Chapter 27:The Intiation of Plan B

As the teams of Kyrin, Zyren, and Kyra sped toward

Velhara Prime, the tension in the air was palpable. The wind whipped past their

vehicles, and the glow of the city flickered in the distance like a beacon.

Rin, always the one with questions, finally broke the silence. "Who's going to

capture them?" he asked, his eyes flicking between the other passengers.

Kyrin's response was

calm and confident, his voice steady despite the weight of the mission ahead.

"My escort," he said with a knowing smile. "The Eclipse

Phantom Division (EPD) —

they're no ordinary team. And they're now officially part of the UNA

— Umbra Neon Apex. They'll handle this."

As if on cue, the

air around them buzzed with incoming signals. Through the distant haze, sleek,

dark vehicles surged forward — the unmistakable mark of the EPD. They moved

like shadows, fast and efficient, and within moments they had reached the

perimeter of the target building.

From their vantage

point, the teams watched the EPD launch

their assault. The operation was a masterclass in coordination — no wasted

movement, no hesitation. They infiltrated the building like silent phantoms,

seizing control floor by floor. The enemy forces inside didn't stand a chance.

But amidst the

chaos, one figure slipped through the cracks. Vytek Zeyer, Lord Z's right-hand man,

barely managed to escape. He was heavily wounded, blood trailing in his wake as

he stumbled through the wreckage of his failed operation. The EPD had him in

their sights, their weapons ready — but before they could pull the trigger,

Kyrin's voice cut through the comms.

"Stand down," he

ordered, his tone firm. "Let him go."

There was a beat

of silence as his team processed the command.

Rin's brow

furrowed in confusion. "What? Why let him escape? We could end this right

here!"

Kyrin's eyes were

fixed on the fleeing figure in the distance. "We're sending a message," he said

quietly. "Let him crawl back to his master. Let Lord

Z know exactly who he's

up against — and let him understand the cost of crossing us."

The EPD obeyed

without question, lowering their weapons and allowing Vytek to vanish into the

night, his battered form barely staying upright. The message had been sent —

loud and clear.

As the last of the

enemy's defenses crumbled, the teams regrouped. The building was fully under

their control, the mission a resounding success. With the operation wrapped up,

they turned their vehicles back toward Velhara Prime, the adrenaline slowly fading

but the victory still fresh.

In the car, the

atmosphere was a strange mix of celebration and anticipation. Rin's curiosity,

however, remained as sharp as ever. "Do you really think letting Vytek go was

the right call?" he asked, his voice low.

Kyrin didn't hesitate. "Absolutely. Fear can be

more powerful than any weapon. And right now, Lord Z has every reason to fear

us."

The convoy sped through the night, the future uncertain —

but their resolve stronger than ever.

As the team's convoy pulled up to the NKEC

HQ, the towering glass-and-steel structure loomed over them like a

fortress. The air was thick with anticipation — the night's mission had been a

success, but the storm brewing ahead was only just beginning.

Waiting at the

entrance was Viten Kriyter, the formidable Director of

the Neo-Kyoto Escort Committee (NKEC). His sharp eyes scanned

the group as they approached, his expression as unreadable as ever. When they

reached him, his voice cut through the night air like a blade.

"Welcome, UNA." His words were measured but

commanding. "Congratulations on the successful completion of your mission. But

there's no time for rest. There's another job ahead of you — and I believe,

Kyrin, this next phase is your plan. I expect you to put it into motion by

tomorrow."

Kyrin nodded without

hesitation. "Yes, sir. We'll be on it."

No more words were

exchanged. The mission was clear — and the clock was already ticking.

As they made their

way back to Senjuro's mansion, the weight of what

lay ahead settled over them like a heavy fog. After freshening up, the team

gathered in the underground bunker — a high-tech war room hidden beneath the

mansion's sprawling grounds. The tension was palpable, and Senjuro wasted no time.

"Kyrin, what's the plan the Director mentioned?"

he demanded, his eyes locked on their leader.

For a moment,

Kyrin didn't answer — his gaze swept across the room, taking in the faces of

his team. Then, with a calm that only made the air more charged, he spoke.

"I had my escort deploy a high-level tracker on

Vytek Zeyer," he said. "We let him escape for a reason — and now that

reason is in motion. By tomorrow, we'll have his location. Wherever he's going,

we'll follow. And if my instincts are right, he's leading us straight to Lord

Z."

The room went

silent. The implications of what Kyrin had just said hung heavy in the air.

"So, we're going after them?" Rin's voice

broke the stillness.

"Not yet," Kyrin replied. "First, we

prepare. We'll be heading to Neo-Shinkoku tomorrow to upgrade our gear. If we're

going to face what's coming, we need every advantage we can get."

The plan was set.

But the unease in the room didn't lift. They all knew this was just the

beginning — and that whatever waited for them on the other side of this mission

would be unlike anything they'd faced before.

One by one, the team dispersed to their respective cabins.

But sleep didn't come easily. Even in the silence of the night, the shadow of Lord

Z loomed ever closer.

As the sun rose over Senjuro's mansion, the team

was already geared up and ready for their journey to Neo-Shinkoku. The low hum

of engines broke the morning calm as a Cyber Reign Shadow — a sleek, high-speed armored vehicle

with a matte obsidian finish and neon blue underglow — pulled up to the

driveway. Its tinted windows gave off an air of mystery, and the roar of its

engine promised speed and power. The team piled in, the doors sliding shut with

a hiss as the vehicle accelerated toward their destination.

Inside the Cyber

Reign Shadow, Kyrin turned to Rin, his voice calm but focused. "Rin, connect

your Neon Mirage Tactical PC and

start tracing Vytek's location. We need to know exactly where he's hiding."

Rin smirked,

already pulling out his high-tech device — a sleek, foldable console with

holographic displays and state-of-the-art encryption tools. "On it!" he said,

his fingers dancing over the illuminated keys. The screen flickered with

streams of code and digital maps as the Tactical PC linked into the tracking

system Kyrin's escort had deployed earlier.

A few moments

later, Rin's eyes widened with excitement. "Boom! Got him! Guess what — he's

already in Neo-Shinkoku!" he announced. "He's holed up in Downtown

Shinkoku, probably laying low and licking his wounds. But here's the

twist —" Rin's grin grew wider — "We're not the only ones in Neo-Shinkoku. Any

guesses where Blaze is?"

Senjuro's laugh

came quick. "Let me guess — he went ahead, didn't he?"

Kyrin nodded, his

expression a mix of pride and strategy. "Exactly. I sent Blaze there early to

gather every piece of intel he could find. He's already on the ground, scouting

and setting up for us. He's waiting for us in the Zeirath

Prime District, and not just anywhere — he's at the Elysium

Veil Resort."

The mention of the

Elysium Veil Resort caused a ripple of impressed murmurs through the team. The

most luxurious, high-tech haven in all of Neo-Shinkoku, Elysium Veil was a

place of unmatched sophistication and secrecy — the perfect hideout and meeting

spot for someone like Blaze.

"Of course he's at

Elysium Veil," Mirae said with a teasing smirk. "Only Blaze would use an intel

mission as an excuse to stay at the most expensive resort in the nation."

Kyrin chuckled.

"It's strategic — and besides, it's the perfect cover. No one questions the

guests at Elysium Veil. And knowing Blaze, he's already got eyes on every

important move happening in Zeirath Prime and Downtown Shinkoku."

The journey

stretched ahead of them, seven solid hours of high-speed travel. The Cyber

Reign Shadow sliced through highways and glided over magnetic tracks with ease,

its advanced suspension system making the ride smooth despite the incredible

speed.

As the neon lights

of Neo-Shinkoku's skyline began to shimmer on the horizon, Senjuro leaned back,

arms crossed. "So, what's the plan when we get there, Kyrin? We take the fight

to Vytek's doorstep?"

Kyrin's eyes glinted with determination. "Not yet. First,

we meet Blaze. We gather everything he's found. And then —" his voice softened,

but the edge in it was unmistakable — "we strike."