Chapter 50: The Darkness shall rise Again!

That morning, a sense of

excitement and anticipation filled the air as every assassin ranked C and above

gathered in the grand Neo-Kyoto Assassin Plaza. The massive courtyard hummed

with quiet conversations as warriors from all over the united nations stood

waiting. Among them stood Kyrin, Zyren, Kyra, and their respective teams —

their eyes focused and ready for whatever announcement awaited them.

As the crowd settled, a

commanding figure stepped forward onto the elevated platform at the head of the

plaza. It was Zyher Kaelix, one of the most respected leaders of

Neo-Kyoto — his presence alone was enough to command silence. The morning sun

cast a golden glow behind him as he addressed the crowd.

"Warm morning to

everyone present here!" Zyher's voice boomed across the plaza, strong and

steady. "As you all know, the Eclipse Agent Exams were

suspended due to the war and the events that followed. But now, with peace

restored and our nations united, it's time to resume what was left unfinished."

A murmur of interest

rippled through the crowd. Everyone knew the importance of the Eclipse Agent

title — it was a rank of prestige, reserved for only the most skilled and

disciplined assassins.

Zyher continued, "The

exams will take place in three days. Given the extraordinary circumstances, we

will proceed directly to the final round."

The crowd reacted with

surprise and excitement. Skipping the preliminary stages was unheard of, but

after the war, it was clear that only the strongest had made it this far.

"Once the final round is

complete," Zyher added, "we will gather to take the blessings of the

Aurora Blossom — a sacred tradition that marks the end of one chapter

and the beginning of another. The Inauguration Ceremony will

follow the next day, where we welcome the new generation of Eclipse Agents."

The mention of the Aurora

Blossom — a legendary, mystical tree said to grant blessings of strength and

wisdom — sent an air of reverence through the crowd. The tree only bloomed once

every few years, making this event even more significant.

As the crowd dispersed,

buzzing with excitement, a messenger approached Kyrin's group. "Kyrin,

Zyren, Kyra — your teams are requested in the office of Zyher Kaelix

immediately."

The team exchanged curious

glances before following the messenger. The walk to Zyher's cabin was brief but

heavy with anticipation. When they entered, they found Zyher waiting behind his

desk, his expression serious but warm. Beside him stood Veyvron Krynn and Syvaren

Krynn, their gazes full of pride.

Zyher gestured for them to

step forward. "You all have performed exceptionally in the war. Not only did

you fight with skill and bravery, but you showed unity, strategy, and heart."

His eyes moved over each of them. "Your efforts helped save countless lives

and restore peace. For that, you deserve more than just gratitude. You deserve

recognition."

He took a step forward,

his voice filled with authority and honor. "As a reward for your outstanding

performance and unwavering dedication, I am pleased to announce your promotions

to the rank of... RESONANCE PRIME."

The room fell silent for a

heartbeat — then a wave of astonishment spread through them. Resonance

Prime was one of the highest ranks an assassin could achieve — a title

given only to those who had complete mastery over their abilities and a deep

connection to the ten energies of Aurora Spritian.

Zyher smiled as he listed

their names with pride:

Senjuro Kaine

Rin Asakura

Blaze Cystin Krynn

Taro Nakamura

Kaito Draven

Mirae Voss

Akira Valtoris

Akio Renjiro

Hiroshi Takeda

The weight of the moment

settled over them. This wasn't just a title — it was a responsibility. As Resonance

Primes, they would be expected to lead, protect, and guide the new

generation of assassins.

"You've earned this."

Veyvron's voice broke the silence, his pride evident. "But your journey

doesn't end here. This is just the beginning."

Syvaren nodded in

agreement. "The path ahead will be harder than anything you've faced so far.

But I have no doubt that you'll rise to meet every challenge."

Kyrin looked around at his

team — his brothers and sisters in arms — and felt a swell of determination.

They had fought through fire and darkness, and they had emerged stronger than

ever. Now, as Resonance Primes, they stood ready to face whatever

came next.

And whatever it was — the

world would never be the same.

As everyone settled into Senjuro's

Mansion, the atmosphere was filled with a sense of accomplishment. The

weight of their recent promotion to Resonance Prime still lingered in their minds, but

they knew that their responsibilities had only just begun.

Kyrin, sensing the

tension among them, decided to break the silence. "Alright, let's see what's

going on in the world." He grabbed the remote and switched on the Neo-Kyoto

Association Report (NKAR)—the primary news channel of the United

Nations.

The screen flickered

to life, displaying a formal conference where the 9 UNCs were engaged in a serious discussion.

The news anchor's voice echoed across the room.

"Today, the 9 UNC's

have gathered to discuss the upcoming Aurora Blossom Ceremony—a sacred event

that has not taken place for years due to the ongoing conflicts. The leaders

are also considering further security reinforcements to prevent any potential

threats to the nations."

The camera shifted

to Asren Kaelix, the UNC of Neo-Kyoto,

who was addressing the council. "We cannot afford another war, but we also

cannot ignore the possibility of lingering threats. The fall of Segrito was a

major victory, but we must remain vigilant."

Just as the

discussion was becoming interesting, the TV screen suddenly glitched.

A deep, static hum

filled the room as the visuals distorted, the bright colors of the broadcast

twisting into eerie shades of black and red.

And then, his face appeared.

Lord Z.

His presence alone

sent a chill down their spines. His pale,

battle-scarred face, his piercing crimson eyes, and his twisted

grin filled the entire

screen. He leaned forward slightly, as if staring directly into their souls.

"You all might be wondering why I'm alive."

His voice was cold, laced with arrogance. "Did you really think a bunch of brats could kill me?"

Kyrin clenched his

fists. "That bastard…"

Lord Z chuckled

darkly. "You underestimated me. But I

don't blame you. After all, none of you truly understand what I am."

The screen

flickered for a moment before revealing a massive fortress—a dark citadel

surrounded by legions of soldiers clad in black armor,

their faces obscured by helmets glowing with eerie red visors. War

machines, tanks, and drones

stood ready in the background.

"This is my new empire. And soon, it will expand

over every nation. My army will rise… and I will take over the world."

The image cut out,

leaving only static. Then, the TV shut off entirely.

Silence.

For a moment, no

one spoke. The weight of Lord Z's words hung over them like a storm cloud.

Then, Blaze

slammed his fist against the table. "Damn

it! That bastard is still alive?! I thought we ended him!"

Rin exhaled

sharply, shaking his head. "No… he was

never really gone. We should've known."

Senjuro crossed

his arms, his expression unreadable. "The

question is… how? We

fought him with everything we had. What the hell did we miss?"

Kyrin's eyes

narrowed as his mind raced. "It doesn't

matter how he survived. What matters is that he's planning something."

Akira spoke up. "And that army… it looked nothing like the one we

fought before. He must've been preparing this while we thought he was dead."

Mirae, who had

been silent until now, finally spoke. "The

timing of his broadcast isn't a coincidence. He waited until the UNC's

gathered… until we started talking about the Aurora Blossom Ceremony."

Hiroshi's

expression darkened. "Which means he's

targeting the ceremony."

Veyvron and

Syvaren, who had been watching silently, exchanged a glance. Then, Veyvron

stepped forward.

"Everyone, listen carefully. This war… it isn't

over." His voice was grave, filled with the wisdom of experience. "Lord Z is making his move, and we cannot afford

to be caught off guard."

Syvaren nodded in

agreement. "From now on, we must assume

that every nation is at risk. We'll need to tighten security, reinforce our

defenses, and most importantly—prepare for battle."

Kyra took a deep

breath before saying, "So what's our

first move?"

Kyrin's eyes burned with determination as he turned to his

team. "We find him. And this time… we end

him for good."