Allen's entire body shook uncontrollably. He could not even muster the strength to clench his fists, let alone take another step. Far in the distance, Calibur watched Allen's condition with a cynical smile—until his left wristband began to blink with a pulsing red light.
"New orders?"
He tapped the device. The voice that answered was cold, flat, and utterly devoid of emotion.
"Allen has exceeded my expectations once more. When he killed Seira, I assumed it was mere luck—but lasting this long against Marc, a Category 6, is enough for me to consider reopening the Emotional Elemental Weapon Project. Tell me… what have you done with the onyx?"
Calibur's satisfaction evaporated instantly. He stiffened, remembering—too late—that he had discarded the gemstone without a second thought.
"Well… regarding the onyx… you said no further data could be extracted, so you gave it to me to—play with…"
"I recall that, Calibur. What I want to know is whether you still have it. Bring it to Allen… unless, of course, you disposed of it. Now answer me: what have you done with it?"
A bead of sweat slid down Calibur's temple. His eyes trembled.
"Of course I still have it. I will deliver it to Allen immediately, my lord."
"Good. You are a loyal dog. Do not keep me waiting… the consequences may be severe."
The call cut. The red light vanished.
Calibur let out a shaky exhale.
"I'm dead… If Aegis finds out I threw it away…"
Just imagining the consequences made his arms quiver. He scanned the shattered city—not even remotely sure where he had tossed the onyx. A crushing weight settled on his chest.
"Finding it is impossible. I'm nothing like Elisse—she can sweep entire regions at once… My only option now…"
Resigned, he removed the wristband. A tiny needle extended from its underside—unnoticed—and injected a black liquid into his vein.
He tossed the bracelet onto the ground, raised his hand, and summoned a shimmering orb of violet liquid in his palm. It splashed onto the device, dissolving it in seconds. Once nothing remained, Calibur broke into a sprint, heading toward the dense forest encircling the city. He vanished between the trees.
---
At that same moment, the man in the black suit—seated before the enormous monitor—smiled faintly.
"So… betrayal."
The display shifted from Allen's trembling form to the sight of Calibur fleeing through the underbrush.
"Lektor. Calibur will serve as the specimen for Phase Three of Project Perfection."
One of the armored figures behind him bowed silently and exited the room. The man turned his gaze back to the screen, switching again to Allen.
---
Allen stared at Gigax Aries while swaying on his feet, barely managing to remain upright. He was unaware that, in addition to Shinobi, Titan, and Crimson Shadow's group, he was now being monitored by Calibur's superior. In his state, none of that mattered. The only thing he cared about was finishing Marc—so he could finally collapse.
His vision was nearly gone—his eyes flooded with his own blood. All he managed to perceive was a massive wall of darkness rushing toward him before it struck his body with brutal force, hurling him dozens of meters away and worsening his injuries.
He staggered upright, coughing violently as he spat a mouthful of blood. The glow in his eyes dimmed by the second. Yet beneath the rubble, the hammer's embedded gemstones—and the remaining Stones he carried—began to pulse.
A faint heartbeat-like rhythm echoed from them.
With each pulse, a fraction of color returned to Allen's skin and eyes. Several of his wounds closed. His lungs steadied.
Just enough recovery.
He narrowly dodged the monster's descending foreleg, using the wind-pressure of the strike to propel himself upward. In that instant he accelerated beyond his normal limits and drove his fist into the side of the beast's body, launching Gigax Aries high into the air.
Suspended amid the sky, Allen raised his left hand heavenward. In his right, the hammer materialized once more. Far above, the beast's lips tightened, losing its perpetual twisted smile. It turned its gaze upward.
A colossal meteor blotted out the sky—vast enough to shade most of the city. Even if it tried to flee, there was nowhere within reach.
"Lesser Star Meteor."
Gigax Aries roared and hardened its entire body, metalizing itself in desperate defense. But to its shock, the meteor shrank—condensing rapidly until it was roughly the size of a five-story building—before plummeting toward it with unstoppable force.
The impact was titanic.
A wave of fire erupted outward, consuming everything—Allen included—and swallowing what remained of the devastated city beneath him.
---
The man in the black suit hurled his glass at the television, shattering the screen.
"Elisse. Ensure that Project Chimera is completed—no matter the cost."
A woman nodded and departed at once. The man glared at the others.
"Why are you still here? Allen has killed two of your predecessors. Improve yourselves. Now."
Heads lowered, the remaining operatives fled after Elisse. The man stared at the ruined screen, his expression dark.
"It's only a fluke… Allen should not be able to exceed Level 1 without the onyx. It is impossible for the evolutionary gene to push him further."
A scientist in a white lab coat appeared in the doorway and knocked gently. The suited man turned toward him.
"Sir Aegis, Project Chimera is nearly complete. We only need to confirm one final detail—whether it obeys."
The man—Aegis—smiled. A cold gleam flickered in his eyes.