Nexus froze as K stalked toward him, her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles were pale, her every step purposeful and dripping with barely contained rage. Her glowing red eyes burned into him, and Nexus knew—Oh, she's out for blood.
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"K? What the hell are you doing here?" Nexus said, retreating with caution. He tried for his usual smirk, but it faltered under her furious gaze. "Seriously, you don't know when to quit, do you? Like, ever?"
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"You're all mine," K said, a smirk breaking her otherwise fearsome expression. Her voice was low and confident as her arm shot out toward him like a striking snake.
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Before her hand could close around him, a sudden barrage of energy blasts rained down on her back. The sharp, high-pitched pew-pew echoed through the room as K's body jerked slightly with each hit. Her smirk disappeared, and her head tilted forward, her hair hiding her expression.
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"Uh... you okay?" Nexus asked hesitantly, stepping back as far as possible. He knew better than to get between her and whatever mood she was in. "Not that I care or anything, but you're looking a little... murdery."
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She didn't answer. Instead, her body began to tremble, a low, ominous shaking that sent a chill down Nexus's spine. He turned his attention behind her to see the source of the attack—Maximus's soldiers. They swarmed into the room, armed with sleek Arcwave Blasters, the kind of top-tier tech that could tear through reinforced steel like paper. The air lit up with streaks of blue as they fired relentlessly at her back.
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Nexus rubbed his temples. "Idiots," he muttered. "They really don't know what they're dealing with."
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"Vulcanari," Nexus thought, watching the scene unfold. "A species built like gods. They absorb cosmic rays to fuel their strength. But it's not just cosmic rays... It's any energy they can absorb. These guys are just fueling her anger." He allowed himself a small smirk. "This is gonna get interesting."
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K turned slowly to face the soldiers, her movements unnervingly calm. Her head hung low, her glowing red eyes hidden by the golden curtain of her hair. The men hesitated for just a moment, but it was enough to doom them.
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"Be gone," K snarled, her voice a low growl that quickly crescendoed into a roar. Her eyes snapped wide open, glowing brighter than ever, and twin beams of red energy shot forth. A ripple of heat exploded outward from her body, an intense wave that hit the soldiers like a hurricane. They were hurled across the room, their screams drowned out by the roar of her power.
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Some hit the walls with bone-crushing force, crumpling to the floor. Others collided with machinery, their weapons clattering uselessly beside them. A few lucky—or perhaps unlucky—ones managed to scramble back toward the doorway, retreating from the unstoppable force before them.
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Nexus raised a hand to shield his face from the heat, his scarf fluttering wildly from the force. "Well," he muttered, his smirk returning, "that's one way to clear a room."
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As the dust settled, Maximus remained standing, the blue glow of his energy shield shimmering around him. It had absorbed the brunt of K's attack, leaving him completely unharmed. He stroked his orange chin thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing as he studied her.
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"A Vulcanari," Maximus said softly, more to himself than anyone else. "To think such a rare species still exists. Fascinating."
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K turned her searing gaze on him, her lips curling into a sneer. "Got something to say?" she barked, her voice sharp as a blade.
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Maximus took a confident step forward, his demeanor unshaken. "As a matter of fact, I do." He gestured to the chaos around them, his tone almost casual. "Clearly, we share the same goal here—putting this little thief in his place." He glanced at Nexus, who was currently inching toward the nearest shadowy corner of the room.
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"Who, me?" Nexus said, pointing to himself with mock surprise. "Don't mind me. I'm just a humble observer in this whole... violent disaster."
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Ignoring him, Maximus kept his focus on K. "Work with me, Vulcanari. Together, we'll capture him. And I'll make it worth your while—fifty thousand Credex Stones. More than enough to set you up for life."
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K didn't so much as blink. She crossed her arms, her posture unyielding. "I don't work with greedy cowards like you," she said coldly. "I'll catch Nexus on my own terms."
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Maximus raised an eyebrow. "Is there nothing I can say to change your mind?"
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Nexus couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, buddy, don't even bother. She's as stubborn as a Morxian Shellbeast during mating season. Trust me, I've been there."
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"Shut up!" K snapped, spinning around and grabbing him by his scarf. She yanked him forward with enough force to make him stumble.
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"Not the scarf!" Nexus cried, clutching at the blackened fabric like it was his lifeline. "Anything but the scarf! Please, I beg you! Have mercy!"
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Maximus shook his head in mild disappointment. "What a shame," he said. "I could've used someone like you," he added, directing his comment at K. "But if you won't work for me..."
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He raised his wrist, revealing a sleek device strapped to it. The orange glow of a button caught K and Nexus's attention simultaneously.
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"...then I'll just have to deal with you myself."
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Maximus pressed the button, and his body was instantly engulfed in a blinding orange light. K released Nexus, both of them instinctively shielding their eyes from the glow. The air hummed with energy as the transformation began.
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When the light faded, Maximus stood before them in a hulking black exosuit. The bulky armor gleamed under the room's dim light, its surface lined with glowing orange heat vents. Each step he took sent deep, reverberating thuds through the floor.
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Nexus let out a low whistle. "Wow. So you just... decided to become a walking furnace, huh?"
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Maximus ignored him, his amplified voice echoing through the room. "I guess I'll have to handle this myself," he said, taking another step forward. The heat radiating from the suit made the air shimmer around him.
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K's eyes narrowed, her stance shifting as she prepared for the inevitable battle.
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Nexus, meanwhile, took a cautious step back, glancing between the two powerhouses. "So, uh... anyone want to talk this out? No? Cool. I'll just be over here, not dying."
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Maximus and K didn't even spare him a glance. The tension in the room was palpable, the silence before the storm. And Nexus, for all his bravado, couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease.
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"Great," he muttered to himself, edging closer to the door. "Just my luck. Caught between a walking inferno and a woman who could crush me with one finger. This is gonna be so much fun."
***
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Author notes: Please support my work on Patreon for early access to new chapters. https://patreon.com/DarkMatteromniverse10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSj54uSEs5
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