"I managed to find a different route to get out of here. I connect the route until I reach a place called Central. It’s like a starting point where you can go anywhere. From there, there are four routes: first, to Cosmos City, second, back here, third, into the Dark Forest, and fourth, to the harbor," Admiral Finn explains as everyone takes a map. 

"Thank you, Admiral Finn. We appreciate it," says Yoon. The old man pats his shoulder firmly. 

"Take care of my son. That’s all I ask," he says. Yoon nods, his eyes shifting to Justin, who talks quietly with his mother before they leave. 

"So, where do you think they’re keeping Jein? Any ideas?" asks Cygnus. 

"We need to find a clue, but first, we need to stop by one place," says Sun, glancing at Yoon. 

"Why?" 

"We need weapons. Lots of them." 

"Don’t we already have enough?" Byul asks, gesturing at the weapons surrounding them. 

"These are for everyone here to defend and fight back if this place is raided," Sun points his finger at the crowd at the main hall. "Besides, I’m talking about a different kind of weapon. Something that could kill those bastard aliens," Sun says, hoisting a massive blaster onto his shoulder. 

"So, final call. Does anyone else want to say goodbye?" Justin asks. He’s already said his goodbyes to his mother, and now it’s Admiral Finn’s turn. 

Sun runs over to his wife, with those military equipment intact onto his body, he looks like a bear in the woods.

"I’m going. If anything bad happens, hide in the emergency spot. Take care of yourself and Sunny. I promise I’ll be back soon," he says, kissing her forehead. She wants to cry but holds herself together, determined to appear strong for him. 

"Krissy, take care of everyone, okay? If anything happens, gather everyone and hide in the emergency spot," Cygnus says, leaving his final words to the girl he trusts most. She bops his nose in response, and he pulls her into a big hug. 

"Dad, I have to go now. Take care of Mom and yourself too. I promise I’ll be back," Justin says, hugging Admiral Finn tightly. The old man hesitates but finally lets go, knowing this is necessary. 

"Do your best, son. I’m proud of you," Admiral Finn says, pulling back to look at Justin’s face one last time. His son has grown into a man who makes the country proud. 

Yoon and Byul look at each other and smile, fingers entwining. 

"Ready?" Yoon asks softly. Byul looks at him, her sorrowful eyes meeting his with a sweet smile. She nods. 

"Okay, guys! Let’s go save the world!" Joon shouts. 

*Jein, wait for me, my love.* 

---

"Could you stop staring like that?! Do you think I’m having a picnic here? I’m working, for fuck’s sake!" Jein snaps at one of the aliens who won’t stop watching him. He glares before turning back to the scattered equipment on the table. His hands are still cuffed, making his task frustratingly slow. 

"Son of a bitch!" he mutters, slamming a piece down in anger. 

A few days ago, Jein was kidnapped from outside his safe house near Acid Lake. He’d been waiting for his coffee when two human-like aliens appeared and dragged him away. From a distance, he saw another alien grab Joon’s head. Joon’s screams still echo in his ears. 

"Damn it!" Jein growls, his fists clenching. His chest feels heavy. 

I wonder how you’re doing right now, Joon? How's everyone doing right now? Are they safe?

Jein murmurs in his heart, eyes glistening with tears a bit.

"You seem to be working hard..."

A tall, slender figure, approaches Jein. The man sweeps back his silver hair and leans against the wall, his bright purple eyes fixed on Jein. 

"I’d work faster if he’d stop staring at me!" Jein grumbles, pointing at the alien guard. 

"I know how to speed you up," the man says, drawing his gun and shooting the alien dead. Jein yelps, crouching and covering his ears. 

"Happy now?" the man smirks, grabbing Jein by the wrist and yanking him up. He cups Jein’s face, forcing him to look directly into his alien-like eyes. 

"Now you can speed up, can’t you?" 

Jein harshly pushes his hand away. "Could you stop killing people recklessly?" he snaps. 

"I’ll stop when you stop making excuses!" the man growls, his voice sharp and commanding. The other aliens in the room tremble. 

"I’m not making excuses! This blaster needs at least ten people to assemble, and I’m doing it alone... Is that convenient for me?!" Jein argues, glaring back. 

"You have until tomorrow," the man says as he turns to leave. 

"Wait!" Jein halts the man. He turns around and it seems like he isn't happy about it.

"What now?!"

"Unlock this cuff, and I’ll have your blaster ready by morning. I can’t do much with my hands tied," Jein says, showing his bound wrists. 

"I should just cut your hands off," the man sneers but signals his subordinate to unlock the cuffs. 

"Cutting my hands would be as good as killing me, and you’d have brought me here for nothing without these two precious hand," Jein mutters, rubbing his sore wrists. "What about this?" he bravely demands more, pointing at the brace locked around his ankle. 

"You want me to cut your legs too?" the man retorts sarcastically, clearly annoyed. 

"Fine, no need to get prickly! I’ll do my job now," Jein mutters, waving his hands to mock him. He returns to the table, focusing on the blaster. 

Once the man, Qi, steps outside, he speaks to his assistant. 

"Are you sure he’s the right guy? He’s such a pain in the ass." 

"His profile confirms it," the assistant replies. 

"He’d better be. If that blaster isn’t ready by tomorrow, I’ll kill him myself," Qi says, still skeptical that this frazzled human is the genius weapons specialist, Dr. Jein Austin. 

---

Inside the room, Jein ensures no one is watching. He pulls out a small remote and presses a red button, hijacking the CCTV feed with looping footage of him working and sleeping. 

From beneath the table, he retrieves a modified blaster. Clicking the trigger three times, he opens the bullet compartment and inserts a purple capsule. The blaster hums as it switches to a new mode. 

"They thought they could use me to make a weapon to kill humans. They underestimated me," Jein mutters, smirking. 

The capsule is a deadly weapon designed to kill aliens instantly. Over the past two days, Jein has worked in secret, using his expertise and their technology to create it.

He was brought here by Qi, supposedly to reassemble a blaster that can be used as a weapon, since these aliens' weapon resources are getting lesser. It seems like those alien weapons can only be use in temporary, and parish in the time being.

That blaster was created by Jein, long time ago when he was still working with the Mountain Peek. It has a solid body, courtesy by some research and passion from him. The original version is more sturdy compared to the upgrade version. And, that fact doesn't impress the legendary weapon specialist like Jein.

Sometimes, a new version are worst than the original version. Just like a remake song, murmus Jein in his heart.

After a final check, clinking here and there, Jein finally displays a smile of satisfaction on his face. He brings up the blaster, fill it with the capsule bullets before mockingly pointing it on the air.

"Time to get out of here," he whispers, activating the blaster. 

Tonight, he’s ready to fight back.