Blue's Warning!

"We'll go to a fun place," Tyson said cheerfully. "I know the best spot for burgers. Want to check it out?"

"Sure," Nancy teased, "Seeing you run around like that makes me crave something hot."

"Hot, huh?" Tyson raised an eyebrow as he stepped before the gate to block her path, but she easily ducked under his arm. "I'm curious—what kind of hot stuff are you talking about?"

"Don't get any funny ideas," she said with a grin. "I was referring to burgers."

Tyson chuckled and followed her, but he froze just as he was about to take her hand.

A recognizable figure stood in front of their school.

Blue.

Tyson narrowed his eyes, instinctively positioning his body between Nancy and the threat. His hand moved toward his meta-bot, prepared for whatever might come next.

"I was waiting for you," Blue said as he scanned the school grounds until his eyes fell on Nancy. "And who's this beauty next to you?"

Tyson felt Nancy's hand gently wrapping around his elbow, hesitating.

"What do you want?" Tyson demanded in a sharp voice.

"Whoa, take it easy," Blue grinned, raising his hands. "I'm just here to talk."

His gaze drifted toward the school grounds. "It must be nice to have the opportunity to study at a prestigious academy."

Tyson stood there, uncertain of Blue's intentions and his odd behavior.

"You know," Blue continued, "I also got admitted last year, but then they kicked me out because I couldn't pay my tuition fees."

He then chuckled cynically. "Because of that, I understood what we need in this world."

Tyson glanced at his school, feeling uneasy.

"No, no, not this one," Blue quickly corrected. "It was another one. Anyway, I just wanted to say something," he added, his eyes flicking to Nancy. "It would be better if your girl left us for a moment."

Tyson turned to Nancy, saying, "You should go home; I'll talk to you later."

Nancy hesitated, uncertainty visible in her eyes. "Please stay safe, and call me if anything happens."

Tyson smiled. "Yeah, see you later."

The two boys stood silently as Nancy's footsteps faded as she left. 

"Good lord, she seems to like you," Blue remarked, looking at Tyson with a smirk. "You're fortunate, indeed."

Tyson's jaw tightened. "Just get to the point."

Blue's expression changed, and his tone turned more serious. "Yeah, last time we left something undone. Not to mention, I took the blame for everything that went down back there."

He flicked his wrist as the blue light from his bracelet flickered ominously. "I'm not here to hear your apology," he added, interrupting Tyson before he could speak. "You guys are always so sly. I'm here to warn you."

Tyson narrowed his eyes, a chill running down his spine. "What do you want me to be warned about?"

Blue's gaze grew fierce. "Soon enough, we're going to have a real showdown. Don't let me down, Tyson."

Tyson felt a knot in his stomach. "What do you mean?"

Blue gave a small smile. "You'll see soon enough. Just make sure that you reveal the true monster within you when the moment arrives." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Tyson deep in thought.

Tyson remained frozen; the weight of Blue's presence uneasy him. He considered confronting Blue and capturing him right there before he did something in the future, but deep down, he knew it was a dangerous move.

Blue was much stronger than he was, and facing him alone would be suicide. Even with Alex at his side, the odds didn't look good.

But what was Blue genuinely planning? Tyson couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that something significant was on the horizon, something that would challenge him in ways he wasn't prepared for.

-----

Edward sat on a chair by the desk inside the mansion's dimly lit study. The files were cluttered with old pages, faded manuscripts, and hastily scrawled notes. The light from a blue lamp cast long shadows across the room, accentuating the deep lines of frustration on his face.

The Ice World—the name alone sent chills down his spine. It was a place that existed in the cracks of humanity's nightmares—a graveyard of memories. Faces long gone flashed in his mind, their terrified expressions burning into his soul. Their screams refused to fade. 

His fingers brushed against the cold metal of his ring. "Leave them, Ed. We can't save them."

The self-proclaimed leader's words echoed in his thoughts, highlighting their cowardice.

"Why?" Edward muttered under his breath.

In a fit of rage, he struck the desk with his fist, sending papers and notes scattering across the floor without a thought.

A holographic projection flickered to life beside him. The image showcased a fragment of the Ice World—a desolate, snow-blanketed riverbed leading to a solitary, foreboding throne in the distance.

The entire world witnessed the deaths of his comrades.

Their final moments had been broadcast live for everyone to witness, with streams playing on every screen and device on Earth. However, despite being visible to the naked eye, the battles were unrecordable. Cameras, drones, and all forms of recording technology failed to capture those critical moments, as if a divine being had intervened to obscure them. It was as though reality warped under its influence, effectively shielding the truth from anyone attempting to analyze the footage in later years.

Without those recordings, studying the enemy, deciphering their patterns, or identifying their weaknesses was impossible. The live broadcasts disappeared the moment they concluded, leaving only fleeting memories etched in the minds of those who had witnessed the carnage.

Edward had no way to replay what had occurred, no means to uncover the enemy's secrets that had taken everything from him.

"I'll go there. I have to." His voice quivered with resolve. For years, the Ice World had taken lives, and for years, others had chosen to abandon it, to move on and leave the past behind. But Edward couldn't. He owed it to the friends he had lost—the lives discarded as if they meant nothing.

"I'll figure something out," he murmured, his determination solidifying. "Even if I have to go by myself."

A gentle knock on the study door broke the silence.

"Master?" Tyson called as the door creaked open. He flipped on the lights, the sudden brightness briefly blinding Edward.

"Hey," Edward said, hurriedly gathering the scattered pages and concealing the holographic projection. But it was too late; Tyson's eyes had caught a glimpse of the Ice World, the image forever etched in his memory from Edward's stories. 

"You're still looking into it," Tyson said quietly as he stepped inside.

Edward hesitated. "I have to," he finally admitted, his tone reflecting guilt and determination.

Tyson studied Edward momentarily as the silence stretched, longing for breath. Then, with a faint nod, he spoke, "Just tell me one thing. When the time comes… will you let us help you?"

Edward hesitated, his gaze drifting. He didn't know how to respond, the burden of his pride and pain tugging at him. Finally, he sighed. "Yeah… I promise."

Tyson smiled, a subtle but genuine curve of his lips. "Good. I suppose we can call it even then."

Edward's lips twitched, a bitter laugh escaping him. "I'm sorry for keeping things from you."

"And I'm sorry for everything," Tyson said as he entered the room. "From now on, I promise you'll see the new me… your new son."

Edward's heart skipped a beat. It was the first time Tyson had recognized him as a father, and it felt as if the world had shifted for a brief moment. His chest tightened with unfamiliar feelings. He nodded, uncertain how to respond, still convinced he had failed as a father.

"And you two will see the new version of your father," Edward said softly, his voice heavy with emotion, even though he couldn't fully understand what that new version might look like. "So, do you want something?"

"Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about Blue."

Edward's expression changed. "I told you, I did what I thought was best for you. I didn't want the media to tarnish your name because of someone else's mistakes."

"Not entirely."

Edward's jaw tightened. "It was his mistake to start with. He was in the wrong," he said curtly. "Can we just drop this?"

Tyson hesitantly nodded. "I met him earlier today."

The room descended into a thick silence, and Edward's expression grew troubled.

Tyson confided in him, and Edward let out a sharp breath. "Thanks for sharing that... Now, why don't you hop in the shower? You've got that 'hard-working farmer' scent from a long day!"

Tyson rolled his eyes. "Yeah... I get it."

Edward raised an eyebrow, catching the tone. "And tomorrow, we have an appointment with the president and his family."

Tyson paused, annoyance flashing across his face. Edward continued, unfazed. "And no, you can't skip it. He wants all of us there. If you've got questions about the media, you can ask him yourself."