Tyson flipped through the pages of the diary, his brow furrowed in confusion. The content was overwhelming—filled with complex technological details about ta-bot engineering, much of which he struggled to understand.
One specific entry drew his attention.
Victor stated that he had successfully increased his power points by an impressive 3 points. Tyson was puzzled. Generally, increasing power points necessitated extensive training and gathering a minimum of 300 sub-points to upgrade the ta-bot. This process could take at least three to five months, even for the strongest warriors. Those generals and captains cannot even increase their points, as if they are stuck, except in so rare cases where they defy the norm. yet According to Victor’s notes, he achieved the sa result instantly—simply by empowering his ta-bot with rare purple power stones.
Victor asserted that the thod he discovered was utterly unexplored, unlike anything attempted before. He believed his technique could advance humanity’s power, enabling anyone to gain three to five power points.
However, there was a catch.
"Regrettably, this thod only works once."
Victor’s notes showed that following his initial success, he tried to apply the sa process again to his ta-bot, but every single attempt failed.
After a blank space, he continued on the next page:
"I have completely refined this thod. If executed correctly, it should ensure a five-point increase in power. However, the process is highly delicate and must be followed precisely..."
Tyson tightened his grip on the diary. If what Victor had written was true, this thod could change everything.
If this thod is so powerful, why has it remained hidden? Why is the world oblivious to this miracle created by Victor Winters?
There had to be a reason—sothing Victor knew that prevented him from sharing it with others.
Tyson’s thoughts spiraled back to Blue’s suspicious growth. He rembered clearly—Blue had been at 25 power points, and then, out of nowhere, he jumped to 27. Did he know about this thod? If not, how did he manage it?
His mind raced through possibilities. Perhaps there was a connection to Coco. Blue had always been close to him—what if Coco had done sothing? And how had Coco managed to get his hands on this?
Then it hit him.
Victor.
Coco may have t Victor once during the battle room trials. Could that encounter have given him the knowledge—or at least so of it?
It didn’t make sense yet, but Tyson couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was connected. He wouldn’t know for sure until he t Blue himself—the one person who might have the answers.
Tyson looked at his phone. His ssage to Nancy was still marked as read.
But she still hadn’t replied.
Not since last night.
A knot tightened in his chest. Nancy never ignored his calls unless sothing was wrong. If that was the case, he had to find out why.
Tyson got to his feet, glancing at the clock as it struck 10 AM. Stepping out of his room, he imdiately spotted Alex’s door wide open—his brother’s room was a complete ss, and there he was, sprawled on the bed, half-naked and fast asleep.
So peaceful, Tyson smirked as his hand reached for the doorknob.
Dhap!
The loud bang of the door slamming shut echoed through the hallway.
A groggy, startled Alex jolted awake, blinking in confusion before realizing what had occurred. Then ca the inevitable—
"I’ll fucking kill you, asshole!"
Tyson, who was already halfway down the hall, giggled. "Serves you right."
----
"Sergeant!"
A guard swung the door open and bowed his head respectfully.
Tyson nodded in acknowledgnt, a familiar warmth spreading through his chest. It still felt strange—being treated with this kind of respect. Once, he knew all the attention he received was due to his father and brother. But now?
For the first ti, he felt he had truly earned it. Even if it was just a little... it was his.
Tyson clicked open Blue’s door and stepped inside, discovering him amid a workout. Blue was in a handstand position, legs suspended in the air as he powered through push-ups, his bare back flexing with each controlled motion. His bed rested, and near it, the pod humd quietly beside him while dumbbells and other equipnt scattered across the floor.
"Now what, Danny boy?" Blue grunted, thinking it was the guard—until he landed on his feet and saw Tyson instead.
"Hey there," Tyson said casually. "You look busy."
"Nah, I’m just bored," Blue smirked, wiping the sweat from his face with a towel. "So, Sergeant, how’s life treating you?"
Tyson lounged in a chair. "I don’t know," he admitted. "But I have a question—how did you increase your power points by two in one fell swoop?"
Blue rolled his eyes. "I told your father—I have no freaking idea. Coco did sothing."
Tyson paused. "Coco, huh..."
Blue lowered himself onto the edge of his bed, exhaling slowly as if assembling his thoughts. "So what’s really going on? What are you looking for, huh? So kind of thod? A technique?"
"If I knew, I’d be a genius," Tyson chuckled. "But one thing’s for sure—we need to uncover sothing."
"We?" Blue let out a dry laugh. "There’s no we, Tyson. I’m still a Rogue, and you’d better stop acting like we’re friends." His voice lowered slightly, his tone becoming more serious. "Don’t share things that could spark another conflict."
Tyson frowned. "W-What do you an?"
"You’re stupid," Blue sighed. "And I’m stupid for taking this long to realize it." He leaned forward, his gaze intense. "The ga is bigger than either of us, Tyson. We think we’re making our own moves, but in the end..."
His jaw tightened.
"Soone out there is pulling the strings, making us act."
"Like, who, God?" Tyson asked.
Blue laughed at Tyson’s words. "Nah. Humans. They’re more dangerous than anyone... Just look at —I’m one of them."
"I don’t get you, Blue," Tyson said slowly. "Why don’t you just switch sides? We need people like you."
Blue hesitated. "I’d love to," he admitted. "But if I do... I won’t be able to fight you. I’d be trapped. I couldn’t soar alone—and I refuse to live like that. Not until my last breath."
Tyson sighed and stood up. "I suppose we’re finished here, then."
Blue nodded slightly.
But just as Tyson turned, he paused, flashing a slight smile. "But seriously, Blue... if you ever saw in trouble, would you co to my rescue?" His tone was light, almost teasing. "I did save you back then, after all."
"That was a mistake, Tyson," Blue said flatly. "A huge mistake. And no—I wouldn’t."
Tyson’s smile wavered for a mont. Then, shaking his head, he muttered, "Good. But even if I could go back in ti... I’d still do the sa."
Blue watched as Tyson moved toward the door. But before he could exit, he spoke again.
"Why do you think Coco kept the fact that he knew about that thod a secret? If he truly had a way to enhance ta-bots, he could have powered up everyone—even himself. But instead... he helped ."
Blue fell silent, the thought weighing heavily on his mind. He had spent so much ti trying to piece together Coco’s actions, yet nothing made sense. If Coco had truly wanted ultimate chaos, he could have shared that thod with all the Rogues. Yet he didn’t. He didn’t even use it on himself.
It was almost as if he never intended to survive that encounter at all.
"Maybe..." Tyson paused. "Maybe he wanted to protect you."
Blue’s jaw clenched.
"I an, think about it," Tyson continued. "Back when he was choking you... and when he killed Dex. I don’t believe he ever ant to kill any of us."
Blue froze. He knew the answer—he always had. But hearing it from Tyson, at this mont, in this way...
He wasn’t prepared. Not for this reality. Not for any of it. Yet here he was, carrying sothing he shouldn’t be. Sothing he must not endure.
"Be careful, Tyson," Blue warned as Tyson reached for the door. "There’s a reason that thod was kept hidden... and it seems you already know it."
Tyson froze in his tracks. "H-How did you know?"
Blue smirked as he leaned back. "Nancy Winters."
Tyson’s heart skipped a beat.
"She’s your girl," Blue continued. "And she’s Victor Winters’ daughter. It’s not that hard to connect the dots." His voice sharpened. "And let guess—your father never told you about that thod, did he? This is all your curiosity. Your foolishness. Chasing sothing that could turn the entire world upside down."
Tyson turned to et Blue’s gaze.
"For us, this might just be a way to gain two or three points," Blue said. "But what will happen when the strongest individuals get their hands on it? Rogues and Rangers alike... There will be chaos. Just like before. Or perhaps even worse."
Blue exhaled and opened his pod. He shot Tyson one last glance, a silent acknowledgnt that he was leaving this decision entirely in his hands.
"Don’t go looking for things you don’t understand," he muttered as he lay inside. Then, closing his eyes, he added, "I wouldn’t. It’s not my fight."
Tyson left the center and stood silently in the street. It’s no one’s fight until they realize it’s their own from the start.
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