It is night. Candelia Harbor is brightly lit, neon lights streaming like liquid between the streets and rooftops. The people have grown accustomed to this vibrant cityscape, seldom lifting their gaze to ponder what lies hidden within the towering clouds at the city's northern edge.

Beyond the clouds lies Dr. Sunil's new Institution, a place where his life's work and dreams converge. In this place, there is no distinction between day and night—only endless contemplation and the constant hum of machinery. Sunil stands alone in the testing area, intently adjusting the "Orb" over and over again. This "Orb," built with his own hands, appears unremarkable on the outside. Yet, it is a treasure unique in the solar system, holding infinite power and potential, embodying countless sleepless nights endured by thousands of scientists over many years.

Sunil's fingers gently brush across the surface of the Orb. A faint pulse echoes, as if it might awaken at any moment.

"This sphere will change everything…" His voice resonates with unwavering determination.

Memories surge like a tide, vivid images of past setbacks and breakthroughs flooding his mind. Through "reverse gigantification" technology, Sunil unlocked the interaction between ether energy and material space, while the nanoscale "implosive fabrication" process pushed his research to new heights. This "Orb" has already surpassed the conventional boundaries of human science. It is the key to the future, a key that could reshape the fate of the universe.

However, Sunil seemed unaware of the pair of eyes fixated on the "Orb." Lurking in the shadows, the devious artificial intelligence Freddie secretly observed this extraordinary research, scheming to acquire a spectacular new gadget for himself.

In the dead of night, taking advantage of Sunil's brief absence, Freddie slipped quietly into the lab. The cold, sterile lights reflected off the "reverse gigantification" machine, casting sharp, angular shadows, a metallic chill hanging in the air. Freddie's footsteps were as light as a breeze moving through the shadows, his movements skilled and nimble, making no sound. For Freddie, the security system was a trivial challenge. His fingers moved deftly across the control panel, expertly dismantling one firewall after another. At last, the "Orb" lay still in its container, just within his reach.

Freddie's heartbeat quickened, eyes blazing with ambition. Lady Luck seemed to smile upon him at last. But just as he reached out to pick up the "Orb," a shrill alarm blared. Freddie quickly regained his composure, successfully stealing part of the design data and escaping before the security team arrived.

Although he didn't obtain the complete Orb, the massive amount of information within the small portion of data was enough to change his destiny.

After several grueling weeks of study, Freddie merged a sliver of the research data with his own ingenious ideas, barely managing to piece together a green "lock Orb." Although its performance falls far short of Sunil's original version, Freddie is more than satisfied. This Lock Orb is enough to make him stand out in the upcoming Farlight Cup competition.

Armed with the Lock Orb, Freddie put on an impressive display at the Farlight Cup: the green orb sliced through the air, tracing razor-sharp paths. The E-Net swiftly locked onto every opponent with unerring accuracy, leaving no enemy a chance to escape. The audience gasped in awe at the novel weapon, while Freddie stood proudly amidst the applause, savoring the glory as if he had anticipated this victory all along. In that moment, he knew his gamble had paid off.

"No one can escape my Lock Orb... No one at all..."

His voice brimmed with pride and confidence, yet deep inside, he was dissatisfied and puzzled by the unfinished "Orb." A vague sense of unease lingered—though the Lock Orb's power far exceeded his expectations, it was still a crude imitation of Sunil's research.

"If the prototype alone is this powerful, what would happen if I had the complete 'Orb' in my hands?" he wondered.

Freddie was unaware that Sunil was watching his every move from the Farlight Cup control room. On the screen, the green Lock Orb struck with the speed and ferocity of a cheetah's claws, relentlessly taking down opponents. However, there wasn't a hint of concern on Sunil's face. Instead, he broke into a subtle, scornful smile.

Sunil's gaze went beyond the screen, as if he could see straight into Freddie's heart: a young "man" driven by desire, yet utterly ignorant of what true power is.

"What a pity. This kid doesn't understand the true power of the 'Orb' at all..." Sunil murmured to himself, a cold gleam flashing in his eyes.

As the tournament drew to its final moments, Sunil knew it was time to bring this farce to an end. He retrieved the black Orb from his pocket. Unlike the brash and overpowering green Lock Orb, this one exuded a calm, enigmatic presence, dark patterns swirling on its surface like liquid shadows.

"Behold the true power of the 'Orb'..." He pressed the button, and the ether energy within the sphere surged violently, emitting a deep hum like a giant beast awakening from slumber. The energy, suppressed by the "implosive fabrication" process, erupted with a resonant "BUDDY" that momentarily drowned out all noise in the arena. Every gaze was drawn to the black Orb in Sunil's hand. Sunil stood still, his demeanor calm, yet his eyes shone with undeniable confidence. He knew that this "Orb" was not just a masterpiece of ether technology but also the embodiment of his years of hard work and steadfast belief.

Freddie was stunned. In his relatively short life, it felt like he had once again been driven to the edge: his prized Lock Orb seemed utterly powerless before the true "Orb." A fear he hadn't felt in a long time began to spread...

The story ends here, with Sunil's smile hinting at an awakening yet to come. He knew the wheels of fate had begun to turn. The future of the Farlight Cup would be drastically changed—and this was only the beginning.