The weekend meant one thing—training.
April didn't waste time. The moment Saturday morning came, she was already in the underground training facility beneath the Hollow.
The others had their own routines. Jax was off running combat drills. Saya was meditating, fine-tuning her Gear's abilities. Kai and Dante were sparring.
April?
She was pushing herself past her limits.
She stood in the center of the training hall, her breathing steady. The walls around her were lined with reinforced steel, made to withstand extreme force. Perfect for what she was about to do.
She exhaled slowly, reaching up to touch the back of her head.
Her sigil—the two angelic-wings—felt warm under her fingertips. A reminder of how much stronger she had become. But not enough. Not close.
Jax's words echoed in her mind.
"For you to pass the next barrier, your Gear has to tell you its official name. The name that defines it. Only then will you reach the next stage."
April clenched her fists. She wasn't there yet. But she would be.
She activated her Gear.
A pulse of energy rippled through her body, a familiar yet untamed force. She needed to refine it. Control it.
Push it further.
She shifted into a stance. Training dummies—reinforced with combat AI—activated around her, their red eyes glowing.
April smirked.
"Come on, then."
The first dummy lunged. April sidestepped effortlessly to right, her movements fluid. She then twisted, bringing her elbow down onto its back. The metal groaned under the impact as the dummy hit the ground.
The second came from behind. April reacted instantly—ducking low, spinned, then she striked. A precise kick to it's chest sent it crashing into the wall.
She didn't stop.
More dummies activated, increasing their speed.
April's expression sharpened as more dummies activated, this time in unpredictable formations. Their red eyes flared, each moving with a fluidity that mimicked real opponents. She adjusted her stance, feeling the pulse of her Gear harmonize with her body.
The first dummy lunged diagonally, spinning mid-air like a martial artist from an action movie.
April ducked low, letting it sail over her, then rolled forward and sprang to her feet with a whip-like kick that sent two others colliding.
She didn't pause—her body moved in a seamless rhythm of flips, spins, and precise strikes.
She vaulted off a dummy's chest, twisting in mid-air to land a spinning back elbow on another. Sparks flew as metal met reinforced metal.
Every motion was calculated, yet impossibly fluid, as if her body had learned to anticipate the chaos around her.
A dummy tried to strike from behind. April bent backward in an extreme arch, barely clearing its blow, then propelled herself upward in a smooth arc, her legs snapping out in a double kick that felled two more.
She used her momentum to flip over a third, landing on one hand with her legs extended like a human spring, spinning to strike another dummy in the face.
The air around her seemed to bend with her speed. One after another, the dummies came—some with sweeping low strikes, others lunging high or spinning mid-strike—but she met each one with a mix of agility and brute precision.
She grabbed a dummy's arm, pivoted, and hurled it into another with perfect timing, creating a chain reaction that scattered the rest across the hall.
April's Gear flared, amplifying her senses further.
She anticipated attacks almost before they were launched. A flurry of punches, a cascade of spinning kicks, an acrobatic somersault into a wall-mounted springboard—she used everything in the environment, blending martial arts, parkour, and sheer instinct.
Her movements were almost artistic, a deadly dance that left the dummies broken in seconds.
A particularly aggressive dummy lunged with a diagonal strike. April bent into a near-impossible backbend, letting it pass, then spun mid-air to deliver a crushing elbow strike to its core.
The dummy collapsed, sparks scattering across the reinforced floor.
Finally, she landed softly, sweat dripping from her brow. The last dummy toppled with a satisfying clang, the hall falling silent except for the hum of her Gear.
April touched the back of her head, her sigil was glowing brightly. Her body tingled with adrenaline. She had pushed past her previous limits.
But it wasn't enough.
She needed more.
But then—
A voice.
Predatory, calm, yet powerful.
"Young kit. You are ready."
April's eyebrows rose in shock.
Then everything shifted.
April's breath hitched. The voice wasn't external—it resonated inside her, deep within her very core.
She felt a rush of energy, her body tingling with newfound awareness.
"Young kit. You are ready." The words echoed in her mind. But before she could fully grasp them, something else emerged. A presence—not physical, but there.
It was her Gear. Speaking to her.
A single name burned into her thoughts.
"Ultima."
April's mouth hung wide open.
The name.
The name of her Gear. The name that marked it, that defined what it was.
It was more than a name. It was a threshold. A doorway.
But even as she processed this revelation, the voice spoke again.
"You have taken the first step. But to break the next barrier… you must fight. Truly fight, enjoy it, but don't underestimate your opponent's. And when you've completely dominated them... DEVOUR THEM WHOLE!!"
April's jaw tightened. "What do you mean?"
The response was calm. Absolute.
"Only in a battle of life and death will you awaken further. Only when you face true destruction will you break your limits. That is the way of an Ultima."
A cold weight settled in her chest.
She had grown stronger. Faster. More precise.
But it wasn't enough.
Not yet.
She clenched her fists. "A life-or-death battle, huh? Shouldn't underestimate them? And... DEVOUR THEM WHOLE?"
"What does the last part mean though?"
Her mind flashed to Ragnarök. To Vance. To the enemies lurking in the shadows.
She exhaled slowly. "Fine. If that's what it takes… then bring it on."
The glow from her sigil faded, but something within her had changed.
Ultima had spoken.
And now, it was only a matter of time.
—
April gathered the team in the training hall. The room was dimly lit, the air thick with the weight of anticipation.
Jax leaned against the wall, arms crossed. Kai and Dante stood nearby, curiosity clear on their faces. Saya watched quietly, her sharp eyes studying April.
April took a breath. "My Gear spoke to me," she said. "Its name is Ultima."
Silence.
Then, Jax smirked. "Well, damn."
Saya nodded. "A fitting name."
Kai whistled. "So what, do we call you Ultima now?"
April crossed her arms. "Yeah. From now on, that's my name in battle."
Dante grinned. "Has a nice ring to it. Ultima. Sounds dangerous."
April exhaled. This wasn't just a new title. It was a statement. A declaration of power.
Jax pushed off the wall. "Then I guess it's time we do the same."
April raised an eyebrow. "You mean—"
Jax nodded. "Every Gear has a name. You know yours now. It's only fair we tell you ours and where exactly our Sigil are located"
The atmosphere shifted.
Jax stepped forward first. His voice was steady.
"Mine is Mufasa."
April felt the weight behind the name—solid, unshakable, just like him. But once she registered the name April's eyebrows rose in confusion.
"Mufasa?"
Jax grinned wide.
"Isn't that an African type name?"
"Yea. You'll understand why it's named that when you see me in my TakeOver Mode," explained Jax.
"And your Sigil?" she asked.
Jax didn't respond immediately. Instead, his gaze dropped to his waist—specifically, to the black belt fastened there.
April followed his line of sight, her stitched eyelids fixated on his waist. Wait… was that really a belt?
"Is that truly a belt?" she muttered aloud, tilting her head. "Or is my echo-location glitching out?"
Her words were half to herself, but loud enough for everyone in the pack to hear.
"Go ahead and find out," Jax teased, a sly grin tugging at his lips.
He didn't get the chance to say another word. April moved faster than anyone expected—one second she was standing still, the next she was right in front of him, her hand snapping out and gripping the "belt" tightly.
Jax froze. His grin died instantly, his eyes wide in absolute shock. A bead of sweat rolled down his chin.
Everyone else in the room went silent.
Twenty painfully long seconds passed.
Then—
"Y-YOW!!" Jax yelped, his voice breaking as he jumped back nearly three meters, clutching the "belt" and flailing it left and right like a live snake.
"Why the hell would you do that for!?" he shouted, tears streaming down his face in over-the-top agony.
April mentally blinked rapidly, her expression blank, her mouth slightly agape.
"W-what?" was all she managed, utterly bewildered.
"Huh… Jax," Saya muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation.
"Uhmm, can someone ex—" April began, but Saya cut her off, sighing.
"Explain? Let Jax calm down first," she said, her tone dry. "Then he'll tell you himself."
April just nodded slowly, still too stunned to process what had just happened.
April's eyebrows narrowed. "Wait… you mean this whole time, it's not a belt?"
Jax's grin stretched impossibly wide. "Bingo. That's my sigil. My tail. I just… wrapped it around my waist to make it look like a belt. Helps with, you know, public appearances."
April's mouth dropped. "You literally tricked me into thinking it was a belt?"
"Hey," Jax said, leaning back casually, "it's all about perception. Nobody questioned it. Worked like a charm."
April let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "I should have known… only you would turn a tail into fashion."
Jax gave a mock bow. "Thank you, thank you. It's a rare art form."
"But seriously," April said, tilting her head, "so sigils can just… take any shape?"
"Exactly," Jax said, his tone now a little more serious. "Sigils aren't limited. They can manifest as an accessory, a weapon, or even something hidden in plain sight. Anywhere that can help you—and the viewer—understand or anticipate your strength."
He tapped his head thoughtfully. "Some are obvious, some are subtle. Some are right in front of you, some are hidden inside your body. You just need to know where to look… and what it tells you about the person."
April studied him, rubbing her chin. "So the form doesn't matter as much as the insight it carries?"
"Bingo," Jax said, snapping his fingers. "Every sigil has a story. Every placement has a purpose. It's all about understanding, control, and creativity."
April smirked—now seeing it for what it really was. "Well… I guess I've got a lot to figure out."
"Welcome to the fun part," Jax said with a wink, the tail swaying casually behind him like it had a life of its own.
April stepped back, still processing Jax's revelation. The tail—her mind kept calling it a "tail"—swung gently behind him, almost mockingly. She shook her head, trying to focus.
"Alright," she said, turning her attention to the rest of the team. "Your turn. Show me what you've got."
Saya stepped forward, calm and poised as ever. Her gaze was sharp, almost analytical. "My Gear's name is Seraphim," she said quietly, but there was a weight to the words, a precision that demanded attention.
April rose an eyebrow slightly as she studied her friend. "And… your sigil?"
Saya lifted her hand just enough to reveal two black lines wrapping around her neck like a delicate necklace. "It manifests this way. Subtle, yet symbolic."
"So a sigil doesn't have to be flashy?" April mused, rubbing her chin.
"Not at all," Saya replied, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "It's about meaning. Placement. Insight. The viewer—or in combat, your opponent—can perceive it if you let them."
Kai grinned, stepping forward with obvious pride. "Mine's Inferno Edge. And check this out." He pointed down to his feet. Two hawk-like wings stretched from either side, faintly glowing. "Gives me mobility and style. Pretty cool, huh?"
Dante rolled his eyes, but couldn't hide a smirk. "So dramatic."
Kai shot him a look. "Says the guy who has—"
"I am dramatic," Dante cut in smoothly, leaning back with a grin. "Mine's TitanFall. As for my sigil…" He tapped his forehead, and a single red horn glowed faintly. "That's it. Subtle, but deadly."
April absorbed each name, each sigil, committing them to memory: Mufasa. Seraphim. Inferno Edge. TitanFall.
"They're more than just individuals," she thought. "They're something… greater."
Jax nodded. "Now that you've seen how sigils can manifest—visible, hidden, practical, symbolic—you're ready to take the next step."
April felt a spark of excitement. Insight, creativity, control… she had a lot to learn, but she was ready.
"Let's move forward," she said, her voice steady. "I want to understand everything."
April absorbed each name, each Sigil, committing them to memory.
Mufasa. Seraphim. Inferno Edge. Titan fall.
They weren't just individuals anymore.
They were something more.
Jax nodded. "Now that you've taken the next step, it's time to upgrade your gear."
He gestured toward the far wall, where a sealed compartment slid open. Inside—
April's breath caught.
It was high-tech. Sleek. Designed for both mobility and durability. Black and violet with a hooded design with two wolf like extensions. The same battle suit used by high-ranking operatives.
Jax smirked. "This is your official organization-issued combat suit. Custom-fitted, reinforced, and built to work with your Gear."
April ran her fingers over the material. Lightweight, but sturdy. It felt right.
"Put it on," Jax said.
April didn't hesitate. She slipped into the suit, fastening the reinforced straps. The moment it settled against her skin, she could feel the difference. The energy flowed seamlessly through it, almost as if it was part of her.
Kai gave a thumbs-up. "Looks badass."
Dante nodded. "Definitely an upgrade."
April pulled the hood over her head, the sleek design covering her shoulders.
"Feels like it was made for me."
Jax smirked. "It was."
Then his expression hardened. "Now, before we move forward, you need to understand the full hierarchy of ragnarök."