In truth, every one of these chs had been custom-made according to Ethan’s designs. He’d built them as gifts for his friends, each one tailored to suit their fighting styles and personalities.
It was no surprise when Markham imdiately claid the ch Ethan had created with him in mind. In Ethereal, Markham was a dual-wielding Berserker, and the ch’s heavy, muscular fra fit him perfectly, like a suit of armor built for a giant.
Leo chose next—a deep blue unit ard with a single sword and a massive shield strapped to its back, its design exuding calm strength.
Williams gravitated toward a gold-colored ch, broad-shouldered and regal, wielding a greatsword nearly as tall as he was.
Even Lyla found one that called to her: a silver-white ch equipped with a bow across its back. The bow’s design mirrored her Frostbound Reverie from the ga, every curve and crystal detail reproduced exactly.
The Chase siblings made their selections soon after, moving among the rows like kids in a candy store.
One by one, Leo, Williams, Ryan, Leeroy, Evelyn, Markham, and Lyla entered their chosen chs and began the synchronization process. The air filled with low chanical hums as energy cores flared to life, bright lights pulsing from within the suits.
Only Victor remained. He stood before the last ch, staring at it in hesitation.
It wasn’t flashy. The armor bore a muted camouflage pattern, and the weapon mounted on its back resembled a staff more than anything else—simple, almost plain. That was what made Victor hesitate.
"Victor, get in there already!" Ethan called.
"Uh... Ethan," Victor said, grimacing, "this isn’t a healer ch, is it?" He sounded like a man who already knew he’d made a mistake not picking a combat class back in Ethereal.
Ethan chuckled. "Just get in and see for yourself."
Victor exhaled, muttering under his breath, then climbed inside.
WHOOSH—
The ch ca alive around him. Panels sealed shut, lights flickered, and a smooth, chanical hum filled his ears. Victor flexed his arms experintally, adjusting to the motion.
[BEEP... Combat Mode Activated!]
Reaching back, he grabbed the staff-like weapon.
Click, click, click...
The spherical tip unfolded, and an energy blade extended outward, transforming the staff into a gleaming spear.
Victor’s eyes widened. "Oh, hell yes," he breathed. "It’s not a staff after all."
"Try switching to long-range mode," Ethan’s voice instructed through the comm link.
Victor followed the command.
Click, click, click...
The spear twisted and folded in on itself, chanical parts shifting with fluid precision until it beca a massive sniper rifle—sleek, deadly, and unmistakably modeled after a Barrett M82A1.
"Holy hell... that’s aweso!" Victor shouted.
"Seriously? That’s unfair!" soone else yelled through the comm.
The channel erupted in a chorus of envy and laughter.
"Alright, quiet down! You all have hidden features too, figure them out yourselves," Ethan’s voice cut through, amused and authoritative.
The chatter died down, replaced by excited focus. Ethan watched them from below, arms crossed, smiling faintly like a teacher watching his students test their first inventions.
Outside, the chs began transforming, plates shifting as hidden weapons and attachnts ca online. Each one was capable of switching seamlessly between lee, ranged, and defensive configurations.
The squad—looking like a team of futuristic knights or Iron n—took flight and regrouped beside Ethan, Regis, the Dragon Child, Blackie, and Micah.
They hovered in formation above the island. Ethan scanned the landscape below, his eyes narrowing as he spotted a cluster of elaborate wooden buildings, their architecture old-world and oddly elegant amid the wilderness. That had to be the place—where Amber Zane was being held.
Before he could give the order, Markham drifted clumsily through the air toward him, his ch bobbing unsteadily.
"Whoa!" Markham shouted as his ch wobbled dangerously.
"Damn it, Colt! Do you wanna die?" Leo barked, swerving out of the way.
"Can you please not use the group comms every ti you’re shocked?" Leeroy complained, his voice laced with irritation.
"What happened?" Ethan asked, glancing over curiously.
"It’s Southern Seas Rosewood!" Markham exclaid, still sounding half in disbelief.
"Wait, he’s right—I see it too!" Ryan’s voice joined in, equally astonished.
Ethan frowned. "What are you two talking about?"
"The buildings down there," Markham said quickly, "they’re made entirely out of Southern Seas Rosewood! That’s... ridiculous! Even the new stuff costs a fortune, and this looks like the old growth kind."
Ethan’s eyes widened as realization hit. The ornate wooden structures below weren’t just old-fashioned—they were built from one of the rarest and most expensive materials in the world. Even freshly harvested, Southern Seas Rosewood could fetch hundreds of thousands per ton.
And the columns he was seeing weren’t small. Each one was so thick it would take two grown n to encircle it with their arms, and they rose fifty feet into the air like the trunks of ancient giants. The amount of wood used was mind-boggling.
He couldn’t help but wonder just how much wealth that old eunuch had hoarded over the years—and how much of it had been moved here.
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Ethan’s mouth. "This island’s not bad," he said, almost to himself. "What do you all think about renaming it Caelum Isle?"
His words went out across the comm channel.
There was a stunned pause.
"Huh?" soone blurted.
Everyone froze for a mont. They were supposed to be rescuing soone, yet Ethan suddenly sounded like a man about to claim real estate.
Markham’s booming voice broke the silence. "Then let’s kick their asses and make it official!"
The others couldn’t help laughing, but his energy was contagious. They began to truly look around and take in the scenery. Within the shimring barrier that surrounded the island, the landscape was breathtaking—towering cliffs, streams cutting through erald hills, waterfalls feeding crystal lakes, and the vast ocean stretching endlessly beyond. It wasn’t just an island. It was a paradise.
Ethan’s gaze turned serious again. He had already spotted movent among the trees—people running toward the ornate rosewood buildings. Whoever was stationed there knew they had intruders.
Seeing his team fully assembled, Ethan gave the order. "Let’s move."
He stepped onto Blackie’s back, the beast’s wings flaring wide as it launched forward. The rest of the group followed, diving into the shimring barrier of the Suru Array.
Their numbers filled the sky—a force that looked unstoppable.
The ch pilots were Lyla, Leo, Williams, Ryan, Leeroy, Evelyn, and Markham, their armor gleaming as they ford up behind Ethan.
Regis and the Dragon Child followed close, both emanating power that shimred in the air around them. Micah flew slightly to the side, surrounded by rotating runes, his body lifted by the spell from a Runic Parchnt.
Ormund was there too, silent and focused, his aura steady like stone.
Astrid, already transford into her Golden Falcon form, soared ahead in radiant arcs of light, cutting through the wind like a streak of gold.
Even Hank and Quinn had co along, though the strong sll of alcohol around them made it clear they’d been drinking again. They didn’t look the least bit ashad.
Behind them, Celeste, Aunt linda, and Maria had wanted to join, but Ethan had insisted they stay behind for safety. The sa went for Rainie Chen and Williams’ wife—there simply weren’t enough combat chs left.
The materials from the Sea of Death on the Umbral Star had been completely used up to forge the nine chs they now had. One had already been destroyed by the Dragon of Consumption, leaving only eight in working condition.
For now, Ethan led the charge from Blackie’s back, his eyes fixed on the island below.
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