The cold wind swept across the forest floor as Oliver's unconscious body lay still at the base of the hill. The moon cast a pale light on the world, and the crackle of a small campfire echoed in the silence.
Oliver groaned, opening his one good eye. His vision blurred, but he saw the shadow of a man sitting beside the fire, tearing into roasted chicken. The scent of meat filled the air.
"Finally awake?" the man said, not turning.
Oliver blinked hard, adjusting to the dim light.
"J-Jack…?" he muttered, shocked.
It was him. The former captain of Astryx. Thought to be dead.
"Eat something," Jack said, tossing him a piece of meat without looking.
Still confused, Oliver took the food and bit into it. The warmth settled in his stomach, but his mind churned.
"How… are you alive?" Oliver asked.
Jack chuckled quietly, still staring into the fire. "When I fell… the elf created a clone. The one you saw die wasn't me. They smuggled me out and saved me."
"But why hide?" Oliver asked, narrowing his eye.
"To prepare," Jack said. His tone grew darker. "To take revenge."
"Revenge… on Kai?"
Jack looked at Oliver now. His eyes burned with quiet fury.
"Kai sent you and Kol to die. That was never about killing Kian—it was about testing him. Seeing how strong he's become."
Oliver's heart skipped a beat.
"You're saying… Kai was the one who killed Joe?"
Jack nodded. "I saw it with my own eyes. He stabbed Joe during a moment of weakness. Joe never saw it coming."
The campfire cracked louder.
"But why?" Oliver asked, still stunned.
Jack turned his gaze to the moon, his expression cold.
"Because Kai wants something from Kian. Something more than just power. And he's willing to betray anyone—Joe, me… even you—to get it."
The fire popped again.
"I'm going to destroy him," Jack said. "But I need time. And when the moment comes… I'll make sure he sees it coming."
Meanwhile — Astryx Palace
Kai stood atop the grand balcony, overlooking the new palace.
The structure was sleek, elegant, and pulsing with magical defenses.
Behind him, an elf bowed slightly.
"The reconstruction is complete, my lord."
Kai took a sip from a silver goblet, admiring the view.
"Your clones work beautifully," Kai said with a smile. "I must say… I love this palace."
But his smile was cold.
His eyes—focused far beyond the horizon—held something deeper.
Something dangerous.
In the throne chamber of the newly rebuilt Astryx Palace, tension hung in the air like a storm about to break.
"Commander," one of the elves stepped forward, lowering his head respectfully. "Many of our operatives have been defeated. What are your next orders?"
Kai stood silently for a moment, his eyes locked on the glowing crystal floating above the map table. Then he smiled.
"Do not worry," he said. "I've already called for replacements. They'll be arriving… any moment now."
As if on cue, the sky above the palace rumbled.
A sleek black spaceship pierced through the clouds, descending rapidly toward the palace grounds. The air shimmered with heat as its thrusters roared to a halt.
Kai turned to the entrance. "They've arrived."
He walked to the landing platform with calm steps, his long coat trailing behind him. Jack, standing silently nearby in the shadows, followed him.
The ship's hatch opened with a hiss, and four figures stepped out—each radiating a terrifying presence.
Kai gestured proudly.
"Meet our new elite team," he said to Jack and the nearby elves. "Stronger than the ones who failed me."
He pointed at the first man—tall, muscular, his arms wrapped in black energy.
"Yan. He's more physically powerful than Kol. His raw strength can level cities."
Then to the second—lean, calculating, eyes glowing faintly with intelligence.
"Kolen. Faster than Joe ever was. And with an IQ surpassing even jack."
Next was the woman—slim, sharp-eyed, her hands already forming weapons from shimmering energy.
"Mutin. She can forge any weapon from her aura. Blade, gun, shield… even bombs."
Finally, the last man stepped forward, surrounded by swirling flames.
"And he jaem. A being of pure fire. His aura is limitless. He doesn't burn out. He's unstoppable."
The air grew heavy. The watching elves whispered among themselves, nervous. Even kai raised an eyebrow.
Kai turned back, a confident smirk forming.
"With this team… we'll hunt Kian down. No more games."
The camera feeds behind him flickered, locking onto Kian's last known location.
Kai narrowed his eyes.
"This time, we finish it."