Ray continued to fight each controlled boy who appeared before him, his movements as fluid and precise as those of a samurai trained for years. Ramona, on the other hand, conjured fiery cages that burned with an almost hypnotic intensity, containing the young attackers advancing toward them. "How many orphaned children are there in this world?" she muttered under her breath, her voice heavy with frustration as she elegantly swept her hands to restrain the controlled boys.
"I don't know," Ray responded without stopping, blocking an attack with his sword and disarming his opponent with a precise strike to the arm. His tone was calm, but a trace of sadness lingered in his voice. He knew these youths were nothing more than puppets of a greater force.
Meanwhile, Margaret tried to awaken the cadets who had fainted after being hit by spores released by one of the controlled attackers. She glanced at the surrounding battle, taking cover behind any object she could find. Suddenly, more boys emerged, this time in full-on killer mode, their attacks visibly more lethal. Among them, a figure wielding a long, sharp sword stepped out of the shadows, heading straight for Ray. The girls reacted instantly, engaging the new opponents to protect the recruits while Ramona focused her power on blocking those with magical abilities.
The figure stopped in front of Ray, and their swords clashed with a metallic ring that echoed through the air. "I see you're an expert swordsman," said Agent B-1, his tone serene yet firm. But before he could continue, his opponent's metallic hat shattered, revealing golden hair that gleamed under the dim light.
The opponent took a few steps back, removing his glasses to reveal a mysterious red glow at the center of his eyes. "Not bad," he remarked with an arrogant smile. "I thought you were completely blind, as the reports claimed. But I see now that you're not." He paused dramatically before introducing himself: "My name is Jeti Finn, leader of Radar in this part of the world. I should've gone all out from the start. Now I see you're strong—I shouldn't have underestimated you." He removed his cloak, revealing a blue suit with white stripes, and pulled a black wool cap over his head. "My name is Ray," replied Agent B-1, his tone unwavering. "Though we usually go by codes, I am Agent B-1."
"Fine, it doesn't matter, Ray," Jeti shot back with a mocking grin. "As I always say: 'Between shadows and light, I forge my own path.'" Before Ray could respond, Jeti vanished, reappearing behind him with astonishing speed. However, Ray blocked the attack effortlessly, his expression impassive. "No one has ever been able to keep up with me or block my attacks before," Jeti said, his nervousness now evident. "But I'll find a way to take you down," he added before vanishing again.
"It's useless, Jeti," Ray declared calmly, his voice resonating like an echo across the battlefield. "You have no training; you act purely out of bursts of anger. I can tell just by watching your movements." Jeti appeared midair, shouting: "Don't underestimate me, you old fool!" He lunged toward Ray like a whirlwind, his sword slicing through the air with a sharp whistle.
Ray sighed, stepping aside with surprising grace. Jeti crashed to the ground, his sword shattering from the sheer force of his own attack. "How can you move so fast, damn old man?" Jeti yelled, struggling to his feet as a drop of blood trickled down his forehead. "That attack usually finishes off my enemies while leaving me unscathed. How could you...?"
"It's very simple, boy," Ray interrupted, his tone patient but firm. "You're like one of my students—stubborn and foolish, rushing into fights without strategy or analysis." Somewhere far away, Gat sneezed. "Someone must be talking about me," he muttered to himself.
Back in China, Jeti slowly rose, wiping the blood from his cheek with the back of his hand. A sinister smile crossed his face as he thought: As my mother always says: "Do whatever it takes to win, no matter what." He tossed aside the remnants of his broken sword and drew another from behind his back. "Let's see if you can handle this," he challenged Ray, who vanished once again.
A moment later, Jeti reappeared near Ray, pressing buttons on his wrist. Four controlled figures emerged from the shadows, holding chains that bound Ray's hands and legs. "Now you'll die," Jeti announced triumphantly as he approached Ray's neck with his sword.
"Oh, boy," Ray murmured with a calm smile. "If only you'd listened to my words..." He whispered a phrase under his breath: "RA-Y-TOK." Suddenly, a violet energy began emanating from his sword, shattering the chains that restrained him. The power rapidly expanded, forming a violet wind that repelled his opponents and left Jeti badly injured on the ground.
"But… how is this possible?" Jeti stammered, incredulous. "How did you defeat me and all these people at their peak power?"
"Well, Jeti," Ray explained calmly, "you lack experience. Things aren't done with tricks and traps—they're achieved through effort and dedication. This is a fraction of my power: the 'RA-Y-TOK.' It's like a violet mantle that protects me and repels enemies."
"But how can you do that if you can't see?" Jeti gasped, struggling to stay conscious.
"I don't need sight to know the colors of things," Ray replied with a gentle smile. "I was born blind, hated being so, but ever since I was placed in that program at a young age, I learned to perceive things differently. I see people and colors in my mind, as if it were a television screen. That's why, when I saw you, I knew you wouldn't stand a chance against me. You were just throwing random attacks—you lack practice. I thought you were a skilled swordsman, but truthfully, you're not. Perhaps, if you redeem yourself, I might teach you a thing or two."
"Damn it... I... I'll defeat you someday! I'll have my revenge!" Jeti screamed before collapsing unconscious.
Meanwhile, the other girls continued fighting the controlled boys in their deadly assassin forms. The opponents' movements were fast and lethal, but the agents held their ground without faltering. Suddenly, a voice echoed through the rubble: "It's time to put an end to this." It was Ramona, emerging engulfed in flames, her figure wrapped in a fiery aura that illuminated the battlefield.
"Oh no! Here comes one of her tantrums," Brea muttered with an ironic smile, well aware of her companion's explosive temperament.
"Hey, you and your girls, get them into position," Ramona ordered in an authoritative tone, pointing at the remaining enemies. "You'll see."
"Do you want a soda with that?" Brea shot back sarcastically, crossing her arms. Margaret, on the other hand, frowned. "Who does she think she is, giving orders?"
"For now, just do what she says," Brea interjected, trying to keep the peace. "Alright, girls, to your positions," Margaret commanded, though her tone betrayed a hint of irritation.
The agents formed an invisible mental cube around the controlled subjects, leaving a small strategic opening for Ramona to act. The enemies tried to escape, but it was as if invisible walls prevented them from moving beyond their ephemeral prison. "Good," Ramona said as she rose into the air, her flames crackling with intensity. "Hurry up," Margaret urged from below.
Ramona raised her hands, forming an arc of fire that glowed with an ethereal brilliance. With a precise motion, she launched a fire arrow toward the small opening they had left, shouting: "LEFIRE!" The fire surged into the telekinetic cube, spreading everywhere. The flames danced like furious serpents, consuming everything in their path.
"Hey! The plan was to knock them out, not roast them!" Margaret protested, her voice a mix of frustration and concern.
"Relax, boss, they're not dead," Marta and Sheila assured almost in unison, checking the pulses of the fallen telepathically. "They're just unconscious."
"You can stop that trick now," Ramona instructed as the flames began to dissipate. Her suit still smoked slightly, but her expression was one of absolute calm. "I only used a fraction of my power," she added with a satisfied smile as she descended to the ground.
As she landed, Margaret couldn't hold back any longer. "Who do you think you are, taking charge? You're not the leader here!" she exclaimed, confronting Ramona face-to-face.
"Oh, sure, because you're doing such a great job," Ramona retorted with a mocking grin, further provoking Margaret.
"I think putting so many 'number ones' on the same mission was a terrible idea," Brea commented as she approached to intervene, but before she could say more, a calm voice interrupted the argument.
"Alright, girls, no fighting," Ray said, appearing with the unconscious Jeti slung over his right arm and the four controlled subjects bound by chains. "It seems we've completed our mission here."
"How do you know if there are still more bases in Asia?" Sheila asked, looking at him curiously.
"Yes, but since their leader has fallen," Ray replied, gesturing to Jeti, "the others must be either easier or inexperienced. Perhaps we can interrogate him on the way to their base while requesting a ship." His tone was practical, as if he were planning a simple outing.
"Alright, I'll handle digging into his mind," Margaret said, stepping toward Jeti with determination.
On another front, Ezekiel faced the fearsome leader of Africa, Aldos Etron. The latter lowered his missile launcher in an elegant motion and charged directly at Ezekiel, determined to settle the confrontation hand-to-hand.