Dust whispered through the shattered remnants of the Aqua Astro Station, weaving between crumbled walls and broken steel like a silent mourner. Nyxander stood resolute beside Lumina, his right arm encircling her waist with protective certainty, while his left hand supporting her by gripping her left arm, steady and firm. The faint scent of scorched metal lingered in the air. Across them stood Karl, Bako, Bili, and the triplet sisters, their faces shadowed with worry. Farther to Nyxander's left, the Primordial Rhino bellowed, a guttural roar that trembled the ground, as its wounded eye pulsed, slowly knitting itself back together with an unsettling, fleshy glow.

"But... the Flame Astro team," Karl muttered, dread creeping into his voice. "They aren't here yet, are they?" The wind stirred again, swirling ash and dust between them, as though the air itself whispered uncertainties.

Nyxander's gaze sharpened. "We can't wait for their arrival, nor can we rely on them for backup."

Bako hesitated, his voice barely above a whisper, laced with doubt. "Then... what's the plan?"

Nyxander's gaze shifted to the distance, where the horizon blurred with smoke. "What about the other Astro stations?"

Karl took a shaky breath before replying, "The Gravity and Mountain Astro teams are both battling a Flashstamp at the Mountain Station. Kola and Theodric's squads are supporting them."

For a moment, Nyxander closed his eyes, letting the weight of the situation settle before inhaling deeply. His eyes opened, sharp and resolute. "Karl, Lunara will support Lumina in the fight. The rest of you, get the injured out of here." With an unwavering tone, Nyxander replied

Though the plan was clear, uncertainty still hung heavy in the air. Karl narrowed his eyes. "And what about you, Boss?"

Nyxander didn't respond immediately. His gaze shifted toward Lumina. Their eyes met, hers sharp and unreadable. The moment stretched, weighted with unspoken history.

Lumina sighed, breaking the silence. "Fine. You can help. But don't think this means I forgive you for what you did. You'd better prepare your explanation." Nyxander smiled, a rare, noticeable curve of his lips. "Yes, ma'am."

Moments later, Nyxander, Karl, Lunara, and Lumina stood side by side, facing the towering Primordial Rhino. The air around them crackled with surging energy. The wind fell still as if the world held its breath.

"Let's begin," Nyxander commanded, his voice calm yet thunderous. Together, they charged. They charged forward together, their energies colliding with the air, which screamed under the force of their momentum and power racing toward the roaring colossus.

Meanwhile, in the Astro Lord Hall, the atmosphere shimmered with faint tension. Hildred sat upon his ornate chair, carved from celestial stone, his fingers drumming softly on the armrest. The air was fragrant with freshly brewed tea, yet sweat glistened upon his forehead as faint hum of distant energies seemed to echo in the hall, a reminder that somewhere beyond these walls, the battle raged on.

Hung approached with measured steps, the tea cup in hand. As he bent slightly to offer it, his sharp gaze caught the unease in Hildred's expression.

"It seems you can't relax, even while acting tough," Hung remarked with a knowing smirk.

Hildred accepted the cup with a steady hand. He blew gently over the steaming surface before sipping, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "This incident came at an inconvenient time. If they incur too many injuries, it could derail the approaching plan."

Raising his gaze from the tea, Hildred's eyes gleamed with intent. "Perhaps we should lend a hand, to minimize the damage."

Hung's smile faded. His tone turned grave. "My Lord, it's not that I haven't considered it. But if we intervene now and deny them the chance to warm up... the danger ahead, far more devastating than this, will break them. And when that time comes, our hands may be tied, unable to save anyone." The air thickened, faintly tinted with tension as the weight of unspoken truths settled between them.

Somewhere within the shattered expanse of the Mountain Astro Station, the once-mighty buildings lay in ruin, scarred by blasts that echoed the fury of an apocalypse. Smoke and dust brewed from the broken remnants, swirling like restless spirits. Pebbles tumbled from fractured walls, clattering onto the ground pockmarked by deep cracks and gaping holes, each a silent testament to the fierce battle that had unfolded minutes before.

Within this desolation stood Seraphina, Dunstan, Theodric, and Kola, scattered around the towering figure of a primordial Rhino. Their clothes hung from them in tatters, barely distinguishable from rags. Heavy breaths escaped their lips as sweat streamed down their faces, glistening like rain on worn statues. Lightning crackled in the sky above, flashing ominously, as if drawn to the chaos below, a celestial spectator intrigued by the battle's intensity.

Just beyond the devastated arena, Dunstan's and Seraphina's subordinates maintained the Celestial Convergence formation, their figures glowing faintly, channeling strength into their leaders. The air thrummed with tension, a fragile silence clinging to the edges of the battlefield.

"What kind of forbidden ability lets it summon lightning from nowhere?" Theodric bellowed, frustration gnawing at his composure. His voice cracked like thunder across the battlefield. "This beast, something about it reminds me of him."

Kola's eyes narrowed, his tone cold and sharp. "Watch your tongue. Stop dishonor the Boss by comparing him to this creature."

"I don't care!" Seraphina snapped, her voice oscillating with exhaustion and irritation. "I just want to end this and have a hot bath!" She glared at the Rihno, clenching her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white. "You—what kind of annoying abilities do you possess?!" Her childish outburst echoed with an edge of desperation.

Lightning flashed again, illuminating the battlefield. The primordial Rhino remained unmoved, its massive frame radiating a quiet menace, as if mocking their efforts.

"Wait," Dunstan's calm yet grave voice cut through the noise. "I've observed something, something crucial about its lightning attacks."

"Huh?" Theodric's brows furrowed, interest momentarily overriding his frustration. "Then why are you holding back? Spit it out!"

"I said, watch your words," Kola interjected sternly before turning back to Dunstan. "Apologies. Please, continue. If you've figured something out, we need to know."

Dunstan exhaled deeply, his eyes glinting with the weight of his discovery. "When I circled the beast earlier, I noticed it wasn't simply summoning lightning. It has marked the void around us—claimed it as its territory. This allows it to summon lightning from anywhere, at will."

A suffocating silence followed his words, broken only by the distant rumble of thunder.

"But there's a catch," Dunstan continued, his gaze darkening. "The boundary of its territory is vast, far beyond our reach. We can't tell where it begins or ends."

Seraphina let out a dramatic wail, collapsing to her knees. "Ha...ha...ha! Does that not make it utterly domineering?!"

Kola's sharp gaze flickered toward Dunstan, narrowing. "Is that everything you've learned?" Dunstan hesitated, his breath slow. "There's one more thing."

"For the stars' sake, spill it already!" Theodric growled.

Dunstan lifted his chin, his voice steady yet grim. "Though the void grants it power to attack from any direction, it does not extend to its perception. It must *see* its target before it can strike. Our subordinates, they're the proof."

For a moment, the storm seemed to hold its breath. The revelation hung between them, fragile yet monumental. Lightning cracked again, louder, closer, signaling the battle was far from over. The question lingered: would this knowledge be enough to turn the tide?

"Even knowing all this doesn't solve anything," Theodric said, his voice laced with a deep, gravelly tone, like thunder grumbling before a storm. His gaze flickered with unease. "If it were the past, I'd have walked away, summoned my subordinates guarding the Celestial Convergence formation. But now…" He paused, his hand drifting to his neck as if feeling the ghost of a blade there. "I can almost *smell* the boss's blade pressing against my throat."

Kola watched him with narrowed eyes, his arms crossed, a deep sigh escaping his lips like wind slipping through cracks in an ancient temple. "Hmph. I haven't seen that other side of him yet, but watching someone as arrogant as you tremble at just the memory of his existence…" Kola's gaze sharpened, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. "It tells me exactly how dangerous he must be."

The air between them thickened with tensionlike a taut string ready to snap. The smoke curling from the destroyed surroundings danced lazily, almost mocking their hesitation.

"The air stilled for a moment, thick with unspoken fears and shared understanding. But Dunstan's voice cut through the silence, sharp and decisive. "Guys, focus! We've been given this chance because it looks down on us. We can't let arrogance be our downfall."

His words carried the weight of urgency, sparking a new fire in their eyes. "I have an idea," Dunstan added, his gaze narrowing as if peering into the path of victory itself. "It might just give us the opening we need. But we must act before the Primordial Rihno, out of frustration, decides to obliterate us for the delay."

Kola's lips curved into a faint, relieved smile. For the first time, a glimmer of hope pierced the thick veil of dread looming over them. He turned his gaze to Theodric, who scowled, his brows drawn together in thought.

Theodric's face twisted with reluctant resolve. For a moment, his pride waged war with reason, but the memory of a blade's edge against his throat sealed his decision.

"Alright," he muttered, his voice carrying the weight of his choice. "Let us in." The wind stirred once more, as if the battlefield itself awaited their next move.

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