At that moment, Kai stood in a wide plaza where rows of spacecraft were lined up neatly. A black-haired girl was waiting there with a massive bag slung over her shoulder.
Rese, struggling under the weight of the oversized bag, spoke with trembling arms and legs as if the luggage was far too heavy.
"I've been waiting for you, Kai. What took you so long?"
Kai replied, "I went to say goodbye to my friends. That bag looks heavy—let me carry it for you."
Rese's cheeks flushed red as she gave him a small smile.
"Thank you… really."
Kai turned confidently toward the spacecraft.
"All right, Rese. Which one should we take? I'll let you choose."
Rese met his eyes, her gaze sparkling as she answered with a gentle smile.
"Every ship handles differently… I think you should decide, Kai."
"Then I'll choose that one. It reminds me of Mas and Ruby."
He pointed at a white, van-shaped spacecraft that looked brand new and spotless.
Together, Kai and Rese boarded. Kai took the pilot's seat and said firmly:
"Our adventure begins now."
The ship lifted into the sky.
The navigation system initiated a countdown—
"Three… two… one…"
With a deafening roar, the ship warped into space.
Whoooom! Fwoooosh! Vrrrrm!
A notification chimed: the warp sequence was complete. Their vessel had left Forlis's orbit behind.
Meanwhile, on the planet Terra, Eugene was searching for a spacecraft—his goal to leave the planet and continue a secret pursuit he had guarded for years.
There appeared a tall man, hair cropped short at the sides until the scalp was visible, while the longer strands on top fell forward over his forehead. He wore a jet-black T-shirt and brown cargo pants, towering at 190 centimeters. This was Kazat of Greed. His deep, thunderous voice rang out:
"Eugene… I know what's on your mind."
Eugene's reply came calm and defiant, untouched by fear.
"So what? Do you plan to stop me? My mission with Septa is over. I finished what the organization ordered me to do. But you refused to give me the information I need. So why are you here? Did the boss send you to eliminate me? …You think you can?"
Kazat locked eyes with him, his tone grim.
"Ah… yes. The boss ordered me to finish you."
The words had barely left his mouth when Kazat lunged with lightning speed, slamming a brutal punch toward Eugene's face. Eugene raised his guard, but Kazat's strike tore through his defense, smashing into his face with a CRACK.
Eugene staggered back, skidding across the ground until he dug his heels in to stop. Blood streamed from his nose.
Kazat charged again, swinging his right fist. Eugene blocked, but Kazat's left hand seized his throat and hurled him into a wall. The impact shattered it with a thunderous CRASH!
Eugene fell, then rose again. His eyes glowed a searing crimson as flames erupted across his body. With a burst of speed, he hurled himself at Kazat. The two exchanged furious, rapid strikes—blow for blow, fist for fist.
Kazat found an opening, driving a vicious kick into Eugene's jaw, launching him skyward. Leaping after him, Kazat struck again, smashing Eugene down into the ground. The earth split apart under the impact—BOOOOM!—leaving the terrain in ruins.
He descended like a meteor, stomping down to crush him. The ground disintegrated beneath the force.
Eugene rolled away, countering with a fiery tackle that caught Kazat by the throat. With a roar, Eugene slammed him into the ground and dragged him across the battlefield, carving deep scars into the earth.
Kazat, gritting his teeth, clamped his arm around Eugene's neck, shoved against the ground with his free hand, and kicked him squarely in the torso, breaking free.
Eugene skidded back, steadied his footing, and exhaled a torrent of flame. The blast engulfed Kazat in a fiery explosion—KABOOOM!
His charred skin blackened… but then, slowly, his body regenerated, restoring itself to its former state.
Kazat scanned the battlefield, eyes narrowing. Eugene was nowhere to be seen. He had vanished into the blazing inferno.
Kazat roared, fury twisting his voice:
"Where did you run off to, you coward? Come out! You can't escape us forever!"
But Eugene had already disappeared into the shadows of the ruins, slipping away to hide among the shattered buildings.