Nearly everyone was gone, the creature hadn't lost its strength since the moment it started attacking.
Most of the Peacemakers were screaming and shouting for their lives, but there was nothing they could do, they were going to die anyway. Their cries and screams filled the place.
No sound could escape where they were. Blood splashed all around. Some moved back and forth like another door would suddenly appear.
Derek sat on the ground, frozen in terror. He hadn't moved an inch. His eyes were wide open, watching as the creature tore everyone to pieces.
He knew he would be next, or maybe Dave, who still lay on the stool. He waited for his turn patiently, powerless to do anything else.
The creature had wiped out nearly everyone and was still feasting on their remains.
Its gaze fell on Dave, lying helpless on the stool, and it moved towards him. It opened its mouth, a long tongue sliding out, caressing his face.
Just as it was about to devour him, its eyes shifted and met Derek, who sat on the floor.
Derek was trembling, his mind shattered by fear. He mumbled to himself, lost in madness, while the creature slowly advanced.
His eyes were dull, saliva dripping from the corner of his mouth. He could feel the warm air rushing from the creature's nostrils as it leaned close, sniffing its prey before the kill.
The beast opened its mouth wide, ready to bite off his head, but suddenly it drew back, snapping its teeth together with a sharp crack.
It looked back to see what had gripped its tail, but whatever it was gave no time to react. The creature was hurled with immense force across the room, crashing into the wall with a deafening impact.
Dave's Izigan tattoo burned with a bright blue glow, his eyes shining the same. Blue cosmic energy radiated from his body, his fist clenched tight with power.
Derek slowly raised his head, staring at him. Even through the haze of madness, he felt a flicker of hope. Dave was different, standing tall, confidence and power beaming from his very presence.
The creature moved with tremendous speed, crawling along the wall as it rushed towards him.
But Dave's body glitched, still unmoving, and in the next instant he appeared above it, faster than light.
Energy blazed in his hand as he struck down with an explosive punch, driving the beast into the metallic wall. Holding it by the neck, he slammed it hard into the ground
Dave pushed off the wall, using it like a springboard leaving trails of cracks on it, and dashed towards the creature with blinding speed giving it a forceful kick.
The impact tore through its body, nearly splitting it up to the stomach. He landed and walked away, believing he had finished the job, until he saw its broken parts slowly pulling back together, knitting into place.
His eyes widened. Without hesitation, Dave sprinted towards Derek and crouched in front of him, hands pulled behind his back in clear signal. "Climb on."
Derek didn't think twice. He scrambled onto Dave's back, clinging tight as Dave leapt towards the entrance.
Behind them, the creature's regeneration neared completion. Its limbs twitched, and it began to move again.
Dave blasted the door with his light powers, the metal melting apart as he burst through. He sprinted into a dark tunnel, the rigid stairs bent slightly upwards. Ahead, the exit shone faintly, still far away.
The creature was already tailing them.
Dave pushed himself harder, blue light energy trailing behind him like a glowing path, beautiful, but also a beacon for the monster. The exit grew closer, the light spilling in brighter and brighter, until finally they shot through, breaking into the open air.
They landed hard on the green grass outside. But it wasn't over.
The creature's cry echoed from the tunnel as it came closer. They were in a buried alien ship, with only part of it sticking out of the ground.
Dave's light started to grow stronger. A small ball of light formed in front of him, getting bigger and bigger until it was half his size. He dropped to one knee, sweating, his hands shaking from the strain.
He unleashed it.
A beam of light shot out from the ball, tearing through the ship and melting it with ease. The blast cut across the forest, burning everything in its path, before finally fading.
When it was over, a huge hole was left in the forest where the beam had passed.
Dave's light faded and he collapsed to the ground. Derek blacked out too. Both of them lay unconscious on the grass.
[Galaxia]
Edith walked at a steady, careful pace toward Lady Ava's room. The metallic door ahead was open, and beside the entrance stood a long scanning device. She placed her thumb on it. The machine lit up, reading her print before displaying her name and face:
[EDITH – LADY'S ASSISTANT]
Inside, Lady Ava stood by the massive glass window, looking out at the glowing beauty of Earth below. But her eyes weren't on the planet. She was lost in thought, dark, heavy thoughts.
The news of her twin brother's death still tore at her. Sir David never made mistakes; he was precise, disciplined. What could have gone wrong? The grief pressed on her chest, twisting slowly into anger.
"You said you were going to Nepal, but why? You never explained. Now look… What were you thinking?"
She clenched her fist, trembling, before a calm female voice, the AI, broke her silence.
[EDITH, YOUR ASSISTANT, APPROACHES.]
"What now?" Lady Ava snapped, turning toward the entrance where Edith usually appeared.
A white translucent wall separated her from the doorway. Behind it, her private chamber stretched out: a wide bed draped in crisp white sheets, grey walls with smooth, curved edges that gave the room a futuristic feel.
A shelf built into the wall held flowers, books, and framed pictures.
Edith stepped through carefully, lowering her head in respect when she saw her.
"My lady, Lord Tim has arrived. He will be at your chambers shortly. He wishes to know if he is welcome."
Lady Ava's eyes narrowed. So he has returned… the Furious Three are complete again. It has been some time since I last spoke with him.
"Let him come,"
Edith left after hearing this. Minutes later, the AI spoke again, this time it was Lord Tim at the entrance.
Lord Tim was a man in his late forties, tall, with a beard along his chin and long hair that reached his neck.
His skin was bright, and he wore a black and white leather tech suit. A crest on his left chest showed he was from the Umbra clan.
"My lady, may I?"
"Please, step in," she said.
Lord Tim entered the room, his hands crossed firmly behind his back as he stood tall.
"You don't have to do all that," Lady Ava told him. "You're not here to give a report. Be at ease, talk freely. You don't always have to follow the rules."
Lord Tim felt a bit embarrassed by her words. Not every council member was this calm and understanding.
He lowered his hands and walked toward the window where she stood.
"I came as soon as I heard," he said quietly. "I'm sorry for your loss." Lord Tim said calmly.
"And I'm sorry we had to call you back from your mission. I know how close you were to discovering a new planet."
"Nonsense, this is more important. The Void… we all underestimated it. Even now its motives are still unclear, but we can't allow it to go any further. But I do have a question."
"What is it?"
"Sir David. He's a glass and mirror dimension hauler like you. He should have sensed the Void was around. He could have avoided the attack."
Lady Ava drew in a long breath and let it out slowly. It was a question she had asked herself many times. Sir David would never risk his family fighting an unknown entity, yet the pieces weren't adding up.
"I don't know the answer. If I had to guess, the Void either appeared in a way we couldn't detect… or it has some hidden ability we haven't seen before. The fact it defeated him so easily means its power is growing. Lord Tim, if you had to face it, how would you fight it?"
"The Furious Three has every element needed to tame it. My powers draw from negative energy and the abyssal dimension. Stella is gifted in sealing arts, and Kenneth can launch a strong assault. But if the Void was strong enough to take down Sir David, even I can't face it alone."
"Very well said."
"And the kids? Any news from them?"
"Deborah is on it. She'll get something soon, she never fails."