Chapter 10

Roy's mind raced as he moved through the labyrinth of hallways. Every step echoed with uncertainty, each thought more tangled than the last.

Everything about his life seemed different now.

If what they said was true…

He needed answers.

He needed to find Talia.

But first, he needed a plan.

As he turned another corner, Roland fell into step beside him, still grinning maddeningly.

"Congratulations," Roland said, too cheerfully. "Not many get out of that room alive."

Roy glared at him. "Not helping."

Roland shrugged. "Come on. You've always wanted to be special."

"Not this kind of special." Roy's voice was tight. "And you knew?"

"I had my suspicions." Roland confirmed.

"Look, it's not the end of the world."

Roy stopped, his frustration boiling over. "I didn't ask for this."

Roland's expression softened. "No one ever does."

Roy turned away, the weight of their conversation pressing on him like a storm cloud. He needed air. Needed space to process everything.

Needed time.

Dr. Chen's words lingered in his mind, a fragile thread of hope.

They'd figure it out.

But what if they didn't?

What if he was already too far gone?

****

The city lights flickered beneath Talia like a restless ocean, bright and relentless. She watched them with a mix of nostalgia and impatience.

Her comm crackled again. She almost didn't answer.

"Status?" It was the same voice as before, but terser now.

Talia sighed. "Still on target."

"We've intercepted new intel." A pause. "The Judge is watching him closely."

A slow smile spread across her face. "Oh man. How will you deal with this one Gauber." Her tone mocking.

Another pause. "We need to move quickly."

"Relax," Talia replied. "He'll come around."

"Are you sure?"

Her eyes fixed on the horizon, tracing the line where night met day. "He won't have a choice."

The connection went dead, and she let the quiet of the city wrap around her, electric and alive.

Whatever happened next, Roy would have to decide soon.

And she'd be ready for him when he did.

****

Roy pushed through the facility doors into the open air. He felt like he was suffocating, his own thoughts trapping him more effectively than any cage.

The midnight sky stretched above, stars flickering like distant signals. He stood there, breathing hard, trying to steady himself.

A sudden explosion in the distance caught his sight— one of the guard posts was in it.

He could see them— figures in golden uniforms, they surrounded the whole HQ as all the 6 guard posts exploded.

Alarms blared across the fortress, red emergency lights casting jagged shadows over the steel walls. The air vibrated with tension as operatives rushed to defensive positions, weapons primed and aimed at the approaching threat.

Roy barely had time to react before Commander Reeves barked orders into his comm. "All units, defensive formation! We are under attack! Repeat, HQ is under siege!"

Dr. Chen grabbed Roy's arm. "We need to get inside. Now."

But Roy couldn't tear his eyes away from the golden-clad figures advancing through the flames. They moved in perfect synchronization, their presence like an unstoppable tide crashing against the Order's stronghold.

Explosions rocked the ground as more guard posts were obliterated. The fortress's automated defenses opened fire, unleashing a barrage of gunfire and energy blasts. But it didn't matter.

The golden warriors barely faltered.

They didn't even flinch. Their bodies remained steady, their eyes locking onto targets with eerie precision. Then, without warning, they retaliated—thin, concentrated beams of light bursting from their eyes, cutting through the fortress walls with surgical precision.

Roy shielded his face as a wave of heat washed over him. "What the hell are these guys?!"

Commander Reeves cursed under his breath. "Solaris Clan."

Roy's head snapped toward him. "Who?"

Dr. Chen exhaled sharply. "Doesn't matter, we need to run now."

Before Roy could protest, a deafening explosion erupted behind them. The force sent shockwaves through the courtyard, tearing apart stone and steel. Chunks of debris rained down as Roy stumbled, barely catching himself in time.

One of the Solaris warriors stepped through the smoke, his golden armor gleaming, his eyes cold and unwavering. He didn't raise a weapon, didn't charge—he simply stared. Then, with terrifying calm, his gaze locked onto Reeves, and an unseen force built within his eyes, something beyond mere sight, something lethal.

"Target acquired," the warrior intoned, his voice unnervingly calm.

"MOVE!" Reeves bellowed.

Roy barely had time to react before the air itself seemed to bend, a flash of light streaking forward from the warrior's gaze—silent, deadly, and precise. The beam tore through everything in its path, vaporizing steel and stone alike. Roy threw himself to the ground just as the blast struck the fortress walls behind them, detonating with enough force to shake the entire compound.

A ringing filled Roy's ears as he scrambled back to his feet. Smoke and fire engulfed the area where the impact had landed, leaving behind only charred ruins.

"We can't outrun them!" Roy shouted over the chaos.

Reeves gritted his teeth. "Then we make a stand. Get to the armory! Now!"

Dr. Chen was already moving, pulling Roy with her as they sprinted through the crumbling fortress. The sounds of battle raged behind them—gunfire, screams, the searing crackle of solar beams cutting through the air. The Order was fighting back, but for how long?

As they turned a corner, another explosion erupted ahead, cutting off their path. The heat singed Roy's skin as flames licked at the walls. He skidded to a halt, heart pounding.

"Damn it!" Reeves growled. "They're cutting us off."

Roy spun around, searching for another way out. Then he saw it—a service tunnel, partially caved in but still passable.

"There!" he pointed.

Reeves nodded. "Go! I'll hold them off."

Roy hesitated. "You can't take them alone—"

"That's an order, rookie! MOVE!"

Dr. Chen didn't wait—she grabbed Roy's wrist and pulled him into the tunnel. The last thing he saw before diving into the darkness was Reeves standing tall, rifle raised, as a squad of Solaris warriors closed in.

Then the tunnel swallowed them whole.

The air inside the tunnel was thick with dust and the scent of scorched metal. Emergency lights flickered, casting eerie shadows along the narrow passageway. Roy's breath came in ragged gasps as he sprinted beside Dr. Chen, their footsteps echoing against the cracked concrete walls.

"What's the plan?" Roy panted, glancing behind them.

"Keep moving," Dr. Chen said sharply. "If we can make it to the lower levels, we might be able to regroup with any surviving operatives."

Roy clenched his fists. "And Reeves?"

Dr. Chen didn't answer immediately. Her jaw tightened. "We don't stop. If he can hold them off, we need to make it count."

Roy bit back a curse. He hated leaving someone behind, but he knew she was right. Reeves had made his choice.

The tunnel suddenly trembled, dust cascading from the ceiling. A deep, distant boom followed.

"They're breaching deeper," Dr. Chen muttered. "We're running out of time."

Roy's mind raced. The Order's headquarters was supposed to be impenetrable—yet the Solaris Clan was tearing through it like tissue paper. If they had gotten this far, was anywhere safe?

Then, just ahead, something shifted in the shadows.

Roy skidded to a halt, instinct screaming.

A figure emerged from the dim emergency lighting, stepping into view.

Not an Order operative.

Not Solaris.

Someone else.

Dr. Chen's breath caught. "Impossible…"

Roy's heart pounded. "Who the hell—?"

The stranger took another step forward, and the dim light revealed his face—calm, composed, and entirely out of place in the middle of a battlefield. His piercing gray eyes locked onto Roy with an unsettling sense of familiarity.

Then he spoke.

"You shouldn't be here, Roy."

"Gauber!?" Dr. Chen exlaimed.

"Gauber? Who?" Roy looked at the man in confusion. He didn't know who he was.

"Vincent 'iron will' Gauber. The legendary third grandmaster of the Order. The man that ruled Order into victory during the end of the dark era."

Dr. Chen's voice was a mix of disbelief and awe. "He disappeared over fifteen years ago. Just when the Foundation was destroyed and the dark era ended."

Gauber—if that's who he really was—remained unfazed by her reaction. His presence blocked their path like an immovable wall.

Roy stared, trying to process this new twist. "What's he doing here?"

Gauber didn't give them a chance to debate. "You need to leave," he said, his tone both commanding and urgent.

Roy shook his head, adrenaline surging. "Not until we know what's going on. Why is the Solaris Clan—"

"They're not your concern," Gauber cut him off. He stepped closer, his gaze intense. "Not yet."

Dr. Chen narrowed her eyes. "And you are?"

"Helping you survive." Gauber's reply was cold, final.

An explosion reverberated above them, dust raining down like ash. The fortress was being torn apart piece by piece.

Gauber glanced upward, his expression unreadable. "Ah, the Judge is fighting that kid, huh." He didn't sound concerned—just neutral, as if watching events unfold from a distance.

Roy blinked, caught off guard by the shift. "Kid? What kid? How can a kid—"

"Let's go," Dr. Chen urged, pulling at Roy's arm again, urgency in her voice.

Gauber stepped aside, but his eyes never left them. As they rushed past, Roy felt an inexplicable chill, like Gauber's stare pierced deeper than flesh. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this than just survival.

The tunnel twisted downward, and Roy could hear distant echoes of combat growing fainter. He realized with a mix of relief and dread how far they'd distanced themselves from the battle.

Finally, they burst into a dimly lit chamber filled with equipment and half-packed crates—a staging area for evacuation. Several other operatives were already there, some injured, all on edge. Murmurs of shock circulated as Roy and Dr. Chen arrived.

One of the operatives, a medic, rushed forward. "Dr. Chen! What's happening out there? We lost contact with most of the upper levels."

Chen exhaled, regaining composure. "Headquarters is compromised. The Solaris Clan has breached our defenses. We don't have much time."

The room fell into a heavy silence. Some of the operatives exchanged nervous glances, while others clenched their fists, waiting for orders.

Roy scanned the chamber. Several of the injured were barely conscious, their wounds hastily patched up. Weapons and supplies were scattered across the floor, indicating a rushed evacuation attempt.

Then a new voice, calm but firm, cut through the tension.

"We can't stay here. They'll find us."

Roy turned toward the speaker—a woman clad in reinforced combat gear, her face partially concealed by a high-collared cloak. Her stance was rigid, ready for action, but her eyes held a calculating glint.

Chen recognized her immediately. "Captain Laine. You're still here?"

Laine gave a grim nod. "Didn't have time to extract. Figured I'd make myself useful." She glanced at Roy. "You're the rookie, right?"

Roy hesitated before nodding. "Yeah. And you are?"

"The one keeping you alive." Laine adjusted the grip on her rifle. "We have a small window before they lock down the lower levels. We either fight our way to an extraction point or get buried under this place. Your call."

****

An hour earlier.

It was a dark spacious room, dark pillars surrounded a throne that reached up the ceiling. On the throne sat a masked figure— the judge.

Step. Step. Step. Step.

The judge turned her head and saw Gauber walking up to her, his steps deliberate, echoing through the vast chamber. The dim light barely illuminated his face, but the sheer weight of his presence was unmistakable. He stopped a few paces away, folding his arms as he regarded the masked figure on the throne.

"Iron Will." She acknowledged him, her voice steady and unreadable. "I wondered when you would show yourself."

Gauber let the title hang in the air, his expression unreadable. "Haven't been called that in a long time," he muttered, his voice calm but laced with something unreadable.

The Judge tilted her head slightly, her mask reflecting the dim glow of the throne room's sparse lighting. "You never officially renounced it."

Gauber exhaled through his nose, stepping forward, his boots clicking against the polished floor. "Didn't think I needed to." His gaze flicked around the chamber, taking in the towering pillars and the ever-watchful insignia of the Order engraved above the throne. "Didn't think I'd need to come back, either."

The Judge's tone remained even. "And yet, here you are."

Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken history.

"Your golden warriors are making quite the mess," Gauber remarked, slipping his hands into his coat pockets. "Bit excessive, don't you think?"

"They move with purpose," the Judge countered. "Just as you once did."

Gauber chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't put me in the same category as them. I didn't burn entire strongholds to the ground just to make a point."

"No," the Judge agreed, leaning forward slightly. "You crushed those who stood in your way without hesitation. Without regret."

Gauber's eyes darkened. "And what about you?"

The Judge remained silent.

Gauber exhaled, glancing toward the chamber doors. "You didn't bring me here for nostalgia, so let's skip the dance. What do you want?"

The Judge stood from the throne, the long, flowing fabric of her robes shifting like liquid shadow. "Not what I want," she said smoothly. "What I need."

Gauber raised an eyebrow. "And that is?"

The Judge descended the steps, closing the space between them. "A reckoning."

Gauber's jaw tensed, but he said nothing.

"The Order is crumbling," she continued. "The Solaris Clan is the beginning, not the end. More forces are stirring—ones beyond your sight."

Gauber narrowed his eyes. "And you think I care?"

The Judge's head tilted ever so slightly. "You cared enough to return."

Gauber clenched his fist, then relaxed it. "I came back for one reason."

The Judge's voice was barely above a whisper. "Roy."

Gauber didn't react, but something in the air shifted.

"You didn't return for the Order," she continued. "You didn't return for me. You came because of him."

Gauber remained silent for a long moment before speaking.

"He's not ready."

The Judge's masked face gave nothing away. "He won't have a choice."

Gauber sighed, shaking his head. "That's the problem, isn't it?"

"Your war's just getting started," he muttered.

The Judge took a step closer. "It never ended."

Gauber turned back to her, his expression unreadable. "Then let's hope your new 'champion' survives long enough to figure out which side he's really on."

Gauber turned away, ready to walk out of the chamber, but he stopped mid-step. A shift in the air. A presence.

The Judge remained still, as if she had been expecting it.

A slow, deliberate set of footsteps echoed through the chamber, approaching from the entrance Gauber had come through. The very temperature in the room seemed to rise.

Then, he stepped into the light.

A young man, in his teens, yet carrying himself with an eerie confidence. He wore no armor like the other Solaris warriors—only a simple, sleeveless black coat lined with golden embroidery, and of course, the golden symbol of the sun on his back . His physique was lean but deceptive, his body built for speed and power. His golden eyes glowed faintly, not with any visible energy, but with the sheer pressure of his presence.

The Judge finally spoke. "So… the prodigy arrives."

The young man smirked. "Didn't want to keep you waiting."

Gauber turned, fully facing him now. He studied the boy carefully. "You're the one leading this invasion?"

The prodigy chuckled. "Leading? No, no. This is just a test. A prelude." His golden eyes flicked up toward the Judge. "I came for something more… personal."

The Judge took a step forward, her presence expanding. Even without any visible aggression, the room suddenly felt smaller. "You think you are ready?"

The prodigy shrugged. "I know I am."

"After all i am the best." His grin widened.

Gauber exhaled, taking a few steps back. "Well then… I'm not getting in the middle of this."

The Judge and the prodigy remained locked in place, tension crackling like a coming storm.

The young warrior slowly raised his hands, cracking his knuckles. "Let's see what the legend of the Judge is really worth."

Without another word, he vanished.

A fraction of a second later, the chamber exploded with force

The force rippled outward, sending fractures tearing through the stone pillars that lined the chamber. The marble flooring buckled, sections of it outright collapsing into the level below.

The Judge slid back, boots carving trenches into the cracked floor.

Gauber raised an eyebrow. He actually moved her.

The prodigy didn't hesitate. He pressed forward, maximizing the opening. His footwork blurred, impossible to track with the naked eye, as he launched a follow-up kick, the sheer air pressure preceding it causing dust and debris to blast outward before impact.

But the Judge was already gone.

The space she had occupied imploded under the vacuum, the missing resistance crushing the stone beneath them.

Then—she struck.

The Judge reappeared at his flank, moving so efficiently that she barely disturbed the dust still settling around her.

A single, flawless counterstrike—

Her fist drove into his ribs.

BOOM.

A concussive blast erupted outward. The impact launched the prodigy like a bullet, his body tearing through an entire stone pillar before embedding deep into the far wall.

The fortress trembled.

Gauber sighed, adjusting his coat. That should do it.

Then—light erupted from the crater.

A low hum filled the air. The temperature in the chamber spiked, heatwaves distorting the very air around them.

The rubble liquefied.

The prodigy stepped forward, his entire body radiating golden light. Molten stone dripped from his form, his muscles flexing, adjusting, recalibrating.

He exhaled slowly. His golden eyes burned.

Gauber narrowed his eyes. There it is. The powerful innate ability of Solaris clan.

The Judge remained motionless.

The prodigy disappeared.

A flash of golden light—then a thin lance of solar energy erupted from his eyes, a concentrated plasma beam moving at near-light speed.

A direct hit.

BOOM.

A plasma detonation erupted, consuming everything in a blinding flash. The fortress shook violently, support beams buckling under the concussive force. A gaping hole was blasted through the ceiling, exposing the black sky above.

Gauber shielded his face from the dust. That's gonna leave a mark.

As the flames settled—

The Judge stepped forward.

Unharmed.

The prodigy froze.

Gauber smirked. Kid doesn't get it yet.

The Judge hadn't dodged.

She hadn't even moved at full speed.

She had simply adjusted just enough to let the attack graze past her, dissipating before it could do real damage.

Gauber's gaze flickered. Her breathing hadn't changed.

She was still… steady.

She wasn't just faster.

She wasn't just stronger.

She was still holding back.

Gauber sighed. Yeah. This isn't my fight.

The floor beneath him cracked, the structure struggling to hold together.

Gauber rolled his shoulders, turning toward the exit.

"I'll leave you two to it," he muttered.

The prodigy barely glanced at him, his entire focus locked onto the Judge.

Gauber took his time walking away, even as another wave of heat erupted behind him.

As he neared the exit, he heard the prodigy's voice.

"You're not just dodging. You're… measuring me."

Gauber grinned. Smart kid.

Then, just as he stepped through the doorway—

The entire chamber detonated.

The walls finally collapsed, sections of the fortress imploding from the sheer force of their battle.

Gauber didn't even flinch. He simply pulled his coat tighter, stepping into the ruins of the fortress.

He had more important things to do.

Time to find Roy..