The diner

In the private dining room, the twins, Iris, Cryo, and X sat waiting for Nioh, whose tardiness was beginning to test their patience. The door finally creaked open, and Nioh strolled in, his hair still damp and his attire undeniably casual.

Cryo, a staunch advocate of decorum and nobility, couldn't hide the slight twitch of his brow. It's been a month, and he still refuses to act with proper manners, Cryo mused, though he bit back the criticism. His recent journey with Makari had tempered his impulsive nature, and now he chose his battles more carefully.

"I apologize for being late," Nioh began as he ruffled Sol's fluffy hair with a mischievous grin.

"Little uncle, you're ruining my hair!" Sol protested, hastily trying to fix it.

Nioh chuckled and then addressed the group. "I gathered you all here for a simple reason: the upcoming Summer Hunt."

The room fell silent as they exchanged glances, their expressions ranging from curiosity to guarded skepticism. Nioh allowed the weight of the announcement to settle before continuing.

"As you know, the Summer Hunt occurs every four years. It's one of the most sanctified and revered traditions in the fiefdom," Nioh explained.

"It was established by the Prime Monarch," Kol chimed in, his voice steady. "The archipelago is surrounded by aquatic biocores that migrate during this period. The Hunt's primary purpose is to defend the islands and cull the biocores to manageable levels for the next four years."

Nioh nodded. "True, but it's also the largest stage for the younger generation of corebinders. If you're looking to make a name for yourself, there's no better opportunity."

Iris frowned. "So why us?"

"Two reasons," Nioh said, leaning back in his chair. "First, I've offended everyone else worth teaming up with. Second, I'm your best bet."

Cryo snorted. "I'm sure I could find a better team."

"You're welcome to try," Nioh shot back, a sly smirk playing on his lips. "But I doubt you'd get past the door, before you are on the first flight back to wherever you came from." The remark earned a begrudging silence from Cryo.

Nioh continued, turning his attention to the twins. "Kol, Sol—this is your only chance to earn respect in this fiefdom. And you, Iris—you still owe me money."

His words left no room for debate. Though their expressions were grim, they seemed resigned to the arrangement. Sensing the tension, Nioh clapped his hands together. "Don't look so down. I didn't pick you to make fools of ourselves. Plus you still have me."

With a flourish, holographic screens materialized, filling the room with detailed schematics, maps, and plans. The mood shifted instantly as the group leaned forward to examine the displays.

Cryo skimmed one of the screens, his brow furrowing. "You're planning to take down Narnia?"

Nioh nodded. "It's been twenty years since anyone's breached that nest. The five-star biocore guarding it is why. It's probably even stronger now."

"How sure are you about this?" X asked, his tone skeptical.

"20% if we wing it. 52% if everything goes according to plan," Nioh replied nonchalantly as he piled his plate high with food.

Cryo raised an eyebrow. "The plan hinges on Kol and Sol, rookies with one-star cores. How are they supposed to handle this?"

"Don't underestimate the importance of their role," X interjected.

"He's right," Nioh agreed. "Kol and Sol are the linchpins of this operation. That's where you come in, X. You're going to whip them into shape. They've trained for years, but now it's time to make them battle-ready."

Iris crossed her arms. "Even so, I don't see how two one-star corebinders will tip the scales. And what's my role in all this?"

"You're looking at this the wrong way," Nioh said, grinning. "This isn't about winning the Summer Hunt. It's about creating a miracle. Cryo's our strongest member, and as an artillery type, he'll need an Aegis to back him up."

As Nioh continued to eat in his usual uncouth manner, a sense of reluctant agreement began to settle over the group.

"Since we're all on board, let's finish dinner," Nioh said, standing abruptly. "We meet in the training hall afterward."

-

The dinner passed quickly, with emotions running high among the guests—fear, disbelief, disdain, denial, and even excitement. Nioh noted each reaction, all of which fell within the range of his calculations. It was time to seal the deal and pull them into this mission impossible.

Clap! "Now that you've had time to process, let me show you the first piece—the foundation of our miracle," he announced, standing.

The team followed him without question. As they approached the door to his lab, he paused. "This is your last chance to walk away," he warned.

When no one moved, he pushed the door open with a dramatic flourish. "Welcome to my lab," he declared.

Except for X, who was already familiar with the setup, the rest of the team stared in awe at the array of advanced machines and cutting-edge technology.

"First rule: do not touch anything. Head directly to the testing area over there," Nioh instructed, pointing to a door at the far end of the room.

Under X's guidance, they entered a large, sterile white room with reinforced walls, sensors, and training equipment.

"You cleaned out the royals' bank accounts for him, didn't you?" Cryo muttered, his disbelief evident as he took in the lab's grandeur.

"That's none of your concern," Nioh replied curtly, stepping in last with a suitcase in hand. Setting it on an empty table, he flipped it open.

"You two," he said, nodding at the twins. As they approached, he continued, "These are your first biocore weapons—the tools you'll use during the hunt. The cloak is for Kol, and the crown is for Sol."

"How are these weapons?" Cryo sneered, unimpressed.

Ignoring him, Nioh gestured for the twins to try them on. "Go ahead. Tell me how they feel."

Kol was the first to don his pitch-black cloak. Almost immediately, red runes spread from his chest, fusing the cloak with his biocore. "It feels... like a shadow," Kol said in awe, experimenting with the material.

"It's made of obsidian silk—very expensive. Try manipulating it as you would a shadow," Nioh instructed, taking notes.

Under Kol's will, the cloak shifted—expanding, shrinking, and even sharpening into a blade. "It's like a shadow, but it's not stuck to the wall," Kol marveled, shaping the cloak into large wings.