Battle Of Planets

Chapter 25: Explosion 2
Kyle stood frozen, his heart pounding in his chest as the deafening explosion tore through the air. The shockwave rattled the building’s structure, and he could feel the floor beneath him tremble as if the very foundation of his carefully laid plans was cracking.This wasn’t supposed to happen, Kyle thought, his mind racing. I knew working with the rogues was risky. I knew they were unpredictable, but I didn’t expect them to be this reckless. A bomb so close to the building—this is beyond anything I anticipated.

He glanced around, his eyes darting between the chaos unfolding around him—people screaming, rushing for cover, the frantic security personnel trying to maintain some semblance of order. The Lobby was a mixture of panic and disbelief, the once-controlled atmosphere of the opposition party now a battlefield.

I thought I could control this, Kyle continued to berate himself. I thought I could use them, play both sides—lure Edward into a trap, have him right where I want him. Then, the rogues would strike, and I’d have leverage. But now... now I’m just as much a pawn as they are.

His grip tightened on his phone as he searched for answers, but there was nothing. No message from Coco. No explanation. Just the deafening silence that followed the explosion.

What was that? He couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d just witnessed something far bigger than he ever imagined. This wasn’t just an attack on the ruling party. This was an assault on everything—his plans, his power, his future.

Did rogues go Rogue on me?

Fear gnawed at him, but it wasn’t just the blast that terrified him. It was the realization that his involvement with the rogues had brought him dangerously close to losing control of the situation. I can’t die here, he thought. I’ve come too far. I’ve sacrificed too much to fall at the hands of some criminals. No. This was never part of the deal.

A flash of clarity pierced his panic. Edward’s here. If I can get to him... If I can make it out of this mess, I still have a chance. I’ll clean this up. I’ll fix it. But first, I need to survive this.

Kyle’s eyes darted across the room, panic bubbling in his chest as he scanned for an escape route. His mind spun into overdrive, calculating his next move. Stay with Edward, Then figure out who to blame. If anyone’s going down for this, it won’t be me.

A voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding. ”Kyle, go to the safety area!”

He snapped his head toward Edward, who stood resolute amidst the turmoil, his focus locked on the carnage unfolding before him. ”I’ll handle things down below. Go!”

Kyle didn’t hesitate, his feet already moving toward the exit, but the command still lingered in his mind. Edward... He’s always been like this, stepping in to fix what they’ve broken.

Kyle muttered under his breath, a bitter smile curving his lips. Let him handle it then. I’ll deal with the aftermath.

He pushed his way through the panicked crowd, but his thoughts kept racing—there was no time for sentiment now. He had to make it to safety, and then regroup. Edward was a soldier in his own right, but this wasn’t part of the plan. The blast had changed everything.

Meanwhile, Edward was already at the center of the chaos. His instincts took over. Despite the dust and smoke filling the pavement by the entrance, he moved swiftly, kneeling beside the injured, his hands steady as he checked their vitals.

”Stay with me,” Edward murmured to a woman whose leg was pinned beneath a heavy beam. His mind raced as he evaluated the situation, trying to keep his calm. A quick glance told him there were several people with minor injuries, but there were also those who needed immediate attention.

He shouted to a few of the security officers, ordering them to help those who could walk, and directing them to the exits.

He turned his attention back to the woman, gently lifting the beam from her leg. ”We’re getting you out of here,” he reassured her, his voice calm despite the chaos. His hands moved quickly, helping her sit up, and then pulling her into a safe area with the others.

----

On the other side of the city, anticipation charged the atmosphere in the grand conference hall. The President of Elria stood at the podium, his voice firm and confident as he addressed the crowd. The distinguished guests hung on every word, their attention focused on the man who had guided the country through turbulent times. This was a moment that felt like history in the making.

”Thank you for the love you have shown me throughout these years,” the President said, his gaze sweeping over the audience. ”And I hope you will show the same unwavering support for my daughter as well, for she will carry our legacy forward.”

Seraphina, standing beside her mother, could feel the weight of the moment. The nerves hit her like a wave—soon, she would have to step up to that podium, and the entire city would be watching. Her mother’s reassuring touch on her shoulder grounded her, but the anxiety was hard to shake.

Alex, standing nearby, remained unfazed by the occasional glances of the reporters, their cameras fixed on the family. The live broadcast was reaching every corner of the city. Tyson and Shaun, trying to remain inconspicuous, stood behind the others.

Tyson’s eyes wandered over to the corner of the room, where the staff were stationed, listening intently to the President’s speech. Standing before them were the Rangers, their guard uniforms sharp and commanding, ensuring everything was in order.

”You’re nervous too?” Shaun asked quietly.

Tyson, his gaze still locked on the staff, smirked. ”No. I don’t like cameras. My girlfriend gets jealous whenever I show off in front of the whole world.” He paused, his attention narrowing on something that felt familiar. ”Just be quiet. I’m focusing on something.”

At that moment, his eyes caught sight of a man with blue hair standing among the staff. Though he couldn’t make out the face clearly, something in the way the man moved struck a chord. Tyson’s instincts were screaming at him. Before he could make sense of it, the President’s voice cut through the air.

”Seraphina, come join me on stage.”

Seraphina froze for a moment, her heart pounding. But before she could step forward, the ground beneath them shook violently, and a deafening explosion ripped through the building. The walls quaked as if the very foundation of the headquarters was being torn apart. The force of the explosion was so powerful that it rattled the fifth floor, sending a wave of panic through the crowd.

The glass walls shattered, sending shards flying around.

Guests screamed, scrambling to find cover as the sound of chaos filled the air. The explosion had come from the street below, but it felt as though it had shaken the very heart of the city.

Amid the panic, something even more dangerous emerged. A few staff members—who had blended seamlessly into the background—pushed through the line of defense, their bodies transforming in an instant. Metal armor encased their forms, sleek and deadly.

The rogues—once hidden in plain sight—revealed themselves, their metallic suits gleaming ominously in the dimming lights of the hall.

Tyson’s instincts kicked in, his eyes immediately locking onto the source of the threat. Blue and his companions were among the rogues now revealed. A flash of recognition sent a chill down his spine. He didn’t have time to think; he had to act.

”Stay back!” Alex shouted urgently, pulling Seraphina into his embrace as a glass shard flew around. Her wide, terrified eyes were locked on her father as the rogues moved towards him.

Captain glanced at them signaling to move away, as he began securing President as Chaos filled the room.

”We need to secure them, captain will ensure President’s safety”

Tyson nodded sharply, already calculating their best move. Without hesitation, he and Alex positioned themselves between the advancing rogues and the women.

Their movements were swift and practiced, their instincts honed from countless drills, unlike any other trainees. Every muscle in their bodies was taut, bracing for what was rapidly unfolding into a battle they couldn’t afford to lose.

Tyson’s armor activated with a sharp metallic click, the cool surface locking seamlessly into place against his body. His sword materialized in his grip.

Alex’s armor flared to life beside him, energy crackling around his fists, his stance unwavering.

”Shaun, cover the rear!” Alex commanded, his voice steady despite the urgency. Shaun stepped in quickly, his armor forming with a low hum, ready to protect the group from any flanking attack.

”Move now!” Tyson urged, taking charge. With Alex guarding one flank and Shaun covering the rear, Tyson guided Seraphina and her mother toward a side exit. The conference hall’s back door led to a safer route, far from the escalating danger.

”Where are you taking us?” Seraphina’s mother asked, her voice trembling but resolute as she clutched her daughter close.

”To safety,” Tyson answered firmly, his eyes locked on the rogues advancing in the chaos. ”We’ll circle back for the President. Right now, you’re the priority.”

The group moved swiftly through the same lavish lobby where just moments ago, they had stood chatting, laughing, and exchanging playful banter.

As they reached the middle of the lobby, a voice cut through the tension like a blade. ”Hey! Where are you going?”

Tyson’s heart sank as the familiar voice echoed from behind. He turned to see him—Blue—standing casually in the center, as if the explosion and chaos were of no concern to him. He was backed by the presence of three armored rogues flanking him, their stances poised for battle.

”I’m right here, Tyson,” Blue said,

Tyson’s grip tightened on his sword, his knuckles turning white. His eyes burned with a mix of anger and frustration as he stepped forward slightly, shielding Seraphina and her mother further.

”Blue,” Tyson growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Blue’s smirk widened as he took a step forward. ”I warned you, Tyson,” he said, his tone almost teasing. ”But here you are, still clueless”

Alex stepped beside Tyson, his armor crackling with energy, his fists clenched around Katana. ”We don’t have time for this,” he muttered under his breath, glancing back at the lift which will lead them to the lower floor.

”I’ll hold him off,” Tyson said without hesitation.

”No,” Alex shot back, ”I’ll hold them off, you take them to safety”

Blue tilted his head, watching them with amused curiosity. ”Oh, don’t let me stop you,” he said mockingly. ”Run along. But you know what happens if you turn your back on me, Tyson. I want you, not that guy, no offense”

”you get them to safety, I’ll stop him”

”He has reached twenty-seven, you can’t defeat him,” Alex said,

”neither you but I can stall him until you get back here” Tyson smiled, ”You will come looking for me right, brother?”

”I am not you brother” Alex flinched and then finally gave in, ”Shaun lets go”