Battle Of Planets

Chapter 108: He is here
Nancy slipped into her favorite grey sweatshirt and black shorts, then added a pair of small silver earrings, glancing at herself in the mirror with a smile. Her fingers brushed over the triangular pendant resting against her chest, a gesture that had become her everyday habit.Tyson had given her the most precious gift, but she was also looking forward to getting another from him tonight. When she checked the time, it was almost 5: 30 p.m.

At the bedroom door, her mother leaned against the frame, a soft smile on her lips. She didn’t need to ask why Nancy looked so excited—she could feel it, even if Nancy had only called it ”just a date with Tyson.”

Nancy took a deep breath and gave herself one last look in the mirror before slinging her purse over her shoulder. There were butterflies in her chest. She knew Tyson was planning something. He was an open book to her—nervous, fidgety, overthinking everything. Still, she hadn’t said a word, she did not want to ruin his moment, or the process and besides she herself had been nervous ever since Seraphina got married.

Thinking that at any time Tyson will aslo propose her and the day has finaly come, even if he wanted to be a secrete, She could tell from his eyes what he wants...maybe be more than himself.

”I’ll be fine,” she whispered to herself. But as she turned to leave, she nearly jumped. ”Mom!”

Mrs. Winters raised an amused eyebrow. ”Just make sure you enjoy every moment, sweetheart.”

Nancy blushed and nodded, then waved goodbye before stepping out.

As she walked down the street, her phone buzzed. A message from Emily ”Congrats in advance”

Nancy’s heart skipped, her lips curving into a wide smile.

It seemed to her Tyson was seriously going to propose tonight. And she couldn’t wait to say yes. ”You silly guy... why’d you make me wait this long?” she whispered to herself.

Her phone buzzed again, speaking of the Devil.

Tyson’s Message came, ”Sorry, I’ll be late.”

She paused, smiling, ”I’ll wait for you.” She almost added as long as you need... but stopped herself. that will be overkill no?

She was ready—ready to start a new Chapter in their lives. But then something in her chest stirred uneasily, a flicker of doubt she couldn’t name. What if things didn’t go the way they imagined? What if something bad happened? What if their happy moment got ruined by someone or something?

She cupped her cheeks gently, trying to calm herself. ”Don’t be anxious,” she whispered to her reflection in a shop window. ”What could possibly go wrong?”

----

Tyson stared at the triangular-shaped diamond ring resting in his palm. He had spent the whole day running around town just to find this exact design. The plan had come together only the night before—with a lot of help from his unofficial love guru...Seraphina Carver-Roger, his sister-in-law.

Sera had planned everything. From the dinner location to the suit, he was wearing. She had even roped in Lucy, quietly asking her to assist Tyson without letting Nancy suspect a thing.

His phone buzzed. A message from Sera lit up the screen ”You can do it!”

”I can,” Tyson said aloud with a smile and took a step forward—then stopped dead in his tracks. ”Shit. Flowers. I forgot the flowers.”

He groaned, remembering how disappointed Nancy had been the last time he’d shown up at her home, and only got flowers for her mother but this time, he wanted everything to be perfect.

Quickly, he typed a message to Nancy ”Sorry, I’ll be late.”

Then he turned to remember where the location was, the same shop Lucy had told him where the most beautiful flowers were sold. ”I’m coming,” he whispered with determination.

Across the street, hidden in the shadows, Ryzen watched with narrowed eyes, visibly confused.

”What the hell is he doing?” he muttered.

”Humans,” his meta-bot chimed, voice laced with sarcasm.

”Shut up,” Ryzen snapped. His lip curled as he kept watching. ”Why do I feel embarrassed on his behalf? That idiot just spent the whole day stumbling around like a zombie, finally got the ring, and still forgot the damn flowers?”

The meta-bot hummed. ”Hmm... and what about them? Why have they been following him since morning?”

Ryzen’s eyes shifted to the group lingering not far behind Tyson—three odd-looking youngsters and a girl who stood out instantly. She grabbed the tall guy by his hair and yanked hard.

”Shut up before I kill you, Ken,” she snarled.

”I just stated the obvious!” the guy shouted, flailing. ”And why do you even care? You have me!”

”Fuck you,” Lara spat, then dashed after Tyson, the rest of the group trailing behind her. One of them lagged behind, barely keeping pace.

Ryzen tilted his head, intrigued, ”The hunt just got interesting.”

---

Nancy sat at a small café table by the roadside, her grey sweatshirt sleeves pulled slightly over her hands. The evening lights flickered as Her purse rested in her lap, her fingers gently tracing the edge of the triangular pendant around her neck.

She glanced at the empty chair across from her and smiled faintly, then looked down at her phone screen—still no new message from him and he was late as usual.

Cars passed. People laughed in the distance. A couple walked by holding hands But in her chest, something stirred. A strange restlessness. A soft unease she couldn’t name. Like the sky before a storm, still and beautiful, yet heavy.

She exhaled, trying to shake the feeling, then rested her chin on her hand, her eyes fixed on the street corner where she expected him to appear.

At a distance, Ryuk stood watching her.

She looked even more beautiful than the photo Steve had shown him—like the female lead from one of the novels he read. The wind teased her hair, the way it looked made his chest feel tight.

”Hi, I’m Ryuk. You probably don’t know me, but I’ve known you for a while,” he whispered to himself. ”No, no—don’t take it the wrong way. I’m from Babylon. You know Steve, right? H-he took me in when—”

”Jeez, just go talk to her already,” the black Meta-bot buzzed from under his hoodie. ”Oh, don’t tell me her beauty got you all mesmerized.”

Ryuk looked at her again—the way she sat so calmly, how her pendant caught the light, how her fingers drummed gently on the table. A small smile crept onto his face.

”So, you’ve finally taken interest in someone,” the Meta-bot teased. ”Don’t try to deny it. I can read the chemical reactions in your body. I might not understand feelings, but I sure as hell can detect them.”

”It’s not like that,” Ryuk muttered. ”Besides, I don’t even know who she’s waiting for. What if it’s her boyfriend?”

”Or a friend?” the Meta-bot replied casually. ”You never know unless you shoot your shot... Man, I’m getting good at human lingo.”

Ryuk ignored the comment and took a deep breath. It’s just talking. It’ll be fine.

”If I had eyes,” the Meta-bot added, ”I’d be rolling them right now. Like those characters in your dramatic romance books—”

”Quiet,” Ryuk hissed. ”You’ll scare her.”

”Excuse me? What am I, a monster?”

Ryuk stepped forward despite his wobbling legs. His voice came out louder than expected. ”A-ah, miss—I know you!”

Nancy looked up from her table, puzzled, at the figure in the dark hoodie with a half-hidden face.

”Sorry! I didn’t mean it that way. I just...” Ryuk fumbled, his words collapsing. ”C-can you tell me where this is?”

He showed her the same bus station address he’d arrived from, his hand trembling slightly.

Nancy arched an eyebrow, then pointed down the road. ”That way.”

Ryuk nodded quickly, stuffing his phone back in his pocket. ”Thanks a lot.”

”RYUK!” the Meta-bot suddenly spoke up, a red light flashing under his hoodie.

Nancy blinked. That voice—mechanical, yet unlike anything artificial she’d heard. It wasn’t like a standard AI assistant. There was something deeper. Older.

”I told you to shut up!” Ryuk hissed, noticing her curious gaze. ”It’s just my AI. It... makes music. Sometimes.”

”HE IS HERE,” the Meta-bot spoke again. ”I CAN SENSE HIM.”

”Who?” Ryuk whispered, now looking around.

Nancy’s eyes widened slightly. Ryuk? Did he just say... Ryuk?

She had heard that name before. A rising ranger. Around 54 Power Point. Predicted by her father—years ago—to hold a Meta-bot Prime. The same Meta-bot Prime that hadn’t been seen in decades. A potential future powerhouse.

”Wait... are you Ryuk—the Black Prime?” she asked, stunned.

Ryuk blinked, his face half-hidden. ”Y-you know me?”

Nancy stood, intrigued. ”Uncle Steve told me about you.”

”He did?” Ryuk murmured. If he’d known she had been briefed about him, he could’ve skipped all that awkward rambling.

”RYUK!” the Meta-bot blared again. ”THE PURPLE IS HERE!”

Ryuk’s eyes widened. Across the street—something. A flicker. A pressure. His Meta-bot had sensed another Prime.

The Purple.

”Are you okay?” Nancy asked.

But before she got her answer, Ryuk darted into the street, weaving between cars.

”Hey! Where are you going?” she shouted.

”I’ll be back!” he called over his shoulder.

Nancy stood wondering, That was weird but again she was here for Tyson. She took a sit back, thinking about the event just happned.