The sphere crept forward—engulfing part of the battlefield. Knoxx and Neko were caught in its radius.
"Turncoat," Feranir growled, giving a devilish grin.
Dark tendrils of Solena wrapped around Knoxx. His eyes turned pitch black. His body snapped upright with a jolt—unnatural. Controlled.
"Knoxx?!" Neko shouted.
One of Knoxx's daggers flew forward—deadly, no hesitation.
"What the hell?!" Neko barely dodged the strike, before returning his gaze at the boy.
"Knoxx! What are you doing?" Azumi shouted from the flank.
But he didn't respond. His face was blank, eyes hollow and overtaken by domain.
Knoxx rushed forward, blitzing the jester. He thrust his arm forward, driving the second knife into Neko's stomach. Neko collapsed, gasping for air.
Still entranced, Knoxx turned and charged at Hatori. He was fast, predictable and not himself.
Hatori side-stepped, exhaled slowly, and sent an uppercut laced with Resonant Flow into Knoxx's chin—sending him airborne.
Knoxx landed and rolled—only to throw a dagger mid-fall.
Hatori raised a palm to slow it—too late.
A second dagger sliced across his cheek. "Dammit…"
Across the field, Tsuki clenched her fists. "We need to hit him directly. His domain doesn't move with him when he attacks!"
Naru blinked. "That's it! Force him out of the radius."
Tsuki clapped her hands together.
"Shadow Manipulation."
Dark tendrils of her shadow slipped along the ground, bending unnaturally as they approached Feranir's sphere.
Naru stepped beside her. "Tsuki! If those go into his range, he'll repel them!"
"They're not going in."
The shadows arced, curving upward like black serpents coiling above the sphere.
Feranir raised an eyebrow. "Curving shadows? No matter. My domain responds to the source. I'll just close the distance."
The sphere rolled forward, chasing the origin of the shadows.
He didn't realize… they were just bait. The moment he stepped forward—
"Now!" Tsuki shouted.
Feranir's eyes widened.
Azumi and Tsuki burst from opposite directions in perfect sync.
"You got distracted!" Azumi shouted.
Feranir turned—too late. Tsuki slammed into his ribs, knocking him sideways.
Right into Azumi's blade. Her dagger drove clean through his chest.
He gasped, choked, and blood spilled down his front. "No—no… this… isn't how it ends…"
His body collapsed, the domain shattering with a brittle snap before vanishing entirely. So did the black in Knoxx's eyes.
Tsuki held her stance a moment longer. For someone so powerful to fall here... it said more about the APC's arsenal than their weakness.
Silence fell on the battlefield, and the surviving APC forces began fleeing.
Judgment and Viper squads stood amidst the bodies, covered in ash, cuts, and sweat—but victorious.
Knoxx groaned as Azumi helped him up. "Ugh… What the hell happened?"
"You stabbed Neko," she said.
"…I what?!"
"Yeah. We'll unpack that later."
Neko groaned, "You owe me so many pinfruit."
Ringo knelt beside Makoro, checking his pulse. "He's alive."
Tsuki stepped forward, panting, but eyes still sharp.
"He's dead," she said. "Feranir's gone. His domain collapsed."
Naru stepped up beside her, wiping blood from his cheek.
"We just took out a high-ranking APC stalker."
Geo nodded, grinning. "They'll feel that one in Central."
Hatori murmured, "This was more than a win. This was a statement."
As the sun broke through the clouds overhead, casting gold across the battlefield, the surviving Memento squads stood together.
Two squads. One goal. One hell of a victory.
Inside a dimly lit stone chamber, deep within the Jon District's underground outpost, four figures stood around a rugged war table scarred with scorch marks and ink-stained maps.
Durango, the elected leader of Jon's inner circle, leaned over the table, voice steady but filled with fire. "Sachimo, Kurusa, Idachi—listen to me. The forces of Memento are out there right now, risking their lives to give us our district back. For us. They're not asking for control. They're asking for a chance—for all of us—to finally breathe."
His fist slammed against the table, causing the maps to tremble.
"We've been nothing but pawns. Digging their jewels, fueling their luxuries, and bleeding for their council—who doesn't give a damn if we starve, so long as their palaces shine."
There was a moment of heavy silence.
Sachimo, thin and weathered, ran a hand through his thinning hair. "Durango… we understand. We all hate the Council. But they won't be merciful if we defy them. Our people—" He paused, his voice cracking. "Our people are already barely surviving. They go to bed hungry. They work themselves to the bone for half a ration. We don't need war. We need a damn miracle."
Durango's jaw tensed. "Exactly. That's why we fight."
Idachi, who was sharp-eyed and always skeptical, rubbed his chin. "You say that, but what's the state of the war? If we commit to Memento, can they protect us? Or is it another one-sided sacrifice?" He looked pointedly at the map. "Joining them means making enemies out of over half of Alden. And we're far from ready."
Kurusa, ever the bridge between the three, leaned forward. "Maybe… maybe not. But Memento controls Galion, doesn't it? If we could secure active food shipments, that alone could solve our starvation crisis."
Both Sachimo and Idachi froze. Kurusa's point struck like a stone to still water.
Sachimo finally spoke. "…If that's possible. If Memento can truly deliver those resources… then maybe this fight is worth tipping the balance." He looked up, eyes heavy. "We all hate the APC. That much we've always agreed on. It's just a matter of how we free ourselves… and when."
Durango's expression softened. He looked to each of them with quiet sincerity. "I've made mistakes. Siding with the APC… watching our people suffer while I nodded and shook hands. I see that now. I've stripped this district down to its bones trying to keep us afloat—but no more." He stared at the floor, voice hushed. "The oppression. The beatings. The hunger. The lies. It ends now." He raised his head again. "Memento's not just an army—they're a promise. A vision of Alden reborn. And I believe—no, I know—they'll fight for Jon until the very end." He looked to each of them, one by one. "All I need… is your support."
Kurusa sat up straighter. "Down with the APC," she said, without hesitation. "I believe in Memento."
Durango smiled. "Thank you, Kurusa."
He turned to the others.
Sachimo hesitated, chewing his inner cheek.
But then—he nodded.
"I trust you, Durango. If you believe they can protect our people—if you believe they can bring down this twisted regime—then… I'm with you. For the love of Solen, I pray you're right."
Idachi didn't speak for a long moment.
Finally, he grinned crookedly.
"The APC has had their boot on our backs long enough. It's about time we sent those tribute carts back with spoiled milk and rotted meat."
Durango barked a short, joyous laugh. "Then it's settled. I'll notify Memento. Jon stands with the resistance. We'll rally our workers, arm who we can, and reclaim our district—not as slaves—but as free citizens of Alden."
The four clasped arms at the center of the table, as a new alliance was born.
Later that day, the battered Judgment and Viper squads walked along the stone paths of lower Jon—smoke still curling from parts of the battlefield behind them. Victory weighed on their shoulders like armor: heavy, real, and hard-earned.
The streets were already whispering, crowds gathering in pockets along the stone paths.
Then—Tsuki heard footsteps.
From the northern gate, Durango came running toward them, his coat flapping behind him, eyes wide with emotion.
"Judgment! Viper!" He stopped in front of them, chest heaving, and then—grinned. "Fantastic news! Jon has made its decision. We'll join Memento. The people hunger for freedom!" He looked from face to face, his voice rising with passion. "The Council sees us as less. As poor. As broken. But no longer! The people of Jon will no longer kneel. We will fight... and we will rise."
Geo raised a fist, smiling wide. "Now that's what I'm talking about."
Tsuki's lips curled into a rare grin. "You've made the right call. We won't let you down."
Naru leaned on his snake companion, nodding. "You'll be remembered for this, Durango."
Makoro, bandaged and still bruised, pumped his fist in the air. "Jon's got punch in it after all!"
The two squads erupted in cheers and celebration. Even Hatori offered a nod of respect.
Tsuki noticed as the people of Jon began to gather, unsure at first—but seeing their leaders and Memento together stirred something in their eyes.
Hope.
Someone in the crowd shouted, "Down with the Council!" Another voice joined, then another, until the square trembled with it.
For the first time in decades… Jon stood tall.