Chapter 22 — Eden behind the fireline (Ash Zenith Arc)

◽ 3240.13.01 ◽
After the call ended—No one moved.Wind swept across the Varrak Thirst, carrying heat and silence in equal measure.The Dun’khal. The Dravel Stone. Even the Ashru'Keen. All frozen.Carlton had just spoken to one of the strongest Mid’cals alive…And didn’t bow.
Phipher, meanwhile—Just laughed.「Hey Carl…」 she nudged him playfully.「What happened to not starting fights?」Carlton blinked. He remembered the promise. Then sighed. 「Err… yeah. Sorry about that」He rubbed the back of his neck.「It’s just… not every day I find people who can fight on my level」Phipher grinned.「True enough」
Behind them, Zarek and his guards laughed mockingly.Carlton ignored it.
Zarek stepped forward.「You’d never match him in strength. No matter how strong you think you are」Carlton tilted his head slightly.「Okay」Then he turned toward Rynn.「You able to officiate a trial by duel or something?」Rynn snapped out of her daze.「Err—yes. Generals from different tribes hold that authority」「Good」Carlton pointed lazily toward the Ashru'Keen.「Then officiate one between me and his guard」
A ripple of tension spread. Zarek gestured. Guard #01 stepped forward.Five meters tall. War hammer in hand.
Rynn stepped between them.「May the grains of Varrak serve as witness to this battle among warriors」Her voice rang steady.「May the stronger prevail. And the defeated accept it with dignity」
The duel began. ZG#01 charged instantly.His war hammer crashed into the sand where Carlton stood—BOOM.The ground trembled. Dust filled the air.When it cleared—Carlton stood on top of the hammer’s head.Balanced. Casual.
「Big man. Big weapon. Thinks it makes him stronger」He clicked his tongue.「That’s sad」
ZG#01 roared and swung upward.Carlton hopped lightly into the air—and landed on the Mid’cal’s head.Then—He pulled out his notebook.And started writing. Silence fell.
「Hmm… thick dermal plating extends to cranial region」 he muttered.「But low sweat gland function… overheating risk high」
He tapped the page thoughtfully.Then jumped down, landing with his back to ZG#01.The Mid’cal seized the opportunity. Full-force swing.The hammer connected—and exploded.Shattered into fragments. Only the handle remained in ZG#01’s grip.
Carlton didn’t even flinch.「Oh yeah. Forgot to mention」He kept writing.「My clothes are way more durable than anything you’ve got」【Well that’s a lie】 Alice chimed lazily in his head.【They don’t need to know that】 Carlton replied.Alice chuckled. 【Fair enough】
ZG#01 stared at the broken handle. Then at Carlton.The eye contact alone made the five-meter warrior stumble backward—And fall on his ass.
「I yield」
Silence.
Rynn stepped forward.「The warrior of the Ashru'Keen admits defeat. The victor is—」She paused, looking at Carlton.He blinked.「Oh. Right. Carlton Snyders」「Carlton of the Snyders tribe」 Rynn declared.Phipher rushed over and hugged him tightly.「So? What you think about Mid’cal strength?」Carlton slid the notebook away.「That guard? Probably ten or twenty times weaker than the one on the call」Phipher whistled softly.「Damn」She tilted her head.「So what you want as winner of the duel?」Carlton’s expression cooled. He looked directly at Zarek.「Ashru'Keen tribe members—leave」His voice dropped.「Get off my territory before I fight back for real」
Zarek swallowed. Pride burned in his eyes—But survival won.
「We’ll do as you wish」
The Mid’cals returned to their ship, then mounted their Siroth Fangs—sleek hover bikes—and disappeared into the horizon.
Raleth stepped forward immediately.「You’ve doomed the Dun’khal Tribe along with yourself」Carlton looked at her. Then chuckled.「Aww. You sad your boyfriend left? You can follow him if you want」「You—」Sarth stepped in before her daughter could explode.「I apologize for my daughter, Lord Heart Sun—」「The name’s Carlton」 he cut her off sharply.「Not Heart Sun. Not whatever title you cooked up. Just Carlton」Sarth straightened.「Very well. Carlton. My daughter was out of turn. But I’d appreciate it if you didn’t spread baseless rumors」Carlton smirked.「It ain’t baseless」He looked at them calmly.「Who you think allowed Alice to hack your ship before you even got here?」
Shock. Again.
「Yeah」 Carlton shrugged.「I knew y’all were coming the moment you entered the desert」
The silence thickened.
Phipher clapped her hands lightly.「Okaaay. Let’s not spiral」 She leaned into Carlton, voice playful.「It’s hot. I’m thirsty」Her antenna flicked.「Very thirsty」Carlton coughed lightly.「Alright, fair point」He addressed the group.「Let’s go inside」Then his tone sharpened.「And don’t take anything that ain’t yours. She won’t like that」
No one asked who she was. They didn’t need to.Carlton and Phipher climbed back onto Morr’Khei’s head.Carlton snapped his fingers. The barrier shimmered—And opened. Just enough.The ship and Morr’Khei passed through. Then it sealed again.What they saw inside— Stole their breath.Outside the barrier— The world was a wasteland fighting to survive.Inside— It was peace.Grass. Alien green, but vibrant.Trees. Thick vegetation.And a river—A living, winding river that branched like a tree across the territory.Herbivore Terravores grazed calmly. Life.Actual life.The ship landed a distance away from the modest cabin Carlton and Phipher called home.The Dun’khal and Dravel Stone disembarked slowly.No one spoke.
Varn stepped forward, still holding the bottle of water.「All of this…」Her voice trembled slightly.「How did you make this?」Carlton’s smile turned soft. Almost sad.「This planet’s different」 he said quietly.「But this is the closest thing I’ve got to home」
He looked at the trees. The river.The sky.
「Back on Earth… this is what life looked like」Varn studied him.「Is your world always this peaceful?」Carlton laughed.「Oh hell no」He shook his head.「Almost everything back home would kill you if it got the chance. Hell, the planet itself’s a death trap」Phipher chuckled.「It’s true. The gravity alone would crush all Calzors」
Varn blinked. Confused.Fearful. Curious.
「If that’s true… why do you speak of it like it was peaceful?」Phipher answered gently.「He’s homesick」She looked at Carlton.「Even if it’s a death world… it’s still home to him」
The river flowed quietly beside them. And for the first time—The Dun’khal realized something deeper than power.The Heart Sun didn’t build this territory to rule.He built it… To remember.