On the other side of the underground headquarters in the Caucasus Mountains, a high-tech medical and training complex was wrapped in tension that spread like poison. This was where Kira—Kaivan's older sister—was being treated after Vella's attack. Neon lights cast a cold sheen across the metal corridors, blending with the sharp scent of disinfectant and the thick unease hanging in the air.
Suddenly, monitoring screens in the control room detected rapid movement from the north. A mass of black surged forward like a sandstorm.
Sirens wailed.
"Unknown movement! More than ninety units—approaching fast!"
Dark silhouettes emerged on the horizon, sprinting like the wind. The night fog failed to hide their ferocity.
Levan's voice echoed through the internal communication system—firm, yet heavy with pressure.
"Zinnia, Thivi, Livia—take positions on the roof! Felicia, Ethan, Radit, Raphael, Frans, Isabel—secure the perimeter! Do not let a single one get close! Military units, eliminate them!"
On the roof of the training facility, Isabel checked her modified RPD. She stared at the night sky with a flat expression, then asked in a cold, steady voice,
"What exactly are we fighting?"
Zinnia lay prone, her sniper-modified F2000 in hand, peering through her thermal scope.
"Monsters. Dozens of them. They move like wild beasts—but far more organized."
Raphael stood at the front, wearing a black chest plate marked with a red emblem. He raised his hand in a clear signal, his voice calm and resolute.
"Defensive positions. Focus on your targets. Don't panic."
Before the command was fully delivered, Felicia had already leaped from the rooftop like a bolt of lightning. Her black hair flowed freely, an automatic shotgun in her right hand and a triple-stick nunchaku in her left.
"I won't let them disturb Sister Kira while she's in a coma!" she shouted, her body darting nimbly through the rubble.
From behind a metal hatch, Thivi heard her. He powered up his VSK and peeked through a narrow gap.
"She's right. My sister-in-law is being treated here. I won't let a single one get close either!"
He fired while taking cover behind a container.
Gunfire tore through the air.
"BOOM!"
The echo of a CheyTac rifle thundered from afar. Livia fired calmly, her posture relaxed, yet her gaze was sharp as a blade.
"One down," she said lightly, her breathing steady as her eyes burned with adrenaline.
On the ground, military units moved swiftly, forming barricades with electromagnetic shields and heavy weapons. Some soldiers couldn't help commenting as they overheard the young fighters' exchanges.
"We're in a full-scale invasion, and these kids…" one soldier muttered with a sigh.
"…it's like they're playing on a battlefield," another added, a thin smile of pride on his face.
Felicia was already facing five Ya'juj and Ma'juj creatures. Her reflexes were razor-sharp—each blast from her shotgun exploded in succession, sending blood and fragments of flesh dancing through the air. One creature lunged from the side; her triple-stick nunchaku spun and smashed into its head, crushing it and hurling the body away.
Radit and Ethan leaped down from the rooftop, covering the left flank of the complex. Radit fired his SCAR with a soft laugh, as if he were enjoying the fight. Ethan slipped between buildings with his M4 CQB-R in hand, then obliterated a creature with an under-barrel grenade.
Raphael and Frans held the right side. Raphael fired his M4 SR calmly while issuing commands, while Frans—wielding his M249 Para SAW with wild, explosive movements—charged through enemy lines like a miniature storm.
From above, Zinnia picked off targets one by one with near-icy composure—every bullet piercing a vital point. Thivi dropped to the middle level, firing from behind pillars.
At last, Isabel understood. She raised her RPD and unleashed a sweeping barrage that tore through the horde. Her voice remained flat, but her eyes now burned with intensity.
"Alright… so this is what we're up against."
The battle that night was more than a fight for survival. It was a display of resolve—of strength, faith, and loyalty. They were not fighting for victory, but for the place they called home.
Inside the rotating capsule, Kaivan began to lose his patience. He was about to shout when a massive explosion erupted outside. The sound thundered through the air, and light seeped in through the gaps of the capsule. Then, a gentle yet firm woman's voice was heard.
"Are you two alright? It's me, Lyra."
Kaivan and Fabrizio exchanged glances before slowly opening the capsule. Outside, the sight stole their breath—a towering robot stood firmly, both arms firing endlessly at the swarm of Ya'juj and Ma'juj surrounding them. Grenades exploded, shaking the ground and scattering fragments of the creatures' bodies. One of the robot's legs was badly damaged, yet its presence remained unshaken.
"Lyra! Get us out of here—fly us away!" Fabrizio shouted.