Lyra raised a trembling hand to her mouth. When her fingers came away stained with blood, something within her fractured. The hesitation in her gaze vanished, replaced by something colder—something furious.
The world around her answered.
Tools, metal scraps, fractured debris—everything within reach began to rise, drawn into her orbit. They gathered behind her in a dense, suspended mass, humming with restrained violence. Then, with a subtle motion of her hand, she unleashed them.
A storm of steel surged forward.
It tore through the air toward Astral Aegis, Leona, and Angela with merciless speed.
Astral Aegis did not flinch.
A dome of energy manifested in an instant—vast, compact, and absolute. Its surface shimmered with a density far surpassing anything Leona had ever produced. The incoming barrage collided against it in a deafening cascade, only to scatter uselessly—every projectile halted, diverted, rendered meaningless.
Nathan(Paper) was already at their side, poised.
Nathan(Paper):Hey—I'll keep them safe. Go!
Astral Aegis inclined her head once.
The dome dissolved.
In the same breath, Nathan seized Leona and Angela and vanished from the battlefield, leaving nothing but a fading distortion in his wake.
Astral Aegis advanced.
Direct. Unwavering.
The storm did not cease. Blades, fragments, and sharpened metal continued to descend upon him—relentless, unyielding.
She moved through it.
Each step precise.
Each motion deliberate.
Closing the distance—not with haste, but with inevitability.
Lyra's expression tightened.
With a violent pull, she wrenched an entire metal container from the ground and hurled it forward—a crushing mass of weight and force.
Astral Aegis dropped low.
In one seamless motion, dhe slid beneath the descending bulk as it thundered overhead—
and rose.
No wasted movement.
No hesitation.
Her leg snapped upward—
A clean, decisive strike.
It connected squarely with Lyra's left cheek.
Lynn lunged forward, leaping into a downward strike—but Sylvia met it head-on, blocking the blow at the last instant. For a brief moment, they locked—eyes fixed on one another—before forcing each other apart.
Lynn moved first.
A dagger flew past Sylvia—landing behind her.
In the same instant, Lynn vanished—reappearing at its position—and struck again.
Sylvia turned just in time, blocking the attack at point-blank range. They lock their eyes onto one another—
Sylvia: You can't comprehend that feeling, can't you?
Lynn: No, but I do know how that pain felt.
She pivoted sharply, and the two of them launched into a rapid exchange—blades and steel clashing in a relentless barrage.
On the other side, Lyra and Astral Aegis collided in close combat, trading blows and parries with flawless precision. Every movement was deliberate—every strike answered.
Without warning, Lyra formed a blade and drove it toward Astral Aegis's eye—
—but it was stopped.
Blocked cleanly.
She released the weapon—
only to catch it with her other hand mid-drop—
and struck again.
Blocked.
Again.
Frustration flickered across Lyra's face.
She lashed out with a kick—
Astral Aegis answered in kind—
Their strikes collided—
and both were forced back, sliding apart from the impact.
Astral Aegis:(Thought) I can feel it… the true owner of this body—trapped within her own mind. If I can reach her… I might be able to free her.
She steadied himself, gaze sharpening.
Astral Aegis: Nate—now. Before she recovers… hold her.
Trusting her, Nate blitzed toward Lyra, seizing both her hands and wrapping them in layers of paper, sealing her fingers so she could no longer form the gestures needed to command her nanites.
At the same instant, Astral Aegis moved.
She closed in—gripping Lyra's head firmly between both hands.
As a being of pure energy, she reached inward—straining to connect with Lyra's life force.
Lyra resisted.
Violently.
But exhaustion crept in—her earlier battle weighing heavily on her body. Her strength faltered… her guard slipped—
—and that was enough.
Astral Aegis broke through.
Lyra's scream tore through the air.
At the same moment—
Sylvia screamed too.
Lynn's dagger had pierced her abdomen.
Lynn stepped back, steady… controlled.
Sylvia staggered, clutching the wound, breath trembling as pain surged through her.
Lynn: Please… surrender. You can't defeat me. And I don't like being pushed to my limit and i don't want to hurt you more than you are.
Sylvia: I—I can't… If I can't win… then I'm no better than the rest… No one cares for me… no one ever did… just like before…
Lynn slowly lowered her dagger.
Then she stepped forward.
Careful. Measured.
Sylvia, still trembling, raised her kukri weakly—pointing it at Lynn in a final, fragile defiance.
Lynn didn't stop.
She reached out—
took hold of the blade—
and gently pushed it downward.
No force.
No struggle.
Just… quiet certainty.
Then—
she cupped Sylvia's cheek.
Softly.
Wiping away the tears that refused to stop falling.
Lynn: I do care. That's why I'm still here—why I'm still fighting you. If I didn't… what would any of this even mean?
Sylvia's eyes flickered—then brightened.
For a moment… she understood.
The very feeling that she was longing for— love. She put on a faint smile.
But the moment didn't last.
Her strength gave way—her body slackening as she collapsed into Lynn's arms.
Lynn: Nate! Hurry—she's losing too much blood!
Nathan(Glitch) rushed in without hesitation, already beginning the healing. The others closed in soon after, the tension shifting—if only slightly.
Within Lyra's mind—
Astral Aegis drifted through memory.
At first, it was light.
Warm. Gentle.
But the deeper she went… the dimmer it became—until that light was swallowed whole.
Darkness lingered everywhere.
Diving deep into her memory, Astral Aegis saw Lyra—
She was alone.
Her brother was not always there—and when he wasn't, silence filled the space he left behind. Loneliness became her constant… her only companion.
Most days, she wept quietly in the corners of her room—
unseen.
unheard.
—
Until Zerathos came.
He offered her something.
Something she had always lacked.
And so, she accepted.
But it was never real.
Lyra was not saved—
she was confined.
Her mind, reshaped into a fragile refuge… populated by imaginary companions crafted by Zerathos himself—
while her body was no longer her own.
Astral Aegis stepped forward.
The darkness peeled away—
replaced by something… gentler.
A playground.
Laughter. Sunlight. Children her age.
Her parents… present.
Smiling.
Playing with her.
A memory—or perhaps a lie she wished had been true.
Aegis moved closer.
And Lyra saw her.
Lyra: Oh… you must be new. You look… kinda strange. But I think we'll be good friends.
She reached out—
Lyra: Come on.
Lyra turned—ready to pull away—
—but Astral Aegis caught her wrist, firm yet gentle, and drew her closer.
Astral Aegis: Lyra… you have to come back to the real world. Please… trust me.
Lyra hesitated.
Her voice softened—fragile, almost pleading—
Lyra:But… if I go back… I'll be alone again. I'm… happy here.
Astral Aegis studied her.
Then, quietly—
Astral Aegis: Do you not love your brother?
Lyra's expression trembled.
Lyra: My… brother… Of course I love him. But… He's never there… he… he—
Children (in unison): He doesn't love you.
Lyra turned slowly.
Every child.
Her parents.
All of them stood perfectly still.
Watching.
Smiling—
but not right.
Mother: She's lying, my dear.
Father: There is no better life than this.
Children: Stay with us… and you'll be happy forever.
The air thickened.
Something was wrong.
Deeply wrong.
Astral Aegis pulled Lyra slightly behind her.
Astral Aegis: They're lying. There's nothing here but imitation—fabricated joy. None of this is real. You have to—
Hands.
Cold.
Unyielding.
Her voice cut off.
The "parents" seized her.
The children surged forward—grasping Lyra, pulling her away.
Lyra froze—
then shook her head.
Lyra: No—! I don't want to stay—I don't—!
She struggled.
This time, truly struggling.
Astral Aegis fought back—but something was wrong.
They were stronger than they should be.
Too strong.
As if the illusion itself refused to let her go.
She strained—
pulled—
twisted—
but the grip only tightened.
And then—
A blinding flare burst from Astral Aegis, forcing the figures to recoil as they clutched their eyes, their grip loosening just enough for her to act. She moved instantly, her blades flashing in two precise arcs as the "parents" collapsed, their forms unraveling. She surged toward Lyra—
—but the children twisted.
Their bodies warped, snapping into grotesque shapes as they closed in around her, guarding her like something sacred… or trapped.
Even Lyra flinched.
Aegis felt it immediately—too many, too fast. The odds were slipping.
Then—
a sheet of paper sliced through the air.
It drove clean through a monster's mouth and split its head apart before it could even react.
Aegis turned.
Nathan was already walking toward them.
Calm. Unshaken.
Astral Aegis: How did you get here?
Nathan(Paper): I guess holding her created a link. Now… let's clean this up.
The monsters lunged.
Aegis met two head-on, her twin energy blades carving through them with swift, surgical precision. At the same time, Nathan moved through the others—not fighting, not struggling—just passing through, his paper flashing in controlled bursts as the creatures fell apart behind him.
No wasted motion.
No hesitation.
Within seconds, it was over.
The monsters dissolved, their forms collapsing into nothing as the illusion itself began to tremble—
—and then break.
Lyra stood free.
For a moment, no one moved.
Then Nathan stepped forward.
And without a word, he pulled her into an embrace.
This time—
she didn't resist.
Nathan (Paper):(Relief sigh) I promise… I won't leave you again.
Lyra broke.
She clung to him, her hands tightening as quiet sobs escaped her, and seeing her like that—fragile, finally safe—Nathan's composure cracked just enough for a tear to fall.
For a moment, they simply stayed like that.
No fight.
No fear.
Just… each other.
When they finally pulled away, Lyra nodded faintly, and Nathan glanced toward Astral Aegis.
Nathan(Paper): Take us back.
Aegis stepped forward, placing a hand on both of them. Without another word, she lifted them into the light—and in an instant, they were gone, pulled back into the real world.
Sylvia's eyes fluttered open.
Pain lingered—but something else was there too.
Nathan(Glitch) was already at her side, carefully sealing the wounds she could barely bring herself to look at.
Sylvia: Why…? I tormented you. Why save me?
Christopher: We weren't sent here to fight—we're here to save lives. That includes yours.
Nathan(Glitch): And that's what it means to be a hero. We know you didn't choose this… but we still care.
Sylvia looked away.
Her chest tightened—not from pain this time, but something far more unfamiliar.
Embarrassment.
Maybe… something warmer.
She raised her arm, covering her eyes.
Sylvia:Lot of weird people these days…
The treatment continued in silence. Once they finished, they secured a band around her wrist and sent a request for CPT—
but nothing came.
No response.
Lynn glanced at the others, then back at Sylvia.
Lynn: Sit tight. We'll handle it.
Lynn and the others moved to the far side and peeked through. The moment they spotted Angela lying on the ground, Christopher stepped forward and shattered the wall in a single blow. Dust filled the air, then slowly settled—and as visibility returned, Nathan(Glitch) saw Lyra standing there, finally herself again.
He didn't hesitate.
He rushed forward and pulled her into a tight embrace.
Lyra blinked, startled.
Lyra: Wait… wait—why are there two of you?
Nathan let out a small breath and quickly explained, but the explanation only left her more shaken.
Lyra: There's… three more?
She muttered, still trying to process it.
Behind them, Angela struggled to her feet, her body still trembling from the pain of her severed wing. Lyra noticed immediately. Without thinking, she reached out—her hand steady, her intent clear.
A symbol formed.
Faint at first—
then bright.
In an instant, Angela's wing restored itself, reshaping and reattaching as though it had never been lost.
Nathan (Glitch): How… did you just do that?
Lyra glanced at her own hand, uncertain.
Lyra: I… I just did it… somehow.
Angela gave a small, relieved smile.
Angela: Thank you… sister of Nathan.
Lyra: Lyra is fine.
A brief silence followed—until Augustine broke it.
Augustine: Uh… where's Eric?
Leona: Over here.
They turned toward the voice.
Leona and Astral Aegis emerged, carrying Eric between them. His body was battered—nails still embedded in his flesh, blood trailing from multiple cuts.
The sight alone was enough to tighten the air again.
Healing… wouldn't be simple.
Healing him without removing the nails would have only sealed them deeper into his flesh. Nate (Paper) acted instantly—ripping every nail out in a single motion before restoring Eric's wounds. The damage closed, but the scars remained, jagged and unforgiving, marring parts of his body.
Lyra stepped forward again.
She raised her hand.
Another symbol formed—this time clearer, more defined—appearing both on her palm and across Eric's body. His form began to shift, subtly at first, then completely. The symbol flickered, adjusted, and rewrote him—restoring his body to what it had once been.
Unscarred.
Untouched.
Eric blinked, still trying to catch up with reality.
Eric: Five minutes ago… she was trying to kill us. And now she's healing us?
Lyra: What…?! I tried to kill you guys?!
Nathan(Paper): No—no, no... Not you. We know it wasn't you.
The weight of it hit her anyway.
Lyra lowered her head and bowed, offering a quiet, heartfelt apology. Eric, suddenly aware of who he was speaking to—the sister of the S-Class Rank No. 1—felt a flicker of embarrassment and hurriedly asked her to stop.
Nathan's gaze alone was enough to enforce it.
A silent warning.
With the immediate danger behind them, the group began to steady themselves. They had to move.
Lyra: Can I… come with you?
Most of them were already ready to say yes—
But Nathan (Glitch & Paper) cut in immediately.
Nathan: No. Absolutely not. Under no circumstance will I put her life in danger. I just got her back.
Augustine: Nate, she has the strongest support ability here. You've seen what she can do.
Lyra: Yeah… and you promised you'd never leave me again. So you don't get to question it.
That did it.
Nathan exhaled sharply, tension cracking through him. He glanced at the others—most of them already leaning toward Augustine's side—and clicked his tongue in reluctant surrender.
Nathan: Tch… fine. But she stays support. Nothing more. Are we clear?
All: Yes, boss.
With that fragile agreement holding them together, they moved.
The temple greeted them with silence—heavy, unnatural. At its center stood an empty throne, abandoned yet imposing, as if something had only just risen from it. No sign of Zerathos.
But something lingered.
Eric was the first to notice it—a narrow stairway descending into darkness. Without a word, they followed, their steps measured, cautious.
Astral Aegis slipped back within Leona, her presence now a quiet pulse, a voice instead of a form. I'll protect you, she assured her—wordless, yet absolute—until the end of time.
Then—
something shifted.
Their movements slowed.
Not physically… not visibly… but undeniably.
Like the world itself had thickened.
Like time had grown heavier.
Step by step, they dragged forward, unaware—completely unaware—that somewhere, unseen…
Zerathos was already pulling the strings, delaying them with a precision only he could wield.