In the heart of Stoicheia's kingdom, Supreme Marine General Cristianos stood at the window of his opulent office, hands clasped behind his back. His piercing gaze swept over the sprawling city below, the soft hum of life outside starkly contrasted by the rising tension in the hallway beyond his door.
"You can't go in there!" a Marine's voice barked, frantic with alarm.
"Stop! I said STOP!" another shouted, their protests drowned out by a thunderous BANG as the door burst open, splintering slightly from the force.
Youth strode in, his Grade 2 form active. His glowing crimson eye burned fiercely beneath his eyepatch, and his spear crackled faintly with red energy. Behind him, his gang—Schneizal, Sequana, Vriede, Clarence, Algos, and Gondikas—followed, their faces set with determination and wariness.
The Marines stationed in the room raised their rifles in alarm, the air instantly thick with tension. Before they could act, Algos stepped forward, his commanding voice slicing through the chaos.
"Stand down! Lower your weapons!" he barked.
The Marines hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances before reluctantly obeying. The room fell silent save for the faint hum of energy emanating from Youth's spear.
Cristianos finally turned from the window, his calm, cold smile unnerving the group. He exuded an aura of absolute control, his presence both captivating and terrifying.
"I see you've decided to make this personal," Cristianos said smoothly, his voice as sharp as a blade.
Youth leveled his spear at Cristianos, his voice sharp and cutting.
"You tried to kill me. You sent your soldiers—Thavas and the others—on a fake mission to take me and my friends out!"
Cristianos stepped forward, his calm demeanor never wavering.
"Fake? Oh no. Their mission was real—just not in the way you think." He paused, a flicker of amusement crossing his face.
"You see, I needed to see for myself whether you were worth my time."
"Are you telling me you used your soldiers as bait?" Youth snarled, fury radiating off him.
Cristianos chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"Necessary sacrifices, boy. Now I know exactly what you're capable of—and what that gem in your eye can do. But let's see if you live up to it."
He spread his arms slightly, his calm demeanor shifting into something far sharper.
"If you think you can take me down… then by all means, try."
The air grew suffocating as the tension in the room reached its peak. Youth's crimson eye flickered ominously beneath his eyepatch, and his grip on his spear tightened.
"You should know better than to face me in your state"
Cristianos taunted, his tone mocking.
"You must still be exhausted from your little duel with Thavas."
"Shut up and die already" Youth roared, lunging forward.
His spear crackled with crimson energy as he struck with wild thrusts and powerful swings. But Cristianos dodged each blow effortlessly, his movements precise and calculated.
"Is this it?" Cristianos smirked, his condescension biting.
"You're slower than I thought. Sloppy."
Youth growled in frustration, swinging his spear in a wide arc. Cristianos moved faster. In one swift motion, he caught the spear mid-swing with his bare hand, stopping it cold.
"What—?!" Youth gasped, his shock evident.
Cristianos's smirk faded. He stepped in, grabbed Youth's head with his free hand, and slammed him into the floor with bone-rattling force. The ground cracked from the impact, dust and debris scattering across the room.
Sequana's cry of anger filled the air. Her hand shot up, crackling with violent energy as she summoned a surge of lightning. The air hummed with raw power as she hurled the bolt straight at Cristianos.
The lightning tore through the air, lighting up the room but Cristianos didn't flinch. With a casual swipe of his hand, he deflected the bolt, sending it crashing through the window. The glass shattered in an explosive burst, shards raining outward as the sound echoed through the city.
Outside, Stoicheia's bustling streets fell silent as civilians stopped mid-step, staring up at the shattered window. Smoke and sparks spilled into the sky, drawing every eye to the Marine Headquarters.
From the courtyard below, the Marine Commandos turned sharply toward the explosion. Thavas, still carrying Galleass, narrowed his eyes.
"What the hell?" he muttered, tension in his voice.
Galleass shifted uneasily in his grasp, his voice trembling.
"The Supreme General's office…"
The commandos exchanged uneasy glances, the explosion sparking more questions than answers.
Back in the office, silence reigned. Sequana, wide-eyed, stared at Cristianos in disbelief.
"What?" she whispered, shaken.
Cristianos lowered his hand, his cold gaze settling on her. Before anyone could react, Schneizal stepped forward, his fists clenched tightly. He prepared to charge, but Algos grabbed his shoulder, holding him back.
"Don't," Algos commanded firmly, his voice low and steady.
"You cannot take him down"
Schneizal 's jaw tightened, his frustration evident. "Then help me!" he shouted, his fists shaking.
"Even with our combined strengths, we won't even land a single blow on him" Algos replied with a disappointed look on his face.
He froze, his gaze flickering to Youth's motionless form on the cracked floor. The group's tension was palpable, their options dwindling as the situation spiraled out of control.
The doors suddenly slammed open, and a swarm of Marines poured in, rifles raised. Within moments, the gang was surrounded, the clicking of weapons echoing through the room. Cristianos released his grip on Youth, letting his battered body slump slightly to the ground. Rising to his full height, Cristianos surveyed the group like insects beneath his boot.
"Take them," Cristianos ordered coldly.
"We're done here."
The Marines moved in, grabbing Youth and the others. Schneizal's fists trembled, but he didn't resist, his glare burning holes into Cristianos. Sequana's breath came in ragged bursts, residual energy crackling faintly around her hands.
As Youth was pulled to his feet, he lifted his gaze, his crimson eye flickering faintly with defiance.