Both men, despite their strength, were pinned helplessly by the monstrous Jenemes, the situation growing more desperate with each passing second.

EPISODE THREE
THE WRATH OF SATAR

Kagaro watched in agony as the Jeneme hurled Yone to the floor with a bone-rattling thud. His friend hit the ground hard, gasping for breath, but before Yone could even attempt to rise, the Jeneme was already looming over him, casting a massive shadow. With a grotesque, deliberate movement, the creature lifted its stubby green foot and brought it down on Yone. A sickening crunch echoed through the room, the sound unmistakable as bone meeting unbearable pressure.

"Ahhhh!" Yone's agonized scream filled the room, reverberating in Kagaro's ears like a death knell.

"Yone! No! Yone! Come on, let me go -my friend is-Yone is..." Kagaro's voice cracked, choked with desperation. Hot tears streamed down his face before he even realized it, stinging his eyes as he struggled violently in the Jeneme's unrelenting grasp. His arms ached, his body was growing weaker, but his focus was locked on Yone's crumpled form beneath the monster's foot. Panic and guilt swelled in his chest, but his efforts to free himself were in vain.

Just as he was about to scream Yone's name again, there was a loud grunt. The Jeneme's leg lifted off Yone, its monstrous body stumbling backward with a forceful shove. It tumbled aside, revealing a powerful figure standing between Yone and his would-be demise. It was Hibiki- Jenna's star. The ethereal being hovered above Yone, his regal posture undisturbed by the chaos around him.

In a flash, Hibiki's otherworldly presence had dispelled the immediate threat, and Yone, now free, scrambled to his feet, his face pale but alive with relief.

Kagaro, still locked in the suffocating grip of his own Jeneme captor, watched as Hibiki floated above Yone, his body rigid like that of a disciplined butler. "Thank you, uh... Star Hibiki, for saving Yone..." Kagaro murmured, momentarily forgetting his own pain as he glanced up at the floating star. The sharp, divine features of Hibiki remained impassive, his focus now shifting toward Kagaro.

But Kagaro's brief respite was interrupted as the Jeneme that held him tightened its gooey grip, causing him to gasp in pain. His left arm throbbed under the pressure, the skin bruising and growing tender as if it was on the verge of snapping. He grunted in agony, his breaths coming in short, desperate bursts.

Without a word, Hibiki's piercing red eyes locked onto the Jeneme. With just a glare, a wave of divine energy pulsed from Hibiki, freezing the creature in place. The Jeneme's monstrous body trembled under the invisible weight of the star's gaze. Then, Hibiki floated closer and lightly tapped the Jeneme's clutching arm with his finger. Instantly, the creature's grasp slackened, its hand releasing Kagaro like a limp rag doll. Kagaro collapsed to the ground, landing heavily on his back, gasping for air.

Kagaro winced as pain shot through his injured arm. He tried to sit up, managing to mutter, "Thank you... again..." His voice was weak, but the gratitude was sincere.

Hibiki, unbothered by the scene, floated down and, with blinding speed, lifted both Kagaro and Yone into the air. The two boys barely had time to process what was happening before they found themselves soaring through the sky. The Jeneme-infested house faded into the distance below them as they sped through the air like a blur. Kagaro blinked, trying to understand the sudden shift, but before he knew it, they were standing atop the rooftop of the JEO southern building.

Hibiki's speed had been incomprehensible. The moment they touched down on the roof, he vanished in a swirl of ethereal mist, leaving the two agents disoriented but safe.

Kagaro dropped to his knees, his body sagging with a mix of exhaustion and awe. "Wow... Jenna saved us," he murmured, shaking his head in disbelief.

Yone crouched beside him, grabbing Kagaro's arm to assess the damage. His eyes widened at the sight of the mangled limb.

"What are you doing?" Kagaro snapped, pulling his arm away sharply. He hated showing weakness, especially in front of his team. As the captain, he was supposed to be strong, the one to protect them all.

"I'm fine," Kagaro insisted, though his voice betrayed the searing pain radiating from his arm.

Yone frowned. "It's crushed." He gently took hold of Kagaro's arm again, but this time with more care, as if it might shatter if handled too roughly.

Kagaro glanced at Yone's own injuries, noting how his friend's right arm hung limp at his side. "Your arm's not looking great either," he said, his voice softening with concern.

Ignoring Kagaro's remark, Yone focused on his injured friend. He crouched lower, his face etched with determination. Placing Kagaro's broken arm carefully in his left hand, Yone closed his eyes and whispered, "Satar. Come out, please."

Summoning Satar without his usual bandana wasn't something Yone did often-it drained a considerable amount of energy, and he wasn't sure if it would even work without the proper conduit. But he had to try.

Almost immediately, the air around them shimmered, and from the rippling energy, a figure began to form. Satar, Yone's star, materialized beside him, leaning her delicate frame against his shoulder, her lips brushing his ear as she whispered, "Yes, Master?"

Yone looked up, his expression tired but resolute. "I want you to heal Riyu-san," he requested, his voice quiet but firm.

Satar's gaze flickered to Kagaro, her icy blue eyes narrowing as she sized him up. Kagaro shuddered under her stare. Satar wasn't known for her compassion-human life was trivial to her, even the life of her contractee. Healing someone other than Yone seemed an unlikely favor.

"Why would I do that?" she whispered into Yone's ear, her voice as chilling as it was disinterested.

Yone's shoulders tensed, his desperation evident. "Please, Satar. I'm begging you," he implored softly, knowing full well how little human pleas meant to her.

Satar hovered above them, a faint smirk playing on her lips as she watched Yone plead with her. There was a glimmer of amusement in her eyes, a twisted satisfaction in hearing him beg. She relished these moments—the control she had over Yone, the way he needed her despite his reluctance. Slowly, she floated toward Kagaro, who was still cradling his battered arm.

With a delicate touch, Satar placed her hand on Kagaro’s bruised and discolored arm. In an instant, a bright white light enveloped them, so intense it blinded both Kagaro and Yone for a moment. When the light faded, Kagaro blinked his eyes open, stunned to see his arm completely healed. The bruises were gone, the swelling vanished as if it had never been injured.

Satar smiled down at Kagaro, but the sweetness of her smile didn’t reach her eyes. "You seem like someone precious to Yone," she said, her voice soft and dangerous. "But what will happen if you are hurt again? So gravely that not even I can heal you?" Her hand, once a source of healing, began to creep toward his throat, her fingers inching closer with a predatory gleam in her eye.

Kagaro tensed, his body rigid as the threat sank in, but before Satar could make another move, Yone’s voice rang out, panicked and desperate.

“No! Satar! Go back! Now!” Yone shouted, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and anger. He had hoped that after their last encounter with Hibiki, she would have learned, but it was a foolish thought. Someone as arrogant and headstrong as Satar wouldn’t change so easily. She thrived on defiance, on pushing Yone to his limits.

Satar hesitated for a moment, her gaze flicking between Yone and Kagaro. Then, with a slight shrug, she began to float higher, her eyes narrowing in frustration as she drifted upward.

“No... not this again,” Kagaro muttered, frustration evident in his voice as he stood up and clenched his fists. “The quarters just opened up…” He glanced at Yone, pain flickering across his features, not just physical but the emotional toll of their constant battles with Satar.

Yone, still panting from exertion, turned to Kagaro, his expression firm. “Riyu-san,” he said, addressing him with the formality he so always used. “Leave.”

Kagaro looked at him in disbelief. “What?”

“I said get out of here,” Yone repeated, his eyes briefly darting toward the stairwell leading down from the rooftop. His voice was calm, but the strain in his posture betrayed how much the situation was weighing on him. Kagaro could tell that Yone didn’t know if he could handle Satar this time. His last attempt to control her had failed miserably, and the odds weren’t in his favor now either.

Kagaro clenched his jaw, his anger bubbling to the surface. He didn’t want to leave Yone to face this alone, but he knew that arguing would only waste precious time. He turned toward the rooftop exit, his fists shaking with frustration. “Fine,” he grunted, heading for the opening. Just before he descended, he turned back and shouted, “I’ll be back, Yone! Hold on!” Then, without waiting for a reply, he disappeared down the stairwell.

As Kagaro sprinted through the building’s interior, he focused on what he needed to do. He had to get to his office, grab his equipment. His mind raced, the urgency of the situation propelling him forward. Reaching a panel on the wall, he hit the button with a quick tap. Immediately, a floating green capsule appeared beside him, the doors sliding open with a soft hiss.

He jumped inside without hesitation. The transparent doors sealed shut, and the capsule zoomed down toward the center of the building, traveling at breakneck speed. Inside, Kagaro remained steady, his thoughts solely on the mission ahead. The capsule, an invention of the JEO scientist Gaieren, was designed for rapid transport between floors, and it delivered Kagaro to the fifth floor in seconds. The capsule stopped abruptly, floating for a split second before it zipped toward the railing and touched down on the floor.

The doors opened with a hiss, green smoke wafting out as Kagaro leaped out of the capsule. "Wait here," he commanded, his voice firm.

“Voice recognized. I will wait for you here, Captain Riyu Kagaro,” replied the AI voice from within the capsule, but Kagaro was already rushing toward his room, barely acknowledging the response.

Back on the rooftop, Yone’s frustration grew as he continued to shout at Satar. “Satar, come back down! Go back into your item!” he yelled, but his voice was drowned out by the wind that whipped around them.

Suddenly, the rooftop door clicked open. Yone turned his head just in time to see Jenna step out, her black jumpsuit gleaming under the pale light of the sun. Her presence was commanding, her boots clicking sharply against the rooftop as she approached him.

“Agent Yone,” Jenna said, her voice steady and professional. “Commander Awara has already assembled all the agents. It’s time to go.” As she spoke, she tossed Yone his bandana.

Yone caught the bandana and immediately swiped his fingers over it. “Come back, Star Satar,” he called, his voice firm but weary.

But Satar merely laughed, her body still hovering midair. "Fool," she taunted, her voice dripping with disdain. "You tried this last time, and it failed. Do you really think you can succeed now?"

Her voice was laced with venom as she floated around, her gaze full of amusement. “I like the human world. I think I’ll stay here a while longer—”

“Go back into the bandana,” Jenna interrupted, her voice sharp and unwavering. Satar’s eyes flashed with anger as she glared at the girl, her once-amused expression now twisted with contempt.

“You insolent brat,” Satar hissed, her voice low and dangerous as she floated closer to Jenna. “You dare to interrupt me when I’m speaking?”

Without hesitation, Jenna slapped Satar’s hand away as the star reached for her. There was no warning, no preamble—Jenna moved swiftly, delivering a sidekick to Satar’s stomach with such precision that the star was sent skidding across the rooftop. Her flowing kimono whipped against the wind as she was thrown back, her ethereal form momentarily disheveled.

Satar’s eyes blazed with fury as she straightened, her gaze locked on Jenna. "How dare you!" she seethed, her voice a venomous growl. "You always annoyed me, but this… this is too far. To fight a divine star is to call upon your own death, Jenna."

Unfazed, Jenna met her gaze with steel in her eyes. “Go back in. Yone is exhausted because of you,” she said, her voice firm as she glanced at Yone, who was still struggling to summon Satar back into his bandana.

Satar glared at them both, her lips curling into a snarl.