Darkness reign and silent footsteps rule, with a torch and a red suitcase in my hold, mom walks beside me to accompany my personal deed.

I shake my body around to adjust this new suit I stole from Rubeca's room years ago, it is too loose thanks to our size. I look at mom asking:

"So you're still going to follow me?"

"Of course, I would never let my precious daughter go alone outside without any jurisdiction. Besides this is the Reliquary, I couldn't just let you get tricked and spirited away now can we?"

"Fine, have it your way."

"Just be grateful I'm here to show you the outer layer where the curse doesn't take effect."

"Yes, thanks, mom."

Droves of rats come crawling through the small gaps on the huge unscalable walls and went into formation.

A group of five with different tattoos and patterns on their backs comes forth and communicate by moving in patterns.

{We found a military ship belonging to the Aologi Empire as you predicted my Master. There are hundreds upon hundreds of soldiers and golems with advance looking technology garrison there}

"Wonderful~"

I kneel down, scratching the rat's jaw and belly to praise and thank them. They all move in joy and squeak with laughter before each of them moves back into a square formation and wait for orders.

"Rudolf and Weiss, split into two and command the army. move and scout ahead again, from the corpses it seems the rumours that monsters have made a nest here is true, keep your guards up and retreat immediately if there is anything dangerous to report."

{Yes, Master as you wish}

I stand up and march ahead with the rat's army by my side being the vanguard party and scouts. I look at the darkness ahead of me, moving my torch left and right I could see corpses of monsters scattered all about, littered around with only one riaz hole. Only one hole each precisely in their forehead nothing else.

"They must be elites among elites like you said, you're not lying when you told me they're one of the empires finest huh?"

"Of course not sweetie, there can only be few armies counted in two hands in our empire capable of this feat. But from the casing I see, this is the army who saved the south from collapsing entirely, the Phantom Tempest created by one of the heroes Coraline Coryn."

Wearing a cloak to hide her face and body yet her size alone completely blown her cover and makes you wonder why does she wear one in the first place. Mom moves her muscle-bound arms that show through her cloak and smiles as if in a good mood. She walks beside me, towering me more than double my size both in height and width. Mom cracks her neck left and right before looking back saying:

"Okay, you invisible folks can come out now. Stop teasing my daughter."

"Huh?"

(What is she saying? my rats can smell and sense any living things in more than kilometres, and there is the training I did with all the skill Rubeca gave me, yet what is the meaning of this?)

Suddenly I can sense two people suddenly appearing behind me at such a close distance, the rats immediately run and hide while I quickly drop the red suitcase and torch, holding my whip and a new weapon I retrieve from her metal suitcase under her bed. I quickly look back.

Two people dress in all black, wearing some tactical advanced armour that covers all their body and somehow looks like it doesn't limit their movement. Their body is full of many technologies I have never heard of, the man wears a black steel helmet that looks like a skull with one glowing eye and the other wears a weird looking mask that can spilt into two while having a slit glowing eyes, they wear a black cloak that reach their waist which had octogon patterns that phases if you look wih enhanced eyes till the sole of their greaves that release some sort of waves and pale light that merge with the surrounding.

They both carry a long rifle I've never seen before that looks more modern than I've read and seen from the books I get, not even Sis Yuwei's archive support such design. It has a long scope, a long magazine behind the handle, retractable long pods, a long extended thing at the end of the barrel and other more support tools, multiple arrays of guns and survival knives on their arsenal more modern than I know. You can tell they are one of the finest just from one glance and alien from what we know.

My hands shake as I was urged by my curiosity from the very being... I hold my hands whispering,

"This is not the time. Keep yourself in control..."

I quickly release my scourge, pulling out a very advanced looking revolver I stole in Rubeca's room. I aim at one of them when one of the soldiers grabs the shoulder of the one beside him and points at my gun saying:

"Whoa! That's a V.N CRW series! How did you get that!? I heard it's suppose to be a private weapon used only by the Judicus-"

The one beside him elbows him on the side when he coughs a little and calms himself down saying:

"Right, right, sorry for that. Either way, settle down there spassy and put your arms down. We're the same kin."

"That's not enough to convince me."

I hold the handle of my weapons tighter when the barrel suddenly split into multiple parts and the one part below projects some laser sight pointing at where I'm aiming at and the light starts emitting between the gaps.

And suddenly the gun makes a blue line pattern to my arm and the pattern flows to the suit I stole from Rubeca. I feel my spine getting grab and the suit suddenly transforms to my size and envelope me whole with a gear sound blinding my vision. Before long my vision return and other panels showing image and sprouting on my face from a panel that says heartbeat high, life signatures green, maps that makes a ring every second that indicate multiple signatures, and et cetera. Now, I could see the darkness beyond and the emissaries more clearly with an auto-aim thing written here and a red word saying:

[Suit has been outdated for an (unknown) time since the last announcement, please head to the Office for upgrades]

I hold my self as I bit my lips trying to hold myself back from asking. I see my gun now have more panels showing, from the hammer that shows the number eight and other weird selection of piercing, stun, flash, and et cetera.

"Whoa, just look at that private, a real Judicus gun and Armour! That alone makes you wanna join the Judicus no? Only if we're special enough..."

When I look at the man that just speak, the screen display six strips and a mechanical owl sandwich between the strips along with the letters SGM just below the insignia. When I look at the guard beside him, it shows only one strip and letters saying PVT, the other soldier looks at him saying:

"Sarge, M-I-S-S-I-O-N," revealing a female voice.

"Okay, okay, sheesh," he took a deep breath and let it out.

He looks at me again saying:

"We're just a detachment for scouting up and sweeping the area and probably hope to find some free grub, not some assassin or those jizz man, I mean girl."

I hold my weapon tighter and ready myself as I took one of the dragon stances I learn from Rubeca, saying:

"Get to the point."

"Geez, you're cold like Coco. Okay, basically why are you tailing us? Depending on your answer we might have to take some... Um, what's the word again? Ah right! Measures."

The one beside him suddenly cocks the rifle and an empty case fell to the ground. The sound of steel hitting the stone cold floor resounds through the silence as it bounces. I look at the bullet to see an insignia of a mechanical skull.

(That marking is definitely from the Aologi Empire).

"Hold it there private, our orders are not to kill first when meeting other humanoids remember. Especially our own kin."

"Yes, Sarge."

"That was pretty cool tho private, nice timing."

"Thank you, Sarge. But, I wasn't really-"

"Anyway, your answers please my kin."

"I wanna go to the Aologi Empire. So let me meet with Coraline Coryn."

"Ha ha ha... No. Lady, you even forget the secret password. So, I'm sorry but-"

"So are you saying you want to abandon a refugee trying to go home? I wonder what will happen if I spread what you just said to the other Owls saving up just so they can leave this barn."

"Ah, seriously? Blackmailing, now? Geez, lady, we had our hands tied with our own problems and the order unless you have-"

I pull out a badge that is strap to the belt and show it to him, a badge with a blindfolded lady carrying an executioner axe and a scale, the badge has multiple riaz holes marks.

He suddenly shuts up and points at the badge while shaking the private saying:

"Wow, a real Judicus Emblem! We got a full equipped Judicus at our presence! It's awesome don't you think so private!?"

He coughs again and letting go of the private. Brushing her shoulders before coughing again saying:

"Okay, okay, then, that works too..."

He sighs heavily and gestures me saying:

"Follow me. Just try keeping manner okay? Coco loves discipline above else."

"Yes, I will."

"(Tell the others to camp out and fortify I just got a new sudden request and tell the Major in the defence we're coming)."

He whispers slowly as he speaks to his shoulder, his voice was enhanced as he speaks before walking ahead saying:

"By the way what's your name lady? For Me, you can call me Sergeant Major Daniel Elise or Dale."

"I'm Maya Taiyin but please call me May."

I sheath my scourge and look at the gun I stole from Rubeca when I bring it down near its metallic holster to figure how to return it to normal. The weapon suddenly returns to normal and I decided to put it back.

(Coco? Is that perhaps her acronym name? Yea, no denying it, it fits her first letters)

They walk past me and suddenly the sarge nudges the private whispering:

"(Hey, there's your inspiration standing just there. Go get her autograph)."

His voice was enhanced by the suit, the female soldier looks at mom and looks back at him waving her hand quickly. Then the sarge just pushes the women infront of mom when she looks left and right before looking at mom saying:

"U-um, can I please have your autograph, Head Enertor?"

She bows down. and hand her a pen and small whiteboard she pulls out from under her cloak and left her weapon hanging. Mom looks at her with a surprising look before laughing, saying:

"Ha ha ha, I can't believe you still remember that title. But please, don't call me that anymore, I'm retired or should I say fired already. Now just call me Palka, the good ol workshop lady with barely any customers. But if that is okay-"

"Yes, please!" she hands the board up to mom in excitement.

"Okay, okay~"

Mom signs the board and hand it to her saying:

"Take good care of yourself okay? We don't wanna lose good people like you out there?"

"Yes, ma'am! He he he~"

She raise her hand to salute in an Owlian army way by raising her hand above her and walk beside the man again showing him the autograph full of excitement and the man replied with a thumbs up before keeping it inside her barely visible bag.

"Mom what was that all about?"

"Hmm? An autograph no?"

"Now why does she wants an autograph from you? And what's a Head Enertor?"

Mom walks beside me and bows down so she could whisper in my ears saying:

"May, basically I'm once what you call the head of the Emperor's Personal Bodyguard, but why not take it easy like them, I know the pain but please-"

I hold mom's large shoulders and tried to shake her asking:

"Shut up what do you know!? It hurts and it pains me just to remember him, especially the good times I had with him!"

I look down and memories of him resurface once more and my eyes tear up. I wipe them to continue saying:

"I-I just want to be w-with him and then that happens. Who wants to live with someone crazy like her! I-I..." My sentence was cut short when mom looks at me with a face of disappointment.

My knees suddenly grow weak and my leg begins to kneel, I hold mom so my knees won't hit the ground and finally letting her go and I cover my face and grit my teeth as to stop my tears.

"I hate it I don't want this but, but it happened and I-I was out cold when it happens."

"May listen, Your sis Rubeca-"

"SHE IS NOT MY SISTER!!!"

"You may deny it but it won't change the fact!"

"Shut up..."

"And you call yourself his girlfriend when you can't even believe in him?"

"Shut up..."

"Your sister has many faults but lying is not one of them."

I stayed in silence as I clench my hands. I glare at her asking:

"Then where is he? Where is Sova! She told me he is alive but where is he then!? We're Owlians lest you forget! We can't use magic and now his body can't be recovered either! So tell me where is he!?"

Mom stayed in silence and I reply saying:

"I thought so."

Mom gives me a hug and a pet in the back as I enhance myself so she doesn't break my back accidentally. My mom continues saying:

"May, just like you, I lost people too. I once made a mistake that plunges your sister into despair and further chaos when she doesn't deserve it, just because of my bad temper and rash thinking. So please, just this once, I'm sure he will be back so let's go home. We can still head back and I'm sure Sis Rubeca is trying her best to beg for your forgiveness," before letting go of me.

I let go saying:

"No, I will not. Not with her around."

"Then what do you plan to do there anyway?"

"I wrote a letter to Sova and left it in his room, in hopes to calm my bewailed heart. If he really is alive then, I will make a new home in the empire. And I or we will live there together without the worry no more."

"Don't you ever thought about why we left there in the first place? Or don't you think Sis Rubeca will be sad when you left her alone? And you sure do trust her as much as you can throw her huh..."

"Oh please! She keeps going away to expedition alone yearly without sending any mails back and you say she is lonely? Don't she has those "friends" she never talks about? Besides we move out because we want to start a new life and steer away from getting involved in the Rebellion no? Now that it's done, I say we go back."

"That is one factor, and there is another related stuff too."

"Is it his legacy thing you've been keeping me secret about."

"That too is a factor and another one is related to us a whole."

"What could-"

"Oy, we told ya to follow us so pack it up and hug it, let us hurry!"

Mom looks at them saying:

"Oh, sure sarge. Now let's go we can talk later when it's more private."

"You promised?"

Mom raises her pinky and smile at me saying:

"I promise, with what's happening now. I think you deserve the truth at some point. No more cover-ups."

With how big her pinky is I decided to hold her pinky with both my hands like old time. Before I knew it I was smiling saying:

"Yes, mom."

"Good, now lets hurry so we don't make those people wait.

"Yes."

I take the red suitcase and extinguish the torch since I can see with this new suit without using my qi. I walk faster to follow along with the soldiers when suddenly I sense two more people while in the map two more signatures appear beside me and mom's wearing the same gear as them.

They look at us when the one beside me salutes saying:

"Good evening Ms Judicas," to reveal a male voice.

His profile shows an insignia of a mechanical owl and the letters SPC just below.

"Hey, stop that bro!"

Another male voice beside my mom replied to his greetings. His profile shows the same insignia the one beside me has. When the one beside me just continue saying:

"Say lady do you know that according to the fifth passage on the ninth chapter in the book of Law, wearing a Judicas suit without the foreknowledge and acknowledgement of the party is punishable by death?"

"Huh? That passage only states that if the owner of the suit is dead and has no legacy and is used illegally then it will be decided by the multiple individual parties, and the passages before that states the legal acceptance of the suit is by the wearer if he/she is accepted by the suit and if it is not then you can proceed to the third passage laws and if it is accepted then by the will I am the new Judicas by both the laws states." I respond in surprise.

"Well... Wow. You beat me there."

"And according to the seventh passage of the Book of Law in the third chapter states that unauthorized conversation of unimportance with a Judicas is punishable with a summary kick to the jaw on the spot. So kneel down soldier."

The one beside my mom suddenly moves close to the one beside me, slapping his head and bow down saying:

"Forgive my interference, this is not in the empire so the use of Judicas power in a foreign land with no prior knowledge of the Law is punishable by the strip of all file and rank of said Judicas and is erased by history. So let's just stop okay?"

I shut up with his words...

(That's right! Dammit, I'm careless again!)

"He he he," The one beside me laugh in triumph.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"Stop it, bro!"

The one that rebutt me hits the soldier side with the butt of his rifle before saying:

"Don't worry lady. Since we're not in the empire let's forget it okay? His really just an asshole but truth be told he's a really good guy."

He leans closer whispering:

"Besides, those passages expired more than six years ago. So best you forget all of that."

"Sadly I can't..."

One of the rats crawled on my shoulder, I look at the sarge saying:

"Oh, and don't you dare hurt the rats they are important."

The sarge looks at me asking:

"What's our kin's secret password?"

"P-please."

"Then, of course, I will help since you ask so nicely~"

I should try removing this suit when we begin travelling to the Empire.

*********************************************************

As we walk we encounter something bizarre, a huge pile of charred corpses left in the ground, some turn to black dust, while some just burn black and when you touch it the body suddenly crumble and fall. Other corpses are cut so cleanly it feels you can reattach them back and sew it together without any problem and the other is many nail holes in walls as if someone set up a trap and many black footprints left by the monsters.

The sarge looks ahead the darkness saying:

"Seems like a battle occurred here. Oh, oh, check out the trail it leads to a small entrance there... By, joules is that a wire blockade? Amazing..."

When my helmet zoom in to the entrance his looking, I could see an entrance sealed by wires leaving cube spaces and diced up flesh littering near its ground.

The female soldier looks at the sarge saying:

"Sarge, whatever happens here must mean they must have a fight with all they got and probably escaped, now we must leave sarge. Lest you wanna have more drills with the drill masters."

The sarge and the soldiers beside us shivered when she says that. They all started walking again and we follow suit, the sarge looks back at us saying:

"Hey, surprisingly I think we might actually be excited about some training. Maybe my presence will inspire the enlisted for some more training."

"You're all "excited" about that?" The female private retorted back.

"Oh, sorry I can't speak for everyone. Hey, Danford are you excited?"

"Jouls yea, my main man~ I'm pretty excited," the one beside me replied.

"Nice! Gus, what about you?"

"Meh, I get military girls in wet shirts is amazing and all but sometime I just, I-I just wanna have some normal ladies with no muscles you know. Just wanna have some nice ladies at the bar doing the skirt dance or something, you feel me?" the one beside mom replied.

"Yea, Nah, yea, I feel that man," and he looks ahead again.

"Why did I get stuck with this "people" and not even the drill sergeant's does anything. Wait, he's the sergeant major responsible for the training of this group..." the female private covers her face as she sighs as despair show through her covered face.

I look at mom to asking:

"Mom, you call these soldiers, Elites of the Empire? this quote and quote "People" ???"

"Please don't judge a book by it's cover May. My previous groups are rowdier than this whenever he's around. It's a nice pace from those serious types."

"He?" I ask in curiosity.

"A good old friend of mine the previous Emperor-"

I grab hold of mom asking:

"You know the Emperor!? And how come I never meet him!? Heck, how come me and Sova back then never meet him back where we live!? Come to think of it, we live in the capital for crying out loud!"

(Though I can't blame Sova for forgetting all of his childhood past)

"Well, you remember the guy with a golden hair, beard and moustache that is highlighted with dark blue, yea that's him..."

"That... That's back when I was still a baby..."

"Yea I know, C'mon, why don't you talk with that female private? I'm sure you'll get along just fine. I mean your friends back home must be surprised with you suddenly disappearing suddenly."

"Sorry mom, I don't think I wanna make another thing to worry about now. Besides, I already left each of them with a letter from my rats... I truly hope they don't kill them when they spot one."

"Pfff, they probably will."

"Shut up! They probably won't... Some of them at least."

The sarge looks back saying:

"Hey! We're like a few kilometres away now. Don't get left behind alright."

"Alright!" I reply back.

The private girl walks beside the man called Danford saying:

"Hey, why don't you accompany the sarge and let me accompany the little girl."

"Sure, why not."

And he moves ahead while the girl starts walking beside me saying:

"Don't worry, I'll protect you. And if there is anything you wanna ask just ask me, May right?"

"Yes, thanks, I guess?"

I replied back to her. Feeling the awkwardness surrounding us.

*********************************************************

Walking in silence I break the silence saying:

"Hey?"

Holding her shoulders with my left hand. When she suddenly grabs my hand with her left hand and pulls me over to elbow my sides with her right, but before it reaches me, I use the red suitcase to block her attack and she continues grabbing my suit's collar with her right again when I hold her right hand and enhancing my right arm and shoulders, I overpower her and reverse grapple her neck choking her easily, I whisper near where her ear suppose to be saying:

"I just wanna ask something."

Then letting her go. She looks at me surprised saying:

"O-oh, I-I, I'm so sorry!"

She lets go of my suit and hand, getting on her knees begging on the floor. I kneel down touching her shoulder when she suddenly grabs my hand again and quickly spin her body around and sweep kick my feet, kicking herself up and throws me into the air with our combined weight.

Remembering the training with sis, I easily found my centre balance and easily land on my feet. The Private girl quickly runs ahead and slide down kneeling and begging:

"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!-"

"Let me guess that is all reflex right? I'll remember it next time."

"Eh? You understand?"

"I have a friend like you. Training since she was a child so her body reacts automatically"

"Really!? Thank you so much! And here I thought I was weird in the group."

She runs and hugs my belly. I tried pushing her away saying:

"Please don't get so comfy with me. I don't like it (When I'm the one getting hugged)."

"E-eh?"

She let me go saying:

"Sorry..."

"Besides I think your group is pretty weird by itself."

"Please don't remind me of that..."

"Say, mind telling me your name?"

"Eh? Um, it's Private Ray Penumbra, you can just call me-"

"Rape~"

Dale says sarcastically. The girl suddenly throws one of her knives screaming:

"Don't call me that! It's Ray, just call me Ray!"

The sergeant grabs it easily and keeps it saying:

"Sorry, sorry, remember how much misunderstanding your name can cause when we call your name in the city!? Oof, that's so good!"

"Shut up! You Damn Pervert!"

The other guys laugh and giggle, the sergeant continues saying:

"Okay, please forgive me, walking quietly in this place is boring when all the monsters are dead you know. Besides, don't you know I could file an attempt of murder just now?"

"Shut up! You started it!"

"Geez, okay, okay it's my bad you trigger happy... There is no thrilling and stuff this few hours, we've taken out thousands upon thousands already and now this place is desolated. Please don't misunderstand that I want to get attacked all the time. So you'll forgive me right?"

Ray looks away while folding her arms. The sergeant walks closer to her saying:

"Okay, okay, I'll treat you to some meals okay?"

"All I can eat buffey?"

The sergeant stopped on his tracks and hang his head saying:

"F-fine. But only in Turbo's diner okay?"

Ray look at the sergeant saying:

"Okay, I'll forgive you."

I look ahead while I listen until something caught my attention and I quickly run to where it is. A giant serpent's corpse lying on the ground with of course one riaz hole on its head but that's not what caught my eye.

"Its... Its... It can't be..."

I grab the metal rod stuck at the eye of the snake and retract it. I look at it closer, I can see the bite mark on the tip of the sharp rod.

"There's no doubt about it, I know who this belong to. The one Sova's use a few days ago! But where did the bite comes from?"

Ray suddenly lands beside me yet not making any sound on her landing, when she looks at me saying:

"P-please don't run! D-did my habit make you uncomfortable? I'm so sorry!'

I look back at her saying:

"No it's not your habit it's this."

Showing her the metal rod when she says:

"Oh! Wait..."

She looks behind me before saying:

"Ah, that snake. Man, to be honest, it took us quite a while to snipe it but luckily its left eye is damaged so we snipe it easily on its blind spot so you're afraid of snakes huh? Well, can't blame ya."

"No! The rod! Do you see anyone fighting the snake when you kill it? Is it a boy the same age as me? with blonde hair and black headband that writes Sova!? No, he looks just like a girl! A very cute one!"

"Sorry, but the rod is already there when we encounter it."

I drop the suitcase and pull out my scourge, enhancing it quickly saying:

"Sovereign of armageddon techniques, genesis path: Cyclone of disasters!"

I swing my scourge in precision and dissect the corpse of the serpent into eight parts and direct the other slashes behind it and dice the whole area into cubes, making holes and gaps on the area. The inside quickly spills over and dead monsters came out. I ignore the explosion and walk closer, starting to dig the corpse searching the body and order the rats at my shoulder to ask for help.

The rats surge and search, but all we found is nothing but monsters... Without any human remains in there...

"Whew~"

(Could Sova escape here? Is he perhaps somewhere safe? Is he perhaps alive? Or is he perhaps digested!?)

"If not, did Rubeca said the truth?"

I can't help but smile happily knowing that Sova has a chance of being alive...

(But I'm still going with this plan. I'm still going into the Aologi Empire, it's not safe here, even with the new reformations by sis Yuwei. This Confederation is about to enter a civil war at this rate if this continues and Sis Yuwei will probably be dragged along).

I fell on my knees, dropping the red suitcase as I fell to the ground of flesh and blood, Ray arrives from behind me saying:

"W-what was that! Is that perhaps the Martial Arts I heard so much about!? It's amazing! But still, we should stay together we're very close to HQ and can you please not run ahead anymore or do any rash actions, the guys back there almost-

I cut her off saying:

"Yes, I'm sorry, say Ray? How much longer till we-"

"Put your hands on the air, Unauthorized Judicas!"

The rats run away again and I could suddenly sense three people appearing from behind me. I look at him displaying a crescent moon with the letters MJR below and the other two beside him displaying two strips and the words CPR.

But there are actually more than ten lights pointing at me from infront

"How the fuck did she get past those traps and Dale's group!?"

"Eh? Major, it's okay she's with us."

"Private Ray! where is sergeant major Dale!?"

When the others arrive with mom, the sergeant walks forward and salutes in an Owlian army way saying:

"Woah Major settle down there you lout. She's with us didn't you get their message?"

"What message you twat! I receive nothing!"

"What!?"

He talks to his shoulder again when he suddenly shouts:

"Damn nabbit! It's static out here you lout! That's why I say your group better take a better position!"

"Oh shut up! If we left here, the HQ will be left open!?"

Dale walks forward saying:

"You got snipers- Fine, we can debate later, we got a bigger problem here. That girl is apparently holding a real High Judicus emblem and the huge lady behind me is a formal Enertor."

"Wu- what!?"

He starts pointing the gun at my mom as his flashlight hits mom. He starts backing away saying:

"Wait, that green hair and oversize muscles... Aren't you that retired Head Enertor? Then that means she is..."

His hands start to shake uncontrollably and look at me saying:

"T-that's the Special Operative Judicas, code name Rage!? She has returned! Didn't she died in the public execution! Oh shit, Oh shit oh shit!"

He puts his gun down and I suddenly sense more then hundreds of people appear around us putting their gun down and bowing down saying:

"Forgive our imprudent actions High Lord Judicas! We're only following our protocol given by General Coco!"

"Oh?"

The Major suddenly removes his helmet to show a man with brown hair in his mid-thirties and he removes his gun and hands it to me saying:

"All my subordinates, please spare them and take my life as punishment instead! I will bear their punishments for it is my orders! They are all good men that will fight for the fatherland with all their lives! Please just spare them for the good of the fatherland!"

When I walk closer to him his body shakes harder with each step I take, I look down at him, he suddenly stops shaking when I hold his shoulder saying:

"It's okay, stand."

"T-thank you so much, Lord Judicas!"

They all stand straight and breath a breath of relief. When the Major stand straight, he stands much taller than me and wears his helmet and weapon again. He gasps for his breath and looks at me saying:

"Sorry Lord Judicas! If I may ask what did you come here for? And how are you alive? We were there when we saw your head rolling down the stadium!?"

I raise my hand saying:

"First of all, I need to clarify that I am not a Judicas or what you call me."

"Wait, what? Oh yeah, now that I realize it, you've become much shorter and lost a lot of your womanly proportions the last time I saw you."

When I felt something stab my heart twice, I hold my right chest saying:

"Please ignore that," and try to find a way to remove my helmet.

When I think about it, the helmet suddenly starts to deconstruct and open. The Major looks at me with surprise saying:

"Yea, you're not Rage... Tch! And I just shame myself! Dammit!"

He kicks the corpses behind him and walks back when Sergeant Dale walks beside him saying:

"Hey, hey it's okay. At least now the privates know how much you're willing to sacrifice yourself for them isn't that right guys and girls?"

"Yea!"

"Never knew you're willing to Major."

"Glad to know that we got a brave Commander."

And et cetera. The Major scratch his head from his helmet asking:

"Bah, naff off all of you! So Dale, what's the deal with those two?"

"Well, basically that little girl wants to meet with Coco and that huge woman is her mother accompanying her daughter."

"Mother? Meet with the General? Is she sure? I mean how does she even know we're here- Could it be the rats? I mean I've been seeing a lot of them lately."

"Well, seeing how she can control the large armies of them. I think it is."

"Ho! She might be the perfect scout or maybe even intelligence gatherer. This is the first time I heard someone controlling an army of rats... Successfully."

"I know right!? C'mon help me escort her would ya?"

"Fine. You and your twats detachment will follow me. Berson, you come with me too. Duskman, you and the others will stand and guard this checkpoint with your lives until other orders are given! Do you get me!?"

"Yes, Sir!"

The Major nods saying:

"Good, now follow me... Before we leave I have to ask you to order your rats to stay here Little girl."

I stare at him thinking if it is worth it...

(You know what? I don't think I need to think at this point forward until I met with Coco).

"Okay. Just make sure you don't kill the rats please."

"Okay, you heard the girl don't kill the rats!"

I wear my helmet again and he continues moving forward and we follow suit. The rats stayed back with their sad eyes and all I can do is pet them saying:

"Go find Sis Yuwei, she will help take care of you now. If you see Sova please help him out, okay?"

The rats nod and decided to disperse. The Major look back shouting:

"Girl, move quickly! We ain't got no time!"

"Yes!" I reply to him, grabbing my suitcase and follow suit.

When Mom suddenly pets me saying:

"Well look at that, everything is going as planned somehow."

"Yea..."

"That spear... It belongs to Sova isn't it?"

"Yea..."

"You know that boy Nicole asks me to help out when making that spear-rod hybrid. He told me that since normal steel is heretical in the Theocracy, he told me to secretly keep the product as it was a WIP. Ah, so much passion was poured inside of it. To be honest, he sucks at making things, but his passion and dedication pulled him through."

"Mom, I wonder when will you help me keep some secrets from Sova?"

"Well, I can't keep perishables without refrigeration for long you know."

"That's not what I meant! I mean why can't you keep Nicole away from him."

"Geez, what's with you with Nicole?"

"He's a dangerous boy that will do anything for his own desires!"

"Isn't that what most prepubescent boys do most of the time?"

"Dammit, Mom why don't you understand me!"

"What is there to understand?'

"Don't you see? Where did he come from?"

"The Theocracy right?"

"Yes, but what family is he from?"

"The Vulcan right?"

"That's his pantheon, not his family name! Besides, do we even know where his house is? Who is his parent's name? What does he do when he's not with us? Even Sis Rubeca agree to be suspicious of him!"

"Oh!"

"Basically he's been with us for so long yet we don't know anything about him and he rarely talks about himself as he keeps staying with Sova!

Even when I ask sis to investigate, she keeps saying that she can't find anything about him. Other than finally scratching the possibilities to find out that he actually came from the capital city of the Libera Theocracy itself."

"I see, I too think that back then he is probably bad but-"

"See!? What did I tell you! Even Sova still defends him, even after I said all of that. What happens if Nicole already did something to Sova when we're not watching. What do we do!?"

Mom messes my hair saying:

"Don't worry May. You can call this an intuition from someone who helps him out and all, I can assure you, Nicole would never dare hurt Sova at all. In fact, out all the people I met from the Theocracy he is probably the few I saw who haven't changed. I think he's just like a maiden in love... But, a guy."

"Mom that is just creepy, frightening, hair-raising if there is another tier I can say I'll say it. A man with a man is just... Unthinkable! And impossible- you know what knowing what the Theocracy can do for their freedom is not surprising anymore... Besides, Sova is mine and you know that."

"Yea, yea, I know. But still, you're calling Sis Rubeca Sis again. It seems seeing his spear at least gain your trust right?"

I raise Sova's spear saying:

"I guess..." Then I remember the wire blockade.

(Could he be behind those passages? But who helped him out?)

When I suddenly heard a mechanical sound coming close, I look ahead and see two giant golems making the "vroom" sounds. A human giant made of black steel, carrying multiple arrays of weapons from swords and guns in their arms and shoulders till the propelling device on their back while their eyes are glowing bright blue, their shoulders have the insignia of a mechanical skull just like the casing of the bullets I saw. In the screen both of them display the insignia of a cross sword with a mechanical eagle in the middle and the letter CPT just below and soldiers with an insignia of one and two strips around the huge golem's feet.

The huge golem and soldiers greet us and we greet them back, when we pass through I was already grabbing Mom's huge shoulder, shaking her with all my might asking:

"Mom what is that!? It's a large giant made of steel and that propelling thing on it's back does that mean it can fly!?"

Mom still stands unfazed not budging an inch with how strong she is. Mom just stops me saying:

"Explaining it will take quite a while starting from the creator but if I have to compare, if the Imperial soldiers are the impenetrable armour of the empire than those are the Empire's unstoppable weapons. The Uniomechs we call them, one of the greatest inventions in our empire, created during the darkest age of our technology. Ironic isn't it?"

"R-really? Then I-I, I wanna ride that thing! Why haven't I ever seen one before back when I was still in the empire? Could it be you mean they are the most powerful weapon? Yet why haven't I seen one of them in our city? We live in the Capital city for crying out loud! Tell me!?"

I shake Mom with all I can when she just easily brush me off saying:

"I knew you would say that. But they are not actually the most powerful, that title goes to the Nova moon bombs but another funny trivia, do you know the survey the scientist did back a few years ago resulted that 98% of Owlians males from all ages would want to ride the Uniomech the moment they saw it. Crazy right?"

"I don't care!? Tell me how I can ride that thing!?"

I grab hold of mom again when she brushes me off again saying:

"May, don't you think we have something more important than riding a robot? Like meeting someone?"

When she said that I stop my questions saying:

"Y-you're right. Coraline Coryn, I still need to meet her."

"Wow, you're quite similar to sarge when he wants to swab someone's deck or weapons collections."

Ray looks at me from behind Mom. I let go of mom and walk beside her saying:

"I guess you're right. But I'm not a damn pervert," I get up and keep walking ahead.

"Don't be mad, I mean I too have some bad habits."

"I guess that's true."

Ray walks closer to me saying:

"Say, I'm curious about why you want to meet General Coco so badly? To be honest, she's not really any person you want to meet."

"Say, Ray, do you know where Coraline Coryn graduated from?"

"Huh, General? Now that I think about it... Not really. I mean I'm only been here for a few months and for some reason the files I read about her is how do I say this... Clean? Like it got bleach out if you get the metaphor."

"Exactly, do you wanna know?"

"Eh? Thinking about what could happen, I don't I want to know anymore."

"Really?"

"Ah! Curiosity kills the cat... I don't care anymore, maybe just a whisper?"

"I wouldn't do so," Coryn's voice resounds.

"What where? G-general!? I-I'm sorry!"

(Huh? Where did that voice come from? My armour?)

"Of course, I'm using your sister's number. Been a while since I saw it. Unlike the connection used by the soldiers, this one is from something else."

Coryn's voice comes from near me. I focus to see the voice come from near my neck. When she continues saying:

"May? Or should I call you Maybelline?"

"May will do."

"I see. I heard you want to meet me, but why? I mean we haven't gotten close to each other the last time we met."

"Yea, now I want to ask of a request from you since I know more about you now..."

"A request is it? And why should I amuse you?"

"Because I need your recommendation to the Ancient Grand Lunor Academy, and you're one of the Valerian Graduates, one saying and they will gladly put me on the test immediately," I reply back.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Only the sound of moving steel and marching soldiers are heard when she finally responded saying:

"Amusing, but sadly it doesn't work that way anymore. I don't know what your sister tells you about the Academy but Let's see if you are just like your sister then."

"I'll assure you, I'm going to surpass her."

"That is certainly amusing to watch..."

Ray come close to me asking:

"G-General I-I-I-I'm forgiven right?"

"Who knows? Why don't you come with her and speak with me to clarify? I have something I need to say to you too"

For some reason, I could see Ray's making a face of despair even through her helmet. Screaming:

[Why!?]

Deep in her heart when she starts dragging her feet rather than walking.

"Don't worry private, meeting the general is a blessing~"

"Shut the naff up, you, you damn masochist!"

"We have arrived," the Major greet the soldiers at the passing gates.

The major halt his steps when I could see small towers making light with generators near them. And in the middle is a huge capital size advance futuristic ship with my screen displaying a name saying [S.S. Valerie], surrounded by multiple Uniomechs and soldiers from all sides. The ship suddenly opens a path inside.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Get inside! General Coco is waiting for ya."

Mom walks ahead pushing both me and Ray ahead saying:

"C' mon, I met Coco back when she was still a grunt and a lieutenant. I think she is a pretty nice girl. But still, I can't believe they brought a whole massive army here? I wonder what it's for?"

"I waba, weana latte Matatatatata," Ray starts to spout nonsense.

I just follow along and I saw her group just waving goodbye at her while the sergeant makes an ok sign. I grabbed mom's shoulder asking:

"Mom, what is this ship? It is humongous! And what's with all those flashlights and everything!?"

"Oh please~ this thing is miniature compared to the capital ship during the civil war or the so proclaimed galactic size battleship during the siege of Troja back during the climax oh and let's not forget the black star during the second century. Now get ready, we're going in."

Mom pushes us up the stairs...

***********************************************************

When we enter inside, the atmosphere becomes cold, cold enough that if this suit doesn't make me warm I might just freeze to death.

(Why did they make it so cold?)

We're now in some long black hallway when the door closes by itself. I look at mom to see her still doing okay while still helping Ray to stand as she falls down like a deflated balloon.

One soldier awaits us wearing the same suit everyone does with his helmet open showing a man in his twenties with short messy black hair highlighted with dark blue at the end. The screen displays a mechanical owl carrying an axe with the words COL. He comes to us unarmed saying:

"I am Colonel Hans Yugidaria, but please call me Harry."

Ray's helm suddenly splits up and open to reveal a cute caramel tan girl the same age as me with her short updo copper coloured hair and green eyes, she stands straight to salute him saying:

"P-P-Private Ray Penumbra back to HQ Sir!"

Aunt pat Ray's back, causing her to almost fall before saluting him in the Xin's way with a palm salute saying:

"You're a pretty cute little girl, Ray. Mhm, I'm just a Citizen of the Confederation, Palka Taiyin."

Harry looks at me and I follow the flow and salute him the same way mom did while removing my helmet saying:

"Special Rank Novice Hunter, Maya Taiyin."

Harry suddenly smiled pleasantly saying:

"Then please do follow me. Honorary guests."

He begins to walk in the long hallway and we followed suit while Ray keeps shaking uncontrollably. I hold her arm saying:

"Hey, are you okay?"

"Eh? Are you worried? I-I'm f-fine!"

"Are you cold?"

"C-cold!? Of course not! I-I just wonder why did she call me too. I mean what did I do!? Don't tell me Sarge reported what happens just now!?"

Harry looks at her saying:

"Don't worry Private, just relax. I can assure no one is getting punishments today."

"R-really? Colonel?"

"Don't make me repeat myself Private."

"S-sorry!"

Harry stops on his steps as he looks at Ray, Ray's face becomes more panic when he continues saying:

"We arrive at the lift, get inside."

He presses the buttons and the door opens showing a large lift to fit around ten people. Mom enters first when I decided to help her and pull her inside when all of us enter Harry comes in last and closes the door and click the top button.

"General Coco is in her chambers resting, you can find her by going to the right when we arrive, I hope you get along well."

The elevator suddenly stops and the gates open to the panel that says bridge. Mom comes out first, me and Ray followed suit while the Colonel stays and leave us through the elevator.

(Is he not going to guide us?)

We're now on another hallway and following what he says, we went to the right. Ray tries her best to look normal but all she did is just making her self look worst.

(She is like Anna from the public library).

"Hey, Ray I know we just met but I suggest you try imagining everyone look like your favourite things it will help you calm down."

"Eh, Really? Thanks, you must think I'm pathetic huh..."

"Nah, just easily nervous. It's not that bad."

"Thanks... I think I feel better now. You're very nice."

"Heh, I kinda feel insulted by that statement..."

"Eh?"

Mom holds our shoulder saying:

"Okay you two, we have finally arrived."

A sliding door came into view with the panel displaying [Coralyn Corine]

(Looking everything thus far, I don't think being a Lieutenant General gets you this much power...)

I steel myself and knock on the door saying:

"Coraline Coryn it is us."

The door slides open and cold mist pour through, I enter inside first since I'm the one who wants to see her. The room was pitch black with the exception of one place. There I can see Coraline sitting with her legs up on the slick black coloured table as she left one of her hand hanging while the other holds a weird phones model where the whole thing is the screen.

Her brown military long coat with medals dangling on her large chest and toned body, her short brown hair with bangs comb to the side almost covering her eyes, a cool beauty that hides her beauty pageant face behind that cold sharp emerald green eyes that can captivate both man and women.

(I'm surprised Sova haven't fallen for any girls lately. Maybe because his cute already and the fact he met a lot of attractive people probably turned him numb to attractiveness... I'm thankful for that).

She looks at us with her cold sharp eyes, she slides her phone down her sleeves and stands up. She walks to us with her heavy steps saying:

"You know, if I have to be honest, you alrady break more militray laws and regulation more time than I can count with my killing spree but other than that, it seems I never get to introduce myself back in her room May.

I am the Lieutenant General of the Aologi Empire, Coralyn Corine. Skip your pleasantries and get to your business. I am stoked about what words will you spout out of your mouth, ms I can't forget."

(This is it).