Part (1/4) : "The Return of Steel and Secrets"
The next morning dawned with a soft, clear blue sky welcoming the new day. After Akira and his team enjoyed a breakfast that had noticeably improved in flavor, the head chef invited them into the kitchen to help taste and experiment during the cooking process. Light laughter and lively conversations added to the fun of the meal, and the team basked in the warm atmosphere filled with smiles. Breakfast tasted better than ever.
Once they finished eating, they headed to the training grounds to experiment with combining magic and scientific principles. Akira, coming from a world without magic, eagerly offered new ideas no one had considered before. Though their experiments were still in the early stages and far from perfect, there were clear signs of progress—enough to lift everyone's spirits.
As the late morning breeze swept gently past them, signaling the approach of lunchtime, the distant hum of an approaching vehicle echoed across the grounds. Soon, Castro and his entourage reappeared, and everyone felt a rush of excitement seeing them return safely.
Osiris, now in a perfectly restored body, stepped down from the vehicle. Elina immediately ran to her, throwing her arms around her with tears of joy welling in her eyes. Vice Commander Li gently ruffled the hair of his beloved apprentice, while Kelpy Kall—whose body now bore new cybernetic enhancements—approached with a quiet demeanor. Akira and Draco rushed over to greet him, both commenting on how impressive his upgrades looked, and urging him to show off his new abilities. The once-sullen Kelpy couldn't help but smile, his confidence visibly returning.
"And… who's that?" Draco asked, nodding toward a man walking behind Castro. He had a powerful, sharp presence, with piercing blue eyes that gleamed like polished gemstones. His demeanor exuded a level of refinement far beyond that of a typical cyborg.
Castro smiled and spoke in a deep, resonant voice. "He's someone you already know very well… Zekhtau."
The moment the words left Castro's mouth, everyone snapped their heads toward the man in perfect unison. Zekhtau raised his left hand in a casual wave, his expression soft and almost friendly. But in his right hand, he held a white metal staff adorned with intricate blue patterns, gleaming like a sacred weapon.
"Relax," he said with a light chuckle. "I'm not here to fight. I'm on your side now. Don't you remember? I always keep my word."
Most of the team began to ease up, but Akira remained unmoved, arms crossed, his expression skeptical. "And how are we supposed to trust you," he said coolly, "when you were the one who sent Lunar Cipher into our midst—who turned out to be Cain Moonshard?"
The moment Cain's name was spoken aloud, the entire atmosphere shifted. Silence fell over them like a heavy shroud, as if time itself had come to a halt.
"What… does that mean?" Mirelle asked, her voice laced with disbelief.
Akira nodded grimly. "It means Lunar and Cain… they're the same person."
Draco cursed under his breath. "This is insane! We trusted that guy completely, and he was lying to us the whole time?"
Zekhtau watched the unfolding chaos with a faint smile, then raised his hand to signal for calm. "Settle down," he said smoothly. "I'll explain everything… in the conference room."
Still brimming with questions, Akira's team followed him inside. The room's atmosphere was tense, thick with anticipation. Every eye was fixed on Zekhtau, waiting for answers that would forever change how they saw Cain Moonshard…
Part (2/4) : "Moonlit Revelations"
The grand conference room of Castro, usually brimming with solemnity and the hum of advanced technology, felt unusually suffocating today. Akira, Yue, Draco, Mirelle, Elina, Osiris, Vice Commander Li, Kall, Keela, Castro, and Zekhtau were all present, each seated in their respective places.
Castor rose, his voice formal and respectful as he addressed the group. "It is an honor to have the Princess of Skyperion join us today."
Princess Keela raised her hand slightly and offered a warm smile. "Please, just call me Keela. There's no need for formalities here." Her tone radiated friendliness, cutting through the tension that had settled over the room.
The atmosphere relaxed slightly, though Kall remained rigid in his corner, his face tinged a faint red as he stole glances at the elegant princess. For all the battles his warrior's heart had endured, it seemed utterly defenseless against Keela's gentle charm.
"Well then," Zekhtau began, his voice steady and commanding, drawing everyone's attention, "I assume you're all curious about Lunar Cipher, aren't you?"
The team nodded almost in unison, the tension rising once more. Zekhtau's lips curled into a faint smile as he continued, "As you've likely realized, Lunar Cipher, the infamous benevolent thief of Arcadia, is none other than Cain Moonshard… You never noticed the connection between their names?"
The realization dawned across the team's faces. Mirelle muttered under her breath, "Both 'Lunar' and 'Moon'… makes sense now."
"Exactly." Zekhtau activated a hologram in the center of the room, displaying a rotating image of Arcadia with detailed markers of incidents tied to both Lunar and Cain. "On one hand, he used the name Lunar to perform good deeds—redistributing resources to the poor. But on the other hand, as Cain, he handled the dirtier problems."
Zekhtau's gaze swept over the team as they focused intently on the hologram. "Many of the situations he was involved in ended in chaos, but if you examine the context of each event, his intentions become clear."
The hologram showcased various locations tied to turmoil: illegal labor mines in Mollarr, human trafficking hubs, black markets, and corrupt government offices. Each instance revealed Lunar or Cain's involvement.
"He eliminated evil wherever he found it, using methods no one else dared. Whether dismantling slave trades or exposing corruption, he did it all while protecting the innocent. Sometimes by stealing, other times by hacking resources and distributing them under Lunar's name." Zekhtau paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.
Keela tilted her head slightly, though Kall seemed too distracted by her presence to fully process the information. Zekhtau noticed but chose not to comment, instead continuing in a measured tone. "The chaos he left behind seemed problematic, but in reality, he was purging a far greater rot."
The room fell into thoughtful silence as Akira's team absorbed the truth. Zekhtau nodded, satisfied that they were beginning to see the broader picture, though Draco's furrowed brow betrayed lingering doubts.
Taking a deep breath, Zekhtau began to explain why he had worked with Cain, his voice now laced with unmistakable gravity.
"I needed Cain's hacking skills to reclaim Osiris. In exchange, I provided him with funding, intel, equipment, and manpower—everything he asked for. I made a deal." Zekhtau paused, meeting each person's gaze. "But things didn't go exactly as planned…"
His voice lowered slightly as he continued, "Instead of following our agreement, he chose to help you during the second wave, turning my own attack against me. I suffered heavy losses because of him, and when I confronted him about breaking our deal, his only response was, 'This is the most effective way to reclaim Osiris in the end.'" Zekhtau chuckled softly. "And I chose to trust him."
His words left the room in a heavy, contemplative silence. Draco, who had been holding back his frustration, finally burst out, "That bastard tricked us! Ugh! I'm going to kick his ass when I see him!"
Akira sighed, resting a hand on Draco's arm. "You won't catch him. He can teleport."
The room collectively froze, eyes snapping toward Akira in disbelief.
"Teleport?" Elina echoed, her voice tinged with astonishment.
Akira nodded. "That's how he's never been caught. He's also a master of disguise, has hidden agendas, and his hacking skills are unparalleled."
The tension began to shift, the team slowly nodding as they grasped the complexity of Cain Moonshard's character.
"Then why did he attack you at the end?" Akira pressed further, his voice laced with genuine curiosity. "He helped us win. Without him, we would've lost for sure."
The team sat in bewildered silence. They'd been deceived by Cain, yet he wasn't entirely malicious. In fact, he'd helped them defeat Zekhtau—something none of them could have achieved alone. It was hard to reconcile the image of the manipulative saboteur with that of the unexpected ally. How were they supposed to feel about this man?
Zekhtau's lips curled into a small smile, his eyes gleaming as if relishing a secret. "Because by that point, I no longer cared about Osiris." The revelation stunned the room into silence. Zekhtau continued confidently, "What I was really interested in… was you, Akira."
The team exchanged glances, instantly recalling Zekhtau's bold declaration during the battle—words that had seemed like mere bravado at the time. But now, it all made sense. They could finally understand why Zekhtau had shifted his focus. It wasn't about Osiris anymore; it was about the unpredictable force that Akira had become.
Akira stiffened, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. Zekhtau chuckled lightly. "I decided to attack Cain first because I wanted to test something. But as you saw, someone of his caliber—Rebel's second-in-command—isn't easily dealt with. Even on his own, Cain was formidable, but when he combined his abilities with Osiris… it was beyond anything I could've anticipated. It felt like the very fabric of time and the future had been seized, leaving me in this… bad shape."
The heavy silence lingered in the room, the weight of Zekhtau's revelation still settling over the team. But Akira, ever the one to cut through the fog of uncertainty, leaned forward, his voice steady as he added another piece to the puzzle.
"Yeah," Akira added, "he hacked Osiris and activated some kind of mode… It was like he could control time for a brief moment."
"But that came at a cost," Zekhtau said, his tone darkening. "Overloading a system like that caused severe backlash. It's impressive he's even alive after that."
The team nodded once more, this time not just in understanding, but in reluctant admiration for Cain Moonshard's abilities and mysterious nature.
Part (3/4) : "Emotions Beyond Circuits"
Castro stepped forward, his voice cutting through the room's reflective quiet. "But he left us with something valuable… Information about the corruption in Mollarr and Skyperion."
His words hit the room like a thunderclap. Keela's eyes widened in shock. "Is that true? You really have that information?"
Akira and the team nodded quietly, but the faint smiles on their faces revealed how deeply they understood the significance of this revelation. Keela, usually composed and dignified, couldn't contain her excitement. She raised one hand slightly in triumph, a small spark of joy lighting up her face. Realizing what she'd done, she quickly composed herself, forcing a calm expression while subtly trying to suppress her smile.
But the moment she turned away, she couldn't hold it in any longer. She bent forward slightly, tucking her elbows close to her sides in a gesture reminiscent of a soccer player's quiet celebration, before quickly straightening up and returning to her usual poised demeanor.
Everyone in the room struggled to stifle their laughter, glancing away with poorly hidden grins before finally managing to settle back into the conversation, the earlier tension now feeling like a distant memory.
Zekhtau scanned the room once more before asking, his tone serious, "Does anyone still have doubts?"
Akira thought for a moment before meeting Zekhtau's gaze. "I don't doubt Cain anymore. But I do wonder… Did he do something strange to Osiris?"
The question shifted everyone's attention to Osiris. The normally stoic AI housed in a cyborg body began to stir slightly, as if processing the implications of Akira's words…
Osiris's voice was barely above a whisper at first, but it grew steadier as she spoke.
"I feel that… when I think about him, my artificial heart rate increases. The pressure in my hydro-blood rises, and my body temperature elevates slightly. I want to know more about him, want to talk to him, see him every day, go places together…"
She paused for a moment, as if hesitating to admit the next part, but eventually continued, her voice trembling slightly.
"I want him to see the City of Balance. I want to visit him in the Rebel stronghold… I don't know what this is, but I can't stop thinking about him. And every time I do, my body heats up even more."
The room fell into stunned silence. Everyone stared at Osiris with a mix of shock, confusion, and poorly hidden amusement.
"No… No way, right?" Elina's voice broke through the quiet, disbelief lacing her words. She lunged forward, gripping Osiris's shoulders and giving her a gentle shake.
"My little sister? With Cain? How could you possibly like someone like him?"
Osiris stiffened, her hands rising slowly to cover her mouth as if she had just realized the full extent of her own feelings. Her metallic face, usually unreadable, somehow radiated embarrassment.
"This is…" She trailed off, unable to finish her sentence, then buried her face in her hands, trying to hide the swirling emotions within.
Elina didn't relent, continuing to shake Osiris slightly, while the rest of the team watched the unfolding scene in various states of bewilderment. Some scratched their heads in confusion, while others turned away, stifling their laughter.
The atmosphere in the conference room shifted from tense to bewildered amusement. No one had anticipated this turn of events, but it was a moment that reminded everyone that even a seemingly heartless cyborg could harbor feelings as complex—and maybe even more intense—than any human.
Part (4/4) : "Echoes of Balance"
After a noticeably more delicious lunch, the entire team gathered in the city's grand hall. Castro beamed with pride over the kitchen staff's improved skills, his booming praise echoing off the walls. Though the cooks were clearly pleased, their hesitant glances and shy demeanor betrayed a lingering nervousness about approaching Akira's team. Eventually, they mustered the courage to ask for a conversation.
Already in high spirits, Castro granted them permission. However, it wasn't long before the courage of others in the city seemed to catch fire. Crowds began to pour in, surrounding Akira's team until the room buzzed with chaotic chatter. What started as good-natured interactions quickly turned into a noisy commotion, drowning out any meaningful conversations. Sensing the disorder, Castro released a subtle pulse of energy.
The pressure rippled through the crowd like an unseen wave, halting everyone in their tracks. It was a calm yet commanding force, exuding the kind of authority one might expect from a pirate king in a legendary tale. The room fell silent in an instant. Slowly, people began to form orderly lines, approaching Akira's team one by one with newfound respect.
"So that's the power that keeps Castro both respected and feared," Akira whispered to Draco, his eyes fixed on Castro, who returned with effortless grace.
That afternoon, a meeting commenced in the main conference room to discuss plans for rebuilding Draft. It was a topic Akira had previously touched on before their battle with Zekhtau, though he had refrained from delving too deeply back then to avoid overwhelming his teammates.
This time, things were different. The room was filled with high-ranking leaders and individuals ready to listen with earnest intent. Akira explained everything in detail, holding nothing back—no ideas, no proposals. However, as the session progressed, the complexity of the topics and the advanced technical discussions began to overwhelm some attendees. Gradually, people excused themselves to rest.
By the time the meeting had narrowed down to those truly invested, only Castro, Zekhtau, Akira, Elina, Osiris, and Mirelle remained. Others like Yue, Draco, and Keela had opted to step outside to mingle with the citizens—a task much more in their element.
The remaining group dove into deep, intense discussions. At times, they had to eat while continuing the dialogue, as the points raised were too important to pause. The room buzzed with unrestrained exchanges of ideas, and the momentum carried them well into the night.
When the meeting finally concluded, everyone emerged from the room not with fatigue, but with a sense of fulfillment. It was clear they had reached an agreement capable of genuinely transforming Draft.
That evening, Yue, Draco, and Keela fell asleep quickly, exhausted from a day of interacting with townsfolk and playing with children. The more academically inclined members dispersed to work on their assigned tasks. Castro and Zekhtau took charge of coordinating logistics, while Akira and Osiris shared their knowledge and plans for the city's future.
As for Akira… After everyone else had settled into their routines, he found himself standing once again on the upper balcony of the building for the third night in a row. The cool evening breeze whispered against his skin, mingling with the quiet sounds of nature and the distant hum of the city. Above, the stars scattered across the night sky like tiny beacons of light.
He gazed up, memories of the first night—when he had stood here crying—flickering through his mind. But tonight was different. Tonight, his face was adorned with a quiet smile.
"The City of Balance…" he murmured to himself. "If only our world had something like this. Right now, we're destroying everything without a second thought… One day, we might end up like this place. Maybe chaos from pollution or AI rising up to wipe us out."
His gaze lowered slightly, as if offering a silent prayer that his words remained mere imagination. "I hope we wake up before it's too late and protect what's left—for a future that truly lasts."
The twinkling stars above seemed to shimmer in quiet agreement, as if answering his unspoken wish. And as Akira stood there, motionless beneath the night sky, his heart swelled with determination. He was ready to forge even greater changes ahead.