Kan lunged forward, delivering a powerful strike—his strongest yet.
But Kai effortlessly slashed through it with his black sword, cutting the energy wave in half.
Aelira followed up instantly, releasing a sharp electric ray from her hands. Kai raised his arm and blocked it with ease.
No matter what they tried, nothing even touched him.
Kan unleashed his invisible threads, aiming to trap Kai from behind.
But Kai sensed them.
With a swift spin of his blade, he sliced through the unseen lines, scattering them in the wind.
Aelira tried to flank him, but Kai saw her. He turned, struck with brutal force, and sent her crashing into a boulder. The rock cracked on impact.
Before Kan could react, Kai was already on him.
One clean cut shattered Kan's sword.
A second blow—a crushing punch to his mouth—sent Kan sprawling across the battlefield, blood trailing behind him.
His energy dropped sharply. He could barely lift his body.
Aelira groaned, trying to stand. But she was bleeding heavily, her vision blurry, her legs shaking.
Kai approached slowly.
Kan tried to crawl forward—he still had the will to fight—but then...
Jack appeared.
Fist glowing blue, he struck Kai square in the chest, launching him backward.
Kai crashed hard.
Meanwhile, Noah rushed to Aelira's side to protect her.
But Kai, unfazed, fired a small black energy ray.
It hit Noah instantly. His eyes shut, and his body dropped—deep in unconscious sleep.
Jack didn't stop.
He attacked again. And again. Blue sparks flew in every direction.
Then—finally—lightning gathered in Jack's hand. He launched it with everything he had.
The explosion echoed across the field.
Smoke cleared.
A thin line of blood trickled down Kai's cheek.
Just one drop.
Kai raised a hand to touch it.
"…It's been a long time," he said quietly, almost amused.
"Since someone managed… to make me bleed."
In the Spaceship
I sat beside him. The alien, dressed in sleek black armor, stared directly at my face—cold, expressionless.
"By your mining, a lot of people on Earth will die," I said firmly.
"I don't care about those people," he replied without hesitation.
"Can't you transfer them to another planet?" I asked, desperate.
"No. That would be too expensive for the company."
"we can protect you and your family only"
His voice was mechanical, detached.
"So… Earth's people will just die? That's it?"
He gave a small nod. "You signed the agreement. You knew the risks."
"We need time—time to find another solution!" I pleaded.
"You can leave Earth. We offer ship services for evacuation. But you'll have to pay."
"How much?"
"You must pay 60 Reget," he said. "One Reget equals one trillion Yutis. One Yutis equals 10,000 kilograms of your country's gold."
My heart sank.
There was no way Earth could ever afford such an amount.
"That's… impossible," I whispered.
He leaned forward slightly. "Then build your own ship. Or perish."
I clenched my fists. "Please… just give us time. We can save lives."
The alien paused.
"Fine. I'll give you five years. Not a day more. After that, I'll return with my soldiers… and take all of Earth's fuel."
Just five years...
"But don't think you'll keep it easily," he added.
"There will be a price… for everything."
"But you must kill Kai," the alien commander said calmly.
Kai—the strongest, immortal soldier in the universe.
"Do you agree to the terms?" he asked.
I hesitated. For Earth… for everyone…
This would be the last time.
"…Yes," I said quietly.
Without a word, his soldiers activated the teleporter. In a flash of light, I was standing where Jack had just been—on the battlefield.
And Jack… was now aboard their ship.
"So… they sent you," Kai said with a cold smirk.
"They told me… if I want to save Earth, I have to kill you."
"Then come," Kai challenged.
My eyes flicked to the side.
Aelira…
I rushed toward her. Her body was motionless, cold. I knelt beside her and held her hand.
"Say goodbye to your friend," Kai said.
"She's already dead. But that other one—Kan—is still barely alive."
My heart tightened.
"She was the first girl I've ever killed… twice," Kai continued, unfazed.
"Korel's wife when we offered him peace. But he disrespected me… so I kill him in war."
He leaned in, voice devoid of mercy.
"And now… it's the second time."
My rage exploded.
I summoned my sword.
The blade shimmered with energy. My shout echoed across the broken battlefield—
"Aaaaaaaaaa!!"
I charged at Kai with everything I had, slashing again and again.
He blocked each strike, dodging effortlessly.
"Wind Slash!!" I roared.
The attack tore through the air, but he raised his arm and deflected it with ease.
Kai smirked.
"You're still weak… just like before."