*BOOM*

    The sound of the explosive impact echoed through the night as a massive cloud of dust and rubble filled the air.

    Pieces of the ceiling scattered around the chamber, and Zeta landed lightly on her feet amidst the chaos, a wide grin plastered on her face. She crossed her arms over her chest, standing proudly over her victory, eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

    Alpha and I exchanged glances, our expressions a mix of surprise and awe.

    "Did she just...?" Alpha''s voice trailed off as we both looked up, watching the dust settle.

    Then, a faint scream pierced the silence, followed by the limp body of Fluga plummeting from the sky. Blood was smeared across his face and chest, his body landing with a heavy, echoing thud* on the cracked floor.

    "Arghh- huff* huff*"

    He lay there, gasping, his hands trembling, his eyes filled with a defeated rage.

    Zeta laughed, her voice filling the room, raw and triumphant.

    "Bwahahaha!" She planted her hands on her hips, giving him a smirk. "Had enough, flame boy?"

    Alpha and I dropped down beside her, and I started clapping, a slow, deliberate clap that echoed through the silent chamber. "Well done, Zeta. Truly impressive."

    Fluga''s bloody gaze flickered toward us, defiance still burning in his eyes. He coughed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.@@@@

    "I... I-impossible... I can''t lose... to such a lowly creature!" He spat out the words, glaring at Zeta.

    Zeta leaned in and stuck her tongue out at him with a teasing, "Bleh. Keep crying, loser."

    Fluga gritted his teeth, the humiliation clear in his eyes. "Just... you... wait..." He gathered enough strength to mutter, "I''ll kill you all..."

    I stepped forward, clapping a bit more briskly, and raised my hands in the air in mock surrender. "I already told you—my girls would be more than enough for the likes of you."

    "Shut uuuuuppp!" Fluga roared, his rage making his remaining strength flare briefly.

    Alpha moved swiftly, pressing the heel of her boot against his arm and driving it into the ground. Her heel dug into his hand, making him flinch in pain.

    She coldly, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "It''s you who should shut up and start answering us."

    Alpha wasted no time. She slammed her heel against the wall beside his head, inches away from his face, the impact reverberating with a sharp Thud*.

    He flinched, fading momentarily under her icy gaze.

    "Answer," she demanded, her voice low and dangerous.

    Fluga''s breathing became ragged, and he struggled to keep his composure. Finally, he took a shallow breath and parted his lips, seemingly ready to speak. But before he could say a word, the tattoo on his arm flared to life, glowing with an intense, blinding light.

    I sensed the sudden danger and immediately grabbed both Alpha and Zeta, pulling them back with me and shielding them as best as I could with my cloak.

    "Watch out!" I warned as the light intensified.

    BOOM!

    The blast echoed throughout the chamber, and when I turned to look, Fluga was gone. All that remained was a dark, bloodstained mark on the wall where he had sat moments ago, and a red symbol lingering like a grim reminder.

    "Oh no..." Alpha whispered, her face showing a mix of shock and disbelief.

    "What... just happened?" Zeta muttered, staring at the mark with wide eyes.

    I shook my head, "They must have rigged him with some kind of failsafe—probably triggered by any mention of the Dark Alien Force." I frowned. "Looks like he was...nuked,"

    Alpha clenched her fists, a shadow passing over her face. "This goes deeper than we thought."

    Before we could discuss further, the light from a nearby corridor shifted. The faint glimmer of flashlights was visible as patrolling knights approached, their voices echoing faintly down the hall.

    "Let''s leave," I whispered. The three of us slipped silently into the shadows, disappearing from the scene.

    We made our way back through the city in silence. I gave Alpha and Zeta a nod. "Head home for now. We''ll decide on our next steps against the Alliance soon."

    Alpha nodded, her eyes still clouded with thought. "As you say, Master Zero." She took Zeta''s arm, leading her into the night.

    I continued alone, navigating the winding streets until I reached my building. My eyes briefly flicked toward Althea''s door, but I hesitated.

    Given everything that had happened in the morning, she probably needed some time to process. Best not to disturb her now.

    Quietly, I slipped the key into my own door and stepped inside. Just as I closed it behind me, a loud, excited voice broke the stillness.

    "Masterrrrrrrrr!"