Continuation – June 17, 2055
The day the war began…
The skies over Ticonic burned red with fire and smoke, casting long shadows over the battlefield. Under Parker's command, the united forces of Ticonic and Earth's rebels clashed fiercely against waves of combat drones and enemy soldiers standing atop the towering border wall.
High above, on top of the wall, Kael and Matthew, disguised as enemy soldiers, were already in position. From their vantage point, they could see the chaos below—Parker's troops struggling under heavy fire, allies falling one by one. Even King Elmir had sustained a light wound from a nearby explosion.
Kael and Matthew exchanged silent signals. In smooth, practiced motion, they began eliminating the soldiers around them with precision—silent kills, clean shots, swift takedowns. The guards never had a chance.
Meanwhile, on the eastern front, a rebel unit led by Terren and Darren had already infiltrated and bombed one of the main enemy bases. A series of explosions shook the hills, signaling the destruction of a major command center.
As Kael and Matthew continued moving through the enemy stronghold, a tall man in a white military coat suddenly blocked their path. Mistaking Matthew for Kael, the man prepared to strike. But before he could move, a bullet pierced his skull—fired from behind by Kael himself.
"He's not me," Kael said coldly, lowering his weapon.
Matthew nodded. "Time to open the main gates and end this."
Kael's gaze drifted toward the battlefield—toward the place where the future of two worlds would be decided.
Now, Teresa's family was safe. They had been rescued in an earlier mission and were currently protected by Matthew's seafaring rebel group. That weight on Teresa's heart was gone. All that remained now… was to finish this war once and for all.
Skies of Ticonic – June 17, 2055 | The Battle Begins
The roar of drones thundered through the sky. Parker, Terren, Darren, Arek, Teresa, Tama, Mira, and Princess Liana stood ready below, bracing for the air assault.
But something strange happened. They looked up toward the high border wall—enemy soldiers were falling one by one, taken down by their own ranks.
"Are you seeing this?" Mira whispered, eyes wide.
"The soldiers… they're killing each other?" Arek narrowed his eyes.
"No…" Parker muttered with a faint smirk, "That has to be... Kael."
At the top of the wall, Kael and Matthew exchanged a quick glance. Without a word, they leapt onto a combat drone, hijacking it in a blink, and landed smoothly in front of the allied forces.
The Ticonic troops raised their weapons in alarm, but Matthew raised his hands calmly.
"Hold your fire!" he shouted. "We're on your side!"
He removed his military mask and helmet, revealing his face in peace.
Silence swept through the ranks… until the heavy steps of a beast echoed from the ruins.
Dominus, the white prehistoric wolf, strode forth with fierce elegance. Behind him walked a figure clad in the enemy's uniform and a gleaming mask.
As the man stepped into view, he slowly removed his mask, revealing a sharp, youthful face, now with neatly trimmed hair. A faint scar still marked his left temple, but what stood out most was the natural tattoo on the side of his neck, just below the ear—letters seared into his skin like a sacred mark:
T
E
R
R
A
Parker froze. Mira covered her mouth in disbelief. Liana stepped forward, eyes glassy.
"Kael…?" Teresa breathed, barely audible.
Kael looked at them all, his expression calm, and offered a faint smile.
"One body, one blood... I'm back."
The "TERRA" mark glowed faintly, a sign that the ancient Tecno had fully bonded with his blood—transforming him into something far greater than just human.
Amidst the battlefield that was finally calming down, Kael stood tall.
No words were needed—Parker was the first to run forward and pull him into a tight hug.
Kael's arms trembled as he embraced his friend back.
Terren, Darren, Arek, and Tama followed one by one, surrounding him.
It didn't matter that they were covered in dirt, blood, and smoke—they embraced Kael as if the world had reset and everything was whole again.
"I thought you were…" Darren whispered.
Kael gave a soft nod. "I know."
Matthew stepped forward, glancing at everyone.
Then he asked, "Among you… which one of you is Teresa?"
From behind the group, Teresa slowly stepped out, cautious. "That's me."
Matthew gave a short respectful nod. "I have news for you."
Everyone turned to look. Teresa held her breath.
Matthew met her eyes and said clearly, "Your family… they're safe."
Teresa's eyes widened. "What…?"
"We managed to extract them from the detention center in Texas. They're now under full protection at our hidden rebel base. They're alive and well," Matthew confirmed.
Teresa covered her mouth as tears welled up and streamed down her face.
Kael gently stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You're not alone anymore."
She looked at him. For the first time since all the chaos began, Kael's face looked peaceful—calm. As if the weight of his forgotten past had finally lifted.
Mira leaned toward Liana and whispered, "We've won… but this is just the beginning."
King Elmir stepped forward, raising his golden staff high.
His voice echoed across the battlefield:
"Today… we have won! Planet Ticonic prevails! Long live the people of Terra!"
A roar of celebration erupted instantly. Soldiers, citizens, and leaders alike raised their fists to the sky, shouting in unison:
"Long live the people of Terra!"
"Long live Ticonic!"
The Terra flag flew proudly over the ruins of the enemy stronghold. The setting sun bathed the battlefield in warm light—once a place of chaos, now a field of hope.
Amidst the crowd, Princess Liana quietly gazed at Kael from the side.
Her eyes scanned him—Kael stood tall, a slight smile on his face as he looked at Dominus and the others.
The wind gently blew through his neatly cut hair, and his eyes held a calm, sharp gleam.
His smile… it was undeniably charming.
Liana turned her face away briefly and whispered under her breath,
"Ugh… why does his smile have to be that sweet…"
Mira, overhearing from behind, chuckled softly.
"If you like him, just say so, Princess…"
Liana pouted. "Sshhh!"