Chapter 30: The Break
The battle raged on as Aoi launched forward, delivering a thunderclap that echoed through the laboratory, rattling the walls and shattering the scanning drones. Vexar Hojo, the alien warrior, gritted his teeth as he absorbed the shockwave, his metallic body crackling with energy.
Muscle clenched his fists, his eyes burning with determination. "Let's see how tough you really are!" He charged, throwing a Zero Knuckle straight into Vexar's chest, sending him skidding backward. Aoi followed up with a sonic strike, his body a blur of motion as he landed a devastating punch to Vexar's jaw.
Vexar let out a growl, his body pulsating with magnetic energy. He extended both arms, and suddenly, an invisible force pulled everyone toward him. "You humans… always fighting for a lost cause," he muttered as he struck all four of them at once, sending them flying across the room.
Akito crashed into a metal console, pain shooting through his body as he tried to get up. He gasped in horror—both his arms were broken. "Damn it… I can't use my invisibility," he muttered.
Fyodor wiped blood from his lip, his expression dark. "You talk too much," he spat before unleashing a thunder strike, his body crackling with electric energy. He rushed forward, throwing a rapid combination of punches and kicks. Vexar dodged the first few strikes but was caught off guard when Fyodor grabbed him and suplexed him into the ground.
Vexar grunted in pain, but his fury only intensified. His magnetic field expanded, pulling weapons and debris into a swirling storm around him. "You still don't understand," he growled. "Humans have no place in this universe."
Aoi clenched his fists. "Why?! What did humanity ever do to you?"
Vexar's eyes burned with a mix of rage and something deeper—resentment. "You wouldn't understand. This story isn't for you." With that, he surged forward, slamming a Magnetic Hammer into Muscle's chest, sending him crashing through a wall.
Muscle coughed up blood but smirked. "Damn, you're strong."
The battle continued, the fate of the mission hanging in the balance.
---
Meanwhile… A Fateful Betrayal
Far away from the battlefield, at the abandoned ruins where the Fire Center once stood, Luna and Santino wandered through the destruction. The night air was cold, and the wind carried the scent of death. They had been searching for their missing friends for days, but hope was fading.
Santino exhaled, his breath visible in the chilly air. "Luna… what if they're dead?" His voice wavered slightly.
Luna stood still, her eyes empty. "Maybe they are. Maybe… it doesn't matter."
Santino frowned. "What do you mean?"
Luna turned to face him, her once soft features now twisted into something unrecognizable—anger, resentment, and madness. "I lost to that bastard Muscle. I was humiliated. I was weak." Her voice grew colder. "I refuse to be weak."
Santino's heart pounded. "Luna… what are you saying?"
Her lips curled into a smirk. "You're in my way, Santino."
Before he could react, a blade pierced his stomach.
Santino gasped, his eyes widening in shock. "L-Luna…?" Blood dripped from his lips as he stumbled backward. His mind raced through memories—the childhood they shared, their training, their laughter. She had been his best friend. The one he trusted most.
Luna stepped closer, her grip on the blade tightening. She stabbed him again. And again. And again.
Santino collapsed to the ground, his breathing ragged. "Why…?" His voice was barely above a whisper.
Luna crouched beside him, her expression emotionless. "Because I refuse to be weak," she repeated. "You're just another obstacle."
Tears welled in Santino's eyes. Not from the pain, but from the betrayal. "We were supposed to fight together… protect each other…" His voice broke as he coughed up blood. "You were like… a sister to me…"
Luna's face remained blank, but for a split second, her hand trembled. Then, she forced a smile. "Too bad, Santino. This is the real world."
Santino's vision blurred as he reached out, his fingers barely grazing her cheek. "Luna…" he whispered, his voice fading.
And then, his hand fell limp.
Luna stood up, wiping her blade clean. She looked down at Santino's lifeless body, her face unreadable. "Goodbye, Santino."
She turned away, disappearing into the darkness. Her humanity was gone.
---
Back at the Lab…
The fight with Vexar continued, but something changed. Muscle, Aoi, Fyodor, and Akito all felt a sudden chill.
Aoi looked at the others. "Did you guys… feel that?"
Muscle nodded slowly. "Yeah… something bad just happened."
Fyodor clenched his fists. "We don't have time to think about it now. We need to finish this fight and complete our mission."
Vexar, bruised and battered, smirked. "You humans fight so hard… but in the end, does it really matter?"
Aoi's eyes burned with determination. "It matters to us." He charged forward.
The battle was far from over.