The Sky That Awaits

The grand Council Hall loomed over Eclipse Zero as they stepped inside.

Massive pillars lined the chamber, glowing with Arcana inscriptions that pulsed faintly. At the very end of the hall, five figures sat at a long, elevated table—each one representing a different pillar of the Republic.

At the center sat the most powerful of them all—

The Chancellor of Requiem.

A stern man with sharp gray eyes, wearing robes embedded with Arcana circuitry, the very essence of power and wisdom.

To his right—The Arcane Tribunal, the regulators of Arcana.To his left—The Vanguard of Requiem, the military force of the Republic.Further down—The Assembly of Free States, the elected civilian government.And in the shadows—The Shadow Order, the intelligence network.

All five factions of the Republic were gathered to hear their report.

As Eclipse Zero approached the center of the chamber, the Chancellor leaned forward, his gaze piercing.

"You were sent to investigate Neo Arcane Dominion activity."

"What have you found?"

The entire hall fell silent.

Then—

Ethan stepped forward.

He pulled out a small Arcana tablet—the stolen files from the Dominion's base.

His voice was steady.

"Everything we feared is happening."

Then—he began.

The Evidence They Found

War Plans Against the Republic

The Dominion was secretly mobilizing armies and manufacturing Arcana-based weapons. Large-scale operations were set to begin within the next few months.

Project Titanfall – PLF Relic Weaponization

The Dominion had been experimenting on Perfect Life Form relics. They were trying to recreate the Titans' power. The relic they destroyed? Only one of many.

A List of Targets

High-ranking Republic officials were marked for assassination. Civilian Arcana research centers were targeted for raids and destruction. Requiem Prime itself was listed as a potential invasion site.

Chrono Reaper Experimentation

The Dominion was modifying and controlling Chrono Reapers. Their goal? Turning them into Arcana-powered war beasts. If they succeed, they could unleash monstrous creatures against the Republic. The Council Reacts

The room was heavy with silence.

Then—murmurs erupted.

The Assembly of Free States looked horrified. "Assassinations? Civilian targets? This is madness!"

The Arcane Tribunal frowned deeply. "Weaponizing the Titans' power… Have they learned nothing from the past?"

The Vanguard of Requiem clenched his fists. "If this is true, we need to prepare for war."

Even the Shadow Order spoke, their voice quiet but cold. "If Requiem Prime is a target… then this war has already begun."

The Chancellor remained silent, absorbing it all.

Then, he turned back to Eclipse Zero.

"Do you have proof of all this?"

Ethan didn't hesitate. "Yes."

He pressed a button on the Arcana tablet, and suddenly—holographic images appeared above the council table.

Strategic war maps detailing troop movements. Project Titanfall blueprints analyzing PLF relics. A kill list of Republic officials and researchers. Data logs of the Chrono Reaper experiments.

The evidence was undeniable.

The Republic was in danger.

The council chamber was silent.

The holographic evidence flickered in the air, the weight of the Dominion's war plans pressing down on every leader present.

The Chancellor exhaled slowly, his sharp gray eyes narrowing as he processed everything.

Then—he turned his gaze toward Hugo.

"Hugo."

The room went still.

Hugo, who had been quiet until now, lifted his head to meet the Chancellor's gaze.

"You have fought in war before," the Chancellor said, voice heavy with meaning. "You've seen the rise and fall of great powers."

His fingers interlocked, his tone measured.

"What do you believe we should do?"

Hugo's team glanced at him.

For a brief moment, he hesitated.

Then—he stepped forward.

His voice was calm, but firm.

"Make Eclipse Zero an official organization."

The entire hall stirred at his words.

Even the council members looked surprised.

The Vanguard of Requiem raised an eyebrow. "You want to create an entirely new faction?"

The Assembly of Free States frowned. "We already have military divisions. Why form another?"

Hugo stood his ground.

"You need a group that can act where others can't."

"You need warriors who can fight outside the system, take the battles where the Republic can't openly go."

"You need people who can strike at the heart of the Dominion."

His white eyes flashed with determination.

"And that's what Eclipse Zero will be."

The Chancellor remained silent.

For a long moment, he said nothing.

Then—he slowly leaned back.

"...I hesitate to give you such authority."

"You may have been a hero in the past, but this is a different war. The Republic is not the Eclipse Requiem of old."

Hugo's jaw tightened.

For a second, it seemed like the Chancellor was about to refuse.

But then—

A new voice cut in.

"Father."

The entire chamber turned toward the source.

Iris.

She stepped forward, her silver eyes gleaming as she looked directly at the Chancellor.

"You know this is the right call," she said smoothly.

"You know the Dominion doesn't play by the rules. They infiltrate, they assassinate, they experiment on people without consequence."

She crossed her arms.

"So why are we still acting like a normal war will stop them?"

The Chancellor stared at her.

For a long moment, they held each other's gaze.

Then—he sighed.

"...You never change, do you?"

Iris simply smiled. "I'd be boring if I did."

The Chancellor closed his eyes for a brief moment.

Then—he looked at Hugo.

"...Very well."

The room went silent again.

The Chancellor stood from his seat.

"From this moment forward," he declared, voice carrying through the chamber,

"Eclipse Zero is an official special operations unit under the authority of the Requiem Republic."

The council members exchanged glances, but none opposed it.

The Chancellor's gaze sharpened as he looked at Hugo one last time.

"But understand this—this war will be unlike any you have fought before."

"Your team will be given autonomy—but with that freedom comes responsibility."

"Do not make me regret this decision."

Hugo nodded firmly. "We won't."

And just like that—

Eclipse Zero was no longer just a group of rebels.

They were now an official force.

And the war had truly begun.

As the Council Hall emptied, the murmurs of officials and guards faded into the background.

Eclipse Zero waited outside, but before Hugo could step through the grand doors—

The Chancellor's voice stopped him.

"Hugo."

He turned back.

The Chancellor remained at his seat, his sharp eyes unreadable.

"Stay for a moment."

Hugo nodded, stepping forward as the doors closed behind him.

Now, it was just the two of them.

For a long moment, the Chancellor said nothing.

Then, his fingers interlocked, his voice lower than before.

"There are rumors spreading through the Republic's intelligence network."

"Rumors that the Solstice has returned."

Hugo's breath hitched.

His hands slowly clenched into fists.

The Chancellor's gaze sharpened.

"And that he is now one of the Seven Commanders of the Neo Arcane Dominion."

"...Is it true?"

Hugo hesitated.

But there was no point in lying.

"...Yes."

The Chancellor's expression did not change.

He exhaled slowly, looking down at the table before him.

Then—he spoke again.

"Are you ready?"

Hugo froze.

Not physically. Not mentally.

But deep in his soul—those words sent a storm through his mind.

He had been preparing for this battle for a thousand years.

But now, standing here…

He still wasn't sure if he was truly ready to face Xander again.

His fingers twitched at his side.

He met the Chancellor's gaze.

Then—finally, he spoke.

"I'm not ready yet."

The Chancellor raised an eyebrow slightly but remained silent.

Hugo took a slow breath.

"I need to unlock Eclipse Mode."

"Without it, I won't be able to face Xander—or stop the Dominion."

His fists clenched at his sides. "And right now… I don't know how."

The Chancellor studied him for a long moment.

Then—he nodded.

"Then you must seek out the Sage of Lunaris Sanctum."

Hugo frowned slightly. "The Sage?"

The Chancellor leaned forward.

"Lunaris Sanctum is the largest repository of Arcana knowledge in the Republic. Its scholars have spent centuries preserving history, uncovering lost secrets, and unlocking the mysteries of Arcana."

"But there is one among them—a man known only as the Sage."

His eyes darkened slightly.

"He is one of the few who understand the true nature of Arcana and its connection to the Cosmic Cores."

"If there is anyone who can help you overcome your mental block… it is him."

Hugo absorbed this information carefully.

Lunaris Sanctum…

He had heard of it before—a city of scholars and ancient texts. But there were always rumors surrounding it.

That they were hiding something deep beneath their archives.

Something ancient.

Something powerful.

And now…

He was being sent straight there.

Hugo exhaled, then gave a firm nod.

"Understood. We'll leave for Lunaris Sanctum immediately."

The Chancellor watched him for a moment longer—then offered one last warning.

"The Dominion won't sit still while you grow stronger, Hugo."

He leaned back in his seat.

"If you fail to awaken Eclipse Mode before they strike again…"

His eyes narrowed.

"Then there may not be a Republic left to save."

Hugo didn't flinch.

"I won't fail."

Then, without another word, he turned and left the chamber.

The doors of the Council Hall swung open as Hugo stepped out, his expression serious and focused.

Eclipse Zero, who had been waiting outside, immediately turned toward him.

"So?" Darius asked, arms crossed. "What's the verdict?"

Hugo didn't waste time.

"We're heading to Lunaris Sanctum."

The team exchanged glances.

"Lunaris Sanctum?" Ethan repeated. "The Arcana scholar city?"

Hugo nodded. "The Chancellor told me there's a man there—someone they call the Sage."

"He might be the key to unlocking Eclipse Mode."

For a moment, there was silence.

Then—

Lena groaned. "Ugh, so we're going from a battlefield straight to a library?"

Ethan rolled his eyes. "Lunaris Sanctum is more than just a library, Lena."

"It's where some of the oldest Arcana knowledge is kept. Some even say they're hiding—"

"Something ancient beneath the archives," Stella finished, crossing her arms. "I've heard the rumors too."

Iris smirked. "Ooooh~ So we're looking for a mystical old man who might have the secrets to Hugo's ultimate power?"

Darius grinned. "Sounds like an adventure."

Hugo ignored their side comments.

"This isn't just about me," he said firmly.

"If the Dominion is preparing for war, then we need every advantage we can get."

"And if I can't awaken Eclipse Mode…" His hands clenched into fists. "Then we don't stand a chance."

His words made the team fall silent.

Because they all knew he was right.

Lunaris Sanctum wasn't just a mission.

It was a race against time.

Stella nodded. "Alright. When do we leave?"

Hugo looked up at the sky above Requiem Prime.

"Tomorrow morning."

The team exchanged determined glances.

Eclipse Zero had a new mission.

And this time—they couldn't afford to fail.

As Eclipse Zero walked through the streets of Requiem Prime, making their way back to the mansion, the mood was lighter than before.

The tension of the council meeting had passed, and for the first time in a while, there was a sense of excitement.

Then—Ethan broke the silence.

"Hugo," he started,"what does it feel like to use Eclipse Mode?"

The group turned their attention to Hugo, curious.

Hugo thought for a moment.

Then—he answered simply.

"It felt… free."

Stella raised an eyebrow. "Free?"

Hugo nodded.

"It's not just power," he explained. "It's like… nothing is holding me back."

"No weight, no limits—just pure movement, pure energy."

Lena crossed her arms. "That does sound pretty overpowered."

Then—Hugo smirked slightly.

"Oh yeah. And I could fly."

Silence.

Then—

"WHAT?!"

Everyone stopped in their tracks.

Darius's eyes widened. "Hold on—you could FLY?!"

Hugo chuckled. "Yeah."

Stella blinked. "Like… actual flying?"

Hugo nodded. "Soaring through the sky. No effort. Just gliding above the world."

Iris grinned. "Oh, now that is unfair. You're telling me you can pull off some dramatic, sky-high battle moves and we're all stuck on the ground?"

Hugo shrugged. "Pretty much."

Ethan was stunned. "So, wait—what did it feel like? Flying, I mean."

Hugo looked up at the sky, his expression turning slightly nostalgic.

"It felt like…" He exhaled slowly, searching for the right words.

"Like the wind itself carried me."

"Like I wasn't bound to anything—not the ground, not gravity, not even time."

He smirked. "Like I could go anywhere. See everything."

The group stared at him.

It was rare for Hugo to talk like this.

For a moment, it wasn't about battle or power—it was about something beyond that.

Something more.

Then—Darius scoffed. "Man, I need to get a power-up like that."

Lena smirked. "Yeah, well, good luck. Sounds like Cosmos only picked one guy for the job."

Cosmos, still resting at Hugo's side, hummed smugly.

"Naturally. You'd all be too reckless with that kind of power."

Darius rolled his eyes. "Oh shut up, talking sword."

Ethan, still fascinated, muttered, "Hugo, we have to test this when you unlock it again."

Hugo just chuckled.

"If I unlock it again."

The group went silent again.

Because they all knew—that's what this mission was for.

Lunaris Sanctum was their only chance to bring Eclipse Mode back.

And if they failed?

Then Hugo would never fly again.

And Xander would win.

The mood grew serious once more.

Hugo exhaled, shaking off the weight of that thought.

"Come on," he said. "Let's get back."

The group continued walking—the excitement lingering, but the reality of their mission clear.

They had a long road ahead.

But one day—Hugo would fly again.

And this time—he wouldn't fall.