Inside Vel Temple, chaos reigns. Tables and chairs lie shattered across the marble floor as Baron's team clashes violently with Jayden's.
From her throne at the far end of the hall, Vel watches in irritation. "Why are they ignoring me?" she mutters. "This is my temple."
Two Star guards rush in to intervene but are instantly flung aside by the shockwaves from the battle. In the center, Jayden and Baron trade powerful blows. Magic chains comes out of Baron's arm and whips through the air like bolts of lightning.
"Still holding back, aren't you?" Baron yells, swinging her arm. The chains lash outward, shattering stone pillars and tearing through the air.
Jayden dodges the flurry with fluid precision. Baron's eyes gleam as she shouts, "Can't you see, Jayden? This is fate! I spent all of yesterday fighting for my life in the underground chambers for this bonus power. I'm destined to win the Games!"
Her chains lash again, striking Ambros, Pax, and Rudi. They crash into the walls, the impact echoing through the temple. Baron's team moves in to surround Jayden.
Jayden steadies himself, eyes sharp. "Fushi… you're predict my every move," he says calmly. "So you already know why I'm here.."
Baron snarls. "You're trying to save me? I still see the same weak little brother in your eyes, just like the day our parents died!"
Her team charges. Jayden explodes forward, his movements a blur. One by one, he knocks them all down with single, decisive punches that crack the floor beneath them.
Vel finally steps down from her throne, her patience gone. She kicks Jayden in the face, sending him sliding back. "I said stop it! We're supposed to be a team!"
Baron glares at her. "Then consider us no longer a team! My goal after gaining these powers is him!" She points straight at Jayden.
Vel's takes a look at her magic chains on Baron's arm. "You've also obtain a bonus power, but show some respect, I'm the leader!"
Her lips part, releasing waves of pink, shimmering charm energy that ripple through the hall. Both Jayden and Baron freeze under its spell for a few seconds before shaking it off.
Jayden exhales and mutters, "I'll make this quick… I'm only here to save her."
Baron snaps her chains taut. "Stay out of my way! This does not concern you at all!"
She lunges, her chains slicing through the air. Vel and Jayden dodges the incoming attacks, but Baron redirects the attack toward the others. Jayden's eyes widen, he leaps forward, shoving Rudi, Ambros, and Pax out of the way.
The chains wrap around Jayden's body, tightening fast. He breaks through a few, but more keep binding him. Baron then says with confidence. "Predictable. Always playing the hero."
Her magic intensifies, glowing red. "My bonus power surpasses Vel's! For one time during this stage, if I land a clean hit on a Star's heart, I'll gain full control over them. And I knew you'd come for me. You've always been the strongest mortal I've known, but to me you're no such thing. If I control you, I'll for sure win the first stage!"
The chains pull Jayden closer as she cocks her arm back for a magic strike. But before her punch lands, Vel appears beside her in a flash and drives her fist into Baron's stomach, sending her crashing into the wall.
Vel sighs. "Wrong place, wrong time. If you want to fight, do it somewhere else. Why must I always get my hands dirty?" She looks around in frustration. "Where are my other guards? They should've called for reinforcements by now."
She turns towards the doorway as Pax stands at the temple entrance, his eyes fixed on the horizon. His face is pale.
"He's here," Pax says quietly.
The temple falls silent. Outside, the ground trembles as something monstrous approaches.
Outside the Vel Temple, the ruined lands shake with the sounds of battle. Smoke and dust cloud the sky as Khaos cuts through armies of Stars. Every time his weapon shatters, he simply grabs another from the fallen, continuing his brutal rampage with a low, chilling hum that echoes across the battlefield.
Eventually, he comes face to face with three powerful Stars like Vesper, Hans, and Voytek. Voytek quickly drags the wounded Hans away, realizing the futility of fighting such a monster. Vesper stays behind, blood dripping from his nose, staring at Khaos in disbelief.
"There's no way you're this strong without a bonus power," Vesper says, panting. "In all my life, I've never fought anyone like you."
From behind, Pax steps forward, metal arms gleaming in the fading light. He loads a sword into one arm and arrows into the other. "His name is Khaos," Pax says grimly. "He came from my home planet. And you'll need my help if you want any chance of stopping him."
Vesper smiles through the pain. "Be my guest, I couldn't imagine coming out alive from this fight without help anyways."
Khaos grips a heavy axe, his voice low and cold. "No more running Orda… Let's end it here."
They charge at each other with battle roars.
Back inside the Vel Temple, many of Stars and guards gather as the sounds of battle rumble outside. Vel is still in the doorway, as she mutters, "Who would've imagined that there could be a mortal that powerful with no bonus power. He's so strong that even us all together, we're almost no match to him."
Jayden kneels beside Baron's unconscious body, half-buried in rubble. He brushes her hair aside and whispers, "I'll save you soon, Fushi."
Nearby, Ambros turns to Rudi in panic. "Vesper and Pax are still out there. We need to help them!"
Rudi nods. "Then let's go!" The two rush toward the exit.
Jayden stands and calls out to the other Stars. "Watch over my sister. Restrain her, she might attack when she wakes."
Vel steps forward. "We'll handle her. You go deal with that monster."
Jayden sprints out into the chaos. Outside, the battlefield is silent except for the wind. As the others are scattered on the ground out cold. Only Pax remains standing, battered and bleeding. Khaos picks up a sword and charges. Pax blocks with his arm blade, sparks flying.
Jayden leaps in, slamming his fist into Khaos's chest and driving him into the ground. Pax collapses beside him, gasping. "Took you long enough…"
Jayden then charges into Khaos in a furious clash. Each strike tears the ground apart. Neither side gives in.
From the temple balcony, Vel watches the battle unfold with narrowed eyes. Behind her, Baron, now awake and bound in glowing ropes, steps forward. "You know you need my powers to win this fight," she says.
Vel exhales. "You might be right. Even with all that strength, Jayden's starting to lose. It'd be a shame to lose him."
Baron smiles. "Then let me use my power to control Khaos. With him and my brother on our side, we'll for sure win the first stage together."
Vel tilts her head to Baron. "So you've changed your mind? You want to be part of the team again?"
Baron nods. "I've realized I can't win the Games alone. I'll need more allies."
"Very well." Vel snaps her fingers, dissolving the ropes.
Baron rushes down the long stairway, waiting for her opening. Pax rejoins Jayden, and together they coordinate a fierce assault, blades and fists moving in sync. But Khaos endures everything, countering with monstrous strength and hurling them both into the ground. He breathes heavily, trembling from exhaustion, yet still refuses to fall.
Baron seizes her chance. She leaps forward and slams her magic chain punch into Khaos's chest. The glowing chains pierce his body, binding him in a cage of light.
Jayden's eyes widen. "Stop her! If she controls him—"
"—she'll use him to kill everyone!" Pax finishes his sentence.
They rush forward, but a massive burst of energy erupts from both Khaos and Baron, throwing them backward.
Baron screams. "What is this?! How is this even possible?!"
The chains twist violently, pulling her toward Khaos. Her body merges into his as her magic fuses with his core. The chains around his body turns bright white, as his eyes flash with chaotic light and his red, blue, and violet blood stains around his body also flares wildly.
Then seconds later an explosion of pure radiance. The sky ignites as a beam of light shoots upward, piercing the clouds. When it fades, both Khaos and Baron are gone.
Jayden and Pax stare in disbelief.
"What… just happened?" Pax mutters.
Jayden's voice trembles. "Fushi… Did they both die?"
Pax laughs weakly, falling to his knees. "It's over. He's dead! Finally! He's gone!" He glances at Jayden's pained expression and softens. "I didn't want it to end this way. But her greed… it saved us all."
Moments later, Vel, Ambros, Vesper, Rudi, and dozens of Stars gather around. Vel folds her arms. "Don't be so sad. If you still want to save her, then you'll have to win the Star Games."
Jayden glares. "You're only saying that to use me."
Vesper steps forward, steady and calm. "Even so… you know she's right. It's the only way to save her now."
Ambros adds, "Thank you, Jayden. And you too, Pax. Without you both, we'd all be dead or worse."
Rudi smiles gently. "I got an idea! Since you're both part of the family now. Whenever either of us win the Games, we'll bring everyone back, to life, into a new universe."
Everyone is surprised and nods in agreement into her plan.
Jayden exhales, his sad emotions softening. He smiles faintly. "You're right, Rudi. I'm… grateful I got to save someone as pure as you."
A day later, the sky over the ruined lands darkens as the Bio Dragon descends from the clouds, its roar shaking the shattered world below. It sweeps across the land, spewing toxic mist and shredding everything in its path. As the creature moves toward Vel Temple, where survivors scramble to defend themselves.
Jayden leads the charge, punching through falling debris to rescue trapped Stars.
Pax joins the defense, firing energy-charged arrows from his metal arm, shouting, "This thing's too strong! "
Before long, the sky glows with a radiant flare, Kayle and her team joins the battle with dazzling precision. But no matter how much they fight together, the dragon proves to be too strong.
Even Vel receives a heavy wound, clutching her stomach.
Pax sees this and yells, "We need to run! If we stay, we'll all die here!"
Jayden clenches his fists, torn between retreat and honor, but he nods. "You're right. Everyone, fall back!"
They regroup with Ambros, Vesper, and Rudi, sprinting through the crumbling ruins toward the coast.
When they reach the beach, their relief turns to dread—massive tsunami waves rise from every direction, towering high enough to blot out the sun.
Jayden plants his feet into the sand, eyes glowing with determination. "We'll face it with grace!" he shouts. "I am the Hero of Courage, stay behind me!"
Everyone huddles close behind him as he raises his hands, bracing to strike the wave head-on. The roaring tides close in, ready to engulf them and the entire ruined lands.
Then suddenly, everything stops.
The colossal waves freeze midair, glimmering like glass. In a single flash of light, they crystallize into diamond structures, reflecting the devastated land in haunting beauty.
The group stares in awe.
Jayden races up a nearby hill and stops in shock. "No way…"
Atop a colossal diamond golem, Nox stands strongly, facing the Bio Dragon and the Storm Dragon that has joined.
"Another dragon… yet that Star remains unfazed," Jayden murmurs. "Has he obtained a power that's beyond a bonus power?!"
They watch as Nox and Kayle fight together, their combined might obliterating both combined dragons in a blinding explosion of divine energy with a powerful arrow.
When the battle ends, the group looks up at the two victors standing atop the ruined world.
Ambros breaks the silence. "We should join them. That might be our best chance to survive this stage."
Jayden shakes his head, smiling faintly. "You go ahead. Their group already have heroes strong enough to protect them. I'll head overseas, there are other Stars out there who still need help."
Pax steps forward. "Then I'm with you. You're a hero at heart, and I'm going to stick with you until the end alone."
Rudi nods firmly. "Jayden's my hero too. I can't leave him behind."
Vesper looks toward the distant floating village in the sky.
"Ambros, you're right, we'll survive up there easily. But I've had enough of the easy path with all of the experiences in my life. I came to the Games to experience all that I haven't."
He turns and follows Jayden's group.
Ambros sighs deeply, rubbing his head. "Well… if we die, I'm blaming all of you."
As they sail away on a raft, high above them in the sky floats a glowing sphere of light, wrapped tightly in white chains.
Inside that radiant prison lies a realm of pure white, where Khaos and Baron are locked in a violent struggle, their hands around each other's throats as chains bind their bodies.
Baron shouts, "What are you?!"
Khaos growls back, "I won't let you control me!"
Outside the chained realm, a small polar bear guide materializes from magic mist, followed by the appearance of God's miniature avatar, a luminous figure of divine presence.
The bear spins and says, "Oh wow, this event is an anomaly from the Games. What shall we do?"
God observes the glowing sphere, voice calm yet curious. "I see now. We can only blame the angels for this… but let it be. This mortal has earned most of his strength through relentless adaptation that caused his brain to evolve faster than normal through countless battles he's been through. But no worries his body isn't capable of releasing the true power of an angel."
The bear nods, eyes wide. "Incredible though… we've never seen anything like this throughout all of the Star Games. This year's competition is going to be very interesting!"