you both right away."
"Yes, sir."
The call ended, leaving Yuna uneasy. She rushed to Luna's room and banged on the door.
Luna opened it, hair messy, scowling. "Why are you bothering me this early, idiot?"
"Get up and get ready. Aiden called. He wants both of us right now."
"What?! Are you serious?"
"Yeah."
"Ugh, that annoying guy…"
The twins washed up, ate a quick breakfast and put on their matching outfits before heading out. Aiden's palace wasn't far. They'd been there before but not often.
At the gates, the guard bowed slightly. "Miss Luna, Miss Yuna Ribwan. Welcome. The leader is waiting for you in the back courtyard."
"Thanks," Yuna replied.
Inside, they spotted Aiden stroking the head of a massive tiger. Luna froze. "Wait… does he keep a tiger?"
"Looks like it," Yuna muttered.
"Why? Doesn't he already have huge powers?"
"No idea."
The tiger snarled at them when they approached, muscles tensed to pounce. But Aiden raised his hand. "Stop. They're family."
The beast instantly calmed. Aiden signaled a trainer to take it away. Then he turned to the twins. "I know what you're thinking—'Why a tiger?' Right?"
Luna shrugged. "Pretty much."
"It was sick, dying in a zoo. I saved it. Trained it. Now it obeys me."
Luna frowned. "You didn't drag us here just to show off how you tame tigers, did you?"
"No. I want you two to come with me tomorrow. I'm meeting Yossan, leader of the National Division and Murphy, leader of the Fighter Division."
Both girls froze. "You're meeting them?!" Yuna gasped. "What do you need us for?"
"Because they might try to kill me," Aiden said flatly.
The twins exchanged wide-eyed looks.
"But they're insanely strong," Luna protested. "We're nowhere near their level!"
Aiden chuckled. "Don't underestimate yourselves. I have special power, sure. But so do you."
He explained how long ago, he, Yossan and Murphy had inherited unique energy thanks to rare blood in their veins. They were chosen to fill the missing slots in the golden cubes. After Aiden's father died, Aiden inherited his father's share of that power. He trained until he mastered it.
"In other words," he told the twins, "I'm on equal footing with Yossan and Murphy."
Luna frowned. "Okay, fine. But what about us? Yuna and I don't have that kind of energy."
Aiden's eyes glinted. "You two are the heirs of Tominako Reed. Your power is the same as mine , It just doesn't feel that way right now. Trust me—it's there."
Yuna : "Maybe people can't sense it because it's… ancient. We literally inherited it from someone who died hundreds of years ago."
"That's possible," Aiden admitted. "Anyway, are you coming with me or not? If you don't, I'll go alone."
"Of course we'll come," Yuna said firmly.
Luna nodded. "Yeah. We'll go with you."
"Good. It's settled. You'll stay here tonight—there are free rooms. My servants will look after you."
The twins agreed. Each was given a grand room to sleep in. After lunch and a stroll through the palace gardens, they rested. By morning, they were ready.
Outside, Aiden stood beside a huge vehicle. "This is a special craft. It can switch between car, plane, ship or even submarine. Today, we'll use it as a plane."
The twins climbed in. Soon, the craft lifted into the skies.
"First time flying?" Aiden teased.
Luna shook her head. "No. But this isn't a normal plane—it's way cooler."
"It's not a plane," Yuna corrected. "It's a transforming vehicle."
"Same thing."
"No, it's not!"
The two bickered lightly, as always. Aiden only smirked—it was normal for twins to argue over nonsense.
After a while, he ordered the driver to land near a remote area. The three got out, then walked the rest of the way.
Waiting ahead were Murphy and Yossan.