What are we going to do, Indigo?!" shouted Jolie, terrified, as she watched another person executed by Ortega at the volcanic fortress.
"I... I don't know, Jolie. This is a nightmare," I said, stunned and shaken.
"I can't believe we went through so much—fighting Walker, defeating that old witch Murillo—just to come back and watch that monster Ortega take innocent lives!"
"Indigo, calm down," said Jolie gently, placing her hands on my shoulders. "Don't lose hope now.
We might not have made it in time to save everyone, but we can't give up.
We need to figure out how to stop Ortega before more people die."
She looked me in the eyes, trying to bring me back to reason. That's when an idea sparked in my mind.
"You're right. I think I've got a plan," I said. "You help the surviving prisoners escape while I go in and stop Ortega before it's too late."
"You haven't lost your fire, huh?" Jolie replied with a worried smile. "But it's dangerous facing him without me."
"I know, but if I can beat Ortega... it'll prove I've grown since the fight with Trumpete," I said, remembering that intense battle.
"Then do it right, Indigo," Jolie whispered with a soft but concerned smile.
After wiping off some of the blood from our wounds, Jolie tried stitching up the tear in my mask. Then, we entered the volcanic fortress on my antigravity bike.
As soon as we crossed the gate, we had to dodge a trap of volcanic ash arrows—clearly Ortega had given up on using soldiers, knowing they'd eventually fall like in the temple.
Before I headed in to face Ortega, Jolie and I said our goodbyes.
"Okay... time to face him," I said, stepping off the bike. "You go find the prisoners and get them out with whatever chi strength you have left."
"I'll do it. But make sure to send that old man packing—for me. Muac," Jolie replied, giving me a soft kiss on the cheek and grabbing my elbow.
Something about that moment made me feel... hollow.
"I promise, Jolie. I'll finish this—for you," I said, bowing my head.
We looked at each other with a kind of sadness that felt like we were leaving part of ourselves behind.
Then I saw him.
Daniel Ortega, holding a bald prisoner by the neck.
"You'll die quickly and painfully for defying my rule," he sneered.
Even in his final moments, the prisoner fought back with words:
"You'll fall, Ortega! I'll never accept your tyranny. You violate human rights—and you nearly killed the Mexican girl fighting alongside the Technopath!"
Hearing my name... hearing Jolie's... lit a fire in me.
"You dare threaten me even now? You'll be the first of many!" Ortega growled, squeezing tighter.
"Let him go, Ortega!" I shouted, firing my cyber-drill to knock his hand away from the prisoner's throat.
He turned to me, shocked.
"So you survived the era my nosy wife sent you to... Indigo.
What happened to your dear Jolie?" he asked, smugly crossing his arms.
"She's helping the others escape while I put an end to your dictatorship," I said, stepping forward and clenching my fists.
"She's using what little strength she has left to get the prisoners out before you kill anyone else."
"Hmph. Looks like the 'grandma-hair diva' was part of this after all," he scoffed.
"If you want to stop me and save these useless dissidents, fine. But know this—my ego and my age are my greatest flaws.
Still, I will fight you right here... in my volcano fortress!"
He took a stance, and the ground shook. Three volcanoes surrounding the fortress began to rumble.
"He's awakening the magma," muttered the bald prisoner, stepping back. "You sure you can stop him, Technopath? Ortega's almost 80, but he's a force of nature."
"I've faced worse," I said calmly. "I've made mistakes, but this fight is worth it. Go. Find Jolie—she'll get you out of here."
The prisoner nodded. "End this madness. Bring democracy back to Nicaragua."
As he ran, I turned back toward Ortega, who was gathering molten rock around his body.
"Alright, Ortega... let's begin. This move—I learned it from a samurai show where people always mistake his outfit for a dress."
"Take this!" I shouted, turning my hand into a cyber-sword and slashing through part of his containment armor.
"Impressive start, young Autist... but you're not ready for all of my power," Ortega replied, preparing to unleash a barrage of volcanic diamonds.
After yelling that line, Ortega launched a barrage of rock shards shaped like diamonds straight at me. I barely managed to dodge them, drawing on the acrobatic moves Jolie had used back when we fought Trump on the border between the States and Mexico.
I retaliated by hurling electric discs like spinning blades, slicing through some of the spikes on his containment suit. Furious at the damage, Ortega triggered an eruption, unleashing a river of lava from one of the nearby volcanoes.
Seeing the incoming danger, I grabbed a piece of volcanic stone and fused it with some scrap metal I had, using my technopathy to create an improvised surfboard. I rode the lava wave, even though my feet were getting scorched. The guy started throwing more rocks at me—I couldn't dodge them all, and several struck my arms hard, breaking parts of my mask and tearing through my suit.
Once I made it out of the lava, I launched a counterattack. Using some of the material I had left, I forged a cannonball and shot it straight at him, busting up more of his armor. But Ortega came back swinging. He smashed a spiked mace into my stomach, slamming me against a massive volcanic boulder.
I tried to get up, but I could barely move. My body was done. I was ready to collapse.
Then I remembered my promise to Jolie—and how much she meant to me. That thought gave me the strength to rise again.
With sheer willpower, I landed eight consecutive hits on Ortega using the Mantis Kung Fu technique, leaving him reeling on the ground.
Staring at him, I said:
"You're already toast, Ortega. There's no way you've got another trick left."
Holding my injured arm, I watched as he smirked and replied:
"Foolish brat... You think I'll give up that easily?
Get ready for my next form!"
Suddenly, he transformed into a towering lava monster, about 4.8 meters tall, absorbing magma and stone from the fortress around him.
Shocked, I muttered, "What the hell is that thing...? No choice, I have to beat him—even if I'm barely standing."
He charged at me, crushing my last cyber-barrier with a rock punch that made me bleed heavily. Then came a rapid barrage of strikes. I could barely keep up. Using the last of my materials, I summoned one final cyber sword, and we clashed blade-to-blade.
Our duel was brutal. My shirt was torn apart, my mask shattered down to its final visor. But somehow, I pulled through—landing eighteen precise slashes in a row, finally destroying his transformation without letting anger take over like I had with Trump.
I stood over him, breathing hard.
"I'm not gonna get reckless this time. But tell me—what were you planning besides just being a dirty, power-hungry tyrant?
Trump told me you were involved with the Threads of Love and Destiny, right?"
Lying beaten, Ortega scoffed.
"Yeah, I was involved... But I didn't want those threads for power, not like Putin did.
At first, I tried to stop them, but I failed. And now... now they've passed the mission to you and your grandmother-haired diva friend.
You'll be facing someone even dumber than me—but far more dangerous."
I stared at him, the pieces starting to fit.
"So that's why your annoying wife never mentioned the threads.
You're talking about Maduro, aren't you?"
He growled in frustration.
"Don't you dare say his name! That guy drives me insane!
But yes, it's him. He may be a fool, but he's a cunning strategist and a master manipulator. He's after the Fourth Thread of the Aztec Destiny.
Don't underestimate him."
Ortega glared at me one last time, his pride barely intact.
"Noted. I'll keep it in mind if we ever cross paths."
Just then, Jolie appeared behind me, surprising me with her sudden arrival.
"Indigo, you really did it. You beat Ortega.
And I got all the prisoners out safely. What did I miss?" she asked.
"Yeah, I beat him. I'm totally wrecked and bleeding all over, but at least I didn't go overboard like I did with Trump.
I was just talking to him... trying not to be reckless for once." I replied, glancing back at Ortega.
"He definitely looks wrecked," Jolie said, checking him out. "But don't worry, I won't scare you again like I did before you left to train with Mailen.
Anyway... what should we do with him?"
Ortega, now in full defeat-mode, groaned.
"Just take me to jail already. Indigo's proven himself to be a worthy opponent, even if he still needs to grow.
And honestly... I'm tired of dealing with Rosario every single day."
He sounded like a worn-out grandpa.
Before turning him in to the Nicaraguan soldiers, Jolie and I had one last moment.
"Man, I didn't think fighting a dictator would be this exhausting. Muac," I said, but as I was speaking, Jolie gave me another kiss on the cheek.
Blushing, I asked, "H-Hey, what was that for?"
She grinned.
"For standing up for me back in the past with Juan Mora Porras... and for looking hot while fighting—even if I didn't see most of it."
Then she gave me a playful punch in the shoulder.
"But what's that weird thread in your pocket?" she asked, pointing at my pants.
I smiled, a little flustered.
"Oh, that? Juan Mora Porras gave it to me before we came back through the time portal.
Apparently, it's a fragment of one of the Threads of Love and Destiny—one that was mysteriously destroyed at the Alley of the Kiss.
Maduro's looking for it too... that's what Ortega just told me."
Jolie took a closer look.
"Hmm... it has an ancient texture. Might've been crafted by the Aztec gods before the colonial era.
Also, I overheard part of your convo—so, 'Maburro' is a manipulative strategist and a swindler, huh?"
She grabbed my shoulder gently.
"But hey, you already beat this guy—so the other dictators won't stand a chance.
Let's find the rest of those threads and solve the mystery behind the lost one."
"Yeah, but first let's focus on college and your job.
Did you already apply to a university here?" I asked.
"Yep, I got into the University of Costa Rica.
Didn't have much trouble with the entrance exam—I found practice tests online. I start in the second week of May.
But anyway, enough chit-chat—let's turn in this mustached weirdo." Jolie said, already imagining herself acing the test.
"Alright, let's do it." I said, steadying myself to move Ortega.
A nearby helicopter had recorded my entire battle against Ortega. People across Latin America saw the footage:
My mom, my grandpa, my brother, Jolie's mom and dad, her grandpa, Génesis, Trump, and even... a mysterious person in Peru.
Soon after, we left Nicaragua and returned to Costa Rica—beaten, scarred, and burdened with the lives we couldn't save.
The next day, after Ortega and Rosario were officially arrested, the bald man I rescued was appointed as the leading candidate for Nicaragua's new presidency.
Meanwhile, in a secret base somewhere in Russia...
"Ortega let his ego get the best of him, losing to Indigo Vicente Pereira Adame—aka The Technopath.
If the bots I sent six months ago had killed him and Jolie María Ávila Rodríguez, I wouldn't be in this mess."
Putin put his hand on his forehead, frustrated.
He then turned to Nicolás Maduro.
"You, with your overinflated ego—worse than your country's currency—
Can you do what Ortega couldn't and find the missing Thread?"
Maduro nodded confidently.
"Yes, comrade Putin. Indigo and Jolie, when we meet again in the Poliedro del Beso, you'll feel the full force of my iron grip—
and the will of my commander Chávez!
You will not free my people from hunger... or my twisted rule."
His fists clenched.
In his eyes—our silhouettes reflected, burned into his next mission.