Stone walls pulsed faintly with Void energy as three figures knelt before the obsidian platform. Shadows crawled along the chamber, bending toward the presence at its center.
Koma Jr. stood with his hands behind his back.
"Kaola. Hykee. Lokee," he said calmly. "Report."
"Yes, brother."
"We searched everywhere," Kaola said. "Until we came across a town. Entirely sick and we asked questions according to the townpeople he's traveling with a girl."
"That kind of sickness only comes from Yen," Hykee added. "Strong Yen."
Koma's expression didn't change.
"So the little brat survived," he said. "He's a walking nuke."
"Orders?" Lokee asked.
"Investigate," Koma replied. "Bring Kota back alive and the girl as well i believe it's Leiya ."
Lokee looks confused and says "Leiya is alive"
"Yes, brother." Kaola says
Hykee laughs as the three rose and left without another word, Void energy folding shut behind them.
The cave trembled.
"We have to get you out of here," Leiya said. "Your pupils are leaking."
"There's a doctor three kilometers south."
"I don't care if the Yen consumes me," Kota said. "I won't stop until they suffer." he then coughs and says
"The air's getting dense,"
Leiya's eyes widened. "We need to leave. Now."
The base corridor echoed faintly as Koma walked past the others without slowing.
Koa turned sharply, irritation flaring.
"So that's it?" she snapped. "You only give the orders to those three. I get Kova you can barely control him but Kaola?
Tch. It irritates me. She's not that strong to be giving orders. She's not even older than me."
She turned her head toward the weaker subordinates stationed nearby, the ones assigned to guard Koma whenever he slept and Kova was away.
"I'm top three strongest. You know it. They know it. Everyone knows it."
Koma stopped. "lower your voice it's giving me an headache and you're the third strongest?"
He scoffed. "That's almost laughable."
while barely looking at her.
"Stop nagging," he said flatly.
He tilted his head just enough to acknowledge her.
"You talk too much when you're insecure."
Koa stiffened.
"I didn't pick Kaola to spare your pride," Koma continued, already losing interest. "I picked her because she does what she's told."
His eyes flicked over her once, dismissive.
"You don't."
He faced forward again.
"If that bothers you, fix it. Or don't i don't really care if i had to be honest."
he took a pause.
"Rank the siblings," he said. "Strongest to weakest."
Fire burst from Koa's hands as she stepped forward.
"You're the strongest. Then Kaola. Then Kova. Then the twins. Then me."
Koma didn't look back.
"Explain why?"
"Because I can't control my power," Koa said. "I lose my cool. I'm not the smartest."
Her fists clenched.
"Why do I only get grunt work if I could-"
"shut up" he said while cutting her off.
Her voice dropped.
"What about Kana?"
Koma finally turned.
His stare landed on Kana like a blade.
Kana opened her mouth. "I…"
Then stopped. Her hands clenched at her sides.
She turned around and walked away.
"Speaking of siblings," Koa said tightly. "Where is Kova?"
"Doing a top secret mission for me," Koma replied.
"I'm going to rest," he said. "Wake me when Kova returns."
Koa grit her teeth in anger.
He was already walking away.
"You can't just go to sleep," she said. "I need answers."