Records of Cosmic War

A sudden chill swept through the training hall, crawling under our skin like a creeping shadow. The atmosphere, once filled with the hopeful energy of fresh beginnings and quiet camaraderie, turned heavy and suffocating. It was as if the very air had frozen.

"No, you can't, Bella."

The voice was sharp, slicing through the silence like a dagger. It wasn't just cold—it was final, commanding, and cruel. A presence followed, elegant yet oppressive. Isabella gasped, her eyes widening with disbelief and fear.

"Riana!" she whispered.

There she stood—Riana Williams. Her eldest sister. Towering, calm, and terrifying. Every step she took echoed through the hall like a countdown.

"You can't win this inheritance war," Riana said, her voice steady, each word falling with the weight of unchangeable fate. "Someone as weak as you cannot survive a battle drenched in blood. Just give up, Bella. You know I'll take care of you, even if Father abandoned you. So stop trying to be something you're not. Forget about that pathetic little camp of yours and the foolish missions. Stay with me. That is your place. That is where you belong."

As Riana stepped closer, she raised her hand and placed it gently on Isabella's head. But there was no comfort in the gesture. It was domination—a claim of ownership. Isabella stood frozen, paralyzed by the looming shadow of her sister's hand, her face contorted in fear, eyes locked on that hand as if it might crush her at any second.

But then—

Another hand caught Riana's wrist.

"Leave her alone."

The words weren't loud. They didn't need to be. They cut through the tension with the weight of sheer conviction.

It was me—Judas.

"Don't touch our captain," I said. My voice didn't tremble. I wouldn't allow it to.

Riana turned to me, her lips curling into a faint, amused smile. "Is that so? Then stop me. If you think you're strong enough, stop me. Just keep my hand away from her head for one minute."

The moment she finished speaking, a crushing pressure descended upon the room. It was like gravity itself had tripled in intensity. Our knees buckled. Everyone—Claire, Austin, Griffith—collapsed to the floor. Only Isabella remained untouched, standing frozen in place.

But I didn't fall.

I clenched my teeth and forced myself to stand, my legs trembling violently under the unbearable pressure. My hand remained locked on Riana's wrist. I wouldn't let go.

This... this was the power of the strongest among the Williams children?

I grunted, my muscles screaming, my vision blurring.

"I... I won't give up," I managed through gritted teeth. "I will not... give up."

Just as my strength gave out and my fingers began to slip from her wrist, another hand appeared.

Sai.

His hand gripped Riana's wrist alongside mine.

"Don't think everything will go according to your will," he said, his voice firm, unwavering. His eyes burned with conviction.

"Riana, stop!" Isabella screamed, her voice shattering the silence.

And suddenly, the pressure lifted. The invisible weight vanished, and air flooded our lungs. We gasped.

Riana looked at Sai and me, now collapsed on the floor, and narrowed her eyes. "It seems there are at least two useful ones among your team," she said coldly. "But that's the end of the line."

Without another word, she turned and began walking away.

Sai, half-conscious, opened one eye. As he watched her retreating figure, a memory surged—a woman crying, screaming for help. The image was vivid, sharp, and haunting.

"This... isn't the end," Sai whispered before collapsing completely.

Riana paused. For a moment, it seemed she might turn back. But she didn't. She walked away, vanishing into the hall's shadows.

One day later.

"Where... am I?" Sai's voice croaked.

"Finally awake, huh?" I said with a half-smile. "You slept through an entire day."

Sai sat up slowly, rubbing his temples. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah. After you and I passed out, Riana left. Just walked out like nothing happened. Talk about dramatic exits."

"That's the Williams for you," Sai muttered. "Judas... do you think you can beat her?"

I looked at him, then down at my hands.

"I can."

Powell, who had just walked in, scoffed. "How? With what? We couldn't even stand in her presence."

I shook my head. "I don't know yet. But I felt something that day—when she used that pressure. Something deep inside me... awakened. I'm not joking, Powell. I felt it."

Powell folded his arms. "You felt something. Great. So what now? You think you're one of the gifted now? We brought you into this mission because you're a brute with good instincts. Don't start getting delusional."

"I'm not delusional. I'm telling you what I felt."

Sai raised a hand. "Enough. Arguing won't help. Judas, prove it with your actions. If you felt something, use it. Train it. But before anything else, we need to strengthen our team."

At that moment, a knock echoed from the door.

Isabella entered, flanked by Claire, Austin, and Griffith. Her eyes fell on Sai first, filled with worry.

"Are you alright?" she asked gently.

"I'm fine," Sai replied.

But Isabella's face grew grave. "I'm not. Let's just give up. This war... it isn't worth it."

"What the hell are you talking about?" I started, shocked.

But Sai cut me off.

"You think we're just pawns in your inheritance war? I didn't come here to play backup. I came to prove my worth to the Williams family. Don't insult my resolve by quitting now."

"But this war could kill you..." Isabella whispered.

"Then let it!" Sai's voice cracked like a whip. "I will gladly lay down my life if it means I can stand tall in front of the Williams name."

Isabella didn't respond. She simply turned and walked out of the room.

The tension in the room thickened. Everyone looked at each other, fear silently etched into their expressions.

"Don't let fear defeat you," Sai said. His voice was quiet now, but still full of strength. "We can win."

"How? We couldn't even last one minute under Riana's pressure," Claire said, her voice trembling.

"Because that pressure came from an ability," Sai said. He turned to Powell. "Is everything ready?"

Powell nodded. "Yeah. Everything is prepared."

Sai stood up, steadying himself against the bedpost. "Then it's time we started."