A New Generation Rises

"This hurts like hell!" Astra groaned, holding her wounded palm, her breath separated into soft pants as if to distract herself from the painful throb in her hand. "I swear– If I ever see that Belk guy again…"

[Notice!]

"What now?!" She snapped, grabbing a leaf and making a makeshift bandage, her breathing only getting more intense as it pressed against the wound more and more. 

[Belk has engaged in combat with another scout!]

"Huh—" she panted, her report catching her off guard.

[Should we retreat?]

"No, follow the plan!" She ordered, standing up on her own two feet before taking a deep breath in. "Take the gunpowder to the cliff!"

[Understood!]

Astra started to run, each step inciting breath from her as she started to pick up the pace. 

'Come on…' She thought, sweat started to form on her brow, 'come on!' 

A portal started to tear the space before her, the young technician pushing off the moment she saw it, jumping straight through. 

Deeper within the forest, Belk and Vagnis continued to exchange blows, Vagnis closed the distance, his footwork spinning his body multiple times, dipping to the floor and raising his leg for a 540 round house. Belk's eyes snapped to his speeding foot, his hands raised to block the blow, the collision pushing him back.

The shock from the attack caused him to stagger, the young scientist unable to react as Vagnis's free leg pushed off the floor, delivering another onto his shoulders.

"Gah–" he spat, his eyes rolling up into his socket for a split second as the blow went straight to his legs, despite that Belk grabbed onto his heel. Diving into his pouch and pulling out a piece of paper drenched with a weird paste. The sweat from Vagnis's leg caused it to burn.

"Gah! What the hell!" Vagnis recoiled, the sudden heat searing his flesh. His flawless footwork faltered.

"Quick lime and oxidized iron," Belk explained, cracking the back of his neck, "With a tad bit of salt of course~"

Before the scout could respond Belk decided to return the favor, His hands landing a flurry of blows onto his staggering foe bushing him back, but the young scientist didn't let up, diving into his pouch and pulling out a rune, slapping the paper onto Vagnis's cheek.

The paper glowed, and vines burst from the written seal, pushing him deep within the forest with neck breaking speeds. Sending him crashing against the tree unable to move.

"You see," he said, voice icy and deliberate as he stepped closer towards Vagnis, "quicklime and iron oxide react with sweat to generate heat… but salt?"

He dug into his pockets, pulling out a salt pouch before pouring it onto the vine watching as the leaves shrivel. "Too much is just a bastard for plants, especially this one,"

Vagnis goes to say something but ends up being punctured by the plant's straying vines, the specimen seeking nutrients to mend its wounds.

"W-what…" He grunted as he felt himself growing weaker and weaker. 

"Don't worry, you won't die, the rune wont last nearly that long…" Belk explained, the sound of a distant opening rift catching his attention, "Seems like backup's here…"

Vagnis watches in disbelief as Belk lined himself up with the portal, turning to Vagnis once more, "I'll see you later…"

Without another word he stepped inside, leaving Vagnis alone with his own mind to accompany him.

[Notice!]

[Gunpowder Placement at 92% Completion.]

Astra's bloodied fingers trembled as she packed the final handful of gunpowder into the cliffside crevice. The leaf bandage on her palm had disintegrated, leaving raw flesh exposed, but she ignored the sting. "Almost… there…"

She and Celi worked on the gunpowder.

Behind them, Belk stepped through a flickering portal.

"Thanks for the save!" Belk thanked rubbing the back of his neck with a goof smile on his face.

"Dumbass! Did you make a mistake or something?! We were almost killed!" Astra roared at him, causing the young scientist to flinch at her harsh words.

"Sorry sorry, it appears we've been found out," Belk chuckled softly, his hands dropping to his side and a more serious expression forming. "I need to get to my father before anything else happens…"

Astra nodded, turning to continue her mission. "Celi can take you there,"

Belk nodded at her generosity, Celi walking up to his side and waiting for him to get on. "Thanks for this,"

Astra waved her hands dismissively and his gratitude, "Save it, i just want extra hands to help with my ship,"

"Right," Belk chuckled, before he and Celi pushed off, entering a portal to get to the village.

Astra sat back a soft sigh escaping her lips.

"He plans to fight his dad here right…?" She asked, more to herself than anyone else, her eyes panning her handy work, "Then we ignite the cliff here, and let him fall,"

"That's an awful way to go…"

"Sire! The village is surrounded by wolves! It's taking every hunter we have to fight them off!" A hunter reported.

Tanaka rubbing his furrowed brow as the situation escalated, he stood outside the village, the children, women and the elderly all tucked away within. Before him is sheer chaos, some of the wolves made it past the forest and are facing off with the guards right before him.

"Any deaths?" He pondered, almost too afraid to hear the answer.

"None reported, your highness." They reported, allowing the chief to let go of a breath he didn't even know he held. Though that was the least of his problems now.

A roar tore through the haze, primal and electric, as a shadow vaulted over the wreckage. 

His crimson eyes burned brighter than the battle below, his black fur jacket flapping like a war banner.

"Father!"

The word wasn't a greeting—it was a detonation.

Tanaka stiffened. Memories flickered—Belk as a child, toddling after Aurelia with a quartz shard clutched in tiny fists. "Look, Papa! I science-ed it!" Now, that boy sat straighter than a spear, his voice a thunderclap.

"I challenge you!" Belk thrust a gloved hand toward the sky, the N.O.V.A. gun holstered at his hip catching the light. "For the position of chief!"

The field froze. Hunters lowered their weapons. Scouts paused mid-sprint. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.

Tanaka's jaw tightened. Pride and fury warred in his chest—pride at the fire in his son's eyes, fury at its target. "You dare?" he growled, stepping forward. The earth cracked under his boots. 

"You demand my rule?" his gaze narrowed, his voice dropping to a threatening murmur "Look me in the eye and say that again…"

Belk slid off the back of Celi, landing on his own two feet with a soft thud. 

The wind blowing through his clothing and his hair, gleaming eyes not leaving Tanaka for a moment. The tension was thick enough to slice it in two, the tides of battle rung in his ears as the young scientist's lips part.

"I challenge you, father…"