Night in the Grand Province
The Royal Complex - one of Uraview's most prosperous landmarks. Guarded day and night by security, the complex serves hospitality to permanent and temporary royals. Among the permanent residents stands Princess Azul, known as a popular figure among Nahatan royalty. She rests on a soft pillow, surveying the quiet courtyard through her bedroom window. "Zora, where the hell are you?"
The squawk of crows echo through the courtyard. A man, wearing a dark suit with a black top hat, smiles at the birds. He leans onto his cane, and his eyes close.
A loud smack rang from the security checkpoint. Kevin, Gerald, and Kaelan step into the courtfield, staring into the elderly male's eyes. "If you know what's good for you, you'll tell us where Princess Azul is."
The man's eyes bulged. "W-Who the hell are you!? This is private property, you three aren't allowed here!"
Kaelan slips a shiny knife from his pocket. Pyron's firepower layers his skin, spreading to the knife's metal.
Kevin pulls out a wooden violin. "The peaceful scene… descends into chaos!"
His violin hums a deep tune, combusting Azul's room in flames. "Retrieve our subject at once!" he shouts.
Kaelan and Gerald rush out the courtyard. Kevin's arm wraps around the man's neck, trapping him in a chokehold. "If you dare to reveal this moment to anyone, I'll choke you to death."
The man gulps. "Using an entity outbreak to your advantage? I'll never forgive you!"
His chokehold tightens. "Who said I needed your forgiveness?"
---
Gerald and Kaelan burst into Azul's room, walking through the blazing flames. "Princess Azul of the Grand Province," Kaelan's voice projected, "you are now property of Fire Moon!" Gerald smiled at her fear, grabbing her by the throat. He pulled a syringe with orange liquid from his pocket, forcing the needle into Azul's body. "With a vessel like you, our dreams will be achieved in no time!"
"STOP RIGHT THERE!" Three guards holding thick, metal spears rushed through the flames. They attacked in unison, striking their weapons towards Kaelan and Gerald. Kaelan's lifted his palm towards the guards and smiled. "As long as we stand under LUO's protection, we're unstoppable!"
The guards were sent in opposite directions, thudding against the decorated walls.
Kevin burst into the room, leaving the elderly man unconscious in the courtyard. "Let's go."
Kaelan's gaze descended towards a small, vibrant crystal glowing in the flames. "What's this?"
Azul's aggression grew. "YOU BETTER NOT TOUCH THAT! I'LL KILL YOU!"
A ruthless smile stretched across Kaelan's face. Without a second thought, his fist smashed the sparkling mineral. They stepped out of the blazing room, shifting their eyes upon a glowing portal in the hallway's center. "Chrome is going to be so excited!" Kevin celebrates. "The look on his face is going to be so wholesome!"
---
Through the quiet streets of Uraview traveled Zora, bound for the Royal Complex. Once Kaelan's fist struck the glowing crystal, his Advanced Senses activated. "Azul's Relationship Crystal was broken!?"
His leg sparkled with blue crystals, accelerating him through the air like a fighter jet. "There's a weird sense of her power mixed into the fray!" The momentum from his burst persisted, dragging his legs against the roof tiles. "Could this be connected to the Fire Moon threat?" He slingshotted over the Royal Complex's border, darting his eyes towards the permanent residences. "Let's go!"
His body ripped through the ceiling, thudding against the hall's wooden floorboards. From the impact awakened a large cloud of dust blowing through the hallway. "Something came through the ceiling!" Kevin sputtered. The piece of crystal in Azul's hair pulsed rapidly. "A ray of light in a world of darkness…"
The dust cleared, revealing Zora's formal gaze. Behind him stood an entire army of royal guards, each one equipped with a metal spear. Zora's finger lifted, striking towards the struggling Azul. "We won't stand down without a fight."
Kevin wore a satisfying smirk. "What an appalling entrance! This may be one of the best stories yet!" Zora chuckled, noticing the small sparkling crystal in Azul's hair. "The crystal did shatter…"
Kaelan and Kevin stepped towards the large army. "Our mission was to capture Princess Azul," Kevin reminded. "We'll execute it swiftly, even if others intervene!" Kaelan snickered, pulling another syringe from his pocket. He stuck the needle into his shoulder, injecting the liquid into his bloodstream.
Their skin began to bubble, emanating heat through the packed hallway.
Zora's senses flickered. "Dependent on Pyron's firepower, I see."
A large cloud of steam released from their bodies. "I'll focus on Zora," Kevin insisted. "Meanwhile, you focus on the royal guards."
Kaelan replied with an obedient nod. "Got it."
Zora's gaze followed a clear pattern among the flickering lights - Azul, Gerald, Kaelan, and Kevin. A wave of silence followed, building suspense within the scene. Scattered gusts of wind blew through the ceiling's hole, spreading his glimmering crystal particles across the floor.
His eyes shot towards Kevin. "Royal Army, TIME TO FIGHT!"
Volume 13, Chapter 55 - Royal Complex
Shards of sky-blue crystal rose from Zora's elbows. Across the raging crowd stood Kevin, pushing his sharp fingernails into the violin's wood. "It's a pleasure to be fighting someone so well-known in Nahata."
A blue ring formed around Zora's pupils. "Advanced Senses." His vision pulsed, altering into a reddish-blue color. "This guy hasn't injected Pyron's drug into his body."
He turned towards Kaelan, observing the light-orange power flowing within. The ring faded, returning Zora's eyesight back to normal. Kevin's bow slid out his pocket, rising against the violin's sturdy strings. "It isn't every day you fight someone with Advanced Senses. However, it won't stop the power of music!"
The violin's bow scratched against the strings, releasing an echoing creak. "Melt, individuals of fodder!"
The raging army froze. Their bodies began to melt, forming a large puddle across the ground.
Zora's eyes bulged. "The entire Royal Army… you melted them into liquid!?"
Kevin's chuckle echoed through the halls. "Our fight is different from the Royal Army's - therefore, they serve no use in a battle like this. Now, entertain me with your TRUE POWER!"
The startled hunter lifted his shoes, watching the soldiers' gooey skin peel from his outsoles. Zora charged through the puddle, swinging his blades towards Kevin's violin. "You've committed two sins today - murdering the Royal Army, and kidnapping the person I love!" A large piece of crystal succumbed to Kevin's pressure, chipping into the nearby floorboards. "What makes you think I feel any remorse!? If you defy music's everlasting power, you face the consequences!" The bow stretched across her violin, releasing a sharp high-pitched note.
The hallway returned back to normal - or so Zora thought. Across the room lay the once prideful army, knocked unconscious by Kaelan's mighty attacks. "THE ROYAL ARMY! WHAT DID YOU DO!?"
"I did what had to be done," answered Kaelan. "Either you fold under pressure or fight until you drop."
Zora shifted towards Azul. "Don't worry about me, Zora! Making me your priority over the entire country will get us both killed!"
His heartbeat intensified. "When my honor meets my undying love… what am I to pick?"
A rather forced smile bloomed across Kevin's face. "Yes, lose yourself in the growing confusion! Submit to us and bow your head!"
"Shut up!" Zora shouts. "I am Zora of the Grand Province - when my duties merge, I fight for both!"
A weak smile formed across Azul's face. "Zo…ra…"
The push of Kevin's fingernails intensified. "You dare to fight the inevitable future!? No matter how hard you try, it will never change!" Large, sparkling shards shot from Zora's back. The small crystal flurries began to circulate, forming a funnel across his body. "Dance OF THE CRYSTALS!"
Kevin's magenta gaze turned to Kaelan, closely examining Zora's visual masterpiece. "His power effortlessly surpasses my illusions. I leave this fight to you, Reid."
Reid chuckled. "Songnote finally admits she's outmatched."