Joining The Fray

The hanger was a chaotic sea of metal and flashing lights. The sharp sound of the aerospace metal clanging as it flew through the air echoed through the room. The large piece of debris, still spinning from its violent launch, landed with a solid clang that reverberated across the ship. Then, the impossible happened.

Shiro's head popped out of the hole in the hull. His body followed, smooth and lithe, as he climbed out into the open air of the battlefield. The dust settled as his eyes locked onto Raten, and without missing a beat, he flashed a grin and waved at him.

Raten blinked, his mind struggling to process the new arrival.

The sight was enough to leave Calyx in stunned silence. Who was this new figure? His gaze narrowed in confusion, no recognition dawning on him. For just a heartbeat, the celestial froze, caught in his own bewilderment. And that was all the opening Shiro needed.

He didn't hesitate. As Calyx's confusion paralyzed him, Shiro surged forward with a focused determination, releasing a concentrated beam of pure white light from his hands. The power, amplified by the combined might of Jade and Cassidy's MC cells, was overwhelming. The light shot across the hanger, a force so intense it sent Calyx tumbling through the air. He crashed into containers and debris, the metallic clang reverberating for a long moment as the celestial was knocked out of sight.

Time seemed to calm down for a split second. The chaos, the danger—they had a moment.

Behind Shiro, Cassidy and Jade emerged from the makeshift doorway. Both were clad in a stunning mix of demon-tier light armor, a testament to their power and readiness. Their weapons—Emperor-tier in their own right—were in hand, ready for action.

Cassidy rushed forward, dropping to her knees beside Raten, who was grimacing in pain but alive. Jade, with all the grace of her training, immediately knelt beside Vorden, her fingers brushing against his battered skin.

"I'm fine," Vorden murmured, though the struggle in his voice was evident. His fingers reached out and touched Jade's cheek, tenderly caressing it as though to reassure himself that she was truly there.

Jade smiled softly, placing her hand over his as she leaned into the touch. She leaned forward, her forehead coming to rest against his in a gesture that was tender, intimate. "There you are," she whispered.

The quiet moment was shattered as Raten pushed himself upright. He was already moving, his good arm reaching out to pull Cassidy into his embrace. She buried her face in his chest, her voice shaky as she whispered, "I love you. I was so scared."

Raten, despite his own pain, held her close, gently kissing her forehead. "I'm here," he reassured, though his voice was hoarse.

It wasn't long before Sil appeared, his figure stepping from the opening in the ships wall as he assessed the situation. His sharp eyes moved quickly between the group, settling on the celestial as he turned to the girls. "Get Vorden on the ship. Make sure he doesn't die," he commanded, his voice unwavering despite the serious concern evident on his face.

Vorden, struggling to stand but still conscious, glanced up at his brothers. His voice was raw, barely above a whisper, but it carried a weight of relief. "I'm good," he said, trying to muster the strength to stand on his own.

Raten, his previous somber expression now lighting up with a glint in his eyes, turned to Shiro. "Brother," he said, the weight of the moment sinking in. "Seeing you guys here—It's like I got my second wind."

Shiro grasped his hand with a firm shake, like a brotherly embrace, the moment offering a sense of reassurance.

Then Raten's face lit up further, his eyes sparking with something darker, something familiar. A maniacal grin spread across his face, the power crackling in his other hand. He breathed in deeply. "Ah, it's good to be back," he muttered, flames licking up his fingers.

He turned to face Calyx, his grin widening. "This is personal," Raten snarled, the heat of his flames intensifying. "Let's roast this marshmallow."

"How bout it bro? What do you say we toast this son of a bitch?" Raten asked hesitantly as he looked at Sil.

Shiro's face grew worried, "No. Sil should go back to the ship, protect the others, let us take care of this thing? I don't want anything to happen to you."

Sil, started forward, his gaze fixed on the celestial. He could feel his body preparing to push it past its limits, the struggle to keep up despite having no ability weighed heavily on him. But he refused to back down.

"No," he said firmly, cutting through Shiro's concern. "This is my fight, my mistake. Nobody is facing this alone."

At that moment, the girls, having supported Vorden towards the ship, were suddenly halted by the sound of movement ahead of them. Calyx, had somehow managed to get back on his feet and make his way around the group to the other side, without anybody noticing. Now he stood, blocking their path of escape.

Vorden's condition wasn't worsening, but there was no time to hesitate. They needed to get through this celestial and fast. They helped Vorden sit down behind a large crate, blocking him from view and keeping him out of the line of sight, and fire.

The girls looked at each other and with a nod stood tall and walked out to face the damn celestial. "We're not your prisoners," Jade said, her voice sharp with defiance. She stood tall, her eyes blazing with determination. "Step aside."

Cassidy nodded, her hand moving to the hilt of her sword. "You don't own us. You have no claim to keep us here."

Calyx sneered, a dark amusement flickering across his face. "More spine than the men, huh?" he mocked. "What a shame. I hate to waste brave, talented individuals, but…" His tone grew colder. "I'll do what I have to. And I have no qualms about putting you both down."

Jade and Cassidy exchanged a brief glance, as if to silently communicate the same thought: This guy is insane.

Calyx proceeded to speak not noticing their exchange. "I may not have claim to you, but I will gladly hold you as... A deposit of sorts. The godslayer can barter fo-"

Before he could finish the word, without hesitation, they attacked in unison. Both of them released devastating blasts of power that struck the celestial off-guard. He staggered, his armor crackling under the force, clearly not expecting the assault, let alone for it to be so powerful.

The boys, hearing the noise and seeing flashes of light from the corner of their eyes, turned to see the girls hurling powerful attacks with their abilities combined with masterful martial arts styles like a double headed dragon. Master of both fire and light. Bobbing and dipping, a quick duck, dive to the side, weave, a side step here, a lunge there, strike, perry, sweep, on and on in a practiced synchronicity the girls danced around Calyx like it was all a choreographed performance.

The demon tier armor they wore augmented their strength, stamina, speed, and other attributes in a combination of varied degrees. It was an impressive sight. However, it still wasn't enough to defeat a god.

Thankfully, they didn't have to face this god alone. Raten and Shiro immediately rushed to their side, joining the fray, with Sil close behind.