Unmasked...

No one dares to hurt my sister," a little boy had once shouted, shielding a trembling girl behind him. That memory now flickered in Isabella's mind like a dying ember as Isabella stirred awake inside the spacecraft.

She opened her eyes slowly. Around her, everyone else was either resting or asleep, sprawled across the reclining chairs in silence. Her gaze drifted to Clady's face. He lay there, calm, unburdened, not the same boy who'd just taken a blow meant for her.

"So, I guess your brother does love you," Judas said gently to Isabella, stepping beside her.

She smiled—wistful, strained. "Yeah. We used to play a lot when we were younger. He always stood in front of me, like a shield. The day he discovered he could produce fire... he was so happy. I was the first person he told. He always shared his joys with me first."

Her eyes dimmed. "But everything changed the day I told him about my powers... and the drawback. Since then, he started to avoid me. He stopped protecting me. He became... distant."

"Maybe there was a reason behind that," Judas said, trying to offer her comfort.

"Yes," she nodded faintly. "I like to think so too."

"There is no reason at all," a voice cut in sharply.

Both Judas and Isabella flinched. Clady had awakened, his eyes staring straight at Judas, devoid of arrogance but sharp with purpose.

"Hey... what's your name?" Clady asked.

"I'm Judas."

"When we reach the camp, I want a duel with you," Clady said, his voice calm, controlled.

"What? Brother, no!" Isabella cried out, stepping forward. "Why would you—"

"Okay," Judas interrupted gently. He didn't flinch. There was no hesitation.

They returned to the camp. Their debrief was quick and clinical. The mission was deemed a success—some soldiers had escaped, yes, but the leader of the Alcrians had been eliminated.

Then Clady turned to Judas.

"Now let's begin our fight. Are you ready?" he asked, his eyes void of emotion but burning with something deeper—resolve, maybe rage.

Judas nodded.

Without another word, Clady lifted his hand.

"Flame Whorl."

A tornado of fire spiraled into the air, twisting and roaring as it surged toward Judas. He dove aside, rolling across the training field. But before he could even regain his stance, fireballs rained down on him like meteors.

Judas dodged, pivoted, ducked—but there was no gap to counter. No opening.

Then flames ignited beneath Clady's boots. He dashed forward like a comet. In a blink, he was in front of Judas.

A flaming fist struck Judas in the face.

Crack.

Judas was hurled across the field, his body crashing to the ground, dirt and dust flying.

Clady landed on him without pause, knees pinning his chest, fists pounding relentlessly into his face. Blow after blow. The sound of bone meeting flesh. Blood splattering. Judas's vision blurred.

"Clady, please!" Isabella's voice tore through the chaos. "Stop! Please! Don't hurt him anymore!"

The fists stopped, suspended in the air like a guillotine held at the last second.

Clady leaned closer to Judas, his breath steady, voice flat.

"I thought you were strong since you defeated that alien. But you're pathetic."

Judas blinked through blood and haze.

"From the very beginning, you didn't fear me. So I expected something great from you. Just disappointment. You couldn't even land a single attack."

Then Clady whispered near Judas's ear, barely audible.

"To defeat the Six Families, you'll need more than that."

The words crashed through Judas's mind like a thunderbolt. He stared up at Clady, stunned. What did he just say? The Six Families? How does he—?

Clady rose and walked away calmly, unbothered, not even winded. Isabella rushed to Judas's side, kneeling beside him in silence. She didn't speak a word as she began tending to his wounds.

His world faded to black.

---

He awoke in his room.

Powell sat beside him.

"You're awake," Powell said.

"Yeah... how long was I out?"

"A full day. You got beaten up pretty bad."

Judas groaned, sitting up slowly. "I never thought he was that strong."

Powell's eyes narrowed. "That's not why I'm here."

Judas looked at him, confused. "Then why?"

Powell hesitated, then leaned forward.

"I'm suspicious of our leader."

"What? Isabella?" Judas blinked. "What are you talking about?"

"Her ability. I don't think it's just healing. I think it's something far beyond what she—or we—understand."

Judas sat in silence, unsure if he misheard.

"Then... what is it?" he asked finally.

Powell's voice grew more intense. "I can't say without proof. But I have a theory. It's something incredible. Something... impossible, really. But I saw it. I watched closely when she helped Clady. She didn't just repair him..."

"What do you mean?"

Powell's voice dropped. "She created matter. Out of nothing. I think Isabella can generate physical material."

Judas's mind reeled. "That... that goes against everything we know. Science doesn't allow that. That's—"

"Exactly," Powell interrupted. "That's why it terrifies me. And I don't think even she realizes what she's doing."

In a room far from theirs, deep inside a hidden chamber of the base, Clady knelt before a cloaked figure veiled in shadows.

"So, Clady... how was the mission?" the figure asked, voice dripping with authority.

"Tiring," Clady said, his usual arrogance returning. "Acting like a pathetic noble is exhausting."

A low chuckle rumbled from the darkness.

"You won't need to act anymore."

"How is she? "

"She looks fine," Clady said coldly.

"I wasn't asking about her health," the voice cut in. "I asked about her power."

Clady looked down. "It's awakening. Slowly. She doesn't know yet, but it's happening. She's capable of something beyond comprehension."

The cloaked figure shifted slightly. "Then it's as we expected. She's the chosen one."

A deep, long laugh echoed through the chamber.

"Soon," the voice hissed. "The day the Williams family conquers the world will be upon us."

Clady remained kneeling, expression unreadable.

Laughter continued to ripple through the darkness.