The battlefield was silent.
Not because the war had ended.
But because something worse had just begun.
Zar'Vok stood still at the edge of the fog, his dark armor reflecting the blood-red glow of dusk. Around him, thousands of Bists waited—restless, snarling, but holding back. This was no attack. This was a declaration.
Kaizen faced him, heart pounding like war drums in his chest.
Zar'Vok spoke, his voice ancient and cold.
"Veinborn. You carry the curse of flame. Yet you burn only for them?"
He extended his blackened hand.
"Come with me. And I'll show you the truth of what you are."
Kaizen gritted his teeth. "I'll die before I stand beside a monster like you."
Zar'Vok's helm tilted slightly, as if amused.
"Then burn with them."
With that, the fog swallowed him, and the army vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
But the damage was done. Fear had been planted deeper than any blade.
---
Two Hours Later – Inside the Fortified Medical Shelter
The survivors were patching their wounds, both physical and emotional. Ayaka sat near Kaizen, applying fresh bandages to his arm. Neither of them spoke at first.
Ayaka finally whispered, "What did he mean by truth?"
Kaizen didn't meet her eyes. "I don't know. But it's not the first time I've felt… connected to them. Like something in me responds to their presence."
Ayaka grabbed his hand. "No matter what you are, I believe in you. You're still Kaizen. You saved us. Again."
He looked up at her. And for a moment, his rage broke—revealing fear, confusion, loneliness.
---
Elsewhere – Briefing Room
Commander Vale and the rest of Squad Umbra gathered. Nael slammed a report onto the table.
"They're regrouping. Zar'Vok didn't attack because he was testing us. Watching Kaizen."
Vale nodded grimly. "He's not just leading the Bists—he's orchestrating something larger. We need to get civilians out before the next assault."
"But who's going to buy us time?" someone asked.
Silence. Then Nael stood.
"I will."
---
Evacuation Mission – Southside Tunnels
Kaizen, Ayaka, Nael, Kita, and three others led a group of 60 civilians through underground tunnels. Tension crackled in the air.
Suddenly—a shriek.
The ceiling burst open. From the shadows dropped a massive four-armed Bist—its body armored, face skull-like. One of Zar'Vok's lieutenants.
Chaos.
Screams echoed as debris fell. Kaizen yelled, "Protect the civilians! Form a triangle!"
Nael rushed in first, slashing with dual blades. "Go! Don't look back!"
The Bist grabbed him mid-air, slamming him into the ground with a thunderous crash.
Blood splattered the walls.
Kita cried out, "NAEL!"
Kaizen charged, fury blazing in his eyes—but Nael lifted a hand, blood pouring from his mouth.
"Don't waste time… take them and RUN!"
Then—with one last roar, Nael pulled a grenade from his belt and shoved it into the Bist's throat.
BOOM.
A blinding explosion rocked the tunnel.
Silence followed.
Kaizen stood frozen, hands shaking. The civilians had made it through. But Nael was gone.
---
Later – On the Surface
Kita broke down in tears. Ayaka held her. Kaizen walked away, standing alone beneath the smoky sky.
He stared at the horizon—where Zar'Vok had disappeared.
"You took my family. My friends. And now Nael."
He clenched his fists. A gust of ash blew past.
"You want me to burn? Then I'll burn the heavens with you."
---
Final Scene
As night fell, Kaizen sat near a fire. A vision flickered—like a dream or a memory.
He saw a world of ash. Ayaka lying still. Umbra squad—gone. And Zar'Vok standing atop a mountain of bones, his hand stretched once again.
Kaizen woke up, gasping.
Ayaka stirred beside him. "Another vision?"
Kaizen nodded. "I won't let it come true."