[Earlier…]

  (Elsewhere, Focus walks alone through the snowy forest of bare trees, grimacing as his mind gets riddled with all sorts of thoughts. His memory is flooded with flashes of a pitch-black room, as well as memories of flickering lights within that pitch-black room coupled with incoherent and distant screams. He clutches his head and forcefully closes his eyes to shut those memories, and after slowly breathing in and out, he opens his eyes once again, softly panting.)

  Focus: (muttering) It’s back again. (sighing deeply) I thought I’ve gotten over it.

  (As he continues slowly walking, his steps unequal and imbalanced, he reminisces about some other, more recent memories, specifically instances in which he found himself breathing heavily in panic and clutching his chest in pain alone in his bed; it’s happened more times than one. He finds a plateau ahead and sits down on the edge, frowning and bowing his head, left alone with his thoughts, and after a short pause, the first thought that comes to his mind… is Flare, and he immediately tries to brush it off.)

  Focus: (thinking to himself, dejected) What am I thinking? I… can’t. Nothing about me would allow anything like that to develop. It shouldn’t even happen. My mission… is to ultimately capture her… and what I’ve seen for her…

  (Focus reminisces about a lot of his time with Flare, specifically instances where she would excitedly rush into action without a care in the world. At other times, she would show genuine sincerity, specifically at the Lantern Jubilee: an instance in which they created the lantern together; another instance in which she was so excited and enthusiastic during the festival, much to his surprise back then; and another when they raised the lanterns into the air, when she was genuinely smiling and chuckling like an eager little girl. And even before that, back inside the car…)

  Flare (flashback): (frowning) How do you feel… about all you’ve been put through?

  Focus (present): (thinking to himself) That’s… the first time someone asked me this. The first time I ever gave it thought. I… don’t feel anything about it. Not joy. Not hatred. Nothing. Just… (sighing deeply) I don’t know.

  (But then, he remembers that other side of her and the brief yet impactful instance in which she came out: Red Flare. He recalls the trail of destruction she left back at the cavern during her fight with the berserk Stone days ago… and the pure, unfiltered wickedness in her eyes as she did so, the wickedness of a true monster who can burn the world to ashes unless neutralized.)

  Focus: (internally, grimacing) I saw what she’s capable of. I saw that she’s willing to burn the world to ashes on the mere whim. She must be stopped. That’s why I was sent after all… to neutralize… the threat. I shouldn’t feel this way!

  (His perspective keeps shifting between those three personas: the chaos gremlin, the genuinely sincere loner, and the uncontrollable instrument of destruction. First, it’s slow, and then the three images in his mind keep switching rapidly until they overlap. Then those three personas keep overlapping until his mind goes blank. The silence following that goes on for longer than it should, and the Focus sighs deeply, his head bowed.)

  Focus: (internally, frowning) Who is she? Which side of her is the real Flare? (clutching his head, out loud in frustration) Why is everything so damn complicated?!

  Flare: (appearing out of nowhere, to his right) What’s complicated?

  (Focus is startled by Flare’s sudden appearance, and he steps further to the left in anxious surprise. As he turns to Flare, he sees her standing in front of him, smugly chuckling at his reaction, to which he responds with an unamused expression.)

  Flare: (chuckling) Pfft! You’re never beating the emo allegations!

  Focus: (unamused) I said I wanted some alone time.

  Flare: (teasingly grinning) And I never said I’ll let you have it. So what’s up, anyway?

  Focus: (looking away, still sitting, nervously) Nothing!

  Flare: Not convincing enough.

  Focus: I was just… looking at the stars!

  Flare: (still teasingly) We’re in a cloudy afternoon. There are no stars.

  Focus: (still feeling uneasy) There are if you look closely enough! Not that I expect you to pay attention at all! (sighing deeply, a slight crack in his voice) Now leave me alone, will you? Please.

  (Flare’s teasing smirk quickly wavers into a concerned frown as she sees Focus bowing his head with a dejected look on his face. She glances at him for a bit too long, and then she slowly sits down beside him. He initially flinches at that, but he sighs deeply and returns to his previous position, as if allowing her presence. They remain silent for a while, simply keeping their heads bowed, but then Flare turns to Focus.)

  Flare: (frowning) If you don’t wanna talk about it, then at least be honest about it. You suck at making excuses, you know that?

  Focus: (quietly, his head still bowed) Yeah. That’s one thing.

  Flare: (softly, slightly awkward) Hey, it’s no problem, really, if you don’t wanna talk about it now. Just… whenever you are… just lemme know, okay?

  (Focus lifts his head up and turns to her, his lips parted in surprise, and then he turns back and bows his head yet again, gently nodding afterwards. The silence returns once more, with Flare and Focus both keeping their heads down in this quiet moment. Jax checks in on them from a distance while staying out of sight, surprised by what he’s seeing, but he keeps watching with a frown. After a while, Flare looks up ahead, a small smile forming on her lips.)

  Flare: (softly smiling) We’ve come a long way, haven’t we?

  Focus: (looking up at her, taken aback) Huh?

  Flare: (slightly blushing) Sorry, that… came out of the blue. It’s just that… I was napping on my beat-up couch just a couple days ago. How long has it been? Eleven days?

  Focus: (muttering) Twelve.

  Flare: (teasingly chuckling) I can still remember when all the trouble began, back when you basically stalked me and then walked in with all that swagger.

  Focus: (deadpan) If only I had that one extra bullet.

  Flare: (giggling) If only you didn’t waste so many of them.

  Focus: (with a faint half-smile) Touché.

  Flare: (shrugging) Not that it matters. I would’ve beaten the crap out of you anyway.

  Focus: (quickly returning to his unamused expression) Not touché.

  Flare: And then those jerks showed up and ruined what would’ve been a flashy W for me.

  Focus: (rolling his eyes) You got that backwards, but whatever.

  Flare: And then they captured me and probably humiliated you.

  Focus: (narrowing his eyes) They didn’t.

  Flare: And then you showed up to rescue me.

  Focus: (coughing while saying that, muttering) After committing aggravated assault and bodily harm on a bunch of officers.

  Flare: (petrified) What was that last part?

  Focus: (blankly) Don’t mind me.

  Flare: (chuckling nervously) And then we basically teamed up to figure out what’s happening, which took us to very weird places. It started at a casino in Reno, and now we’re in the middle of Alaska.

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  Focus: (muttering) Yeah.

  (Flare starts giggling a bit as she recalls all that they’ve gone through, while Focus reacts with a momentary half-smile before bowing his head with a sigh and a frown, then silence takes hold once again. Flare stares at Focus’s hand, placed on the ground beside her, for a few seconds, then she looks away, a small blush forming on her face, while Jax continues watching from a distance, his lips parted in surprise. After a while, Flare reluctantly breaks the silence, turning to Focus, who glances at her as well.)

  Flare: (frowning) After all this is over… we’ll go our separate ways, right? You’ll be heading back to that secret organization, and I’ll be off to do… whatever I’ve been doing before that.

  Focus: (lowering his gaze, softly) I guess.

  Flare: (a blush forming) The point is… I… all that time I spent with you… it wasn’t so bad. In fact, I… really enjoyed it, and… (letting out a low chuckle) I won’t really celebrate it when you finally leave. (frowning) You’ll visit every once in a while… right?

  (Focus’s lips slightly part, and a small blush forms on his face. He then feels something touching his hand, and as he looks down at it, he sees Flare’s hand placed on his, keeping her head bowed with a blush before looking up at him once again. They gaze at each other for a moment, as if everything has stopped around them, and Jax continues watching from afar, feeling speechless during this moment.)

  Jax: (muttering) Focus…

  (This moment is interrupted when the wind suddenly turns violent, aggressively brushing past Flare and Focus, who cover their faces in surprise. They get up on their feet while trying not to face the winds, and that’s when Focus notices the tiny ice shards carried by the wind striking the back of his hand. He catches a few of them on his hand and then examines them with a grimace, and Flare looks at it as well.)

  Flare: (inspecting the tiny ice shards on Focus’s palm) What’s that?

  Focus: (dropping the ice shards and clenching his fists, grimacing) Something’s wrong. Come on. We need to head back to the others.

  (Flare firmly nods, and the two head out of here to link up with the others. However, Jax fails to remain in hiding, and they eventually see him, starting an awkward sort of silence. The duo glare at him with narrowed eyes, and Jax can only raise his hands up in surrender with nervous chuckles. After a while, Flare, Focus, and Jax return to Boltix and Jackpot, who are also trying to shield themselves from the strong, cold winds.)

  Boltix: (turning away from the wind, gritting his teeth) What’s happening here?!

  Jackpot: (grimly) Something tells me it’s more than just a case of bad weather.

  (Flare and Focus give it some thought, and then their lips part, their pupils narrowing in shock, as if the two of them have come to the same conclusion. Immediately afterwards, Focus’s watch beeps, receiving an intense energy signature, and the same happens with Boltix and Jackpot, who reach for their watches and check what’s going on. As Focus glances at his watch, with Flare peeking at it as well, the two see a powerful energy signature not far from where they are, much to their horror.)

  Both: (in unison, muttering in horror) Ethan.

  (Flare, Focus, Boltix, Jackpot, and Jax run off through the forest of bare trees, heading for the energy signature, with Focus establishing contact with all the other teams. The leader of Team Gamma, the battalion of soldiers heading for the escort aircrafts, receives this energy signature as well, much to his surprise, and so does Gauntlet elsewhere, who also covers his face to shield it from the wind.)

  Gauntlet: (perplexed) What in the world…?

  (Hunter, Pulse, Proxy, and Mistrick receive this energy signature as well on their watches amid the intense winds, to which Hunter grimaces, immediately recognizing what it is. It’s at this moment that Focus contacts all teams, including his.)

  Focus: (via communicator, urgently) Hunter, are you seeing this?!

  Hunter: (via communicator, grimacing) A Surge Beacon. And judging by the current circumstances, an Ice Surge Beacon.

  Gauntlet: (via communicator) A Beacon?! Right here?! Right now?!

  Mistrick: (rolling her eyes) Perfect timing, if you ask me. (grimacing nervously, hugging her body tight) Now I’m starting to regret not packing winter clothes.

  Flare: (via communicator, her body shivering a little while covering her bare arms) So true.

  Pulse: (clenching her teeth) This can’t be a mere coincidence. Could the culprit be behind this as well?

  Focus: It’s possible. I’m heading out with my team to check this out. We’re close by.

  Hunter: Negative. We need to converge first.

  Focus: This could be even more urgent than it looks. My team and I could at least buy the rest of you time to get there as well. We’re going.

  Hunter: (sighing deeply, firmly) Very well, then. You and your team shall go on ahead. I’ll head there with my team at once. (to Gauntlet) Meet us there as well, Gauntlet.

  Gauntlet: On it.

  Hunter: (to Team Gamma’s leader) As for Team Gamma, you’ll secure our aerial escort as initially planned. Once you do, head to the location of the energy signature, but only after the area is secure. Until then, you’ll remain at standby.

  Team Gamma Leader: (via communicator) Understood, sir.

  Hunter: You’ve all got your orders. Now get to it. Hunter out.

  (All the team members firmly nod, acknowledging the orders, and then Hunter ends the transmission, hurrying to the location with his own team. Team Gamma proceeds as planned to secure the aircrafts provided for extraction, and Gauntlet heads for the energy signature on his own. Flare, Focus, Boltix, Jackpot, and Jax continue their path, on their way to assess the situation ahead of them, with a thick air of uncertainty rather palpable.)

  [Present time…]

  (Meanwhile, as Ethan and Hollow continue lunging at each other repeatedly, blocking each other’s blows, they regain their footing and stand opposite to one another. The two of them charge up their auras and take their fighting stances.)

  Hollow: (exclaiming) That’s right, Ice Surge! Give it your all without a care in the world! Show me what you can do!

  (Ethan remains expressionless, barely responding, and he gets ready for the battle to re-commence. The winds intensify even more, and the residents and Ethan’s parents, as well as the masked shadow soldiers themselves, watch with bated breath as the two powerhouses stand against one another. Hollow immediately lunges at Ethan, propelling himself quick enough to avoid the cluster of ice crystals surrounding him. Ethan forms an ice block to block Hollow’s punch, and it takes the blow while only barely swaying. Ethan then kicks the ice block back at him, forcing Hollow to destroy it with a blast.)

  (Immediately afterwards, two more ice blocks form on either side of Hollow and are launched at him. He quickly flies upwards to avoid the two ice blocks, which redirect themselves and chase after him. Ethan remains standing still with his unchanging, emotionless demeanor, extending his icy palm to control the icy blocks and form new ones out of the tiny ice shards scattered by the wind. Hollow keeps on avoiding the ice blocks while destroying some of them, but they keep reforming and then chasing after him once again.)

  Hollow: (thinking to himself) He’s using his range of attack to keep me busy. I can’t waste time fighting by his rules. I’ll have to focus on him and only him, and if I have to deal with his constant attacks, then be it.

  (Hollow charges up his electric neon red aura, and upon doing so, the ice blocks nearby get struck by electric bolts emitted from his aura. He immediately lunges at Ethan, piercing through the ice barrier Ethan forms in front of him, but it blows up midway, causing him to lose balance. Ethan lunges at him for a punch, but he propels himself away from the punch and fires a cluster of blasts at the former, who blocks them with an instant cluster of ice blocks. However, Hollow manages to land a kick at his gut, launching him through the air, but Ethan effortlessly slides into the ground with his icy feet and regains his footing, standing before Hollow.)

  Hollow: (passionately, the neon red symbol on his mask glowing with energy) You see it too, Ice Surge! Your full potential is truly something to behold! You’re right up there among the most powerful Surge users! And now that you’ve embraced that potential, you’ll keep developing even further! (charging up his fist with energy) You… are a true Surge Beacon!

  (Hollow lunges at Ethan once again, who blocks his punch and gets sent sliding, but he controls that slide using his icy feet, and as Hollow prepares a blast with his other hand, Ethan blocks it with an ice blast from his other hand as well, sending the two of them skidding back. The residents watch the continuously intensifying battle between the two from hiding, with Mr and Mrs Carter especially horrified upon seeing their son’s chilling detachment, as if nothing here matters to him. Shay arrives at the scene while clutching his chest in pain, getting to see the battle unfold, and he tries to shield himself from the intense winds.)

  Shay: (muttering with a grimace) Ethan…

  (Ethan and Hollow continue lunging at each other in the air, the former repeatedly using the tiny ice shards in the air to form ice blocks and maintain his footing in the air. He jumps from block to block as he dodges Hollow’s barrages of blasts; as Hollow keeps launching those blasts, he charges up his palms with intense energy, as if preparing something. Ethan jumps from a block then forms an ice staff and swings it at Hollow, launching him through the air. He tries to follow that up with a cluster of ice crystals, but Hollow acrobatically propels himself ahead.)

  Hollow: I’m not losing this fight, Ice Surge!

  (Ethan realizes too late that Hollow has finished up his powerful energy beam, and he fires it midair from above Ethan, forcing him to stop it with his palms. The energy beam pushes him lower, and he forms two ice blocks to plant his feet in, an attempt to push back against the energy beam. However, those two ice blocks break, causing Ethan to plummet to the ground, the energy beam threatening to submerge him, but he pushes it back when he pulls an ice pillar out of the ground, submerging himself in it.)

  Hollow: (exclaiming) I knew you won’t go down so easily, Ice Surge!

  (Hollow grunts with all his effort as he continues amplifying his energy beam, while Ethan remains detached inside his ice pillar, amplifying his aura to strengthen the pillar. It keeps rising up, pushing back against Hollow’s energy beam and launching its own icy energy as well, and it turns into an intense beam struggle in the sky. The residents, Ethan’s parents, Shay, and even the masked shadow soldiers watch this beam struggle with baited breath, hearing Hollow’s echoing grunts and getting overwhelmed by the violent, cold winds. The beam struggle persists at full force, but then the ice pillar rises, piercing through Hollow’s energy beam and striking his gut.)

  Hollow: (internally) Not enough!

  (Hollow places both his palms on the pillar, which starts getting overwhelmed by the ever-amplifying energy of Hollow’s Overdrive Surge, adapting an electric neon red glow. The icy energy coming out of it interacts with Hollow’s energy, and the two cause a massive, blinding explosion that destroys the ice pillar. And so, everyone within the camp — including both Ethan and Hollow — get submerged in a flash of white light.)