Man On The Moon

III

Vettel, shaking his head slightly, brought his focus back to the battle, preparing for his next move. Meanwhile, Blade and Jingliu continued their intense duel, the sound of their blades clashing echoing off the stone monuments. Blade, despite his wild appearance, matched Jingliu's calculated strikes with brutal ferocity, their battle dance of lethality and precision. Nearby, Yanqing had taken on Kafka, his swordsmanship swift and precise. He attempted to use his skills to outmanoeuvre her, but Kafka's calm demeanour hid an unexpected finesse in combat. She dodged and weaved, her steps light and precise, avoiding his attacks with an almost lazy ease. On the other side of the battle, Silver Wolf had engaged Jing Yuan. Her battle strategy wasn't as straightforward as Yan Qing and Blade's, relying more on subterfuge and unpredictability. She danced around him, her movements always just out of his reach, attempting to make the most of his bulky physique. Blade and Jingliu were so engrossed in their battle that they didn't notice Vettel's approach. Silver Wolf's nimble steps and Kafka's calm focus also shielded her from perceiving the danger.

Meanwhile, Yanqing, in his fierce attack against Kafka, was also consumed by the fight, oblivious to the movement behind him. Just as Vettel and Acheron were about to launch their attack, Kafka abruptly veered her attention towards them, her eyes locking onto their position. Her expression changed slightly, a hint of surprise and amusement flickering across her face.

Kafka: "Looks like you two have been quietly watching this whole time. Trying to catch us unawares?"

Though she had noticed them, Kafka didn't seem threatened by their presence. She almost seemed... intrigued. Her smirk only widened slightly, her eyes studying the pair with an almost scientific curiosity. Vettel and Acheron exchanged glances, their surprise at being noticed quickly being replaced with a readiness for battle. They had been caught unawares but weren't going to back down now. Vettel, his hand on his galaxy scythe, responded in a cool tone, his eyes locked onto Kafka.

Vettel: "Noticed us have you? We were hoping for the element of surprise, but you seem to be a little more observant than we anticipated."

Acheron, her sword at the ready, added her comment, her voice sharp and icy.

Acheron: "But don't mistake our silence for a lack of intent. We're here to make our move, whether you were aware of us or not."

Kafka chuckled softly, her smirk unwavering.

Kafka: "I love the enthusiasm. But I warn you, underestimating us would be a grave mistake."

Silver Wolf and Blade, having finished their battles with Jing Yuan and Yanqing respectively, followed Kafka's gaze to Vettel and Acheron. Silver Wolf huffed slightly, her hands on her hips.

Silver Wolf: "Looks like they've finally decided to join the fray."

Blade, his sword resting casually on his shoulder, studied the two of them for a moment before speaking.

Blade: "I'll admit, they've got guts."

Just as the tension between the Stargazers and Stellaron Hunters heightened, suddenly, a familiar figure appeared on the scene. It was Robin, Vettel's girlfriend, who had been quietly watching the chaos from the sidelines. And with her, came Vettel's father, a stern and powerful presence. This unexpected arrival served to further complicate the already tumultuous situation. The Stellaron Hunters exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of surprise and wariness. Nolan Baskerville, Vettel's father, entered the scene with a palpable aura of authority. His eyes scanned over the ongoing battles and chaos before settling firmly on the Stellaron Hunters. Nolan, speaking with a firm, commanding voice.

Nolan: "You. Stellaron Hunters. Just what exactly do you think you're doing here?"

His tone was laced with a mixture of sternness and anger, but there was also a hint of concern. He moved protectively next to Vettel, his eyes flickering over to Robin with a mix of worry and reassurance. Kafka, unperturbed, met his gaze with a subtle smirk, her eyes flickering amusedly to Vettel.

Kafka: "Oh, nothing in particular. Just observing a race, as it were."

Her nonchalance in the face of his father's disapproving stare was rather impressive. Nolan, his patience running thin, wasted no time in taking action. With a swift and powerful incantation, he manipulated reality itself, creating a crack in the fabric of space. The crack gaped hungrily, its edges jagged and unstable. It was as if he had torn open a gateway, revealing a swirling vortex on the other side – a portal to who-knows-where. With a stern expression, he spoke directly to Kafka, Silver Wolf, and Blade.

Nolan: "It's time for you to leave."

The Stellaron Hunters, caught off guard by Nolan's unexpected display of power, weren't quite as unruffled as they had been previously. But there was a hint of respect in Kafka's eyes as she regarded him. Kafka, her smirk fading slightly, nodded.

Kafka: "Seems like you have some cards up your sleeve, old man."

Blade, his hand never straying far from his sword, was more wary, his eyes flickering from Nolan to the portal. Silver Wolf, her usually playful demeanour replaced with caution, spoke up next.

Silver Wolf: "Not quite the situation we were expecting here..."

Nolan, his gaze unyielding, gestured towards the portal.

Nolan: "You've caused enough trouble here, Stellaron Hunters. That portal will take you to a place far away from here. I suggest you use it before I decide to force you."

The portal, previously open and crackling with energy, suddenly shuddered and closed. It was as if the very act of it being opened created a sort of gravity, causing it to pull things in. But now, due to the sudden closure, the effect was reversed. The force of the closing portal seemed to repel anything in its vicinity, and its abrupt closure sent a shock wave that sent the nearby surroundings into disarray. The area filled with an ethereal glow as the portal shimmered violently before disappearing completely. The silence that followed the portal's closure was almost deafening. The abrupt change from the previous chaos to this abrupt silence felt almost surreal. Nolan, taken aback by the sudden closure of the portal, furrowed his brow.

Nolan: "What just happened..."

Jing Yuan, Jingliu, Feixiao, and Yanqing, having finished their respective battles, approached Nolan and the others with a mix of curiosity and wariness. Their collective presence added to the already tense atmosphere. Jing Yuan, his eyes narrowing, spoke first, his voice grave.

Jing Yuan: "Nolan. Explain what just happened."

Nolan, still caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, took a moment to compose himself before responding. He eyed the Luofu generals with a mix of surprise and wariness.

Nolan: "I was trying to send the Stellaron Hunters back through a makeshift portal, but it abruptly closed. I'm as baffled as you are."

As Nolan stood there, the surprise and wariness on his face gave way to something else entirely as he focused on Acheron and Vettel. It was a look of intense worry and fatherly concern that flashed across his features. He moved closer to them, his eyes taking in every detail, his voice softer as he spoke.

Nolan: "Are you both... alright?"

His gaze flickered from Acheron to Vettel and back, assessing for any visible injuries. Despite his earlier display of power, he was more concerned for his children's well-being than anything else now. Acheron and Vettel, caught off guard by his sudden fatherly concern, nodded in response.

Vettel, his eyes meeting his father's, spoke with a forced bravado.

Vettel: "We're fine, dad. Nothing we couldn't handle."

Acheron, her usual detached demeanour slightly softened, chimed in.

Acheron: "We can hold our own, don't worry about us."

Though the reassurance they were intending was there, there was an undercurrent of worry, both for themselves and for their father. Nolan, obviously not entirely convinced but appreciating their attempts at reassurance, nodded. His expression was still weighted with worry but he chose not to press the issue further for now. Instead, he turned his attention back to the Luofu generals, his gaze sharpening, a hint of defensiveness in his eyes. He folded his arms, his stance becoming more guarded, almost protective. It was obvious that he was now in full father mode, ready to defend his children from any perceived threat. Robin, amidst the chaos and tension, reached out and gripped Vettel's hand firmly. Her touch was warm and protective, a silent reminder that she was there beside him. It was a small gesture, but it wasn't lost on Nolan, who glanced at their joined hands with a pang of worry and relief. He appreciated Robin's presence and the clear bond between her and Vettel. The Luofu generals, as perceptive as they were, also took note of this simple act of reassurance between Robin and Vettel. It added another layer of understanding to the family dynamics that were developing before them. Feixiao, her gaze observant, glanced at Robin and Vettel, her eyes softening slightly. She understood the importance of the small comfort that Robin was providing, even if the overall situation was one of tension and uncertainty. Jing Yuan, his expression stoic, watched the interaction between Robin and Vettel as well. His eyes shifted from them to Nolan, studying the obvious familial resemblance for a moment, before returning to the current situation at hand. Yanqing, being the youngest, was perhaps the least guarded about the whole situation. He observed Robin and Vettel's interaction with a mixture of curiosity and perhaps a bit of envy, wondering what it must be like to have such unwavering support. After the chaotic and eventful encounter, the group – consisting of Vettel, Acheron, Robin, and Nolan – prepared to continue their journey. They bid farewell to the Luofu generals – Jing Yuan, Jingliu, FeiXiao, and Yanqing.