NOVPUBVernyx was barely standing now.
His coils dragged, his blades cracked, his eye dim and flickering.
But even so…
He smiled.
"You're strong," he said with a hiss, voice trembling.
"Too strong…"
"But it doesn't matter."
He tapped something on his chest.
A red core began to glow beneath his broken plating.
"Because your fight style, your flame, your system—it's all been recorded."
He raised his head.
"Your info… has already been sent to the vault."
His body crackled.
"And now…"
He opened his arms wide.
"It's time to kill you—with me."
---
[Luxoria Castle App – LIVE CHAT]
@Ashfall: WAIT WHAT
@MoonByte: HE'S GONNA SELF-DESTRUCT?!
@ByteBlaze: NO NO NO STOP HIM
@FluffyStatic: FIONA?! LIORA?!
@CoreSparkz: SHUT HIM DOWN NOW
---
Fiona's voice returned—shaky but clear.
"Chat… he's really gonna blow."
"Classic move. Destroy yourself before getting caught."
She looked at the glowing core building up in his chest.
"Too bad for him… he's doing it in front of Liora."
---
Behind cover, Fifi clutched her ears.
"He's going to explode?" she whispered, worried.
Fiona nodded slowly.
"Yeah… but watch."
"Liora won't let him."
---
Out in the center of the battlefield, Liora didn't flinch.
She looked straight at Vernyx.
"You think I care?" she said calmly.
"You think I care if they sees my moves? My energy?"
Her blade dropped to her side.
"It'll end the same way."
She stepped forward.
"They'll send someone."
"I'll cut them down."
"They'll study me."
"I'll break them again."
Her eyes narrowed.
"You forget one thing, Vernyx."
She raised one hand.
"I've already fought and beaten Scaldrith."
"And you were made just like him."
"So of course…"
Her smirk returned.
"I already know how to shut you down."
She clenched her fist and activated Silver Sun Authority.
---
Suddenly—light burst across the battlefield.
A ring of pure solar fire surrounded Vernyx.
The red core in his chest—flickered.
Then went out.
"W-What…?"
Vernyx looked down, panicked.
The glow vanished.
His limbs twitched.
"No… I—how…?"
Liora stepped into the light, now only a few meters away.
"Inside my Authority," she said coldly, "your fire doesn't burn."
"Your energy belongs to me."
---
[Luxoria Castle App – LIVE CHAT]
@Ashfall: SHE SHUT HIM DOWN.
@VoltageNova: SHE REALLY JUST TURNED OFF HIS CORE
@MoonByte: LIKE. A. SWITCH.
@DataStormX: I'M NEVER SLEEPING AGAIN
@ZapQueen: THE SUN. DOES. NOT. CARE.
---
Vernyx's knees dropped.
He fell, face-first into the ground.
His coils stopped moving.
His systems blinked and failed.
Fiona let out a long breath.
"Well, chat," she said softly.
"That's what we call a clean shutdown."
---
Back behind cover, Fifi stared in awe.
"She… she stopped him without even touching him."
Fiona nodded proudly.
"That's Liora."
"She doesn't need tricks."
"She doesn't bluff."
"She ends things."
---
Liora turned away from Vernyx without another word.
Her boots crunched over the cracked field as she walked steadily toward Fiona and Fifi.
Fiona sat leaning against a half-broken pillar, one arm around Fifi, who clung quietly to her side.
Liora stopped a few steps away, looking down at the little bunny girl.
"So this is the failed hybrid that ran," she said flatly.
She glanced down at Fifi's trembling paws.
Then back at the unconscious bodies of Scaldrith and Vernyx lying in the dust behind her.
"No wonder they called you a failure."
Fifi flinched and immediately hid behind Fiona.
Her long ears drooped, and she didn't say a word.
Liora arched a brow.
"A shy one, huh."
Fiona grinned tiredly.
"She's not just shy, she's recovering."
"She tried to fight that snake when I was down."
Liora looked again at Fifi, eyes sharp but less cold now.
"…Hmm."
Then she shifted her focus back to Fiona.
"So, Fiona," she said. "What's your plan now?"
Fiona leaned her head back with a tired grin.
"Oh, the usual."
"Drag myself home, soak in a hot bath, get healed up, and sleep for ten hours."
Liora didn't smile—but her eyes narrowed, like she almost did.
Fiona glanced at her.
"And hey… thanks for saving me."
"But seriously. How'd you even know to show up?"
Liora crossed her arms.
"Your plan was reckless. Of course I came."
She paused.
"Luckily for you… you didn't die."
---
[Luxoria Castle App – LIVE CHAT]
@Ashfall: SHE CALLED IT RECKLESS
@MoonByte: LIORA'S JUST BUILT DIFFERENT
@StreamFist: Can confirm Fiona nearly died 12 times
@ByteWing: THE HOVERPACK IS COMING I KNOW IT
@SoftTailz: Protect the bunny PLEASE
---
Fiona pushed herself to her feet, groaning.
"Okay, okay. Let's go back."
She raised her hand.
"Fionyx—hoverpack mode!"
Her armor shimmered, reforming into a sleek, glowing hoverpack strapped to her back.
She turned and looked at Fifi.
"…Can we bring her?"
Liora nodded without hesitation.
"Of course. Bring her to Lord L."
Her tone was cool, but something in her voice had purpose.
"He'll want to see her. Personally."
Fiona smirked.
"I figured as much."
She turned to Fifi, gently tapping the girl's shoulder.
"Fifi. We're heading home."
"You're coming too."
Fifi looked unsure.
"I… I don't know how to fly…"
"Don't worry," Fiona said. "We've got you."
"Fionyx—second unit, hoverpack assist!"
A small pack deployed from Fiona's shoulder module and floated down.
It latched onto Fifi's back automatically, adjusting to her size.
Fifi squeaked in surprise, ears twitching high.
"I-It's flying… on me?!"
Fiona reached out and grabbed her hand.
"Yeah. Just float with me."
Fifi nodded hesitantly.
"…Okay."
Liora stepped to the side and gave a small signal.
Leon shimmered behind her, reforming into a silver flight rig.
She pulled it across her back and lifted into the air.
With one hand, she activated a magnetic field.
She then dragged the limp bodies of Scaldrith and Vernyx behind her.
They were bound in silver coils.
"Master will love this," she said simply.
---
[Luxoria Castle App – LIVE CHAT]
@Ashfall: THE DRAGGED BODIES??? ICONIC
@TamerTrash: Fifi got her first hover ride
@NovaSprout: Fiona grabbing her hand = softest thing ever
@MechaDroneX: Leon dragging two corpses like it's groceries
@ZapQueen: They're bringing her HOME??
---
Fiona and Fifi lifted into the sky together, trailing just behind Liora.
Fifi's grip tightened.
Fiona leaned in.
"Hey," she said gently. "You okay?"
Fifi nodded softly.
"I… I think I'm excited."
Fiona smiled.
"Good. You're about to meet someone very special."
Liora led them through the sky, back to Luxoria Castle.
