The moment power filled the observatory, He disappeared.
Ava blinked.
"…Where did he…"
A shockwave exploded behind them.
Too late.
Ava's body snapped forward as something slammed into her back.
The force sent her crashing through a wall.
Concrete shattered.
Dust filled the air.
"Ava!" Mira screamed.
Riven's eyes widened. "He's targeting…"
Another impact.
Ava was dragged across the ground outside, carving a trench through dirt and stone.
She barely had time to react before a hand wrapped around her throat and lifted her off the ground.
Her vision blurred.
Her body flickered.
The blue crystalline armor cracked under pressure.
In front of her, Those red eyes.
"My name is **Rooder," he said calmly.
"And you are the weakest."
Ava tried to speak.
Couldn't.
Her hands grabbed his arm, trying to pry it off.
It didn't move.
Not even slightly.
Inside the observatory—
"MOVE!" Riven shouted.
All six of them burst forward at once.
Luna shot ahead faster than sound.
Mira charged energy into both hands.
Nyra's psychic field expanded violently.
They reached the opening Just in time to see Ava being held in the air like nothing.
Riven didn't hesitate.
She launched forward—
A full-speed strike aimed straight at Rooder's head.
He didn't even look at her.
He moved one hand.
Blocked.
Effortlessly.
The impact sent a shockwave through the entire area.
The ground cracked.
Trees bent.
Riven's eyes widened.
"He blocked that…?"
Rooder finally glanced at her.
"Mildly improved."
Then,
He let go of Ava.
Not to release her.
To throw her.
She flew like a projectile.
Straight into Riven.
Both of them crashed into the ground, rolling violently.
"Riven!" Luna shouted.
Mira fired instantly,
A blast of golden energy shot forward.
Rooder didn't dodge.
The attack hit him directly.
Light exploded.
Dust rose.
For a moment Silence.
Then a figure stepped out of the smoke.
Unharmed.
Not a single mark.
Ava's voice trembled from the ground.
"That's… not fair…"
Nyra stepped forward.
Her eyes glowing brighter than ever.
"Stop."
The air froze.
Invisible force wrapped around Rooder.
The ground beneath him cracked under the pressure.
For a second, He didn't move.
Mira gasped. "She got him!"
Nyra's voice strained. "I'm… holding him…"
Rooder tilted his head slightly.
"Interesting."
Then—
He moved.
The invisible force shattered instantly.
Like glass.
Nyra screamed as the backlash hit her.
She was thrown backward into a wall.
Her power collapsed.
Luna attacked next.
Fast.
Faster than before.
She circled him—
Striking from multiple angles.
Blow after blow.
Impact after impact.
Nothing.
Rooder stood still.
Letting her hit him.
Then—
He moved once.
A single grab.
He caught her mid-strike.
And slammed her into the ground.
The impact cratered the earth beneath her.
Luna coughed violently.
Her form flickering.
Mira stepped back.
Hands shaking.
"This… this isn't a fight…"
Riven slowly pushed herself up.
Blood at the corner of her mouth.
"No," she said.
Her voice steady.
"It's a test."
Rooder turned toward her again.
"Correct."
He stepped forward.
Slow.
Unstoppable.
"You are not ready."
Riven wiped the blood from her lip.
Then charged again.
Not alone this time.
The remaining girls moved with her.
All at once.
Everything they had.
They attacked together.
Light exploded.
Power collided.
The observatory shook.
The ground cracked open beneath them.
For a moment—
It looked like they might overwhelm him.
For a moment—
It looked like they stood a chance.
Then—
Everything stopped.
Rooder stood in the center.
Unmoved.
Unshaken.
Untouched.
"…Disappointing," he said.
With a single motion—
He released a shockwave.
A massive pulse of energy exploded outward.
All seven girls were thrown back at once.
Slamming into walls.
Into ground.
Into ruin.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Crushing.
Rooder looked at them one last time.
His voice calm.
"You have potential."
A pause.
"But potential does not win wars."
He turned.
And began to walk away.
No one could stop him.
No one could move.
Ava lay on the ground, barely conscious.
"…We lost…"
Riven clenched her fist weakly.
Not in anger.
In realization.
No.
They weren't just weak.
They were nothing compared to what was coming.
And as Rooder disappeared into the distance…
He made one final decision.
He would not kill them.
Not yet.
Because watching them grow…
Would be far more interesting.