The dark galaxy, adorned with shimmering stars, signaled the arrival of dawn, unveiling the vast primodial expanse. As the cosmic veil lifted, two figures gradually emerged from the horizon, Nyxander and Karl, advancing towards the towering Astro Lord Hall. The building stood like a silent sentinel, its walls whispering echoes of countless decisions made within.

Encircling the structure, each Astro Station's subordinates remained stationed, their eyes sharp, their postures unwavering. Among them stood the members of the Flame Astro Station, their collective gaze hardening the moment they spotted Nyxander's approach. A visible ripple of disdain passed through their ranks, tightening their expressions into scowls.

From the center of the group, Kal, seated with an air of indifference, rose abruptly. His right index finger jutted forward like the tip of a poised blade, his voice laced with mockery. "Is this arrogance or sheer shamelessness, arriving at this hour?" he sneered.

But Nyxander, unfazed, moved as though Kal were a mere whisper in the wind, unseen, unheard, insignificant. The dismissal ignited a spark of rage in Kal's eyes, but before he could lunge forward, his movements faltered. His gaze locked onto Karl, who trailed closely behind Nyxander. A sudden shift in Karl's aura sent a wave of pressure rippling through the air. His energy, now a formidable force, pulsed with an intensity that rooted Kal in place, a silent warning not to overstep.

Bako and Bili, noticing their arrival, stepped forward. "Boss, you're finally here," Bako said, relief evident in his tone. Nyxander barely slowed his pace. "Where are the other leaders?"

"They're inside, still waiting. I believe they haven't started due to your absence," Bili responded, though his voice trailed off as his and Bako's eyes fell on Karl. A stunned silence gripped them. Their eyes roamed over his transformed physique, his once-familiar frame now sculpted with an almost ethereal refinement. His body radiated an undeniable power, his energy signature humming through the air like the resonance of a celestial force.

Nyxander gave a brief nod. "I'm heading in." His words snapped them back to reality. "Hah… yes, sir!" they responded in unison, instinctively stepping aside to let him pass.

Nyxander strode forward, his figure dissolving into the shadowed alleyway leading into the hall. Behind him, the murmurs of conversation crackled back to life.

"Squad leader," Bili blurted out, eyes still fixated on Karl's transformed form. "What kind of training did you undergo to achieve this… this unbelievable improvement?"

His fingers slid across Karl's solid, smoothed arm, as if inspecting the tempered steel of a newly forged weapon.

"Yes! You're completely different from before!" Bako added, his tone a mix of awe and curiosity. "I bet there was a cost for this kind of transformation."

Karl exhaled, a small smirk curling his lips. "That's true. But thanks to Boss's favor, none of this would have been possible."

Edgar and Eadeic, loyal subordinates of Kola, with Theodore's men, their tense expressions mirroring the unease in their hearts and Lunara's sisters approached them, their faces pale beneath the weight of worry, shadows of anxiety flickering in their eyes like candle flames caught in a restless wind.

"What about our leader?"

"What about Big Sis?"

Their voices overlapped in a chaotic symphony of concern, their words laced with desperation.

Karl took a deep breath, steadying himself before offering a reassuring smile, calm yet firm, like an anchor against a raging tide. "They're all doing fine," he said, his tone carrying the weight of certainty. "I just finished my training ahead of them. It's best if you trust them and let them focus. You'll surely meet them soon."

Their gazes trembled, uncertainty flickering in their eyes like stormy skies before the rain breaks. Then, as if his words had breathed life into their hopes, they exhaled a collective sigh of relief, their stiff shoulders loosening, the invisible chains of doubt momentarily unshackled.

Inside the gathering room within the grand hall, a faint glow flickered from two lamps hanging at the front wall, their trembling light casting restless shadows that danced like ghosts against the stone. Wisps of dawn's pale light sneaked through the ventilators, weaving delicate patterns upon the walls, as though the morning itself hesitated to fully intrude upon the tense atmosphere.

The room's occupants sat in uneasy silence around a polished table, its surface marred by the weight of their concerns. The four Astro leaders, along with Hung and Hildred, maintained a composed exterior, but beneath that façade, an undercurrent of unease stirred within them. Only Centric made no effort to hide his frustration, his clenched fists pressed against his lap, knuckles taut like coiled steel.

"He's not here yet. Who does he think he is?" Centric muttered, his voice thick with irritation, the words cutting through the silence like a blade. His gaze, sharp and accusing, snapped toward Lumina. "This is all your fault. If you hadn't brought him here, things would have remained as they should be!"

Lumina flinched, her breath hitching as the weight of his accusation bore down on her. Her gaze fell to her lap, the fabric of her robes bunching between her fingers. "Hah…" A soft gasp escaped her lips, her mind reeling at the unfairness of the blame thrust upon her.

"You..." Seraphina's voice flared, her right index finger rising to point at Centric, her fiery gaze burning with defiance. But before her words could take full form, Lumina's firm yet gentle grip found her arm, stilling her before she could lash out.

"Big sis…" Seraphina muttered, looking up at Lunara's calm yet resolute expression.

Rising from her seat, Lumina bowed slightly towards Hildred, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling beneath her composed exterior. "I take full responsibility for the day I brought him here. And yet, looking at how things have unfolded, I have failed in my duty. Forgive my incompetence."

A knowing glance passed between Hildred and Hung, their shared understanding a silent conversation in itself.

"Lumina, do not let Centric's words cloud your judgment," Hildred said, his voice carrying the weight of both authority and reassurance. "You have done nothing wrong. In fact, the greatest contribution you have ever made to this Astro Station was bringing him here."

Lumina's head snapped up, surprise flashing across her face. Around the table, the other leaders mirrored her astonishment.

"Yes, you may find it surprising," Hung added, leaning forward slightly, his sharp gaze cutting through the lingering tension. "At first glance, he may seem like someone of little consequence. But he is not a man to be underestimated. His presence alone has forced us to accelerate our plans, and in doing so, he has significantly increased our chances of success."

The weight of his words lingered in the air, the room hanging in a fragile moment of contemplation. Before they could fully process what had just been said, a sudden, jarring sound shattered the quiet.

"SCREEEEECH." The door groaned open, the agonizing screech of metal scraping against metal echoing through the chamber like the roar of a caged beast. The very air seemed to stiffen as all eyes turned toward the source of the disturbance.

And there, standing in the open doorway, framed by the dim light beyond, was Nyxander.

He entered, his steps measured, his presence subtle yet commanding. Their eyes, sharp and collective, followed him as he closed the distance. His gaze flickered across their faces, searching for a reaction, yet none betrayed any reaction to his delayed arrival, except for Centric with flicker of confusion remained in his eyes, for only two beings could warrant such a remark from the Astro Lord: either a god-level celestial or, at the very least, a false god. But neither had any reason to appear here. And even if they did, their presence would arrive cloaked in might and dominance, not veiled in mere words.

"Apologies for my tardiness," Nyxander said, his voice composed yet laced with an unspoken weight. "I was occupied with a matter that required frequent observation. I hope my delay has not caused inconvenience." His words were polite, but there was an undertone of quiet authority beneath them.

"Not at all. Please, have your seat," Hung responded, his tone neutral yet welcoming.

Nyxander nodded, pulling out a chair with deliberate ease. As he lowered himself into the seat, his gaze inadvertently locked with Lunara's. Her expression was not one of warmth or sentimentality, but a deep, searching intensity, as if she sought answers to questions she had yet to voice. Since their battle against the Primordial Rhino, the ice-cold wall she had erected around herself had begun to show cracks, thawing ever so slightly in his presence. Their silent exchange did not go unnoticed. The others at the table could feel the invisible tension humming between them, an unspoken conversation playing out in the stillness.

Hung's hands came together in a sharp clap, snapping the room's collective focus toward him. "Let the meeting begin," he declared, his voice steady yet carrying a weight that silenced all idle thoughts.

"As you all know, this meeting concerns the impending Primordial Beast tide," he began, pausing briefly as a hush settled over the room. "But that is not all." His voice deepened, his breath slow and deliberate, as if bracing himself for the storm of reactions to come. The room's occupants leaned in slightly, their eyes fixed on his lips, waiting for what would follow.

"It also includes waging war against the Dark Station at the extreme east of the Primordial World, for various reasons." Hung's declaration landed like a thunderclap.

A collective breath hitched in the air. The room seemed to contract under the weight of his words, its occupants momentarily stunned by the gravity of what was unfolding before them. The silence that followed was not one of peace but of anticipation, the kind that precedes an inevitable storm.

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