A commanding voice rang out through the enclosed tunnel.
"Don't move!"
The soldiers tightened their formation, spear tips inching closer. The narrow cylindrical space left little room to maneuver, and for a brief second, the group understood that if they hesitated, they would be completely overwhelmed.
A tall man stepped forward from the ranks, his armor more refined than the others, his posture radiating authority.
"I am the commander of these soldiers," he announced firmly. "Surrender yourselves peacefully, and we will grant you a painless death."
His voice was steady, almost polite, but the threat was absolute.
Before anyone could respond, Cosmic moved.
With one powerful slash, he split the glass tunnel vertically. The reinforced structure cracked and shattered, sunlight pouring through the opening as the entire cylinder split apart. Without wasting a second, Cosmic launched himself upward into the open sky.
Anthony followed immediately.
Adrian grabbed Riley instinctively and flew after them. Carrying her slowed him down slightly, and he could feel the strain building in his muscles, but he didn't complain.
Behind them, soldiers shouted orders, and alarms echoed across the city once more.
They didn't stop flying.
For ten straight minutes, they pushed themselves forward, weaving between towering buildings and aerial traffic routes. The wind cut against their faces, and the exhaustion from the earlier battle began catching up to them.
Eventually, they spotted a vast green area outside the main city center.
It looked like a forest.
As they descended, they realized the trees were artificial—crafted from advanced materials that mimicked bark and leaves almost perfectly. Up close, the texture felt real. The ground even had the faint scent of soil. It was an engineered ecosystem, designed for beauty and oxygen production.
"Let's… hide here for a little while," Anthony said, breathing heavily.
"I agree," Adrian responded, his voice strained. He was clearly the most exhausted from carrying Riley the entire time.
They moved deeper into the artificial forest until they were concealed by dense foliage. The distant sounds of sirens and military movement faded slightly.
Anthony leaned against a tree and, within seconds, fell asleep.
Cosmic did the same.
"They fell asleep in THIS situation?!" Adrian whispered in disbelief.
But he understood. They had fought hundreds of soldiers, destroyed jets, and flown for miles without rest.
Riley looked down, guilt visible in her expression. "I'm sorry if I'm the reason you're this exhausted."
Adrian shook his head gently. "It's fine. I'd be this tired even if I wasn't carrying you."
She nodded quietly.
The forest was calm. Artificial birds emitted soft programmed chirps. The sunlight filtered through synthetic leaves.
After a while, even Adrian's eyes grew heavy.
One by one, they all drifted into sleep.
Meanwhile…
High above the city, from within a skyscraper, Lucius stood near a large window overlooking the chaos below. Smoke still rose from certain districts, and military forces continued mobilizing.
He had watched everything unfold.
A slow grin spread across his face.
"Don't worry," Lucius whispered softly. "I'll put an end to your misery very soon."
His eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Meanwhile…
Ren sat alone at a quiet outdoor restaurant, calmly drinking tea. The city around him buzzed with tension, but he remained composed.
"Hm… I don't feel so lazy anymore," he murmured to himself, staring into his cup. "I suppose I should kill them. After all, they humiliated me."
For once, he wasn't smiling.
"But the question is… where would I find them?" he continued thoughtfully. "They're probably hiding somewhere while the soldiers hunt them down."
As he leaned back in his chair, his mask suddenly slipped from his face and fell to the ground.
Ren froze.
People nearby saw him.
One by one, civilians who recognized his face immediately dropped to their knees. Shock and reverence filled their expressions.
The entire restaurant fell silent.
"God damn it," Ren muttered under his breath.
Among those kneeling was the very same commander who had tried to force Adrian's group to surrender earlier. He lowered his head deeply before speaking.
"I am honored to be in your presence," the commander said respectfully. "God of this planet… Ren."
The title hung heavily in the air.
And for the first time since arriving on Earth B, Ren had no choice but to acknowledge exactly who he was here.