Punk and Romen sensed the threat late — far too late.
It had already landed.
They searched near the mountains, scanning the horizon and the damaged edge of the city. Nothing moved.
Only dust and broken stone.
Punk frowned.
"Don't joke."
He sensed nothing.
Romen insisted he did.
Something was there.
Punk exhaled and turned away.
"No useless effort."
Like a lost child wandering without purpose, he walked off, searching elsewhere.
Romen refused to stop.
He kept looking, eyes narrowing, fists tightening.
The mountains loomed silent.
Then Punk returned to Romen's home.
Inside, he found Marina and Sin.
A brief smirk crossed his face — pride hiding something deeper.
He said nothing and left.
When he reached the mountains again — the training ground — Romen was gone.
No sign. No aura. Nothing.
Punk halted.
A cold instinct crawled his spine.
Then a scream echoed from afar.
Sharp. Panicked.
Punk moved instantly.
He arrived at the city's outer district.
A massive spaceship hovered above the skyline, metallic and alien, its gate descending like the mouth of a beast.
Civilians scattered.
Military forces aimed rifles and heavy weapons, hands trembling.
The gate opened.
A giant species stepped out — around sixteen feet tall, skin tinted pink but rough like stone. A tail swayed behind him, slow and deliberate.
He did not look monstrous. He looked superior.
Like a ruler inspecting conquered land.
He raised his hand.
Not a greeting.
A claim.
Beside him stood another creature — smaller, around as thrice small his size but moving with sharp, predatory confidence.
Punk sensed danger instantly.
No hesitation.
He launched a punch.
The big one caught him like a child catching a ball and threw him toward a building.
Impact.
Explosion.
Glass shattered.
Smoke and fire erupted.
Civilians screamed.
For a moment, everyone thought he was dead.
But Punk was not.
No sign.
No aura.
Nothing.
Punk halted. His shorter frame compared to Romen, clad in simple white armor over black gear,
broad eyebrows furrowed, athletic build tensed, ready to move.
He rose from the rubble.
Blood trickled from his forehead.
His expression remained sharp.
The big creature laughed.
Deep and mocking.
A man stepped forward — long hair, arrogant gaze, the kind of confidence born from surviving hard places.
"Why don't you test me, alien?"
The big creature sneered.
"Not even whole earth humans merged can scratch him."
The man charged.
Brief clash.
One strike.
It was over.
The man collapsed to his knees, breathing ragged, blood dripping from his mouth.
Romen arrived.
He saw the scene.
The big creature prepared to crush the fallen man under his boot.
Romen moved.
Not thinking.
Instinct.
He saved the man.
"Are you okay?"
The question hung in the air.
Romen looked at both aliens — serious.
He smiled slightly.
He understood something.
Punk was impulsive. Proud. Ready to fight everything.
Romen was different.
He asked questions.
He observed.
"Who are they? What do they want?"
It was not weakness.
It was strategy.
But even he felt the weight of foolishness in the question.
The small alien charged an energy ball and fired.
Romen dodged.. His tall, muscular frame moved with precision,
red-tinged gear fluttering as he ran, black hair sticking slightly to his forehead.
The blast struck a building.
Concrete exploded.
Civilians screamed again.
Inside the house.
Marina stood frozen in front of the television.
News channels screamed images of destruction.
Smoke. Collapsed buildings. Running civilians.
On screen — Romen fighting.
Then static.
No update.
Silence.
Sin gripped the remote.
His small hands trembled.
"Dad will win," he said.
Not a question.
A declaration.
Marina knelt and hugged him.
But her eyes remained on the screen.
Empty.
Frightened.
She whispered:
"He has to."
Romen felt regret.
He had failed to save lives.
Faces of civilians flashed in his mind.
People running.
Buildings falling.
He remembered the Balance God's warning.
At the time he dismissed it.
Now he understood.
Earth's future depended on him.
He took stance.
Ready.
The small alien moved with terrifying speed.
A blur.
Romen was struck.
Pain exploded through his side.
Blood.
Shock.
These creatures were different.
Faster.
Stronger.
He needed Punk.
He shouted.
"Punk!!!"
No reply.
Romen entered enhanced state.
Multiplier activated.
His aura surged.
Ground cracked beneath his feet.
He fought.
The small alien attacked with tail strikes — precise and relentless.
Romen blocked, but each impact drained him.
Blood dripped from his arms.
The big creature raised a hand.
A laser formed at his fingertip.
Energy hummed.
It sliced the air.
Romen braced for impact.
Then the beam was cut mid-flight.
Punk.
Enhanced.
Peak condition.
He landed beside Romen.
Eyes sharp.
"I thought humans were paper dolls."
Punk smirked.
"Paper? Try again."
Romen warned him.
This wasn't simple.
Not like previous fights.
The big alien sneered.
"You both are problems."
"Let's finish them."
Punk charged.
Romen lay on cracked ground.
Chest wound bleeding.
Breath uneven.
He tried to move.
Arm trembled.
No strength.
Boots stepped closer.
The big creature loomed above.
He laughed.
"Human hero. So fragile."
Romen's vision blurred.
Marina.
Sin.
I promised.
I swore to protect them.
He clenched his fist.
Nothing.
Body refused to answer.
A low whisper escaped:
"I… can't…"
The small alien fought back.
Fast.
Brutal.
Punk matched him at first.
But the bigger challenge remained the giant.
He kicked the alien's head.
It struck a car.
Glass shattered.
"Behave like a man."
"Don't be a coward."
"I'm beating your son and standing here."
The big creature laughed.
"I watch because if I enter, this fight becomes a joke."
Punk challenged him.
"Oh so you think you are a boss."
He rushed.
Caught.
Choked.
Hands clawed at the alien's grip.
Air vanished.
Punk struggled.
Legs kicking.
Nothing worked.
The creature's voice rumbled.
"That's why I didn't enter."
Punk realised his mistake.
Ego remained.
He was dropped.
Breathing heavy.
Knees nearly buckling.
But he rose.
Again.
Furious.
He mocked them.
Punk laughs.
"So you both father son think you can beat your grandfather?"
"Probably in dreams."
They attacked together.
Punk threw a truck.
Metal screeched.
The vehicle flew like a missile.
Impact.
Fire.
Explosion.
Among the chaos, the third mortal appeared.
He shouted.
"You guys are not alone."
"I will save earth."
"I will be celebrity."
Punk judged him instantly.
No real potential.
Too loud.
Too desperate.
His name was Paul.
"I am above you all."
He laughed like a joker chasing attention.
Punk saw through him.
Paul looked lean and casual, with short blonde hair and everyday clothes that made him seem like an normal guy.
Not strong.
Not yet.
Trauma might awaken something.
But now he was fragile.
The small alien fired a laser.
Paul dodged.
"I'm not a small target."
He stood beside Punk.
"I'm with you."
Punk felt discomfort.
Trusting a stranger mid-battle?
Risk.
His expression hardened.
He struck Paul.
The mortal collapsed.
Blood at his mouth.
Unconscious.
Punk thought:
Another limiter.
Another human close to breaking.
Trauma and near-death awaken potential.
Not now.
Still below me.
He turned back to the fight.
The small alien charged.
Energy rising.
Punk faced him.
Hands shaking slightly.
He realised:
This was beyond enhanced state.
Beyond simple multipliers.
The alien smirked.
"You humans resist. Admirable."
Punk breathed heavy.
He understood the scale.
This wasn't a normal invasion.
It was a test.
Then—
A massive energy sphere appeared above the city.
Sky darkened.
Wind howled.
Civilians screamed.
Punk looked up.
No words.
Only danger.
The sphere pulsed with destructive intent.
Buildings reflected its glow.
A silent countdown.
Romen struggled to rise.
Marina watched the news.
Sin whispered:
"Dad…"
The chapter ended.