Stellaria the beginning

Preperation

Back in Stellaria, the atmosphere was tense. The recent attack by Geno had left deep scars—not just on the city they had built, but on the spirits of those who called it home. The memory of their narrow escape, the terrifying power Geno wielded, and the knowledge that he had let them live out of sheer pettiness weighed heavily on everyone.

The heroes gathered in what remained of Stellaria's central plaza. The city had been rebuilt with determination and grit, but it was clear to everyone that the peace they had fought so hard to reclaim was fragile. The looming threat of Geno's return hung over them like a dark cloud, casting a shadow on everything they did.

Rizure stood at the forefront, his eyes scanning the faces of his comrades—Steven, Justin, Jay, Jules, Snow Dancer, Leyna, Scratch, and the rest of the Keepers. They were all here, ready and willing to continue the fight, but he could see the fear and uncertainty in their eyes. They all knew that the next time Geno attacked, it might not end as mercifully as it had before.

"We can't let fear control us," Rizure said, breaking the silence. His voice was steady, though inside he, too, was grappling with doubts. "We've rebuilt Stellaria, and now it's time to rebuild ourselves. We have to be stronger, faster, more prepared. We need to train, to push our powers to their limits. The next time Geno comes for us, we'll be ready."

Steven, ever the strategist, stepped forward. "Rizure's right. We've all seen what Geno can do, and we've seen that our powers alone aren't enough to stop him. We need to focus on mastering our abilities, on working together as a team. If we're going to stand a chance, we can't leave anything to chance."

Justin clenched his fists, flames flickering around his hands. "I've been thinking about how we fought last time. We weren't coordinated, and we let Geno get the upper hand too easily. We need to train like we're already in battle. If we can't beat each other, we won't be able to beat him."

Jay, still shaken by the vision of his girlfriend Mari, looked around at the group. "I don't know how much time we have, but I'm not going to let Geno win. I want to go home—I want to see Mari again. But I know that won't happen unless we're strong enough to take him down. We need to push ourselves harder than ever."

Jules, who had been working tirelessly in her lab, adjusted her goggles and nodded. "We've made progress with our technology, but there's still a lot we don't know about Geno and the Nexus. I'm going to continue my research, but I agree—we need to train. We can't afford any more surprises."

Rizure looked to the new allies they had summoned—Snow Dancer, Leyna, and Scratch. "You've joined us because you believe in what we're fighting for. You know what's at stake. We'll need your strength and your wisdom in the days ahead. Help us hone our abilities, teach us what you know."

Snow Dancer, her expression calm but resolute, spoke first. "Emotions are powerful, but they can be a liability if not controlled. I'll help you all learn to channel your emotions into strength, to use them as a weapon rather than letting them weaken you."

Leyna stepped forward, her voice gentle but firm. "Water is adaptable, fluid, and relentless. We'll focus on how to be like water—able to flow around obstacles, yet powerful enough to carve our own path. We'll learn to move as one, to strike when the time is right."

Scratch's mechanical voice echoed through the plaza. "Corruption is a force of change. I will teach you to disrupt, destabilize, and reconfigure your surroundings and your enemies. We must learn to turn Geno's power against him, to glitch the very fabric of his control."

Rizure felt a surge of determination as he looked at his team. "We'll start immediately. Each of us will work on mastering our powers, but we'll also focus on team training. We can't just be strong individually—we need to be strong together."

And so, they began their training.

Steven led tactical exercises, simulating scenarios where they might face Geno's forces. He drilled them