Angel Squad stood in tense silence near the doorway.
Riku sat with his hands folded, his posture motionless. His entire aura felt gloomy… but powerful. The kind of pressure that made the air feel heavier just being near him.
At the far end of the table, Andrew Handerfall's voice broke the stillness.
"Takashima. Tell them what you know."
Takashima nodded and took in a breath. "Lionel—"
"—Has already created a fleet of forty battleships and stationed them exactly two million kilometers out," Nova Greaves interrupted sharply. "They've been churning out warships at a rate that's frankly absurd. We're all aware."
Takashima's jaw twitched. He clearly didn't like being cut off… but he swallowed it. "That's correct."
Kaelani scoffed, arms crossed. "So why exactly did you call this meeting, then? We have access to the same data feeds you do. Or are you under the impression you're the only genius in the room?"
Takashima's lips curled slightly. "I just wanted to make sure we were all on the same page. Some of us…" he eyed Kaelani calmly, "don't always pick up on the obvious."
Kaelani's eyebrow twitched. Blitz tried to hide a grin behind her hand.
Takashima continued. "There's a more pressing matter. I believe Lionel's forces… have already invaded Mercury."
Every head in the room snapped toward him.
"And we don't even know it yet."
Riku leaned forward slightly, his eyes sharper than blades. "That's a serious claim. What makes you say that? And why would you know this before Greaves or I?"
Takashima's voice lowered. "Because I didn't trust anyone else with the intel. If my suspicion is right… then we have spies among us."
A deep silence fell across the room.
Takashima brought up a display and pointed to it. "We received an alert last week—an unauthorized landing near the northern mountain ranges. It was buried in the system. Right after that, there was a small-scale attack on Mercury's capital. Small enough to look like terrorism. Too small."
Greaves folded her arms. "You think those two are connected?"
Takashima nodded. "Yes. And more than that… I believe Lionel doesn't intend to conquer Mercury from the outside. The fleet is just the distraction."
He pressed another button, displaying the warship positions.
"All of these ships… they're not enough. Not for Mercury. Not with our current defenses. I believe his plan is invasion from within. I wouldn't be surprised if there's already a small army hidden among us."
Outrage sparked like fire.
Kaelani slammed a hand against the table. "Don't be ridiculous!"
Greaves stood up. "Are you seriously suggesting we've already been infiltrated?!"
Even Blitz narrowed her eyes. "You think we'd let that happen under our watch?!"
The room roared with objections—
Until a single voice cut through the noise.
"…Enough."
Riku's tone was cold. Sharp. Everyone froze.
He glanced around the table. "We'd be fools not to at least consider what Takashima is saying."
"But—" Greaves started.
"You of all people should know better than to dismiss evidence just because it's inconvenient." Riku didn't even look at her.
She went quiet.
Riku turned to the end of the table. "Any suggestions on our next move?"
A single hand rose.
Seinjin Nemizora's calm voice followed. "I say… we begin with District 3. There's a growing terrorist cell forming. If there's a hiding place for Lionel's forces—it's there."
Riku crossed his arms, leaning back in silence.
Takashima nodded. "That's a good plan. We'll organize a sweep. But we must be careful. Civilian harm must be avoided."
Riku leaned back in his chair, arms folded across his chest as he stared down the table.
"…Andrew," he said coolly, "is it true you recently recovered a member of Angel Squad?"
Andrew nodded. "Yes. It was a miracle, honestly."
Riku's gaze didn't waver. "Mm… Markus Sentryon. That's his name, isn't it?"
"Yes," Andrew confirmed, voice steady.
A pause. The weight of Riku's next words fell sharp.
"Andrew… I respect you greatly." His eyes narrowed slightly. "But if he is a danger to my planet… then I won't hesitate."
"…I wouldn't expect you to," Andrew replied, unflinching.
Arnik stepped forward, a tinge of urgency in his voice. "In case Mercury falls… we need a plan—"
Kaelani scoffed, cutting him off. "Who is this chump?"
"Chump?!" Arnik flinched.
"That's Angel Squad's captain," Blitz said firmly. "Arnik Handerfall."
Kaelani broke into a smug grin, lifting his fingers in mock quotation marks. "Not only is he the 'Chosen One'—he's also your son, Andrew?! Hah—!"
"I'm serious!!" Arnik snapped. "If Mercury falls, then millions of people will die. We need a fallback plan—!"
"Mercury will never fall," Kaelani growled. "Lionel—"
"BUT WHAT IF?!" Arnik roared. "Those people… need to be saved!"
Kaelani rose, but—
Riku lifted one hand.
Silence.
His voice was calm, but heavy. "Arnik… You have the heart of a hero. And I commend you for that." He glanced at the others. "In the unlikely event… we retreat to Saturn. Unfortunately… they're not aiding anyone at the moment."
Kaelani grumbled but said no more.
Kai, watching quietly, smiled to himself. Arnik's really stepping into the leader role… Normally, I'd be the one giving orders. But this time…
The sound of the door sliding open echoed through the chamber.
Crowne swaggered in first, smirking wide. "Look who I brought with me."
Markus entered behind him.
He wore sleek black armor—reforged and reinforced across the chest and shoulders, with a long, high-collared trench coat billowing over it. A heavy sniper rifle was magnetically locked along his back. He had no sword. But the air around him—it felt different. Tighter. Sharper.
"Whoa…" Rose blinked. "You actually look… kinda cool now."
"Much better than when we found you," Arnik nodded, arms crossed.
"Har har." Markus rolled his eyes.
Crowne threw a hand over his shoulder. "Take a good look, kid. This room holds the strongest mages and mutants known to man. And right there—Kaelani—he's a mutant just like you."
Kaelani smirked, his lips curling with disdain. "Stronger than you, mutt."
Markus didn't bite back. His gaze swept the table slowly, absorbing each powerful presence that sat before him—the mages, the mutants, the legends. Names spoken with reverence across planets. People who once seemed untouchable now sat just feet away, and yet none of them unnerved him.
No… that unease crawling under his skin wasn't coming from them.
Then his eyes locked with Riku.
The man's stare was a weapon—cold, razor-sharp, and unapologetically measuring. No words were spoken, yet Markus understood everything in an instant.
I don't trust you.
Markus scoffed under his breath, turning to fall into formation with the rest of Angel Squad.
But his body wouldn't let him.
A shiver, violent and invasive, struck him mid-step—then bloomed outward like a ripple through his nervous system. His breath caught. His vision wavered.
Then he turned—his instincts screaming—and his eyes met his.
Nemizora.
Pain cracked through his skull like lightning, blinding and merciless.
"GHAAAGGH!!"
Markus dropped to one knee with a scream that shook the walls. His arms wrapped around his head as his body convulsed, veins glowing faintly red as something inside him began to writhe, clawing for control.
"MARKUS!!" Arnik bolted forward, catching him just before he hit the floor. "Markus, look at me! Can you hear me?!"
Markus couldn't respond.
"WHAT IS THIS?!" he roared, his voice cracked and panicked. "WHY NOW?!"
Then, through the haze of pain, his bloodshot eyes snapped toward Nemizora again.
And what he saw rooted his soul in ice.
Nemizora's face—no longer consistent—twitched and glitched, flickering between man and monster. Between human features and those twisted with horns, black sclera, jagged teeth.
It was real.
The voice returned, louder this time—closer.
"KILL!! KILL HIM! KILL THAT MAN!!!"
"AIKA!" Arnik shouted. "NOW!"
Aika rushed over, panic in her eyes, tugging on her healing glove and pressing it to Markus's chest. Light surged from her hand in a desperate attempt to stabilize him.
"I-It's not working!" she gasped, trembling. "I'm trying, but… it's not working!!"
Rose stepped closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "Markus…?"
Markus raised a trembling finger—pointed straight.
"…Demon…"
Then he snapped.
"DEMON!!!"
BOOM!
A crimson blast detonated from his back, fangs and red trails ripping into view as blood surged like flame through his veins.
Blood Wolf Art: Unleashed.
He launched forward, nothing but rage and velocity.
"DIE!!!"
Nemizora jerked his hand up, barely forming a magical shield in time before—
BOOOOM!!!
The force of the strike leveled the council chamber.
Most of the council sat frozen.
But three moved.
Riku vanished in a blur.
Andrew threw up a gravity wall.
And Crowne—laughing like a lunatic—threw himself forward, wild delight in his eyes. With a flick of his wrists, two shimmering blades spiraled into his palms—curved like fangs, pulsing with unnatural energy.
"FINALLY!" he cackled. "LET'S PAINT THE WALLS!"
He joined Markus mid-air, their combined attack collapsing onto Nemizora's barrier with thunderous might.
"CLANG—!!!"
"DIIIIE!!!" Markus bellowed.
Crowne echoed him with a roar of savage joy.
The impact ruptured the upper floor—stone, magic, and steel all melting away into burning shards. The walls exploded outward. Glass shattered. Screams erupted.
Only Virell and Aika's emergency barriers protected the others, barely holding.
When the storm settled—Nemizora stood barely upright, shaking beneath layered magical barriers. His breathing was unsteady, his eyes twitching.
Andrew stepped forward, his face red with fury. "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!"
Markus bared his teeth, his voice guttural and filled with hate. "WHY AREN'T YOU DOING ANYTHING?! THIS BASTARD SLAUGHTERED MY FAMILY!!"
Crowne landed beside him, blades still dripping with magic. "I trust my student's rage!!"
That was enough.
Riku and Andrew responded in perfect sync, conjuring twin fields of gravity that ripped Markus and Crowne backward. Crowne was hurled toward Riku, landing with a grin. Markus slammed at Andrew's feet, panting, snarling.
Nemizora… staggered.
Sweat poured from his brow. His mouth moved, but no sound came out.
Andrew stepped in. His voice was cold now. "Then let us see…"
He raised his palm to the sky.
"Great Spirit… Reveal thy foe's true nature!"
A sacred glyph shimmered above his hand, rotating fast—glowing brighter and brighter—until—
BOOM!!
Light engulfed Nemizora's body.
Then—he collapsed.
"DAD!!" Aika screamed.
She bolted forward, skidding across shattered glass.
Rose followed a few steps, then froze—her hand hovering near her chest, her mouth open in stunned silence.
Aika's hands trembled as she flipped him over.
But the moment her eyes met his face—she paused.
"…Dad?"
Then—
"AIKA!! GET AWAY!!" Markus screamed, voice laced with dread.
SLASH—!!!
A dark flash arced through the air.
Arnik launched forward, intercepting the blow just in time.
Claws sliced across his back.
"AGHH—!!"
Blood exploded across the floor—and across Aika's face.
She gasped as she fell backward, paralyzed.
Arnik shielded her, rolling once before clutching her close.
"…Got you," he panted, his blood soaking into her sleeves.
And then—
Something shifted.
Nemizora's body began to rise… but it was no longer Nemizora.
A black shadow slithered across his face like ink, staining his skin. His once-kept black hair unraveled—growing longer, wilder, thrashing behind him like a living thing. His green eyes burned away—consumed by a glowing crimson fire that lit his sockets like furnace coals. His teeth extended into fangs. His limbs cracked and stretched. His aura grew so heavy it crushed the air itself.
Even the air sounded different around him.
Aika stared, frozen—her lips quivering, her voice caught in her throat. Blood clung to her cheek. Arnik's blood. Her father had just tried to kill her.
And she didn't understand.
Her mind screamed for answers—but her body wouldn't move.
"No… no… what's… what's going on…?"
Nemizora's form towered now. His fingers flexed, and in his palm, a jagged black blade took shape—as if born from his own hate, its surface rippling with shadows and sharp ridges like bone.
The man known as Nemizora… no longer existed.
In his place stood something… Demonic.
Satsujin had returned.
And this time…
He was smiling.