The three of them stood shoulder to shoulder, facing the towering beast of a man.
Bron Krakos didn't move.
He didn't need to.
Blade was the first to break the stillness.
He surged forward, katanas flashing, with Ian and Optimus right behind him. Blade struck first, steel screaming through the air, but Bron caught the blade on his forearm, muscles tensing like coiled cables.
Optimus followed through, his sword carving a clean arc and landing a solid hit across Bron's side. At the same moment, Ian closed the distance and slammed a compact grenade against Bron's torso.
The device clicked.
Bron glanced down, then calmly reached for it.
The grenade detonated in his hand.
The explosion rocked the training ground, dust and smoke erupting outward. Bron staggered back a step, stunned, smoke curling from his fingers.
Then he roared.
With a single leap, he closed the distance and crashed toward Ian. Ian met him head-on, abandoning weapons entirely. Fists and feet collided in a brutal exchange, bone-shaking punches, crushing kicks.
Bron swung a heavy left hook.
Ian ducked beneath it and drove a side kick into Bron's ribs with full force.
Bron was sent flying backward, skidding nearly twenty feet across the stone.
He rose almost instantly, rolling his shoulders.
"Looks like the First taught you well."
Before he could finish,
Optimus came in like a comet, blade flashing.
Bron caught the sword barehanded.
He yanked it forward and kicked Optimus square in the chest. Optimus caught the kick, but Bron twisted midair and struck with his other leg, the blow landing at lightning speed and launching Optimus backward.
Blade's eyes narrowed.
Electricity surged along his katanas.
He vanished.
From Blade's perspective, the world slowed, sound stretched, motion thickened. Bron stood frozen, muscles tensed, eyes just beginning to track movement.
Blade moved.
He struck again and again, lightning-fast slashes carving through the air, each hit landing before the last could register. Time crawled.
Then Blade stopped.
The world snapped back to normal speed.
Bron turned.
Thin glowing lines appeared across his body.
A heartbeat later, blood traced those lines—and Bron dropped to one knee.
Ian shouted into his comm,
"Army, we need support!"
An Ironhawk Gunship roared overhead, soldiers opening fire.
Bron looked up.
He reached down, tore a boulder from the ground, and hurled it.
The rock slammed into the gunship's rear, sending it spiraling into the city below.
Blade muttered,
"So much for those guys."
Optimus charged again,
But in a flash of light, Bron vanished.
Gone. No residue. No trace.
Blade frowned.
"What was that?"
Ian scanned the area.
"Looks like he retreated… or he got what he wanted out of the fight."
Moments later, Imperial troops flooded the training ground, securing the perimeter.
Optimus looked at Blade.
"You alright?"
Blade nodded.
"Yeah. I'm fine."
Ian studied him.
"You sure? It's not easy seeing your hometown like this."
Blade's expression didn't change.
"After everything I've seen… nothing really affects me anymore. I'm numb to most fear, horror, or shock."
Optimus tilted his head.
"That move you pulled back there, what was that?"
Blade exhaled.
"I moved so fast I entered a slower version of time. From there, I could land hits like that."
Ian nodded slowly.
"Good. You should teach us. We're going to need it."
Aftermath: A New Idea
Back at STF Headquarters, the three sat together in one of the common rooms, the adrenaline finally wearing off.
Ian leaned back, arms crossed.
"I'm not gonna lie, the other branches always seem to need STF support. They should be able to handle threats and demon invasions without immediate intervention."
Optimus nodded.
"Or at least handle things on their own. The STF is meant for special tasks, not to replace the army, navy, and air force. If the other branches can stand on their own, we can focus on bigger threats than demon armies."
Ian thought for a moment.
"I agree. We probably need to reassess every branch. Maybe even retrain them."
Blade looked up, eyes sharp.
"I have the perfect idea."
They turned to him.
"We test each branch as a full unit. Put them into their respective situations. See who comes out on top. Test leadership, tactics, discipline, figure out what needs to change."
Ian raised a brow.
"What about frontline soldiers?"
Blade shrugged.
"We rotate them. Use soldiers not currently deployed. Throw them into controlled demon scenarios. We can have the support teams build everything."
Ian's lips curled into a grin.
"I like that idea."
He leaned forward.
"We'll call it the War Games."