MASON'S POV

  Jenny roared and lunged forward, his axe spinning like a turbine.

  Jett was lightning quick, zipping around Jenny’s hits.

  I sidestepped and slammed my kinetic glove into Jenny’s gut, but the brute barely flinched.

  "Is that all you got, sparkle fists?" Jenny growled, backhanding me through a chunk of debris.

  Pain lanced through my ribs as I tumbled, but I grinned even before I hit the ground.

  "Okay… yeah. That hurt." I groaned.

  I surged back in, weaved through his heavy swings with cocky ease, and landed a precise uppercut that cracked bone.

  Jett slid around Jenny’s flank, eyes scanning. Openings were brief and messy.

  He tossed a blade up, caught it in reverse grip, and dashed forward, slicing low. Sparks flew.

  "Mason, we need to knock him off-balance—go low on my mark!" Jett said.

  "You got it, bossman!" I chuckled.

  As Jenny raised his axe overhead, Jett feinted right—

  "Now!"

  I charged in and slammed into Jenny’s knee with full momentum. Jenny stumbled—

  —and Jett vaulted off my back, blades spinning in an X, slashing across Jenny’s chest midair.

  Jenny roared and stumbled back. Blood spilled from his chest like a water fountain.

  Jett landed and shot back next to me. “Nice hit.”

  “Been getting a lot of your compliments lately,” I teased. “I'm impressing you?”

  “Shit yourself.” Jett snapped at me.

  ---

  Liv, Keisha, and Vey vs. Rax

  LIV’S POV

  The moment that giant sword left his back, I knew this guy wasn’t bluffing.

  He was too composed, too still, and I didn't like it one bit. That kind of calm only came from someone who’d fought and killed enough times to stop counting.

  He wasn't loud like his partner; he was just grinning.

  Why?

  Because he knows he’s better. He knows that we have no experience on the battlefield, and he was feeling ecstatic about that fact.

  I moved first. No hesitation. I can't be on the defense against someone like him. My katana snapped into my grip, humming softly like it was eager for blood. I darted low and slashed toward his ribs—feinting, testing.

  Clang. The shock rattled my arms.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  He didn’t even budge. He merely tilted his sword and let my blade bounce off like it was nothing.

  Then, with one flick of his wrist—

  I flew.

  I landed in a crouch, sliding back a few feet, my boots skidding on the metal. My forearms burned.

  “Damn… he’s strong,” I muttered under my breath, steadying my stance.

  Keisha was already moving, striking from the side with her fists. Her form was flawless—every punch was packed with aggression.

  I backed her up, adjusting my rhythm. But it didn’t matter.

  Rax met every attack like he’d read the script. No panic. No waste. Just… efficiency.

  He was showing us the wide margin in our battle intelligence.

  “You think finesse can cut fate?” He said, his voice deep and cold. “You are mistaken.”

  And then he shoved Keisha aside like she was made of air.

  He’s open. Right now—I spied Vey from her lookout.

  From up top, her shot rang out—sharp and clean.

  A concentrated pulse slammed into Rax’s arm. Sparks erupted as the side of his gauntlet cracked open.

  Perfect.

  I lunged.

  Everything blurred for a second. The hum of my katana roared as I drove it across his side. It connected.

  I dropped low as I landed, breathing through the high. My sword buzzed with heat. I glanced back.

  Rax looked down at the wound.

  Then he smiled.

  A wide, cruel grin stretched across his face.

  "Finally," he growled, "something worth killing."

  My heartbeat kicked. My grip tightened.

  Alright, then.

  “Vey. Keisha.” My voice was calm, but my fingers were twitching.

  “No more holding back.”

  He wanted war?

  He’d just picked the wrong girls.

  MASON'S POV

  We had him. Or at least, we thought we did.

  Jett and I moved like clockwork—slashes, dodges, strikes. Jenny was losing ground, his breath heavy, movements sluggish. I could see it in his eyes: the faint doubt.

  Then he roared.

  “Enough!!”

  The shockwave hit like a truck. I was thrown back, skidding across the floor, pain flaring in my ribs from the impact.

  Jett tried to move in—but Jenny surged, faster than before. A feint left, then he grabbed Jett by the throat and lifted him into the air like a ragdoll.

  “Your little dance is over.”

  Jett struggled, blades flailing, but Jenny’s grip didn’t budge. I tried to move, but my limbs screamed. I was exhausted.

  “Let’s see if your buddy’s spine breaks before it bends,” Jenny sneered.

  Not this now, I sighed. “Don't have much of a choice…”

  I closed my eyes—and let go.

  My pulse energy flared out from my body. Huge gusts of wind surrounded us.

  I stood—slow, steady.

  Jenny turned. “You’re still standing? I’m almost impressed—”

  SHIING.

  I vanished in a flash—and reappeared behind him.

  SLICE.

  A clean cut. No roar. No drama.

  Just the wet sound of muscle severing.

  I caught Jett mid-fall, and we tumbled to the ground.

  “Are you good?” I asked him as we dusted ourselves off.

  He coughed, rubbing his neck. “I'm good.” He dashed forward and grabbed his blade on the floor. “What about you?” he turned to me.

  “I'm…fighting.” I wasn't A-okay, but I was still standing.

  Jenny cracked his neck. “Would you look at that? My arm’s gone.” He raised his bloodied stump. We all turned to the sliced-off arm bleeding out on the floor. "Gnarly…" I thought.

  Jett steadied himself while I cracked my knuckles.

  “We finish this in ten minutes… can't have you burning out.” Jett muttered.

  “Then we better make it in five.” I smirked.

  Meanwhile,

  Rax turned to face all three girls. Bloodied, but still grinning.

  He was taking a beating; that much was true. He thought as he looked at the girls, but it was obvious that they were burning up energy just trying to maintain their advantage. They were exhausted, and pretty soon, their bodies would give out.

  Liv’s daodao diminished, and in its place, a lightweight saber took its place.

  Shit! She thought, trying to grip it. Not now… She looked at Keisha.

  Keisha was breathing hard, but she was still okay.

  Guess that durability does come in handy… Liv huffed.

  "You’ve passed my test." He raised his sword again.

  "Now. Let’s see if you survive my wrath.”

  A white surge of energy erupted in a far sector.

  “Mason…” Keisha was worried.

  “We got to let Mason worry about Mason.” Vey said through the comms as she loaded up another round.

  “He's got Jett. He's fine, Keisha.” Liv tried to hide her fear as well.

  “What is that…” Rax muttered, then his eyes widened. “Could it be…” Then he rushed towards the ship.

  “What's he doing?” Keisha asked.

  “Whatever it is, it can't be good. They STOP HIM!!”

  “On it!” They shot a bullet, but Rax kept running as it hit his arm.

  “Get him!!” Vey yelled. Liv and Keisha charged towards him.

  Rax got to the ship and entered it, the girls hot on his heels.

  “This is E-rank Defyd. Energy surge detected on the planet; requesting superiors.” Rax rambled off into the radio.

  Liv flung her saber at the communication box, and it sparked a bit. Then it erupted in flames.

  Rax turned to them. “You destroyed it.”

  “What are you up to?” Keisha demanded.

  Rax grinned. “I have no idea what your friend is capable of…but my superiors will.”

  Liv saw Keisha’s fist clench. “Keisha,” but she was too late, because Keisha launched herself at Rax. She took him by surprise and started boxing his face.

  Liv watched as Keisha pummeled Rax. She was tired, physically and mentally, and she couldn't move her feet to restrain Keisha.

  “What's going on?” Liv was startled as Vey rushed in. Then she saw Rax. “Keisha, stop!”

  Vey rushed to Keisha and pried her off a wounded Rax.

  “It's too late…” Rax grinned. “...They are comi—” He was cut short as his head landed next to his body.

  Liv had sliced it clean off.

  Vey and Keisha turned to her in shock, but Liv was unfazed. “Let’s go.” She said and walked out.

  MASON'S POV

  Jett and I stood over Jenny’s body and watched it.

  “Damn…” I sighed and fell to the floor.

  Jett tapped his ear comm. “Liv, how are we looking?”

  “The threat has been neutralized. How's it going at your end?”

  “We're fine. Mason had to use his abilities, but otherwise it's all green here.” Jett sheathed his blade.

  There was a loud humming sound.

  “What’s that?” I asked, glancing up.

  Jett narrowed his eyes. “No clue.”

  A sleek, black pod broke through the clouds, spinning like a coin before slamming into the dirt just ahead. Steam hissed out in sharp bursts as the ground trembled beneath it.

  The girls caught up, forming a rough circle around the pod, weapons half-raised.

  The pod let out a final hiss, and the door slowly opened.