Deep inside a hidden underground shelter beneath Artholius, silence filled the room.
A single dim lamp illuminated a metal table.
On that table rested a photograph.
Three men stood in the picture.
Now only two were alive.
A tall man stood in front of the photo, staring at it as if trying to memorize every detail. His fists were clenched so tightly that the veins on his arms were visible.
His name was Aramis.
The same rebel leader who had once crossed swords with Lanuk.
The man in the photograph—the third one—was gone. Killed during that battle.
Aramis slowly touched the photo.
His voice was barely a whisper.
"I told you… we would win one day."
Suddenly—
BOOM.
The entire base shook.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Aramis instantly turned toward the entrance.
Footsteps rushed down the corridor.
A rebel soldier burst inside, breathing heavily.
"Sir!"
Aramis' eyes narrowed.
"What's happening outside?"
"Did the military invade?"
The soldier shook his head.
"No, sir."
His voice was filled with shock.
"There have been explosions."
Aramis frowned.
"How many?"
The soldier swallowed.
"Sixteen locations across the city."
Aramis' eyes widened slightly.
"Sixteen?"
"Who could do something like that?"
The soldier stepped closer.
"My guess is… whoever did this has nothing to do with us."
He paused.
"Sir… this might be our chance."
Aramis stared at him.
"Our chance?"
"Yes."
"While the military is distracted, we can strike."
"We can finally take revenge."
For a moment, Aramis said nothing.
Then he shook his head slowly.
"No."
The soldier looked confused.
"Sir…?"
Aramis walked toward the window overlooking the distant city lights.
"This city is ours."
"Our war with the military is our own matter."
"If someone else is attacking Artholius…"
His voice grew colder.
"…then their intentions cannot be good."
The soldier lowered his head.
"But sir… our revenge…"
Aramis closed his eyes briefly.
"That day will come."
Then he looked back.
"But not today."
The Battlefield
Back in the burning streets of Artholius, the battle had already begun.
Lanuk and the masked warrior stood facing each other.
Their plasma swords ignited simultaneously.
Two beams of burning energy cut through the smoke-filled air.
Without warning—
CLASH.
The blades collided violently.
Sparks exploded.
Lanuk pushed forward, his boots grinding against the broken pavement.
The masked warrior moved with frightening precision.
A sudden kick slammed into Lanuk's chest.
The impact was brutal.
Lanuk's body flew backward and crashed through a concrete barrier.
Dust exploded into the air.
Soldiers rushed forward.
"Sergeant Major!"
But before they could reach him—
BANG BANG BANG.
Bullets struck the ground in front of their feet.
The soldiers froze instantly.
The masked warrior lowered his weapon slowly.
His voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Stop."
His voice was deep.
Cold.
Terrifying.
He stepped forward.
"By the command of my lord…"
"I will fight him."
He raised his sword slightly.
"My code name is Captain Sixteen."
"That introduction should be enough."
His glowing visor turned toward the soldiers.
"I want to see how strong this military officer truly is."
His voice dropped lower.
"If anyone interferes…"
"…prepare your own grave."
The soldiers froze in fear.
Then Captain Sixteen added calmly,
"But none of my comrades will interfere either."
The battlefield became silent.
Lanuk slowly pushed himself up from the rubble.
Blood covered his face.
His armor suit was shattered in several places.
His breathing was heavy.
But his eyes still burned with determination.
He lifted his sword again.
"Let's finish this."
The next clash was even more violent.
Their blades collided again and again.
Each strike shook the surrounding buildings.
Glass shattered.
Concrete cracked.
Lanuk attacked with everything he had.
Captain Sixteen blocked every strike effortlessly.
Then—
A brutal counterattack.
The masked warrior struck Lanuk's arm.
Lanuk's sword slipped from his hand and crashed onto the street.
Everything stopped.
Captain Sixteen raised his blade slowly.
Lanuk fell to one knee.
Blood ran down his neck.
The sword hovered inches away from his throat.
Around them, the soldiers stood frozen.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Lanuk felt the cold edge of the blade touching his skin.
For the first time…
Fear appeared in his eyes.
Was this how it ended?
His thoughts flashed rapidly.
His childhood.
His brother.
His parents.
The promise he made to protect this city.
The soldiers watching him now.
All of it…
About to disappear.
Captain Sixteen lifted the blade slightly.
One strike.
That was all it would take.
Some soldiers closed their eyes.
They already believed Lanuk was dead.
Then—
WHOOSH.
A sudden roar cut through the air.
A figure descended from the sky.
A jetpack burned behind him like a comet.
The newcomer landed between them.
His blade flashed once.
CLANG.
Captain Sixteen's plasma sword shattered into two pieces.
The battlefield froze.
The newcomer stood tall.
His voice was calm.
"My name is Captain Alaric Alexander."
He looked directly at the masked warriors.
"If you value your lives…"
"…surrender."
His eyes were cold.
"Escape is impossible."
"The entire sector is surrounded."
"And we have deployed signal jamming devices."
"No teleportation."
"No escape."
For a moment—
Silence.
Then the masked warriors started laughing.
Even their leader laughed.
The black-armored Maskman stepped forward.
"Good plan."
His voice carried amusement.
"But that's enough for today."
He looked toward Alaric.
"We will meet again."
His voice turned darker.
"And next time…"
"…you will die."
A strange energy pulse flashed around them.
In an instant—
They vanished.
Alaric activated his jetpack immediately and searched the sky.
But the masked warriors were gone.
Completely.
Behind him, Lanuk slowly regained consciousness.
His vision blurred.
He saw a familiar figure standing above him.
Lanuk whispered weakly.
"…Bro."
And then everything faded to black.