Shelter B.
The lights, which had been stable just moments ago, suddenly began to flicker.
Distorted pulses of brightness swept across every face in the room.
A few people looked up at the ceiling, confusion in their eyes.
Leaning against the wall, a girl in a chef's outfit with a bandana tied around her head slowly raised her left wrist.
On the display, a regional map was crowded with faint dots.
Among countless signals, only one green dot stood out.
Above it, a triangular icon rotated slowly.
Waves rippled outward from it, scanning… searching for something in the dark.
She frowned.
That's strange… why can't I see Kai and Emily?
---
Lam Huy Trường kept his arm extended, unmoving, through the cold rain in front of Kai.
The wind howled through the ruins like shredded metal screaming.
The entire space seemed to hold its breath, waiting for what came next.
Kai stared at the outstretched hand.
The black sword in his grip trembled faintly, as if resisting.
Purple aura flickered along its edge.
He closed his eyes.
His lips pressed tight, forcing himself toward a decision he didn't want to make.
Clack… clack… clack…
Footsteps echoed against the cold ground.
Each step slammed straight into his chest.
What should I do…
I…
Just as the pain tightened around his heart again—
the footsteps stopped.
A hand suddenly grabbed his right hand.
Kai's eyes snapped open, instantly on guard.
But before he could react, the man pulled him into a familiar dap greeting.
A hooked grip—like an arm wrestle—
then smoothly shifting into a pull-in hug, followed by a firm pat on the back.
The man leaned close and whispered into his ear.
"You've done well, brother."
"Stop carrying everything on those exhausted shoulders."
"Let me share the burden."
"And let's watch each other's backs."
Then he stepped away.
The warmth at Kai's back vanished with him.
But through the rain, it felt like a streak of light had just pierced through.
Kai looked clearly at the professor's face—
then, suddenly, it wasn't the professor anymore.
It was the face of an unfamiliar young man looking back at him.
People say the scariest thing in the world—
is meeting a madman… who understands you better than you understand yourself.
Kai felt like he had just encountered exactly that.
And the second scariest thing—
was listening to the devil… and trusting it.
The sword hilt in his hand trembled.
Then—
his fingers, once clenched tight… slowly loosened.
The purple aura faded like an afterimage.
The blade vanished, dissolving into violet smoke that retreated into the tattoo on his left palm.
Kai looked down at the hand holding his.
Then up at the smile in front of him.
Lam Huy Trường forced himself to stay calm.
But deep inside, another version of him was sobbing uncontrollably, praying to every ancestor and deity he could think of.
In his head, only one sentence screamed over and over—
Please say YES.
Kai lowered his gaze.
Then gave a small nod.
Even he didn't understand why his shoulders suddenly felt lighter.
The knot in his chest… had loosened.
Lam Huy Trường nearly collapsed from relief.
Inside, he was celebrating like he had just closed a deal on Shark Tank.
A successful deal~~
No,..
Mission successful.
Okayyyyyyyyy.
Lyra let out a breath and stepped up beside Kai.
The robot shifted form, transforming back into an ATV with a rapid series of mechanical clicks.
Right then, Mrs AI's voice came from Lam Huy Trường's left wrist.
"So, what's your next move, Professor?"
"You're not planning to charge that monster again, are you?"
"I heard you have a plan."
"I'd very much like to hear the details."
Lam Huy Trường scratched his head.
Meanwhile, Lyra clasped her hands behind her back and leaned forward, staring at Kai.
Kai awkwardly turned his face away, avoiding her gaze.
Lam Huy Trường glanced at the glitching red interface.
The number still flickered.
[Evolution Progress: 90%]
Still 90%?
He lowered his glasses slightly and squinted toward the cocoon.
Don't you dare jump from 90% to 100% for a dramatic twist… I'll die.
Fine.
There was still time.
The last bit of luck he had left… was probably this.
"Alright."
Lam Huy Trường pushed his glasses back into place.
He turned toward the two who were chatting like they had just reunited after ages.
"Kai, Lyra… we need to talk."
They both looked up.
Then nodded at the same time and walked toward him.
Not long after—
An engine roared across the battlefield.
At the same time, a voice even louder than the engine exploded through the air, making the surrounding Eva Spawn snap their heads toward it.
The voice echoed through the rain—
clear… impossibly clear.
"Hello to all the Clones and Boss over there—"
"Please enjoy a spectacular performance from your beloved superheroes!"
"That's right."
"Experience the kind of atmosphere only a blockbuster can deliver!"
"Now then… ahem."
A cough rang out, like someone trying to suppress their emotions before stepping on stage.
Then suddenly—
a full-force shout erupted.
"Avengers… Assembleeeeeee!"
The sound tore through the rain.
It spread.
Echoed in every direction.
Then, within the dense mist—
ATVs burst forward.
One.
Ten.
Then thousands.
Each one carried two blurred figures, like incomplete copies.
Thousands of ATVs ripped through the fog, charging straight toward the cocoon.
Some fired laser beams.
Others smashed through the Eva Spawn like battering rams.
The monster formation broke apart, scattering into chaos.
Laser fire carved explosions across the ground.
Flames, mud, and debris erupted into the rain.
The battlefield came alive again in a storm of sound and light.
Pure chaos.
And within that chaos—
three figures cut straight through the battlefield.
Lam Huy Trường led the charge, gripping the Everlasting Dream Wishing Stone tightly.
The crystal spun wildly.
So fast it looked like it might ignite.
Behind him, Kai and Lyra pushed themselves to the limit to keep up.
Kai glanced at the blurred figures rushing past them and couldn't help but mutter—
"This is insane… this plan…"
Some of the figures looked exactly like him and Lyra.
There was also a bearded man wielding a hammer.
Another holding a shield.
And someone with massive wings… who was somehow driving an ATV.
Kai froze for a split second.
"Professor… are you sure this plan is okay?"
Lyra stared wide-eyed at a "copy" of herself hugging another shadow wearing a strange bat-eared helmet.
She didn't even know how to react.
Up ahead, Lam Huy Trường was pouring everything he had into maintaining his link with the Everlasting Dream Wishing Stone.
Every muscle in his body was taut.
He forced out a grin and said—
"Let your imagination run wild."
Right then, Mrs AI's voice rang out again, laced with familiar exasperation.
"I will not be able to control the ATV remotely once it moves out of range."
"I will notify you immediately when I lose control, Professor."
"And…"
"I sincerely hope you won't regret this plan of self-destruction."
"Haha… no room for regret."
Lam Huy Trường replied, a tired smile on his face.
In the distance—
explosions thundered.
Roars.
Shrieks of monsters twisted together into a chaotic symphony.
Amid that frenzy—
three small streaks kept tearing through fire and rain.
And the cocoon—
was getting closer.