Chapter 43: The Secrets of the Past are finally Known

The Urban Runner

roared to life, its sleek, energy-fueled frame slicing through the ruined

streets of Neo-Kyoto. The city still smoldered from the attack —

the once-vibrant celebration reduced to chaos and ash. Sirens

wailed in the distance, and above them, drones hovered like vultures,

scanning for survivors and threats.

Inside the Urban

Runner, Kyrin's mind raced. The man sitting across from him was

a ghost from history — a figure the world believed long dead.

His face was partially obscured by shadows, but there

was no mistaking his presence. This was the Fallen Hero,

the man whose name had been whispered in both fear and reverence.

Kyrin's voice broke the

tension. "Why are you here? Who exactly are you?"

The Fallen Hero's

eyes, piercing and calm, met his. "You'll know soon enough."

That was not an

answer, and Kyrin's frustration grew. But before he could press

further, Rin placed a hand on his shoulder. "Let's trust him —

for now. He saved our lives."

Senjuro, leaning against

the side of the vehicle, kept his weapons close. "I don't like this. But if

he's our best chance at taking down Lord Z, I'm in."

The Urban Runner sped

toward the Neo-Shinkoku port, weaving through deserted

highways and smoking ruins. The journey was silent save for the humming

of the engine and the occasional burst of distant gunfire.

Finally, the massive

port came into view — a sprawling complex of docks and loading

bays, surrounded by towering cranes and ships of every size.

The sea reflected the flames behind them, and the air was thick

with salt and smoke.

The Urban Runner skidded

to a halt, and the team disembarked.

"Follow me," the

Fallen Hero commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

They moved swiftly through

the maze of shipping containers and industrial equipment, the sound

of waves crashing against the docks filling the air. Kyrin's

eyes stayed locked on the Fallen Hero, every instinct screaming at

him to demand answers, but something about the man's calm

certainty kept him quiet — for now.

At the edge of the pier,

a ship waited — sleek and heavily armed, unlike

any vessel Kyrin had ever seen. Its hull gleamed with advanced plating,

and the symbol etched on its side made his breath catch.

The same symbol

from the Abyss footage.

"This ship…" Rin

began, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's from the lost

nation, isn't it?"

The Fallen Hero nodded. "Aurora

Spirtian. The Tenth Nation."

Kyrin's heart

pounded. "But that's impossible. Aurora Spirtian was destroyed in the

2036 war."

"That's what they

wanted you to believe." The Fallen Hero's voice softened, but there

was an edge of sorrow. "The truth… is far more complicated."

Before Kyrin could

respond, the ship's ramp lowered, and a woman stepped

forward. She was dressed in battle gear, her eyes sharp

and focused.

"Sire, we must leave.

Now. Lord Z's forces are closing in."

The Fallen Hero nodded. "Prepare

for departure. Get the ship ready."

The team boarded the ship,

and as the engines roared to life, Kyrin finally snapped. "No

more games. No more mysteries. Tell us who you are. Tell us what's going on."

The Fallen Hero turned

to face them, his expression resolute. "My name is Kaelen

Ardyn. And the war you think ended in 2036… never really ended."

As the ship cut

through the waves, Kaelen began to speak.

"Aurora Spirtian was

never destroyed. It was hidden." He gestured to the symbol on the

wall. "During the war, our nation was deemed too powerful — our

technology and knowledge unmatched. The other nations feared us, so they

orchestrated our downfall. But we survived."

"Then why stay hidden?"

Rin asked.

Kaelen's eyes darkened. "Because

survival required secrecy. We protected the Nine Nations from the shadows — but

now Lord Z threatens everything."

Kyrin's mind spun.

"Why reveal yourselves now?"

"Because Segrito's fall

was only the beginning. Lord Z has amassed power beyond anything you can

imagine — and if we don't stop him now, there won't be a world left to protect."

The ship's comm

system crackled, and a voice came through. "Sire, incoming vessels.

Unmarked. Fast."

Kaelen's face hardened. "Battle

stations. They've found us."

The sea erupted in

chaos.

Enemy ships closed

in, their weapons blazing. The ship's turrets roared,

returning fire with deadly precision. On the deck, Kyrin and his

team fought side by side with the Aurora Spirtian assassins, their

weapons glowing with advanced energy.

"They're boarding!"

Senjuro shouted.

The first wave of

assassins landed, and the battle exploded in close quarters. Kyrin's blade

flashed, cutting through attackers with precision and fury. Rin

moved with deadly grace, her energy bolts finding their

marks.

But then a new

figure appeared — Ivara, her crystal blade

gleaming with Dark Ripple Energy.

"Kyrin, you should've

stayed dead."

Their blades

clashed, and the deck shook with every strike. Sparks flew, and

the air vibrated with power. Ivara was fast and relentless,

but Kyrin held his ground.

"You betrayed the Nine

Nations! Why?"

"Because the Nine

Nations are weak. Lord Z will remake this world."

Before Kyrin could

respond, explosions rocked the ship, and a massive enemy

cruiser loomed ahead.

Kaelen's voice rang out. "We're

outnumbered. Fall back below deck. We need to jump."

"Jump?" Rin asked,

her face pale.

Kaelen activated a

control panel, and a glowing portal began to form. "Trust

me. Now go!"

One by one, the team

leaped through the portal — and as Kyrin followed, the world dissolved

in a flash of light.

They landed hard on solid

ground, the air cool and fresh. As Kyrin looked up, his breath

caught.

They stood on the edge of

a vast, gleaming city — a place of impossible beauty

and advanced technology. Towers rose like crystal spires, and

the air hummed with powerful energy fields.

Kaelen stepped forward. "Welcome

to Aurora Spirtian. Welcome to the Tenth Nation."

The Aurora

Nexrive glided up the

winding road toward the mansion

on the hill, its sleek, obsidian alloy frame shimmering under the

light of the setting sun. The soft hum of Aetherflux

energy pulsed from the

hover-tech beneath it, creating a faint ripple on the paved surface as the car

floated just above the ground. The Neo-Silk

interior cradled the

team in absolute comfort, but the tension inside was palpable. Kyrin stared out

the holo-screen window,

his mind racing with questions. The mysterious Fallen Hero had saved them from

certain death — but why? And why did he feel an odd sense of familiarity toward

him?

As the Nexrive approached the mansion gates, they

swung open on their own, revealing a sprawling estate illuminated by multi-energy power sources.

The building rose like a fortress, its walls constructed from Viridian Glass and Onyx

Steel, reflecting a thousand colors as they passed by. Hover-drones patrolled the perimeter in silent, calculated loops,

and energy conduits traced intricate patterns along the

walls, pulsing with life.

The vehicle stopped smoothly in front of the grand entrance, where

a team of Aurora Spirtian

guards in sleek flux-armored suits stood at attention. The doors of the

Nexrive opened with a soft hiss, and the team stepped out onto the polished

blackstone driveway. A butler dressed in dark,

formal attire led them

inside without a word.

They walked through opulent hallways lined with floating crystal lights and holographic

art, every inch of the mansion a testament to the technological prowess and

elegance of the Tenth Nation. After a

short elevator ride, they reached the projector

room — a high-tech

chamber filled with interactive

displays, holo-projectors,

and a central command

console.

Standing at the far end of the room, his back to

them, was the Fallen Hero.

He turned slowly, and as always, his dark,

high-collared coat and crimson visor gave him an air of authority and

mystery. But this time, there was something different. The room fell into a

heavy silence as he reached up and removed his mask.

The face revealed underneath stole the breath from

Kyrin's lungs. The young warrior's eyes widened in disbelief, his heart

pounding. He staggered

forward, his voice breaking.

"Sensei…?" Kyrin whispered, his

throat tight. And then the dam broke. "Sensei! Have you ever thought of me in all

these years?" His voice cracked as the words poured out.

Before anyone could react, Kyrin rushed forward

and embraced the man — the mentor who had vanished from his life without a

trace. Tears rolled down his face, and for a long moment, time seemed to stop.

Senjuro and Rin stood frozen, watching the

emotional reunion with wide eyes. They had never

seen Kyrin like this —

so vulnerable, so overcome with feeling. The Fallen Hero stood still for a

moment, before finally placing a hand on Kyrin's back. His voice was quiet but

steady.

"I never stopped thinking about you,

Kyrin."

He pulled back gently, looking into the young

warrior's tear-streaked face. "My name is Veyvron

Krynn," he said at last. "I am also the mentor of Kyrin."

Senjuro's eyes widened. "You're the one

who trained Kyrin?" he asked in disbelief. "But… why did you

disappear?"

Veyvron sighed, stepping back and gesturing toward

the central

holo-projector. A detailed map of the Nine Nations and a tenth, hidden landmass shimmered into existence. "There's

much you don't know," he said. "And it's time you learned the truth."

The hologram zoomed into the Dark Ripple Abyss,

the location of their last battle. "The fall of Segrito was no accident," Veyvron explained.

"It was a power play

orchestrated by Professor Z —

or rather, Lord Z."

"Professor Z?" Rin asked, his

brow furrowing. "You mean… he's still alive?"

Veyvron nodded grimly. "He faked his own identity,

manipulated the council, and when they no longer served his purpose, he

eliminated them. He's more dangerous than you realize. And he's not finished

yet."

The map shifted, showing energy spikes radiating from the southern seas beyond Neo-Kyoto. "He's

building something," Veyvron continued. "A weapon — one that harnesses the Dark Ripple Energy in its purest, most unstable form. If

he succeeds, the Nine

Nations will fall, and his new

empire will rise from

the ashes."

Senjuro clenched his fists. "We can't let that

happen."

"Which is why I brought you here," Veyvron said.

"You're some of the most

capable fighters I've ever seen, and we'll need every advantage we can

get. But there's something else…" He turned back to Kyrin. "You're

ready for the next stage of your training."

Kyrin wiped his eyes, standing straighter. "I'll

do whatever it takes."

"Good," Veyvron said with a small, proud smile.

"Because we leave at dawn."

The rest of the night was a blur of preparation. Weapons were upgraded, strategies laid out,

and new gear distributed.

The team was outfitted with Auroran

tech, their suits enhanced with Aetherflux-powered

systems, their weapons refined with Viridian

Cyro Flux cores.

As the first

light of dawn crept over

the horizon, the team gathered outside the mansion. A massive Aetherstorm-class dropship waited on the landing pad, its engines

humming softly. Veyvron stood at the ramp, his mask back in place.

"Let's move," he ordered, and they boarded the ship.

As they lifted off, Kyrin looked back at the

mansion one last time — knowing that the next

time they returned, the world they knew might never be the same.