Sealed Fate

Red alarm lights flashed against the walls of the data center, accompanied by the mechanical echoes of warning sirens. Holographic screens issued rapid warnings, announcing that the terminal had been locked due to unauthorized access. Nihilos watched as streams of data raced across the screen while his device continued decrypting the security barriers.

"I need more time! We can’t leave without fully extracting the data!" he snapped.

But time was working against them. The sound of footsteps outside grew louder, the heavy thuds of metal boots filling the air with an oppressive tension.

Riven, Luna, and Seraphis stood ready. "They’re here," Riven muttered through clenched teeth, the edges of his steel daggers flickering with purple energy waves. "Nihilos, how much longer?"

"One more minute. But this isn’t just any encryption—I’m accessing Orbis' deepest archives."

Luna stretched her shoulders and drew a metallic rod from her belt. The trembling energy in her hands caused the weapon to morph into a whip. "No more talking. When they come, they won’t hold back."

The door burst open. A heavy wave of pressure flooded the room, followed by the synchronized stomps of incoming troops. The Silver Guardians rushed in, their glowing blue eyes resembling scanning holographic displays. Five of them took precise positions and initiated their attack.

Haru instinctively clenched his fists, and the Zenith Rings pulsed as the ground beneath them rippled. For a split second, the soldiers' balance wavered, the floor shifting under their feet as though liquefied. Luna seized the moment, cracking her whip toward their legs, ensnaring two and yanking them to the ground. One Guardian braced himself with his left arm, but the whip’s energy pulsed through his armor, delivering a paralyzing shock that immobilized him.

Riven pulled back and gripped the massive hammer strapped to his back. Ancient symbols glowed across its metal surface, sending vibrations through the air. "You won’t be standing for long," he murmured before swinging it in a powerful arc, sending two more Guardians flying. One slammed against the wall, while the other flipped mid-air before crashing onto the floor.

Despite their superior armor, the Guardians struggled against the relentless attacks. However, reinforcements were already on their way.

Then, the entire room shifted.

A sudden, crushing weight filled the air, an invisible force pressing down on everyone. The ambient energy darkened, the lights dimmed, and an ominous hum resonated through the room. The Guardians momentarily froze, their augmented eyes flickering erratically as their systems faltered.

Azael stepped forward, and the ground trembled.

"This is what happens when you act without me," he stated, his voice cold and unwavering. His mere presence upended the entire battlefield.

One of the Guardians, panicked, raised his weapon and fired at Azael. The energy round left a glowing trail as it spiraled toward him, distorting the air like a bending ripple of light. But before it could reach him, Azael merely lifted his hand, and the bullet’s energy was absorbed into his palm. The firearm in the Guardian’s hands flickered and died, its power source extinguished in an instant. Before the soldier could react, Azael surged forward, striking him down with a single calculated movement.

"Haru, open an exit," Azael commanded, his tone firm and expectant.

Haru’s hands trembled as he focused. The Zenith Rings pulsed with violet light, the air thickening with energy. Taking a deep breath, he pressed his palms together and visualized an escape route.

A jagged crack formed along the wall, splitting open as a rush of wind howled through the newly created passage. Haru had successfully torn open a gateway!

Seraphis' voice crackled through the radio. "Move! Now!"

Luna, Riven, and Seraphis bolted through the exit, while Nihilos snatched up his device and followed close behind.

Haru struggled to maintain the gateway while simultaneously fending off the Guardians' attacks. His focus was entirely on keeping the portal stable, but he noticed incoming energy blasts aimed at him. In desperation, he lifted his hands. The Zenith Rings flared, generating a protective shield around him. The energy projectiles struck the barrier, dispersing into sparks, yet each impact sent jolts of pain through Haru’s body.

Azael noticed Haru struggling. His expression hardened, and the dark aura surrounding him intensified. As another Guardian lunged toward them, Azael grabbed his wrist mid-motion and murmured, "A wasted effort..."

The Guardian’s armor shuddered before its energy core was forcibly extracted. His defenses collapsed instantly, and he crumpled to the ground.

"Hold on, Haru!" Azael growled, effortlessly deflecting incoming projectiles. Haru, drenched in sweat, fought to keep the portal open. His breathing was erratic, his strength waning. But if the portal collapsed now, they would all be trapped.

Only Azael and Haru remained.

Haru tried to hold the gate open a second longer, but exhaustion overtook him. The Guardians’ relentless attacks were overwhelming. His entire body felt leaden, and his knees buckled. A Guardian struck him with a stun charge, sending a painful surge through his system.

The escape portal wavered, its energy flickering. Haru’s vision blurred, the last thing he saw was Riven reaching for him, shouting his name in desperation. Riven tried to lunge forward, but Luna grabbed his arm, pulling him back. Haru’s heart clenched—if the gate closed now, they would be trapped.

Azael let out a low growl, his frustration clear. "Is this all you’ve got, Haru?!" he snapped, but it was too late.

The portal vanished.

A crushing silence filled the room, wrapping the remaining two in cold despair. Haru’s body gave out, collapsing onto the cold metal floor. The glow of the Zenith Rings faded completely. Panic and dread clawed at him. There was no way out now. He was exhausted, defeated, and powerless.

As he tried to lift his head, a dark mass of shifting figures slowly approached. Their presence radiated an overwhelming force, slicing through the battlefield like a sharpened blade.

Then, they emerged from the shadows.

"The Twelve Fate Guardians are here."

A deep, resonant voice echoed throughout the chamber. It was a proclamation of inevitable judgment.

From the darkness, twelve figures clad in black and gold armor stepped forward. They moved as one, their auras exuding an undeniable weight—symbols of Orbis’ unwavering law.

The Silver Guardians were formidable. But these beings… were something far worse.

                                                                          ***

Azael's oppressive aura spread to every corner of the room as the Twelve Fate Guardians approached step by step. Their movements were mechanical, disciplined, and unwavering in will. Unlike the scattered Silver Guardians, they moved as a single entity. Their black and gold-embroidered armor gleamed menacingly under the dim lights.

"Surrender," the lead guardian commanded, his voice echoing off the walls. "There is nowhere left for you to run."

Azael furrowed his brows, exhaling with an irritated growl. "Are you sure you have the power to take me down?"

A slight shift rippled through the formation of the Twelve Fate Guardians. Azael's grim aura distorted the energy in the room, creating constant fluctuations. His fingers twitched slightly, and as the darkness around him seeped like a life-draining mist, he made his first move.

He lunged toward one of the guardians who controlled the energy flow, pressing his hand against the armor. The guardian's armor dimmed instantly, its metallic surface turning black as he lost his balance and collapsed to his knees.

However, the others responded immediately. Another guardian hurled a sealed stake at Azael. He dodged at the last moment, narrowly avoiding the attack, but another guardian manipulated the flow of time, slowing Azael's movements.

For a brief moment, Azael staggered. Their magic was resisting him!

"Damn it..." he muttered under his breath.

Another guardian released enchanted chains from his grasp. "You've played enough," he declared, his words sharp as an order. The chains coiled through the air in radiant light, wrapping around Azael’s wrists.

"Chains? You think you can hold me with these?" Azael chuckled, but the moment the energy from the chains seeped into his body, his strength began to wane.

Until then, the guardians had not directly attacked Azael, but after seeing the effect of the chains, they sprang into action. One struck his knee with a powerful blow, while another forced him onto his knees by pressing down on his back.

Haru, though unconscious, began emitting fluctuating energy. The Zenith Rings flickered, and the surrounding air became thinner. One of the guardians hesitated upon noticing it.

"This boy... The energy fluctuations around him are altering Orbis' very structure, forming a shield to protect himself, even while unconscious! Is such a thing even possible?"

Another guardian stepped forward. "This must be the child... We're taking him to the higher authorities."

Azael struggled against the chains, trying to break their energy, but the cuffs restraining his wrists held an unfamiliar power. "This is a seal..." he realized. They were using specially designed technology to neutralize him!

Looking at the chains coiled around his arms, Azael smirked. "Developing such a sophisticated seal just to restrain me? I'm flattered. I must say, I'm almost impressed by your effort."

There was no longer any chance of escape.

The guardians seized Azael and Haru. "Prepare them. We’re taking them in!" one of them shouted.