Luxe rushed toward the red-blue glow still blazing in the night sky. His body shot forward with Shadow Blink.
He halted atop an old building not far from the chaos, crouching low as he observed from a distance.
What lay before his eyes was devastation—
the wheat factory lay in ruins. Walls collapsed, the roof half-caved in, smoke and dust choked the air. The entire area had become a battlefield.
Beast Slayers clashed fiercely against Rogue Slayers, yet the battle was clearly one-sided—the Beast Slayers held the advantage.
At the rear stood Ivy. Cold, graceful, deadly. Her gaze burned with unwavering focus.
Luxe narrowed his eyes, murmuring under his breath,
"Is this… the ambush Steve mentioned?"
As if to answer him, Ivy raised her hand. From the ground, a towering Frost Wall surged upward, encircling the wheat factory in a ring of ice. It sealed the battlefield, containing the shockwaves and destruction from spilling further into the city.
Above, Ivy's Blood Wyvern roared. A crimson beam split the night, blazing like liquid fire. Every beat of its massive wings unleashed shockwaves that hurled Rogue Slayers and rampaging Beasts into the air like ragdolls.
On the ground, Verdanthorn, Ivy's towering Lord-class Beast, lashed out. Its monstrous roots whipped outward, binding both enemy Beasts and terrified strays attempting to flee the carnage.
Luxe's eyes sharpened.
"So Ivy's role here… is defense and control. She's not taking the offense?"
DUUUM—!
The ground quaked violently, tremors reaching even the rooftop where Luxe perched.
From the smoke and broken light of the battlefield, a massive figure strode forward. Concrete cracked beneath its every step.
The silhouette resolved.
Moore.
His frame was sheathed in dark armor faintly aglow with pulsing veins of energy—something more alive than forged metal. Luxe stiffened, eyes widening.
"Is that… Living Equipment? Or Core-Linked Gear?"
Moore didn't need words. His aura alone pressed down like a storm.
Beside him, a Gold Rhino thundered forward, its gilded plates gleaming, its horn sparking with lightning-like brilliance. Each step rattled the earth.
"GRRROOAGHH!"
The Rhino charged. Asphalt split apart; Rogue Slayers were hurled aside, their formation shattered.
Moore followed, a single sweep of his armored arm collapsing part of the crumbling factory wall—and three Rogue Slayers with it.
The tide of battle broke. The remaining Rogues were overwhelmed, captured alive for interrogation. Victory was within sight.
Luxe clenched his fists, shock tightening his chest.
"Moore… he's strong! But between him and Ivy… who's stronger?"
Suddenly—
BRUUUMMM!
A savage roar split the night. From the far side of the factory, smoke erupted, followed by a stampede of wild Beasts.
A Beast Wave.
"What—?! How did they drive Beasts this way?!" a Beast Slayer shouted.
Hidden Rogues had triggered the wave, using it as cover for escape. A torrent of Beasts surged toward Ivy's rear line—where wounded Slayers struggled to hold themselves upright.
The Frost Wall shuddered under the strain. Ivy's Verdanthorn and Blood Wyvern were still locked with enemies. She couldn't cover it all.
On the rooftop, Luxe's jaw tightened.
"If that breaks… Everyond behind it is finished."
"Prism Ward. Miravore."
Shadows flared, and his Beasts emerged. Prism Ward raised its twin prism blades, while Miravore's body swelled, morphing into the false Tigrix Rex, its aurora-dark aura rippling.
"This smoke… it's our chance." Luxe's eyes hardened.
"Go. Make sure no one sees you."
They vanished into the swirling haze.
BOOM—KRAANG!
The clash erupted inside the smoke. From the outside, only two glimmers pierced the darkness: Prism Ward's dual-colored eyes, black and white, and Miravore's swirling aurora-dark glow.
"What is that?!" a Beast Slayer gasped.
"Something's fighting inside the smoke!"
Weapons clattered to the ground as Beasts fell. Corpses scattered across the street.
Ivy's gaze cut into the haze. For an instant, she caught sight of Prism Ward's glinting helm—then it was gone, swallowed back into shadow.
Moments later, the roars diminished. The Beast Wave had been crushed.
From the smoke, Prism Ward and Miravore slipped back into Luxe's shadow, unseen by any.
High above, Luxe exhaled heavily.
"Thank god… it's over."
Ivy still stared, frowning faintly.
"That… was that a Beast? If it helped us, does that mean it was a Pet Beast?"
Her eyes flicked toward the distant rooftop—only to find a fading shadow.
"…?"
Moore approached, dragging captured Rogues with the assault team.
"You alright? Good. The ambush is a success."
He turned to Ivy.
"What was that earlier?"
"I don't know," Ivy answered, her voice firm but uncertain.
Moore clapped his hands once, loud and commanding.
"Dawn's coming. We head back to the Association—file the report and handle the press."
Far away, Luxe's eyes narrowed. He whispered as he vanished with Shadow Blink:
"Damn… that woman's instincts are too sharp. I was this close to being found out."
By the time he slipped into his apartment, the first light of dawn pierced the curtains.
"Morning already… I'd better clean up and prepare breakfast."
He tidied the place and cooked, an hour slipping by before a simple meal was ready.
Grandma Lam emerged, stretching.
"Luxe, you're up early. Do you have to leave for work sooner today?"
Luxe smiled faintly and shook his head. "No, Grandma. Not today. Let's eat together—I already had a bite earlier."
"Then turn on the TV for me, will you?"
He nodded, switching it on. The screen showed Moore standing proudly before cameras, addressing the nation.
"The raid on a Rogue Slayer branch was a success. This is the beginning of their downfall. We're grateful there were no civilian casualties, though we apologize for the wild Beasts that escaped. Compensation will be given to all affected citizens."
Grandma Lam's face paled.
"The wheat factory… wasn't that close to here, Luxe?"
But Luxe didn't respond. She turned—and saw him fast asleep on the chair, the television's glow washing over his calm face.
Smiling softly, she draped a blanket over his shoulders and walked away.
Onscreen, the news shifted. A dust-streaked Beast Slayer spoke to reporters:
Reporter:
"Some witnesses claim a strange presence appeared during the Beast Wave…"
Witness:
"That's right! From within the thick smoke, I saw two pairs of eyes—one black-and-white, the other gleaming like a dark rainbow. They weren't attacking us. They were helping hold back the Beast Wave!"
Reporter:
"But so far, the Association has not confirmed the identity of these mysterious Beasts."