Chapter 42: The Heart of the World!

Neo-Kyoto's skyline shimmered in the evening glow, neon

lights painting the streets below in hues of electric blue and crimson. It had

been four days since the team had been discharged from the hospital,

their bodies healed but their minds still weighed down by the events at the Dark

Ripple Abyss.

Inside Kyrin's apartment, the air was filled

with the familiar sounds of video game combat—button clicks,

digital explosions, and the occasional curse.

"You're

going down, Senjuro!" Kyrin grinned, his fingers flying over the

controller.

"Not a

chance!" Senjuro shot back.

Rin sat cross-legged on the couch, watching with

a smirk. "You two are so predictable."

Before Kyrin could fire back, his communicator

buzzed sharply. He glanced down, the NKEC insignia flashing on the screen. His

face sobered instantly.

"It's the

call. We're needed at headquarters."

In less than five minutes, the team was geared

up and out the door, their Urban Runner slicing through the glowing

streets of Neo-Kyoto. The city's futuristic architecture blurred past,

and they reached the NKEC Headquarters in two hours flat.

The headquarters hummed with activity,

agents moving swiftly through its sleek, metallic corridors. The team was escorted

to the projection room, where they were met by Zyher

Krueger, Okiname Tarake, and Rael

Vossin—three of the NKEC's top strategists.

Zyher greeted them with a grim

smile. "Welcome, UNA. We've

finally managed to recover CCTV footage from the Dark Ripple Abyss."

Kyrin's eyes narrowed with anticipation. "Now we'll know who saved us. Let's see it."

The room dimmed as

the projection screen lit up. Footage played—grainy but clear—showing the chaos

of the ambush, the battle raging on the island. Then came

the moment they'd been waiting for: a shadowy

figure appeared, moving with blinding speed—but just as the figure

came into focus, the feed cut to static.

A tense silence fell over the room.

When the footage returned, it showed the

aftermath—the team's unconscious bodies being loaded onto a boat by

two assassins. The feed switched to the dock, and that's

when they saw it:

A massive ship, its dark

hull cutting through the waves like a predator. But it wasn't the

ship's size that caught Kyrin's attention. It was the symbol

emblazoned on its side.

His breath caught. "Rael… Okiname… look at that symbol!"

Both men turned their eyes to the screen—and froze

in shock.

"It

can't be…" Okiname whispered.

Rael's face paled. "Why is that symbol on that ship?"

Kyrin's voice was sharp

with confusion. "What is it? Why

are you so shocked?"

Rael's voice was low

and grave. "In the Nine Nations,

each nation has its own emblem. That symbol… belongs to a nation that was

destroyed in the 2036 war."

Before anyone could respond, the communication

comm buzzed loudly. Zyher snatched it up, his expression shifting from confusion

to elation as he

listened.

When he spoke, his voice rang with excitement.

"Everyone—I have good news! Segrito has

fallen!"

The room erupted in stunned disbelief.

"How?"

Kyrin demanded.

Zyher's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Reports indicate they were testing an unstable version of Dark Ripple Energy, far more volatile than

anything we've ever seen. Their greed for power led to their destruction. The

entire island was wiped out—and everyone on it perished."

Rael's mouth curved into a rare smile. "This calls for a celebration. The fall of Segrito

marks the end of an era of terror. This is a victory for all Nine Nations."

The room buzzed with agreement, but Kyrin's mind couldn't

shake one thought—the mystery of the ship and the symbol of a nation

long thought destroyed.

And

somewhere in the shadows, the real war was only just beginning.

The

fall of Segrito — an enemy that had haunted the Nine Nations for decades — had

sent shockwaves across the world. As the Neo-Kyoto Elite Council (NKEC) sent

the news to the Nine Urban Nexus Directors (UNCs), the response was

immediate and unanimous: a grand celebration. A day of unity

and victory.

Within hours, the city began to

transform. Streets were adorned with vibrant holograms, banners of

the Nine Nations fluttered from towering spires, and drone displays

danced across the skyline. The air thrummed with anticipation and

joy, a rare feeling after so many years of conflict.

The Central Plaza at

Neo-Shinkoku was chosen as the heart of the celebration — a massive, open-air

venue surrounded by glowing skyscrapers and powered by Neo-Shinkoku

Flux. Technicians worked furiously to set up giant projection

screens, and fleets of Urban Runners carried supplies from

every corner of the city. The celebration would be broadcast across the Nine

Nations, a global event of unprecedented scale.

In the NKEC headquarters, Kyrin stood by the window, watching the preparations below. His

reflection flickered in the glass, mirroring the unease in his heart.

Rin's voice broke his thoughts. "You

should be excited, Kyrin. We finally beat Segrito. Isn't this what we've been

fighting for?"

"I know…" Kyrin's brow

furrowed. "But something still doesn't sit right. The timing… the way

Segrito fell… it's too convenient."

Senjuro crossed his arms. "You're

overthinking it. We saw the footage — their own greed destroyed them."

Before Kyrin could respond, Zyher

Krueger entered the room. "The UNCs have arrived. They want the

entire UNA team to present at the reception. Gear up."

The team suited up in ceremonial

combat attire, sleek and polished versions of their field gear — a symbol

of both their strength and unity. They boarded an Aether-Class Urban

Runner, weaving through the city's illuminated streets toward the Central

Plaza.

The Plaza was a vision of light and

celebration.

Crowds gathered in waves, their voices

blending into a hum of excitement. Holographic displays showcased

highlights of the war — battles won, heroes celebrated, and now, Segrito's

downfall. The Nine UNCs stood on the grand stage, their presences

commanding and regal.

Rael Vossin stepped forward. "Today marks the dawn of a new era. The Nine Nations

stand united, stronger than ever, because of the bravery of those who fought

and fell. Segrito's shadow no longer darkens our world. This victory is ours —

for unity, for peace, for the future!"

The Plaza erupted in cheers,

fireworks streaking across the sky in bursts of electric blue and

crimson. But amid the celebration, Kyrin's eyes scanned the crowd,

that gnawing feeling of unease growing stronger.

And then he saw it.

A symbol — etched onto a distant

banner — the same one from the mysterious ship.

His heart stopped. He

nudged Rin. "Look. Over there."

Rin's eyes widened. "That's…

impossible. That's the symbol from the lost nation."

Before they could react, the Plaza's

lights flickered. The screens glitched, and the cheerful music warped

into static. A cold voice echoed from the speakers:

"Congratulations, Nine Nations. But

your victory… is short-lived."

The crowd fell silent, the

joy replaced by confusion and fear. On the screens, a

figure appeared — his face hidden by a dark, mechanical mask,

his eyes glowing with the eerie hue of Dark Ripple Energy.

"You celebrate the fall of Segrito.

But from their ashes… rises a greater power."

Kyrin's blood ran cold. He

knew that voice.

"Lord Z…" Rael whispered, his

face drained of colour.

"Yes, Rael. Segrito was weak.

Divided. But now, under my command, we will bring a new order — one that will

cleanse the Nine Nations of their corruption."

The screens shattered into

static, and explosions rocked the Plaza. Panic erupted, the

crowd scattering in terror. From the shadows, assassins in

black armor surged forward, their weapons glowing with Dark Ripple

Energy.

Kyrin drew his weapon. "UNA, on me!

Defend the civilians!"

The Plaza became a battleground.

Blades clashed, energy bolts streaked through the air, and the team fought

fiercely. Kyrin moved with deadly precision, cutting down

attackers while keeping civilians behind cover.

"They're targeting the UNCs!"

Rin shouted.

Kyrin's eyes snapped toward the stage

— Selara and Ivara were there, their weapons already

drawn, closing in on the UNCs.

"Not on my watch." Kyrin surged

forward, blasting through enemies with bursts of Neo-Shinkoku

Flux.

But before he could reach them, a cold,

mechanical laughter echoed through the chaos.

"Too late, Kyrin. The era of the

Nine Nations ends today."

From above, a massive aerial

ship descended — the same one from the Abyss footage — its cannons

glowing with charged energy.

And then, the world exploded

in fire and light.

When Kyrin's vision cleared,

the Central Plaza lay in ruins. The air was thick with smoke

and ash, the sounds of battle fading into eerie silence.

"Rin… Senjuro…" His voice

cracked as he pushed himself up. Around him, the ground was littered

with bodies — soldiers, civilians… and assassins alike.

A familiar figure stood nearby.

The Fallen Hero.

"You survived. Good." His voice

was calm but urgent. "We need to move. Now."

Kyrin stared at him, his mind reeling.

"You… you're supposed to be dead."

"There's no time for explanations.

If we stay here, we're as good as dead. Follow me."

The Fallen Hero turned,

moving toward a hidden transport vehicle, and after a moment's

hesitation, Kyrin followed — because whatever was happening… the fight had only

just begun.