The boisterous wave of visitors eventually began to recede, leaving the sterile quiet of the hospital wing behind. One by one, the members of the 10th Division, the 5th Division, and the 9th scouts filed out into the corridor, bidding their hurried or teasing farewells until the room finally emptied of its chaotic energy.
Outside the sliding hospital doors, NYX stood leaning against the cool metal partition.
She crossed her arms tightly over her chest, her sharp eyes fixed on the floorboards as she listened to the conversation inside the hospital room.
Inside, only Lyra remained.
The soft, dim lights of the ward cast gentle shadows across the floor. Elias was resting back against his propped pillows, his breathing slow and steady.
Lyra pulled her chair a fraction closer to the bedside, resting her hands neatly in her lap as she looked at him with an expression that mixed lingering worry with deep relief.
"You know, for someone who spent two months flat on his back with a burned-out core, you sure know how to draw a crowd," Lyra said softly, offering a faint, reassuring smile to break the lingering tension.
Elias let out a low chuckle, though it quickly faded into a tired sigh.
He rubbed the back of his neck, his eyes drifting toward the window .
"Yeah... it's a miracle anyone even wants to be around me after what happened on the Moving Planet," Elias murmured, his voice heavy with self-reproach. "I lost control, Lyra. I let the darkness consume me entirely. If Zane hadn't stopped me—if he hadn't taken that blow and still somehow found it in his heart to forgive me—I don't know what kind of monster I would have become."
Lyra leaned forward, her gaze intensifying with unwavering sincerity. She reached out, gently resting her hand over his trembling fingers on the edge of the mattress.
Her touch was warm, grounding Elias instantly and forcing him to look up into her eyes.
"Elias, stop that," Lyra said firmly, leaving no room for argument. " You lost everything to Malkor. You fought a war across an collapsing planet against a monster who destroyed your life. You aren't a monster for surviving it; you're human. The fact that you feel guilt right now—the fact that you care about what you almost did to Zane—proves that the darkness didn't win. You're still you."
Elias stared at her, the tightness in his chest easing just a fraction under the weight of her words.
He turned his hand over, loosely returning her grip. "Thanks, Lyra. I don't know how you always know exactly what to say when I'm spiraling."
"It's a gift," Lyra smiled softly, a gentle flush dusting her cheeks as she squeezed his hand once before pulling back to give him space. "Now, doctor's orders are rest, which means you need to rest, no training or no fighting ".
Elias laughed quietly, a genuine warmth finally settling in his chest. "Promise, I'll rest."
Meanwhile: Xenocides Headquarters
Dock Von stood before the central console, leaning heavily against the tactical map table.
Standing beside him was Zane, his arms crossed, as he narrowed he's eyes.
"You know, Zane, we had to postpone the election for the prime minister due to the war's fallout, but we still haven't found out who assassinated the Flare family or why. There's a lot of mystery we have no answer to, it's really frausting." Dock von said,as he rubbed he's temple
"Yeah, I agree. Looks like we have to launch a massive, investigation. There's a lot we don't know, and whoever orchestrated the Flare family massacre is using this post-war chaos as cover to make their next move." Zane said as he narrowed he's eyes.
Knock, knock.
The crisp, rhythmic rap at the heavy doors interrupted their discussion before Dock Von could reply.
Without waiting door slid open with a soft hiss.
Stepping inside was Princexx, the crown princess of the alien species inhabiting the world of Antra. She was breathtakingly ethereal, with smooth, glowing green skin and a pair of delicate, translucent antennae resting gracefully at the top her head.
"Oh, Zane," Princexx said, her melodic voice echoing through the silent room as her bright eyes locked onto him. A warm, genuine smile spread across her face. "I've been looking for you everywhere. I really want to thank you. You saved my planet, my people, and my entire world from Malkor's devastation. I am eternally grateful."
Zane uncrossed his arms, offering a polite, respectful nod. His expression remained cold. "Princexx... there's no need to thank me. I just did what had to be done and kept my promise That's all."
"Yeah, but still... words aren't enough to express what you did for Antra," Princexx insisted, stepping closer, her antennae curving forward in a gesture of deep respect.
Dock Von cleared his throat loudly, breaking the atmospheric tension as he crossed his arms and looked down at the visiting royalty with a slight, knowing smirk.
"Well, Your Highness," Dock Von rumbled, his tone teasing yet polite. "Now that the dust has settled are you planning to return home to rule your restored planet, or do you still intend to hang around ?"
Princexx didn't hesitate. She stepped forward, squaring her shoulders, her green eyes flashing with fierce, unyielding determination.
"Return home? Not yet," Princexx replied firmly. "I have to make sure the Zethrians are defeated once and for all, They threatened my people, and they threaten this entire universe. So... I'm staying. I'm going to help the Xenocides however I can."
Dock Von raised an eyebrow, a slow, approving grin breaking across his scarred face. He looked over at Zane, then back to the princess. "I see. Well, I'm more than glad to hear that, Your Highness. After all, we are going to need all the help we can get."
Meanwhile: The Star Eyes Clan
Deep within the secluded, highly restricted territory of the Star Eyes Clan, the night air was biting, silent, and dripping with an oppressive, suffocating tension.
Renji moved like a ghost through the shadowy, labyrinthine corridors of the estate. Every nerve in his body was pulled taut, his senses dialed up to absolute maximum. The heavy key his father had left behind rested heavily in his palm, biting into his skin as a constant reminder of the nightmare unfolding around him.
He had Finally, he reached the destination.
Standing before him was a massive, sealed iron door embedded directly into the solid rock face of the subterranean vault. There were no keyholes visible on the surface, no mechanical dials, and no digital scanners—only a single, ancient, recessed slot carved into the center of the heavy metal frame, shaped precisely to match the antique key he held.
Renji paused for a fraction of a second. His breath came out in slow, controlled white puffs in the cold underground air. He thought of his parents—disappeared overnight without a trace. He thought of his treacherous uncle, currently sitting in the seat of power, wearing a mask of false legitimacy while hunting for anyone loyal to the true lineage. And he thought of the assassins on the Moving Planet who had tried to silence him in the chaos of war.
If I turn back now, I lose everything, Renji thought, his jaw tightening into a hard line of absolute resolve. Whatever secrets my family protected... I'm going to unlock it".
Stepping forward, Renji raised his hand.
He slid the heavy, ornate key directly into the recessed slot.
With a deep, metallic click that echoed ominously down the empty stone hallway, the ancient lock disengaged. The heavy iron door shuddered, grinding against the stone floor as it slowly swung open, revealing the pitch-blac
k abyss of the family secrets lying hidden within.