Ultima's Bite!

The dining hall was filled with the quiet clatter of utensils and the occasional murmur of conversation. 

The team sat around a long metal table, plates stacked with whatever Juno had managed to cook up—mostly grilled meat, rice, and vegetables.

April sat at the end, her head resting on her palm as she absentmindedly poked at her food. 

Her mind was still reeling from the fight, from how close Jax had been to using his TakeOver. 

But more than that—

She had a question.

A question she had been dying to ask since she joined the team.

She finally set her fork down. "Hey."

Everyone turned to her.

April leaned forward, her silver eyes narrowing slightly. "Why is the leader called 'Leader?'"

There was a brief silence.

Then—

Dante snorted. "Of course, you'd be the one to ask that."

Kai smirked. "It's weird, huh? He doesn't go by an alias, doesn't use a codename. Just 'Leader.'"

April's fingers drummed against the table. 

"Yeah, but why?" She glanced at Jax. "You've been with him the longest. You gotta know."

Jax chewed thoughtfully, then swallowed. 

"It's not complicated."

April raised a brow.

Jax set his fork down. "Leader doesn't want his name to be known. Simple as that."

April frowned. "That's it?"

Saya nodded. "He only gives his name to those who've earned his respect."

April leaned back, considering that. "Has anyone here earned it?"

Silence.

Kai shrugged. "If anyone has, it's probably Jax."

Jax didn't confirm or deny it. He just kept eating.

April exhaled, rubbing her temple. 

"Alright… Then what about the leader of Ragnarök?"

The mood shifted.

The air became heavier.

Saya was the one who finally spoke. 

"From what we do know, our Leader and Ragnarök's leader knew each other."

April stiffened. "What?"

Dante nodded. "Yeah. But we don't know the full story. Leader doesn't talk about it, and we don't ask."

Kai crossed his arms. "All we do know is that whatever happened between them—it's personal."

April sat back, her mind racing.

Their Leader and Ragnarök's Leader had history.

But what kind of history?

And more importantly…

What would happen when they finally met again?