Battle Of Planets

Chapter 64: Justin’s obsession
Tyson effortlessly parried Lara’s wooden daggers as they sparred, his movements smooth and fluid. Her bracelet indicated 4.19 minutes of continuous sparring, which no team member had sustained without collapsing. However, Tyson barely broke a sweat.”That’s a good one. Keep it up,” he said, ducking to avoid a strike while glancing at the rest of the team.

Shaun was sprawled out on a log, snoring peacefully, with the campfire flickering in front of him. He had been the first to spar with Tyson and completed the drill by sticking to his defensive style. Tyson took the time to teach him how to parry without relying on his shield in emergencies.

Ken had vanished shortly after being pummeled into the dirt by Tyson during sparring. Tyson had been seeking revenge, and Ken stood no chance. With his father refusing to help and no strength to oppose Tyson, Ken opted to sleep through the grueling fourth day of training. His body had been exhausted.

Half-asleep yet still managing to keep an eye on the fight, Bee kept the fire burning as the dark, dense forest surrounded them. A murmur of life echoed from the nearby mine. Tyson had chosen the forest for the drill to push everyone outside their comfort zones.

”Don’t ignore me, Senior!” Lara shouted, clearly intent on exploiting Tyson’s distraction. But Tyson reacted quicker than she anticipated. He spun around, twisting her arm and pulling her close, catching her by surprise.

She stood still, her cheeks coloring as she sensed his breath near her lips. His arms tightened around her, enveloping her in a warm embrace. The sensation of his hands encircling her ignited a strange warmth in her chest.

”You nearly had me,” Tyson smiled, noticing her efforts to break free from his grip.

He knew that she would pounce the moment he let go, just like a cat. Lara had never hesitated in a fight, even against him.

He was exhausted from the constant fights and had hoped to finish quickly, but Lara’s stubborn strength kept her in the game, which he admired about her.

Tyson’s grip was firm but gentle, his body close enough for her to hear his heartbeat. After training with him a dozen times, she had always admired him from a distance, and now... she was this near.

Her fingers quivered gently against his shirt. ’What am I doing?’ she wondered. Yet, before logic could intervene, she leaned in, her lips colliding with his, thrusting him back into the moment.

His eyes widened, completely caught off guard. He attempted to pull away, but her hands clutched his shirt, drawing him closer as her daggers clattered to the ground.

Tyson struggled. ”Lara... wait—” he stammered, his hands weakly attempting to push her away, but her determination was stronger than ever.

Bee, who had been almost dozing off, suddenly shot up, his eyes wide with shock at the sight before him.

”What are you doing?” Tyson’s voice conveyed confusion and disbelief as he pushed her back.

Tyson wiped his lips instinctively. He had been kissed before—by someone he actually wanted. This? This wasn’t the same. He could still feel the heat of Lara’s lips, but all he felt inside was... guilt. What would happen if Nancy knew about this?

”I—I’m sorry, Senior,” Lara stammered, her face burning red as she realized what she had just done in the heat of the moment. She had kissed the man she had admired for days and felt mortified. ”I’m so... sorry.”

Without saying another word, she turned and ran, leaving Tyson utterly bewildered. He had no idea that the girl would suddenly kiss him out of nowhere.

As he slowly glanced at Bee, who was taking in the entire scene, Bee raised a hand to his mouth and shook his head dramatically, signaling that he wouldn’t say a word to anyone.

Lara, her cheeks still flushed, dashed into her tent, her breath uneven as her fingers grazed her lips. The kiss had come so unexpectedly, so quickly. She had no idea when she had leaned in and taken it.

She had seen his girlfriend—more beautiful than she was, no doubt—but that didn’t matter. Even though her chances were slim, she felt she had to fight for him.

Sitting in the soft glow of the tent, her thoughts swirled, and her face flushed hotter as she replayed the moment over and over—her first kiss.

It was undoubtedly a memorable one.

But then, another thought crossed her mind. She hadn’t asked for his permission. What if he was angry with her? What if he started to avoid her because of it? The thought made her stomach twist uncomfortably.

”N-No... he wouldn’t do that, would he?” she mumbled, her voice uncertain.

----

The old man stood before the towering glass wall of the Rangers Association in Babylon, his gaze sweeping over the vast city below. His shoulder-length white hair framed a face marked by years of authority, while a well-groomed beard enhanced his presence of authority. Yet, despite ruling this city, he could sense the whispers of betrayal creeping through his ranks. Even his soldiers appeared more loyal to the statue standing outside the headquarters.

The statue of Victor Winters—former general, brilliant researcher, and an eternal thorn in his side.

Albert’s eyes deepened as he gazed at the monument. His voice, rough with resentment, pierced the silence.

”Victor... you’ve always been an obstacle for me.” He exhaled sharply, his smirk tinged with bitterness. ”Even in death, I’m still compelled to fight against your shadow.”

A gentle chime resonated as the AI behind him sprang to life, indicating an incoming call. He turned with a smirk as the video feed established a connection.

On the other end, Mrs. Winters appeared on the screen, her expression ice-cold and her eyes burning with barely contained fury. Behind her, Nancy stood tense, her posture rigid. Unlike her mother, who seemed ready to rip him apart, the girl avoided his gaze, her eyes darting anywhere but the screen.

”What do you want, Albert?” Mrs. Winters’s voice was sharp, slicing straight to the point.

Albert’s smirk grew even more expansive.

”I desire everything Victor possessed,” Albert said, his voice smooth yet tinged with greed. ”And the key to attaining that... is your daughter.”

Nancy flinched, instinctively shrinking behind her mother. Mrs. Winters placed a steady, comforting hand on her shoulder.

”We are not in Babylon to cater to your demands,” she said coldly. ”We are now citizens of Elria. You have no authority over us and cannot compel us to do anything.”

Albert’s fingers grazed the glass wall before him, as if defining the city’s borders. A slow, deliberate smile danced on his lips.

”Your daughter is far too valuable to let go of so easily,” he murmured, his words loaded with unspoken intent.

Nancy swallowed hard. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides as she forced herself to speak. ”I won’t be going there.”

”You really shouldn’t say that, my wife.”

A voice echoed from the doorway, smooth yet tinged with arrogance. A young man strode in, a confident grin spreading across his face. ”You need to come to your husband.”

Nancy’s breath caught, her blood running cold at the sight of him. The same man who had once broken her classmate’s fingers just for daring to propose to her—declaring that she belonged to him alone.

Fear constricted her throat. No words emerged, only a sinking dread that clawed at her chest.

Sensing her daughter’s distress, Mrs. Winters instinctively pulled Nancy behind her, shielding her as if the young man might break through the screen itself.

”How much longer must I wait to see my wife, Father?” the young man asked, placing his palm against the holographic display. His fingers traced Nancy’s image as if he were trying to reach her, but his hand passed right through the flickering projection, and his grin never wavered.

”Soon, my son. Sooner than you realize,” Albert said, his voice dripping with certainty. ”You will have her by your side, and I will possess this entire city—even those RD ants.”

”Good, good.” The young man chuckled, blowing a playful kiss at Nancy. ”Don’t keep me waiting too long, my love. Just embrace your fate and come into my arms.”

”I would never,” Nancy snapped, her voice steady this time.

The young man laughed, shaking his head as if he found her defiance amusing.

”You can’t hide there forever,” he said calmly. ”We won’t let you—right, Dad?”

”Right,” Albert agreed, stepping beside his son. ”I’m giving you one last chance to return to Babylon willingly. Don’t force my hand—it won’t be pleasant.”

Layla’s face contorted with anger as a sense of helplessness gripped her heart. ”You’ll never have her, Albert.”

”Very good,” Justin smirked. ”But remember, dear mother-in-law, the more you resist, the more I’ll break her once she’s mine.

Both mother and daughter tensed, a sense of dread settling into their bones. Nancy’s heart raced at the memories of him—his malicious grin as he twisted that poor boy’s fingers, all due to an innocent crush on her. He had relished the pain, savoring the boy’s screams while everyone else watched in terrified silence.

”I got your answer, Layla,” Albert said grimly.

The video call ended right after he said those words.