Max tapped his watch-like device and a holographic screen flickered to life. He scanned the air.
"Oxygen levels are almost identical to Earth's."
Kael stretched, shaking his shoulders out.
"Good. I was getting sick of my own breath."
Ash exhaled, his gaze drifting back to the mist. Let's just hope we're not breathing in something worse.
A voice cut through the air, slow and mocking.
"Well, well. Look who made it past the first test. Congrats."
Ash tensed.
'Test? Who is this guy?'
Jov stood at the edge of an Apex fleet ship, his hands loose at his sides. Rows of heavily armored troopers flanked him, their presence like a wall of silent menace. The engines of the fleet rumbled as they descended, sending a tremor through the ground beneath their feet. Jov's grin stretched wide, sharp eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and something darker.
"You know the big brains back at Apex have been real curious about this rock. Word is, it might straight-up kill someone on contact—too much energy packed inside."
His grin grew wider.
"But thanks to you guys, we know that's not entirely true. Guess you saved us some trouble."
Max's fingers moved quickly over his scanner, the readouts flashing in quick succession. His eyes narrowed.
"No wonder the readings are off the charts… This thing isn't like anything we've seen before."
Kael exhaled slowly, rolling his neck as he stepped forward.
"So, are we done talking, or do I have to sit through more of your crap before I knock that grin off your face?"
Jov cracked his knuckles, his muscles tensing as he prepared for something more.
"Heh. You're funny. Too bad you won't be laughing for long."
The Apex troopers shifted, boots crunching over the uneven ground. Rifles clicked into position, the sound heavy in the air. A silent command—like the calm before a storm.
Jov moved closer, arms folding across his chest. His smirk didn't waver, but his eyes were focused, sharp—like a predator eyeing its prey.
"Well, well… you're not the original vortex team."
His gaze flicked over them, something behind his grin tightening.
"Where's Flame?"
Kael tilted his head, his lips curling into a cocky grin.
"You're looking at him."
Jov blinked once, then burst out laughing.
"Hah! You kinda look like him…"
His grin stretched wider, something clicking behind his eyes.
"Oh, I get it now. You're his kids, aren't you?"
Max didn't flinch. His fingers slid across his holographic screen, reading the fluctuating data.
"So… what's Apex really after?"
His voice was steady, almost detached, but his gaze never left the screen.
Jov scoffed, his voice low and dismissive.
"Like hell a dead man needs answers."
A sharp crack echoed through the tense air as Kael stepped forward, his gaze locking onto Jov. His voice was low, cold.
"Then you better make sure we're dead before you start running your mouth."
Jov's fingers twitched, his eyes glinting with anticipation.
"Hah… I was hoping you'd say that."
With a swift flick of his wrist, fire erupted over his palm, twisting and writhing like a living thing.
Kael froze, his breath catching in his chest.
"What…?"
Max instinctively took a step back, his grip tightening on his device.
"That's not possible."
Ash's expression darkened, his mind racing.
'What the hell? How is he using the fire Veinflow?'
Then he said.
"I thought all fire users apart from Dad were dead."
Jov's laugh was light, but the flame in his hand flickered, dancing with every movement.
"Yeah… I always wanted to meet your father. Bet he'd be real interested in what I can do."
Kael's shock melted away, replaced by something sharper. His own flames surged to life, roaring to meet Jov's as if answering the challenge. His hands clenched into fists, a surge of energy tightening his jaw.
"You want him? Then you're going through me first."
Jov's grin deepened, eyes gleaming with dark amusement.
"I planned to."
Jov's arm shot up, a fireball crackling to life in his palm. Without hesitation, he hurled it straight at Kael.
Kael reacted on pure instinct. Flames surged to life in his hands, forming a scorching orb that shot forward. The two attacks collided mid-air, bursting in an explosion of heat and light. A shockwave rippled across the battlefield, sparks raining down as the ground trembled. Dust and ash swirled, blocking out the light for a moment.
The others shielded their faces as the air hummed with sizzling heat. When the dust cleared, Jov stood unfazed, his shoulders rolling in a casual stretch as flames danced across his fingertips.
"Not bad, kid. But let's see how you handle this."
He spread his arms wide, summoning a surge of fire that twisted into a roaring wave. The air shimmered from the sheer heat as the flames surged forward.
Kael stood still. His own fire erupted, swirling around his arms before he thrust them outward. A vortex of flames shot forward, clashing with Jov's attack. The ground quaked, heat waves distorting the earth between them. Neither side backed down.
Jov smirked, stepping closer, the flames around him intensifying.
"Come on. That all you got?"
Kael's eyes narrowed. His fire flared brighter, turning a fierce gold, cutting through the wave like a blade. Jov staggered back, shaking out his arm. Then came the laugh. Low, amused.
"Heh… You're stronger than I expected."
Kael exhaled, his flames flickering.
"Yeah? Then maybe you should stop holding back."
Jov's smirk twisted into something darker.
"Oh? So you noticed."
Kael rolled his shoulders.
"Yeah… because I was holding back too."
Then he moved.
Fire ignited beneath his feet, blasting him forward in a blur. He closed the distance with a powerful leap, his fist wreathed in flames. Jov's forearm shot up just in time, blocking the blow. Fire roared between them, the impact cracking the ground beneath their feet.
Kael twisted, bringing his other fist up. Jov ducked, flames grazing past his face as he retaliated with a spinning kick. Kael leaned back, heat skimming his cheek. He countered instantly, driving a fiery elbow into Jov's ribs.
Jov caught his arm, twisting it sharply.
"Not bad."
Flames coiled around his free hand, pulling Kael in. A knee rose toward Kael's ribs.
Kael's feet ignited, blasting fire downward. The force sent him flipping over Jov's head. The moment he landed, he stomped hard, sending a fiery shockwave rippling across the ground.
Jov leapt back, boots sliding against the scorched earth. But Kael was already there. His fists blurred—strike after strike, each one laced with searing heat.
Jov blocked, dodged, countered, but Kael's speed never slowed. Then—an opening.
A flaming punch slipped through Jov's guard, smashing into his chest. The force sent him flying backward, crashing into a jagged rock formation. The stone shattered under the impact, embers swirling through the air.
Silence.
Then, laughter.
Jov pushed himself up from the rubble, brushing soot from his armor. His grin remained sharp.
"Heh… Now this is getting fun. Let me show you a taste of what Apex has been working on."
With a swift slam of his stone-embedded arm, the ground groaned.
Jagged rocks shot up beneath Kael, twisting around his limbs like living chains.
Kael struggled, his fire flaring at his fingertips, but the stone held tight.
His eyes widened.
"What—?"