Battle Of Planets

Chapter 70: How far are you willing to go?
Tyson’s heart raced as he spotted Nancy standing by the street; she was waiting for him. The moment he saw her message asking to meet at Times Square, he ran straight there without a second thought from the center of the Rogue.He had not seen her since coming back from training, and he missed her immensely. Without thinking, he embraced her tightly. ”I missed you,”

Nancy smiled, though she hesitated, ”Y-Yeah... me too.”

Tyson frowned, immediately sensing that something was wrong. ”What’s the matter? You look gloomy.”

She paused, then shook her head. ”Nothing...”

His chest tightened. He had so much he wanted to say and needed to discuss with her. But something inside him held him back, drawing him toward her in a way he couldn’t quite explain at that moment, like a jolt, as last night’s intrusive thought returned.

The kiss. With Lara.

Even if it had been a mistake, the guilt chomped at him. He wanted to tell Nancy and be honest. But seeing her silent and troubled made it harder for him, as if speaking up would make things worse.

”It’s a nice day today, isn’t it?” Tyson exclaimed, eager to break the silence.

”Hmm.” Nancy barely replied, her gaze focused on the ground as they walked.

”Where should we go?” he asked. There was no reply from her.

Tyson hesitated. Something was off. She never behaved this way—especially not with him. She was completely ignoring his words.

”Nancy,” he called out. She kept walking. ”NANCY!”

She finally turned, startled. ”Huh? Sorry... did you say something?”

Tyson exhaled sharply and stepped closer. ”What’s going on? Talk to me—I’m here for you.” He gently touched her cheek. ”I’ll always be here for you.”

Nancy flinched—just slightly—but enough for him to notice.

”N-Nothing,” she said, managing a weak smile. ”It’s nothing.”

Tyson’s heart clenched. He knew she was lying. But before he could stop himself, the words escaped his lips. ”I’m sorry... A girl kissed me.”

Nancy came to a sudden halt.

She turned to him slowly, and in her eyes, he saw it—conflict, worry, pain.

He took a deep breath, urging himself to go on. ”It was a mistake. I just... I had to tell you. Please, forgive me. I promise—I didn’t know she was going to kiss me.”

Nancy’s expression remained unchanged. ”I think we should break up.”

Tyson’s breath caught in his throat as he heard her words.

”W-What?” His voice cracked as a sharp pain tore through his chest, like lightning striking directly into his heart. ”Nancy... you can’t just say that because of—”

His words hesitated.

She didn’t appear angry. She didn’t even seem hurt. She just stood there—calm, detached. As if she didn’t care at all.

Tyson reached for her, desperate to hold on, to anchor himself in the warmth that had always been his, but she stepped back, moving away from him.

His fingers hovered tremulously in the empty space between them.

”I told you I’m sorry,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. ”You can’t just break up with me over this.”

Nancy was silent for a long moment. For the first time since they met, Tyson felt as if he were drowning. She had always been his anchor—who made him feel secure, keeping him steady even in the harshest storms.

But now? That anchor was slipping away, and with it, someone was tearing his heart apart.

”I was planning to tell you,” Nancy said, lowering her head. Her voice was quiet, almost hesitant. ”I... I love someone else.”

Tyson’s heart stopped.

”What?” he exclaimed, his voice loud enough to attract the attention of passersby. A few glanced over, sensing the tension between the young couple.

Tyson shook his head in disbelief. It came out of nowhere; she can’t say that... ”No—how is that possible? You said you loved me!”

”I know what I said,” she interrupted, her tone cutting. ”And now I’m saying it again... Tyson. I don’t love you anymore. There’s someone else in my life.”

Tyson’s hands shook as he grasped her arms, pulled her in, and searched her eyes—desperate for something, anything, that would reveal whether she was lying.

”You’re lying,” he whispered. ”Your eyes... they’re saying something different.”

”Don’t be ridiculous, Tyson,” she snapped, pushing him away. ”Don’t touch me thoughtlessly. I told you—we’re done. Quit being so dramatic,”

Tyson felt something snap within him. How could she say that? What does she mean by dramatic? His love isn’t drama.

”Seriously, Nancy?” His voice wavered as emotions swirled uncontrollably inside him. Even his Meta-bot surged to life in his chest, reacting to the turmoil. ”You think everything we had was just—” He gulped hard, his throat tight. His voice rose, breaking as he pleaded, ”Tell me it’s a lie. Tell me it’s a fucking lie, Nancy. I swear—”

”What if it isn’t?” she shouted back. ”I love him! I always have—before I even got here. And now, I’m returning to him. That’s final.”

Tyson stumbled backward as though she had hurt him badly.

”No... you don’t,” he murmured. ”You—You confessed to my father that you loved me.”

His mind raced, trying to understand her words. Was she toying with him? Manipulating his emotions? What was the reason behind her statements?

”Give me his name,” he insisted. ”Show me you’re telling the truth.”

”I have nothing to prove to you.” Nancy stepped back, her face colder than he had ever witnessed. ”However, if it will make you go, then... His name is Ryuk.”

Tyson felt the ground beneath him give way.

”He’s much more capable than you,” Nancy continued, ”He always has been. The only thing he was missing was my father’s Meta-bot.”

Tyson hardly heard her.

His chest felt tight—something was wrong. A faint white glow flickered over his Meta-bot core, pulsing erratically and reacting to the chaos within him.

Nancy watched the light come alive—something that had always stayed dormant.

Tyson stood frozen, feeling his strength slip away with every word she spoke, with every gaze she cast upon him. This wasn’t the Nancy he had known. The Nancy he had loved... This was someone entirely different.

”That’s what I wanted to tell you,” Nancy whispered. ”We should stop here... before things go too far.”

Tyson stood still, his head hanging low, unable to meet her icy gaze.

A storm raged within him—anger, heartbreak, betrayal—all surging like a tidal wave. But instead of lashing out, he glanced at her.

A piercing glare was enough to make her flinch, as if his eyes alone could wound her. Yet she stood still, her expression calm.

This didn’t hurt her at all. Tyson exhaled sharply, and then, to her surprise, he smiled.

”Good,” he said, ”Good that you told me, Nancy. Before things went too far...before I—never mind. Good luck with everything you...”

He paused, as if struggling to find the right words. ”It was my mistake. I broke my vow never to get attached to people. I started to change; I became too attached.”

He wiped his nose and shoved his hands into his pockets before turning away. He didn’t look back; he just forced himself to take steps forward, as if each one was carrying him further from her and everything he had felt for her.

Nancy watched him disappear as her body trembled. She sank to the ground, her knees hitting the pavement hard. The moment he vanished into the crowd, the wall she had built around herself crumbled.

Nancy’s eyes were full of tears, spilling down her cheeks as she covered her mouth with her hands. People passed by—some stopped, and some shook their heads as if understanding that love had a way of breaking people apart.

”I-I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice choking as she spoke, her gaze fixed on the last time she had seen him. But Tyson was gone, along with the piece of her that always felt complete. ”It was the only way to save you...”

She remained seated for a moment before rising, wiping her tears as her gaze lingered on the place where she last saw him vanish. ”Please stay safe and... if you can, forgive me, my love.”

---

Edward sat on the hallway sofa, hands clasped as he waited. Suddenly, the front doors flew open. Tyson stormed in, his face flush with anger and steps weighed down by heartbreak. He paused for a moment, locking eyes with his mentor. Yet, instead of saying anything, he clenched his jaw and marched directly to his room, slamming the door shut behind him.

Edward let out a sigh and shook his head. ”Nancy, it appears you’ve made your decision,”

He anticipated this outcome.

Following his talk with Albert, Edward reached out to Nancy for a private discussion. He detailed every potential outcome: what would transpire if she remained with Tyson, what lay ahead if she returned to her city, and the severe repercussions of either choice.

She listened.

Ultimately, she had made a decision that few could make. Edward looked toward the entrance, lost in thought.

She loved Tyson deeply, which was why she chose to sacrifice herself to protect him and shield him from the monsters who would gladly plunge humanity into ruin for their gain.

A subtle, bittersweet smile appeared on Edward’s face as he reclined, gazing at the stairs where Tyson had just vanished. ”My sons are fortunate to have such loving women in their lives,”

He was curious about her choice: herself or Tyson. Ultimately, she chose to protect him.

”Now it’s your turn, Tyson... to demonstrate how much you’re willing to go for your love.”