✧ Chapter 66 ✧

Styra began to feel uncomfortable with the twisted truth that started to boggle her mind.

Why would the scientists transform her into something that she thought was her real identity for billions upon billions of years? It was starting to mentally break her from the inside. Her entire livelihood felt violated already by Prism, but this?

This was crossing the line.

A seething shift of anger started to emerge from within her. A hatred so unbearable that she started to feel like killing every UVOCA employee (in her head) that became an irredeemable symbol of corrupt experimentation.

With swift action, she jumped and swung a devastating punch at the planetarium’s dome projector. Machine parts crashed across the floor, making a destructive mess that sent massive chunks of debris flying across towards the back of the room where all of the seats were.

“I want to destroy this place…” she muttered with immense rage.

The heavy heartbeats pounded against her body as she could feel the pain resurfacing into her soul. Tears sprinkled down out of an uncomfortable feeling of helplessness.

That was until two gentle hands guided her up by both shoulders.

“Styra… Before we destroy a place like this, we need to explore it more. Believe me, after so many years spent hiding around in this laboratory, it isn’t worth crushing just yet. We can use this place against the remaining agents that are still alive,” suggested Cherry.

Looking around the place once again, Styra settled down and stared up at her friend who was caressing her hands with care.

“You’re right, Cherry. All we need to do first is as Eternika said. We destroy the scroll, we stop Prism’s plans while we still have the chance. I’m sorry for the outburst everyone. I’m not usually like this,” she apologized.

“Don’t be. You have every right to be mad at them. We all are,” said Flight.

Hisa nodded in agreement, helping to sustain the fact that they could understand where she was coming from.

“So, are we going to get a headstart now? Would be a waste of a planned team effort if we didn’t,” she reminded Styra in a helpful manner.

“Yep. We’ve done enough standing around… Let’s spark it up a notch.”

The team gathered together, getting ready to leave and visit the Ghastly Mountains. However, during this time, Miri, Aoki, and Hiroto came up to Styra and Cherry.

“Hey, thanks for bringing us back alive. Maybe one day we’ll see you again when things clear up?” asked Hiroto.

“I hope so. You are a really fun group to be around, but I'd love to get to know you all more,” said Styra.

Aoki smiled alongside Miri who was more cheerful and exuberant than before.

“Say Styra, I’m still curious about something. Are you still unsure if you all could become superheroes? Like for Animearth. We could use a symbol of hope, and I mean, you saved our lives and so did your friends…” asked Miri.

Thinking on this, Styra was not entirely sold on heroism for the sake of bloating herself. She wasn’t sure what her friends would think either. Deep down within her though, she knew that the right answer was best decided by those that cared about her and everyone else.

“I think we are fine being who we are. We have each other’s backs in helping others no matter what form that takes. That’s the special thing about hope. It doesn’t always have to come from a small team. It can come from anyone,” replied Cherry.

Voltaze glanced back after hearing what was said, only to be met with The Judgment Warriors saying their goodbyes and teleporting Miri, Aoki, and Hiroto back to Animearth.

Now all they had to do was prepare for travelling to their next destination.

∗ ∗ ∗

Back in Wisteliah, Chelbie, Kade, Compass, and Eternika (as a replica) were hanging out around the StormStrike Zero.

Chelbie and Compass specifically were spending time creating vehicles and Kade’s robotic arm. The vehicles themselves were remade from the saved information she had on her fingerless gloves. Each one revealed a hologram regarding each design to help construct them.

Kade, on the other hand, was alone near a wisteria tree while practicing his combat techniques with only one arm.

Eternika, who had recently learned of where Styra and her friends would be heading, signaled the rest of the group on Wisteliah concerning the whereabouts of their split team.

“Everyone, your undivided attention is needed for this important announcement that has arisen. Styra, Cherry, and I have surprisingly gotten Voltaze to release Flight, Hisa, and three other students from Dream Academy High that were previously dead at first. Our team and Voltaze are now heading towards the Ghastly Mountains on the planet Deveurx to destroy The Scroll Of Scarlet Spades.”

Compass immediately stood up out of concern for what it was hearing.

“That scroll which contains The Eternal Light Of Hierarchy? I know it, and I heard it through both Flight and Hisa’s ears. You intend on destroying it with fractal energy. Do not do that.“

Eternika became confused hearing Compass reject the idea of decimating the scroll out of nowhere.

“Strange… What is it about fractal energy that dissuades you from the idea of using it? It can break down space-time, yes. If I remember this correctly however, fractures can be reversed with the Eternal Lights Of Time and Space.”

“Weapon, there is a danger to be had when anyone uses fractal energy. That very same power is one that only Prism was said to possess. In attempting to contain chaos and hide it from creation, it simply failed. To destroy it, is to shatter the Omniverse itself. You are better off capturing the scroll and having Styra protect it instead.”

While the blades were piecing together how the journey previously sought after would have led the robot to this conclusion, Kade also wondered how Styra would even be capable of protecting the scroll so that no one could unleash the evil written inside of it.

“Compass, why is it that Styra is the option you choose when it comes to such an ancient artifact? She has not yet mastered The Star Sense.”

Walking towards the very same wisteria tree that Kade had been practicing nearby, Compass gently touched it as a way to emphasize its significance to what it would explain.

“Like a seed that grows into a strong tree with many beautiful flowers, her abilities will bloom greatly if she remembers to care for it as she always has done. I felt what she was capable of when she placed the shard that contained a part of me back into its domain. What is in the scroll is not evil as a guardian may once have thought it was whilst mentioning it in passing. It is capable of greatness. Prism’s disruptive ruling is what has created that evil.”

Everyone stood there, opening their eyes to what sounded like a virtuous spirit of sorts.

“Damn, is it me or does anyone else get the feeling that we should be headin’ over to help Styra and them out? Just food for thought, but, yeah…” asked Chelbie.

“Now is certainly that time. You and I will remain here to keep an eye on the STS-0 for awhile. Eternika must alert Flight and Hisa that I will be sending them back to Wisteliah immediately so that they can use this spacecraft. They will return to aid you with the new upgrades this ship is set to offer.”

“Sounds like a plan my guy,” said Chelbie as she elbowed the machine.

“I assume you expect me to also tell Styra about the new plan in regards to capturing the scroll. How is she to care for it using her newfound abilities?” questioned the weapon.

Compass sat on the grassy field before telling Eternika what it needed to do.

“Like a petal blowing in the wind, you must remind her to tread carefully. She may wear the burden of a grueling past on her shoulders, but that symbol which once belonged to a hateful force can be made anew into a loving one.”

Deciphering the machine’s wisdom, the blades began to see what it was talking about.

“Are you saying Styra could potentially replace what The Lucid Light is?”

Turning over to face Eternika, Compass then looked up at the stars while Chelbie finally fixed Kade’s new arm into him during the conversation.

“A lot more than that, but you will see it come to past if you can truly feel what she does.”

Holding onto what the bot was saying, Eternika accepted its words as it was before teleporting Kade to their newly assigned location.

Upon doing this, Kade put on the Solar Ninja mask and slipped his katana into a designated sword holster that was attached to his back.

He had found himself on a large mountain which had floating rocks and foggy clouds. The air had a stench of blood and different spicy herbs circulating. Observing the ground level also revealed a fairly large town with multiple types of temples and houses (which were structured similarly to traditional Japanese architecture unbeknownst to him).

The only way to get there was to descend below towards the ground and avoid getting caught. Luckily, Eternika had already made him invisible, but he wasn’t going to take his chances of reaching there for granted. His best route of travel would be to leap from tree to tree without rustling any branches.

However, before he could even consider sliding down the mountain itself, Kade noticed a huge watchtower.

That must be where the scroll is located, he thought to himself.

If the plan was to capture the scroll, he was best suited for this kind of job. His only consideration that applied was if someone were to reach the scroll before he did.

Chelbie had told him that his new arm would be used as a communication tool just as she would later distribute new earpieces to the rest of the Judgment Warriors.

It was for emergency purposes to a certain degree, but he had to use it sparingly even in that aspect.

Something about the whispering voices that could be faintly heard in the atmosphere though made Kade suspect that it wasn’t a good idea to speak until they were inaudible to him entirely.

This place was certainly hiding more secrets than a dangerous scroll, that was for certain.