It all came crashing down Part 2

At Arnik's residence, the group found themselves still processing the shocking events that had unfolded. The air was tense, and disbelief hung heavy over them like a storm cloud.Kai broke the silence first, his voice tinged with a mix of sarcasm and fear. "Lionel is the last demon?"Arnik, his brow furrowed as he paced back and forth, responded thoughtfully, "From the legends? But... that's just a myth, isn't it?"Kai gestured wildly toward the sky. "Well, based on what we just saw, hardly."As the group debated the unbelievable revelation, Arnik's attention was drawn to a shadow in the sky. His eyes widened as he spotted five pods descending rapidly toward his house. The urgency in his voice cut through their chatter like a blade. "We are going to die," Kai muttered hopelessly."Everyone, get close to me if you want to live!" Arnik shouted, his tone commanding. The group huddled around him, their fear palpable. Arnik raised his arm into the air, blue energy flowing out in waves as he yelled, "Plasma mutation, Plasma barrier!"A transparent shield of shimmering energy enveloped them just in time. The pods crashed into the ground with a series of deafening explosions, obliterating Arnik's house and everything around it. The force of the blast was enough to send shockwaves through the neighborhood.

As the dust settled, the group stood frozen, staring at the devastation around them. Arnik's house was completely obliterated, replaced by smoldering rubble and swirling smoke. The plasma barrier flickered a few times before fading away, leaving behind a faint hum of dissipating energy in the air.

Arnik exhaled sharply, his shoulders slumping as he braced himself against a jagged piece of debris. Sweat trickled down his face, and his breathing was uneven. "I've... never had to use it like that before," he admitted, his voice low and strained.Kai's voice cut in, sharp with disbelief. "You're a mutant, Arnik?!"Arnik's expression hardened, but his tone remained steady. "That's for later. Right now, we need to get out of this mess."Aika's voice trembled as she hugged her arms tightly, her hands shaking. "Where the hell are we supposed to go? There's no escape!"Rose turned to her quickly, her tone firm but calm. "Aika, stay calm!""Stay calm?!" Aika cried, her voice breaking as panic overtook her. "How do you expect me to stay calm?! My mom... my mom must be in danger!" Tears streamed down her face as her shoulders shook, her sobs wracking her body.Without hesitation, Arnik stepped forward, pulling Aika into a firm, steady hug. "Please," he whispered, his voice low but reassuring. "Just leave it to me."Aika sniffled, her cries quieting as her body slumped forward. Overwhelmed, she fainted into Arnik's arms.Arnik looked up at Rose, his voice decisive. "Carry her. We need to move. Now."Rose didn't hesitate, stepping forward to take Aika into her arms. "I've got her."Kai's gaze flicked toward the craters where the robots were advancing, their movements methodical and menacing. "Where are we supposed to go?"Arnik's eyes narrowed, determination replacing his exhaustion. "Anywhere but here. Stay close, and don't stop moving."The group quickly moved into the smoke and debris, the red glow of the robots' eyes slicing through the shadows as they hunted for their targets. For now, the only goal was survival.Rose's ears flattened, and her tail trembled as she cradled Aika in her arms. Her lips quivered, and tears threatened to spill from her eyes. The weight of the moment was pressing down on her, but she forced herself to keep moving.The group ran through the streets, the air thick with the stench of smoke and blood. They were in the outskirts of the city, where the number of robots was slightly thinner, but the devastation was no less horrifying.Corpses littered the ground, some charred, others broken and lifeless. The cries of children echoed faintly through the chaos, cutting through the carnage like a haunting melody. Rose bit her lip, her grip tightening on Aika's unconscious form.Arnik moved ahead, his jaw clenched as he scanned the area for threats. "Keep moving. Don't stop to look. We're getting out of this."Kai glanced around anxiously, his voice tight. "Where are we even going?"Arnik didn't answer. His eyes darted ahead, sharp and calculating. Suddenly, he spotted a building still standing amidst the destruction. "No—this way!"Kai frowned in confusion. "No?"Arnik pointed quickly. "Hurry! Get behind that building!"The group sprinted toward the structure, their footsteps echoing against the cracked pavement. They ducked behind its charred walls, slumping against the cool concrete as their hearts pounded in their chests.Kai's breathing was ragged as he spoke, his tone grim. "I'm going to be honest... I don't see any way of us getting out of this." He looked to the others, his face pale. "We're under a one-world government now. Lionel controls everything—every city, every inch of Earth. The only way we could escape is to leave the planet entirely."Rose, trying to steady herself, shook her head, refusing to give in to panic. "We just need to find a sh—"Before she could finish, a deafening crash ripped through the air. A massive 7-meter demon machine burst through the side of the building with a screeching roar, its glowing red eyes locking onto the group. The force of its entrance sent rubble flying, and they barely managed to dive out of the way."Move!" Arnik shouted, his voice urgent as he pulled Kai and Rose to their feet.Arnik stepped forward, his hands trembling slightly as energy crackled around his palms. He squared his stance, his voice low but steady. "Get behind me. Stay out of sight!"The group scrambled back, their backs pressed tightly against the broken wall. Arnik didn't hesitate. He dashed toward the hulking machine, energy surging through his limbs as his mutation boosted his speed.The robot swung its massive sword down in a deadly arc, but Arnik slid under the strike just in time, the blade slicing through empty air. Seizing his chance, he launched a powerful kick into the machine's side, the impact sending it skidding a few feet back.The robot recovered quickly, its mechanical joints whirring as it lunged again. Arnik met it head-on, the two exchanging a furious series of blows. Sparks erupted from each impact, and the ground cracked beneath them as Arnik narrowly dodged the machine's relentless slashes.Each movement pushed him to his limit—his breathing grew heavier, and his legs trembled under the strain. The robot's last attack came in a wild, furious swing, its blade crashing down with enough force to shatter the ground.But the strike was sloppy. Arnik's eyes flashed as he spotted his opening. With a roar, he countered—energy crackling wildly around his fist as he drove it forward with everything he had.His punch landed squarely on the machine's core, the sheer force of the blow ripping through its armored shell. A massive shockwave erupted as the machine's torso disintegrated into a burst of light and debris, leaving only shattered legs crumbling to the ground.Arnik stumbled back a step, panting heavily, his hands still flickering with the remnants of plasma energy. He wiped sweat from his brow, his voice strained but triumphant. "It's done."From behind the rubble, Kai's eyes widened in disbelief as he peeked out. "You... you actually took that thing down."Rose, still cradling Aika, exhaled shakily. "Arnik... are you okay?"Arnik steadied himself, forcing his legs to stop shaking as he turned to face them. "I'll be fine. But we need to keep moving. That wasn't the last of them."Without wasting another second, the group gathered themselves and pressed on, the sound of distant robots and explosions echoing behind them. The fight wasn't over—but for now, they had survived."Is everyone alright?" Arnik asked, glancing back at his friends. His breathing was ragged, his body trembling from the battle."We're okay," they replied in shaky unison, their faces pale but determined.Before they could regroup, a low, mechanical hum filled the air. From the craters where the pods had landed, six more robots emerged, their dark forms glinting in the dim light. The machines moved in perfect synchronization, their red eyes glowing with a cold, menacing intensity. They raised their hands in unison, and a swirling dark energy gathered in their palms, crackling ominously."Arnik..." Rose's voice wavered, her hands trembling as she backed up. "There's too many."Arnik's face remained fearless, though sweat trickled down his brow. His hands sparked faintly with energy, the strain of his earlier fight evident. He swallowed hard, forcing himself to stand tall. "Stay behind me."The energy in the robots' hands surged, the air vibrating as they prepared to unleash their attack. Arnik clenched his fists, plasma energy flickering around him as he prepared to move.Then, a sudden voice echoed through the smoke and rubble—strong, commanding, and sharp enough to cut through the chaos."Chain magic—Chain Barrage!"The ground trembled as glowing chains erupted from the earth, snaking through the air with blinding speed. The golden chains coiled and struck with surgical precision, piercing the robots' cores in an instant. Sparks exploded, and one by one, the machines collapsed, their bodies falling in shattered pieces.The group stood frozen in shock as the dust settled. From the shadows, a figure emerged, his heavy footsteps echoing through the silence. He wore sleek, robotic-like armor, dark and battle-worn, with energy pulsing faintly through its seams. His face was obscured by a mask, but his presence radiated authority—an aura of someone who had seen war and survived it."Are you kids alright?" the man asked, his tone firm but edged with concern.Arnik stepped forward cautiously, his eyes narrowing as he studied the stranger. "Who are you?"The armored figure paused. Then, with one smooth motion, he removed his mask. The face revealed beneath was older, worn by years of struggle, but there was no mistaking the resemblance.Arnik's breath caught. His voice came out barely above a whisper. "...Dad?"The word hung in the air like a fragile thread. Arnik's hands dropped to his sides, his expression torn between disbelief and longing. His voice trembled, cracking under the weight of emotions he couldn't hold back. "It's... been so long. Why—why are you here? Where have you been?"Kai broke the heavy silence, his voice wary yet decisive. "If he's saving us, I think we can trust him..."Rose, still clutching Aika tightly in her arms, looked up at Andrew, her face streaked with tears. Her voice wavered, small but desperate. "Please... just get us out of here."Andrew's expression darkened, the weight of the moment reflected in his tired eyes. "There's no time for this now," he said briskly, though a faint softness slipped into his tone. "You and your friends need to leave. Now."From above, the sound of engines roared as a massive ship descended, its dark hull gleaming under the crimson haze of the burning city. The sheer scale of the vessel made the ground tremble, its rear hatch opening with a mechanical hiss, revealing a cavernous interior large enough to accommodate all of them.Andrew's voice rang out with authority, cutting through the chaos. "Hurry—get inside!"But Arnik didn't move. He clenched his fists, stepping forward. "Andrew... I can't. There's still someone I need to find. He lives in Sector 4, hou—"Andrew's head snapped toward him, quickly finishing the sentence. "House 30. The Sentryon family. I know who you're talking about—I'm going there now! Get in the damn ship so I can go!"The urgency in his father's voice jolted Arnik into action. Without another word, he turned and rushed into the ship, his heart pounding as the hatch sealed behind him.The engines flared to life, the ship lifting off with a roar that shook the ground. As they rose, Arnik cast one last glance out the window at the burning city below, his thoughts lingering on the friend he hoped Andrew would reach in time.Andrew's smaller craft streaked across the chaotic cityscape, its lights blinking as it hovered briefly before descending near Markus's last known location. Inside the cockpit, Andrew's face was grim, his fingers flying over the navigation controls."Please spirit, let me make it in time!" he muttered under his breath. The craft's engines hummed with intensity, its sleek design cutting through the smoky air. Below, the city burned in the wake of Lionel's attack, debris littering the streets and war machines patrolling with lethal precision. Andrew clenched his jaw. "I'm coming."