Convincing the crowd

"Me next!" Sol exclaimed, placing the crown on her head.

The reaction was immediate. The central jewel ignited like the sun, momentarily blinding everyone in the room.

"Slow down, Sol," Nioh instructed, shielding his eyes. "Control your light and focus it on the target point." He gestured toward a marked target on the far wall.

Following his command, Sol focused, and a beam of concentrated light shot from the crown, striking the target and reducing it to ashes.

"Whoa," Nioh murmured, admiration evident as he jotted notes. "Your power is stronger than I anticipated."

Cryo, ever the skeptic, couldn't hold back. "Impressive, but her core energy is already drained. On the battlefield, she'd be useless after one shot."

Nioh ignored him, turning to Kol. "What do you feel?"

Kol placed a hand on the cloak's edge, as if testing its presence. "I can sense Sol, like... she's a part of me."

"Me too," Sol chimed in, her eyes wide with wonder.

"Good," Nioh said, a grin creeping across his face. "The connection between your weapons is working. I got the idea for these paired weapons from the night you two sneaked into my lab. Since your shadow has the power to absorb, it should absorb energy too. With the Nightlight Biocore following similar principles, you should be able to provide Sol with near-unlimited energy."

He turned to X. "Let's test it. Attack the twins with 50% of your power."

"Are you sure?" X asked, his tone cautious.

"Yes. The cloak can withstand a five-star frontal attack."

"Alright," X replied, stepping back. His right hand began to glow red, and in moments, a bright flame appeared, growing until it was the size of a small tree. The temperature in the room spiked dramatically.

"Catch," X said, hurling the massive fireball toward the twins.

Iris and Cryo tensed, ready to intervene in case of an accident, but Kol was unfazed. His confidence in his "little uncle" was absolute.

"Get ready, Sol," Kol called, leaping forward. The cloak unfurled, expanding like living shadow. Twisting in a vortex, it swallowed the fireball entirely.

The red runes on the cloak lit up like fireworks, and the crown on Sol's forehead flared even brighter. Without hesitation, she fired three beams of light at X.

X reacted instantly, drawing his sword and deflecting the beams toward safer targets with the skill of a veteran.

"Amazing, Sol," Nioh praised. "Tell me—can you sense Kol's energy reserves or how he's manipulating his cloak?"

Sol hesitated before responding. "I can't sense the transformations, but the energy stored in the cloak feels as good as mine."

"Interesting. How many more beams could you fire?"

"Maybe two or three," Sol estimated.

Nioh launched into a series of rapid-fire questions, ignoring the stunned reactions of the rest of the team.

"How is this even possible?" Cryo whispered to X.

"The first step toward the miracle he keeps talking about," X replied, handing Cryo the specs sheet. "You might want to start believing."

X turned back to Nioh. "What are the drawbacks?"

Nioh glanced up from his notes. "The system depends on external energy sources. Plus, the range between the two of them is limited. They're practically glued together if they want to share energy."

Cryo crossed his arms. "I don't believe you built this."

Nioh didn't bother looking up. "I don't care what you believe. Focus on improving your coordination with Iris."

"Little Uncle, you're the best! This is the perfect weapon for me!" Sol exclaimed, beaming.

"Starting today, you and your brother will train here with X," Nioh instructed. "Sol, you need to master energy management and shooting accuracy, especially in your mecha form. Kol, your job is to protect and reposition your sister during battle. This is a big secret—don't tell anyone. Understood?"

The twins nodded eagerly, their voices ringing out in unison. "Yes, Little Uncle!"

Nioh smiled as he ruffled their hairs and walked out of the testing room. Iris and Cryo followed right behind " What is it?" Nioh asked as he sat on his desk chair with a sinister look on his face.

"You have explained the role of everybody but you. What is your role?" Iris asked.

"You are a weapon designer an exceptional one at that, but this will not be enough to defeat Pax, and the other forces." She added

"You seem to have an understanding of Pax and his forces.!"

"I participated in the Summer Hunt four years ago," she began, her tone laced with frustration. "I was the team leader, and he was my vice-captain." She gestured toward Cryo, who stood silently beside her. "We lost—pathetically."

"I see why you're so afraid," Nioh replied, his voice calm yet cutting. "But you don't need to be. I alone am enough."

"Boastful words," she shot back, narrowing her eyes. "Who doesn't know how to boast?"

Nioh tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk playing on his lips. With an almost lazy flick of his fingers, he uttered a single word.

"Kneel."

His voice cut through the air like a blade, carrying an authority that seemed divine. The weight of his command struck like a physical force, amplified by the oppressive power of his three-star aura that filled the laboratory. The pair didn't stand a chance.

They were crushed to the ground, unable to move, unable to resist. Their auras faltered, extinguished under the immense pressure. Horror filled their faces as realization dawned.

"Absolute Command," they whispered in unison, trembling.

It was the power of the reigning monarch, the terrifying ability known as Absolute Monarch: The Tyrant of the Battlefield.

"I haven't even begun boasting," Nioh said, his tone icy as he gazed down at their kneeling forms. "Remember, I gave you a choice. I don't need to. I have the power to force you."

As suddenly as it began, the oppressive force vanished. Nioh's expression softened, his demeanor shifting back to casual.

"I'm not a fan of coercion," he continued, his voice now calm. "But don't forget your place. I am still my father's son—Prince Nioh Glev."

Relief washed over them as they gasped for air, the pressure gone but the memory lingering.

"I have my own plans for Pax," Nioh said, turning toward his workbench. "Focus on what you do best."

"Yes, Prince," they replied in unison, their voices trembling with both fear and respect.

"Leave your weapons," Nioh instructed, gesturing to the desk. "I'll fine-tune them for you."

"Thank you," they said simultaneously, placing a wooden shield and a staff on the desk before hurriedly leaving.

As the door shut behind them, Nioh's lips curled into a thoughtful smile.

Marsai was right, he mused. You can't lead people without a little fear.