Chapter 168: Inevitable Struggle

Meanwhile, at the temporary Echo company research facility, east of the academy, Zane, Voron, Raxo, and Core were all holed up inside. Zane had come to the research facility upon Core's request, though he never expected anything like this to happen.

The fighting was beginning to fiercen, as Zane was beginning to lose his patience, finally getting up and running outside.

"Hold on there, prince. Where do you think you're going?" Core stopped him before he left.

"I need to get to my sister and protect her! Why are we just holed up in here?!" Zane protested, his worry for his sibling, Emria included, evident on his face.

"Don't you see the battalion that's waiting for us outside? Why do you think they haven't just sunk this entire building down? They're waiting for us to exit so they can strike," Core explained, which made the green-haired prince bite his lip, trying his hardest to stay calm.

"That being said, Raxo, do you have your red ring with you?" Core turned around and asked, to which she shook her head.

"Nah, I left it behind in the basement of the dorm. Why?" She informed, to which Core scoffed in annoyance.

"Tch, that was our only other way out. Well, there's always that…"

As Core said that, D8 suddenly appeared from a marble on Core's person, kneeling down to him as she spoke in worry.

"Please, master, do not think like that. I directly object to that course of action," she exclaimed as Core stood up and walked past Zane, in the direction of the front door.

"Stand down, D8. And that goes for the rest of Checkmate. Nobody is to interfere with this, understand?" Core said while reaching for the door handle.

"But!—" She raised her head, being interrupted by a loud, compelling demand coming out of Core's still underdeveloped voice.

"This is an order! I will not be swayed on this matter!" He commanded, a small period of silence following his yell.

"I— I understand…" D8 put her head back down and returned to the marble.

Core took a deep breath, when he suddenly felt a hand placed on his shoulder.

"What's the plan?" Voron, who was intently watching the scene unfold asked.

"I'm almost positive these guys are after me. And if that's the case, then we could use me as bait to help the others escape," Core stated, Voron giving no reaction.

"And you think that plan's gonna work? Really?" Voron asked him, Core's trying to hide his uneasy expression.

"It's our only chance…"

Meanwhile, back at the center of the city…

The battle between Quint and Roki continued raging, Roki beginning to toy with him as Quint grew exhausted and fatigued. Clyde continued dodging Galo's attacks, while trying to think of an escape method from their situation.

"Hahaha! You just don't give up, do you, beast boy?" Roki hysterically laughed as he continued playing with Quint.

"And you too, Clyde. Just hand her over already," Galo sighed as Clyde and Quint both heaved heavy breaths.

Suddenly, they felt an immense pressure come upon them, almost as if the air doubled in density. From the hole in the top of the cavern, they saw a grey-haired man descending, one that Clyde recognized.

"That's…" Clyde's eyes trembled as he saw him descending, Galo and Roki also looking up at the man.

"Tch, the fun's over I guess," Roki scoffed.

"Finally, I can take a break," Galo sighed.

"Well, well, well… What do we have here?" Luther sounded as he landed in the middle of the circle, crossing his arms as he looked at Clyde, then at Roki and Galo. "Wow, you 2 really are useless, huh? You were supposed to get this over with 5 minutes ago. At this rate, he's gonna come back you know?" He remarked while laughing, his words irritating the 2 Crypt leaders, though they didn't show it.

"We apologize," Galo reluctantly said, while Roki just silently scoffed.

"Meh, it's fine. It just makes more work for me," Luther unfolded his hands then looked back at Clyde, who readied himself.

However, Clyde didn't have a chance to even react. Luther instantly appeared in front of him and flicked his forehead, sending him flying back into the ground, forming a trail of ruin from where he was dragged. In the attack, Luther also took hold of Xenia's arm with his other hand, stealing her from Clyde's grip.

"That's 1. Rein should have the other 1, right? We'll just wait for him to come to us then," Luther concluded as he began flying again.

"Actually, some of my goons told me that there's a second curse in the city," Roki informed in an unamused voice,

"Hm?" Luther reacted with a raised eyebrow as he scanned around the city, his eyes landing on a blue-haired boy in the northeast of the city. "I see… Interesting…" A twisted smile appeared on his face.

"HEY! GIVE HER BACK!" Quint growled at Luther, who turned his eyes to him for a brief moment, then ignored him afterward.

"Roki, Galo. Inform all forces to drop everything and capture that second curse. This is Crypt's chance to redeem itself, understand?" Luther ordered, to which the 2 unwillingly complied, the both of them clearly having a deep-rooted dislike for Luther.

"Fine, whatever," Galo hopped back on his golden platform, and Roki thwacked his hammer again, teleporting on Galo's platform with him as they began floating up to inform the other troops.

Luther flew back up through the hole he came through, carrying Xenia away from her brother, who was still stuck on the ground, tears streaming down his face. Suddenly, Quint felt his collar being tugged, a gust of air waving past him as Clyde appeared before him, his eyes red and his face wrinkled with anger.

"Wings… Quint, if you're a true beast... SHOW ME WINGS!" He passionately and desperately yelled into Quint's face, instilling a power within him that he didn't know he had.

Clyde's words resonated deep within his core as both of their desperation and anger combined, making the building blocks of miracles. Quint's Spring had evolved then and there.