The air in Paras City had grown thick and heavy, as if the entire world was holding its breath in fear. The main ship of Dano's fleet had already landed with a heavy, earth-shaking thud in the heart of the city. Dust and debris rose around it like a dark cloud, mixing with the morning light that now felt cold and tainted. Other ships hovered ominously in the sky above, their shadows stretching across the streets like fingers of impending doom. The once-peaceful city, still carrying the faint echoes of festival joy, was now filled with the low hum of alien engines and the distant, panicked screams of citizens fleeing for safety.
Dano stood at the forefront, his smirk never fading — a cruel, confident curve of his lips that sent chills down the spines of everyone watching. His orange-and-black striped fur caught the light, making him look like a predator that had already won. Aika stood beside him, her staff gripped tightly, her expression a mix of reluctance and duty. Quan cracked his knuckles, shadows already writhing at his feet like living things eager for violence. Esta remained slightly behind, his head bowed, ice-blue eyes filled with quiet shame and regret as he forced himself to stand among the invaders.
And then there was Diablo.
He had already landed from the sky, his four massive demon wings folded tightly behind him. His neon-crimson eyes were fixed on the ground, his gloved hands clenched so tightly that the leather creaked. He hadn't moved since Dano gave the order. The weight of the moment pressed down on him like invisible chains, heavier than any he had worn before.
Blu stood at the center of the defenders, arms folded, cape fluttering in the rising wind. His expression was serious and unyielding, but there was a flicker of deep concern in his eyes as he faced the invaders. Uraka and Wano stood ready beside him, their auras already flaring with determination. Yuki and Honokage had teleported to the front lines, standing shoulder to shoulder, ready to protect their home.
Dano's voice cut through the tense silence like a blade.
"So… President, are you ready for the war… for Ares' future?"
The words hung in the air, heavy and final.
Diablo's fists clenched tighter.
His wings twitched involuntarily.
He wasn't ready.
He couldn't do this again.
The same feeling from his past washed over him like ice water — the helplessness, the shame, the chains wrapping around his soul once more. His mind flashed back to the day Argon had forced him to stand among the invaders, watching innocents suffer while he could do nothing but obey.
*Not again…*
*I'm not that slave anymore…*
*But here I am… standing beside another tyrant… forced to hurt innocents again…*
His heart twisted painfully as he looked at the defenders.
Yuki's eyes were wide with fear, but there was still kindness in them — the same kindness that reminded him of the people he had been forced to hurt in his past.
Uraka's aura flared with determination, but she was protecting her friends, her home.
Wano stood ready to defend the jungle and the animals she loved.
They were not enemies.
They were people.
Just like the ones he had been forced to hurt before.
Diablo's voice was barely a whisper, meant only for himself.
"I… can't do this again…"
He felt sick to his core.
The same broken feeling from his time as Argon's slave returned in full force — the guilt, the self-loathing, the knowledge that he was once again a tool in someone else's cruel game.
Dano glanced at him, noticing the hesitation, his smirk fading just a fraction.
"Diablo. Prepare to attack."
Diablo didn't move.
His wings remained folded.
His hands stayed at his sides.
For the first time in a long time, the guardian of Sector Two Hell felt truly broken again.
He was a slave once more.
And this time… the innocents he was ordered to hurt were standing right in front of him.
---
The tension snapped like a taut wire.
Dano's smirk returned, sharper than before.
"Do I need to say it again? Attack now!"
The army floated in formation, waiting for the command. Diablo and Esta remained motionless, their reluctance clear in their stances. Aika and Quan moved forward without hesitation.
Aika gripped her staff tightly, her golden-red eyes flicking briefly toward Yuki and Honokage. Inside, her thoughts churned with conflict. *I don't want this… These people haven't done anything wrong. But Lord Dano… he gave the order. If I disobey, what happens to me? To the team?* She pushed the doubt down, forcing her voice to sound steady.
"I am sorry… but orders are orders. I have to do this for my lord."
Quan's shadows coiled around him like living snakes, his voice cold and eager.
"My first blood… I won't let it be wasted."
Yuki took a small step backward, fear flashing in her eyes, but Honokage immediately moved in front of her, his body a solid shield. Their eyes met for a brief second — hers filled with trust, his with protective resolve.
"You don't have to be afraid," he said quietly, his voice steady and protective. "I am here. I will always be here."
Aika raised her staff high. Magical barriers appeared in the sky, glowing with golden energy as they fell toward Honokage like falling stars. As the barriers descended, Aika's gaze locked with Honokage's for a split second. She saw the determination in his crimson eyes, the way he stood ready to protect Yuki without hesitation. *He's willing to die for her… just like I would for Lord Dano. But why does this feel so wrong?*
Honokage didn't even look up. He destroyed the barriers with a single, powerful punch. The impact sent a shockwave through the entire city, shaking buildings and creating a sudden storm of wind and dust. Black lightning leaked from his fist, crackling in the air like dark veins. The barriers turned to dust instantly.
The atmosphere grew calm for a brief, tense moment.
Honokage's eyes moved like void itself — dark, intense, filled with quiet fury. He got into his fighting position, muscles tense, ready to protect what mattered most.
Yuki stood beside him, her hand brushing his arm for a moment, drawing strength from his presence. Their eyes met again, a silent promise passing between them.
Quan turned to Aika, his voice low.
"Aika… you handle them both. I am going to handle the pink slime and the blue alien."
Aika nodded, clutching her staff tighter, her expression a mix of duty and reluctance. Inside, her thoughts raced. *I have to do this… but every time I look at them, I see the same fear I felt when I was younger. Why am I on this side?*
Around Quan, shadow energy gathered, glowing with dark power.
Dano clapped his hands once, the sound sharp and final.
"Alright, no more talk… Now only… blood."
Dano, Esta, and Diablo remained on the distant mountain, watching the battlefield from afar. The armies moved into position on nearby planets, ready to strike on command, their ships humming with energy as they prepared for total war. Soldiers cheered from their vessels, firing supporting shots that shook the ground, their loyalty to Dano clear in their aggressive movements.
The field was now free — no humans left in the immediate area, only big, lifeless buildings standing as silent witnesses to the coming battle.
Aika swung her staff, ready to attack.
Honokage moved first. He teleported in a burst of black lightning and threw a powerful punch. Aika blocked it with her staff, the impact sending sparks flying. She swung her staff in a wide arc and countered with a punch of her own.
Honokage was knocked back slightly, but he raised his hand and shot a lightning energy ball straight at her.
Aika moved with her staff, dodging easily. In the background, the attack exploded against a random building, sending debris flying.
Aika's voice carried a mix of challenge and regret as her eyes met Honokage's for a brief second.
"Is that all you can do?"
Yuki kicked at Aika's abdomen with full force. The ground cracked slightly as Aika was pushed backward.
Then a barrage of lightning punches came from Honokage.
Aika swung her staff, and time seemed to stop for a split second. The attacks froze in mid-air. She kicked them away, and they exploded like shattered glass.
Yuki sweated, breathing hard, her eyes locking with Aika's in a moment of mutual recognition — two women forced into a fight neither truly wanted.
Aika opened a portal. A green, monstrous hand emerged, followed by an eight-handed giant that burst out, roaring as it attacked Yuki.
Yuki's eyes widened in shock. She couldn't protect herself in time.
Before the punch could land, Honokage teleported behind the monster and ripped its head apart with raw power. Blood flowed like a fountain.
He landed, eyes locked on Aika, voice low and filled with protective fury.
"No one can touch Yu. I will protect her till my death because she is my wife and she trusts me."
Yuki held Honokage's hand for a moment, calming him with her touch, her voice soft but determined.
"I'm here with you… we fight together."
At that moment, Aika teleported and unleashed a sonic boom attack. The area exploded instantly.
But Honokage raised his hand.
The ability was copied.
He released the attack with his own black lightning.
The entire area exploded again, buildings crumbling as parts floated in the sky from the force.
A faint cut appeared on Aika's neck.
Honokage opened his mouth. Energy gathered, forming a massive lightning beam charged with Leviathan power.
Aika used her staff to reflect it, landing on the ground and dusting herself off.
Aika's voice carried a hint of respect mixed with sadness as her eyes met Honokage's again.
"I didn't think you were this skilled."
Yuki punched at Aika with full force.
Aika dodged, kicked her, and threw her toward a random office building.
Honokage shouted, voice filled with protective rage.
"I won't let you do it!!"
He rushed at Aika, but she punched him in the face, sending him crashing through roads and into a pond.
Aika entered the same building, breaking glass as she flew down through the stairs.
She lowered her staff, looking around the empty floors.
"Where did she go? Isn't she supposed to stay there?"
She flew down further.
Suddenly a punch came at her, but it was blocked by her magical wall.
Aika smiled faintly.
"I see you."
Yuki was just beside her.
Aika tried to stab with her staff.
Yuki jumped and dodged, then delivered a flying kick.
Aika blocked it with her elbow and countered with another kick.
Yuki backflipped, landing gracefully.
Aika used her staff. Five portals opened from everywhere, shooting energetic bullets.
Yuki reflected all of them, the impacts echoing through the building.
The entire floor exploded, and they crashed down into the basement garage.
Yuki punched, kicked, and delivered a chained combo.
Aika blocked all of them with her staff, the attacks echoing loudly in the enclosed space.
Aika raised her hand. Purple energy glowed around it.
Telekinesis.
The entire building started ripping apart, floating into the sky.
Yuki and Aika kept attacking, punching each other in mid-air as the structure broke around them.
Aika injected her knee into Yuki, sending her flying to the top floor.
Aika teleported and opened nine portals. Nine red tails of a kitsune appeared, attacking Yuki one by one.
The attacks were about to land.
Yuki blocked them all.
Honokage teleported there and landed a massive attack.
Above the building, a shadow of a leviathan formed and stomped down.
The building exploded completely. Lightning leaked everywhere.
The items and debris fell over the city like raining destruction.
In mid-air, Yuki moved through the pieces of buildings, reaching Aika to attack.
Honokage shot massive lightning strikes, the atmosphere growing intense and charged.
Aika snapped her finger. Magical orbs appeared around Yuki and blasted in a chained explosion.
Yuki luckily blocked it in time, her eyes glowing with determination.
Aika struck at Honokage, landing on the ground with a massive explosion.
Dano watched from the distant mountain, smiling with satisfaction.
"Impressive, Aika…"
The army below reacted with roars of approval, ships firing supporting shots that shook the ground. Soldiers cheered as explosions lit up the sky, their loyalty to Dano clear in their aggressive movements.
Esta stood beside Dano, his head still lowered, voice quiet and filled with pain.
"This… this is wrong. These people have done nothing to deserve this."
Dano laughed softly.
"Wrong? This is the past repeating itself. Ares will feel what I felt when his clan stole from me."
Diablo remained silent, his eyes fixed on Honokage and Yuki. His mind was a storm of guilt.
*You look too familiar… You also suffered in the past, didn't you? Just like me… forced into a role you never wanted…*
He felt sick.
The same broken feeling from his time as Argon's slave returned in full force — the guilt, the self-loathing, the knowledge that he was once again a tool in someone else's cruel game.
*Not again… I can't hurt them… They are just like the people I was forced to destroy before…*
He stayed motionless, unable to bring himself to attack.
Aika and Quan pressed the assault.
Aika's voice carried regret as she faced Yuki and Honokage.
"I'm sorry… but orders are orders. I have to do this for my lord."
Honokage growled, protective fury in his eyes.
"You don't have to do anything. Walk away while you still can."
Yuki stood beside him, voice steady but emotional.
"We don't want to fight you… but if you hurt my home, my family… we won't hold back."
The battle raged on, buildings crumbling, lightning flashing, the city becoming a battlefield of light and shadow.
The armies cheered from their ships, firing supporting blasts that shook the ground.
Dano watched with satisfaction.
Diablo remained frozen, his past weighing him down like chains he could never escape.
Esta whispered to himself, voice filled with quiet despair.
"Forgive me, Astria… I never wanted this…"
The war for Earth had truly begun.
And in the middle of it all, broken souls from the past stood on opposite sides, forced to face a future they never chose.