Night fell over City-73 like a rusted blanket.The streetlights flickered, the air buzzed with electricity, and rumors spread like an infection.
Ever since Eclipse appeared on the last battlefield and shattered Avalon's armored divisions in minutes, the world had been changing. People whispered that Eclipse wielded a kind of tech no nation had ever seen. Others claimed they were ghosts, or rebels guided by a prophecy.
But inside a hidden basement lit by cracked monitors, Doctor Tau addressed his inner circle.
"We are not ghosts," Tau said, tightening a strap on a fossil-powered gauntlet. "We are the reality humanity refused to see. Avalon creates war to sell peace.We create war to destroy lies."
One soldier nodded."Sir, the people call Avalon protectors."
Tau's expression turned cold.
"And pigs call the butcher a god until the knife turns."
A distant alarm beeped.
An Eclipse scout rushed in."Sir—Avalon moved units toward City-73. They received a fossil signal."
Tau's eyes sharpened.
"So the spark has appeared…Let's see how desperate Avalon becomes."
AVALON — COMMAND ROOM
"Play the footage," the Director ordered.
The hologram displayed the battlefield from yesterday — Eclipse operatives phasing between soldiers, dismantling tanks with impossible precision, vanishing before Avalon sensors detected them.
"They humiliated us," one officer growled. "Three battalions gone. No casualties on their end."
"Avalon cannot afford another failure," the Director said. "If Eclipse is collecting fossils, we must secure every remaining one."
Another officer hesitated.
"And… the Ring, ma'am?"
A long silence.
"The Aydren Ring was our answer to this war.But it doesn't activate. Not for our soldiers. Not for our elites. Not even for genetic matches."
She opened a new file.
"But one bloodline remains untested."
The officers stiffened.
"The… Deskan children?"
The Director nodded.
"Aydren betrayed us during the previous crisis. But his blood may be the key to restoring the Ring.Find the younger one. Bring him in alive.The older one… is expendable."
The room fell cold.
"Move out."
CITY-73 — THE MAFIA DEN
Zen stormed into the scrapyard hideout. His chest burned from running. His mind spun. The Fossil incident haunted him, but he shoved it deep down.
He needed to focus.
"Boss!" Zen shouted. "I brought the fossil—"
He stopped.
The boss stood still.The entire gang stared at Zen with pale faces.
"…What?" Zen demanded.
The boss swallowed.
"Zen… Avalon found your home."
Zen's blood ran cold.
"They took your mother. And Rey."
Zen grabbed the boss by the collar.
"YOU LET THEM?!"
"They came armed, Zen! We aren't insane! Avalon doesn't negotiate — they erase! You know that!"
Zen released him violently.
"Where did they go?!"
"A white camionette heading toward Industrial Zone 6. If you hurry—maybe…"
Zen didn't wait.He sprinted out the door, jumped on a motorcycle, and tore through the night.
Rey… hold on.Mom… just hold on.
THE CHASE
Rain hammered the cracked highways.Zen's motorcycle shot between abandoned trucks and factory ruins as he chased the white vehicle.
He spotted it turning into a warehouse district.
"STOP!!!" Zen shouted, pushing the throttle.
The camionette skidded into a massive old hangar.
Zen followed without hesitation.
He crashed through the doors—
And froze.
THE HANGAR
His mother and Rey were tied to chairs. Rey sobbed uncontrollably, clinging to her with shaking hands.
"ZEN!!! ZEN HELP ME!!"
A man stepped out from the shadows, cracking his knuckles.
Keven.Avalon's mercenary.A sadist who smiled only when something broke.
"Well, well," Keven sneered, "The Devil finally arrives."
Zen's knife appeared instantly.
"LET THEM GO."
Keven laughed.
"Oh, please. Your little gang of criminals? You think they matter?You think YOU matter?"
He opened a metal case beside him.
Inside lay the sleek silver Aydren Ring.
Zen froze.
"You… want THAT?"
Keven raised the bracelet.
"Your daddy's little toy. Avalon begged you to wear it a year ago. But you refused."His smile widened."So let's try again."
Zen attacked — fast, silent, precise.
Keven barely blinked.
He grabbed Zen by the throat and slammed him into the floor.
Zen gasped.
"You should've stayed in the alleys, boy."Keven tightened his grip."This world belongs to suits and soldiers. Not rats."
He forcefully clamped the Ring onto Zen's wrist.
The metal tightened.
A faint hum.
A spark.
Then nothing.
Keven exaggerated disappointment.
"Awwww… look at that. She doesn't like you.Useless."
Zen trembled in rage and shame.
Keven turned toward Rey.
"But you… little brat… maybe YOU inherited something interesting."
Rey screamed:
"NOOO!! LEAVE ME ALONE!! MOM!! ZENNN!!"
His mother cried, desperate.
"Aydren… please… if you're alive… your sons need you…"
Keven approached Rey slowly.
"Oh kid… come here.Uncle Keven has a nice bracelet for you."
Rey pulled back, sobbing:
"MONSTER!! LEAVE ME ALONE!! ZEN HELP MEEE!!"
Zen thrashed weakly on the floor.
"DON'T TOUCH HIM!! TAKE ME INSTEAD!!"
Keven rolled his eyes.
"No thanks. Worthless trash goes in the bin.Promising seeds go to Avalon."
He grabbed Rey's wrist.
Rey screamed—
And the Ring awakened.