New threat

The next morning, Tomi stood under the shower, the water streaming down his head and shoulders. His muscles tensed, and his eyes burned with unspoken rage.

The steam swirled around him as he clenched his fists, the steady rhythm of the water barely masking the storm brewing inside him.

"I swear... I'll free myself from their grasp, and I'll destroy every last one of them," he thought, his determination hardening.

The hatred toward the Eclipse ran deep, driving him to the edge. His desire to become stronger, to escape persecution and eradicate his enemies, consumed him.

Stepping out of the shower, water still dripping from his body, he was startled by the sudden blaring of the headquarters' alarm. A sharp voice echoed through the AI system, jarring him from his thoughts.

[Enemy detected: South Gate defense forces down. Civilian casualties reported.]

Tomi's eyes widened in shock as the urgent message filled the room. His breath hitched as he processed the gravity of the situation.

Just then, a holographic screen popped up from his wristwatch—Cpt. Malik appeared, his expression stern and urgent.

Tomi blinked, still dripping wet and slightly startled by the sudden call.

"What?" he muttered under his breath, his heart pounding as he pressed the call.

"Everyone, report to base in the next five minutes!" Cpt. Malik's voice was sharp and commanding, leaving no room for delay.

Meanwhile, in the opposite hallway, Ace stood in his room, already dressed in his uniform. His cold gaze shifted toward the door as his watch buzzed, displaying the same urgent message. He didn't flinch.

"Roger that," Ace responded nonchalantly, his voice void of emotion.

But there was something off in his eyes—dark circles underlined them, his gaze haunted by the remnants of a nightmare that seemed to cling to him even now.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the hallway, Layla and Arande were in their room, both glancing down at their wristwatches as their captain's voice rang out through the AI system.

Layla took a final sip of her morning coffee, already preparing to roll out. The rich, bitter aroma filled the air, momentarily grounding her in the chaos that was about to unfold.

"Hey, Lay! What do you think this is all about?" Arande asked, lacing up her high-thigh boots with a quick pull, ready to leave the room in step with Layla.

Her movements were brisk, but her eyes held a flicker of concern.

Layla frowned slightly, her mind racing. She had a hunch—a nagging suspicion that sent a chill down her spine. She remembered the last time she stood guard at the gates, catching a glimpse of something dark, something unnatural.

"I don't know for sure, but I've got a bad feeling it's about that purified dark mecha I saw during my last gate duty," Layla replied, her voice steady but with an edge of unease.

The fox-shaped suit of armor still haunted her thoughts, its presence eerie and foreboding. As the two walked out of their room, the weight of the situation pressed on them.

They were halfway down the corridor when they spotted Zane and Blaze approaching the formation site from the opposite direction. Blaze's confident stride and cocky grin were unmistakable.

"Good to see you back, Arande," Blaze called out, his tone casual but direct as he glanced at her.

Arande, quick with her wit, flashed a brief smile and shot back, "You guys too, but trust me, I didn't miss you!"

Blaze shrugged with an air of indifference, his smirk deepening. "Like I care," he muttered nonchalantly. Then, with a smirk, he added, "Besides, I'm just relieved you're still part of the team—unfortunately."

His words hit Arande harder than she expected. The casual jab stung more than she wanted to admit.

She kept her smile faint, but inside, she gritted her teeth, holding back the urge to lash out.

"Really?" she said, her voice deceptively calm, though her eyes flashed with a fire that said otherwise. "I'll keep that in the back of my mind ."

As they approached the meeting room, Tomi walked silently behind Ace, his eyes focused straight ahead.

Arande caught sight of him, her face brightening with a welcoming smile.

"Hey, did you have a great night?" she asked, her voice warm and light, trying to break the tension in the air.

Tomi barely glanced her way, his expression cold and distant.

"Don't bother me this morning. We've got an urgent situation to deal with," he replied nonchalantly, brushing past her and stepping into the room without another word.

The atmosphere shifted the moment they all stood in formation. The room was tense, the low hum of the overhead lights adding to the unease.

Captain Malik stood at the front, his sharp gaze scanning the group as they straightened their postures, awaiting orders. His jaw clenched as he began the briefing.

"As you all know, there's been a breach at the southern border," Malik began, his voice calm but commanding. "The defense forces were taken down, and reinforcements have already been deployed."

Just then, Malik's wristwatch blinked with an incoming call. His brow furrowed as the holographic interface popped up, displaying the stern face of Chief Dj from the intelligence team.

"This is a snapshot of what we're dealing with, Captain Malik," Chief Dj said as he transmitted the image

. A hologram flickered to life in the center of the room, revealing two figures clad in sleek AI suit armor. One was dressed in pink and white, with a helmet shaped like a cat.

The other, a more menacing figure, wore a black suit of armor with a fox-shaped helmet. Both stood nonchalantly, their posture relaxed despite the destruction surrounding them.

Malik's eyes narrowed as he studied the figures.

"From what my team's gathered, it looks like they're targeting civilians for abduction, though it doesn't add up," Chief Dj continued, his voice laced with uncertainty. "They're causing far too much havoc for a simple kidnapping operation."

The image lingered in the air as silence fell over the room, the weight of the situation pressing down on everyone.

"For now, they have several civilians in their custody," Dj concluded, his tone grim.

Malik's eyes gleamed with a sharp intensity as he processed the information.

"Alright. We'll soon uncover their real motives," he responded coldly, his voice filled with a quiet determination. He had a good hunch, a gnawing feeling about the appearance of these mysterious attackers. 

Malik's gaze was unwavering as he pointed toward Tomi and Ace, his tone cold and commanding.

"You two will lead this operation today." There was no room for negotiation, no hesitation. His voice cut through the air like a blade, demanding absolute compliance.

"Understood?" he asked, his eyes drilling into the two.

Tomi clenched his fists, his jaw tightening at the mention of the kidnapped civilians. Memories of his past flickered like ghosts in his mind, fueling the rage that simmered just beneath the surface.

He could barely contain the boiling anger rising within him, while Ace, standing beside him, remained calm, his expression unreadable.

Unlike Tomi, Ace's focus wasn't driven by emotion but by a cold determination, his reasons pushing him forward to save those in danger.

"Roger that!" they both replied, though the contrast between them was clear. Tomi's voice trembled with barely concealed fury, while Ace's response was icy and detached.

As the two turned to leave, Malik watched them exit headquarters, their newly designed light lancer mechas gleaming under the harsh overhead lights.

Arande followed closely behind, her black lancer suit sleek and ready for battle. Malik's eyes lingered for a moment, knowing the weight of the mission ahead.