"If you want to trust someone, then so be it. You've earned it—especially since you saved my friend Chip and Paris," 'X' said, his voice a mix of seriousness and gratitude.
"Sir! You don't have to do this!" Karpi and Ludra protested in unison, trying to stop him. However, their words failed to dissuade him.
"Today I'll see the face of Mr. 'X'! How exciting!" Paris exclaimed enthusiastically, sharing a conspiratorial glance with Chip. Both were expectant, eager to uncover what had remained hidden for so long.
'X' took a deep breath before removing his glasses with one hand and the black mask with the other. Finally, he revealed his true face.
"This moment feels like déjà vu," Alita murmured, recalling when Pax removed her helmet to reveal she was Lukeandria. However, she quickly shook her head as she studied X's face. "But no... It's different," she thought aloud, though no one else seemed to notice.
The leader's skin was yellow, like the peel of a ripe banana. His right eye was completely white, as if he had lost his sight. Burn scars covered much of his skin, giving him a harrowing yet commanding appearance. It was clear that every scar told a story of struggle and sacrifice.
"He looks like... like a horrifying creature!" Paris thought silently, exchanging a glance with Chip, who also appeared stunned. Though both felt pity for their leader, they knew that behind that face was a brave person who had given everything for their cause.
"So, what do you think?" 'X' asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence that had settled over the room.
"Well, you see..." Alita began, carefully searching for the right words. Ron opened his mouth to say something but instantly felt Chiki raise a paw threateningly, ready to strike if he said anything foolish. He promptly closed his mouth.
Silence dominated the room for a long while until Rodelos, with his characteristic humor, broke the tension. Slamming his fists on the table, he exclaimed, "Wow, you're quite the handsome fellow underneath all that disguise!"
Everyone masked their initial reactions, forcing nervous smiles. 'X' let out a genuine laugh at Rodelos's comment. "Right?" he replied, looking at everyone with an ironic smile as they nodded timidly.
At that moment, Kilibur, taking advantage of the distraction, transformed back into a fox-woman unnoticed by Karpi and Ludra. Stealthily, he approached 'X' and gently placed a hand on his face. A warm, radiant light emanated from the contact, and gradually the burn marks and the white eye vanished, revealing an entirely new face.
Everyone was left speechless by the transformation. The true face of 'X' was angelic, almost otherworldly. He had perfect features, smooth skin, and blue eyes that seemed to reflect the calm sea. The women in the room could barely contain their admiration, while some of the men, like Ron, felt a pang of envy.
"Well, I'm done," Kilibur announced casually, reverting to his fox-child form and returning to his seat.
"Thank you so much," Ban said, touching his face in disbelief. His tone was sincere, filled with gratitude.
"You're welcome, but remember, this is only a temporary illusion. Perhaps Paltio, with the power of the Scepter, can fully heal you," Kilibur explained before sitting down again.
Paris, impressed, thought to herself: "He's changed so much... He looks like an Adonis."
Ron, for his part, couldn't help but feel insecure. "He's different now... He looks like a model. This guy 'X' could even steal Alita away," he thought jealously, though he quickly tried to rein in his emotions.
Alita noticed the change in Ron and gently said, "You know, 'X' looked good even with his previous appearance. I don't judge people based on looks."
"You're right," Ron replied, trying to calm himself. Though still uncomfortable, he realized that appearances didn't define who someone truly was.
"It's fine," 'X' said, looking at Kilibur with a light but determined smile. "Well, now that I've fixed that… can you tell us your real name?" Kilibur asked, leaning forward with renewed curiosity.
"It's a secret," Ludra interrupted quickly, crossing her arms as if to shield her leader's identity.
"Come on, we're among friends, and you said there would be no secrets," Kilibur insisted with his mischievous yet firm tone.
'X' sighed, resigned, and finally responded: "Alright… My real name is Ban."
"So… 'Ban'?" everyone repeated in unison, testing the name on their lips as if it were something new and strange.
"Yes, but don't overuse it—don't wear it out," Ban joked, admiring his restored reflection on the table. He flashed a flirtatious smile, enjoying the effect his new appearance had on others.
"It suits you," Rodelos commented between laughs, breaking the ice further with his characteristic humor.
Once the awkward moment passed, Ban adopted a more serious demeanor. "Alright, but I must continue as a symbol. So outside this room, you'll call me 'X' as always, until we achieve our goal of defeating the Shadows. Is that clear?" His voice was warm but authoritative, leaving no room for argument.
"As far as I'm concerned, that works," Rodelos said, nodding respectfully. The others also nodded, showing their agreement.
"Now, let's get back to business. How are we going to help Paltio and free ourselves from the Shadows once and for all?" Ban asked, returning to the main topic.
"As you can see, we have a small contingent of soldiers and people who were torn from their homes: children, women, and adults. Those damn 'Shadows' won't laugh at us anymore. We'll wipe out all their hordes once and for all."
"Hey, maybe we can ask for help from many others who would gladly answer the call," Alita interrupted, raising her hand as if struck by a brilliant idea.
"Who?" Ban asked, intrigued.
"Yeah! Who?" Ron added, leaning forward with curiosity.
"Well, we could ask Romeo and his team, as well as Galatea and her people. And also the professor—remember the conch shells they gave us? We could use them to contact him," Alita explained enthusiastically.
"Excellent! Then summon them here," Ban ordered decisively.
"Hey, Alita, but how do we contact the professor? Remember the radio was in the carriage," Ron pointed out, scratching his head with concern.
"No problem. I made a replica of the conch shell to contact him," Alita replied, proud of her ingenuity.
"That's awesome!" Ron exclaimed, though his expression quickly shifted to a playful smirk. "The bad part is that you didn't do the same with the carriage to contact Paltio."
"Oops! That slipped my mind," Alita admitted, scratching the back of her neck shyly as everyone chuckled lightly.
"Alright, then let everyone be ready. With the help of these people, we might have a chance to defeat the Shadows once and for all. And as we've been told, the Marine Dawn is approaching, and that will be the moment of our attack," Ban declared with determination.
"Alright!" everyone responded in unison, rising to their feet and preparing for action.
Before leaving, Kilibur approached Ban and, raising an eyebrow seriously, said, "But don't forget that I'm not an object."
"Of course, as you wish, Miss Fox… I mean, Kilibur," Ban replied with an ironic smile, prompting light laughter among those present.
Kilibur rolled his eyes, though he couldn't help but crack a slight smile before joining the group.
"But… will you lend us a hand? With your help, perhaps we can make a difference in the upcoming war," Ban asked, looking at Kilibur with seriousness but also a hopeful tone.
Kilibur took a few seconds to think it over, his face reflecting both doubt and determination. Finally, he responded firmly: "Alright… I'll do it." And, as if to emphasize his decision, he transformed back into the fox-woman, leaving everyone impressed once again.
Ban, though he tried to hide it, felt a faint blush inside. Fortunately, his mask and glasses concealed any visible trace of this unexpected reaction.
"Very well, then it's settled. Everyone, get to work. There's no time to waste. Remember, we already know when we must strike," 'X' declared in a firm and authoritative voice before leaving the room, followed by the group.
Alita quickly reached out to the people they had helped before. Romeo, Galatea, and the professor responded to the call without hesitation, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to the cause. Once the arrangements were in place, Alita and Ron decided to return to their respective training grounds with their mentors. They knew they couldn't afford to rest while Paltio was out there facing the Shadows.
"We can't let Paltio take all the glory," Ron remarked with a competitive smile as he adjusted his armor.
"Besides, the Marine Dawn is approaching. We need to be ready when the time comes," Alita added, her voice filled with determination as she launched small fireballs into the air to practice her control over the elements.
Both of them knew time was running out, but they also understood that every second counted. The training wasn't just physical—it was mental and emotional as well. They needed to be at their best to face what lay ahead.
The Marine Dawn was near, and with it, everyone's fate hung by a thread.