"Look who's returned after all these years," Xero hissed in disgust as the red, taloned monster ensnared the man beneath its grasp. Its overlarge tail, reminiscent of the grey kitten Jesse had snuck in during their childhood, swung behind it.

The tail swished back and forth in delight at the man before it. However, Xero was no playful creature like the kitten. He was a nasty, vile red-scaled monster, smoke billowing from his nostrils in angry puffs. His intent was clear—kill, not play.

The clasp on Matthew's throat tightened as Xero lifted him into the air, leaving his feet dangling. Eko moved to intervene, but Madison pulled her back, a mix of fear and determination in her eyes. Eko swallowed hard, the lump in her throat growing as she watched helplessly, her mind racing for a way to save Matthew from Xero's wrath as he resumed speaking.

"What a curious day today has turned into," Xero leered, his tone dripping with malicious delight. He savored his control over the man who had once dared to challenge him.

"Xero," Matthew barely muttered, his breaths coming in short, labored gasps. Despite his predicament, a smirk played at the corners of his lips, a deliberate taunt to the monster. Xero's grip tightened mercilessly around Matthew's throat, hoisting him higher into the air as his feet continued to dangle helplessly. Eko lunged forward, intent on intervening, but Madison's firm grasp on her arm pulled her back.

Eko's heart pounded in her chest, every fiber of her being screaming to save Matthew. "We have to do something," she hissed, desperation lacing her voice.

Xero's laughter echoed, a harsh, grating sound that sent chills down Eko's spine. "Oh, you stupid fucking child," he mocked, his grip tightening even further. Matthew wrapped his hand around Xero's wrist, his fingers clawing desperately to loosen the ironclad grip around his throat.

The monster's laughter continued, as cold and harsh as the winds of Creon. "This won't end well for you, boy," he taunted, his voice a sinister whisper. "Your blood will soon fill my streets."

Beside Eko, Madison's grip tightened, her voice urgent with fear. "We need to get out of here, Sera. Now!" she hissed, tugging harder, trying to drag her cousin away from the unfolding horror.

But Eko's eyes were locked on Matthew, horror and determination battling within her. "No," she breathed, her voice barely audible over the chaos. "I can't leave him. I-I...?"

Eko's heart pounded fiercely as she watched Matthew's cloak flutter in the chaos, her sky-blue eyes wide with fear and determination. She stood there, immovable, her hands balled into fists. The fierce glare from her cousin Madison, who was equally shaken but for different reasons, did nothing to sway her resolve. She had never felt such hatred for her cousin as she did in this moment, for everything that had led them to this dangerous situation.

Where the fuck was Ace? She could feel his presence, his anger—so why wasn't he here? Why the fuck was he not helping? The thought consumed her, amplifying her frustration and fear. She was going to have to handle this herself. This was not going to be a fun conversation when she had to explain to Matthew who she really was once this was all over.

Just then, the tide of the battle shifted. With fierce determination etched across his face, Matthew launched a series of rapid strikes against Xero. Each punch, fueled by desperation, forced Xero to gradually release his grasp. Finally, with a powerful blow, Matthew sent Xero reeling backward. The impact made Xero stagger and release his chokehold. Gasping for breath, Matthew's expression was a mixture of pain and staunch resolve as he landed firmly on his feet, momentarily free.

He quickly surveyed the immediate surroundings for any further threats. With a sharp turn of his head to Eko, he barked, "Airstrip, three clicks from here. Move!" His voice, raw and commanding, cut through the clamor. "Toni's waiting!"

Eko knew they needed to act swiftly. Their only hope of survival was to reach the outskirts where Toni was waiting with their escape. Her heart raced as she watched Matthew suddenly tackled to the ground by Xero's underlings. The minions swarmed around him, intensifying the already chaotic scene. Amid the uproar, Xero's commanding voice rallied the crowd, spurring them into a frenzied attack.

Madison tugged at Eko's arm, attempting to drag her away from the escalating chaos. But Eko stood rooted, her gaze fixed on Matthew as he struggled against his monstrous captors. The thought of revealing her true identity as a crystal warrior flickered through her mind again like a dangerous spark. She knew the repercussions could change everything, but watching Matthew in trouble was torturing her soul.

Suddenly, the command "Kill him!" boomed over the din, slicing through Eko's hesitation like a knife. The crowd's mood shifted instantly, a frenzy sparked by Xero's words. Confusion erupted as the mob began to chant, "Catch the human!" and surged toward the town center.

Eko's resolve solidified, her features setting into a mask of fierce determination. She shook off Madison's grip with a sharp jerk. "I have to go back. I have to help him!" Her voice cracked under the strain, standing out against the roaring wind and chaos around them.

Madison's response was swift and brutal—a sharp slap across Eko's face, the sound slicing through the tumultuous air. The impact jolted Eko, her hand flying to her reddening cheek, tears brimming in her eyes from the pain and shock.

"What are you thinking, risking your life for him!" Madison screamed at her.

The sting of the slap ignited a fire within Eko; anger surged through her, her expression hardening into one of steely determination. She glared at her cousin, her pain transforming into resolute fury. "I'm saving him because I love him!" Eko retorted, her voice unwavering. Without another word, she grasped Madison's wrist, her powers surging amidst the chaos. In an instant, they were enveloped in a burst of energy, transporting them away from the docks to the relative safety of the outskirts.

Eko and Madison materialized abruptly beside the airstrip, where a solitary aircraft sat with its engines idling, its rumble battling the howling wind. Beside it, Toni paced back and forth, draped in the black uniform of Allegiant.

The sand whipped through the air with ferocity, reducing visibility to just a few meters and creating a curtain of fine, gritty particles that obscured the horizon. The makeshift airstrip emerged from the haze, flanked by dilapidated structures reminiscent of better days. The area was strewn with debris, abandoned aircraft parts scattered about, resembling a graveyard for fallen machines.

Toni's expression shifted from confusion to concern as he noticed Eko and Madison.

"Why did you bring us here?" Madison demanded sharply, her voice tinged with disorientation and anger from the unexpected teleportation.

Eko, still reeling from their confrontation and the intense escape, faced Madison with a fierce glare. "Madison, enough!" she snapped, her voice sharp as she cut through the air with a decisive gesture, signaling her demand for silence. "Shut your fucking mouth!"

***** *****

Toni was completely taken aback by the sight of Eko wielding her powers, with a visibly distressed Madison by her side. As they appeared with a crackle of magical energy, his initial reaction was an incredulous chuckle. "Oh, this day just keeps getting better and better," he quipped, raising his eyebrows in surprise.

Eko turned to face Toni, her expression tight with urgency and tinged with annoyance. Observing his half-amused, half-shocked expression, she leveled him with a stern look and said tersely, "Look, I'll explain all this later. But yes, as you can piece together I have powers, go by the name of Snow," she added with a hint of sarcasm, giving a brief, mocking bow as she pursed her lips, clearly not in the mood for his amusement.

Eko caught Toni's gaze, which irked her. His look was almost starstruck, the last thing she needed right now. Rolling her eyes inwardly, she sighed; fandom reactions were something she had grown used to, but right now, they were the least of her concerns. "Seriously, Toni? You're giving me the fan club look right now?"

"Yeah, uh, that's not what this is," Toni tried to keep the mood light, despite the tension, scratching the back of his head and chuckling to himself. The irony of the situation was not lost on him—Ace and Snow, bitter rivals unbeknownst to each other, actually in love? He'd pay good money to see the looks on their faces when they finally figured it out.

Shifting his focus, even if his default was to diffuse tension with humor, he turned serious. "Hang on, where's Matthew?" His earlier levity evaporated as concern took over.

Eko's appearance unsettled Toni; her usual composure was replaced by palpable anxiety. His casual smirk faded into concern. "Eko?" he straightened, his tone now edged with urgency. "Where the fuck is Matthew?"

"I think his name was Xero. This talon monster found us, Toni!" Eko's voice cracked, and her fingers twitched involuntarily in her distress, sparking with magic. "I had to get Madison out. But I need to go back—before anything happens."

"Xero?" Toni repeated, the color draining from his face as the gravity of the situation set in. "You just said, Xero found you?" His lightheartedness vanished completely, replaced by grave concern. "Okay, just wait—hold on a sec. Xero? Fucking Xero?"

But before he could process the information further, Eko was already preparing to leap back into the fray, her determination clear in the set of her jaw and the fierce glint in her eyes. With a sharp crack like thunder, she vanished, leaving behind a charged silence that echoed her desperation.

The sandstorm around them intensified, the wind howling like a banshee, whipping sand through the air with such force that it stung their skin and blurred their vision. Toni turned to Madison, whose eyes blazed with a mixture of fear and anger.

"You're going to get her killed with this," Madison accused sharply, her voice trembling with both fear and frustration. "I can't understand why she insists on putting your lives before her own!"

Toni snorted dismissively, his own frustration boiling over. "Really? We're going to get her killed? That's rich, coming from you," he shot back, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Good fucking joke, Madison."

Shaking his head in disbelief, Toni turned away, trudging through the biting sandstorm toward the ship.

Ignoring Madison's seething glare, he called over his shoulder, his voice firm and resolute, "Get on the ship. We need to go save the kids." He had no interest in entertaining her accusations or excuses. His focus was solely on reaching Eko and his best friend before Xero did, ensuring their escape from this chaos before anyone got hurt.

***** ******

The skirmish raged on as Xero and his minions cornered Matthew in the windswept streets of Creon. Each brutal blow landed with bone-crushing force, yet only seemed to fuel Matthew's resolve. Winded but undeterred, he endured the relentless assault, his eyes scanning for an opening. Finally, a moment of vulnerability appeared in his adversary's stance. With fierce determination, Matthew seized the opportunity, gathering all his strength to deliver a powerful counterstrike that sent the talon beast sprawling to the gritty ground.

But there was no time to catch his breath. Matthew instinctively turned to block the next attack, driving his sword deep into the scaly monster's throat, blue blood pouring down the blade. Wrenching his sword free, he pivoted sharply, severing the head of another youma in one fluid motion. Each breath he took was labored; skipping his doctor's appointment that morning had been a mistake, a nagging ache in his chest reminded him. But if he wanted to survive, he needed to shove those thoughts aside and keep pushing forward. The relentless pace of combat tested his stamina, but he pushed himself to the limits of his endurance, determined not to die on this godforsaken, infested pile of shit of a world.

Despite his efforts, the beasts summoned by Xero occasionally broke through his defenses. Sharp claws and heavy blows landed with punishing force, promising a toll of broken bones and severe bruises. But surrender was not an option. He just needed to create distance, regroup with Toni, and then get the hell out of there.

As Matthew dashed through the desolate, storm-ravaged streets of Creon, the swirling sandstorm intensified, obscuring his vision and stinging his skin. Turning a corner on pure instinct, he narrowly avoided another ambush. The crystal energy within him surged, a tangible force pulsing at his fingertips.

In a swift, reflexive motion, Matthew raised his hand, channeling the crystal's energy into a dazzling golden powerball. The energy burst forth in a brilliant arc, striking one of the black-eyed, razor-toothed reptilian youmas that had lunged at him. The impact sent the creature hurtling backward through the air, its monstrous form crashing into the rubble with a heavy thud.

Caught momentarily off guard while catching his breath, Matthew failed to notice the next attacker until it was almost too late. The creature, another of the reptilian beasts, leapt at him with startling speed, its substantial weight crashing down and sending him sprawling onto the rough, sand-covered ground. He felt the hard earth beneath him, his bones jarring with the impact as he grappled desperately with the creature.

The beast's breath, hot and foul, washed over Matthew's face as its razor-sharp teeth snapped dangerously close to his skin. Under the creature's oppressive weight, Matthew writhed, his training kicking into high gear. Gritting his teeth, he managed to wedge his knee between them, leveraging against the monster's underbelly.

Just then, the atmosphere shifted dramatically—Matthew's senses spiked as power surged through the area. Light and shadow danced wildly as energy orbs whizzed past, creating a spectacle of chaos. It was then he realized Snow was there, she had entered the fray, and while he didn't have time to question why the fuck she had been there, it offered a moment of repreieve. 

Turning his attention back to his own dire situation, Matthew felt the beast's weight pressing down on him with relentless force, its oppressive bulk threatening to crush him. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest as he fought to shove the creature away, his arms trembling with the effort. The hot, fetid breath of the monster washed over his face, and its snapping jaws loomed ever closer, razor-sharp teeth glinting menacingly. Each second stretched into an agonizing eternity, the pounding of his heart echoing in his ears like a war drum.

He could feel the rough, gritty texture of the sand beneath him, the particles scraping against his skin as he struggled for leverage. Desperation clawed at him, a primal urge to survive surging through his veins. He grit his teeth, using every ounce of strength he had to wedge his knee between them, pushing against the creature's underbelly with all his might.

The world around him was a cacophony of chaos and violence, the clash of combat ringing out as Snow's energy orbs collided with their targets. The light from the orbs cast fleeting, ghostly illuminations on the monstrous face of his attacker, highlighting its grotesque features. Matthew's vision blurred with sweat and sand, his chest tightening painfully, a warning throb in his heart. He felt his hands tremble, slipping momentarily as he struggled to keep the razor-toothed creature from snapping at him.

With a brutal lunge, the creature overpowered him, its teeth sinking deep into his shoulder. The pain was sharp and searing, like a hot knife slicing through his flesh. Matthew's scream was lost in the howling storm, a cry of agony swallowed by the relentless winds.

The intense pain ignited a fierce surge of adrenaline within him. Gritting his teeth, Matthew summoned every last reserve of strength, pushing upwards again and he again wedged his knee between them, and in his efforts dislodged the creature momentarily, its grip loosening in surprise. He gasped, drawing in a precious gulp of air, the metallic taste of blood filling his mouth. His heart stuttered painfully, but he forced himself to ignore it. 

Before he could fully exploit this brief respite, the air above him crackled with immense power. The ground trembled as an energy blast tore through the atmosphere, striking the creature with devastating precision. In a grotesque spectacle, the creature's head exploded, showering Matthew with warm, black blood. The metallic tang of blood and the acrid scent of battle filled his nostrils, overwhelming his senses.

Covered in the grisly remnants of the youma, Matthew lay momentarily dazed on the gritty sand, his body aching from the ordeal. Slowly, with a grimace of pain and effort, he pushed himself to a sitting position, his surroundings a blur of motion and sound. Discarding his torn cloak, he rose unsteadily to his feet, his hand instinctively finding the hilt of his sword for support.

Taking a deep breath to steady his trembling limbs, Matthew scanned the chaotic battlefield. His eyes narrowed as he spotted the menacing silhouette of Xero in the distance, near the smoldering ruins of once-standing buildings. The sight of his adversary reignited his determination, and his jaw set with firm resolve.

As he began to stride towards Xero, a fresh swarm of creatures quickly blocked his path, their eyes glinting malevolently. Their snarls and hisses filled the air, a chilling reminder of the danger he faced. Without hesitation, Matthew raised his palm, feeling the familiar thrum of energy coursing through his veins. The power surged within him, vibrant and alive.

Concentrating, he channeled his willpower, forming a radiant orb of power in his hand. The orb glowed brightly, casting eerie shadows on the twisted faces of the snarling beasts. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled the energy ball into the midst of the advancing horde. It exploded on impact, a blinding flash of light and heat engulfing the creatures. The force of the blast sent them reeling back, their screams echoing through the chaos. Some disintegrated instantly, reduced to ashes in the blink of an eye.

With the path cleared, Matthew pressed forward in his relentless advance toward Xero. Each step was driven by a potent mix of fury and determination, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword. The ground beneath him seemed to tremble with his resolve, the air itself charged with the intensity of his purpose. As he closed the distance, the chaos around him faded into the background, his focus narrowing solely on the figure standing between him and getting the fuck out of there. 

With sand whipping around him, mingling with the scent of blood and fire, Matthew's senses sharpened. The battlefield stretched out before him, a macabre testament to the ferocity of the fight. He could feel the remnants of Snow's power rippling through the air, dismantling any lingering threats with ruthless efficiency. This allowed Matthew to direct his full attention toward Xero.

The creature stood amidst the chaos, its gaze fixed on Matthew with unsettling intensity. Clenching his sword tighter, Matthew felt its familiar weight anchor him in the moment, the bloodstained blade was ready to strike down his enemies again. As he approached, he saw a youma hurl a dagger directly at Xero.

Xero caught the weapon with terrifying precision, his claws wrapping around the handle as a sinister smirk played across his features. The talon-tailed monster advanced, clearly delighted at the prospect of killing him.

Matthew steeled himself as Xero closed the gap with menacing speed. His heart raced, but his training took over. He dodged to the side, his movements fluid and precise, evading the slashes aimed to maim or kill. Each parry was calculated, each dodge executed with just enough clearance to keep him alive.

As the dance of death continued, Matthew's mind raced, strategizing each move while keeping an eye on his surroundings. His entire being focused on staying one step ahead of Xero, knowing that any misstep could be fatal. The clash of metal, the roar of the wind, and the cries of the fallen all faded into a background hum as Matthew prepared for what might be the final confrontation between them.

All he needed to do now was stay one step ahead of Xero at all costs. He refused to die here; he wasn't going out like this.