The hangar groaned beneath a charcoal sky. Snow drifted in uneven spirals, melting against the heat waves rolling off the jet’s black hull. Its engines thrummed low, vibrations running deep through the frost-bitten ground.

  Lior stood frozen at the runway’s edge, fists tight at his sides. His breath rose in thin clouds, vanishing into the mist.

  Ayasha crossed her arms. Her stance was sharp—shoulders squared—but her eyes flicked toward him, softer than she wanted them to be. Cael’s jaw was locked, glasses catching the faint reflection of the jet’s lights.

  From the open hatch, Carter leaned lazily against the frame, a smirk plastered on his face. Behind him, Rei lingered—straight-backed, calm, gaze unreadable.

  “You sure you don’t want to come, Stern Face Jr.?” Carter called, smirk widening.

  Titan’s voice cut through the hangar shadows, flat and cold.

  “Go.”

  Rei stepped forward. For the first time, her eyes met Lior’s directly. The air between them stilled.

  “Get stronger, okay?”

  The corner of his mouth twitched, faint but real. “I will. Just come back.”

  The hatch sealed with a hiss as the engines climbed. The Revenant rose just as quietly as it sat there— disappearing into the clouds..

  As the Revenant disappeared in the clouds, no one spoke. They watched until the sky closed over its path.

  ?

  The steel corridors of Veritas swallowed them on the walk back. Lights flickered overhead, the sounds of machinery heard faintly in the walls. Their footsteps echoed cold and rhythmic against the floor.

  Ayasha’s arms stayed folded. “I used to think this place felt like home.”

  Cael adjusted his glasses, smirking faintly. “I guess you don’t know food’s bad until you’ve had a real meal.”

  Lior’s chuckle was soft, almost lost to the hum. “Nice one, Cael.”

  Before he could say more—

  FWSSHH!

  —a blur shot down the hall, air splitting around it.

  SKRRT!

  A figure skidded to a stop right in front of him, sneakers squealing.

  Taro Kenzaki — Codename: Speedy — Team Pulse.

  “Yo! Name’s Speedy—what’s your name?”

  “…Lior.”

  But the whirlwind had already turned, spotting someone else.

  “Cael! Long time no see!”

  The two fist-bumped mid-motion like no time had passed at all.

  Then Speedy froze—his gaze locking onto Ayasha. His smile softened into melodrama, voice dripping with flair.

  “Ayasha…”

  He stepped closer, hand over heart, voice rising like a stage confession.

  “Oh, how I’ve waited! The long days, the lonely nights—my love has finally—”

  CRACK!

  Her fist slammed into his jaw, sending him spinning into the wall.

  “You haven’t changed one bit.”

  Speedy slid down, dazed but grinning. “You either… that’s why we’re perfect…”

  Before Lior could react, another hand seized Speedy’s collar.

  Sura Aputiak — Codename: Perma — Team Pulse — dragged him upright with casual strength. A braid slipped down one shoulder; her blue eyes cut sharp as glass.

  “Every time a woman breathes, you hit puberty,” she muttered.

  Her gaze flicked to Ayasha. “Good to see you. We’ll talk later.”

  Without another word, she hauled Speedy away by the vest. His sneakers squeaked down the hall as he sighed dreamily, “Totally worth it…”

  “Trouble never changes shape,” came a warm voice from behind.

  They turned.

  An older man leaned on a cane, silver hair gleaming beneath the lights. His robe swayed lightly, glasses round and glinting.

  Hiroshi Gozan — Codename: Captain Pulse.

  “So,” he said, smiling kindly at Lior, “you’re Echo’s boy?” His eyes crinkled. “Look just like him when he was your age.”

  Lior stiffened. But Hiroshi was already strolling forward, cane tapping steady—

  TOK… TOK… TOK…

  “Titan,” he greeted, smiling playful. “Glad to see you back safe.”

  Titan inclined his head. “Hiroshi.”

  But Hiroshi’s attention shifted down the corridor. A spark of mischief gleamed in his eye.

  “Captain Seraph and her team just walked into the cafeteria. Every time she does, I get hungry.”

  Titan raised a brow. “Still up to your old ways, huh?”

  A faint drip of blood slid beneath Hiroshi’s nose. He wiped it quickly, unfazed.

  “Whatever do you mean?”

  Speedy flailed as Perma dragged him down the hall by the collar, sneakers squealing against the steel.

  “Old man! Don’t leave me with this brute! Team Goddess— I mean—Team Seraph— it is my destiny to stand by their side!”

  WHACK!

  Perma’s hand cracked against his head.

  “You’re not going anywhere.”

  Hiroshi turned toward the cafeteria.

  “Well, i guess i’ll be off Titan.”

  “You too, you old pervert!” Perma shouted after him. “We’ve got training!”

  He sighed dramatically, voice full of long-suffering sorrow.

  “She has spoken… then I suppose I’ll starve for now.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Titan’s voice came low and even. “You bring this suffering on yourself.”

  Hiroshi smiled faintly, wiping his nose with the back of his hand.

  “Maybe. But hey—no one ever got enlightened without a few bruises.’

  Titan regarded him for a quiet beat.

  “Age hasn’t changed you any.”

  Hiroshi’s small smile widened just enough.

  “No,” he said softly. “Unless you count this grey patch on my head.”

  Titan only sighed, as he walked down the opposite hall. Lior, Ayasha, and Cael followed with no command.

  ?

  “Here is where you will be staying.” Titan said as he opened the door.

  Their dorm was smaller than Lior expected. Three beds, one table, no color.

  Not a cell. But not a home either.

  Ayasha stretched her arms overhead, joints cracking. “Finally. I know I’ll at least get a shower.”

  Lior lingered by the doorway, staring at the walls—cold, lifeless steel.

  We weren’t children here… just blades they kept sharpening.

  “There’s only one room?” he asked. “No girls’ side?”

  Ayasha and Cael traded a silent look.

  Titan leaned against the frame, expression unreadable. “Of all the things I expected you to struggle with…”

  He paused long enough to make Lior squirm.

  “This wasn’t one. You’re not sharing the showers.”

  Lior turned his head in embarrassment. “I—I just meant—never mind.”

  Then—

  BOOOM!

  The door burst open.

  A laugh thundered through the room.

  “Stone-Face! You didn’t tell me the newbies were this adorable!”

  Ryo Hoshino — Codename: Captain Snapback — stormed in, teeth flashing with all black shades as his chain glinted under the light.

  He zipped forward, slinging an arm over Titan’s shoulders.

  “So! Which one’s Echo’s kid?”

  Before Lior could react, Snapback was already shaking his hand.

  “Heard your dad was a beast! Wish I got to spar him! You strong like him? Wanna test it?”

  “Uh—” Lior’s blank face said everything it needed.

  “Just kidding!” Snapback winked. “Gotta look responsible in front of my team. Don’t tell them I said that.”

  Then a strong hand yanked his chain back.

  Kainoa Lehua Kaleo — Codename: Sunstrike — Team Snapback.

  Tall, tattooed, and visibly unimpressed. Her sleeveless shirt revealed curling tribal ink; her stare burned hotter than the sun itself..

  “You can’t just barge into people’s rooms,” she said flatly. “It’s inappropriate. Grow up.”

  Snapback pouted, laughing. “You never let me have fun, Lava Lily.”

  “I told you to stop calling me that.”

  Her fist slammed into his chest—

  THUD!

  —and she dragged him out by the collar as he coughed through laughter.

  The door clicked shut.

  Lior blinked. “…What’s up with that captain?”

  Ayasha sighed. “No clue. He wasn’t a captain when I left.”

  Cael only shrugged.

  Titan’s tone cut through the quiet. “The first thing you learn about enemies—don’t judge by appearances.” His eyes darkened. “Besides your father, he’s the youngest to awaken a Niche like mine. And if we fought…”

  A pause.

  “I couldn’t tell you who’d win.”

  The silence that followed carried weight.

  ?

  That night, the training arena shimmered under moonlight.

  The trio slipped out quietly, boots echoing soft across the metal floor.

  Ayasha whispered, teasing but tense. “You’re both gonna get me in trouble for this.”

  Cael smirked. “You expected him not to look around?”

  Lior tilted his head. “How big is this place?”

  Cael adjusted his glasses. “Six years here, and we never saw half.”

  They turned the corner—then froze.

  “Shh,” Ayasha hissed. “Someone’s here.”

  Peering over a balcony, they spotted two figures below.

  Titan. Arms crossed, solid as stone.

  Snapback. Grinning, chain swinging, energy radiating off him like static.

  “C’mon, c’mon, pleeeease!” Snapback sang, bouncing on his heels. “Just one little fight!”

  He blurred forward—then back again—his voice echoing. “One move each, promise!”

  Titan exhaled. The air around him condensed; dust curled at his feet. His aura flared golden, the weight of Ironhold filling the arena.

  “…Fine. But take it seriously.”

  A hum filled the air—

  VVRRMMM…

  Snapback’s grin widened. He tilted his shades just enough for yellow light to flash beneath.

  The space around him rippled—shifting, flickering—

  WVRMM… WVRMM…

  —Niche Activated: Shatter Step—

  Displaces localized space around his body, altering the position of energy, matter, or self.

  “Aw man,” he said, voice sharp with glee. “This is gonna be great.”

  They moved at once.

  Snapback blurred—WVRMM—slipping through a fold in space. Titan didn’t chase. He pivoted into the weight, heel grinding the floor.

  Their strikes met.

  THOOOM!!!!

  Air detonated. The shockwave climbed the walls; the balcony rails sang. Lior staggered. Ayasha clutched the rail. Cael’s glasses nearly flew off.

  A spiderweb crack burst from the captains’ feet, dust blasting outward in a ring. Snapback slid back half a step, chain swinging loose. Titan’s heel carved a shallow trench through steel.

  For a heartbeat—silence. Even the lights seemed to hold their breath.

  He vanished again—-skipping sideways through a ripple—

  WVRMM!

  —then reappeared at Titan’s flank, chain whipping through distortion.

  Titan pivoted, heel dropping—

  KRAAAM!

  —but Snapback leaned back just out of reach of Titan’s strike.

  Snapback landed lightly, brushing his shades back into place. “That was close, Stone-Face. Almost had me.”

  Titan didn’t answer. His eyes burned flickering yellow, standing steady as bedrock.

  “One of us has to take this seriously.”

  Lior’s breath quickened. From above, he felt it—the weight, the charge. His pupils flickered, yellow flaring in the dark.

  Ayasha’s hand caught his wrist. “Calm down. We’re not supposed to be here.”

  Her touch grounded him. The light dimmed.

  Across the arena, Snapback’s team stood silent:

  Sunstrike’s heat shimmered like a mirage; Halo’s aura glowed faint blue; Arcline’s sparks danced between his fingers.

  And high above them all—on a steel beam—a figure stood.

  A Veritas director. Watching.

  But the weight in their gaze wasn’t neutral. It pressed like a blade aimed downward. Their eyes locked on Lior, a smile forming—slow, deliberate, sinister.

  ?

  “Excellent,” a whisper murmured, barely audible beneath the arena’s hum. “Everything moves as planned. Phase One begins. The prophecy will crumble—they will see that it’s all just words..”

  The sound faded into the rafters, but its chill remained.

  Two shadows—one above, cloaked in authority.

  One among them, hidden in plain sight.

  Neither revealed.

  Both waiting.

  The prophecy spoke of one who would rise under the oppressor’s gaze.

  One who would stand where all else fell.

  But prophecies bend.

  They can be broken.

  Rewritten.

  Snuffed out before they ever breathe.

  And as the night stretched over Veritas, one truth remained certain—

  The danger was already here.

  End of Chapter 18