DIVINE STAR

As the prison lights flicker dimly, Crank is still on one knee, his voice carrying a sense of finality. "Let us do one last task for all the folks here before I go."

Boa crosses his arms, eyeing him carefully. "So you're suggesting we go under again?"

Crank nods. "Yes, Boa. After this, they can all rest easy. I can feel it—when the diggers discovered it."

Boa exhales sharply. "Are you sure this isn't like last time? When we had to fight that Data Dragon?"

Crank rises to his feet, determination burning in his eyes. "No, this is different. I can feel it in every inch of my skin and bones. Whatever the nobles are up to down there, it all ends with this. And when it does, the prisoners won't have to work as hard anymore."

Boa paces back and forth, deep in thought. Finally, he stops and smirks. "If we leave now, it'll stain our honor with the rest of these guys. But if you're that sure, then yeah… we'll join you for this final task."

A wave of cheers erupts from the surrounding prisoners in their cells, their excitement echoing through the halls.

Yunbam, gripping the bars and groans. "We're seriously doing prison work?!"

Meanwhile, Jen leaps onto a table, throwing her fists in the air. "We're back!"

Crank and Boa shake hands firmly, sealing their decision. Nearby, Hank adjusts his officer hat, a small smile forming on his face. "It'll be nice to have your help this time. Because who knows how many prisoners it'll take to finish this task."

Moments later, deep beneath the prison, a massive lift descends through a vast tunnel, carrying Crank, Boa, Yunbam, Jen, and Hank deeper underground. The deeper they go, the heavier the air feels. Yunbam fidgets, his nerves evident, but he takes a deep breath, slapping his cheeks.

"I need to be strong with honor," he mutters to himself. "So I can be the next Boa."

As the lift descends deeper into the unknown, Hank turns around and speaks with a grave tone. "Boa, I know you're strong, but this task is harder than the last one you did. We've already lost over a thousand prisoners in this newly discovered area. Even the upper nobles are scared, but we're still ordered to finish our work."

Crank holds onto his fist, his expression somber. "It's true. There are more Data Monsters than ever before. And all those who died... they were good, honest men, just trying to carve out a better future."

Boa with his chest out and a fiery determination in his eyes. "Whatever it is, my presence alone will push everyone to fight harder. If they see me moving forward, they'll find the strength to keep going. I'll use that momentum to clear this new area myself if I have to."

Yunbam's breath hitches. He grabs Jen by the shoulders, shaking her slightly. "Captain, did you hear that?! This is going to be even harder! This task is supposed to be more difficult than Boa's famous story! Even worse than the Data Dragon!"

Jen grins, completely unfazed by the danger. "That's even better! Either we die with honor or we leave with even greater honor!"

Yunbam stares at her, still processing the insanity of what they are about to do. His stress is clear, but as he looks at Boa—standing tall, confident, unshaken—his fear starts to fade.

As they step off the lift, a massive underground station unfolds before them. Officers patrol the area, overseeing the relentless labor of prisoners digging and collecting rare stones and ores. The air is thick with dust and tension, the clanking of pickaxes echoing through the cavernous expanse.

Hank strides ahead, exchanging a few words with the warden, who studies Boa and his team carefully before nodding in approval. "If Boa is here, then we might actually have a chance. Get them to the new location immediately," the warden instructs.

Hank leads them into a side room filled with equipment, various mining tools, protective gear stacked neatly against the walls, and weapons. He turns to the group with a serious expression. "Rules are rules." Without hesitation, he pulls out a set of electric collars and secures them around each of their necks.

"This is just a safety measure for me and my department, in case anyone goes rogue," he explains.

Jen runs her fingers along the cold metal of the collar, a nostalgic grin spreading across her face. "Having this on again… it makes me feel the thrill all over again!"

Yunbam frowns, touching his own collar cautiously. "So this thing will shock me if I disobey?"

Boa chuckles, placing a firm hand on Yunbam's shoulder. "Don't worry. As long as you carry yourself with honor, they won't shock you. Besides, we've been through this before. There's the Head Hank, the Fist of Crank, and the Honor of Boa."

The three of them exchange a knowing look before joining their fists together in a three-way bump—a gesture that brings back countless memories of past trials and victories.

With their bonds reaffirmed, the group heads down a long, dimly lit pathway. As they pass through the trenches filled with exhausted diggers, one by one, the prisoners take notice.

"For honor has come back!" one voice shouts.

"BOA!" another calls out, his voice full of renewed spirit.

"We needed this!"

"The powerhouses are back!"

The atmosphere shifts. The weary diggers stop their work, turning to bow respectfully as Boa and his team walk past. Their eyes, once dulled with exhaustion, now glimmer with hope.

Moments later the scent of sweat and iron thickens the air. The flickering lanterns barely illuminate the weary faces of prisoners and officers alike. As the group steps into the camp, they see an officer escorting a dozen prisoners from the tunnel ahead. The prisoners are battered, their clothes torn, skin smeared with dirt and blood. Some can barely stand, relying on each other for support.

An officer, hardened by years in this brutal work, approaches the group with a cautious but relieved expression. "Welcome back, Officer Hank. Where's the rest of your team?"

Hank exhales sharply, his gaze unwavering. "All I need is Crank and these guests you've seen before."

The officer nods, but as his eyes land on Boa, his expression shifts. Excitement flares in his features. A ripple of realization spreads through the camp as more and more eyes turn toward Boa. A hush falls over the prisoners and officers alike.

Then, as if moving with one mind, every prisoner drops to one knee, heads bowed in deep reverence. Even the officers, though bound by duty, follow suit and bows, acknowledging the presence of the man who once led them through impossible trials.

Boa steps forward, his voice steady, powerful. "I see you all have gone deeper into Isha's core. Your struggles are written on all of your faces. But I have returned for this final task. And when it's done, maybe—just maybe—you all will have earned enough credits to buy your freedom back."

A murmur spreads through the crowd, a fragile hope rekindled in their exhausted eyes.

Boa raises his fists, his gaze sweeping across the gathered prisoners and officers. "Now, let's not waste time. Let's finish this."

Moments later Hank guides everyone to the new area as he and the other officers fires their laser rifles at the data creatures up ahead. The battlefield is a chaos of screeching data creatures and blazing laser fire. The stench of decay and corrupted data fills the cavernous space as the prisoners and officers charge into battle.

Boa stands tall, his spear gleaming in the dim light as he bellows, "Onwards!" His voice is the rallying cry that pushes the prisoners forward, their battle cries echoing through the area as they clash against the swarming beasts.

Yunbam grips his sword and shield tightly, his heart pounding as a giant data rat lunges at him. Its jagged teeth snap inches from his face, its matted fur bristling with raw, corrupted energy. He swings his sword, but the rat's tail whips around and slams him to the ground. He barely raises his shield in time as the beast pounces, its gnashing jaws mere inches from tearing through his defense.

Nearby, Jen inhales deeply, taking in the air thick with blood and decaying data. A manic grin spreads across her face as she pulls out a syringe filled with a glowing blue liquid and plunges it into her chest. Her veins illuminate with energy, her pupils dilating as a euphoric rush floods through her.

"Ahh! That's the rush I've missed!" she cackles, her body moving in a blur as she tears through the battlefield. Her twin daggers slice through data creatures like a whirlwind of steel and speed. In a flash, she leaps onto the giant data rat pinning Yunbam, her blades carving through its neck in one fluid motion.

The creature lets out a final shriek before collapsing lifelessly. Yunbam pants beneath it, staring at Jen's glowing form in disbelief as she licks the blood off her dagger and winks.

He rises to his feet. "Come on, Yunbam, you got this," he mutters to himself. "These creatures are corrupted by the consumption of data. There's no shame in slaying them." Steeling his resolve, he tightens his grip on his sword and charges back into the fray.

Meanwhile, Boa and Crank stand side by side, their movements perfectly synchronized. A monstrous centipede lunges at them, its segmented body twitching unnaturally as corrupted data leaks from its mandibles. Boa drives his spear straight through its head, pinning it in place.

Crank then raises his massive battle axe. "Nice hold, Boa." With a powerful swing, he cleaves the centipede's head clean off, sending corrupted data splattering onto the ground like shattered glass.

The battlefield shakes as more debris rains down, crushing creatures and prisoners alike. Dust and data particles cloud the air as the massive data mole emerges, its enormous claws slicing through bodies like paper. Screams echo through the cavern, but Hank doesn't hesitate—he takes aim and fires his laser rifle.

Bright red beams slam into the mole's hide, scorching its flesh and making it shriek in pain. But instead of retreating, the beast barrels forward, trampling prisoners and officers who fire desperately at it.

Hank barely rolls out of the way as a claw crashes down where he stood, sending a tremor through the ground. Flat on his back, he grits his teeth and fires a rapid burst into the mole's stomach, causing dark blood to splatter everywhere. The mole screeches, furious, and raises its massive claws, preparing to crush him—

CLANG!

Yunbam leaps in, his shield raised high, intercepting the crushing blow. The impact is brutal—the force cracks his shield down the middle before it completely shatters, the broken pieces scattering across the ground. His arms tremble, his breath ragged, but he refuses to back down.

"I'm going to be the next Boa!" Yunbam roars, determination burning in his eyes.

Before the mole can attack again, he dashes forward, driving his sword deep into its side. The beast lets out an ear-piercing shriek, twisting in agony, but it isn't done yet. Raising its claws once more, it prepares to strike him down—

But Jen is already moving.

Grinning wildly, she launches herself onto the mole's back, her daggers gleaming as she plunges them into its flesh repeatedly. "Die! Die! Die! DIE!" she cackles, twisting the blades deeper with every stab.

The mole thrashes violently, but it's too late. More laser fire rains upon it from the officers and prisoners still standing, searing its body with each shot.

With a final roar, the data mole collapses, blood and corrupted data pooling around its massive frame. Yunbam throws his head back and lets out a victorious roar.

At the front of the battle, Boa and Crank fight massive data ants, slaying them one by one. Boa scoffs, "I thought this was supposed to be harder than the last task? I'm not impressed so far."

Crank chuckles, "Brother, with you here, you've inspired everyone to push harder. Look around—can't you see them fighting harder than ever? Besides, these are just the small fries. There's a trio of creatures that works as a team, and they're much tougher than anything we've faced. But with you here, I'm willing to risk it all!"

Suddenly, the entire ground trembles as a giant data worm bursts from underground. Its massive mouth, lined with countless sharp teeth, opens wide and devours several prisoners in an instant.

Crank grins, "There's the first one! But I've already weakened it before!" Without hesitation, he charges back toward the center of the battlefield.

Prisoners and officers launch attacks on the giant worm, but its thick, shell-like skin proves too tough to penetrate. Boa prepares to join the fight, but something feels off. His instincts kick in, and he quickly turns—just in time to see a giant data badger emerging from the side of the cave.

Before he can react, a massive data burrowing owl swoops down from a hole above. It flaps its powerful wings, unleashing fierce gusts that knock most of the prisoners below to the ground.

Crank's eyes widen in shock. "What?! The other two joined early? Every time we've fought them before, they always appeared one by one. Why now?!"

Yunbam steps up beside Crank, sword in hand. "It's because we're here," he says calmly. "Maybe these creatures can sense the shift in spirits—everyone's strong determination must be giving these creatures all of their danger signals to spike ."

Crank glances toward Boa, who is already locked in battle with the badger. A smile spreads across his face as he grips his weapon tighter. "You're right, kid. We should be honored to face a challenge like this!"

Meanwhile in Black Paradise, inside Nox's room, he sits comfortably, watching the battle unfold on a digital screen. Suddenly, Susan's translucent data form materializes beside him.

"King Nox," she says, "after a deep analysis of everyone's fighting styles and experience, there is a strong possibility of 86% they may overcome our defenders."

Nox takes a slow sip of his juice, his gaze still fixed on the screen. "Yeah, I can see that. This Boa fellow is one hell of a mortal. Just his presence alone pushes everyone around him to fight without fear in their hearts. He truly is a man of honor." A small smirk forms on his lips. "But don't worry—I've already simulated a plan in my head to stop them."

With a flick of his wrist, he summons a black data mask into the palm of his hand. Slowly, he places it over his face and rises to his feet, his eyes locked onto the screen, watching the relentless battle unfold.

He then speaks, his voice now distorted and deeper. "It's time for some early fun before the real fun begins."

In an instant, his body dissolves into streams of data, vanishing from the room.