The golden rays of the sunset began to fade in the clearing in the woods, their sanctuary of secrets, as the night approached. With gentle determination, Sky took a deep breath and opened the lid on Haywire's head, revealing the intricate network of wires and circuits blending into his brain.

Sky's voice trembled with a mix of awe and concern, "Haywire, my friend, I need to understand what happened. I need to see the impact of that whistle on your cybernetic brain."

Haywire's eyes, shimmering with trust, met Sky's gaze, allowing him to explore the fragile vulnerability within.

"The resonance of that high-pitched sound caused a surge, a disruption. It short-circuited your cybernetic brain and probably triggered a massive headache. Damn."

Haywire's response was wordless but profound, an echo of forgiveness and trust.

Sky's hands trembled as he gently closed the lid on Haywire's cybernetic brain.

But a series of explosions reverberated through the air, jolting both Sky and Haywire from their moment of respite. The piercing cry of phoenixes also echoed in the distance.

"What the hell is that?!" Sky exclaimed as he stood up and looked at the sky, his heart racing. "Smoke?!"

The Hovering Hive was under siege once more.

A second jolt of surprise startled him when his phone vibrated in his pocket.

Winona?! Sky's eyes went wide open in disbelief. I saved her number from high school, but why is she calling me? Since I became a social pariah, none of my friends called or texted me again.

Winona's urgent voice cut through the turmoil when she answered, a beacon of determination amidst the chaos. "Sky, we need your help!"

A surge of adrenaline coursed through Sky's veins. "What's the matter?"

"The phoenixes are ravaging the city. Where are you?!" she screamed. "I'm sending you our coordinates. Come here and fight with us! NOW!"

Haywire's gaze locked with his. He emitted a series of solemn chirps and nodded his head, pointing to the city.

"What?" Sky frowned. "You mean you want to..."

Haywire repeated both sounds and motions with his head.

"You want to... fly me there? Really? But what if they see us?!"

Haywire replied with a shrill cry as if in confirmation and bravery. Sky's heart became a drumbeat of purpose.

"Okay, but we need to be careful," he replied as he grabbed his skateboard.

As they ascended, their silhouettes blending seamlessly into the dying twilight, Sky yearned for invisibility, to be unseen by those who might misunderstand their intentions.

Haywire glided towards the city limits. The hexagon-shaped protective dome had already been deactivated. He flapped his wings when landing.

Sky jumped off his back and said, "Go back to the woods. It'll be safer there."

With a solemn nod, Haywire complied, soaring back into the air and disappearing into the nearest clouds. Sky stood there with a steadfast determination burning in his eyes, alone, checking on his dear winged friend and back to the city to make sure he wasn't seen.

When Haywire disappeared out of sight, he let go a sigh. Luckily nobody's here. If they found out that a phoenix has flown me back to the city...

Racing against time, Sky darted through the streets, his heart pounding with the weight of his absence when the city needed him the most. He took out his phone and checked Winona's coordinates.

When he arrived at a skatepark, his teammates looked tired and angry as he emerged from around the corner, breathless yet resolute.

"About time!" Luca yelled. His hair was messy, and his clothes were tattered and mildly burnt, like those of his teammates.

"Nice of you to grace us with your presence, wonder boy," Charlotte said.

"Now it's not the right time to argue, guys!" Winona said. "That beast might be back any second! We need all the help we can get!"

"She's right. Although you're not wearing the obligatory protective gear." Hazel's gaze pierced through the tension, a fiery glare that danced with accusations and unspoken frustration.

Damn, I totally forgot about that! Sky scratched the back of his head.

The air crackled with urgency as the shrill screech of an Airshark pierced through the chaos.

"We've got company. Ready your flamethrowers!" The supervising captain of the team, a middle-aged brunette woman, shouted.

The Airshark came back to end the fight they had started. Its grey and blue metal feathers shone in the neon city lights. Its red eyes focused on them, identifying its target.

Kenji threw a flamethrower at Sky without a word, but the look in his eyes was hard.

I know I should've been here. Sky grabbed the flamethrower until his knuckles turned white. But it's not my fault. I was too far away to hear the distress signal.

With a unified resolve, his teammates unleashed a torrent of fire with their flamethrowers. But the Airshark defied their assault by spitting its acidic venom from high up.

Hazel's voice cut through the din, imbued with unwavering purpose. "Look out!"

They dodged the poison. However, the Airshark stooped on them in a fast dive with the wings tucked close to its body.

"Keep pushing!" Hazel yelled as she aimed and fired at the canisters on its back as it passed by, but she missed.

Through the haze of desperation, their actions became a dance of flames against that unyielding foe. Sweat dripped down their brows, mingling with the ash and determination etched upon their faces.

As the deafening roar of the Airshark filled the air, it cast a sinister shadow upon the battlefield. Every sinew of its being pulsed with an insatiable hunger for destruction. Its talons, sharp as blades, tore through the air. The gusts of wind stirred by its frenzied movements were laced with a malevolent chill. Its attacks were relentless, a ceaseless barrage of aggression that left no room for respite.

Even Sky tried his luck even though his aim wasn't as good as Hazel's, but it was no use.

With each merciless assault, the Airshark's actions spoke of a malevolence that transcended mere survival, an insatiable appetite for chaos. Their flamethrowers might've hit some canisters on its back, but the beast was so aggressive that it seemed oblivious to the pain.

It's not working. Sky's brow furrowed. This specimen is way more aggressive than those we train against in the academy's arena. But why?!

With a sense of desperation weighing heavily upon him, Sky's mind raced as he recalled the enhanced whistle nestled within his pocket. Though he had promised that he would never use it again, the futility of their flamethrowers against the relentless Airshark left him with no other choice.

Gathering his resolve, he turned to his teammates, his voice filled with urgency.

"Drop your weapons!" Sky's words rang out, a plea laced with determination. "Cover your ears!"

Yet, his comrades merely sneered, their scepticism evident in their eyes.

Undeterred, Sky knew he had to take matters into his own hands. Without hesitation, he dropped his flamethrower and retrieved his flying skateboard, propelling himself into the air.

"Sky!" Hazel yelled. "What the heck are you doing?!"

As the distance grew between him and his teammates, Sky's heart pounded in his chest.

Gripping the whistle firmly in his trembling hand, he put it on his lips and braced himself for what lay ahead. Next, with every ounce of strength, he covered his ears tightly.

The Airshark targeted him and glided fast towards him.

Summoning all his courage, Sky commanded the skateboard to fly all around the skatepark's circuit at full speed at the push of a button with his heel.

"What is this idiot doing?" Luca asked.

"Remember the last time you sneered at him while he was battling against a phoenix?" Hazel replied harshly. "Shut up and watch. I bet he's got an ace up his sleeve."

With that cybernetic beast hot on his tail, he turned his head back to his enemy for a moment and unleashed a resounding blast. The shrill sound pierced through the air. The whistle's cry reverberated from building to building, cutting through the chaos.

The cybernetic monster's eyes were shot wide open. Its flight became erratic, its wings flapping without control. Its wails reverberated through the air like the tormented cries of a wounded beast. The power of the whistle left the Airshark disoriented and vulnerable.

With wide eyes and gaping mouths, Sky's teammates winced and covered their ears as they watched in awe as the once fearsome creature retreated. Their flamethrowers were on the ground, forgotten.

Sky kept on blowing the whistle until the beast could take it no more. The Airshark hit the façade of a skyscraper in a lousy attempt at escaping while emitting thunderous roars and pained shrieks. A moment later, it regained some balance and escaped.

As the tumult subsided, a resounding silence filled the air. Sky's teammates looked at him with newfound respect, their astonishment etched upon their faces.

Breathing heavily, Sky slowly descended, his heart still racing with adrenaline. With a mixture of relief and satisfaction, he met the gazes of his comrades, a glimmer of pride shimmering in his eyes.

"What the hell was that?!" Charlotte asked in astonishment.

"A thing I... wanted to test out," Sky muttered, averting his eyes because it was a lie.

"How come your toys always work this well, but you couldn't pass the admittance test?" Kenji asked, raising an eyebrow.

"They're not toys. Stop being an arsehole," Winona said with a furrowed brow. "This was amazing, Sky!"

"The examiner hated all my ideas," Sky replied in a whisper. "And my body shape."

"Forget about him! What you've just done is so cool!" Kenji said with a broad smile.

More praises bloomed, but they were emptier than I expected.

Hazel stood tall and rigid. She said nothing, but her body emanated a fiery defiance that clashed with the air of awe from their teammates. Her distrust was evident in her. Her arms were crossed tightly across her chest, forming a barricade of anger, while her narrowed eyes bore into Sky, challenging his every word and action.

"Are... Are you okay, Hazel?" he asked shyly.

She only grunted in response.

"I didn't do this to snatch the MVS from you," he added.

"It looks like it," she muttered with flared nostrils.

That was when Sky sighed with hunched shoulders.

"Don't just stand there, you bloody idiot!" Luca yelled at him. "Go and help other Elite teams with your whistle!"

Of course. He's right. Sky's fingers tightly gripped the whistle with one hand, and with the other, his trusty skateboard.

He soared into the air and flew to neighbouring streets. A congress of Bloodrunners harassed a team of soldiers and some scared civilians.

They were about to sting them and drink their blood when Sky rushed to them as he blew his whistle and covered his ears. The shrill sound pierced through the air, echoing with an untamed power. The malevolent phoenixes, once revelling in their reign of terror, now faltered in the face of his unexpected counterattack. Wings beat frantically as they recoiled, their screeches of fury now intermingled with sounds of fear.

Civilians whose homes and shelters had been destroyed and those Elite soldiers watched in awe and disbelief as Sky soared through the air, his presence a beacon of hope amidst the chaos. With each swoop and turn, he left a trail of confusion and apprehension in his wake.

As the evil phoenixes retreated, the onlookers erupted into applause and expressions of gratitude.

Sky didn't lose a single second and flew away, trying to find more people who might need his help. His gaze scanned the surroundings left and right as he flew through the city, his heart filled with a fierce resolve.

A Deepdiver was spitting water at another group of Elite soldiers at full pressure. Many were lying on the pavement, unconscious, as the few of them left aimed and shot at them.

Sky flew towards the Deepdiver and repeated his actions when, out of the blue, a vulture-like phoenix flew at him from around the nearest corner, startling him. It was an Ironshaft.

He carried on with his plan either way. A high-pitched whistle later, both beasts were cowering in fear. The Deepdiver accidentally hit the Ironshaft with its water, ruining its balance and making it crash-land in the middle of the street.

The Deepdiver escaped, but the Ironshaft lay there, seemingly unconscious as the music of war died down for good.

A triumphant smile graced Sky's face as he glided back down to the ground, the rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins.

He met the awestruck gazes of the civilians and soldiers.

"How did you do it?" an Elite soldier from that team asked in amazement as he got closer to him. "Wait a sec. Aren't you Sky Falcon? The Head of the Elite's son?"

Sky didn't answer. His focus was solely aimed on the fallen beast.

If it's still alive, will it talk to me like that Thunderbreaker did?

Sky walked slowly towards the unmoving creature.

"Don't touch it," the soldier warned him. "It could still be alive! I'll call for reinforcements at HQ."

While the soldier called HQ, a mixture of curiosity and sorrow welled up within Sky. He noiselessly squatted down beside its head and opened the lid to access its brain, hoping to uncover any hidden messages left behind by the enigmatic Endurance. Little did he expect it to get fried the moment he lay his eyes on it.

The foul smell of burnt circuits filled his nostrils. He coughed and covered his nose and mouth with a hand.

It was as if Endurance was telling him 'You wish'. Either that or my enhanced whistle has fried its brain on its own.

"Damn it!" Sky's frustration surged forth, his voice laced with disappointment.

Just as he was about to rise from his crouched position, his phone erupted in a sudden flurry of vibrations, signalling an incoming call from an unknown number. Intrigue mingled with apprehension as Sky swiftly answered the call, bringing the device to his ear.

"Hello?" he ventured cautiously, his voice tinged with a mixture of curiosity and wariness.

A distorted baritone voice greeted him from the other end. "Congratulations, Sky Falcon. You've officially called my attention. Enjoy your victory tonight, but you've only just begun to uncover the truth. There is more at stake than you realise."

Sky's eyes widened, his heartbeat quickening at the cryptic message. "Who are you? What do you want?"

The voice chuckled, sending a chill down Sky's spine. "All in due time. Remember, the shadows hold secrets that even the brightest light cannot penetrate. The path to salvation lies in unravelling the tangled web of deception."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that Mrs Evergreen's motives are cloaked in malevolence, her actions guided by a twisted agenda that threatens to plunge your world into chaos. Her allegiance lies not with the greater good but with a force that seeks to exploit everything and everyone. Beware."

"Are you Endurance?!" Sky barked with his heart in his throat.

"No, I am not. Do not let Mrs Evergreen's cunning demeanour sway your judgment, for the darkness within her heart runs deep, just like Endurance."

"Wait, are you Kane Kovak?"

"I'm just an interested party who wishes that both Mrs Evergreen and Endurance do not succeed."

With that, the call abruptly ended.

"Sky Falcon," that Elite soldier who had called HQ said, "Mrs Evergreen wants to see you in her office. Right now."

The Elite soldier's voice carried a sense of urgency, his words punctuated with a crisp and authoritative tone.

Sky felt a shiver of apprehension run down his spine, knowing that Mrs Evergreen's summons held weight and consequence.

The soldier's stern gaze locked onto Sky, his unwavering posture emphasising the gravity of the situation, leaving no room for hesitation or delay.

As a black sedan appeared behind him, Sky's teammates arrived at the scene.

Upon seeing the fallen Ironshaft, Hazel's eyes blazed with a wave of fiery anger, her brows furrowed in a deep scowl, and her lips pressed into a thin, tight line. Her clenched fists and rigid posture betrayed her seething resentment. Every fibre of her being exuded a potent fury that could ignite the air, as if a tempest had taken residence within her soul.

"Sky Falcon," a well-built bodyguard said in a grave voice, "come with us to HQ. Mrs Evergreen is waiting for you."

Hello, my sugar cubes!

Have you ever been summoned by an imposing authority figure?

Stay tuned!

XOXO

Mar