The wind blew gently across the mountain as Luz slowly opened his eyes. The sun was already up.
"Ugh... I overslept..." he muttered, rubbing his head.
But then... a spark.
A spark of light flared inside his palm.
"Huh?!" Luz stood up quickly and focused his energy. A beam—small but real—burst out and hit a nearby rock.
"I... I did it! I really did it!!"
Excited, he rushed down the trail into the city.
He ran past streets and homes, searching until he spotted Jay—his old drunk mentor—sitting in front of a bar, chugging down another bottle.
"Old man!! I mastered it now!" Luz shouted.
"Huh?" Jay looked up, eyes half-open. "Show me..."
Luz raised his hand, focused, and released the light beam again. It flew straight into a bottle near Jay and shattered it.
"HEY!" the bartender yelled. "You're paying for that!"
"Run!" Luz shouted.
Jay and Luz dashed down the alley, turning corners until they finally hid behind a wall.
"I think we lost them..." Luz panted.
"So?" Luz asked. "Was that good?"
Jay burped. "You did it. But that's nothing. A small beam won't kill anyone. Keep training. Improve your energy. Control the flow."
"No, YOU guide me!" Luz argued.
"No, no... I'm too old for that. I got drinking to do..." Jay waved, disappearing behind the alley.
"Ugh! That old man!" Luz shouted.
Still, he didn't stop. He went back to the forest, punching trees, jumping between branches, repeating his energy control.
Then, in the distance, he saw light soldiers walking past on patrol.
"I can't wait to be one of them," Luz whispered with determination.
He knew the next military intake was next year. Until then, he'd train harder than ever.
In the treetops, Jay watched silently.
"That kid... he really gives it his all," he said with a small grin.
---
Back in Argos...
"Fight!!" Den shouted as his chains tore through the enemy lines.
"Ino, beside me! Don't fall back!"
"Kyra!" Den barked. "Guard Elena while she heals Liu!"
Kyra held her trumpet-like sword close, keeping the area safe. Elena worked quickly, her hands glowing with a soft, healing light.
The dark army fought hard, but the five survivors fought harder.
Chains slashed, martial arts crushed bones, trumpet blasts shattered the ground.
"Gaaah!" Ino shouted, kicking two soldiers into a tree.
"RAAAAHHH!!" Den spun, slicing through five enemies in one swing.
One by one... the dark army fell. Panic began to spread among them.
"They're just kids! How are they so strong?!"
"That boy... he's not ordinary…!" one dark soldier shouted before running away.
Den stood, covered in scratches, but his eyes burning with rage.
"Leave Argos... or DIE like the rest!!"
The remaining soldiers dropped their weapons and fled in fear.
"Kyra!" Den called. "Blast your trumpet. Let Biringan know… we did it."
Kyra nodded and played her trumpet-blade. The sound echoed across the sky.
---
In Biringan...
Bin looked up as the signal reached the city.
"They did it... they really won," he said. "Send our army. Guard Argos now. Bring the kids home."
---
The five heroes returned to Biringan. Soldiers clapped. Bin greeted them at the gates.
"You did great, all of you," Bin said. "Many didn't make it... but you five freed Argos from the dark's grip. You were brave. Strong. And Den… you led them to victory. I'm proud."
They were all given rest. Liu lay in her room, bandaged but alive.
Elena stayed nearby, watching over her.
Den and Ino left headquarters, walking quietly through the city.
And that's when they saw him.
Luz.
"Hey, Luz!" Ino waved. "We just got back."
"You guys were on that mission, right?" Luz asked. "Did you… win?"
"We did," Den said with a proud but tired smile.
"That's amazing... I wish I was there."
"You will be," Den said, placing a hand on Luz's shoulder. "Maybe not this year… but next year for sure. I believe in you."
Luz's eyes widened.
Finally... someone believed in him.
And that was enough to push him further.