Three days had passed since the harrowing battle in the forest. The infirmary beds that once cradled broken bodies now stood empty. Marcus, Kael, and Lira stood on a practice ground at dawn, the pale morning sun casting long shadows across the gravel-covered training area. Each of them was moving with precision, their strikes sharper, their footwork more controlled.
Sweat glistened on Marcus's brow as he ducked beneath one of Kael's heavy swings, countering with a fiery jab of his palm. A spark of blue fire flared from his fingertips, forcing Kael to hop back.
"Your flames are more controlled now," Kael grunted, shaking off the heat with a grin. "They used to be wild, like a bonfire. Now they're more like a blowtorch."
Marcus huffed. "That near-death experience must've taught me discipline."
Lira twirled her twin daggers with a flourish, summoning a delicate snow mist that coated the ground. "And I've got more control over my ice. I can split my focus better now."
Kael nodded as he flexed his arm, where his stone-infused skin shimmered faintly. "I unlocked a new level of connection to the earth. My armor is stronger, lighter. I feel like I can shape the battlefield itself."
After an hour of intense sparring and drills, the three collapsed onto a shaded bench nearby. Lira passed around a jug of water and a tray of orange slices. The moment of calm allowed their thoughts to settle.
"So," Marcus said between bites, "what now?"
Kael leaned back, eyes toward the sky. "We're healed. We've grown. I say we take on a ruin exploration. Put this growth to the test."
Lira nodded. "Sounds good to me. We can check with the USA center for nearby ruins."
"If there's nothing nearby, we move to the next city," Marcus added, stretching his arms. "Let's not sit still too long."
Refreshed and cleaned up, they regrouped outside the Virelia USA branch center. The building was alive with activity—runners dashed between terminals, shouting over each other, officers barked orders, and the hum of preparation buzzed in the air.
"What the hell is going on?" Marcus muttered.
They approached a familiar receptionist who, upon seeing them, straightened with nervous energy.
"Oh! You three. I—I wasn't sure if you'd come back," she said.
"We're here to look for a ruin assignment," Kael said, glancing around. "But it looks like the world's ending."
The receptionist hesitated, biting her lip. Then, recognition dawned. "You were the ones who helped defeat Dog and Mouse, right?"
The trio nodded.
"Then you deserve to know. The Goat's location has been confirmed. It's nearby. HQ received a direct transmission from an unknown source. The Head of USA is personally overseeing the operation, and our branch is leading the charge."
Marcus, Lira, and Kael exchanged a tense look. Their expressions hardened with determination. Then, in perfect unison, they turned back to the receptionist.
"We want to help."
Before she could respond, a deep voice cut through the chaos. "USA would be honored to have you join us."
They turned to see the Branch Manager himself—Vice-General Darius Korvain—striding toward them in full tactical gear. He offered them a sharp nod.
"Glad to see you three back on your feet. We need every able warrior we can get."
"We're ready," Marcus said.
"Good. The convoy leaves in twenty minutes. Get to your vehicles."
As the massive USA convoy rumbled through dense woodland roads, armored transports and scout bikes moved in a tight formation. Marcus, Kael, and Lira sat inside one of the lead vehicles, their expressions tense.
Lira glanced at Marcus. "So... who sent the intel?"
Marcus shrugged. "They said it came straight to HQ. But no source."
Kael narrowed his eyes. "That feels... off. Could be a trap."
Marcus leaned forward, voice low. "If it's a trap, we break it."
Meanwhile, far away, Ryun stood before a tactical map, tracing lines across potential coordinates.
"The message was genuine," he muttered to himself. "But the sender... remains unknown. Still, we can't afford to ignore it. I'll go myself. The others will check decoy ruins."
The convoy halted at a ridge. Below lay a valley, quiet and green—too quiet.
"Move out!" Darius's voice barked.
As the enforcers descended into the valley, an eerie wind swept through the trees. Then, without warning, shadowy figures emerged from the foliage—dozens of them, clad in bone-white armor with twisted horns adorning their helms.
"The Goat's followers!" someone shouted.
Chaos erupted.
Kael roared, his arms hardening to stone as he slammed into the first wave. Earth spiked upward, impaling enemies with brutal efficiency. He ducked under a scythe slash, countering with a rising uppercut that shattered armor.
Lira dashed through the chaos, her daggers a blur. Ice laced her every movement, freezing weapons mid-swing and tripping her enemies. She flipped over a charging brute, drove both blades into his back, and rolled cleanly as another came from the side.
Marcus moved like fire incarnate. Every punch sent waves of heat rippling through the battlefield. His flames burned blue and gold, melting weapons and armor alike. He spun, unleashing a spiraling torrent that consumed half a squad in one motion.
"They just keep coming!" Kael shouted, blood streaming from a cut above his eye.
"But we're pushing them back!" Lira yelled, stabbing a foe through the neck.
The USA enforcers rallied, forming tight squads and retaking ground. Tactical shields absorbed spells. Snipers picked off spellcasters. Medics dashed between cover, reviving the fallen.
Then—
The earth rumbled.
The battle paused. Even the followers hesitated.
A sound like tearing metal echoed across the valley. Then the ground cracked.
From the shattered earth, a giant hand—metallic and gleaming—burst through.
"What the hell?!" Marcus gasped.
The hand was followed by an arm, then a shoulder. Stone and soil erupted as the Overlord Machine rose.
Forty feet tall, carved from blackened alloy and etched with glowing runes, it looked less like a machine and more like a deity of war. Its chest housed a massive core, pulsing with crimson energy. Horn-like protrusions crowned its helm, and long, blade-like fingers flexed as it straightened to full height.
A hush fell over the battlefield.
Everyone stared.
Then, a deep, distorted voice echoed from within the machine's chest:
"Witness the birth of chaos."
A cruel, booming laugh followed.
Inside the Overlord's cockpit, Goat sat upon a throne of wires and light. His eyes glowed behind a helmet shaped like a skull.
Marcus felt his knees tremble. Not from fear, but sheer pressure.
"It's like... it's staring into the void," he whispered.
Kael clenched his fists. "We're not backing down."
Lira tightened her grip on her blades. "Then we strike first."
And as the Overlord raised its arm, powering up a blast of crimson destruction, the real battle began.