Sebastian leaned closer to Nox, gripping her hand tightly as he whispered in her ear, "You can't use your abilities. There isn't anything in range to control."
Nox's pink eyes flickered with suppressed frustration, but she gave a subtle nod, her gaze locked on the soldiers surrounding them.
The Xeno Corps soldiers stood in a perfect circle, their black-and-silver armour gleaming under the sunlight. They didn't attack—they just waited, their presence a silent but heavy threat.
Above the cliff, the ship Crimson had spotted earlier hovered ominously. It emitted a low hum as it stopped midair, its shadow stretching over the group like a dark omen.
Everyone's attention shifted to the ship as two figures descended from it as though walking on invisible steps. There was no platform beneath them, yet they moved with calculated ease.
Crimson's breath caught as the figures came into full view. "So, my eyes didn't deceive me," he muttered, his voice laced with disbelief.
Standing before them were Grey, the imposing commander of the Xeno Corps, and Gale.
"What the hell, you little piece of shit!" Nox snarled, her voice cutting through the tense air. She yanked her hand free from Sebastian's grasp and bolted toward Gale.
"Nox, wait!" Sebastian shouted, but it was too late.
One of the soldiers stepped forward, shoving Nox hard to the ground. She hit the dirt with a gasp, her body skidding slightly from the impact.
"Nox!" Sebastian was at her side in an instant. He helped her up, his expression dark with fury as he glared at the soldier. "Touch her again, and you'll wish you were never born," he growled, his voice low and menacing.
The soldier bristled, ready to retort, but Grey raised a hand, silencing him with a sharp gesture.
Grey's cold eyes swept over the group as he addressed them. "You know, when I first met Crimson and Miles back in Elven Von, I had my suspicions," he began, his tone calm but heavy with accusation. "At first, I thought you were just overzealous fans of the Xeno Corps. But now I see the truth—you're nothing but vermin."
His gaze turned to Gale, and he gestured toward him. "If it weren't for your friend here, who knows how much damage you could have caused? He did the right thing bringing this to us."
"Gale…" Crimson's voice faltered, a mix of anger and disbelief twisting his features.
Gale smirked, stepping forward with an air of smug confidence. "I'm sorry, guys," he said, his tone dripping with mock sympathy. "But I did what had to be done. We won't be killing all of you—just Crimson."
The group tensed, their eyes narrowing as Gale continued.
"The rest of you will be taken into custody. Crimson, however…" Gale's grin widened, his words slicing through the air like a blade. "Crimson will be executed for aiding someone from the Outworld."
"What are you talking about, Gale?" Lilith asked, her voice trembling with shock and anger.
Gale shrugged, his casual demeanour a stark contrast to the tension in the air. "I'm talking about justice, Lilith. You all know the risks of harbouring someone from outside Amethyst. You put the entire world in danger. I did what was right."
"Gale, stop this. We can work this out," Sebastian said, his tone calm but firm as he stepped forward.
Gale scoffed, his eyes narrowing. "Work this out? I don't think so, Sebastian. Frankly, I think it would've been better if I hadn't seen any of you again. Especially you, Nox." His gaze flicked to her, venom lacing his words. "You could've chosen someone better than Sebastian over there."
As if to emphasize his allegiance, Gale reached up and ripped his shirt open, revealing the sleek, dark Xeno Corps armour underneath.
The group stared in stunned silence, their disbelief giving way to fury and heartbreak.
"Wrap them up," Grey commanded, his voice cold and final.
"Goodbye," Gale added with a smirk as he turned on his heel.
The two walked back toward the ship as the soldiers closed in, their weapons gleaming in the sunlight.
Nox's fists clenched at her sides, her entire body trembling as Sebastian held her back.
"Crimson, what now?" Lilith's voice was trembling, her gaze darting between the encroaching soldiers and Crimson. The weight of their next move loomed heavy over the group.
Crimson gripped his blade tightly, his knuckles whitening as he stared at the ground. "I… I don't know," he admitted, his voice laced with frustration. Blood dripped from his lips as he bit down harder, his thoughts racing. If it were just these soldiers, it would be easy, he thought bitterly. But Gale and Grey? His memories of facing Gale when they were younger clawed at his confidence.
A sudden thrust of a spear aimed at Lilith broke his focus.
Before Crimson could react, Sebastian stepped forward with lightning speed, catching the spear mid-thrust. His grip tightened, the metal groaning under the pressure before he crushed it effortlessly in his hand.
The soldier stared in shock, but it was short-lived. Sebastian grabbed him by the neck, lifting him into the air like a ragdoll. The soldier struggled, his legs kicking wildly, but Sebastian's grip was unyielding.
"Sebastian, stop!" Nox's voice cut through the chaos as she rushed toward him, her face a mix of fear.
"Get out of here!" Sebastian barked, not turning to face her. His voice carried an edge of finality. He threw the soldier's limp body aside and stepped into the centre of the circle, positioning himself in front of Crimson.
"Sebastian, what are you doing?!" Nox cried, her voice breaking as she tried to push past Lilith.
But Lilith held her back, her grip firm despite the tears welling in her eyes. "Nox, don't! He's trying to protect us!"
Sebastian glanced back at them, his expression softening for a fleeting moment. "It won't take long," he said, his tone steady but resolute.
With that, he reached into his pouch, pulling out a small bottle of crimson liquid. Without hesitation, he uncorked it and downed its contents in one swift motion.
The transformation was immediate. His skin darkened and thickened, taking on a jagged, armoured appearance. His eyes glowed a fierce, unrelenting red, and massive wings unfurled from his back, their leathery expanse casting a shadow over the cave.
Sebastian stomped the ground with a force that sent cracks rippling through the stone beneath them. The floor beneath Crimson, Lilith, and Nox gave way, crumbling into a chasm that swallowed them whole.
"Sebastian!" Nox screamed, her voice echoing as she disappeared into the darkness with the others.
Sebastian stood alone now, his transformed body radiating raw power. He turned his glowing red eyes toward the remaining soldiers.
Above, Gale and Grey halted mid-step, their attention drawn to the noise. Grey tilted his head, a sinister smile spreading across his face. "Now this… this is interesting," he said, clapping slowly.
"Move after them!" Gale barked at the soldiers, his voice sharp and commanding.
But Sebastian wasn't about to let that happen. With a single beat of his massive wings, he launched himself forward, grabbing the nearest soldier and tearing him apart with brutal efficiency. Blood sprayed across the cave as he moved with terrifying speed, dismantling the remaining soldiers one by one.
Grey's smirk widened as he watched the carnage. "Looks like your little friend has some teeth after all," he remarked to Gale, who stood silent, his jaw tight.
When the last soldier fell, Sebastian turned to face them, his chest heaving and his crimson eyes blazing with defiance.
"Let my friends escape," he growled, his voice distorted and guttural. "And you won't regret it."
Grey laughed, slow and mocking, as he began to clap again. "Escape? Do you think that's how this ends for you, Morphet?" He took a step forward, his gaze narrowing. "No, no… you've just joined the list of those marked for execution. Killing Xeno Corps soldiers is an unpardonable crime, especially by me."
Sebastian's wings flared wide, the wind from their movement scattering dust and debris. His voice was a thunderous roar. "Try me."