Continuation on chapter 3
MORINJO
Abaddon steps forward, his presence heavy with arrogance. His deep voice cuts through the air like a blade.
"Greetings, humans. You are about to die at the hands of the assistants of Emperor Erebus. Be grateful that your useless lives will now contribute—"
"I'm sorry," I interrupt, tilting my head slightly. "We're unavailable today. You should pack it up and get out of here."
Abaddon turns his gaze toward Shang Lei. "Amulet user. Does this chattering animal speak for you?"
Shang Lei doesn't flinch. "Absolutely not. I speak for myself."
With a slow, deliberate motion, he raises his hands, his fingers moving in intricate, precise patterns. Glowing trails of golden energy shimmer through the air, forming sigils that pulse with life. The very space around him hums, charged with an unseen force, and then—his transformation begins.
His luxurious red suit dissolves into flickering sparks of orange and gold, unraveling like threads woven by unseen hands. Magic coils around him, reshaping his form. A regal crimson cape unfurls from nothing, edged with intricate golden embroidery that shifts as if alive. His shirt transforms into a deep blue tunic, sculpted against his frame, streaked with golden lines that pulse like veins of energy.
Golden-trimmed armor molds onto his shoulders and chest, sleek yet authoritative. A deep red and gold belt fastens at his waist—not just for appearance, but as part of the transformation itself. And then, the final piece—the amulet. It moves, drawn downward by an invisible force, locking into place at his waist with a burst of radiant light.
Shang Lei exhales slowly, the air around him shimmering with raw magic. "You're trespassing in this village and on this planet."
"He means get lost, aliens," I say, my voice steady.
Abaddon sneers in disgust. "Gordon, get me the amulet. We're leaving."
The massive, four-armed brute—steps forward, rolling his thick shoulders. The sound of his knuckles cracking is sharp and deliberate.
"It's been a while since I threw hands," I say, shifting my stance. "You want a piece, Trivium?"
Trivium exhales, shaking his head. "I would love to, but this guy might be a problem. Toughest one I've seen in a while."
I give him a look. "You do remember you're a god, right? The god of thunder?"
"Obviously." Trivium hesitates, glancing at the approaching enemy. "But—"
"It's fine," I cut in. "We take him together. I move first, you go next. Got it?"
Trivium nods. "Got it." He pauses, then leans closer. "Uh... mind stepping aside a bit? I need some space."
"For what?"
He lowers his voice. "Armor transformation."
"Oh." I take a step aside. "Gotcha."
Shang Lei folds his arms, exasperated. "Can we skip the commentary and actually fight?"
"We need to move," I say, pulling him a few steps aside.
Trivium closes his eyes, fists clenched. The moment he opens them, his irises blaze white-blue, lightning flashing within.
A storm churns above, swirling with unnatural fury. The air thickens, charged with static, and then—lightning crashes down. A blinding column of white-hot energy engulfs Trivium, slamming into him with divine force. The sheer impact rattles the ground beneath my feet.
For a brief moment, I can't see him. The light is overwhelming, arcs of electricity crackling outward. But then—his silhouette emerges. He is changing, molding. The storm doesn't destroy him; it reforges him.
His attire dissolves, consumed by blackened steel. Gold-trimmed armor plates forge themselves onto his body, shaping a warrior reborn. His shoulders broaden, his frame hardens, and his chest plate locks into place, embossed with pulsing runes of raw power.
Golden-braced gauntlets encase his arms, electricity dancing along their surface. A deep crimson cape unfurls from his back, moving like the banner of a conqueror. Then, with a sharp crack of thunder—an axe materializes in his grip. The weapon is massive, its double-edged blade wreathed in living lightning, its surface inscribed with ancient sigils that pulse with energy.
Trivium lifts his head, his eyes burning with raw power. The storm bends to him.
I let out a low whistle. "Damn. This armor's insane."
Trivium smirks, gripping his axe. "Your turn."
I step forward, feeling the familiar transformation begin. A faint golden mist shimmers across my skin, warm and alive, like sunlight trapped in liquid form. I concentrate, and streams of nanotechnology surge forth, swirling and weaving with uncanny precision.
The armor materializes, layer by layer, in golden-black plates that crawl up my arms and legs, locking into place with a soft, magnetic hum. A fiery core ignites within my chest, sending lines of pulsating energy through intricate patterns across the armor's surface. It feels alive, every piece syncing with the rhythm of my heartbeat.
The helmet forms last, pieces clicking into place around my head, sealing me within its glowing, fiery gaze. My fists clench, and the armor responds with a hum of power. Heat courses through me, and I stand taller, transformed into a celestial warrior. The energy surges, bending the chaos around me; in this moment, the universe itself seems to bow to my will.
The alien charges, its four arms poised to strike. It leaps into the air, bringing them down with force. Instantly, I raise my shield, blocking the attack. With swift precision, I deliver an uppercut under its jaw.
The blow staggers the alien backward. It shakes off the impact, growling in defiance.
"ROAR!!!" It screams, lunging at me again.
"Now, Trivium," I call out.
Trivium joins me swiftly, unleashing a torrent of lightning from his right palm. The bolts strike the four-armed alien, pushing it forcefully backward. Abaddon, as he calls himself, withstands the assault, hurling four armed alien aside and crashing to the ground.
"Nice teamwork," Shang Lei remarks, casting a glance at us.
"Thanks," I acknowledge, catching my breath. "This is how Ventures operate. You have to see how we..."
Suddenly, the ground beneath me trembles, launching me forcefully into the air.
Nigeria – Peace College
JOHN
The classroom hums with low chatter as we wait. I tap my pen against my notebook, staring at the whiteboard filled with faded equations. Our teacher finally returns, phone in hand, and places it on her desk before facing us.
"My apologies for keeping you all waiting," she says, her tone brisk. "Let's continue. Today, we'll be looking at the subtopic: Third Order Determinants. The method we used for solving a system of two equations in two unknowns can be extended to a system of three equations in three unknowns."
She picks up a black marker and turns to the board.
"Consider the system of equations:
a_{11}x + a_{12}y + a_{13}z = P_1
a_{21}x + a_{22}y + a_{23}z = P_2
a_{31}x + a_{32}y + a_{33}z = P_3
We define the determinant as:
a_{11} & a_{12} & a_{13} \\
a_{21} & a_{22} & a_{23} \\
a_{31} & a_{32} & a_{33}
To solve for \( x \), \( y \), and \( z \), we use Cramer's Rule..."
Before she can finish, my phone blasts its ringtone, loud and sharp. Every head in the room turns towards me like I've just committed a crime.
"John," she snaps, narrowing her eyes. "Do you mind hanging up that call and paying attention? I hate distractions."
"Sorry, ma," I say quickly, reaching for my phone.
But just as I'm about to silence it, I freeze. The screen flashes with a Danger Alarm—the location: Chacang Village, Tibet, China. My stomach tightens. I quickly mute the ringtone and shove the phone back into my pocket.
"Thank you," she says, turning back to the board. "Now, let's evaluate the determinant using cofactor expansion. Expanding along the first row, we get:
\[
\Delta = a_{11}
\begin{vmatrix}
a_{22} & a_{23} \\
a_{32} & a_{33}
\end{vmatrix}
- a_{12}
\begin{vmatrix}
a_{21} & a_{23} \\
a_{31} & a_{33}
\end{vmatrix}
+ a_{13}
\begin{vmatrix}
a_{21} & a_{22} \\
a_{31} & a_{32}
\end{vmatrix}
\]
Each minor determinant is calculated as follows..."
Before she finishes, my phone vibrates again. This time, the teacher stops mid-equation, turns to me, and caps her marker.
"John," she says, voice tight with irritation, "switch off your phone. Now."
I glance at my phone screen—it's the Danger Alarm. However, I have to lie.
"Ma, I can't," I say, keeping my voice calm but firm. "It's my dad, and I can't ignore his call. Please, I have to take this."
She exhales, studying my face. For a moment, I think she's going to refuse, but then she sighs.
"Fine," she says. "You have 20 minutes."
"Thank you, ma," I say, flashing a small smile before grabbing my bag and slipping out of the classroom.
The moment I step into the restroom, I unzip the small pocket of my bag and pull out my Moth costume. My hands move quickly—I tap a button on my phone, and the suit instantly expands to my size. I waste no time changing into it, summoning my robotic Moths with a remote. Their metallic wings flicker to life as I activate my shrinking ability.
I drop to the floor, now small enough to slip under the door. In the next second, I sprint towards the exit, my Moths hovering above, waiting. One of them swoops down, and I leap onto its back.
Within moments, we're airborne, slicing through the sky towards Tibet.
TRIVIUM
Abaddon raises his left hand, and the ground behind him detonates. Chunks of earth and shattered debris rocket into the air, tearing through the battlefield like cannon fire. Buildings collapse, their wooden frames snapping like brittle bones under the force of his power.
Before I can summon lightning, Shang Lei and Master Hong move as one. Their hands carve through the air, weaving an invisible barrier just in time. The incoming wreckage slams into it with a deafening crash, the impact sending shockwaves through the ground beneath our feet.
I shoot a glance at Shang Lei. "How long can you hold this?"
"Don't know," he says, voice calm but taut with focus. "We need a real plan."
I exhale sharply. "The only plan is making sure they don't get the Amulet." Without hesitation, I launch forward, lightning crackling at my fingertips, illuminating the carnage around us.
"Per potentiam Magi Supremi, ignem creo et manipulo, unum ex elementis Terrae!"
INENGLISH: "By the power of Sorcerer supreme, I create and manipulate Fire, one of the Earth elements."
Shang Lei shifts his stance, rooting himself to the earth. His right hand moves fluidly, tracing a circle in the air. A single spark flares at his fingertips. He inhales, then thrusts both hands forward in a sweeping arc.
Flames burst from his palms, roaring toward Abaddon in a wave of blistering heat.
Abaddon doesn't even flinch. He slams his foot down, and a stone wall erupts from the ground, blocking the flames. The fire crashes against it, licking at the edges before vanishing. Then, without missing a beat, he rips the wall free and hurls it at us like a battering ram.
The air shifts. A sudden gust howls behind us. I turn just in time to see Path Finder streaking toward the battlefield, his figure a blur against the storm-dark sky.
As soon as he reaches us, he bends the wind with precision, whipping up a powerful gust. The force slams into the airborne wall, reversing its trajectory and sending it hurtling back at Abaddon.
But Abaddon is faster. With a flick of his hand, the wall splits clean in two, the halves slamming down on either side of us, leaving craters in their wake.
Path Finder hovers beside me. I arch a brow. "You've been working on a flying technique? That's new."
"No time for small talk," Path Finder snaps. He turns to Shang Lei. "Get the Amulet out of here. Now."
Shang Lei doesn't flinch. "Not an option."
Path Finder exhales sharply, shaking his head. "Fine. Have it your way."
Without another word, he propels himself forward, air swirling violently around him as he speeds toward Abaddon, the battlefield erupting into chaos once more.
To be continued....