Macker gave Orced a bear hug so hard he almost knocked both of them over. We succeeded! First curse of the Sky Boys era—dead in under three minutes! That was really lovely!
Trying—and failing—to cover a little, happy grin, Kruna sheathed his swords. "Not terrible for a group of morons on a floating rock. I will indeed admit it. That was not complicated."
With a sickened expression, Aftor cleaned black ichor from his sleeve. "I get first dibs on naming the move. 'Relativistic Friendship Strike' perhaps. For the mix, we want a trendy name."
Ema was posing dramatically and already snapping photos with his phone. "Let's make another group selfie! Nix, cease creating that odd expression; you appear to have just killed someone."
Nix was gauntlet burning and still laughing wildly. That seemed so nice. "May we do it once again? Around here, there have to be more. Not even weary I am."
Sano laughed loudly and patted everyone on the back hard enough to make them trip forward. "Good job, everybody. You all make me proud. Even you, Nix."
Standing in the middle of it all, Orced gasped, white hair disheveled, smile bigger than the heavens itself. He observed the seven of them.. his people, his crew, and knew something warm and brilliant was going to settle in his chest.
He added, voice holding that same relaxed assurance, this is only the start. We removed one curse today. "For tomorrow? Ten. Next week? Hundred. We're going to clean the earth, clean the sky, and all else that harms people. We will also do it together."
Macker whooped more. "All together!"
Kruna rolled his eyes but still bumped fists with him. "Sure, yeah. Together. Just don't make me vomit from repeating it."
Aftor grinned. "As long as I can keep naming moves and sticking knives into things, I'm in."
Ema embraced his bow to his chest. "Furthermore, I get to create every awesome uniform. Three ideas I have already prepared."
Nix swung the air so violently he nearly struck Sano. "And sweatshirts! Finest looking of the sweatshirts! Legal ones. Most of the time."
Sano smiled once and nodded. "I'll handle the goodies. And the weighty objects. You people manage the pretty fighting."
Orced laughed once more, loud and brilliant. "Offer. Sky Boys is genuine. First meeting ended. Before I starve and have to battle yet another curse on an empty stomach, let's go look for food."
The group kept talking over one another as they made their way back towards the old research facility they had designated as interim headquarters.
Macker had already begun preparations for the triumph feast. "Ramen gets my vote. Many ramen. We deserved it."
Kruna nodded his head. "You always choose ramen. Let's consume natural food. Like pizza or hamburgers. Anything truly tasty"
Aftor smiled. "I favor anything with a lot of kick. I want to be glad after that altercation."
Ema was still perusing the pictures he had shot. "Guys, this selfie will be included in the official Sky Boys album. Caption: 'Day 1 - We already seem legendary.'"
Nix was hopping on his toes. "Can we go on another training run dinnerwards? I want to nail that explosion timing."
Orced strolled in the center, listening to all of them, feeling the warmth of the sun on his skin and the wind on his face. The future seemed wide open and full of potential for the first time in a long time.
Thousands of kilometers away, though, in a Hedonas command room, several pairs of eyes were silently watching the drone feed and had no idea.
With arms crossed, Darkas reclined in his chair.
On an overlooked island, seven guya just knocked down a C-class in less than three minutes. Coordinated. Not a single death. The leader is that white-haired one.
Meha knit his brows. "They go by Sky Boys. Already have a tagline and a name. This is not accidental."
Jellal changed his glasses. "Should we interfere?"
Ultema scoffed. "Let them play. Big-dreaming youngsters finally run out of steam."
Nemo's eyes sparkled. "Still, that cooperation.. that was truly amazing."
Pero just stared at the screen where Orced was still laughing with his friends. "They look happy tho, they really having fun."
Darkas stayed silent long. Then he spoke, voice deep.
"Continue to follow them. Something about that white-haired man seems not quite right. Overly flawless. Too charming. Mark my words, Sky Boys will either be the greatest thing ever to happen to this planet or the worst."
Back on Sky Boys Island Orced and the others were totally unaware that they were under surveillance. They were too busy yelling at each other about ramen versus steak, shoving each other, laughing until their stomachs hurt.
The future could wait; at least for today the sky belonged to them.
The group talked over each other like they always did as they began heading back towards the former research facility they had designated as temporary headquarters.
Macker was loudly arranging the celebration feast already. "Plenty of ramen. Spicy miso, more chashu, soft-boiled eggs. We deserved it after that neat kill."
Walking hands in pockets, Kruna shook his head. You always eat ramen. "For once, let's have actual food. Stake. Medium uncommon. Anything containing genuine protein that is not cup-derived. You are weird as always"
Aftor grinned, still wiping the last traces of curse ichor off his sleeve with a disgusted expression. "After that struggle, I aspire to feel alive. Similar to my tongue burning. That's the only approach I know I'm still alive."
Ema was still looking at the pictures he took during the fight, zooming in on the moment of the explosion. "Hey everyone, this is my most recent official Sky Boys album selfie. Day 1: We already feel like a family."
Observe Nix's expression here; he seems to have recently learned about fire.
Nix bounced on his toes as he strolled, gauntlet barely smoking. "That was really enjoyable. We could go for yet another training run following supper."
Sano let off a loud laugh and clapped Nix hard enough that he lurched forward two steps. Eat first then erupt later. That is my rule. On an empty stomach, you blow yourself up; I'm not bringing back your pieces.
Orced was walking in the middle of the pack, with his hands behind his head, staring up at the infinite blue sky above. Before we've even toasted the first one, you guys are already organizing the following battle. That is the attitude I appreciate.
Macker turned backward to face Orced. "Come on, master. Come clean: You were smiling the entire time you were hitting that thing's core. You share our passion for this stuff."
Orced's smile grew. "Nothing compares to it. The rush, the collaboration, the moment when everything makes sense, and the curse simply vanishes. We're here precisely for that. To have daily events like those. Kruna shot him a side look. You give it the impression of a gym class starting. Come join Sky Boys and get your everyday curse-punching workout!"
Ema started laughing uncontrollably. I can see the advertisement now. "Sky Boys Fitness: Punch curses, make friends, look cool doing it.' We would have a ton of sign-ups. Aftor twirled his knife once again. I'm alright as long as I get to stab things. But actually, matching jackets. Black leather with white wings at the rear. I am serious. We demand the beauty."
Nix raised his hand as he might in class. "I pick hoodies instead. Hoodies having sleeves torn. Useful and elegant."
Sano nodded sluggishly. "You two are going to get us kicked off of every clothing store in China."
Arriving at the old research facility—a squat, concrete building half-clad in vines and graffiti from whatever scientists had left behind years ago—they A rock kept the door open, and the solar panels inside blinked faintly.
Orced opened the door wider. "Home, beautiful home. for the time being. Let's pillage the kitchen; last week's canned food and quick noodles are still there."
Macker dashed first inside. "Dibs on the last packet of fiery beef!"
Kruna sighed as he followed. "You always get dibs then consume half of everyone else's anyway." ke, voice low.