Battle Of Planets

Chapter 116: let’s go
Albert tensed further. He could see it now—Max was cracking.The strain was beginning to show. With his own son summoned into the tournament and his closest allies gone, Max was unraveling under the pressure. Provoking him would only fan the flames of that instability. But Albert also knew Max well enough—mad or not, he still clung to his moral compass, till his death. That was how their leader was, even in the battle room.

”We’re both out of the tournament, Albert,” Max said, his voice cool but trembling with intensity. ”I don’t care who ends up on top between us. But tread carefully... I’m watching you.”

Albert’s lip curled into a half-smile. ”You can’t protect them forever, Max. Let’s say—just for a moment—that Victor was right. You know what that means... for Julian and Edward.”

Max froze. The Second Summon.

Victor’s warnings echoed in his mind. No second summon had ever returned alive—at least, not according to the data. But Victor wasn’t a Seer. Just a researcher. Still... the odds haunted him.

”You want us to fight?” Albert continued. ”To kill each other and leave this world to a bunch of half-trained kids? If we fall, Max, if Edward and Julian don’t come back... this world is finished.”

Max clenched his fists. His voice cracked. ”T-They’re still alive. And they will come back alive.”

”I hope you’re right,” Albert said softly, almost mockingly. ”I truly do. Let’s just... wait and see. Let’s hope he returns.”

The screen blinked out.

”Father! Why wait?” Justin had pushed himself out of his chair in anger, only to fall onto the floor. He slammed a fist down. ”I want her! I want to crush her! I want to humiliate her!”

Albert walked over slowly and crouched beside his son, placing a firm hand on his head.

”My dear boy,” he said coldly, ”a man with nothing to lose is the most dangerous kind. And right now... that man is Max.”

He helped Justin back into his chair, his tone low and assured. ”But not forever. We’ll shatter his mind... then we’ll take her from Elria. You and I—”

He smiled darkly. ”—we’ll rule this world together.”

---

Utopia,

”I want you stationed in Elria,” Max said, his tone firm as he addressed the two generals before him.

One of them hesitated. ”But sir... will that be all right? I mean... if we send generals to another city, won’t it look like we’re trying to intimidate them? It might be seen as—bullying.”

”They won’t see it that way,” Max assured calmly. ”I’ve already spoken with their President and their Captains. They’re short on leadership—no generals left to guard their walls. They need backup. I’m assigning you two as support.”

Both generals nodded solemnly.

”Remember,” Max added sharply, ”you are not to interfere in their internal matters. No involvement in their decisions, no orders to their troops. You’re there for one reason only—protection. You will act only if Elria is under direct threat. Is that clear?”

”Yes, sir,” one replied with a respectful salute before turning to leave.

The second general lingered for a moment, his eyes studying Max’s face.

”Max...” he said slowly, ”I know you’re worried. But things will work out, mate. He’s your son, after all. We trained him together”

Max allowed a faint smile to touch his lips as he turned back toward the window, gazing at the distant skyline.

”He will be fine,” he said, though more to himself than to the general. ”Take care, my friend. We’re in deep waters now.”

The general nodded, understanding more than Max had said aloud.

”Then if not in the tournament... I’ll do my best for those still trapped inside it.” max murmured. ”I will make sure their families are safe”

---

Elria

Seraphina stood by her office window, her gaze distant and heavy with sorrow. The afternoon light poured through the glass, painting shadows across the room. She wiped away a tear, reminding herself that she wasn’t just Alex’s wife —she was the President of Elria.

The door behind her creaked open.

”Ma’am, Utopia has agreed to send two of their most trusted generals,” Lucy reported as she stepped inside. ”Captain Sam has assured us he’ll handle their arrival personally.”

Seraphina turned slightly, her voice quiet but firm. ”I need to be there to receive them.”

Lucy hesitated. ”Are you sure? Captain Sam said he understands the circumstances and—”

”I will be there,” Seraphina interrupted softly, ”Now go. I need some quiet time. Cancel all my meetings for the day.”

Lucy gave a small nod and quietly exited, closing the door behind her.

Alone again, Seraphina sat at her desk and opened a message from Nancy.

”They’ll be fine. Don’t worry.” Nancy has said, ”Take care of yourself okay”

Seraphina smiled faintly. At least she had someone like Nancy—someone who could truly understand her pain and share in it. A sister not by blood, but by heart.

”you too” Seraphina typed. ”I wish i was there with you...”

Nancy’s Room

The room was dark in silence except for the soft flicker of her phone screen. Nancy sat curled up on her bed, the light casting on her pale tear-streaked face as she faintly smiled at a message.

She wiped her eyes quickly when a gentle knock came at the door.

”Sweetie, please... you haven’t eaten anything,” Mrs. Winters said softly from the hallway.

”M-Mom,” Nancy’s voice came out hoarse and weak. ”I’m not hungry... just leave me alone.”

There was a long pause. Then, instead of leaving, her mother slowly sat down by the door.

”You know,” she began, her voice thick. ”when your father vanished... I was devastated too. But I knew I wasn’t alone. You were with me. My child. My little cutiepie.”

She paused again, trying to hold herself together. Mrs. Winters could feel her daughter’s pain—it mirrored her own from long ago. Watching Nancy go through this was harder than anything she had ever faced. She was doing everything she could to keep her daughter hopeful... even if, deep down, she feared the worst.

She didn’t want to believe it—didn’t want Nancy to face what she had. But if he never came back... if this turned out to be another goodbye she wasn’t ready for... she has to make sure she moves on unlike her.

Still, what did it mean to ”move on”? Nancy loved him. And if he was out there, fighting for his life, bleeding, suffering—how could she let Nancy stay as it is... She need to strengthen herself too.

”Nancy,” her mother said gently, ”what if he saw you like this? What do you think he’d say, huh? He’d scold me... for letting his beloved go hungry.”

A soft chuckle came from behind the door, muffled.

”He’d say, ’What happened to my chubby girl?’” her mother teased with a watery smile.

”I—I’m not...” Nancy protested faintly from inside.

The door clicked open.

Mrs. Winters stood up, wiping her own tears and holding a plate. ”I’m not chubby. And if he dares say that, I’ll smack him,” Nancy added quickly.

”Yes, of course,” her mother said, laughing softly. ”I’ll help you smack him. But first...”

She offered the sandwich she had made. ”Have a bite. You need strength to fight him when he gets back. How dare he leave my daughter like this.”

Nancy smiled through her tears, taking a small bite.

”Good girl,” Mrs. Winters said, patting her head with affection. ”Your face is red from crying... don’t cry, okay? He’ll be back. I believe it, you must too”

Nancy hugged her mother, ”Will he?”

---

Tyson stepped out of the shower, and then he slid into his rubberized combat suit. The synthetic material clung to him tight highlighting each muscle and lines.

He took a breath, grabbed the triangular-shaped white meta-bot, and pressed it onto his chest. The bot clicked into place with a white light.

This was it. From here on, everything would change.

”Ready whitey?”

The blink came again,

He wouldn’t just be fighting for himself... not even just for Nancy. He was fighting for everyone—even if he didn’t quite believe in himself yet.

He ran his hand through his damp black hair and walked toward the door. As it slid open with a hiss, he came to an abrupt stop.

A tall, slender woman stood before him—early to mid-thirties, clad in a tight tank top and loose black pants. Her skin still glistened slightly from a recent shower, a few droplets of water trailing along her collarbone. Her short blond hair clung damply to her forehead.

”Sergeant Tyson, right?” she said, extending her hand confidently. ”Captain Elena. Forty-seven power points.”

Tyson blinked, momentarily caught off guard before awkwardly shaking her hand. ”Y-yeah... it’s nice to meet you, Captain.”

”I’ve been looking forward to meeting you,” she said, ”I’ll see you in the battle room.”

She turned, walking away with quiet grace. Just before disappearing down the hall, she glanced back over her shoulder and gave him a knowing smile.

As Tyson stood there, still a bit stunned, another presence made itself known.

Lara.

She stood nearby, gripping a water bottle so tightly it looked ready to burst. Her cheeks were flushed, and her glare could melt anyone.

She looked from Elena to Tyson, eyes narrowing. ”I hate you, Senior,” she snapped, then stormed off down the corridor.

Bee and Shaun stood nearby, watching the whole thing unfold. From inside one of the rooms, Ken peeked out, having caught the tail end of it all.

Tyson turned to the others, confused. ”What did I do?”

”Nothing, boss!” Bee called out, grinning. ”She just thought you’d need water after the shower. Even though... y’know... we all have water in our rooms.”

”...”

Shaun chuckled, shaking his head. ”Well, one thing’s for sure. I won’t die bored.”

Ken suddenly burst out of the room, acting as if nothing strange had happened at all. ”Guys! Let’s go kick some aliens!” he said, trying to sound excited—but everyone could tell it was forced.

Tyson looked at the team, ”Yeah... let’s go.”