Zteel

Aurora led Nyota, Sage, and Kilo to a massive indoor sparring center within the precinct neighborhood. The facility featured a vast paneled dome, with numerous sparring courts beneath it—several tournament-sized ones and many smaller in scale.

To their surprise, the center wasn't fully occupied by other officers. While a few were present, the space felt open and inviting.

Aurora guided them onto one of the larger courts, taking her position on the far end while the young officers glanced around, their eyes drawn to the towering dome above.

"Amazing, right?" Aurora said with a laugh. "It's a cool place. Wish I had more reasons to come here, but there's no point in showing up alone. That's what the gym's for."

"It feels like the tournament all over again," Nyota mused, taking in the surroundings. "I could almost live here."

"Eh, I wouldn't go that far," Aurora replied with a shrug. "The goal is to fight as little as possible. But, well, that's just the objective view. I'm probably the last person to make a moral argument about it."

With a flourish, Aurora crossed her arms and then uncrossed them, revealing a pair of bluish-green brass knuckle-style melee weapons that materialized around her hands. The sudden manifestation seemed effortless, almost casual.

She dropped into a fighting stance, her expression sharp. "All right, take your positions. Let's get started."

The three officers exchanged impressed looks at Aurora's flashy display, their curiosity about her Modus growing. They quickly fell into their own stances.

Sage stood tall, raising two fingers to the center of his chest as blue flames flickered to life around him, glowing with quiet intensity. Kilo crouched low, bracing himself as red flames flared to life, wrapping around his hands and forearms like molten gauntlets.

Nyota reached behind his back, gripping the handle of his katana—a cherished gift from his late mentor. Sparks of blue lightning danced across his body, crackling from head to toe as he prepared for the sparring match ahead.

Aurora's knuckles gleamed bluish-green as she shifted her stance. "I'll keep this simple," she said with a confident grin. "Show me what you've got, all at once. But be warned—you'll need everything to keep up."

Nyota and the Hikari brothers exchanged uncertain glances. They had faced strong opponents before, but this was different. They had no idea what Aurora was capable of, but her confidence was unnerving.

Each of them was still grappling with the complexities of their own Modi—Kilo still learning to control the spectral Dragon Shade that occasionally flickered to life, Sage refining his Genesis Beacon, and Nyota hesitant to test the full potential of his lightning Modus with his katana.

"I'll take point," Sage said, stepping forward, his hands glowing with faint blue flames. "Let's test her first. Kilo, back me up. Nyota, look for an opening."

Kilo grinned. "Got it. Let's see if she can handle this."

Sage moved first, his flames gathering into controlled arcs around his arms. "Genesis Beacon," he muttered, a concentrated ray of blue fire forming in his hands. With a quick motion, he launched it toward Aurora, the air rippling with heat as it cut through the distance.

Aurora reacted instantly. With a graceful shift of her posture, she raised a shimmering plasma barrier, and Sage's flames collided with it in a burst of energy. The barrier absorbed the heat, dimming the intensity of Sage's fire. The blue flames fizzled and sputtered as they lost their potency upon contact.

"What?!" Sage muttered in disbelief, his confidence shaken. "How is that possible?"

Aurora lowered the barrier with a casual smirk. "Nice technique, but you'll need more than that to get through. Fire doesn't work too well against plasma," she said. "But you're not done yet."

Kilo, determined to help, stepped forward. His red flames flickered to life around his hands, a signal that he was ready. Despite his bravado, there was hesitation in his movements. His mastery over Dragon Shade was still incomplete, and the dragon-like manifestation that typically surrounded him only flickered weakly behind him.

"Let's see how you handle this!" Kilo shouted as he surged forward with red flames erupting around his fists, aiming to strike at Aurora with all his strength.

Aurora sidestepped with a fluid motion, easily dodging Kilo's attack. With the extension of her arms, plasma chains shot out from her palms, snaking around Kilo's ankles. The chains wrapped around him with precision, crackling as they made contact with his skin.

Kilo's eyes widened as the chains stung him. He tried to fight against their pull, but the plasma coursing through them made it impossible to break free. He was yanked off his feet and sent sprawling to the ground.

"Plasma Modus," Aurora said, watching Kilo struggle. "It has its perks. Fire doesn't do well against it, especially with ionization and the way plasma disrupts energy. But don't worry about the science—you'll feel the difference."

Kilo growled in frustration as he attempted to rise, his Dragon Shade reappearing around him. But it moved sluggishly, its form unstable as if the energy needed to sustain it wasn't quite there. Aurora saw this weakness and immediately launched a plasma-charged strike toward him. The attack hit, and Kilo was sent tumbling backward, struggling to regain his balance.

"Not done yet!" Kilo growled through clenched teeth, but his movements were weak, and Aurora was already turning her attention elsewhere.

Sage, watching his brother struggle, pressed forward. Flames swirled around him as he summoned another Genesis Beacon. This time, he hurled it with even more force, hoping to catch Aurora off guard.

His flames were intense, but his control was lacking. Aurora dashed to the side with ease, her movements fluid and quick. As she closed the gap between them, she absorbed the heat from the flames with a simple motion, her plasma-knuckled fists crackling with power.

She countered with a series of rapid plasma strikes, each blow landing with pinpoint accuracy. Sage barely had time to react before he was overwhelmed. She struck him in the chest, forcing him to one knee, gasping for air.

"You're strong," Aurora said calmly, her voice steady. "But strength without control is just chaos. It's not about how hard you hit—it's about precision."

Sage gritted his teeth, trying to push himself up, but the effort was futile. Aurora turned back to Kilo, speaking over her shoulder as she did.

"I can tell you know that already, but if you're out of control with blue fire, what do you think your brother is?" she mused. "You both have great potential, but you're not quite there yet. My plasma is a brutal opponent for both of you."

Nyota, who had been watching the exchange from a short distance, nodded silently to himself. He observed the efficiency with which Aurora neutralized the brothers' attacks, her mastery of plasma rendering their efforts nearly meaningless. He clenched his fists, sparks of lightning flickering across his frame. His eyes locked on her.

"Let's see what I can do," he murmured, pushing his katana into position. He hadn't fully tested his abilities before, but he had no choice now. It was time.

He took a deep breath, his heart racing. With a flick of his wrist, Nyota charged forward, lightning crackling around him. In a flash, he disappeared, reappearing behind Aurora. His blade came down with a sharp crackle, aiming for her back. But Aurora deflected the strike with ease, her plasma-coated knuckles absorbing the impact.

"Fast," she said, her voice laced with amusement. "But predictable."

Nyota's movements shifted. His strikes became erratic, his lightning-infused attacks more chaotic. He pushed himself harder, forcing Aurora to defend from multiple directions. The air hummed with the intensity of their clash, as lightning and plasma intertwined in a dangerous dance.

Aurora's plasma strikes moved with lightning speed, mirroring Nyota's unpredictable attacks as if she were reading his every move. For every thrust of his blade, she countered, her plasma energy amplifying her responses.

Nyota stumbled back, confusion and frustration crossing his face. "How…?" he gasped.

Aurora stepped back, her voice steady. "Copy Modus," she explained. "It lets me mirror the strengths of others. I can replicate your abilities—at least the parts that make sense for me."

Nyota's eyes widened. "So you've been copying us the whole time?"

Aurora smiled, her eyes glinting with satisfaction. "I don't just copy movements, Nyota. I replicate your Modi. And in this case, plasma and lightning work rather nicely together.

On the other hand, you've fared better than Sage and Kilo thus far. I guess lightning and plasma are in many ways two of the same."

Nyota gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his forehead. His energy was fading fast. He could feel the drain of his Modus, but something deep inside him stirred. The lightning around him flickered wildly, surging and crackling like it had a mind of its own.

Aurora tilted her head slightly, her tone shifting to something more serious. "You've been holding back, haven't you? Whatever you're about to try, don't hold back. Give it everything."

Nyota drew in a deep breath, his chest rising and falling in steady defiance of the chaos around him. Then, the storm inside him broke free. Lightning erupted in a brilliant surge, wrapping his body in a crackling web of raw energy.

For one fleeting moment, everything aligned—the storm was his to command. Energy coursed through his veins like liquid fire, and a dormant strength awoke within him, unrestrained and electrifying.

Sage's sharp gaze didn't waver as he nudged Kilo. "He's trying something new," he murmured, a note of caution laced in his voice.

Kilo leaned forward, his focus glued to the unfolding spectacle. "Let's hope it works."

Nyota fared well for a moment. But then, the pressure began to mount, cracks forming in his resolve. A flicker of uncertainty crossed his face as the energy turned wild, escaping his control.

The lightning shifted, no longer an ally but an erratic, chaotic force. Bolts lashed out unpredictably, scorching the ground and sending jagged arcs into the air. Nyota stumbled, his footing unsteady as the power inside him surged out of rhythm, overwhelming him.

He gritted his teeth, every muscle straining to contain the storm within—but the energy refused to be tamed. It pulsed and roared, consuming the confidence that had burned so brightly just moments before.

Sage clenched his fists, his tone grim. "This could go bad fast."

Kilo's voice rose with urgency. "He needs to pull back before—"

The lightning detonated in a furious burst, leaving Nyota trembling and vulnerable. Whatever had ignited inside him now threatened to consume him whole.

Aurora stepped back, watching with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "Close, but not quite," she said, her voice laced with a faint smile. "You're on the right track. But it's not there yet."

Nyota, breathless, dropped to one knee, his katana clutched tightly in his hand. "Guess… we've got a long way to go," he muttered, his voice ragged.

Aurora extended a hand to him, helping him up. "All four of us do. You're getting there. But don't forget—strength is just one part of the equation. Control, timing, and understanding your limits—that's what makes the difference."

She looked at the Hikari brothers, who were still recovering on the ground, slowly pushing themselves back up. "You all have great potential. It's not about being perfect right now—it's about progress."

The brothers exchanged weary glances. They were bruised, battered, and tired, but they were also more determined than ever.

Aurora gave them all a final, encouraging smile, her expression soft yet resolute. "One day, you'll surpass these limits. Just keep pushing."

Nyota, Sage, and Kilo nodded in unison, their resolve strengthening despite the strain of the battle. They gathered around Aurora, each of them feeling the weight of the words she had spoken.

Sage winced as he massaged his shoulder, his voice hoarse from the exertion. "How exactly do your Modi work?" he asked, clearly still processing the overwhelming experience.

Aurora leaned back slightly, crossing her arms with a confident yet relaxed posture. "Well, I have two: Plasma and Copy. I have a single passive Plasma Modus ability I call 'Thermosyphon,' which allows me to absorb heat and energy from nearby sources to fuel my abilities.

It also weakens attacks directed at me, potentially draining the energy of my opponents. I used it on yours—you were just unlucky that my Modus has a natural resistance to fire." Her gaze flicked over to Sage as she spoke, offering a small but genuine smile.

"As for my Copy Modus," she continued, her tone shifting slightly, "the entirety of it is passive. I call the ability 'Mimicry.' It grants me the ability to copy the Modi of others I observe, using them for a limited time. Quite a handy ability, I must say."

Sage let out a long, frustrated sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "So, you can just steal someone else's abilities?"

"Not exactly 'steal.' More like mimic or borrow them, if that makes sense," Aurora clarified, her voice smooth and unhurried.

"So, you just copy us and use our powers against us?" Kilo added, his tone sharp and a little more biting than usual.

Aurora shrugged with a carefree smile, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "It's just part of the game, Kilo. If you want to win, you've got to be better than me."

Her tone shifted as she leaned in slightly, the playful glint in her eyes replaced with a more curious look. "Anyway," she continued, "now that I know what you're made of, I've been meaning to ask you about something. Of course, with the three of you being in national news headlines this past summer, other exigent news would follow.

I've heard of your teacher's passing… quite bizarre."

Kilo clenched his fists at his sides, the mention of Jora's death still weighing heavily on him. "He wasn't just our teacher… he was our mentor," he said, his voice tinged with an emotion he couldn't quite hide.

Nyota, who had been silently processing Aurora's words, stepped forward, his voice steady but filled with reverence. "Jora was his name. Taught us everything we need to know… If our efforts to expose Noriko and the government's wrongdoings succeed, he's the real reason behind its success. He's the real trailblazer."

Aurora's expression softened slightly, as though the weight of their words had settled on her. "I see," she said quietly, nodding thoughtfully.

There was a brief pause before Nyota's tone shifted, growing more serious. "We think we know who the killer is."

Aurora raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Oh? And who would that be?"

Sage's voice was colder, sharper than usual. "Does the name Elwin ring any bells?" he asked, locking eyes with her.

Aurora's smile faded, her expression now unreadable as the mention of Elwin seemed to strike a chord.

"What?" Her voice trailed off, as if she hadn't expected the name to come up.

Nyota's gaze sharpened. "Noriko's second in command," he explained, his tone steady. "Do you know of him?"

Aurora's eyes narrowed, the playful glint gone, replaced by something darker. "Of course I know him!" she snapped, her voice laced with something close to disdain. She paused, biting back her words for a moment, before a faint, almost sardonic laugh escaped her.

"He's a piece of—" she stopped herself with a quick glance at the three of them, her face shifting as she quickly apologized. "Excuse my language."

She turned away for a moment, as if collecting herself, then continued with a sigh, "Sergeant Major General Elwin Newton," she snickered. "He was always a pain in the ass, even way back when."

Nyota, Sage, and Kilo exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued by the sudden shift in Aurora's tone. Her tone wasn't just dismissive; it was laced with a history—one she wasn't yet willing to fully share.

Aurora seemed to sense their silent question and, with a faint snicker, turned back to face them. Her gaze softened just a fraction, though the amusement in her eyes didn't quite reach her lips. Her voice took on a conspiratorial edge, her words trailed off like a puzzle she was about to piece together.

 "Oh… you wouldn't believe where he's from."