Executioner's League-Chapter 80: Mission Core Diverge Begins!

Neonis Medical Bay – Flux

Recovery Wing

The sterile hum of

machines echoed softly through the room, a steady rhythm broken only by the

occasional pulse from Kael's med-pod. He floated inside, suspended in stasis as

layers of healing flux worked to stabilize his corrupted core. Even with the

best technology in Neonis, his recovery was fragile—too fragile. The room was

dim, the lights tinted blue to soothe the overstimulated flux signatures.

Senjuro and Kyrin stood

nearby, still bruised from their encounter with Vorenth. Their expressions were

grim, focused—not just on Kael, but on what came next.

They approached Veyvron,

who was reviewing Kael's resonance charts, the complex flux data dancing across

the holo-screen in front of him.

"Sensei," Senjuro said,

his voice steady despite the exhaustion. "What do we need to build the Core

Diverge Contraption?"

Veyvron glanced over, his

eyes narrowing slightly. Before he could answer, Syvaren stepped in from behind

a nearby console.

"Well," Syvaren said, arms

crossed, "for that... we need to go to Celestia."

Kyrin blinked. "Celestia?

You mean the Seventh Nation—the floating one in the sky?"

Veyvron nodded, folding

his arms. "Yes. It's the only place where we can find the components powerful

enough to interface with Kael's corrupted core without triggering a full

collapse. Their flux-forged circuitry and celestial-grade synthesis reactors—there's

nothing else in the world like them."

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Kyrin glanced at Kael's

pod, then back. "Then there's no question. We head there tomorrow."

Before either of the

mentors could respond, footsteps approached from the corridor.

Sanyer stepped into view,

adjusting the dark harness across his chest. "We'll come too. You'll need more

than just strength for this mission. You'll need stealth."

Veytex followed closely

behind, sliding a knife into the wrist sheath on his arm. "Count us in. No way

we're letting you two carry this burden alone."

Syvaren nodded. "Good.

Then it's decided. I'll handle the logistics. We'll need clearance, aerial

ascent vehicles, and enough flux stabilizers to pass through Celestia's

upper-layer shielding. Gear up."

Neonis Training Hub – That

Evening

Located on the outskirts

of the city, the Neonis Training Hub pulsed with raw energy. It was an

underground facility carved into layers of reinforced obsidian and laced with

adaptive flux amplifiers—capable of simulating high-pressure combat

environments.

Senjuro, Kyrin, Sanyer,

and Veytex stood within one of the arena domes. Holo-walls shimmered around

them, morphing into rugged terrain simulations. The ceiling displayed a

projection of Celestia: a vast nation suspended in the sky, held aloft by flux

turbines the size of buildings, glowing like a second sun.

Kyrin cracked his neck and

activated his flux blades. "We barely survived against Vorenth. This time, we

need to be more than ready."

Senjuro's glaive split

into its twin-blade form, energy pulsating along the edges. "We don't just

train for strength—we train for control. Kael's life depends on it."

Veytex grinned, flicking

twin throwing knives through the air with unnerving precision. "Let's see if

you've still got it."

Sanyer activated his

cloaking module, disappearing from view. "Try not to blink."

Training Sequence One:

Multi-Angle Assault Simulation

The environment shifted.

Turbulent winds howled across simulated cliffs. From multiple directions,

AI-controlled drones attacked with coordinated precision—mimicking enemy

tactics used by Celestia's elite Vanguard.

Kyrin moved first, dashing

forward with a burst of flux propulsion. His blades sliced through the first

wave, but new drones adjusted—adapting.

Senjuro jumped mid-air,

spinning with a dual-slash and sending a pulse of energy across the field.

Sanyer appeared behind two drones and disabled them before fading back into the

shadows.

Veytex darted across a

ledge, leaping from wall to wall with acrobatic grace, launching explosive

knives that detonated mid-air, disabling incoming threats.

Kyrin blocked a shot that

nearly struck Senjuro and shouted, "This is different. The AI's adapting

quicker."

"They're using Celestia's

combat codes," Veyvron's voice came over the intercom. "We need you to learn

their rhythm before you land there."

Training Sequence Two:

Low-Flux Environment

The room dimmed. The

simulation now mimicked the flux-restricted zones in Celestia—areas where the

atmospheric interference suppressed flux output by nearly 40%.

Sanyer grunted as his

cloak flickered out. "Stealth just got a lot harder."

Senjuro's glaive lost part

of its energy field. "We'll need to fight smarter."

Kyrin adjusted his stance.

"Then we do it the old way."

They adapted. Instead of

relying on overwhelming flux, they leaned into tactical movement, coordination,

and feints. Senjuro created openings, Kyrin exploited them. Sanyer focused on

disruption, while Veytex created distance, picking targets from unexpected

angles.

It wasn't flashy. It was

efficient. Clean. Controlled.

By the time the simulation

ended, the floor was littered with disabled drones and fractured terrain.

Veyvron's voice returned,

calm but firm. "That's more like it."

Later That Night –

Strategic Briefing Room

The team gathered in the

strategy chamber; walls lined with celestial charts and a central table

projecting Celestia's layout—hovering above like a fortress in the sky.

Syvaren stood beside the

display. "Celestia isn't just a regular place. It's a nation built across

several layers—each guarded by aerial fleets and internal flux sentinels. Their

technology is advanced. Defensive systems are built into their infrastructure.

We're not walking into a market. We're entering a citadel."

Veyvron stepped forward.

"The Core Diverge Contraption requires three key components, all of which are

stored in restricted sectors. The Flux Thread Matrix from the

Celestial Archives, the Cognition Link Amplifier from their

MindNet Vault, and finally, the Starheart Reactor Core—housed

within the Ascendant Spire."

Sanyer raised an eyebrow.

"Let me guess... all highly guarded."

"Extremely," Syvaren

confirmed. "Which is why you'll need to split into teams."

He tapped the table.

Holograms flickered, dividing the map.

"Team One—Senjuro and

Sanyer. You'll infiltrate the MindNet Vault. Team Two—Kyrin and Veytex. You're

heading to the Archives. Syvaren and I will disable the defense grid and guide

you remotely."

Kyrin leaned in. "And the

Ascendant Spire?"

Veyvron hesitated. "That's

for later. We need the first two components to craft the neural diverge

stabilizer. Once Kael's resonance pattern is stabilized, we can begin preparing

for the final phase."

Senjuro folded his arms. "So,

this is our path. Infiltration. Recovery. And then... the dive into Kael's core."

Sanyer nodded. "Let's hope

what we find in Celestia gives us a chance."

Outside – Neonis Skyport,

Dawn

The sun rose over Neonis,

casting long shadows across the metallic walkways. The team stood at the edge

of the skyport platform, looking up as the ascent vessel powered up—its wings

pulsing with flux, ready to cut through the upper atmosphere.

Kael's condition was

stable—for now.

Kyrin turned to the group.

"Let's bring back what we need. And when we do... we bring Kael home."

Veytex smirked. "And if

Seraph sends someone else to stop us?"

Senjuro's gaze was steel.

"Then we finish what we started."

The vessel lifted off,

engines roaring as it launched skyward.

Above them, Celestia

floated like a promise and a challenge.

And somewhere beyond the

clouds, Seraph watched.

Waiting.

Aboard the Ascent Vessel —

En Route to Celestia

The hum of the aircraft's

flux engine vibrated softly beneath their feet, steady as a heartbeat. Outside

the reinforced glass window, streaks of white clouds blurred past as the vessel

ascended rapidly toward the shimmering silhouette of Celestia—a

floating titan suspended in the sky, its underbelly glowing with ethereal

light.

Kyrin sat by the window,

his gaze locked on the distant glimmer of their destination. A subtle furrow

lined his brow as thoughts churned behind his eyes. He leaned forward slightly,

resting his elbow against the armrest, and muttered under his breath.

"The Vaults are under the

control of the Assassins of Celestia... If that's true, why can't we just ask them

for what we need? Why would Sensei send us on a stealth mission unless..." He

trailed off, his voice barely audible above the soft whir of the vessel.

He clenched his jaw.

"Sensei's hiding something. This isn't just a supply run. Infiltrating an

assassin's base without even attempting diplomacy? Something's off."

Footsteps echoed lightly

in the cabin. Senjuro approached, his coat trailing slightly behind him. He

stopped beside Kyrin, folding his arms as he studied his comrade's expression.

"You're thinking what I'm

thinking, aren't you?" Senjuro asked, voice low and calm.

Kyrin didn't look away

from the window. "Yeah," he replied. "Either the Vaults are no longer under the

assassins' control... or they never were. There's more to this than we've been

told."

Senjuro nodded slowly, his

gaze turning toward the distant sky-city. "That's a possibility. If the Vaults have been

taken, then Sensei might be trying to keep us focused—knowing we'd go in

regardless. But if they haven't... then we're walking into someone else's war."

For a moment, both stood

in silence, the tension between what they knew and what they didn't growing

heavier.

Suddenly, the intercom

crackled to life, the automated pilot's voice cutting through the quiet cabin.

"ETA: One hour to

Celestia. Prepare for descent."

Kyrin snapped out of his

thoughts and reached for his gear—his flux blades, reinforced combat harness,

and encrypted mission tablet.

He glanced over at Senjuro

with renewed resolve. "Mission Core Diverge begins."

Senjuro cracked a slight

grin. "Not a bad name, you know."

Kyrin smirked faintly in

return.

And in that moment—brief,

wordless—the weight of uncertainty was replaced by something fierce.

Determination. Purpose. Both of them knew that no matter what secrets lay

waiting in Celestia, they would face it head-on.

Their eyes burned with the

fire of loyalty—for their mission, and more importantly, for Kael.

No matter the cost... they

would save him.