shackles Broken

Emily

The screams of Eden and Nate pierced the air, sending a chill through Emily’s spine. A creeping doubt began to settle in her chest.

Could they really lose to Tenkan?

Her thoughts were cut short as Ace’s shield flew past her, exploding from an unseen blast. The impact rocked the ground beneath her.

“Snap out of it!!” Athena’s voice rang out, firm and unwavering. Though her breaths were labored, her eyes still blazed with unshakable belief. “If you’re about to lose hope, you might as well run away!”

Emily blinked, steeling her resolve. She raised her staff high.

“High Heal!!” she shouted, her voice echoing through the chaos. A green glow erupted, washing over Athena and Owen, mending their injuries.

If they still believed in Nate, then he had to make it through. He would make it through.

Eden

Within the twisted vision, the past played out before them.

Nate stood frozen, eyes wide in disbelief, watching as Eden—his younger self—let Tenkan’s sister fall limp into the river’s current.

“You… you killed her…” Nate whispered, collapsing to his knees. His voice cracked, broken by what he had seen. “Why?”

Eden’s gaze remained fixed on the memory, where blood stained his younger self’s hands.

“It was the Blood Syringe,” Eden muttered. “I lost control. I was sent to kill Tenkan… because he knew the truth about the Holy Knights. Killing his sister was a mistake I live with every day.”

The scene shifted.

Inside the Academy, Eden and Tenkan sprinted through the corridors, reaching a hidden chamber where a humming arc reactor stood like a sleeping beast. The leader of the Holy Knights waited inside, alongside several powerful knights.

“Eden! We’ve been spotted—we have to run!” Tenkan grabbed his friend’s hand, desperation in his voice.

But Eden didn’t move.

Instead, he took a step forward—toward the leader.

“You tricked me…” Tenkan muttered, betrayed and broken.

Holy Knights charged. Tenkan’s blade met them with fury, cutting each one down with precision honed by training and rage.

The leader stepped forward, expression unreadable. “So this is what you’ve become,” he said. “Sad to see you betray those who took you in as family.”

“You only took us in for your own gain,” Tenkan growled, falling to one knee under the pressure of the leader’s gravity magic.

“You might be right… Eden. Take him away.”

Eden obeyed, chaining Tenkan with anti-magic restraints.

Back in the mindscape, Nate clenched his fists. His voice was cold.

“Killing his sister wasn’t enough, huh…?”

He stood, his presence shifting. “Where’s their older brother?”

Eden’s eyes narrowed. “How do you know about him?”

“He vanished,” Eden said slowly, “after freeing me from the Holy Knight Academy’s mind control.”

Nate exhaled, his shoulders relaxing just slightly. “Good…”

Then he turned to Eden, his expression shifting with purpose. “Listen closely. I’m going to get us out of here—but first, you need to know this.”

He leaned in, whispered something.

And Eden’s eyes widened in shock.

Owen

The battle continued. Owen’s breathing was heavy, sweat mixing with blood. Tenkan stood tall before them, unharmed and unrelenting.

“Oh? At your limit already?” Tenkan taunted, taking a step forward. “I thought you’d at least hold on until I crushed your teammates with my own hands.”

Then, he paused… and smirked.

“Well, would you look at that… it’s finally happening.”

A sudden surge of power exploded from Eden, bursting with an overwhelming aura of darkness. The barrier surrounding the arena cracked and shattered from the pressure, hurling Athena and Emily into the air.

Athena

Wind roared in Athena’s ears as she flew backwards through the air. She closed her eyes, bracing for impact—

But it never came.

Strong arms caught her mid-air.

She opened her eyes slowly, only to find herself cradled by someone in worn leather armor. Her breath caught.

“Nate…”

His expression was dead serious, eyes locked on Eden, whose aura twisted with red and black energy. He didn’t look like himself.

Did Nate… fail?

“Relax,” Nate said without taking his eyes off Eden. A smirk crept onto his lips. “This is about to get interesting. Brace yourself.”

He gently placed her and Emily down, then stepped forward.

Eden

Power surged around Eden as he stepped forward. The darkness in his aura was now infused with something deeper—something crimson and ominous. He stood beside Tenkan, unreadable.

“Eden…” Athena whispered.

Nate only grinned. “So this is where the ‘Gladiator’ name comes from, huh?” he said with a yawn.

Tenkan's face hardened. “Why aren’t you trembling…?”

“Maybe,” Nate replied, “because none of us are.”

Without warning, Eden’s fist slammed into Tenkan’s chest, launching him out of the arena with cataclysmic force. The entire structure crumbled in the aftermath. Owen, Emily, and Athena were left stunned by the shockwave.

“Now that’s power,” Nate whistled.

Eden turned with a grin. “Let’s go finish him.”

“Yeah.”

Eden took off into the sky, soaring over the ruined battlefield. Nate turned back to the others and waved his hand. A magic circle appeared, conjuring a full meal in front of them.

“Here. This will restore your health and mana,” he said. “I’ll be back.”

Then he flew off after Eden.

Nate

They flew past the forest Nate once knew, the place where it all began.

There, on the shattered ground, lay Tenkan—beaten, bloodied, and furious.

He slowly pushed himself up, veins bulging in his neck.

“How… HOW?! ANSWER ME!!” Tenkan’s voice was raw, his expression twisted with hatred.

Nate stepped forward, facing him directly. His eyes carried pain—and something deeper.

“Eden,” Nate said, not looking back, “let me fight him.”

Eden turned, silent, but understanding.

He saw it.

He saw the fire in Nate’s eyes.