Golden Road

"What is that?" a commentator exclaimed, his voice trembling with both awe and disbelief as the camera panned ahead of Cryo and Iris's icy trail.

Standing dead center was Sol, her diminutive frame encased in a crystal-clear exoskeleton that shimmered like sunlight on water. 

On top of her head was a crown of jewels, pulsing with a faster and faster rhythm, its light brightening with each beat. Kol was standing behind her, completely erased from view. A faint, ominous purple glow emanated from his pitch-black exoskeleton, and his hand was directly attached to Sol's back. 

The cape, however, was the real show. Stretching endlessly into the emptiness like a cosmic tapestry, it billowed behind them, impossibly long, and adorned with glowing runes that appeared to be alive.

As Cryo and Iris sped closer, Sol twitched when her gaze flickering to the advancing horde of Stonelocusts.

"Focus!" Kol's familiar voice resonated, calm and steady. "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

Her breathing steadied as he continued, his words cutting through her nerves. "This is our chance to avenge Dad. We trained for this—every scenario, every outcome. You can do this. Don't lose focus now."

"I know," Sol murmured, determination hardening her voice as her trembling hands stilled.

Meanwhile, the live stream erupted into chaos, the chat scrolling so fast it was nearly unreadable.

[Live Chat – 2.1M Viewers]

GlitchFiend: What's happening??

ByteRiot: Where are the heavy weapons?! Not a single gun in sight—ARE THEY INSANE?!

Lunatic66: These are ONE-STAR kids. Where's their captain? What are they even thinking??

NeonSpectre: This is gonna go SO, SO bad… I can't watch…

Overclocked42: They've gotta have a plan, right? RIGHT??

ShadowBreak: Or they're about to get folded live on stream.

Cryo and Iris were closing the distance fast, their synchronized movements flawless as they leaned into the slide, increasing their speed. The countdown began in the corner of the screen, an AI-generated model analyzing the trajectory.

Impact in 20 seconds.

Viewership skyrocketed as more people tuned in, unable to tear their eyes away from the unfolding drama. This was the first major play of the event, and the stakes had never felt higher.

Impact in 10 seconds.

Sol closed her eyes, Kol's hand steady on her back. Her mind flashed to Nioh's speech at the family mausoleum, his voice firm and unyielding: "You are born Glev. Strength is your only path to survival."

Impact in 5 seconds.

The world seemed to hold its breath.

Impact in 3.

Cryo made the first move, spinning his bracer in a circular motion. Simultaneously, he and Iris executed a half-turn, their bodies twisting in unison before launching themselves clear of the path.

Impact now.

Sol's eyes snapped open. Her voice rang out, cutting through the chaos like a blade. "Golden Road!"

The jewel on her crown exploded with power, unleashing a colossal beam of radiant energy. It was blindingly fast, impossibly vast—a pillar of light so intense it melted through the air itself. The radius was staggering, its heat apocalyptic.

The Stonelocust horde, caught directly in the beam's path, evaporated into nothingness, their forms obliterated in an instant. Those nearby melted into grotesque fragments, their limbs dissolving mid-air. The more distant creatures were scorched to blackened husks, their shrieks drowned by the roaring inferno. Even those farthest away scrambled in vain, their carapaces cracking under the oppressive heat.

It lasted only a second but felt eternal. The beam's devastation left a smoldering, golden path in its wake, perfectly smooth and eerily pristine. Ash and smoke curled upward, the stench of charred flesh lingering in the air.

A deafening silence fell over the archipelago, the kind that follows an unspeakable force of nature.

[Live Chat – 3.5M Viewers]

ByteRiot: WHAT… WHAT DID I JUST WITNESS??

GlitchFiend: This is madness. A ONE-STAR did this??

Lunatic66: That was a MEGA PULSE CANNON. I DEMAND A REPLAY AND STEP-BY-STEP ANALYSIS!!

GlevAscendant: OUR FIEFDOM IS TOO STRONG! HAIL THE GLEV BLOODLINE!!

Overclocked42: Who even builds a WMD into a PIECE OF JEWELRY?! I need to speak to this designer IMMEDIATELY.

NeonSpectre: There's NO scientific explanation for this!!

ShadowBreak: I… I'm officially the #1 fan of the Nuclear Loli.

CryoLord99: Me too! This team is actually insane.

VisionaryVex [Streamer]: "Chat… CHILL. I need five seconds to process what just happened—nah, actually, I need a whole lifetime."

The camera zoomed in on Sol, her small frame trembling, steam rising from her exoskeleton as Kol steadied her. The jewel crown dimmed, its light fading as Sol exhaled shakily. She glanced at the battlefield, her golden path etched into the ground like a divine scar, and for the first time, her lips curved into a faint smile.

The clip spread like wildfire, becoming a hallmark of the summer hunt. Analysts and spectators alike scrambled to dissect the moment, obsessed with uncovering how a one-star could wield such devastating power. But the true mystery that captivated everyone's attention was even more puzzling: who designed these weapons?

In the royal loge, a satisfied smile adorned the queen's face. While Iris had kept her informed of their progress, witnessing the spectacle firsthand left an undeniable impression.

"Congratulations, Sister-in-Law. It seems you've found heirs worthy of the Glev name," Duke Duval remarked, his sharp gaze briefly flickering toward the silent king, as if to gauge his reaction.

The queen waved off the compliment, though the corners of her lips remained curved upward. "There is nothing much to celebrate," she replied coolly, yet the pride in her voice betrayed her words.

On the island, Kol placed a steadying hand on Sol's shoulder, his voice low and reassuring. "Good job. Relax. Let me handle the rest."

Sol exhaled shakily, her tense posture finally softening. Before she could say a word, Iris and Cryo caught her, steadying her as they panted from the chase earlier.

"Catch your breath," Iris said with a faint smile. "We'll hold things down."

Kol stepped forward, the air around him shifting as his black exoskeleton began to emit a faint, sinister glow. The runes on his cape dimmed, their once-bright light now absorbed into a palpable darkness. The fabric rippled unnaturally, like living shadow, before wrapping around his body in a seamless embrace, forming an impenetrable second skin.

The next step he took, he vanished.

In an instant, Kol reappeared beside a stone locust, the hardened edges of his cloak extending like a blade. With a swift, precise motion, he pierced through its armored carapace, the creature screeching before collapsing.

Kol spun, his movements fluid and deliberate, as the shadow-like cloth expanded again, slicing through three more locusts in one sweep. The faint purple glow on his exoskeleton pulsed as he disappeared once more, slipping seamlessly into the darkness.

The battlefield became a haunting dance. He emerged, struck with surgical precision, and vanished before the locusts could react. Efficiency defined his every move—no wasted energy, no hesitation.

DataSurge: Did you SEE that?? What is that cape even made of?!

GlitchFiend: He's moving like an assassin—this is TERRIFYING.

Lunatic66: This team has both style and synergy. Look how they flow together!

ByteRiot: The MONARCH'S BLOODLINE is rising again. This is unreal!

Overclocked42: Someone PLEASE explain the tech behind those weapons. I need answers. NOW.

NeonSpectre: I swear, the physics engine just gave up trying to simulate that move.

CryoLord99: Bro just PHASED THROUGH attacks like they were suggestions.

Meanwhile, Nioh stood at the outskirts of the battlefield, his expression calm and unreadable. The long, curved blade of his scythe gleamed faintly in the dim light as he effortlessly dispatched another stone locust, its severed body collapsing at his feet.

He paused, the camera panning wide to reveal the carnage around him. The ground was littered with shattered carapaces and smoldering remains, a testament to his efficiency. The locusts that had strayed from the main horde had all fallen—each one cut down with precision and purpose.

Without missing a beat, Nioh spoke into his communicator. "Nice work. Iris, Cryo, head back to the beach. Monitor for any major movement, and eliminate small groups before they can reform a horde. Kol, Sol—gather the biocores from the bodies. We'll need them later. Manage your energy and recharge as needed.

"Our shift starts now, and it lasts ten hours. Let's make the most of it."

As he finished, the faint hum of engines filled the air. The camera shifted to the sky, where three more teams descended from a sleek, silver airship. The reinforcements landed heavily, their weapons already drawn as they prepared to join the fray.

For the viewers, it was clear: this team wasn't just strong. They were disciplined, strategic, and utterly terrifying.

[Live Chat – 5.1M Viewers]

ByteRiot: "This is unreal… Five members. They stopped an entire horde AND cleaned the outskirts. Effortlessly."

CryoLord99: "They're not just powerful… I'm UPVOTING this team."

Lunatic66: "Same. This is the FUTURE of the hunt."

GlitchFiend: "No wasted movement. No panic. Just pure execution. Who even ARE these people?"

NeonSpectre: "Forget the usual elites—this is next-level warfare."

Overclocked42: "I NEED to see their loadouts. Someone leak their builds."