As Darius throws a punch expecting to directly hit, Artair moves in a flash behind Darius, aiming a powerful punch at his kidney. Darius anticipates the move, twisting his massive body to deliver a backhanded blow that catches Artair off guard. Artair crashes into a nearby building, the impact creating a cloud of dust and rubble.

Artair (wiping blood from his mouth) - Not bad.

Darius - You’re gonna need more than tricks to beat me.

Artair rises to his feet, his eyes glowing with determination. He raises his hands, manipulating the space around him to create a barrier of shimmering energy. Darius charges, his fists slamming into the barrier with electrifying force. The barrier holds, but only just.

Artair (grinning) - Let’s see how you handle this.

Artair compresses the space around Darius, creating an implosion that sends the massive beast crashing to the ground. Darius roars in defiance, using his lightning-infused strength to break free from the spatial constraint. He charges again, his fists a whirlwind of destructive energy.

Artair moves to Darius’s side, landing a series of rapid punches to his ribcage. Darius counters with a thunderous uppercut that sends Artair flying into the air. Artair recovers mid-air, manipulating the space around him to slow his descent and land gracefully on the ground.

Darius (breathing heavily) - You’re tough, I’ll give you that.

Artair - Can’t expect any less from you.

The two warriors clash again, their movements a blur of speed and power. Artair uses his spatial manipulation to create openings, landing precise blows that keep Darius on the defensive. Darius counters with his lightning punches, each strike powerful enough to level a building.

As the battle rages on, it becomes clear that neither has a decisive advantage. Artair’s agility and spatial manipulation are perfectly balanced against Darius’s raw power and lightning speed. They are equals, locked in a dance of destruction and skill.

Artair swiftly raises his hand, creating a shimmering spatial shield that absorbs the impact. The air crackles with energy as Darius's fist meets the invisible barrier.

Darius snarls and throws another powerful punch. This time, Artair slips to maintain the shield. The sheer force of the blow shatters the barrier, and Darius's punch lands squarely on Artair, sending him flying backward into a seven-story building. The structure crumbles around the impact point, glass and concrete raining down as Artair crashes through multiple floors.

Darius charges forward, smashing through the building with brute force, leaving a gaping hole in his wake. The terrace of the building explodes as Artair, battered but undeterred, bursts out, floating in the air with a determined look in his eyes.

Looking down, Artair sees Darius launching himself straight up, aiming to collide mid-air. Artair quickly moves back, creating a spatial shield between them. Darius, undeterred, grabs the invisible barrier, using it as leverage to hurl himself at Artair with even greater force.

Artair, still retreating, creates another spatial shield.

Darius roars in fury, his wounds crackling with energy as he prepares to strike again. Artair, floating and poised, readies himself for the next round, his eyes locked onto his formidable opponent.

Darius descends from the sky, his massive form casting a shadow over Artair. In mid-air, he loads his punch and delivers a powerful strike to Artair’s face. Artair, caught off guard, fails to block the punch and is sent crashing through a multi-story building before hitting the ground with a resounding thud.

Artair Groans in pain as he opens his eyes, seeing the sky through a haze of debris. He notices Darius falling directly towards him, legs ready to strike. Artair rolls to the side just in time as Darius’s legs crash into the ground, leaving a crater. Artair shoots a punch at Darius, but Darius grabs Artair’s arm mid-strike and hurls him into the side of a building.

Artair Grunts as he slams into the wall, the impact rattling through his bones.

Darius charges at full speed and punches Artair, sending him crashing through to the other side of the building. Artair skids across the ground, leaving a trail of destruction behind him. Struggling, he gets up on his knees, wiping the blood from his nose. He sees Darius slowly approaching through the hole in the building.

Artair - Do you have a story to tell? Something to say?

Darius (Growling) - And what’s that supposed to mean?

Artair - Feels like there’s some trouble you’re in.

Darius (Smirking) - Yeah, you’re right about that. But soon, that trouble will be going in the coffin, along with you all. Isn’t that right, Darius?

Artair - It’s really Disappointing.

Darius sees the look at Artair's face. Artair gets up and summons a pair of blades from his spatial pocket. Darius snarls and charges. Artair teleports behind him, slashing at his back. Darius roars in pain and spins, launching a lightning-infused punch. Artair blocks it with one blade but is still knocked back by the force.

Darius rushes forward again, but Artair teleports above him, bringing both blades down. Darius blocks one with his forearm but takes the other slash across his chest. He retaliates with a powerful uppercut that sends Artair flying into the air. As Artair falls, he reaches into his spatial pocket and pulls out a grenade, tossing it at Darius. The explosion engulfs Darius, momentarily obscuring him in smoke.

Artair lands gracefully, summoning his glock and firing rapidly into the smoke.

Artair teleports at the face of Darius, delivering a series of rapid punches with his knuckles, each hit enhanced by his spatial manipulation. Darius staggers but manages to catch Artair’s fist, twisting it painfully.

With a burst of strength, Artair breaks free and delivers a powerful energy kick to Darius’s chest, sending him crashing into a nearby building. Artair quickly follows up, putting his weapons in the space pocket.

Artair - I thought you were like me……….. I was alone my whole life, Parents died at a very young age, Neglected by my surroundings, ended all my connections to anyone. I thought I was the worst, but I am glad I am not, Because I didn’t end up like you.

Darius (In a low voice) - What do you know about me?

Artair - Exactly nothing. But seeing you ended up like this here, I know everything that I need to know…. And I am glad that I didn’t end up being a monster like you.

Artair stood over the fallen Darius, the monstrous figure face down on the ground. His breathing was heavy, the recent battle still fresh in his mind. He looked at Darius with a calm in his eyes.

Artair - This power of ours... it’s really uncontrollable. You need to get a handle on yourself before you hurt someone really bad.

Artair sat down, his eyes meeting Darius's as the giant humanoid turned his head slightly.

Darius (Voice filled with pain and anger) - Hurting someone? Becoming a monster? If that’s what you see in me, then you’re blind. You’re blind because you don’t see what they made me do. You don’t see what they took from the outsiders. You don’t see what they stole from me. I never asked for any of this. I never wanted to be this monster. But look what my destiny molded by the actions of others has made of me…… I really….

Artair (Interrupting) - What’s better than to prove me wrong here?

Darius (Confused) Ha?

Artair - From the outside, you look like a bloodthirsty monster, but I want to believe that from the inside, you’re not…. Prove that you’re not a threat to anyone.

Darius (Desperation creeping into his voice) - If I stop here, they will kill all the people I care about. They will take everything from the outsiders in the years to come.

Artair (Calmly) - Then we should talk things out…… Humans have always tried to resolve conflicts with violence when they should’ve talked. The same goes for us. We've been fighting for the last fifteen minutes and never once tried to talk it out.

Darius (Incredulous) - Talk this out?

Artair - Why not?

Darius fell silent, a flicker of doubt crossing his face.

Artair - You good?

In the white Void

Ztabay watched Darius sitting on the white, featureless ground, his body battered and spirit worn, defeated, as if the weight of the world had crushed him down.

Ztabay (Voice calm but probing) - So, what’s it gonna be? You gonna end this with talking... or otherwise?

Darius didn’t respond. His head hung low, eyes focused on the ground beneath him, lost in thought or perhaps just lost.

Ztabay - Kid?

Finally, Darius spoke, his voice low and trembling,

Darius - I don’t know. Both the ways... never really got me what I wanted.

Ztabay narrowed his eyes, leaning forward slightly as he sat down on his knees, leveling himself with Darius. He asked softly,

Ztabay - And what do you exactly want?

Darius’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, his voice barely above a whisper,

Darius - Home... I just want a home.

The raw vulnerability in Darius's voice caught Ztabay off guard, and for a moment, the two sat in silence, the vast white void around them feeling more like a cage than an open space.

Ztabay's expression softened as he spoke,

Ztabay - You know, I can understand. You humans... you’re all really fond of this concept of 'home.' It’s like your anchor, something that keeps you grounded. All you ever really want is someone to care for you, someone to go back to. (He paused, searching for the right words), Don’t ask me why I know this, because I really don’t. But I do know that the mere thought of losing that someone... it cuts your heart deep.

Darius looked up at Ztabay, the tears now visible in his eyes.

Ztabay (Voice firm, yet with a hint of empathy) - But I know that you know what it’s gonna take for you to get what you want.

Ztabay stood up, his gaze never leaving Darius. He extended a hand, not to offer comfort but to signal resolve,

Ztabay - Don't worry. I’ve got this from here.

Ztabay’s eyes flashed with determination as he prepared to take full control.

Ztabay - But remember, kid, nothing worth having comes priceless. Not even a place to call home.

On the battlefield

Artair looking at Darius hears.

Darius - That’s diplomacy you’re talking about.

Artair - Yes.

Darius - A sort of negotiation, where people have to lower their demands or goals. It won't work with them.

Artair - What do you mean?

Darius - The Dome won’t lower their interests or spare the lives of the outsiders. The next time they need to wipe out the outsiders, they will do it in a flash. So it won’t work.

Artair (Desperately) - But you don’t know that for sure.

Darius began to rise, his massive form towering over Artair.

Darius - I know everything I need to know. I have to keep doing what is expected of me, and no one can stop me from executing my role.

Artair watched Darius standing fully upright, his resolve unshaken.

Artair - That’s a mistake.

Without warning, Darius swung a powerful punch, sending Artair skidding across the ground. Artair quickly got up, wiping blood from his mouth as he looked back at Darius

Darius - There is no mistake. My objective is clear, and I know what’s at stake if I don’t fulfill it.

On the mountain

On the edge of a mountain, Hugo, Ben, Lana, and Samuel stood in tense silence, their eyes fixed on the city below, now a smoldering battlefield. Thick plumes of smoke curled up into the sky, mingling with the dark clouds above. The devastation was vast, a once-thriving block of the city now reduced to dust and rubble. Lana squinted at the scene, her voice trembling slightly,

Lana - Is it over?

Hugo - I think so.

His voice was calm, but there was a lingering uncertainty in his tone.

Lana shook her head in disbelief,

Lana - That block of the city... it’s really turned to dust.

Samuel - At least the whole city didn’t turn to ashes, right, guys?

From behind them, the sound of footsteps approached. Lana turned around, noticing Victor and Arthur coming up the slope,

Lana - Hey, Victor and Arthur are here.

Victor, looking worn but resolute, stepped forward, joining them at the edge of the mountain. He stared down at the city, his voice hollow,

Victor - So it’s finally over, huh?

As if on cue, the ground beneath the city trembled, and their eyes widened in shock as they watched a row of buildings begin to collapse in a chain reaction, one after the other, crumbling to the ground like a line of dominoes.

Samuel - Why do you have to open your big mouth, Victor?