Hex's eyes widened in disbelief as the figure with the glowing azure halo slowly crawled out of the debris. Smoke lingered heavily in the air, curling around the collapsed pillars and shattered stones, making it hard to see clearly.
Then—
Wheeeeezzzz!
A shrill, mechanical whine erupted from the hospital's shattered entrance. Dozens of drones surged inside, glowing with bluish light. Their sensors flickered red as they locked onto the mysterious figure.
Hex felt a moment of relief. He had witnessed these drones in action before—they were powerful enough to neutralize even One-Star mutants with ease.
He whispered under his breath, "Good... they might be able to stop it."
The drones formed a perimeter, circling the being tightly. With a synchronized click, they began firing,a barrage of glowing energy beams burst forth, weaving a net of destruction around the figure.
"Mira, grab your ears!" Hex shouted, his voice sharp. He ducked low, wrapping both arms around the girl and pressing her head against his chest as he covered her ears with his hands. He braced himself for the thunderous sound that was supposed to follow.
But—
"..."
Nothing is happening.
There was no explosion.There were cries of victory.
"Huh?" Hex blinked, stunned.
He looked up only to be met by the horrified expressions of the crowd nearby.Their faces were pale, eyes wide, jaws slack.
"How is this possible?"
"Is it still standing?"
"No way... even drones can't stop it?"
"What the hell is that thing?!"
Panic rolled through the crowd like a tidal wave. Screams and questions erupted, overlapping until they were silenced by a single hoarse voice that cracked through the confusion:
"...It's a Chaosborn."
Hex's breath caught. A chill ran down his spine. His legs trembled slightly as he stood, lifting his gaze toward the source of the devastation.
From behind the dispersing smoke, he finally caught a clear glimpse—energy surged toward the figure, spiraling and condensing in a storm of power.
Then..
BOOOOOOM!
An enormous energy blast exploded outward.
The drones immediately deployed shields, forming a shimmering wall of defense, but the moment the blast struck—
KA-KRAAAAASH!
A shockwave tore through the place. Walls cracked. Lights flickered. The ground itself trembled.
Mira screamed, "Brother!" in sheer panic.
Without hesitation, Hex grabbed her tightly and dove to the ground. He threw himself over her small body just as a blinding light flooded the room.
Another violent explosion followed.
BBOOOOOMMM!
The table beside them shattered at one end, but thankfully, its core held strong—shielding them from the worst of the debris. The force of the blast slammed against their cover, shaking it violently, but it didn't break.
The shockwave rolled past, leaving groaning echoes in its wake.
Hex lifted his head slowly. Dust danced in the air like drifting ash. His heart pounded.
"Mira, are you alright?"
She nodded firmly, though her face was pale and her lips trembled. Her little hands clutched his sleeves tightly. Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall.
"...You're really strong," Hex whispered, gently brushing her hair back from her face to calm her. Her body was trembling slightly, but she bit her lower lip and held it in—refusing to cry.
Around them, people were slowly rising from the floor. Some coughed harshly, others whimpered in fear. A few scrambled away in panic, trampling over scattered belongings as they rushed toward the exits. Mothers clutched their children, guards yelled for people to stay calm, but the chaos only grew.
Then Hex's gaze turned forward—and his eyes shook.
All the drones were down.
Their metallic bodies sparked and hissed, twitching weakly. Shields were broken. Their once sharp sensors now flickered dimly, flickering erratically before dying. They had bought time—but paid the price.
And at the center of it all,the figure stood still.
Smoke still curled around it, but as it faded, its form became clear. A skeletal frame, bare muscle clinging to bone. Its flesh pulsed faintly with red mist. Energy crackled from its limbs, and a low, otherworldly hum filled the silence.
"Chaosborn..." Hex whispered.
With effort, he gritted his teeth and reached behind his back, pulling out two compact blades. His arms trembled slightly as he reeled through the blasts.
He had read about them.These were creatures born of void energy, immune to energy attacks.They absorbed any form of energy blast shot at them And then, they released it back.
The Chaosborn turned its head slowly, its hollow gaze sweeping across the room. Smoke curled around its body as it scanned the destruction, its steps slow but deliberate.
Just then, a figure leaped from above. A shadow descended with a roar, slamming down a large piece of rock directly onto the Chaosborn's head.
BOOOM!
But the moment the rock made contact, a burst of energy erupted from Chaosborn's body. A shockwave rippled outward, blasting the rock along with the man.
CRASH!
He hit the ground hard, rolling across broken ground filled with debris.
Hex's eyes widened in shock as he looked at the familiar figure,'"Uncle Rondal?!"