Chapter 19: The Shadows that Chase

Aster's eyes grew cold as he stepped forward, his voice harsh and commanding.

"Have you seen that yellow-haired boy? He is valuable to us."

Bachan stood his ground, his arms folded, his eyes unyielding.

"I don't understand… but I must stop you here."

Aster's voice grew sharper with anger, the atmosphere surrounding him heavy with hostility.

"Why is that, old man? Don't pretend. I know you're with him. I can tell. You can't keep him from me. Tell me—where is the boy?!"

He slowly lifted his hand, power churning around his fingertips like a divine threat. His voice rumbled downward to a growl.

"This is your last chance. I sensed him—just a mile from here."

Bachan, with fierce and steady eyes, did not blink.

"Then try learning from a dead body."

Viny curled a strand of hair around her finger and smiled with wicked glee.

"Fascinating. Sir Aster, might I touch him?"

Aster smiled and nodded slightly.

"Proceed, Vani."

Meanwhile…

On the other side of the valley, the wind ruffled Sunny's hair as he rode the Cyber Lion, eyes watery but optimistic.

"Auren. I want to live. I want to see my sister. There's hope still in my heart," he said, brushing a tear that had slid down his cheek.

"I want to meet her again."

Rose gently reached out and squeezed his hand reassuringly.

"You will. I'm sure of it."

Auren, his voice calm and urgent, gazed straight ahead.

"Just don't give up hope. Go as quickly as you can."

Sunny bent forward, holding onto the Cyber's mane.

"Full speed, Cyber! Let's fly!"

The Cyber Lion bellowed like a living steel and lightning engine, speeding over the ground.

Auren kept her eyes fixed on the horizon.

"All we need to do is go in the right direction. If we get to the whirlpool under the waterfall mountain… we'll survive."

Meanwhile, back in the village…

Maru, the cyborg robot, stood with his back to the three invaders—his chrome body reflecting in the light of the village.

Viny spun her staff in circles, laughing like a child with a new plaything.

"Want to play with me, you cyborg boy?"

In the distance, Bachan's voice came through Maru's speaker system. While his body rested in his house, his mind was very much on the battlefield.

"Maru, be vigilant. They are dangerous."

Viny charged forward, her staff whirling in close, deadly circles.

Maru flashed between them like a ghost—quick and precise—parrying her blows with mechanical elegance.

Aster observed the battle, a smile spreading across his face.

"Let's see what kind of plaything you actually are."

Aster made a dismissive gesture, waving the cyborg out of his mind.

"Levi, leave him to her for now."

Levi clapped hands in enthusiasm.

"Yay, Sir! Let's!"

You know, Levi is kind of freaky...

The two turned, heading towards Sunny's path.

From his peaceful dwelling, Bachan's eyes went wide with fright.

"They're attacking the boy… Maru, block them no matter what!"

Maru, always a dutiful one, came forward—but Viny had beaten him to it, blocking his way. Her bright eyes shone like stars as she twirled her staff like a turbine, summoning a shrieking whirlwind.

With a ripping crash, the cyclone hit Maru, sweeping up his metal body off the ground and slamming him back down with savage impact.

From his control seat, Bachan panicked.

"Maru! Just buy time—do whatever it takes!"

Viny's laughter echoed.

"We didn't even finish playing."

Maru's mechanical voice sparked to life.

"Raco… Raco…"

Suddenly, a series of glowing stones rained down from above—Maru's emergency barrage attack.

Viny narrowed her eyes. "Rampage Quest!"

Her employees glowed bright green and grew, energy surging around them. She chucked them in a war cry, dividing air in two. The wind screamed more frantically, the ground shifted, trees were torn out, and soil was ripped as the magic made contact.

Maru jumped from the churning maelstrom just in time and struck back—his body infused with electro-splash ability, firing it directly at her.

Viny dodged, but too slowly. A deep gash opened on her cheek.

Aster and Levi vanished behind the hills, making their way towards Sunny and the others.

Witnessing this, Maru's system went into beast mode—his eyes went red, and his power levels spiked.

Viny clenched her teeth.

"Fine then… I summon Dekko Mori!" She shouted.

Out of a magical circle stepped Mori, a regal warrior woman, carrying a shining sword, dressed in royal silver-blue armor.

Maru and Mori fought with bone-shattering force. The earth trembled as fist crashed against blade, an explosion of energy ripping through the village walls.

Maru picked up Mori's arm and slammed her into the ground with savage force.

He charged his energy blast in one hand, juicing up for the finishing blow—directed at Mori's head.

But at that moment—

CRACK!

Viny's green-juiced staff speared into Maru's back, hitting his cyber core capsule.

BOOOOM!

A deafening blast swept across the entire landscape—rocks were shattered, wind tore through the trees, and a blinding flash consumed them all.

The dust had subsided when Viny was seen lying motionless on the ground—her attire in shreds, her staff broken. Mori was nowhere to be found. And Maru…

Maru was nowhere to be found.

In his room, Bachan sat silently, his gaze vacant on the floor.

"Maru…" he spoke softly. "My son. My three years of labor… gone like so much smoke."

Tears filled the eyes of the old man. He brushed them away hastily, jerking his head up with a deep breath.

"Thank you, Maru. You taught me more than anyone could ever teach me."

He rose to his feet, moving towards the book rack.

"You were my first success. My prototype. But now…"

He drew out a concealed scroll with shining diagrams.

"Now I'll do better. I'll build an army… a new generation of cyborgs. With science, with magic—and with your spirit inside them."

He placed his hand on the scroll, his eyes burning with new determination.

"This isn't the end… It's only the beginning."

Oh, see, there is that mountain; let's go there, Sunny said.

Rose— It's so giant and glowing like a blue star, and the environment around it is so beautiful.

A snow mist, clouds, and beautiful trees surrounding it make this place out of this world. It's like a valley.

Auren said, Yes, you're absolutely right, Rose. if it's not an emergency, I would be willing to stay here for while… Sunny said, Please, guys, we don't have time to chill.