The soldier continues his taunting, his voice a harsh whisper in the tense air. "Look at you, Zero. Reduced to hiding in a pit with these misfits. Did you really think you could escape the Germinal Organization forever? You're better off dead like you were meant to be, but luckily for you, we were given the order to bring you back alive." He spat. As he spoke, his eyes flick to Maya. Without warning, he lunges and grabs her gruffly, pulling her close and pressing a knife to her neck. Maya's eyes widen with shock and fear, her breath catching in her throat. Drake feels his heart pound in his chest, a sudden surge of rage threatening to overwhelm him."Let her go!" Drake shouts, stepping forward instinctively.The soldier tightens his grip on Maya, the blade pressing harder against her skin. "Ah, ah, ah," he sneers, eyes glinting with malice. "One more step, and she gets a new smile. Here's the deal, Zero: you come with us silently, or she dies right here, right now."Drake's mind race
Maya steps forward, her concern evident on her face. "Are you okay?" she asks softly, her voice the only sound breaking the stillness. She reaches out, her hand almost touching his arm, but she pulls back at the last moment, uncertain.Drake nods, his eyes scanning the faces around him. "I'm fine," he replies, though his voice is strained. The weight of the confrontation and the revelations about his past as Zero hung heavily on him.Apart from Maya, nobody says anything to him. The Shadow soldiers avoid his gaze, their silence louder than any words could be. Isalio, who he wanted to hear something from the most, stands off to the side, his expression unreadable. He watches Drake but doesn't approach or offer any words or questions whatsoever.The silence is deafening. Drake feels the isolation creeping in, a familiar feeling from his days on the run. He knows that his past has cast a shadow over his present, and the trust he had started to build with the Shadow soldiers is now strain
Kandra took a deep breath, his expression hardening as he looked at Drake. "Drake," he begins, his voice firm and resolute, "I appreciate your honesty, but we can't allow you to help with the preparations any longer." The room is thick with tension as Kandra and Maya stand facing each other, their disagreement pulling the attention of everyone around them. The recent invasion by the German soldiers has left everyone on edge, and now the argument is centred on what to do with Drake.Kandra's voice is the first to break the silence. "He needs to leave," he declares, his tone resolute. "Drake's presence here puts us all at risk. The Germinal Organization found us because of him."Maya steps forward, her eyes blazing with anger. "You can't just throw him out, Kandra. Drake has been nothing but loyal and helpful since he got here. We need him."Kandra scoffs, shaking his head. "Loyal? Helpful? He’s a wanted criminal! By keeping him here, we're painting a target on our backs. We’re endange
Drake stands outside Kevin's door, his hand hovering over the doorknob. He hesitates, his mind racing with thoughts of their friendship and the memories they've shared. The decision to leave is already made, but the emotional toll is heavy. He takes a deep breath, trying to steel himself for what he knows will be a difficult goodbye.Finally, he turns the knob and steps inside. The room is exactly as he expected—cluttered with scattered equipment and half-finished projects. But there's one thing missing: Kevin. The room is empty."Kevin?" Drake calls out, his voice echoing slightly in the stillness. There's no response.He walks further into the room, looking around for any sign of his friend. On the desk, he sees a small note scribbled hastily. Picking it up, he reads:Drake, meet me at the workroom- KevinDrake sighs, feeling a mix of relief and disappointment. He had to explain himself and make sure Kevin understood why he lied and why he had to leave. Kevin had always been emotion
When Drake lands in front of the inn, the teleportation capsule drains most of his energy, leaving him weak and wobbly. He stumbles forward, feeling as if the ground beneath him was shifting. His vision blurs as he tries to take a step, and he ends up falling to his knees in the soft dirt behind a house.As he tries to push himself up, a soft chime from the Alpha Link System reverberates in his mind, barely audible through the haze of exhaustion.«Ding![Alpha Link System Notification][Warning: High energy consumption detected. Current energy levels are critically low.][Initiating emergency energy regeneration protocol. The regeneration rate increased by 10% temporarily.]«Ding!Drake barely registers the notification as his body sways. The teleportation device lies next to him, still warm from the recent use. He reaches out to grab it but collapses fully to the ground, his strength completely sapped.Just as the world around him starts to fade, he hears the sound of a door creaking
Authors POV. Planets away from Aquamarine...In the sprawling metropolis of Lumis, the capital of the Commonwealth of Light, a different kind of gathering is taking place. The city is a marvel of futuristic design, with towering skyscrapers, floating platforms, and luminous streets. At the centre of the city, the Council of Light convenes in a crystalline tower that glows with an inner radiance.High Chancellor Elysia presides over the meeting, her presence commanding and serene. Her advisors, representatives from the various sectors of the Commonwealth, sit around a circular table, discussing the latest intelligence reports."We have received disturbing news from our scouts in the outer rim," says General Kael, a seasoned military leader with a stern expression. "There are signs of increased activity from the World Tree civilization. They are mobilizing, and their trajectory suggests they may be targeting Aquamarine."Elysia's eyes narrow. "Aquamarine? What interest could they poss
[ALSTAR, 160KM FROM GERMINAL ORGANIZATION AND THE SIX NATIONS]In a manor, heavily guarded by men in japanese samurai style, a crisp sound of heel shoes knocking against the tiles could be heard in the inner hall.Akira Nakamura, clad in black spandex and armed with two katana swords, strode into the hall with confidence. The seven middle-aged men seated around the round table looked up, their eyes fixed on her with a mix of curiosity and respect.Akira stopped in front of the eldest man, her father, Kenji Nakamura, and bowed deeply."Otō-sama, konbanwa." (Father, good evening.)Kenji Nakamura, the leader of the Yakuza, nodded slightly, his eyes never leaving hers."Akira, konbanwa. What brings you to this meeting?"Akira straightened, her eyes locked on her father's."I've received intel that the Triads are moving goods through our territory. I request permission to intercept them, otō-sama."The room fell silent, the only sound the soft hum of the tea kettle. Kenji's expression rema
The four trucks drove at a steady pace down the secluded road, Jian and the Triads members were on high alert. Suddenly, the lead truck burst into flames, blocking the road. The other trucks screeched to a halt, and the Triads poured out, shooting sporadically. They knew they had just been ambushed by the Yakuza."Incoming!" one of the Triad members yelled, as arrows rained down on the Triads.Jian leapt out of the truck, his two handguns at the ready. "Take cover!" He shouted to his team.The Triad members scattered, seeking shelter behind nearby rocks and trees. While Akira and her team charged forward, her sword flashing in the sunlight."Get down!" Jian Li yelled as he and his team returned fire.The battle was intense, with bullets flying and arrows thudding into flesh. Men screamed and fell, but Akira and Jian Li remained standing, their skills honed to perfection.Akira dodged a hail of bullets, her sword slicing through the air."You're good, but not good enough! Did you reall