Reunion

"Don't rush, Veda. Judging by their clothes, I'd say they're the dogs of this country. Who knows? Maybe we can use them as hostages."

"But there are civilians among them. Did you see that mother and child? I can smell something delicious from both of them," Veda said, drooling.

What the hell is wrong with these people?

That's what Ramesh was thinking.

"Get ready! These are the intruders the soldiers reported to the palace today," Veer whispered to his three friends.

"Ugh… just our luck, running into them here. Wasn't the lieutenant supposed to handle them?" Ramesh clicked his tongue.

"Devika, hurry and take the mother and child to safety. Then come back to help us, please!" Alisa made the right call.

Devika nodded, then disappeared with the mother and child, taking them away from the battlefield.

"Vanished? I figured they had powers too. Looks like we'll have a fun time," Rohan said, adjusting his glasses with his index finger.

"So, can I kill them now?" Veda repeated.

"Just disable them," Rohan decided.

Ramesh, Veer, and Alisa clenched their jaws, preparing to fight.

"Ugh, you're so boring, Rohan. Fine, I'll just have fun torturing them first," Veda sneered, ready to make her move.

The trio braced themselves, planning their next steps.

"Ultraviolet Flakes," Veda chanted.

Three bright beams shot down from the sky, breaking through the thick clouds.

They were likely ultraviolet rays from the sun.

As the beams approached the trio...

"Now!" Ramesh shouted.

The three scattered in different directions.

The ultraviolet rays struck the ground, leaving three massive, deep craters.

"Not bad. Maybe you'll be able to ease my boredom," Veda licked her lips.

Ramesh clenched his fists, and Veer drew his sword. Both charged at Rohan, targeting him as their enemy.

Meanwhile, Alisa had the task of taking control of Veda's mind.

"Collection of natural forces."

"Unblocked version."

Ramesh and Veer attacked simultaneously.

Ramesh's fist, infused with natural energy, aimed straight for Rohan's face.

Veer's sword slashed horizontally at Rohan's body.

Rohan dove and quickly leaped back, easily dodging both attacks.

"No way!" Ramesh and Veer couldn't believe their eyes.

Taking advantage of their vulnerable positions, Rohan launched a counterattack.

"Depletion of life."

He struck their stomachs and channeled his attack through the blows.

Ramesh and Veer were sent flying, rolling across the ground from the impact.

As Ramesh tried to stand up, nostalgia hit him when he tasted dirt. But that's when he felt the effects of Rohan's attack. His energy was drained, and he couldn't move his legs even slightly.

"My strength... it's completely gone. Veer, how are yo—"

His words trailed off when he saw Veer collapse on the ground, unmoving.

Ramesh's face paled. He never imagined they would be defeated this easily.

"You're nothing compared to my 10-year-old neighbor. But Veda was right—maybe I'll have some fun with you."

Rohan grinned, walking over to the paralyzed Ramesh and kicked him hard in the stomach.

Ramesh was sent flying again.

Where are you, Lieutenant Aray?

That was all Ramesh could think of as Rohan continued beating him.

His hair was pulled, and his face was a mess. In his helpless state, he glanced at Alisa, who was still fighting.

"Control of the devil's mind."

Alisa tried to take control of Veda's mind, but nothing happened.

"What are you doing? Are you kidding me?"

Veda remained unaffected.

Either Veda was too strong, or Alisa was too weak.

Just like Ramesh, Alisa's face turned pale as she realized the vast difference in their power.

Before she knew it, Veda was standing in front of her, gripping her throat tightly.

"Oi, oi… are you serious? You're making me mad!" Veda's grip tightened.

Alisa smiled, knowing there was one more person Veda hadn't noticed.

"What are you smiling at?"

A small knife suddenly pierced Veda's back, striking a vital point in her spine. Blood quickly spread across Veda's uniform.

Slowly, the figure holding the knife became visible.

Devika.

"You bastard! I'll kill you!"

Enraged from being stabbed, Veda punched Devika hard in the face.

Devika, only gifted with the ability to disappear, was sent flying by the punch. Before she could even try to stand up,

Veda chanted a deadly spell,

"Ghost missile."

A pitch-black laser shot from Veda's fingertip, an attack capable of destroying a person's soul.

Even the victim's soul wouldn't be able to escape this attack and enter either heaven or hell. It would be completely obliterated.

Their lives were all in danger.

Lieutenant Aray, save us!

That was the cry in Alisa's heart.

The deadly laser raced toward Devika.

"Devika! Dodge!" Alisa screamed.

But it was too late.

As Devika braced herself for death, the laser veered off course, deflected into the sky, piercing the clouds above.

No, it didn't miss. Someone had deflected it with their bare hand.

A young man, with a blank expression, said,

"Sorry, I'm late."

"Lieutenant Aray!"

His sudden appearance startled Alisa, Ramesh, and Devika.

But Veda and Rohan were just as shocked, seeing how easily their ultimate attack had been blocked.

"You! You're the kid who blocked my attack at the school!" Rohan recognized him.

"Damn it! I'll make you pay for that!" Veda recalled that this was the second time the same person had thwarted her final assault.

"Oh? It's you guys. A pleasant reunion, isn't it? But I'm too tired to play with you right now."

"Don't give me that! You've got plenty of energy left to fight us both. If you didn't, you wouldn't have dared come here alone."

Veda growled, clutching her still-bleeding wound.

"Not really. I only came because I knew I could take you both down quickly. Like this." Aray replied calmly.

Snap.

The first snap of his fingers teleported the quartet to his side and placed an impenetrable magic shield around them.

Snap.

The second snap was for the attack.

"Destructive waves."

With the snap, powerful electromagnetic waves spread out across the area.

The waves targeted their brains, the vital organ coordinating the human body. Any disturbance in the brain's functioning could disrupt bodily control.

No matter how strong they were, these waves would affect them.

Veda and Rohan collapsed instantly, their bodies paralyzed.

Having failed to capture his prey in the previous fight, Aray had no intention of letting them escape this time.

The battle was over.

"Huh? Is it over already?" Ramesh couldn't believe what had just happened.

"Lieutenant Aray is the best!" Alisa burst into tears.

"Hic… hic…" Alisa kept wiping her eyes, but the tears wouldn't stop.

"Oi! Why are you crying? Didn't the lieutenant win?" Ramesh, unable to handle seeing a woman cry, asked.

"No, I thought we were all going to die. But after the lieutenant showed up, I'm just so thankful we're still alive. Thank you so much, Lieutenant," Alisa smiled through her tears.

Aray, confused, reached out and wiped the tears from her cheek.

Alisa looked slightly surprised.

"I'm not exactly great at comforting a crying woman. So please don't confuse me."

"Who knew you could be romantic, Lieutenant?" Alisa smiled sweetly.

Aray fumbled awkwardly at being called romantic.

"Ugh… my head hurts. What's going on?" Veer, just waking up, had a dumb look on his face.

Seeing his genuinely clueless expression, they all laughed together.

It was getting late, time to head back to the palace.

"Alright, it's getting too late. We've caught some big fish, so we need to report back to the king," Aray said with his usual blank face.

"Yes, Lieutenant!" The quartet was back in high spirits.

"But seriously, you're so expressionless, Lieutenant!" Ramesh joked, making everyone laugh again.

The sky had darkened as they made their way back to the palace.

It had been a long day.

And it was only the beginning of many more exhausting days to come.