Stone walls pulsed faintly with Void energy as three figures knelt before the obsidian platform. Shadows crawled along the chamber, bending toward the presence at its center.
Koma Jr. stood with his hands behind his back. His silhouette was sharp against the dark stone.
"Kaola. Hykee. Lokee," he said calmly.
Report."
"Yes, brother," Kaola replied. She kept her head bowed. "We searched everywhere until we came across a town. It was entirely sick. According to the townspeople, he is traveling with a girl."
"That kind of sickness only comes from Yen," Hykee added. His voice was low and raspy. "Strong Yen."
Koma's expression did not change. Not even a flicker of surprise crossed his face.
"So the little brat survived," he said. "He is a walking nuke."
"Orders?" Lokee asked.
"Investigate," Koma replied. "Bring Kota back alive. Bring the girl as well. I believe it is Leiya."
Lokee looked up, confusion breaking her disciplined mask. "Leiya is alive?"
"Yes, brother," Kaola said, her voice steady.
Hykee laughed, a short and dry sound. The three of them rose and left without another word.
Void energy folded shut behind them, swallowing their presence entirely.Miles away, the cave trembled.
Miles away, the cave trembled
"We have to get you out of here," Leiya said. Her hands shook as she reached for the supplies. "Your pupils are leaking. There is a doctor three kilometers south."
"I don't care if the Yen consumes me," Kota said. He gripped the edge of a stone ledge, his knuckles white. "I will not stop until they suffer."
He broke into a harsh, rattling cough. He wiped his mouth, his eyes bloodshot.
"The air is getting dense," he wheezed.
Leiya's eyes widened as she felt the pressure in the room shift. The Yen was no longer just leaking. It was drowning the air. "We need to leave. Now."
The base corridor echoed faintly as Koma walked past the others without slowing. He moved with a cold, mechanical grace that ignored everyone in his path.
Koa turned sharply, irritation flaring in her eyes.
"So that is it?" she snapped. Her voice bounced off the cold walls. "You only give the orders to those three? I get Kova, you can barely control him. But Kaola?"
She scoffed, her pace quickening to keep up with him. "It irritates me. She's not that strong to be giving orders. She's not even older than me.
"Koma didn't stop. He didn't even blink.
Koa turned her head toward the weaker subordinates stationed nearby. These were the ones assigned to guard Koma whenever he slept and Kova was away. She wanted them to hear.
"I am top three strongest," she said, her voice rising. "You know it. They know it. Everyone knows it.
"Koma stopped. The silence that followed was heavy and cold. He did not turn around immediately.
"Lower your voice," Koma said flatly. "It is giving me a headache. And you are the third strongest?"
He scoffed, a sound of pure derision. "That is almost laughable.
"He tilted his head just enough to acknowledge her in his periphery. He looked at her as if she were a minor inconvenience.
"Stop nagging," he said. "You talk too much when you are insecure."
Koa stiffened as if he had struck her. Her mouth opened, but no words came out.
"I didn't pick Kaola to spare your pride," Koma continued, already losing interest in the conversation. "I picked her because she does what she is told.
"His eyes flicked over her once, cold and dismissive.
"You do not."
He faced forward again, continuing his walk toward his private quarters.
"If that bothers you, fix it. Or don't. I don't really care, if I have to be honest.
"He took a long pause, his footsteps the only sound in the hallway. "Rank the siblings," he said. "Strongest to weakest."
Fire burst from Koa's hands in a sudden, violent spark. She stepped forward, her face flushed with anger.
"You are the strongest," she spat. "Then Kaola. Then Kova. Then the twins. Then me.
"Koma did not look back. "Explain why."
"Because I cannot control my power," Koa said, her voice tight. "I lose my cool. I am not the smartest."
Her fists clenched, the flames licking at her skin. "Why do I only get grunt work if I could…"
"Shut up," Koma said, cutting her off before she could finish.
Her voice dropped to a whisper. The fire in her hands died down to a dull ember.
"What about Kana?" she asked.
Koma finally turned.
His stare landed on Kana, who was standing in the shadows of the corridor. His gaze was like a blade, sharp and unforgiving.
Kana opened her mouth. "I..."
She stopped. Her hands clenched at her sides. Without another word, she turned around and walked away, disappearing into the darkness of the base.
"Speaking of siblings," Koa said, her voice still trembling with suppressed rage. "Where is Kova?"
"Doing a top secret mission for me," Koma replied. He reached the door to his chambers and placed a hand on the cold metal.
"I'm going to rest," he said." Wake me when Kova returns.
"Koa grit her teeth. The sheer dismissiveness of his tone was worse than an insult.
He was already walking into the room, the heavy door beginning to swing shut.
"You cannot just go to sleep," she said, stepping toward the closing gap. "I need answers."
The door clicked shut, leaving her alone in the silent, echoing hall.