(At the Border of Aquatic Country, Present Time)

Narrator: The mission at the Dragon Country was over. Aquatic Country soldiers were returning back to their home country, having reached the borders.

Livon was having constant flashbacks of his time spent in the past timeline. He was getting visibly confused; others asked him if he was fine, to which he replied to them positively. Mind you, at this point, Livon hadn't shared any of the details of what happened after touching the white beam of light with anyone. Everyone from the team had already agreed beforehand not to ask anything about the white beam of light regardless of who touched it, stating that it was a private matter and it needed to be respected.

There was a small grocery store nearby; Hinaka and Raiden went there to buy some drinks and food.

Livon(in his mind)- The hell... why can't I move on?! Why do I keep on remembering that period?

Ayumi(to livon)- You know, if you want, then you could share your experience with me. Maybe then you would feel a little better.

Livon(with a tired look)- Thanks, but no. I wish to take care of this matter on my own, at least for now.

Ayumi- It's okay; I totally respect your decision. Just remember, I will always be here.

Narrator- Livon glanced at Ayumi's face and was instantly stunned into silence.

Livon(in his mind)- Red... red hairs??!! Now that I remember, the girl who was having a sparring match also had red hairs; could it really be that the girl was Ayumi?!

(to ayumi)- Ay...ayumi... did... you ever sparred with a black-haired kid when you were around 7-8 years old in a forest?

Narrator- Ayumi took a whole minute to think about it and then answered Livon's question.

Ayumi- Yeah, I did actually.

Livon- Do you remember what the boy name was??

Ayumi- Nope. I think I never asked him about his name. But I could be wrong; maybe I did, and I just don't remember it now.

Livon- Then how did you two even meet??

Ayumi- I think... I was just practicing one day at the forest alone, and ended up encountering him. From then, we had like a month and an half sparring practice session everyday.

Livon- Why only month an half??

Ayumi- Don't know, he probably stopped coming.

Livon- Why him? Couldn't it be you instead?

Ayumi- Nah, I even to this day, whenever I am in the Aquatic Country, then I go that forest and practice. Its quite nearby to my home actually. I only remember that boy because I wasn't the type to make friends, so, meeting a boy same age as me was something unique. But how do you know about all of this??

Livon- Well......

Narrator- Hinaka and Raiden returns back and disrupts the conversation, leading to Ayumi forgetting what she had asked and Livon obviously never bothered answering it either.

They then continued there journey, once they entered the mainland area of the country, they began seeing something very unique. Peoples were on the roads, protesting, with banner in their hands.

Protester 1- GO, GO, GO AWAY, ELITE SOLDIERS!! WE DON'T NEED YOU!!

Protester 2- ELITE SOLDIERS ARE KILLERS!! THEY SHOULD BE EXECUTED!!

Ayumi- What the hell are they doing?!

Hinaka- Killers? Executed?! Have they gone insane? What even made them do this?!

Protester 3- WE WANT JUSTICE!! WE WANT JUSTICE!! WE WANT JUSTICE!!

Protester 4- WHY WERE THE FAMILY FROM HOUSE NUMBER 62 KILLED?!! What wrong did they do??!

Narrator- A few protesters at the back had a banner, which had Carson's photo with an X mark on it , along with "Killer" written on the side.

Raiden(while looking at carson's banner)- Father??!!

Livon- Killer?!! They really are insane!!

Narrator- Raiden went ahead to talk to the protesters, but the moment he went up close, the protester shouted "Elite Soldiers, Elite Soldiers" and threw stones at him.

Before things could escalate even more, Raiden retrieved. Four of them decided to head to the Aquatic Academy to discuss this matter directly with Aiden.

(After a Couple of Hours, At the Aquatic Academy)

Narrator- As the soldiers were walking towards the office of Aiden, the people surrounding the corridor stared at them and whispered.

Raiden(with an anxious face)- It's over. Its over. It really is over.

Hinaka- What's over??

Narrator- Raiden had a phone in his hand, where it can be seen he was trying to call his father, Carson, but no one picked up the call.

Livon's mind was totally blank; the whispers didn't reach him; what did was the racing heartbeat of Raiden.

(Aiden's Office)

Aiden- Oh? You guys are back!!

Narrator- Aside from Raiden, the three bowed in front of Aiden.

Aiden- Hanna sent in a report for the mission. I am extremely happy with all your performances. Regardless of it ending with a failure, I think you all performed really well.

Raiden(to aiden)- Father, where is he?? What happened to his mission?!! He isn't picking up my call!!

Aiden(with a dejected look)- About that... I am sorry to inform you, Raiden, but he is no more. Carson died 12 days ago. (livon fell down to his knees)

Hinaka(with a stunned look)- What??!!!!!

Ayumi(with a hand over her mouth)- This can't be!!!!!!

Raiden(to aiden)- Give me the details of how it happened!!! Immediately!!

(Nyx enters the scene)

Nyx(to raiden)- I will tell you that. Your father was given the mission to kill X.

Ayumi- X?! Isn't that the famous serial killer??

Nyx- Yes. Just before the four of you went to the Dragon Country, X made his way over here. Considering the danger X possesses, Sir Aiden decided to give this mission to an experienced veteran like Carson. The day I met Livon and Ayumi at the restaurant in the Dragon Country was the day Carson got killed.

Ayumi- Meaning, Day 26 of the Carnival: The Day of the 3rd Internal Dragon Part.

Nyx- Carson was found dead in House Number 62 after he had killed the 4 residents of the house with his own baseball bat.

Hinaka- No, no, that can't be true at all!!

Nyx- Unfornately, it is.

Ayumi- Did he commit suicide then??

Nyx- No, he was stabbed in his heart by a Mace. A weapon which is commonly associated with X. So we assume that, Carson was in some way being controlled by X, to do the killing of the family. We at the Aquatic Academy also trust Carson, we know that he can never take the lives of innocent people.

Hinaka- So, that's the reason for protest. People think its Carson, an Elite Soldier who killed the family, and now they seek justice for it.

Ayumi(to nyx)- Didn't you release the same findings to the public for clarification??

Nyx- Of course we did. But as you know, people love to put the blame on the system. Not to mention, X has gained some supporters too.

Raiden(to aiden)- Tell me where is his body!!

(At the Graveyard: Carson's Burial Plot)

****

(Outside Livon's House)

Raiden (while handing for the lunch box)- Livon take this.

Livon- What!! Again. Didn't I tell both you and Uncle not to do these kinds of things?

Raiden- Just take this. My father won't listen even if I tell him. Regardless, I won't listen either. He has prepared the lunch on his own after all.

Livon- But these things aren't required!! I would have just eaten them from the cafeteria of the academy, if there is one in the first place.

Carson- Goodbye Raiden!! Goodbye Livon!! Have a nice day.

****

Livon(while down to his knees)- Now, who is gonna give me those lunch boxes, huh?! Who will I relay on to show me the right path??!! Who?!

****

(Raiden's House, Kitchen)

Hinaka(while bowing his head)- Thank you Mr. Carson for inviting me here. The food was really delicious, I really liked it.

Carson(while cleaning the plates)- I am glad you liked it. You can came here to eat anytime you like, you will always be invited. And yeah don't call me Mr. Carson, call me Uncle.

Narrator- Hinaka's eyes suddenly filled with tears the moment Carson told him to start addressing Uncle from now on.

Hinaka- I am really happy today. I am truly grateful for you inviting me today for the dinner Mr. Carson. Truth to be told I don't have a father myself, I do have a mother but she is always ill so I am always the one doing all the work at the home. You inviting me today here and getting to eat the food really means the world to me. THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF LIFE!! So thank you so much Mr. Carson.

Carson- It's not Mr. Carson, its Uncle.

Hinaka(while weeping out the tears from his eyes)- Yes sorry Mr. Carson, I mean Uncle.

Carson- And come here anytime you wish. I would love to have you here. You see neither does Livon has any parents, so he comes here often to eat with us, you coming along with him with be good.

****

Hinaka(with a depressed look)- .........

****

(Raiden's Backyard)

Carson(to ayumi)- You thought you could sneak up and climb the tree without letting anyone notice you? You were also there when Livon fought Raiden. I saw you then too!! Now come down and lets have the dinner together.

Raiden(with a surprised face)- She was there when I fought livon!! I didn't even noticed her at that time.

Hinaka- Now come down Ayumi!! We have already seen you now!!

Livon- Are you going to come with us now? Or will you still say that you want to go somewhere?

Ayumi(with a smile)- Yeah I am coming!! And sorry for being so stubborn. I was just feeling a little shy.

Narrator- Ayumi descended down the tree and then stood before Carson.

Ayumi(while bowing her head)- My name is Ayumi. And Thank you for having me here for the dinner!! I really appreciate it.

Carson(to ayumi)- Yeah its okay. Just don't hesitate to come over here again. You will be most welcome anytime here. Consider this as your home. And yeah do call me uncle not mr. carson.

Ayumi- Yes, okay, uncle, and thank you so much!!

****

Ayumi (while wiping out tears): Thank you for making me part of your family. I will be forever grateful. Rest in peace, uncle.

****

(Raiden's Backyard)

Carson(while being awkward)- Well, well.. I am proud of you. (said it as quickly as possible, so no one was able to hear it)

Raiden- What?? I couldn't understand what you said.

Livon- Yeah, me too. Say it more louder.

Carson(in a louder tone)- Damn it!!
I AM PROUD OF YOU, RAIDEN!! Damn it!!

Raiden(while being excited)- Whaaat!!
Did my ears hear something. Father actually acknowledged me for once.

****

Raiden- Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!

****

(Outside Raiden's House)

Raiden(to carson)- Father, we will all meet you after a month then. Don't get too lonely without me till then!!

Carson(with an angry face)- Stop talking rubbish!! I am not a damn child!! I should be the one telling you to not get lonely without me!! I am your father; its not the reverse!!

Raiden: Hahahahahahhaha!! Just joking!! Just joking!!

Carson: Anyways, I have got my own mission to take care of too. Thus, getting lonely is out of the picture.

****

Raiden(while crying)- I am the lonely one now, father; I am the lonely one. Why did you have to leave me...? I miss you so much!!

****

(World Stadium)

Raiden(while bowing his head)- I am sorry, father, that I lost.!!

Carson- No need to apologize; you did well!!

Raiden: I am truly sorry, father!! I truly am sorry!!

Carson- I know that. But now you need to chin up. Losing is as important as winning!! Realize what you have gained from this and then move on further. Staying in the past and regretting about it won't make any difference.

Raiden- But... father, please scold me. I deserve it.

Carson(while patting on raiden's head)- Not this time around. I am proud of you, my son!!

****

Raiden(with an intense look)- I will you avenge you father, I promise you that!! I won't rest until then, even if it kills me!!

Narrator- As they were leaving the graveyard, Aiden who accompanied them, got close to Hinaka, and silently handed him over an envelope, which Raiden ended up noticing.

(Somewhere in the Aquatic Country, Royal Cresent Hotel, 6:16 p.m.)

Narrator- X while wearing a black raincoat enters the hotel and walks towards the receptionist, who was a women in her late twenties.

X(while uncovering his face)- I need a room.

Receptionist- For a single person?

X- Yes

Narrator- After 5 minutes all the formalities were completed and X was ready to go to his room.

Receptionist- Your room number would be 111. It would be in the fifth floor. Would you like a bellhop to carry your bag??

X- No, that won't be required.

(Outside Room Number 111)

Narrator- As X was unlocking the door using the electronic key card, he saw a room service attendant bring in pizza for Room Number 110. The attendant kept the pizza outside the door, rang the bell once and then left.

Upon entering the room, X took out the laptop from his bag, turned it on, went to the google, searched "Aquatic Country News Today", and began reading the news. One of the articles had the headline: "5th Batch Soldiers returns today from their mission at the Dragon Country".

(Certain Somewhere in the Aquatic Country, TownSquare, 8:55 p.m.)

Unknown Person 1(while reading a sms)- Oh my godd?!!

Unknown Person 2(while reading a sms)- Do you read this?!! This is a direct challenge now!!

Hinaka(while reading a sms)- Its gonna get so much messier now.

(At a News Studio)

News Reporter- Ladies and gentlemen, we have breaking news! X has sent a message to every citizen of Aquatic Country, announcing his intention to eradicate all Shakti users, starting with those in Aquatic Country. According to X, the Shakti users are disrupting the balance of the world and will be responsible for significant calamities in the near future. He claims this knowledge as a "Demi-God" who possesses the power to control people's fates at will. X is calling on non-Shakti users to assist him in his mission and has issued a dire warning: anyone who stands in his way will be killed. Furthermore, he threatens to destroy public property unless at least two soldiers sacrifice their lives within the next week, with a video recording as a proof as well.

Narrator- Meanwhile, at Raiden's house, he stood by the window, calling Hinaka on his phone.

The night slowly passed, with fear and anxiety hanging heavily in the air. At the graveyard, in Carson's burial plot, five aliens, including Miranda and Cyrus, sat on the dug-up ground, eating parts of Carson's body.

Miranda, an alien who first appeared on Godforsaken Island, had previously fought Eldon, Jashmin, and Tegan. It was later revealed, during a phone conversation with Cyrus, that Miranda had been assigned a mission to kill the intruders who had arrived on the island.

Cyrus(while eating lungs)- It's time to make our move.

(The Next Day, 9:00 a.m., At the Aquatic Country Ground)

Narrator- All the Aquatic Country Elite Soldiers had gathered today at the request of Aiden at the academy's ground, where he wanted to discuss something important.

Aiden- My brave soldiers, as you all might now, our beautiful country has been plagued with a disease called "X" for more than a month now. Yesterday, he even sent in a sms to everyone in the country, signifying his reasoning and motives, where he declares his intention to destroy a public property, unless we don't sacrifice the lives of 2 soldiers. Before I say it to the media afterwards, I want you all to know it first. I DON'T INTEND TO SACRIFICE EVEN ONE OF MY COUNTRYMEN, LET ALONE AN ELITE SOLDIER!! X can send all the messages he want, but my decision will never change!! WE ALL WILL FIGHT, AND GED RID OF X!! ARE YOU WITH ME IN THAT CAUSE OR NOT?!

Elite Soldiers- YES, WE ARE!!

Aiden- Good!! A specialized team will now be formed which will be handling the X case going forward. This team will have both brain and brawn, because killing X is much more than just fighting. So, let's start off with the first two members; its Diana and Zayne. These two were in a 3 member team earlier with Carson, before his ultimate passing. They are already accustomed with this case, so it should be no brainer not to include them. The third member is Nyx, current Leader of Enforcers. She also at the later stages worked very closely with Carson. Fourth is Kento, a former Leader of Enforcers. This selection may seem odd considering the age of Kento, but be assure, he is still a smart customer and wants to give his all for the country before the sun finally sets for him. Fifth is the finalist of the recently concluded World Tournament; Hinaka. His powers and versatility are undeniable, and having him in this team will boost the overall team performance. I would also like to formally thanks Hinaka for accepting this invitation so quickly, even though he just completed his previous mission at the Dragon Country. The sixth and the last member is a new Elite Soldier, who I want to be groomed properly for her future missions. The name of the newly become Elite Soldiers is "Clementine". This will be the team!!

Narrator- Raiden steps forward, and charges directly towards Aiden.

Raiden- Select me!!

Aiden- I won't. You just lost your father, I want you to stay away from this mission, it will be for the better.

Raiden- FUCK THAT!! I WANT REVENGE!! I HAVE GRIT!! SELECT ME!!

Aiden(while staring at raiden)- Once, even once I see you prioritizing your revenge over the lives of others, you will be gone!! Gone from the position of the soldier forever!!

Raiden- Fine

Aiden- Okay, so now the team consists of 7 members. And please, Livon and Ayumi now don't bother requesting me to add you both to this mission too. You both have just completed your previous mission. It was a long, thirty-plus-day mission, so for now, just rest. Those who are selected kindly remain at the Aquatic Academy; rest all can leave. But remember, regardless of being on the team or not, you are from the Aquatic Country; if you find anything that can help in the X matter, then always be sure to step up!! The country will have matters beyond X; I will count you on that!!

Narrator- We now move to the Royal Cresent Hotel, Room number 111, X's room, where he seated at a sofa, with his laptop on, which had the photos of Nyx and Kento.

X- Let's see what you soldiers are capable of.

TO BE CONTINUED