Null was about to make his escape when—BOOM!—the wall behind him exploded inward. He tumbled to the ground, dust and debris swirling around him, and from the dissipating smoke emerged four figures. Terror gripped Null's heart. "You... no, it can't be! It's impossible! You shouldn't be here!" he stammered, his voice laced with disbelief and fear.
The first figure was a tall girl with striking white hair, interspersed with vibrant green streaks that brushed her neck. Her eyes shone with a matching verdant hue. She was clad in a form-fitting black dress, over which she wore a crisp white lab coat, her fingers dancing across the keys of a holographic keyboard that shimmered in the air before her.
Beside her stood a powerfully built man, his muscles bulging beneath a simple white shirt held up by blue jean suspenders. His blond hair was neatly cut, and his blue eyes held a resolute gaze. A palpable yellow aura radiated from him, a silent testament to his strength.
Next to him was a figure straight out of legend—a samurai clad in a suit of armor that was entirely black, save for intricate yellow ornaments that adorned its surfaces. His hand rested near the hilt of a katana still sheathed at his side, promising swift and deadly action.
Bringing up the rear was a shorter boy with unruly black hair that stuck out at odd angles. He wore a casual ensemble of black pants, a gray t-shirt, and a black hooded jacket that partially obscured his features. In his grip, he held a long, slender katana, and a palpable dark aura emanated from him, a stark contrast to the bright energy of his companions.
Panic surged through Null. He scrambled to his feet, desperate to flee, but before he could take a single step, the samurai moved with blinding speed. A silver flash erupted as his katana was drawn, enhanced and strengthened by an unseen force, slicing through the air and across Null's arm in a single, breathtaking motion.
A guttural cry escaped Null's lips as blood bloomed on his sleeve. Before he could react, the muscular man stepped forward and delivered a devastating punch to his chest. The force of the blow sent a shockwave through the air, and Null roared in agony, "Master! Please, save me!!!"
In that instant, an immense, suffocating aura descended upon the room, pressing down on the four newcomers. Their expressions turned grave, their earlier confidence replaced by a palpable tension. Before them, a staircase of pure azure light materialized, spiraling upwards into the unseen.
A voice, resonant and commanding, echoed through the room, "You have served well, Null. And you too, my prized pupil Ryloc, it is time to return home." On the luminous steps, Null was now kneeling beside a figure so radiant that their form was indistinct, a being of pure light. The figure extended an arm, wrapping it around Ryloc in a tender embrace. Then, as suddenly as it had appeared, the staircase of azure light vanished, taking Null and the mysterious figure with it.
The four admins watched the empty space where the staircase had been. Finally, the samurai broke the silence. "Perhaps," he said, his voice calm and measured, "we should introduce ourselves."
The boy with the katana nodded in agreement. "Yeah," he chimed in, his voice surprisingly casual despite the preceding events, "you do the honors, Anty."
The girl with the holographic keyboard stepped forward slightly. "My name is Anty," she announced, her voice clear and intelligent, "and I am the most intelligent admin among us all. I have taken the place of Sharon and Sylene as the captain of the scientific division." She gestured to her companions. "This boy here is called Stenly, and he is the monarch of darkness. The samurai is Kyofei, and the big guy is Georg."
Anty's gaze then turned towards the bewildered heroes. "You have just unlocked your 'unlocks'," she explained, using a term that was clearly significant but unfamiliar, "but they are still raw and untrained. For that reason, I want to train you. You will be valuable allies in the upcoming battles against the glitches."
With a decisive gesture, Anty extended her hand towards Saland. After a moment of hesitation, Saland reached out and clasped it. In that simple handshake, an alliance was forged.
As the dust settled, the admins efficiently dealt with the aftermath. Rick, Ken, and Sting, all in critical condition, were swiftly taken away by the four newcomers. Soon after, the anti-glitch team arrived and escorted our bewildered heroes to their secret base, leaving the scene of the explosive encounter behind.