2687

As Emi, Nur, Baluka, and Amber made their way through the ocean floor, the scene was surreal. Emi effortlessly parted the water, creating a shimmering, glass-like walkway. The cold darkness of the ocean depths surrounded them, but thanks to Emi’s control over the water, they remained dry and untouched. The glow from the parted water illuminated their path, casting eerie shadows on the ocean bed.

“So, your name’s Emi, right?” Amber asked, breaking the heavy silence.

“Yup! I’m so excited! This is my first mission ever!” Emi responded, her voice overflowing with enthusiasm.

Baluka, walking cautiously behind the group, glanced at Emi, her curiosity mixed with disbelief. “Why would you be excited? You had a chance to get out… you could have gone somewhere safe,” she muttered, her voice betraying her fear.

Amber and Nur exchanged a glance, both understanding the deeper meaning behind Baluka’s words. She was terrified, and the tension in her was palpable.

Nur turned toward her, his voice stern but not unkind. “Baluka, that doesn’t matter right now. You’re scared of everything. If you’re that afraid, why’d you even join this organization?”

Baluka halted, the question hitting her like a blow. She swallowed hard before answering, her voice trembling. “After Cairo was destroyed, we lost everything—our home, our money, everything. My whole family… we had nothing left.” Her words hung heavy in the air as she continued. “I joined the Yeager Force because it was the only way to survive, the only way to make money. But once they found out I could control sand, they started sending me on missions like this, dangerous ones.” Her voice wavered. “I want to quit, I really do. But I need the money. My family needs it.” Tears welled in her eyes, her hands shaking.

There was a tense silence as the group processed her words, the distant hum of the ocean the only sound.

“Hey, Baluka,” Emi said, stepping toward her. Her voice, though soft, was filled with a quiet strength. “You can’t think like that. Fear’s a part of this, yeah, but it doesn’t have to control you.” She smiled warmly. “When I first fought a Yeager back in my hometown, I was scared out of my mind. I didn’t think I’d make it. But after that fight… something changed in me. I felt stronger, more alive. You just gotta… high-five the sky!” She threw her hand up, grinning brightly.

Baluka blinked at her through teary eyes, half in disbelief, half amused. “High-five the sky?”

“Yeah! Just do it! When you’re scared, it means you’re about to do something awesome. And guess what? We’re all in this together,” Emi said with a reassuring smile.

Amber placed a hand on Baluka’s shoulder. “She’s right. We’ve all been scared at some point, but we face it together. No one’s alone.”

Baluka wiped her eyes and nodded, her fear still there but less overwhelming. “Thanks… I needed that.”

Nur, who had remained silent throughout, nodded approvingly. “Good. Now let’s focus. We have a mission, and we’re not going to fail.”

The group continued onward, their resolve renewed as the dark sea floor finally gave way to the shore of North Korea.

Amber’s wrist device beeped, and a new message from Leon came through. “He sent the rest of the info,” she said, forwarding it to the others. A video message played as Leon’s voice filled the quiet space.

“Your mission is to destroy Dark Moon Tower. It’s a key structure used to teleport Yeagers to Japan. If we don’t take it down, more will come. Two powerful Yeagers are guarding it: Vela and Veer. Vela’s inside the tower, and Veer is leading an assault on Japan. Take them out.”

As they walked into a sewer entrance, they discussed the plan. “Who’s going after who?” Amber asked, her voice low but firm.

“I’ll take on Veer,” Nur volunteered, confidence in his voice.

“No, I’ll handle Veer,” Emi interrupted, much to everyone’s surprise.

“Why?” Baluka asked, puzzled.

Emi gestured to the ocean behind them. “It’s close to the sea. My flux energy is strongest near water. I’ll have the advantage.”

Nur hesitated but eventually nodded. “…Alright.”

Without another word, Emi dove back into the water, using her energy to propel herself toward Veer’s location. The others pressed forward through the sewer system.

As they neared the base, the tension mounted. After carefully navigating the dimly lit tunnels, they reached a ladder marked with Russian letters. “What does it say?” Nur asked.

“‘Go up,’” Amber translated, already climbing.

The trio climbed slowly, emerging in a dark, narrow corridor inside the tower. Moving with caution, they dodged patrolling Yeagers, their steps soundless as they ascended the five floors to the reactor room beneath Dark Moon Tower.

Just as they reached the final room, a chain shot through the air, narrowly missing Nur’s head. They turned to see a group of Yeagers surrounding them, led by a tall, imposing figure. Vela.

“Well, well, well,” she said with a cruel smile. “My queen was right about intruders.”

Amber stepped forward. “Like we planned, I’ll take on Vela.”

But before anyone could react, Baluka suddenly shoved Amber and Nur into the next room, slamming the door shut behind them.

“What are you doing?!” Nur shouted, pounding on the door.

“Go destroy the reactor! I’ll handle this!” Baluka yelled back, her voice filled with a determination none of them had heard before.

Amber and Nur exchanged glances but understood the urgency. Without further argument, they raced toward the reactor, leaving Baluka to face Vela and her Yeagers alone.

Vela smirked, watching the two run off. “You think you can take all of us by yourself?” she asked, her tone mocking.

Baluka took a deep breath, pulling her mask over her face. She remembered Emi’s words: High-five the sky. Something clicked inside her. She wasn’t just fighting for survival anymore—she was fighting for herself, her family, and her newfound friends.

“Yeah,” she said, her voice steady as she clenched her fists. “I can.”

With a surge of confidence, Baluka faced Vela, ready to prove her strength.