____________________________Chapter 160: The Zodiac Awakens
Kaela exhaled, rolling her shoulders as her nine tails flickered behind her. Astra had managed to land a solid hit, but that was over now.
In a blur, Kaela disappeared again.
Astra reacted instantly, twisting at the last second—just in time to see Kaela's katana slicing through the space she had occupied a moment ago.
She's insanely fast!
Astra barely had time to block as Kaela struck again. This time, the kitsune's attacks came in a flurry—slashes, jabs, sweeps—each one aimed to break Astra's defense.
Astra dodged, countered, and adapted.
Kaela was a master swordswoman, her movements disciplined, controlled, elegant.
Astra, on the other hand, was chaotic, unorthodox, wild.
Their battle became a clash of two distinct styles.
Kaela's blade sliced through the air with pinpoint accuracy, forcing Astra to weave through the attacks like a dancer caught in a storm.
But Astra's movements were deliberately unpredictable. She twisted, flipped, and launched feints that kept Kaela guessing.
But Kaela was not someone to be fooled for long.
"You're good," Kaela admitted as she parried Astra's strike, countering with a swift knee to Astra's ribs.
Astra coughed as she was sent flying backward, crashing into the ground.
Astra groaned, pushing herself up.
Kaela tilted her head. "But I'm better."
Then—Kaela got serious.
Her nine tails flared, an intense energy radiating from her as she adjusted her stance. The temperature in the area shifted—a suffocating pressure weighing down on Astra.
Then Kaela vanished.
Astra tried to react—but it was too late.
SLASH!
A deep cut opened across Astra's side.
Before she could recover—
Kaela appeared behind her.
A precise strike to the back of her knee sent Astra tumbling down. Kaela's katana pressed against her throat.
"It's over," Kaela said simply.
Astra panted, her body aching, her vision blurring. She knew she couldn't win—not like this.
April clenched her fists. Kai looked tense.
They were about to step in—
But then—
Something changed.
Astra's body trembled. A strange, golden glow began radiating from her skin.
Kaela's eyes widened.
'No… It can't be…!'
Astra's breathing steadied. Her body no longer shook. Instead—it felt like an overwhelming power was pouring into her.
Kaela took an instinctive step back.
She recognized this.
It's a Zodiac Gear.
Then Kaela's mind raced.
There were twelve Zodiac Gears.
—One was killed by Saya.
—Ten others were disciples of the Four Seats of Ragnarök—each Seat taking on three Zodiac users as their personal disciples.
—And one had been missing.
That last Zodiac Gear had been in the hands of a disciple of the Ragnarök Leader himself.
But then Jax killed that disciple.
And the Zodiac Gear disappeared.
Ragnarok had spent years searching for it. They never found out who had inherited it.
But now—Kaela knew.
Astra was the new host of that Zodiac Gear.
____________________________Chapter 161: Astra's Zodiac Awakening
The golden glow surrounding Astra intensified, pulsing like a heartbeat.
The air became heavy, charged with raw energy.
Kaela's grip on her katana tightened. A Zodiac Gear… this changes everything.
Flashback–
"I've been wondering Astra," April begun. "What genre exactly is your Gear?"
Astra looked thoughtful for a while before suddenly she smirked. "Oh. You want to know? Sure it's…"
Flashback End!
Astra's body no longer showed any signs of exhaustion. Instead, her posture was relaxed yet unnervingly controlled. The wounds Kaela had inflicted still remained, but they no longer seemed to affect her.
Then Astra opened her eyes.
Her once piercing blue eyes shifted into a radiant gold.
Kaela felt an unsettling chill crawl up her spine.
"Finally…" Astra muttered, rolling her shoulders as if shaking off some invisible chains.
She looked at her own hands, flexing her fingers. "This feels... different."
Kaela took a defensive stance.
She knew what this meant.
Zodiac Gear Users weren't normal Gear wielders.
They were something beyond that.
The twelve Zodiac Gears were artifacts of absurd power, each one embodying a celestial force. The strongest warriors in Ragnarök were those who wielded them.
But Astra wasn't part of Ragnarök.
That meant she had awakened it on her own.
Kaela's mind raced. If she truly inherited that missing Zodiac Gear, then… what exactly is her ability?
Before she could analyze further—
Astra moved.
And Kaela barely saw it.
Astra was "fast—"not just physically, but in a way that seemed to bend the flow of movement itself.
Kaela swung her katana in reflex—but Astra was already behind her.
A powerful kick to Kaela's back sent her flying.
Kaela flipped midair, landing gracefully.
But as soon as her feet touched the ground—Astra was already in front of her.
Kaela barely managed to block as Astra delivered a crushing blow.
The sheer force sent Kaela skidding back, her feet digging into the ground.
"What is this?!"
Astra grinned. "Not bad, Principal."
Kaela exhaled slowly. She wasn't going to lose control. She was a Seat of Ragnarök.
She'd take this fight seriously.
Kaela's nine tails flared, and the pressure around her intensified. The air hummed with power.
"Fine," Kaela said, her voice low, dangerous. "Let's see just how far your Zodiac power can take you."
She vanished.
Astra smiled.
The real fight had just begun.
____________________________Chapter 162: Celestial Clash
The air cracked like thunder as Kaela's katana met Astra's counter.
Sparks erupted from the collision, illuminating their figures in flashes of light.
Astra, bathed in a golden aura, moved fluidly, dodging the sweeping strikes of Kaela's blade with unnatural precision.
It was as if she could predict Kaela's attacks before they even happened.
Kaela clicked her tongue. 'So that's the ability of her Zodiac Gear?'
She flickered out of sight, reappearing behind Astra. Her katana struck down like lightning.
But Astra tilted her head just slightly—the blade barely grazing past her cheek.
Kaela's eyes narrowed.
She didn't dodge with speed. She dodged with certainty.
Astra countered instantly, spinning into a fierce roundhouse kick aimed at Kaela's ribs.
Kaela blocked with her forearm, but the impact sent shockwaves rippling outward.
She was forced back.
Astra didn't let up. She launched forward, her movements impossibly smooth, her fists weaving into a devastating series of attacks.
Each strike seemed preordained, guided by an unseen force.
Kaela deflected two—but the 5th broke through.
Astra's fist collided with Kaela's stomach, sending her skidding back.
Kaela coughed, feeling the sharp sting of pain.
She steadied herself, her nine tails flaring out aggressively.
"Enough."
Kaela's presence darkened.
It's time I stop testing her.
She raised her katana, holding it with both hands. The blade shimmered with a deep crimson glow.
Astra's grin faltered for a fraction of a second.
Then—
Kaela vanished.
—And reappeared right in Astra's face.
The blade was already swinging.
Astra's instincts screamed at her to dodge, but—
She was too late.
The katana sliced across Astra's side, drawing a clean arc of blood in the air.
For the first time, Astra's movements faltered.
Kaela didn't stop.
She pivoted, her tails sweeping out—slamming Astra into the ground.
Astra crashed hard, dust and debris exploding outward.
Kaela stood tall, katana pointed downward.
She waited.
Astra groaned, her body aching. But she pushed herself up.
And Kaela's breath hitched.
Astra's golden aura intensified—no, it changed.
It was no longer just golden light.
It was celestial.
Kaela immediately realized—
"It's true… You're a Zodiac Gear User."
Astra smiled.
But this time, there was something different about her.
Something far more dangerous.
____________________________Chapter 161: Astra's Awakening
Kaela gripped her katana tighter.
This wasn't the same Astra she had been fighting. The way Astra stood—her presence, her aura—everything had shifted.
Kaela's eyes flickered with understanding. 'So this is what it means to fight a true Zodiac Gear User…'
Astra slowly rolled her shoulders, her celestial aura swirling around her like a golden storm.
Her piercing blue eyes locked onto Kaela, but they looked… different.
Sharper.
Colder.
Like they belonged to someone else entirely.
Then, Astra spoke—but her voice carried an eerie duality.
"I see... so I was finally forced awake."
Kaela's breath hitched. That wasn't Astra's usual tone.
It was as if something else was speaking through her.
Or rather—someone who had been asleep inside her had finally woken up.
The realization sent a shiver down Kaela's spine.
"There are 12 Zodiac Gears," Kaela thought, her mind racing.
"Each one represents a celestial being—an embodiment of raw power. The 12th was destroyed by Saya, and the second—"
Her grip tightened.
"The first was killed by Jax."
The Zodiac Gear should have disappeared. But instead—it had been implanted into someone else.
And for the past year, Ragnarök had been searching desperately for the host.
Kaela's golden eyes burned with revelation.
"So it was you, Astra."
Astra tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "So you finally figured it out?"
She took a single step forward—and the entire battlefield trembled.
Kaela instinctively raised her katana.
Astra's aura—no, her very existence—was pressing down on her.
Then, Astra vanished.
—No, she didn't vanish.
She simply moved too fast for Kaela to process.
Kaela barely had time to react before—
BAM!
Astra's fist crashed into her ribs.
Kaela's eyes widened as she felt her body lift off the ground.
Before she could recover—
CRACK!
Astra's second strike landed—a devastating knee to Kaela's stomach.
Kaela gasped for air. Her entire body recoiled from the sheer force.
She skidded back, coughing violently.
Her tails flickered erratically. She was actually struggling to stay on her feet.
Kaela gritted her teeth, wiping blood from her lip.
"This power…"
She had fought against countless warriors—against Saya, Jax, and even the Leader himself.
But Astra—Astra's raw presence was on another level.
Kaela's heartbeat pounded in her ears.
"Is this… the true power of a Zodiac Gear?"
Astra smirked.
"You're not the only one who knows how to take things seriously, Kaela."
Then, she vanished again.
Kaela had no time to react.
This time, Astra's attack was aimed for the kill.
____________________________Chapter 162: Understanding Power
Astra gritted her teeth as she pulled herself up from the shattered ground.
Dust clung to her skin, and her body ached from the sheer force of Kaela's attack.
But she wouldn't stop.
She tightened her fists and pushed forward again, lunging at Kaela. Her celestial threads whipped out, attempting to bind her once more—
SHING!
Kaela's katana flashed, severing the threads with a single effortless swipe.
Astra narrowed her eyes. She tried to redirect her energy, forming golden light into a spear—but Kaela was already in front of her.
"Too slow."
THWACK!
Kaela's tail slammed into Astra's side, sending her flying again.
Astra tumbled, coughing violently.
Her body was screaming at her to stop. But she forced herself to stand.
"Why… why can't I land a solid hit?"
Kaela sighed, flicking the dust off her blade.
"You're strong, Astra. But you don't understand your own power yet."
Astra clenched her fists. She wanted to deny it, but she knew Kaela was right.
She had a Zodiac Gear, but she barely knew how to use it.
Kaela vanished.
Astra's eyes widened—then—
BANG!
A hard kick to the stomach.
She doubled over, her breath ripped from her lungs.
Kaela spun, bringing down her katana—
Astra raised her arm—
CLANG!
The impact sent a violent shockwave rippling through the air. Astra barely held her ground—her arm trembling under the force.
Kaela's golden eyes stared down at her.
"You lost."
Then—Kaela's foot swept Astra's legs from under her.
Astra collapsed, struggling to move.
She wanted to keep fighting.
But her body wouldn't listen.
Kaela stepped back, exhaling. Her energy dimmed, her Nine-Tails Takeover retreating as she returned to her normal form.
"Train harder. Master your Zodiac. Until then… you won't beat me."
Astra bit her lip, frustration and exhaustion clouding her mind.
Then—
April stepped forward.
She rolled her shoulders, her dull orange hair swaying slightly.
Her voice was calm but firm.
"Move aside, Kaela."
Kaela raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? You're stepping in?"
April's golden sigil faintly glowed behind her head. She was ready to fight.
But before she could step forward—
A voice cut through the air.
"Don't."
April turned.
Saya had appeared, standing casually, arms crossed.
April frowned. "Saya, what are you—"
Saya interrupted. "Don't fight her."
April narrowed her eyes. "You expect me to stand here and do nothing?"
Saya shook her head. "Not nothing."
Then she glanced toward someone else.
"Kai. Step forward."
Kai, who had been silently watching from the side, finally exhaled.
His purple eyes gleamed as he adjusted the sleeves of his turtleneck.
Then, with a slight smirk, he stepped forward, cracking his knuckles.
"Guess it's my turn, huh?"
____________________________Chapter 163: The Hawk Takes Flight
Kai rolled his shoulders, his usual relaxed demeanor replaced with something sharper—more focused.
Kaela tilted her head, sizing him up.
"You?"
Kai grinned, his purple eyes flashing.
"Me."
Kaela's grip on her katana tightened.
"You've fought against Ragnarök before, haven't you?"
Kai didn't answer immediately. Instead, he adjusted his footing, his body lowering into a stance.
Then, with a small smirk, he said, "Wouldn't you like to know?"
WHOOSH!
Kai vanished.
Kaela's eyes barely had time to widen before he reappeared above her, his leg swinging downward.
She raised her sword to block—
BANG!
The force of the kick sent her skidding back several meters, her boots carving into the ground.
Kaela's expression darkened.
"You're fast."
Kai cracked his neck. "I know."
Kaela dashed forward, her katana slicing through the air—her Nine-Tails flaring out, their tips glowing with mythical energy.
Kai sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the deadly arc of her blade—
Then countered with a lightning-fast elbow strike to her ribs.
THUD!
Kaela's body lurched—
But she retaliated instantly.
Her tails whipped around, trying to grab him—
Kai flipped backward, his Hawk Gear activating in an instant.
Feathers of pure energyerupted from his back, forming sleek, semi-transparent hawk wings.
"Inferno Edge."
A crescent-shaped energy slash blasted from his fingertips, cutting through the air like a blade.
Kaela pivoted, her tails forming a barrier to block—
BOOM!
A shockwave rippled outward, sending cracks through the ground.
Kai didn't let up.
Using the momentum, he soared forward, his wings flaring outward—
Then—
He vanished.
Kaela's eyes darted around, trying to track him—
But before she could react—
"Found you."
Kai's voice came from behind.
His fist slammed into her back, sending her flying.
Kaela twisted midair, flipping to regain her footing.
She landed gracefully, but her expression had changed.
For the first time, there was genuine interest in her golden eyes.
"You're skilled."
Kai casually adjusted his sleeves again, his wings folding slightly.
"I told you. I've fought Ragnarok before."
Kaela exhaled slowly, her aura shifting.
Then—her golden eyes burned with intensity.
"Then you should know… I wasn't serious before."
The air grew heavy.
Kaela's form flickered.
Then—
Her Partial Takeover Mode now fully activated.
Her Nine-Tailsbecame monstrous, flaring outward like a violent storm.
Her armor shimmered, a mix of red, white, and gold.
Her katana? It grew longer, deadlier.
Kai's smirk didn't fade.
If anything, it grew.
"Finally."
Then—
They clashed.
____________________________Chapter 164: The Hawk Takes Flight (2)
Kai stepped forward, his purple eyes gleaming with a sharp, calculating edge.
The battlefield was tense, the air still crackling with the remnants of Astra's failed fight.
She lay on the ground, her body steaming, her newfound Zodiac Gear still unfamiliar to her—too unfamiliar to stand against someone like Kaela.
April took a step forward, her dull orange hair whipping in the wind, but Saya's hand clamped down on her shoulder.
"Not you," Saya said firmly. "Let Kai handle this."
April turned her head slightly, her jaw tightening. "Why?"
"He has experience fighting higher Ragnarök members. This isn't just about power—it's about knowing how they operate." Saya's golden eyes locked onto Kai as he strode forward.
"He knows what to expect."
Kai exhaled through his nose, a smirk forming on his lips. "Guess my reputation precedes me." His hands slid into his pockets, his body loose but alert. "Kaela Voren, 5th Seat of Ragnarök. You've been a real pain in the ass to track down."
Kaela flicked her katana, shaking off the lingering energy from her fight with Astra.
"And you're Kai, the Hawk of the underground. The one who keeps slipping through Ragnarök's fingers." Her crimson eyes gleamed with interest. "I always wondered when we'd cross paths."
Kai rolled his neck, the vertebrae popping.
"Well, you've got me now. Let's see if you can keep up."
Kaela's lips curled into a smirk.
"Confidence. I like that."
Then she moved.
A blur—her katana sliced through the air, its edge screaming toward Kai's throat.
But he was already gone.
A sudden burst of wind slammed into Kaela as Kai reappeared behind her, his foot swinging toward her ribs.
She barely managed to twist, blocking with the flat of her blade, but the force still sent her skidding back.
"Fast," she admitted. "But speed alone won't win this fight."
Kai didn't respond. Instead, the sigil on the back of his legs pulsed. His Gear flared to life—Inferno Edge.
His body shifted. His black cargo pants seemed to morph into a sleek, armored exoskeleton.
His boots extended, forming sharp talons, and his arms gained faint metallic streaks resembling feathers. Most strikingly, two glowing wings of pure energy erupted from his back—emerald green, streaked with burning orange.
Kaela's expression sharpened.
Takeover Mode.
Before she could react, Kai launched himself forward.
The ground cracked beneath his feet as he propelled himself toward her with terrifying speed.
Kaela barely had time to raise her katana before he was on her. His talon-clad foot crashed against her blade, sparks flying as steel met enhanced alloy.
She gritted her teeth, pushing back, but Kai twisted midair, flipping over her and driving his elbow toward her spine.
She spun, parrying with the hilt of her sword, then retaliated with a thrust.
Kai twisted his body, the blade grazing his side, but he didn't slow.
His wings flared, sending him into a rapid aerial spin before he dove back in. His talons slashed out, aiming for Kaela's shoulder.
She caught them on her blade—but the sheer force sent her staggering.
Kai didn't let up. He flipped backward, landing smoothly before launching forward again, his attacks a relentless storm of precise strikes and aerial maneuvers.
Kaela was fast. But Kai was faster.
For the first time, the 5th Seat was on the defensive.
And she knew it.
Her smirk widened. "Alright," she murmured. "I see why you've survived this long."
Then her aura changed.
Kai immediately felt it—the weight, the shift in energy. A Takeover Mode activation.
The air around Kaela rippled as her body transformed.
Her katana fused with her arm, elongating into a cybernetic blade. Her hair grew wilder, streaked with glowing red lines.
And behind her, a massive, nine-tailed cybernetic beast emerged—a mechanical fusion of a fox and a nightmare, its tails shifting between razor-sharp blades and energy constructs.
Kaela's crimson eyes burned as she took a step forward.
"This…" she said, flexing her fingers as energy crackled along her frame. "Is where the real fight begins."
Kai exhaled sharply, his grip tightening.
Then they clashed.
____________________________Chapter 165: Talons Against Blades
The impact of their clash shattered the ground beneath them.
A shockwave rippled through the battlefield as Kai's talons clashed against Kaela's cybernetic katana-arm, sending sparks flying in all directions.
His wings flared, stabilizing him midair, but Kaela wasn't done.
Her nine cybernetic tails moved like living blades, slashing toward Kai from multiple angles.
He twisted, narrowly avoiding the deadly sweep of the first two tails, but a 5th slammed into him like a steel whip, sending him crashing into the pavement below.
Dust erupted as Kai skidded backward, his armored boots carving deep trenches in the ground. His breathing was steady, but his eyes burned with excitement.
"Damn," he muttered, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip. "So this is what the 5th Seat is packing?"
Kaela tilted her head. "Surprised?"
Kai chuckled. "Not really. Just makes things more interesting."
He flexed his fingers, and the sigil on his legs pulsed again.
His cybernetic enhancements glowed brighter as his TakeOver Mode fully synced with his instincts.
Then, in a blur of motion, he vanished.
Kaela's eyes flickered as she tracked his movement—too late.
Kai reappeared behind her, his talons already slashing downward.
She barely managed to twist, deflecting with one of her cybernetic tails, but Kai followed up instantly.
His wings propelled him forward, driving his knee into her stomach.
Kaela coughed as the impact sent her backward, but before she could recover, Kai twisted midair, aiming a razor-sharp kick toward her neck.
At the last second, her tails snapped forward, forming a defensive barrier of interlocking blades.
Kai's talons scraped against the metallic surface, sparks flying, but his momentum was halted.
Kaela smirked. "Not bad."
Then she vanished.
Kai's instincts screamed—she was faster.
A blur of red and black streaked toward him, and before he could fully react, Kaela's cybernetic blade tore through the air.
Kai barely managed to block, crossing his talons in front of him, but the sheer force sent him flying.
He spun midair, using his wings to regain control, but Kaela was already in pursuit.
She was relentless.
A tail lashed out—he dodged.
A second tail struck—he blocked.
Then she feinted, appearing above him.
Kai's eyes widened.
Kaela's blade-arm drove downward like a guillotine.
SLASH.
A deep gash tore across Kai's side, and pain flared through his body.
He gritted his teeth, twisting away, but Kaela didn't let up. She landed gracefully, then launched herself forward at inhuman speed.
Kai only had seconds to react.
He slammed his foot into the ground—boosting himself backward.
Kaela's blade missed his throat by inches.
But she smirked.
"Too slow."
Her tails shifted—turning into energy cannons.
Kai's eyes widened.
BOOM.
A blast of concentrated energy detonated in front of him.
He barely had time to cross his arms before the explosion engulfed him, sending him crashing into a ruined building.
The dust settled.
Kai groaned, forcing himself to his feet. His armor was cracked, his wings flickering from the damage. Blood dripped down his arm.
Kaela stood amidst the wreckage, rolling her shoulders. "I expected more."
Kai exhaled sharply, his vision steady.
Then he grinned.
"Good," he muttered. "I was getting bored anyway."
The sigil on his legs pulsed again—brighter.
His TakeOver Mode shifted.
Feathers morphed into sleek metallic plating. His talons grew longer, sharper.
The energy in his wings intensified, turning from green to a blazing emerald fire. His entire form became larger, more refined.
Kaela's eyes narrowed.
"Round two," Kai said.
Then he vanished.
____________________________Chapter 166: The Sky's Predator
Kai vanished, but this time, it wasn't just speed.
His newly evolved TakeOver Mode blurred his presence—like a hawk seamlessly merging with the wind.
Even Kaela's enhanced cybernetic optics struggled to track him.
Her instincts screamed.
Above!
She barely had time to raise her blade-arm before Kai struck from the sky like a missile.
BOOM!
The impact shattered the ground beneath them. Kaela gritted her teeth as Kai's talons raked across her blade-arm, sparks flying as metal screeched against reinforced alloy.
She pushed back, twisting midair, but Kai was already gone.
Another attack!
Kaela spun, but—
SLASH!
A deep gash tore across her cybernetic shoulder, electric sparks crackling from the damaged wiring.
Kai reappeared a few meters away, standing on a broken streetlight.
His emerald fire wings flickered ominously, his talons dripping with energy.
Kaela's brows furrowed. "Your speed… it's different now."
Kai rolled his shoulders, smirking. "Figured it out, huh?"
His cybernetic hawk form wasn't just about speed anymore.
The new enhancements let him phase in and out of movement seamlessly, leaving afterimages that made his attacks unpredictable.
He was adapting—mid-battle.
Kaela clicked her tongue. "Tch. Annoying."
Then—she roared.
Her nine cybernetic tails flexed, shifting form. The bladed ends elongated into segmented plasma whips, each crackling with a violent red-and-black energy.
She lifted her blade-arm—then vanished.
Kai's instincts screamed.
She was faster.
WHIP!
A plasma tail lashed out—he dodged.
A second one—he blocked.
A third—it wrapped around his leg.
"Shit—"
Kaela yanked him downward with monstrous force.
BOOM!
Kai slammed into the concrete, the ground cratering beneath him. His cybernetic wings flickered, struggling to reboot from the shock.
Kaela hovered above him, her eyes glowing crimson.
"Caught you, birdie."
She raised her blade-arm high—
Then struck down.
CLANG!
Kai blocked with both arms, his talons crossed in a defensive guard.
The sheer force of Kaela's attack sent shockwaves rippling outward, shattering nearby windows.
But Kai grinned through gritted teeth.
"Yeah, you did."
Kaela's eyes widened.
His wings flared—brighter than before.
Then—
BOOM.
A massive concussive blast erupted from Kai's wings, sending Kaela flying backward.
She twisted midair, using her plasma whips to stabilize, but the moment she landed—
Kai was already there.
He dove in—blindingly fast.
SLASH!
One of Kaela's plasma whips was severed.
Her eyes narrowed—too late.
THOOM!
Kai drove his knee into her stomach, the impact warping the air around them.
A shockwave rippled outward.
Kaela coughed violently, her systems momentarily stuttering.
Kai didn't stop.
He spun—talons glowing with condensed energy.
He struck.
BOOM.
Kaela skidded backward, slamming through multiple ruined structures.
The battlefield fell silent.
Kai hovered above the rubble, his cybernetic hawk form radiating power.
His breathing was steady, his eyes still sharp.
Then—the rubble shifted.
Kai frowned. "Oh, come on—"
Kaela emerged.
Her body was damaged—but she was laughing.
"Hah…" She wiped blood from her lip, cracking her neck. "Not bad."
Then—
Her cybernetic core pulsed.
The damaged plasma whips regenerated instantly. The air around her distorted.
Kai's instincts screamed.
Kaela grinned. "Now I'm serious."
Her Partial TakeOver Mode shifted—again.
The air turned heavy.
A monstrous, overwhelming pressure crushed the battlefield.
Kai's eyes narrowed. "Oh, hell."
Kaela vanished.
And this time—she was faster than ever.
____________________________Chapter 167: Predator's Final Form
Kai barely saw it.
A blur of crimson and black.
Then—PAIN.
BOOM!
A plasma whip slammed into his side, sending him crashing through multiple buildings.
Debris rained as Kai tumbled through the wreckage, his cybernetic wings flickering.
Kaela landed lightly on the fractured concrete, rolling her shoulder as her final form stabilized.
Her plasma whips were now segmented blades, pulsing with unstable, chaotic energy. Her cybernetic core hummed violently, pumping out so much power that the air itself distorted around her.
Her nine tails had fused into three massive segmented blades, lined with glowing crimson engravings that pulsed with Ragnarök's energy.
Her new form wasn't just speed.
It was overwhelming force.
She grinned. "Still alive, birdie?"
From the rubble, a pair of emerald eyes burned.
Kai stood, panting. His talons dug into the ground. His emerald cybernetic wings flickered, trying to reboot.
Then—
He smirked.
"Alive? Hell yeah." He wiped blood from his lip. "But I'll admit… that one hurt."
Kaela scoffed. "Good. This is where you stay down."
She vanished.
Instantly.
Kai's instincts screamed.
He barely reacted—
BOOM!
Kaela struck from behind.
A fist to his spine.
Kai lurched forward— but she was already in front of him.
A plasma blade drove toward his chest.
Kai twisted—barely dodging.
SLASH!
A shallow cut tore across his side. Sparks and blood scattered into the air.
Kaela grinned. "You're too slow now."
Kai's pupils shrunk.
She was right.
Before, he'd had the speed advantage. But now—
She was faster.
Stronger.
His wings flickered. He had one chance.
Kaela rushed in—all plasma whips striking at once.
Kai's wings flared.
Then—he didn't dodge.
Kaela's eyes widened.
He took the hit.
BOOM!
Plasma whips pierced through him. Sparks and blood erupted from his cybernetic frame.
But Kai grinned through the pain.
Because he had her.
His talons locked onto her arm.
His wings flared to max output.
Kaela's expression twisted. "What—"
Kai roared.
"OVERDRIVE!!"
A massive concussive blast erupted.
Kaela was blown off her feet, sent hurtling into the sky.
Kai's emerald wings burned like a phoenix.
He shot after her—
Faster than ever before.
His final attack—
Would end this.
____________________________Chapter 168: The Sky Burns Red
Kai soared.
Faster.
Faster.
Kaela was still airborne, recovering from his Overdrive blast.
He closed the distance instantly.
Kai twisted his body, his cybernetic talons glowing white-hot with energy.
SLASH!
He raked his claws across her torso. Sparks flew as metal screeched. Kaela grunted, twisting midair, her segmented blades snapping toward him—
Kai spun, dodging two but—
SHUNK!
A plasma whip pierced straight through his shoulder.
His eyes widened—but he didn't stop.
"I'M NOT DONE!"
Kai grabbed the plasma whip with his bare hand and yanked Kaela toward him.
He twisted—his cybernetic wings unfolding into massive emerald blades.
BOOM!
His wings slammed into her at full force, sending her crashing into the city below.
Kai followed immediately.
But as he dived—something was wrong.
His vision blurred.
His breath came ragged.
His body felt… sluggish.
Kaela— "even after that—" had already landed on her feet.
She wiped a smear of blood from her lip, smirking. "You're starting to slow down."
Kai clenched his jaw. He felt it too.
His Overdrive had burned too much energy.
Kaela cracked her neck. "Let me show you how it's really done."
She vanished.
Kai barely reacted before—
BOOM!
A knee slammed into his gut.
Kai lurched forward, coughing blood.
Another blow to his ribs.
His vision blurred.
Then—
A plasma whip wrapped around his throat.
Kaela's voice was cold. "Die."
SNAP!
She yanked him downward.
BOOM!
Kai slammed into the earth, forming a crater.
Silence.
For a moment, nothing moved.
Kaela exhaled. "Tch. That was disappointing."
But then—
The air changed.
A deep rumbling sound filled the air.
Kaela's eyes narrowed.
Steam began rising from the crater.
Then—
A BURNING SCREECH.
The entire battlefield shook.
From within the crater, a crimson glow erupted.
Kai rose.
But his entire form had changed.
His cybernetic feathers— "once emerald—" had turned a steaming, blood-red.
His wings pulsed violently, leaking heat and energy into the air. His cybernetic talons glowed like molten metal.
And his eyes…
Were pure red.
Kaela exhaled.
"So… you're in RageMode now?"
Kai didn't answer.
Because there was no thinking in this state.
Only destruction.
BOOM!
Kai exploded forward.
Kaela dodged—barely.
But Kai's speed had tripled.
Before she could counter—
SLASH!
A burning claw ripped across her midsection.
Her blood splattered across the battlefield.
Kai's wings flared—
And then he pounced.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A storm of blows.
Kaela grunted, struggling to dodge. Each attack from Kai's RageMode shattered the ground beneath them.
For the first time in the fight—
Kaela was on the defensive.
But she was still stronger.
Kai lunged—but this time, she was ready.
FWIP!
Her plasma whips wrapped around his legs mid-air.
Kai howled, thrashing.
Kaela whirled him around—
And SLAMMED him into the ground.
BOOM!
She didn't stop.
Another slam.
Then another.
Then another.
Until the entire battlefield cracked beneath them.
Kai stopped moving.
His RageMode flickered.
Kaela panted. Her body ached.
But in the end—
She had won.
____________________________Chapter 169: The Sleeping Phoenix Awakens
Silence.
Kai's body lay motionless, steam still rising from his smoldering cybernetic feathers. His RageMode had faded, leaving only a battered, unconscious form in its place.
Kaela exhaled, rolling her shoulders. "Tch. That was annoying."
She turned away, brushing some blood from her cheek.
That's when she felt it.
A presence.
Casual. Laid-back. Yet immensely powerful.
Kaela's head snapped up—
And there he was.
Zephyr.
Leaning against a crumbling rooftop, arms crossed, his eyes half-lidded like he'd just woken up from a nap. His pink-pastel like hair was tousled, as if he really had been sleeping this whole time.
He yawned.Stretched.
Then looked down at Kaela, amused. "Man, you guys are loud."
Kaela's expression darkened."You were here the whole time?"
Zephyr scratched the back of his head. "Kinda? I meant to jump in earlier, but I dozed off."
He grinned, completely unbothered.
"Guess that's on me."
Kaela's eyes narrowed.
Zephyr hopped down from the building, landing effortlessly beside Kai's unconscious body.
He glanced at him briefly, then looked back up at Kaela.
"That was a hell of a fight. Too bad he lost."
Kaela crossed her arms."If you're here to collect his body, take him and leave."
Zephyr chuckled."Nah." His golden eyes gleamed with mischief.
"I'm here to fight you."
Kaela's gaze turned sharp.
She studied him for a moment, then sighed."Hmph. Fine. But don't waste my time."
Zephyr rolled his shoulders. "Oh, don't worry."
Then—
His entire body ignited.
BOOM!
A pillar of golden flames erupted from his form, twisting into the sky like a spiraling inferno.
The sheer heatwave cracked the pavement beneath him. The air wavered as if reality itself was bending.
Kaela tensed.
She had expected him to go all out from the start—
But even she was surprised at how quickly he transformed.
Zephyr didn't waste time.
His entire body shifted, expanding.
His limbs stretched, his skin became sleek and metallic, glowing with golden-orange runes.
From his back—
Two massive, blazing wings burst forth.
His hair elongated, transforming into a crown of fire. His eyes became twin orbs of molten gold. His hands sharpened into talons of blazing plasma.
The Phoenix had awakened.
Kaela clicked her tongue. "So, you recognize my strength."
Zephyr grinned. His voice, now deeper and laced with power, echoed across the battlefield.
"Nah. I just don't like holding back."
Then—
He attacked.
____________________________Chapter 170: Clash of Titans
Zephyr vanished.
No, not vanished—moved so fast that Kaela barely had time to react.
BOOM!
A firestorm erupted where he once stood, the sheer force of his takeoff cratering the ground. Kaela's pupils shrank as a golden blur shot toward her—
Too fast!
BANG!
Zephyr's blazing talons smashed into Kaela's crossed arms, sending a shockwave that ripped apart the surrounding battlefield.
The impact forced her back, her heels digging trenches into the ground.
Kaela gritted her teeth.
He's strong. Stronger than the others.
But she wasn't about to let herself be overwhelmed.
Her cybernetic limbs whirred, pistons firing, enhancing her strength.
She swung.
CRACK!
Her fist connected with Zephyr's gut—but he barely budged.
Instead—
FWOOOSH!
Zephyr's entire body ignited, golden flames surging outward like a detonating sun.
Kaela had to jump back, narrowly avoiding being incinerated. The heat licked at her armor, melting the edges of her sleeves.
"Not bad." Zephyr grinned, unfazed.
"But I'm just getting started."
Kaela's eyes glowed crimson.
She flexed her fingers—and her cybernetic armor shifted, revealing embedded plasma nodes.
Energy surged.
Her body glowed.
Then—
BOOM!
She rocketed forward, her fist coated in raw kinetic energy.
Zephyr met her halfway.
Fist to fist. Fire to metal.
The battlefield shattered.
____________________________Chapter 171: Wings of Fire, Blades of Steel
BOOM!
The moment Kaela and Zephyr's fists met, a violent shockwave erupted, sending debris and flames spiraling outward.
The very air cracked under the sheer force of their clash.
Kaela's cybernetic legs dug into the earth, her reinforced frame absorbing the impact. Meanwhile, Zephyr hovered effortlessly, golden flames coiling around his body like a celestial inferno.
His TakeOver Mode—Phoenix—blazed in full glory.
His body was adorned with fiery plumage, his wings vast and ethereal, shimmering between solid and energy.
His talons radiated a searing gold-white heat, and his piercing amber eyes locked onto Kaela with a sharp, predatory focus.
"You're fast," Kaela admitted, rolling her shoulders. "But let's see if you're faster than me."
Her cybernetic body hummed, gears shifting as her enhanced reflex modules activated.
Then—
She vanished.
Zephyr's instincts screamed as Kaela appeared behind him.
"Too slow."
BANG!
Her fist slammed into his back, sending him rocketing downward.
Zephyr's eyes widened. "Tch! She's adapting too fast!"
At the last second, he spread his wings—
FWOOSH!
A burst of fire erupted beneath him, stopping his descent as he flipped midair.
His wings flared wide as he angled his body toward Kaela.
"Alright then." He smirked, flames writhing around his fists. "Let's turn up the heat."
WHOOSH!
Zephyr charged forward, his entire form becoming a streak of golden fire.
Kaela countered immediately, firing her cybernetic thrusters and meeting him head-on.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A flurry of fist clashes, dodges, and counterattacks ensued—both of them moving at blinding speeds, creating shockwaves that rippled through the battlefield.
Zephyr delivered a rapid sequence of flaming punches, each one generating mini-explosions—Kaela weaved between them, her metallic arms moving with precision as she blocked, deflected, and countered.
Then, she saw an opening.
"Got you."
Her hand shot forward, aiming to grab Zephyr's throat—
But—
He smirked.
A feint.
"No, I got you."
WHOOSH!
Zephyr's entire body combusted into flames—an illusionary afterimage.
Kaela's eyes widened. Too late.
BANG!
A flaming kick connected with her ribs, sending her flying sideways.
She skidded across the battlefield, sparks flying from her cybernetic frame.
Zephyr didn't stop.
He spread his wings and dove down like a comet.
Kaela barely had time to react—
"PHOENIX TALON STRIKE!"
Zephyr's blazing claws slashed downward, the attack carrying enough heat to melt steel.
Kaela crossed her arms, reinforcing her defense—
BOOM!
The impact sent a pillar of fire erupting into the sky.
For a moment, the battlefield was engulfed in golden flames.
Then—
As the smoke cleared, Kaela stood firm, her cybernetic armor sizzling from the attack.
She exhaled sharply."Not bad…"
Then, her crimson eyes glowed.
"But I hope you're not done yet."
____________________________Chapter 172: Clash of Titans
Zephyr vanished.
No, not vanished—moved so fast that Kaela barely had time to react.
BOOM!
A firestorm erupted where he once stood, the sheer force of his takeoff cratering the ground. Kaela's pupils shrank as a golden blur shot toward her—
Too fast!
BANG!
Zephyr's blazing talons smashed into Kaela's crossed arms, sending a shockwave that ripped apart the surrounding battlefield.
The impact forced her back, her heels digging trenches into the ground.
Kaela gritted her teeth.
He's strong. Stronger than the others.
But she wasn't about to let herself be overwhelmed.
Her cybernetic limbs whirred, pistons firing, enhancing her strength.
She swung.
CRACK!
Her fist connected with Zephyr's gut—but he barely budged.
Instead—
FWOOOSH!
Zephyr's entire body ignited, golden flames surging outward like a detonating sun.
Kaela had to jump back, narrowly avoiding being incinerated. The heat licked at her armor, melting the edges of her sleeves.
"Not bad." Zephyr grinned, unfazed.
"But I'm just getting started."
Kaela's eyes glowed crimson.
She flexed her fingers—and her cybernetic armor shifted, revealing embedded plasma nodes.
Energy surged.
Her body glowed.
Then—
BOOM!
She rocketed forward, her fist coated in raw kinetic energy.
Zephyr met her halfway.
Fist to fist. Fire to metal.
The battlefield shattered.
____________________________Chapter 173: Wings of Fire, Blades of Steel
BOOM!
The moment Kaela and Zephyr's fists met, a violent shockwave erupted, sending debris and flames spiraling outward.
The very air cracked under the sheer force of their clash.
Kaela's cybernetic legs dug into the earth, her reinforced frame absorbing the impact. Meanwhile, Zephyr hovered effortlessly, golden flames coiling around his body like a celestial inferno.
His TakeOver Mode—Phoenix—blazed in full glory.
His body was adorned with fiery plumage, his wings vast and ethereal, shimmering between solid and energy.
His talons radiated a searing gold-white heat, and his piercing amber eyes locked onto Kaela with a sharp, predatory focus.
"You're fast," Kaela admitted, rolling her shoulders. "But let's see if you're faster than me."
Her cybernetic body hummed, gears shifting as her enhanced reflex modules activated.
Then—
She vanished.
Zephyr's instincts screamed as Kaela appeared behind him.
"Too slow."
BANG!
Her fist slammed into his back, sending him rocketing downward.
Zephyr's eyes widened. "Tch! She's adapting too fast!"
At the last second, he spread his wings—
FWOOSH!
A burst of fire erupted beneath him, stopping his descent as he flipped midair.
His wings flared wide as he angled his body toward Kaela.
"Alright then." He smirked, flames writhing around his fists. "Let's turn up the heat."
WHOOSH!
Zephyr charged forward, his entire form becoming a streak of golden fire.
Kaela countered immediately, firing her cybernetic thrusters and meeting him head-on.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A flurry of fist clashes, dodges, and counterattacks ensued—both of them moving at blinding speeds, creating shockwaves that rippled through the battlefield.
Zephyr delivered a rapid sequence of flaming punches, each one generating mini-explosions—Kaela weaved between them, her metallic arms moving with precision as she blocked, deflected, and countered.
Then, she saw an opening.
"Got you."
Her hand shot forward, aiming to grab Zephyr's throat—
But—
He smirked.
A feint.
"No, I got you."
WHOOSH!
Zephyr's entire body combusted into flames—an illusionary afterimage.
Kaela's eyes widened. Too late.
BANG!
A flaming kick connected with her ribs, sending her flying sideways.
She skidded across the battlefield, sparks flying from her cybernetic frame.
Zephyr didn't stop.
He spread his wings and dove down like a comet.
Kaela barely had time to react—
"PHOENIX TALON STRIKE!"
Zephyr's blazing claws slashed downward, the attack carrying enough heat to melt steel.
Kaela crossed her arms, reinforcing her defense—
BOOM!
The impact sent a pillar of fire erupting into the sky.
For a moment, the battlefield was engulfed in golden flames.
Then—
As the smoke cleared, Kaela stood firm, her cybernetic armor sizzling from the attack.
She exhaled sharply."Not bad…"
Then, her crimson eyes glowed.
"But I hope you're not done yet."
____________________________Chapter 174: The Dance of Fire and Steel
Zephyr's lips curled into a grin. "Done? I haven't even started."
With a single beat of his flaming wings, he exploded forward, a golden blur against the darkened battlefield.
Kaela's cybernetic systems whirred, her predictive algorithms locking onto his trajectory. She braced herself, her arms raised in a perfect defensive stance.
But Zephyr was unpredictable.
At the last second, he twisted midair, his body spinning into a flaming corkscrew.
"Inferno Spiral!"
WHOOSH!
A tornado of fire engulfed Kaela, heatwaves distorting the air around them.
She gritted her teeth, feeling her metallic plating sear from the intensity.
Then—
A flicker of movement inside the flames.
She moved.
BANG!
Kaela's reinforced leg shot forward, piercing through the firestorm, her heel slamming into Zephyr's chest.
CRACK!
Zephyr coughed as the impact sent him hurtling backwards, but he caught himself midair, wings spreading wide.
He wiped his mouth, chuckling. "Okay, that one hurt."
Kaela didn't respond. She was already moving.
THOOM!
Her thrusters activated, launching her upward like a missile.
Zephyr's instincts flared. She's fast.
He twisted his body to dodge, but Kaela had predicted this.
Her fist crashed into his gut.
BOOM!
Zephyr's breath left him as he was driven into the ground, a shockwave rippling outward.
But he refused to stay down.
The second his back hit the earth, his body ignited, golden flames surging around him.
"Phoenix Revival!"
WHOOSH!
A pillar of fire erupted from the ground, consuming him entirely.
Kaela instinctively leaped backward, observing as the inferno swirled violently—and from its core, Zephyr emerged.
His wounds were gone.
His body burned brighter, hotter.
Kaela's eyes narrowed. 'Regeneration? No, Rebirth.'
Zephyr smirked. "You're strong, Kaela."
He raised his fists, flames coiling around them like dragons ready to strike.
"But let's see if you can handle a Phoenix at full power."
With a single step, the battle ignited once more.
____________________________Chapter 175: The Iron Beast Awakens
Kaela stood still, her cybernetic frame humming as steam hissed from her joints.
The battlefield was a wasteland of fire and molten stone, remnants of Zephyr's relentless revival and ceaseless onslaught.
Zephyr hovered above, his golden wings unfurled, flames licking at the air around him. He had died four times already, each time returning without a single wound.
"This isn't a fight," Kaela muttered, rolling her shoulders. "It's an endurance match."
Zephyr smirked, flexing his fingers. "And you're getting tired, aren't you?"
Kaela's crimson eyes flashed.Tired? No.
She was adapting.
She exhaled sharply and clenched her fists. Her cybernetic core shifted, gears locking into place. Her entire frame tightened, muscles reinforcing as her internal systems prepared for the next phase.
Zephyr's smirk wavered slightly. Something was changing.
Then—
CRACK!
The ground beneath Kaela shattered as she took a step forward.
Zephyr's eyes widened. That pressure—
Kaela's body began to morph.
Her metallic plating expanded, covering her arms and legs in thickened armor.
Her fingers sharpened into talon-like claws, her cybernetic spine extending into a serrated tail.
Then—
Her head tilted back.
"TAKEOVER Mode—ACTIVATE."
A deafening metallic roar echoed through the battlefield as Kaela's entire form was consumed in a burst of red and black energy.
When the light faded—
She stood in her full TakeOver Mode.
A monstrous, cybernetic beast.
Her new body was sleek yet heavy, adorned with layered armor that gleamed under the firelight. Her arms and legs were digitigrade, built for explosive speed and power.
Eight massive serrated tails extended behind her, each one tipped with energy blades.
Her eyes—
No longer human.
Now, they were a deep, glowing crimson, filled with nothing but predatory focus.
Zephyr swallowed. "Oh… that's new."
Kaela's lips curled, revealing razor-sharp fangs.
"Your turn to keep up."
Then—
She vanished.
Zephyr's instincts screamed, but—
It was too late.
BANG!
Kaela's fist collided with his ribs, sending him hurtling through the air like a missile.
Zephyr barely had time to process the impact before she was already behind him.
"Try reviving from this."
Her tails shot forward—each one a serrated guillotine of pure force.
SLASH!
The sky erupted as Zephyr's body was torn apart in a storm of blades and energy.
For the first time—
His revival flames flickered.
Kaela exhaled, standing over the scattered remains of his body.
Then, she muttered:
"Let's see how many times you can come back."
____________________________Chapter 176: The Phoenix's Dying Light
For a moment, the battlefield was silent.
Kaela stood amidst the wreckage, her glowing crimson eyes locked onto the scattered remains of Zephyr's body.
His golden flames, which had resurrected him over and over again, flickered weakly— unstable.
She had finally torn him apart faster than he could regenerate.
She flexed her serrated claws, her cybernetic tail coiling behind her as she observed the flickering embers of his revival.
"What's wrong, Zephyr?" Her voice was distorted, deeper, more mechanized.
"You're not coming back as fast as before."
The golden flames fought to reignite, struggling to piece together his broken form.
Then—
FWOOOSH!
A sudden eruption of fire ignited in front of Kaela, forcing her to take a step back.
From the roaring inferno, Zephyr's form slowly reconstructed, but—
Something was different.
His wings were no longer golden. Instead, they shimmered a deep, haunting crimson, flickering like a dying ember.
His body, once radiant, now had dark scorch marks running along his arms and chest.
His breathing was ragged, and his usually confident grin was gone.
For the first time—he looked exhausted.
Kaela's lips curled. "So, you're not truly immortal. You just burn through extra lives."
Zephyr exhaled, his wings drooping slightly."…You really don't hold back, huh?"
He rolled his shoulders, though his movements were slower now. The air around him wavered, his flames less stable.
Kaela tilted her head."What's your limit, Zephyr?"
Zephyr let out a short chuckle, wiping blood from his mouth. "Guess we'll find out."
Then—
BOOM!
Zephyr exploded forward, his entire body bursting into a streak of crimson fire.
Kaela's tails shot out—
But Zephyr twisted midair, dodging by mere inches.
His fist ignited.
"BLAZING NOVA STRIKE!"
BANG!
The hit connected.
Kaela was sent skidding backward, her cybernetic heels digging trenches into the charred ground.
She stopped herself, her serrated armor steaming from the impact.
Zephyr hovered before her, panting. "I don't need to beat you."
Kaela narrowed her eyes. "Oh?"
Zephyr smirked. "I just need to make sure you never catch your breath."
Then, before she could respond—
He ignited again.
Charging her.
Over and over.
Even as his body deteriorated, even as his flames weakened, he kept attacking—
Not to win.
But to wear her down.
Kaela clicked her tongue. He's buying time.
But for what?
____________________________Chapter 177: Dying Light Gambit
Zephyr's body was falling apart.
Each time he regenerated, his flames dimmed.
His once radiant golden fire had now fully darkened into a deep crimson, flickering weakly like a dying ember.
His breathing was shallow, his movements more reckless—but he never stopped.
BOOM!
Kaela blocked his latest flaming strike, her cybernetic arms absorbing the impact. Sparks erupted between them as she pushed him back.
"You're running on fumes, Zephyr," she muttered, watching as he barely caught his balance midair. "Your body can't keep up."
Zephyr grinned, though his body visibly trembled."…Doesn't matter."
WHOOSH!
He ignited again, dashing at her with reckless abandon.
Kaela clicked her tongue, sidestepping with inhuman speed."Tch—Annoying pest."
Her tail lashed out, aiming to skewer him.
But—
FWOOOSH!
Zephyr's body exploded into flames—an afterimage.
Kaela's eyes widened. Damn it! Another feint?!
Too late—
BANG!
A blazing kick connected with her ribs, sending her crashing through a ruined wall.
Zephyr panted, landing roughly on his feet. He was shaking.
His body was at its absolute limit.
But—
Kaela still wasn't slowing down.
CRASH!
Kaela burst from the rubble, unscathed. Her cybernetic eyes glowed, analyzing his every movement.
"You think this little game of attrition will work?" She dusted off her armor."I don't tire, Zephyr. But you—"
She gestured at him. "—are one step from burning out."
Zephyr exhaled, his wings drooping.
Then—
He smiled.
Kaela's expression darkened. "…Why are you smiling?"
Then, she noticed it.
The air.
It was swirling.
The heat from Zephyr's constant revival, his relentless burning cycle, his repeated deaths—
It had changed the battlefield.
The temperature had risen to an unbearable degree.
Kaela's cybernetic systems flickered with warning signs.[Overheating Detected.]
Her claws twitched.
Zephyr wiped blood from his mouth. "Yeah, I can't keep this up forever."
Then, he raised a trembling hand—
And snapped his fingers.
FWOOOOOSH!
The entire battlefield IGNITED.
Kaela's eyes widened as a massive vortex of flames erupted from the ground—
A trap.
Zephyr had turned the battlefield into a Furnace of Death.
And Kaela was right in the center.
____________________________Chapter 178: The Furnace of Death
WHOOSH!
The entire battlefield became an inferno.
The flames weren't just ordinary fire—Zephyr had condensed every ounce of his dying embers, his endlessly regenerating flames, and the residual heat of their battle into an inescapable vortex.
A raging cyclone of golden-red fire spiraled around Kaela, its heat warping the air itself. The ground melted beneath her feet, turning into bubbling magma.
Her cybernetic systems screamed with
[WARNING: EXTREME HEAT DETECTED!]
Kaela narrowed her glowing red eyes.
"You… planned this?"
Zephyr barely stood, his body visibly breaking apart from overuse of his power.
His wings were torn, his flames flickering, and yet—he still smirked.
"I can die as many times as it takes." His voice was hoarse. "You? You don't get that luxury."
Kaela clicked her tongue, adjusting her stance. The heat was dangerous—but not enough to kill her.
Not yet.
Her coolant systems engaged, steam hissing from her metallic limbs as she prepared to move.
If she could escape this vortex, she'd end this now.
But—
BOOM!
The moment she attempted to lunge, the air around her ignited.
Zephyr expected her movement.
His fire collapsed inward, turning the battlefield into a burning vacuum.
Kaela was trapped. "Tch!"
Her eyes darted around. The firestorm wasn't natural—Zephyr had created a heat barrier, using the overwhelming energy to lock her inside.
And worse—
Her coolant systems were failing.
Zephyr exhaled, barely holding himself up. His entire body was ash at this point.
He had one more shot.
"Let's finish this, Kaela."
His voice echoed through the flames as his body began to collapse into light.
Kaela's eyes widened—
He was going to self-destruct.
____________________________Chapter 179: The Final Sacrifice
The firestorm raged, a swirling inferno of golden and crimson flames. The battlefield had long since turned into molten ruin, the air thick with ash and embers.
Kaela stood her ground, her metallic frame glowing red-hot, her systems desperately trying to regulate the impossible heat.
Across from her, Zephyr was burning away.
His flesh was gone, his bones visible beneath the flames, yet his golden eyes remained sharp.
He had figured it out.
Her Sigil.
It wasn't on her arms, her legs, or her core. It was—
One of her tail's.
A cybernetic appendage, sleek and prehensile, woven into her spinal structure.
It wasn't just for balance—it was her anchor to life.
And if he ripped it out—she would die.
Kaela, sensing his intent, clenched her fists. "You won't lay a finger on it."
Zephyr grinned despite his deteriorating body.
"Try and stop me."
Then—
He moved.
Faster than ever before, his flames collapsed inward, using the last remnants of his body to accelerate toward her.
Kaela braced herself, her cybernetic arms shifting into plasma-edged blades—
But Zephyr didn't aim for her front.
Instead—
WHOOSH!
He phased through her.
A maneuver only possible because his body was barely even solid anymore.
Kaela's eyes widened.He was behind her.
BANG!
A searing pain shot through her body as Zephyr's blazing talonsdug into her lower spine.
His fingers wrapped around her tail.
Kaela's entire system shut down in an instant.
Her body convulsed violently, red warning lights flashing across her vision.
[CRITICAL ERROR: CORE FUNCTION COMPROMISED]
Her hands trembled as she reached back, trying to stop him—
But Zephyr's grip tightened.
With a final ripping motion—
SHRRRRIP!
Kaela screamed.
Her tail was torn from her body, sparks and oil spraying into the air like blood.
Her entire frame spasmed, her vision fading.
Her legs gave out.
She collapsed.
It was over.
Zephyr exhaled, staring down at her lifeless body.
The flames around them finally died down.
The battlefield was silent.
Slowly, he looked at what remained of her—
Her Sigil.
A sleek pentagon-shaped core, glowing faintly with encrypted codes.
Zephyr knew what this meant.
Kaela was gone, but her Sigil—her legacy—remained.
Someone else could use it.
And he knew exactly who would need it.
He reached out, gripping the pentagon.
As soon as he did—
It was deactivated.
Kaela's last trace of existence vanished.
Zephyr sighed. "Rest in hell."
Then—
His body turned to embers, his flames finally burning out.
But as he crumbled away, he smiled.
He won.
____________________________Chapter 180: The Ashes of Victory
From a distance, April, Astra, Kai, and Saya stood in silence, watching as the battle reached its end.
Zephyr's body, reduced to little more than a smoldering husk, finally crumbled away into embers, scattering into the ash-filled winds.
Kaela lay motionless, her once-imposing cybernetic frame now a lifeless husk, a mere shadow of the warrior she had once been.
For a long moment, no one spoke.
The air was thick with heat, death, and the weight of finality.
Then—
Saya exhaled sharply."It's over."
Kai crossed his arms, his purple eyes flickering between the scorched battlefield and the small octagon-shaped Sigil that Zephyr had taken before his body was lost.
"Not exactly."
April clenched her fists. Zephyr had won… but at what cost?
Astra, ever the observer, narrowed her piercing blue eyes at the Sigil that now lay amid the ruins. "That thing… it still holds Kaela's power."
April stepped forward, her dull orange hair swaying in the wind. "Then we take it."
Astra arched an eyebrow. "You really think it's that simple?"
April didn't hesitate. "Zephyr died to make sure it didn't fall into the wrong hands. I'm not wasting his last effort."
Kai sighed, running a hand through his messy pastel-pink hair."You're really planning to take it for yourself?"
April shook her head. "No. This isn't mine to claim." Her voice was firm, but there was a hint of something else—a weight behind her words. "I'm taking it for the Leader."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Even Astra's usually unreadable expression shifted slightly.
Saya finally spoke. "Do you think the Leader can use it?"
April's silver eyes hardened. "If anyone can, it's him. After he created the Gear's, no?"
With that, she stepped forward, her boots crunching against the scorched earth as she approached the fallen Sigil.
It pulsed faintly in the dim light, like a dying star.
As soon as April reached for it—
The pactagon flickered.
A surge of static energy crackled through the air.
April froze.
Then, for just a brief second—
A distorted voice whispered through the wind.
A voice that shouldn't exist anymore.
Kaela's voice.
[Heh… You think you've won?]
April's eyes widened.
But before she could react—
The Sigil shut down completely.
The battlefield was silent once more.
April slowly picked up the lifeless pactagon, its surface cold against her fingertips.
She turned back to the others.
"Let's go."
Without another word, the group departed, leaving behind the ruins of the battle—
And the ashes of those who had fought it.
But just as they disappeared over the horizon, something stirred.
A single ember, faint yet persistent, flickered among the scorched ruins.
Then—
The wind shifted.
The ember glowed hotter, burning with an unnatural intensity.
The ashes surrounding it began to swirl, drawn toward the ember as if caught in a magnetic pull.
And then—
FWOOOSH!
A golden blaze erupted, spiraling into the sky like a rebirth of the sun itself.
From within the inferno, a shape emerged.
Broad shoulders, tattered yet reforming wings, a body that stitched itself back together in fire.
A smirk formed on Zephyr's regenerated face.
"Did you really think a Phoenix could die?"
He stretched his fingers, watching as his new form solidified, the remnants of Kaela's fire still clinging to him like a parting gift.
Then he looked toward the direction April and the others had gone, his golden eyes blazing.
"Time to move."
____________________________Chapter 181: The Phoenix's Return
April, Astra, Kai, and Saya moved swiftly through the ruined landscape, the scorched earth still radiating heat beneath their boots.
April kept the pactagon-shaped Sigil in her grasp, its weight heavier than it should have been—not physically, but in what it represented.
Zephyr was gone.
Or so they thought.
Kai sighed, his hands tucked into his cargo pants pockets. "I still can't believe he went out like that."
Saya, walking beside him, nodded. "It doesn't feel real."
Astra's blue eyes remained sharp, scanning their surroundings. "Don't get too comfortable. We just killed the 5th Seat of Ragnarök. They won't ignore this."
April exhaled. "Let them come."
Kai smirked at her confidence but didn't argue.
Still—
There was something unsettling about the silence that followed their victory.
As if the battle wasn't truly over.
—
Back at the battlefield, Zephyr stood at the edge of the ruined terrain, his golden eyes burning with amusement as he watched them leave.
His body was still reforming, the fire twisting around his frame, remaking his flesh from the ashes.
The process wasn't painless, but pain was something he had long since accepted.
"Tch. That actually hurt."
Flexing his restored fingers, he turned his attention back to what remained of Kaela's corpse—or rather, the lack of it.
She was completely gone.
Her body, her systems, everything had been reduced to nothing.
Only the Sigil remained.
And April had taken it.
Zephyr grinned.
"Good. That'll make things interesting."
Then, without hesitation, he moved—
A burst of golden flames erupted beneath his feet as he launched himself toward the group, a streak of fire cutting through the sky.
—
Astra was the first to notice.
Her head snapped up as a shadow passed over them, moving impossibly fast.
Her instincts screamed at her. "Get down!"
Before anyone could react, a golden explosion erupted in front of them—
BOOM!
The shockwave sent dust and debris flying, forcing them all to skid back as the heat wave rushed over them.
Kai immediately reached for his Sigil.
"What the hell was that?!"
Then—
The flames died down.
And from within them—
Zephyr walked forward, unharmed.
His golden wings flickered with lingering embers, his smirk ever-present.
"Miss me?"
April's grip on the Sigil tightened.
Astra's expression was unreadable.
Kai just blinked. "…What the actual—"
Saya took a slow step forward, her voice filled with disbelief. "You… you died."
Zephyr grinned wider.
"Did you really think a Phoenix could die?"
Silence.
Then—
April exhaled, her voice steady.
"…What now?"
Zephyr cracked his neck.
"Now? I take back what's mine."
His gaze fell to the pactagon in her hands.
April didn't move. "Over my dead body."
Zephyr's grin sharpened.
"Careful what you wish for."
Flames erupted once more.
The fight wasn't over yet.
____________________________Chapter 182: The Lion's Shadow
Zephyr's golden flames flickered around him, his smirk unyielding as he stared down April.
Kai and Astra stood behind her, both breathing heavily, exhaustion clear in their postures.
Saya was steady, but even she knew—this was going to be a problem.
Zephyr wasn't someone they could just outlast.
April squared her stance, her grip tightening around the pactagon Sigil.
"If you want it, you'll have to go through me."
Zephyr raised an eyebrow, fire licking at his fingertips. "Oh? You sure about that?"
Saya stepped beside April, her expression unreadable. "If you fight us here, you'll be at a disadvantage."
Zephyr chuckled, tilting his head slightly. "Disadvantage?" His flames flared violently. "You really think I—"
Then—
Everything changed.
A pressure unlike anything before swept through the battlefield, an overwhelming force that drowned out Zephyr's fire.
It wasn't just power.
It was instinct.
Something far more ancient.
Something predatory.
Zephyr's flames sputtered out, his entire body freezing on instinct.
His golden eyes snapped to the side.
A figure stood in the distance.
Loose-fitting cargo pants.
A slightly oversized beige t-shirt.
Dark, unkempt hair that framed his sharp, piercing eyes.
Jax.
He hadn't drawn a weapon. Hadn't even moved.
And yet—
Zephyr felt like prey.
His body screamed at him to retreat.
A single step from Jax sent a ripple through the air.
A predator's presence.
A Lion's gaze.
Zephyr clenched his jaw, his instincts warring with his pride.
Jax's voice was calm, but it held weight.
"You're coming with us."
There was no room for argument.
April exhaled, watching as Zephyr—one of the most stubborn warriors they had ever met—slowly lowered his flames.
No fight. No protests.
He simply nodded.
Jax's presence alone had decided the battle.
Astra, still catching her breath, smirked. "Took you long enough."
Jax simply shrugged, his gaze never leaving Zephyr. "Let's move."
Without another word, they headed toward their HQ.
And for the first time in his life—
Zephyr didn't resist.