The air around the beach thickened, charged with tension as Nova and Aqua stood side by side, their eyes fixed on the towering demon.
Nova gritted her teeth, flames of determination flickering in her gaze. "We end this now," she muttered, her hands glowing faintly with blue tech-light.
Aqua nodded, summoning a swirling wall of seawater around them. "Agreed."
But before they could attack, the demon's lips curled into a sinister grin. He lifted effortlessly into the sky, dark energy coiling around him like a storm. His laughter was low and unsettling—mocking them.
"Defeat me?" His voice slithered like venom through the wind. "No… you'll first need to survive."
With a snap of his clawed fingers, the sea churned violently, and from the sand erupted dozens—no, hundreds—of lesser demons, their grotesque forms clawing and screeching as they swarmed toward Nova and Aqua.
The demon tilted his head, eyes glinting red. "Defeat my pets, little warriors. I want you to enjoy this fleeting illusion of victory… because what's coming will make you wish you had never even touched your powers." His laughter thundered, echoing across the horizon as he soared higher, vanishing into the dark clouds above.
Nova cursed under her breath, raising her blasters. "Damn it. He's baiting us!"
Aqua stepped forward, water swirling at her fingertips. Her voice was calm but resolute. "Nova. Leave it to me."
Nova glanced at her sharply. "No! This isn't your fight alone!"
Aqua's lips curved into a confident smile. "We're at the beach, Nova. My domain. My power." Her voice grew fierce, her eyes glowing an unearthly blue. "This ends in thirty seconds."
Before Nova could argue, Aqua leaped forward. The ocean roared behind her, rising like a towering serpent. In one fluid motion, she thrust her hands forward, unleashing a colossal Water Blast infused with her full strength.
The sheer force of it shattered the sand beneath their feet. Waves surged across the battlefield, swallowing the screeching demons whole. Sea creatures—dolphins, schools of shimmering fish—emerged from the depths, encircling Aqua like a queen's procession. The lesser demons dissolved in seconds, leaving nothing but foamy water and silence in their wake.
Nova exhaled, stunned. "...Five seconds. You're insane."
Aqua turned back, water droplets glistening on her hair like jewels. A dolphin nuzzled her hand affectionately, and she laughed softly, stroking it. "What can I say? They know their queen."
Nova shook her head with a faint smile. "Remind me never to argue with you near water."
"Good idea," Aqua teased, before her expression softened. "Come on. Everyone's waiting for us."
Nova smirked, raising her communicator. "Let's get back."
Meanwhile, two cars sped down the coastal road. Stella sat quietly in the passenger seat, staring out the window, her thoughts elsewhere.
Beside her, Zephyr noticed her expression. "You're worried about Serafina and Nyx, aren't you?" she asked gently.
Stella forced a smile. "They're strong. They'll win. I know that."
Zephyr gave her a reassuring nod. "Exactly. They'll be fine."
But Stella's gaze drifted to the reflection of Alex in the car window. Serafina and Nyx aren't what's troubling me… It's you. Her chest ached.
By the time they arrived at Zane's house, Nyx and Serafina were already there, casually leaning by the entrance.
Zephyr blinked in surprise. "Wait—how did you two get here before us?"
Serafina smirked. "Magic," she said simply, and Nyx chuckled.
"Of course it's magic," Zephyr muttered, rolling her eyes as the group laughed.
Inside, Jin groaned dramatically. "What the heck is happening lately? These demons just keep popping out of nowhere! I'm sick of it!"
Max crossed his arms. "Yeah, I don't want my future kid growing up in a world where demons are a daily thing."
Nyx arched a brow slyly. "Future kid? First, you need a girlfriend who can tolerate you."
Max scoffed. "Excuse me? Do you know how many girls are lining up for me? Please."
Leo snorted. "Sure, in your dreams."
Serafina clapped her hands sharply. "Alright, enough boasting. Boys, kitchen. Cook for us."
Theo blinked. "Wait—cook?"
Zephyr smirked. "Yes. Gentlemen cook."
Zane groaned. "I don't even know how to boil water."
"That explains a lot," Zephyr teased, laughing.
Alex cracked his knuckles, grinning. "Ladies, prepare to be amazed. Boys—let's show them what we're made of."
The group split—boys bustling into the kitchen while Zephyr gestured for the girls to follow her upstairs.
Upstairs
The five girls gathered in a cozy sitting room. Zephyr leaned against the window frame while Stella perched quietly on the couch beside Nyx and Serafina.
Nyx crossed her arms, her sharp gaze sweeping the room. "First of all, it's done. The demon escaped, but we destroyed his subordinates."
Zephyr frowned. "So he didn't even fight seriously?"
"No," Nyx said flatly. "He didn't even try. That's the problem."
Serafina nodded in agreement. "Exactly. He wasn't after us. If they truly wanted our powers, they wouldn't have retreated this easily. They're… planning something."
Nyx's tone dropped lower, more analytical. "He even hinted at it—'what's coming will make you wish you had never touched your powers.' That wasn't just a threat. It was deliberate."
A chill ran through Stella. "You think they're trying to confuse us?"
"Yes," Nyx said firmly. "They're playing with our minds—testing us, distracting us. The real strike hasn't come yet." She leaned forward, her expression sharp. "Whatever they're planning, we need to figure it out before they move. Because when they do…"
"…It'll be too late," Serafina finished.
A silence fell over the room before Zephyr raised her hands. "Alright. Enough of this tonight. We'll keep our eyes open, but we're not ruining our evening over them."
Serafina exhaled and nodded. "Agreed. We'll revisit this later."
Nyx pushed herself up from the couch. "Fine. Let's go check on the boys before they burn the house down."
The girls chuckled and followed her downstairs.
Back Downstairs
The kitchen was pure chaos. Zane was holding a frying pan upside down, Leo was scolding him, Max was chopping vegetables with exaggerated flair, Kai and Alex were plating dishes perfectly, and Jin… was lounging on a stool with a drink, giving orders like a king.
Serafina smirked. "This is better than TV."
The girls leaned against the doorway, watching with amusement. Stella stayed quieter than usual, her eyes straying unconsciously toward Alex.
Noticing her silence, Serafina tugged her aside. "Hey. What's wrong?"
Stella hesitated, her voice soft. "I think Alex… likes someone else."
Serafina blinked. "Are you sure?"
"I don't know," Stella admitted. "It's just a feeling. If he does… I'll step aside. But if he doesn't—"
Serafina smiled gently. "Then you'll make him fall for you."
Stella nodded, her resolve quiet but firm.
"Good," Serafina said, patting her shoulder. "That's the Stella I know."
The sound of Zane yelping—"I burnt my hand!"—pulled them both back to laughter.
Zephyr darted forward without hesitation. "What did you do now, idiot?"
He held up his hand dramatically. "I was flipping the pancake! The pan attacked me!"
Zephyr rolled her eyes. "The pan attacked you?"
He nodded solemnly. "Yes. It was a betrayal I never saw coming."
Despite herself, Zephyr snorted. "You're ridiculous." She grabbed his wrist and examined his palm carefully. Her brows furrowed—then softened. "Zane… this is barely even a burn. It's just a little red."
"It hurts!" he protested.
She smirked. "Oh, please. You're acting like you lost a limb."
Still, she fetched the first-aid kit from the counter and dabbed soothing cream over the spot with surprising gentleness. Zane winced theatrically, earning more laughter from the others.
"See?" Zephyr teased. "You're fine. No battle scars today."
He grinned sheepishly. "Guess I just wanted some attention."
Zephyr shook her head, smiling faintly as she taped a small bandage over the burn. "You're hopeless."
Their eyes met for a brief moment—soft, almost unspoken. Then Max's loud voice broke the silence:
"Hey, lovebirds, are we eating tonight or next week?"
The room erupted in laughter. Even Zane laughed, holding up his "injured" hand dramatically again.
Zephyr rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling wider this time.
And as Stella glanced around the kitchen—the laughter, the teasing, the warmth—she felt a small comfort settle in her chest, even if her heart was still heavy. For now, at least, it felt like a rare piece of peace amidst the chaos.