"No!" everyone shouted in unison, their voices echoing like a raging storm.
Eduard felt tears streaming down his face, hot and bitter, as he watched life slip away from his subordinate. "Benjamin, no!" he screamed with all his might, his voice cracking like glass under pressure. Conflicting emotions overwhelmed him: anger, pain, helplessness. He loved every member of his team, but the younger ones held a special place in his heart. He had seen many grow up since they were just babies—vulnerable and innocent—and now the loss hit him like an unforgiving hammer.
He forgot everything he had told Gat earlier, ignored the warnings, and charged forward blinded by a burning rage. His body moved by instinct, as if possessed by an external force.
Gat tried to stop him, reaching out his arm while shouting his name. But it was futile. Eduard was already beyond himself, running toward danger like an uncontrollable whirlwind. With a frustrated sigh, Gat clenched his fists and followed. He couldn't let him face this alone.
From a distance, Aragon observed the scene with a satisfied smile.
"Oops! I think I went too far with the kid in the fox mask," he thought, absentmindedly stroking his hands. Then he fixed his gaze on the two men running toward him. "What do they want? Revenge? Well, I could send them straight to join the brat… although they might also be useful for Lord Zeus' army." With a calculating gleam in his eyes, he assessed their skills through the vibrations of their aura. "Yes, they'll definitely be useful for study."
A malicious smile spread across his face as he watched them approach. Without giving them time to react, he launched a swift and precise attack, immobilizing them instantly. He increased the dose of his aura when striking, but with moderation.
"Don't worry, I didn't compromise any organs," he muttered to himself, almost as a silent mockery. Both men collapsed to the ground, unable to move, as he walked past them without even glancing their way.
A moment later, he reappeared behind the girls, his movements so fluid they seemed invisible. With a precise strike to the back of their necks, he whispered in their ears:
"Sleep."
Once everyone was unconscious, Aragon crossed his arms and let out a low laugh.
"Well, now that I've taken care of everyone…" he thought, surveying the battlefield. "I expected more of a fight, but it seems it wasn't what I anticipated. Oh well, I'll take all these to Lord Zeus' place."
He activated the communicator on his wrist, and a sweet, calm female voice responded immediately.
"Mr. Aragon, what do you need?" she asked.
"Six containers, please," he replied calmly.
"Understood, sir. Anything else?"
"Yes, prepare my ship at once."
"At once, sir."
With one final order, Aragon gestured to his subordinates.
"You kids, take care of those cadets and retrieve your friends."
The controlled ones obeyed without hesitation, marching toward the cadets.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Marie frowned at her console. She had been trying to contact Eduard's team for hours but still hadn't received a response. It was strange. The communicators were still showing active signals, yet no one answered.
"Hmm, Eduard's team isn't responding. I've tried several times, but nothing. This can't be normal," she muttered to herself, growing increasingly worried. Finally, she decided to report it to Chief Drake.
"Sir, sir, why aren't they answering?" she asked, her anxious tone carrying through the line.
"Hello, Marie. How's everything going? We're reviewing some things with Leila to extract information from the enemy. Apparently, Podbe had a memory related to something cold… like a volcano," Drake replied calmly, though his voice carried a thoughtful undertone.
"Understood, sir. I could look into that, but I called because I couldn't reach anyone from Eduard's group in America. I've tried multiple times, but there's no response. I fear something might have happened to them. Those kids go into killer mode or whatever you call it…" Marie explained, her trembling voice betraying her concern.
Drake fell silent for a moment, processing the information.
"Investigate further, Marie. And stay alert. If something's wrong, we'll need to be prepared."
Marie nodded, though she knew he couldn't see her. She ended the call and returned to her work, but the uneasy feeling wouldn't leave her. Something terrible had happened—she could feel it in every fiber of her being.
"Killer mode… Nothing. Those kids are weak. Everyone here has been defeated," Drake remarked grimly, his voice heavy with frustration as he reviewed the reports on his holographic screen.
"Yes, sir, but people without powers have been wiped out in our units. We can't ignore that the enemy is gaining ground rapidly," Marie responded, her voice shaky but resolute.
Drake sighed deeply, rubbing his temples as if trying to ward off a sharp pain.
"Yes, you mentioned that, Marie. How many squadrons do we have left?"
"Only units I, J, O, Q, R, S, W, U, T, V, Y, X, and Z. Some have had success in parts of Africa and America, especially unit Z. Well, and unit O only supports the scientific team here at headquarters," she explained, quickly consulting her notes as she spoke.
Drake rose from his seat, walking toward the window as he gazed at the dark horizon.
"Thank you for the report, Marie. We don't have much time. The general only gave me one day, and we're already halfway through. I don't know what to do."
Marie swallowed hard before continuing.
"Sir, I have a new report. In Russia and Sweden, units R, S, U, T, and Q have just been wiped out. I'm sorry, boss."
Drake slammed his fist on the table, a flash of anger crossing his face.
"Damn it! We'd better pull back the remaining forces from Europe. It's too dangerous. Give the order, Marie."
"Yes, sir," she replied with determination.
"And, Marie… keep trying to locate Eduard and his team. Also, search for locations that match that description. I'd ask Adrian, but he's busy working on the cure for the control the Metalux orphans are under. Oh, right, did you contact the others from the special forces of the first teams to leave what they're doing and go support in Europe and possibly America?"
"Yes, I've sent them a signal, but I haven't received a response yet," she said, her tone filled with worry.
"Good, keep trying. We'll be in touch later. We'll check the base here and then head to the possible locations. Drake out."
"Yes, sir. Goodbye," Marie responded before ending the communication.
Podbe stared intently at the holographic mental screen floating before him, where the upgrade menu appeared alongside the AI Reia. He was deciding how to distribute the four experience points he had earned. As he allocated the points, his mind wandered to Aiden. Where could he be? Was he alright? Shaking off those thoughts, he refocused on the task at hand.
"One point for each option," Podbe instructed finally, assigning the points one by one.
1 point to Strength,
1 point to Vitality,
1 point to Intellect,
1 point to Perception.
The AI Reia processed the information and confirmed:
"Input received."
The main menu is activated, displaying the upgrades on a holographic table within the dog's paw. Reia began reading them aloud:
"Strength 6 plus Perception 3 equals Detective Mode Level 2 (you can now see through heavier structures).
Vitality 4 plus Intellect 4 equals increased Health Points to 300 and Mana to 300.
Strength 6 plus Intellect 4 equals Steel Bite Level 2 (stronger and more effective against tougher opponents).
Strength 6 plus Intellect 4 equals Enhanced Link range up to 600 meters (you'll be able to contact the linked person from a greater distance)."
She paused briefly before continuing:
"And, as I mentioned earlier, you still need 1,350 points to reach Level 14."
At that moment, Reia added something more:
"In this section, I see that if you increase your Perception a bit further, a new ability will unlock: Spinning Moon."
"Spinning Moon?" Podbe repeated, intrigued.
"Yes," Reia confirmed. "But the description isn't available yet."
"Well, then let's level that up to increase the point," Podbe said decisively.
Meanwhile, back at the enemy base, Adrian was immersed in a tangle of cables and screens, communicating with the machines to create containers for the controlled children and advance the search for the cure. The technology there was superior to anything they had on the ship that was shot down, but even so, he felt like he didn't have enough hands.
"If my first officer were here, we'd finish this in no time," he thought with frustration as he adjusted parameters on the console. He knew time was critical, but he also knew he couldn't afford to make mistakes. Every second counted, and the fate of many depended on his success.
A cadet approached Drake holding a tablet, his face serious but efficient.
"Sir, the ship is ready with the strategic points or locations ruled out by Marie," he reported, handing over the device for Drake to review the details.
Drake nodded as he observed the holographic screen, where coordinates and satellite images were displayed. Meanwhile, Adrian was absorbed in his work, adjusting wires and components in a corner of the improvised lab. He glanced up briefly and told them:
"I'll stay here to set up a modern laboratory. Go find your friend. I'll support you as much as I can from here, and if I find the cure, I'll get it to you."
Drake crossed his arms, looking at the scientist with a mix of admiration and concern.
"Well, if you say so…" he responded finally, shrugging. Then he turned to the others. "Let's prepare to board."
Adrian, without wasting any time, returned to his task, muttering something about calculations and variables. But just as everyone was about to board the ship, one of the monitors flickered, revealing Adrian's face as he spoke to them from his lab.
"I designed this ship this way because of the urgency of the situation," he explained quickly, pointing to a diagram that appeared on the screen. "It has a triangular shape with two wings and circular thrusters that attach to the ship to avoid bulk. It also has seating for ten people. Since only the four of you are going, and you need to recover Aiden and his friends, this transport will be safe, fast, and difficult to detect."
He paused briefly, as if checking something on his desk, before continuing:
"Tron will be your pilot. Well, I have work to do. Goodbye," he said, abruptly cutting off the communication without giving them time to respond.
A moment later, Tron emerged from the shadows, bowing respectfully.
"Board if you're ready to begin," he instructed, his voice firm but kind.
Drake smiled faintly as he stepped onto the ship.
"That guy is always one step ahead. That's a good thing," he murmured to himself, though everyone managed to hear him.
Before the ship took off, Lidia and Rino approached Podbe, who remained by the platform with a thoughtful expression. Lidia, with a warm smile, gave him a gentle pat on the back.
"We'll say goodbye here, little pup. The journey ahead will be tougher, and the boss doesn't want more casualties. We'll wait for you," she said, her tone filled with confidence and affection.
Rino, ever reserved, simply raised a thumb in support. Then, he softly stroked the canine, adding a silent but meaningful gesture.
Podbe nodded, his gaze determined yet brimming with gratitude. He knew he had much to fight for, and this small show of support meant more than he could express in words.
The four boarded the ship, which began to slowly rise toward an elevated platform. Once on the roof, the ship took off with a soft but powerful hum, heading toward the strategic points Marie had sent.