Max's fingers danced across his device, the screen reflecting in his narrowed eyes. Beside him, Ash stood motionless, arms crossed, thoughts churning.
'This doesn't make sense…' His gaze locked onto Jov. Flames flickered around the man's fingertips, heat warping the air. 'Weren't all other fire users wiped out?'
As if hearing him, Max spoke, never pausing in his work. "The Burns family was supposed to be extinct. Dad's the only one left. Did Apex mess with something?"
Ash exhaled sharply but didn't answer. Before he could process it, the ground beneath them rumbled.
A low, grinding noise.
Then—the earth split.
Jagged stone erupted from below, coiling around Kael's limbs, locking him in place.
His flames flared, but the rock held firm. His eyes widened. "What—?"
Laughter rang through the battlefield.
Jov stood tall, amusement dancing in his eyes. "I bet you weren't expecting that."
Max's head snapped up, fingers stilling. "Another ability?"
Jov stretched out his arm, fire gathering at his palm, swelling, twisting into a blazing orb. Heat rippled outward, distorting the air.
"Now die."
The fireball roared to life, crackling, expanding. Then—he let it loose.
It streaked toward Kael, a molten streak in the air.
Then—
A glint of silver.
The fireball split in two, flames scattering, the impact sending embers spiraling into the sky.
Ash landed between them, blade gleaming, smoke curling from its edge. His grip steady. His stance unshaken.
Jov's grin flickered. "Oh?"
Ash raised his sword, flames still hissing off the metal. His voice was low, steady.
"You talk too much."
Ash didn't look back. His grip on the sword remained firm. "You good?"
Kael flexed his fingers, rolling his shoulders. Heat rippled off his skin. "Yeah. He just caught me off guard." His gaze flicked toward Max. "But that—what he just did—shouldn't be possible, right?"
Max's eyes stayed glued to his device, scanning lines of shifting data. "Fire and Earth can exist together… but not like this." His brow furrowed. "A person shouldn't be able to wield both unless they're born with two Veinflow."
Kael's gaze sharpened. "Then is this hybrid Vein?"
Max shook his head. "No. Hybrid Vein happens when two Veins fuse at birth. It's seamless. But this? It's forced. Artificial. Unstable."
Ash's fingers tightened around his blade. "Then how's he handling two Veins at once?"
Max swiped across his screen, pulling up Jov's energy signature. "His Vein signature is pure Fire. If he had true hybrid vein, his energy would be evenly split between Fire and Earth. But look—" He turned the screen slightly. "His Earth flow is weaker. Fragmented. It doesn't blend naturally—it's being forced through his system."
Ash's jaw tensed. "That's not natural… but I've heard of something like this before." His voice dipped lower. "Mom mentioned a guy once. Someone who could wield almost four different Veinflows. Maybe more."
Max's expression darkened. "Yeah… the war back then." His fingers flew across the screen, zooming in on Jov's stone-embedded arm. "That arm… it's not his."
Kael stilled.
Max's voice was quiet, but firm. "It belonged to an Earth user. A Master Veinflow user. Apex must've grafted it onto him, forcing his body to accept a second Veinflow."
Flames crackled around Kael's fists. His breath came out heated. "So he's cheating."
Max shook his head. "Not exactly." His fingers tapped a command, bringing up deeper readings. "The arm is fully integrated. It's part of him now. He's using its Veinflow like it's his own. But it's unstable."
Ash's grip tightened on his sword. "Fire and Earth don't mix. Forcing them together…" He exhaled. "His Vein system must be in chaos."
Max nodded. "Exactly. His body is constantly struggling to balance both. And that's where we can break him."
Ash's stance shifted, ready. "What's the plan?"
A slow smirk crept onto Max's face. "That arm isn't fully synchronized with his core Veinflow." He tilted his device slightly. "If we just let him keep using his fire moves, his body won't be able to keep up. The Earth Veinflow will destabilize."
Kael cracked his knuckles. Flames danced at his fingertips. "So we burn him out."
Max nodded once. "Push his Fire Veinflow to the limit. Force the imbalance. His own power will do the rest."
Kael rolled his shoulders, flames rising higher. "Fine by me."
Jov's lip curled. "You brats just gonna stand there chatting while I'm right here?" His knuckles cracked as he flexed his fingers. "Tch. Since you interrupted my duel, my men might as well return the favor."
A sharp whine cut through the air.
Then—chaos.
Laser fire rained down from above, streaking toward them like a relentless storm.
"[Activating skill: Storm Vein.]"
"[Activating skill: static sruge.]"
Ash moved first. His sword flashed, slicing through the incoming beams in a blur of motion. Sparks flared as he twisted between the shots, each precise movement deflecting the blasts away from himself and Kael.
Max didn't even flinch. His hand flicked up, and a shimmering force field snapped into place around him. The incoming fire slammed against it, rippling across the translucent barrier before fizzling out. Not a single shot made it through.
Jov grinned, his eyes gleaming. "Let's see how long you can keep that up."
Kael exhaled, slow and controlled. Heat crackled around him, his body tensing as raw power surged through his veins. Flames licked at the edges of his fingertips, the ground beneath him darkening under the growing intensity.
"I'll make you pay for that."
Jov chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh? Still got some fight left in you?"
Kael's lips curled into a grin. "Max, Ash—you two go find whatever Apex is after. I'll handle this guy myself."
Max hesitated. "You sure?"
Kael rolled his shoulders, the fire surrounding him pulsing in response. "Of course."
A shift rippled through the air.
Max sighed, rubbing his temple. "Damn, I knew you'd pull this." But despite his words, a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Good thing I came prepared."
Then it happened.
The heat around Kael condensed, wrapping around him like a living force. His muscles swelled, every fiber in his body expanding as his strength surged. The single red streak in his hair bled outward, consuming every strand in crimson fire. But his suit didn't tear apart—instead, it reacted, disassembling into floating shards that hovered around him like embers caught in a storm.
His hands curled into claws, thick red fur spreading across his arms in jagged streaks of black, mirroring a tiger's stripes. His legs twisted, reshaping into powerful feline limbs, each step cracking the ground beneath him. His feet shifted, claws digging into the scorched earth. His arms followed, stretching, shifting—fire-resistant fur merging with hardened skin, forming something beyond human.
Then his face changed.
Bones cracked. His jaw elongated, reshaping into something primal—a beast's maw lined with jagged fangs. His eyes, once sharp and human, burned with molten red, glowing like embers in the dark.
His breath came out in slow, heavy puffs, heat distorting the air around him.
Then, as if answering his transformation, the floating shards of his suit snapped back into place. They embedded themselves across his new form, locking together into sleek, armor-like plating, reinforcing his beast-like body.
Ash's grip tightened around his sword. His stance shifted slightly, his eyes flickering with something unreadable.
'Is he gonna lose control… like last time?'
Jov just grinned. "Now that's more like it."
Kael exhaled, steam curling from his lips. His voice rumbled, low and guttural.
"Haha… now, let's see if you can handle this."
Jov's smirk wavered. His eyes narrowed, muscles tensing as he studied Kael's stance. "I've heard about this form… but I thought only Flame could do it."
Kael bared his fangs, firelight gleaming off his sharp teeth. His grin stretched wide, predatory. "Like I said… I'm the son of Flame. If you want him, you go through me first."
The air thickened. Heat radiated from Kael's body, waves of distortion rippling outward. Then, without a word, his jaws parted—fire erupted forth, roaring like a living beast.
The flames carved through the battlefield, engulfing the Apex ships in an instant. Metal twisted, hulls rupturing as explosions bloomed across the darkened sky. Smoke coiled upward, debris scattering like embers in a storm.
Kael turned, glowing eyes locking onto Max and Ash. His lips curled, excitement crackling beneath his voice. "Go. I'll hold them off." His clawed fingers flexed, heat pulsing from his body. "Right now… they're nothing to me."
Max let out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair before turning away. "Fine. I've pinpointed the object they're after. Just keep them busy until we secure it." He strode forward without looking back.
Ash lingered. His gaze flickered over Kael, unreadable. A pause stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words. Then, with a slight nod, he turned and followed Max into the darkness.
Jov sneered, stepping forward. "You really think I'd just let you walk away?"
Flames burst from his hands, launching him toward Max and Ash like a missile.
BOOM!
A blur of motion. A shockwave tore through the battlefield. Jov barely registered the impact before he was sent hurtling sideways, smashing into the dirt. The ground cracked beneath him, dust rising in thick plumes.
Groaning, he pushed himself up, shaking off the daze. His vision cleared just in time to see a massive paw lowering from the strike.
Kael loomed over him, fire licking at his fur. His red eyes burned through the smoke, locked onto Jov with an unspoken challenge.
"You want them?" Kael rumbled. "Go through me first."
Jov spat to the side, rolling his shoulders as he stood. His glare flicked toward the Apex troopers behind him. "What the hell are you waiting for?! Get after them!"
The troopers hesitated. Their grips tightened on their weapons, eyes darting between Jov and the beast standing before them. Fear flickered in their stances.
Then, the air shifted. A gust of wind, sharp and unnatural, cut through the battlefield. It carried weight—a silent command.
The hesitation vanished. Eyes hardened. Weapons raised.
They charged.
Kael chuckled, a deep, rolling sound. "Oh? So you're ready to die?"
He inhaled, heat surging through his chest. Flames gathered in his maw, burning brighter with every second. Just as he prepared to unleash the inferno—
CRACK!
A pillar of stone erupted beneath him, slamming into his jaw with brutal force. His head snapped back, flames sputtering out as he stumbled.
Kael shook off the impact, a growl rumbling in his throat. He flexed his claws, rolling his neck.
"Great," he muttered. "Earth. This is gonna be a pain."
————
Max and Ash raced through the battlefield, weaving between wreckage and debris. Every second counted. The enemy was closing in.
Then—light flared behind them.
A hail of red-hot lasers streaked through the air, tearing into the ground at their heels. Explosions lit up the path, sending dust and metal flying.
Max threw up a hand. A translucent blue barrier flickered to life around them. The incoming blasts slammed into the shield, scattering in a shower of sparks.
Ash's grip tightened around his blade. "I'll cut them down." He stepped forward, muscles coiled, ready to strike.
Max caught his arm. "No. There's too many." His gaze flicked over the approaching soldiers—some wore reinforced armor, their movements sharp, disciplined. "Elites."
Ash scowled. "So what? You think I can't take them?"
Max pressed a small device into his palm. "You can fight. But this mission isn't about fighting. Get to the target." His voice was firm, unwavering. "I'll hold them here."
Ash's fingers curled around the device. His jaw clenched, frustration burning in his eyes. Then, after a brief hesitation, he exhaled sharply and turned away.
"Don't die," he muttered before vanishing into the chaos.
Max turned to face the advancing enemy, a smirk forming on his lips. "Well… I guess it's about time I showed off a little."
He cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders. Sparks flickered along his fingertips as he tapped a switch on his wrist.
Metal shifted. Gears whirred.
From his back, sleek mechanical arms unfurled, their tips glowing with pulsing energy.
One of the Apex troopers faltered. "Tch… Combat enhancements?"
Another scoffed. "Doesn't matter. He's just a support guy. Overwhelm him!"
They opened fire. A wall of red-hot lasers tore through the air, engulfing Max in a storm of light. Smoke and dust billowed from the impact site.
Silence.
Then—
BZZZT!
A single energy beam ripped through the haze, carving through the troopers in a clean, unbroken line before detonating in the distance.
As the dust cleared, Max stood in the wreckage, now clad in a reinforced exo-suit. His shield hummed in front of him, absorbing residual heat. The mechanical arms on his back twitched, tracking movement, their cores brimming with power.
One trooper stumbled back. "What… what the hell is this guy?"
Max grinned. "You thought I was the weakest? Might wanna rethink that."
The arms adjusted. A flick of his wrist—
BOOM!
A focused energy blast erupted from his palm, tearing through the battlefield. The shockwave sent bodies sprawling, leaving a deep, scorched trench where the troopers once stood.
But more were coming.
Silhouettes emerged from the smoke, regrouping with precision. Their commanding officer, a towering soldier in reinforced armor, barked orders. "Surround him! Focus fire on one point—overload the shield!"
The coordinated barrage struck a single section of Max's barrier. His shield flickered, lines of energy crackling along its edges.
Max clicked his tongue. "Smart. But not smart enough."
The mechanical arms shifted again—two redirected downward, releasing a controlled burst of energy. A shockwave of dust and debris exploded outward, shrouding the battlefield in thick smoke.
The troopers hesitated.
That was all he needed.
Small drones shot from his suit, scattering through the chaos. Within seconds, multiple identical figures sprinted in different directions.
"Multiple contacts!" A trooper's voice wavered.
"Which one is real?!"
Lasers filled the battlefield, cutting through illusions.
Max's voice echoed from the dust. "For an elite force, you guys sure fall for simple tricks."
Then—
BOOM!
An energy grenade detonated in their ranks, sending soldiers tumbling. The commanding officer snarled. "Tch… Don't fall for it! Switch to thermal vision!"
Max smirked. "Yeah, about that..."
A pulse rippled from his suit. The troopers' visors flared white—thermal sensors fried in an instant.
Shouts of frustration. Disoriented movements.
Before they could recover, Max moved. His arms latched onto a nearby structure, pulling him upward. In seconds, he was above them, a silhouette against the flickering flames below.
The commanding officer cursed. "Find him! Now!"
A trooper raised his scanner. "I—I don't see—"
A precise shot shattered the device.
Max's voice rang out from above.
"Tracking me? Nice try."
Before they could react, lasers rained down—each one hitting its mark. Weapons disabled. Armor scorched. Troopers forced into cover, scrambling in confusion.
One by one, he dismantled their formation, leaving the battlefield in chaos.
The commanding officer clenched his fists. "This guy… He's not just some engineer, is he?"
————
Ash weaved through the battlefield, the device in his grip pulsing with a faint glow. His breaths came steady, but his pulse hammered against his ribs.
A quick glance at the screen—holographic lines shifted, mapping the terrain ahead. A blinking red dot marked his destination.
"Tch…" His fingers tightened around the handle of his blade. "How far is this thing?"
Behind him, the air trembled with distant blasts. Fire and energy clashed, shadows flickering against the smoke-choked sky. Max was still fighting. But for how long?
Ash pushed forward. Each step carved through the debris-strewn ground, his pace unwavering. He had to make it in time.
Then—
A flicker. A glitch on the screen.
Ash's brows knitted together. He tapped the device, and a new message flared across the display:
[WARNING: UNKNOWN ENERGY SIGNATURE DETECTED NEAR TARGET LOCATION]
His grip tightened. A sharp breath left his lips.
"Unknown energy…?" His gaze locked onto the distant horizon.
Something was waiting for him.
Good.
He wasn't stopping.