Creation Of All Things

Sector 93 — 20 Minutes Later

The sky above the ruined landscape was now a deep crimson. Smoke curled through the air, carried by heavy winds that howled like ghosts. What was once a quiet forest zone had turned into a dead zone—ash, broken trees, and cracked ground.

Selene arrived first.

She dropped from the sky like a comet, her boots crushing into the soil with a small shockwave. Her coat fluttered behind her as she stood tall, her eyes glowing faintly. Around her, the wind stopped moving. Even the shadows seemed to freeze.

She stared at the twisted gate in the distance. At the center of it… stood Rav'kan.

He saw her. And smiled.

"I was expecting someone stronger," Rav'kan said, his voice deep and mocking. "But… you'll do for warmup."

Selene didn't answer. She just adjusted her gloves, her face calm.

Then a gust of wind roared behind her.

Raina and Kael landed.

Kael's blade hissed with heat, still red from battle. Raina's steps were silent, but her elemental aura was already humming—wind around her arms, water pulsing at her feet, tiny sparks of lightning snapping around her shoulders.

Selene glanced back. "Nice of you to join."

Kael cracked his neck. "Would've been faster if Raina didn't stop to ice an entire ridge."

Raina said nothing, but she gave him a look. Kael wisely shut up.

Selene turned back to Rav'kan.

"He's strong," she said softly. "Try not to get cocky."

"Stronger than the last one?" Kael asked, shifting his grip on the sword.

"No comparison," she replied. "This one feels… ancient."

As if on cue, Rav'kan moved.

But he didn't charge. He walked—slowly, each step echoing like a drumbeat. The air around him shimmered from the heat. The land warped under his feet.

The moment he crossed a certain line—

BOOM.

The three charged.

Kael went high, launching forward with his blade lit in flame.

Selene zipped low, shadows dancing at her feet as she moved like a blur.

Raina raised both hands—pillars of rock burst from the ground, trying to box Rav'kan in. At the same time, lightning shot from her fingers, slicing toward his chest.

But Rav'kan didn't dodge.

He smiled.

He swung his arm once—and a shockwave erupted.

The ground cracked like glass. Kael was sent flying sideways, caught midair by Selene's shadow grip. Raina barely shielded herself as her own earth barrier shattered into dust.

Rav'kan tilted his head, gold eyes glowing brighter.

"Is that it?" he rumbled.

Selene landed, breathing lightly. "Tch."

Kael grunted, rolling to his feet. "Okay… yeah. That was strong."

Raina narrowed her eyes, the air around her humming louder.

This wasn't going to be a quick fight.

But somewhere else—far above them, on the edge of a crumbling satellite tower—

Adam stood.

Hands in his coat pockets. Watching silently.

No one sensed him. Not even Rav'kan.

His gaze followed every movement. Every mistake. Every success.

He said nothing.

But his foot tapped once against the steel beam he stood on.

He was thinking.

Calculating.

And if the glint in his eye meant anything…

He wasn't planning to stay hidden much longer.

The sky cracked again—this time with thunder.

A streak of violet light tore through the clouds as Victoria arrived, time warping around her with a strange distortion. One second, the world felt still—the next, she was standing beside Selene like she'd always been there. Her battlesuit flared gently in the wind, hair pulled back into a ponytail that shimmered with faint traces of chronal energy.

She glanced around, eyes landing on Rav'kan.

"Huh," she muttered. "Ugly."

Kael looked up from where he was wiping blood from his mouth. "Took your sweet time."

"I stopped to pick up someone," she said casually.

And then—

Lightning crashed from the sky.

A jagged bolt tore through the clouds, and with it came a rumbling pressure that made even Rav'kan pause. A tall man descended slowly through the smoke, not falling—floating. Storm clouds curled behind him like a cape. His eyes sharp, and he wore a wide-brimmed hat tilted slightly over one eye.

He landed with a thud.

Franklin.

Barefoot. Shirtless. A swirling storm orbited his entire body—lightning crawling over his arms, rain steaming from his skin, wind howling around him like a pack of wolves.

"Looks like I missed a party," he said, cracking his knuckles.

Raina blinked. "Wait… is that—?"

"Adam's granddad," Kael muttered, half in awe, half in disbelief. "You're joking."

"Nope," Victoria said, smirking. "Dragged him outta retirement."

Franklin rolled his shoulders, joints popping. "Didn't come for your mess, though. Came 'cause this guy," he nodded at Rav'kan, "messes with the weather like he owns it."

Rav'kan tilted his head slightly. For the first time… he actually seemed curious.

Selene didn't waste the chance. "Can we focus?"

The tension thickened.

Rav'kan lifted a hand—and fire bloomed around him. It didn't spread like normal flame. It folded into the air, pulsing in strange waves.

Franklin raised his hand. Stormclouds twisted into a spear.

Victoria stepped forward, time slowing around her. Her movements looked like echoes, like she was skipping through moments instead of walking.

Kael's blade lit up again, hotter this time.

Selene vanished into shadow.

Raina clenched her fists. Earth cracked. Water surged. Lightning danced.

The battlefield trembled.

And far above…

Adam was still watching.

His eyes narrowed a little.

His fingers tapped once more.

Then he vanished.

No sound. No flash.

Just gone.

Like he'd never been there.

Elsewhere

Tatia stood over the motionless body, blood dripping from her knuckles. Her breath came in sharp bursts. Dirt and ash smeared across her face, strands of hair stuck to her skin with sweat. The ground around her was cracked and blackened. Silent now.

Then soft footsteps behind her.

She didn't turn. "You always show up after the fun's over."

Gloria sighed as she walked up, brushing dust from her jeans. "Sorry, mom. Missed your message. Signal sucks around here." She gave a lazy smile, offering her hand.

Tatia took it, letting Gloria pull her up. "Still should've come earlier."

Before Gloria could respond, the air shifted.

Pressure. Heavy. A monstrous aura tore toward them like a missile. Gloria's smile vanished.

"Move—!" Tatia shouted, but it was too fast.

In that split second—someone appeared.

A blur.

No flashy entrance. No glowing symbols.

Just movement. Sharp and sudden.

The figure slid between them and the attack, grabbed the incoming enemy by the face mid-lunge—then hurled him sideways like a sack of potatoes.

A loud crash followed, rocks splitting from impact.

Dust flew.

The figure stood still for a beat.

Then turned around, casual as ever.

"Hey, Grandma. Aunt."

He smiled.

Tatia blinked. "You…"

Gloria let out a breath. "Took your time."

The boy just scratched the back of his head, grinning. "Traffic."

And behind them… the one who got thrown was already crawling out of the crater, pissed. The next round was coming. But now, the sides were even.

And maybe more fun.