The Ride was mostly quiet with Mark, Gaige, Arnold and the remaining Combatants under Mark’s command sitting in the truck in dead silence with none of them trying to find the way to break the silence.

“So uh,” Jerry said finally breaking the silence turning to Mark with a surprised look on his face. “How are you friends with Anya? The daughter of the president of the Svasha Republic.”

“I just ran into her once and we just hit it off,” Mark said summarizing the incident how he had met the young woman of the Sokolovs. “And you two are just friends?” Gaige chimed in with a curious look on his face.

Why are they interested in this? I never realized these two are into gossip. Mark frowned as the two continued to bombard him with questions pertaining to his relationship with Anya. But then Gaige asked a question that would further dig him deep into the gossip rabbit hole.

“If you two are just friends, what about Gray?”

“What does she have to do with thi—”

“You’re friends with the She-Wolf of Archiman?” Jerry and this time Arnold spoke up in utter shock, Gaige had a smirk on his face as though he was proud of prompting such a conversation.

“The what of Archiman?” Mark asked being deeper in confusion. According to Gaige, Gray had spent the last three years becoming a skilled mercenary within Archiman to further learn more of the problems and conflict within her land so once she is old enough she knows what to do. She had been known for her ferocity in combat that she was given the nickname of She-Wolf due to the fact that her viciousness in combat can be compared to that of a Silverfang Wolf and it doesn’t help that she is often accompanied with a Silverfang Wolf as well.

Well then, I look forward to meet and spar with her in the immediate future. Mark thought with a smile on his face with the prospect of facing her in active combat once more. But eventually he had to explain to Jerry that he is not only childhood friends with Gaige, who is also a famous scientist within Hashira, but also Gray who is the aforementioned She-Wolf.

But his thoughts, as well as the pestering questions by Gaige and Jerry, were interrupted as their Truck was rammed by a different truck causing them to spiral towards the nearby Tree causing all of them to be cornered within the Archiman-Svasha border.

“Attention Republic Soldiers, you have an important person that we require.” The voice of someone said on a megaphone, it was a gruff voice implying that he had been smoking for a long time. “Hand over Gaige Shinomori and we’ll let you off with a quick and clean death.”

“Here we go again,” Gaige said loading his sniper rifle while Arnold prepared his Battle Rifle alongside the other Combatants who were arming themselves with various weapons for them to use for defense. They hopped out of the truck to find themselves surrounded by a large horde of Bandits closing in on them. The leader, who was holding a megaphone in one hand and a chainsaw sword (a chainsword if you will), which he started to rev the sword audibly whirring.

“So what do you say?” The Leader said with a wide grin on his face.

“Get fu—” Gaige was about to say but Mark cut him off.

“We decline, open fire!” Mark replied swapping to Excalibur and rested it on his shoulder, before any of the bandits can react the Combatants and the Republic Soldiers started opening fire at the bandits. It was a good thing that they were surrounded because this meant that they can open fire in all different directions all the while the Bandits who weren’t armed with firearms started charging at them causing Mark and a few Soldiers who pulled out their bayonets and started engaging in brutal melee where it all relies on a thousand actions and no grand strategy.

Mark felt a bullet bounce off his chestplate as he carved his way through the Bandits, cutting down as many bandits who were eager to their hands on Arthur, something that Mark would be against it as in the three years Arthur had become his most prized possession. Despite being fifteen years old, Mark fought with the ferocity of a ferocious wolf relying on no form of strategy just focus on the offensive. His killstreak was immediately interrupted as he locked blades with the leader who revved the Chainsword causing Mark to nearly lose his grip on Arthur had he not quickly swapped it to Pridwen, the Shield mode.

“Nice sword, maybe I’ll add that to my collection of Pre-Collision Weapons.” The leader said casually sauntered towards him while pulling out a mask that appears to be made of the actual human skin. Mark instantly recognized the sack, it was the mask of the infamous Tobe the Chainsaw.

If Tobe is the one leading then this must be the Blood Parade. Mark concluded as he used his shield to block the wild swings of Tobe who looked less like he was fighting and more like just toying his new victim. Either way I won’t lose to a psycho. Mark thought as he switched back to Excalibur as he started to fight back against Tobe, his ferocious speed versus Tobe’s large frame. From the corner of Mark’s eye, he started to notice that the rear of the Blood Parade forces were being cornered, but whether or not they are allies was still up for debate. The two locked blades once more but this time Tobe overpowered him due to his large size slowly pinning Mark to the ground with him grinning and laughing wildly as he did so.

“Once I’m done with you, I’ll skin you alive and your face is mine.” Tobe said running his fingers against Mark’s helmet as though gingerly caressing it. But loud gunfire from the rear caused him to pull away and click his tongue,

“Boss we need to fall—” One of the Bandit Captains said but Tobe roared and sliced his head clean off with blood spurting everywhere.

“I know that!” He roared, he aimed his chainsword at Mark. “We’ll be back!”

And with back Mark started to slowly back away with Excalibur in his hands as he regrouped back to his team who lost only a handful compared to the Bandits. As the dust finally settled, they found themselves facing a group Archiman Soldiers led by a small girl the same height as Mark was and was armed with a pair of pistols.

Could it be? Mark thought as he walked towards them as they wearily aimed their guns at him behind him Gaige followed as well realizing who the small girl was as well, Mark slowly took off the straps of his helmet to reveal himself towards the Soldiers who started to slowly lower their guns as Mark raised his hands.

“Miriam?” Mark asked softly. It was the first time in three years that Mark left and while he had messaged them, he had yet to be able to meet them in person.

The small girl raised her hand causing the soldiers to lower their guns as she took off her own helmet revealing it to no doubt be Miriam who was on the verge of tears.

She said no words and instead ran towards him to a hug despite being covered in blood and guts of the bandits taking Mark by surprise that he took a step back, behind him Gaige just smiled happily as he was visibly touched by this reunion. Meanwhile in the far back Jerry and the other Combatant whisper to one another how many women did Mark seduce.

“Welcome Home Mark.” She said burying her face on his shoulder.

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[Rise of the Dark Hound]

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

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The last three years have been good to Miriam and the rest of the Dirus Family, apart from finally ascending into a rank of Nobility within the Masterdom, they were able to convert the Greater Settlement of Fenrir into a massive City that begins to rival that of Ophel and as a result the Dirus Family had become extremely wealthy. And best of all, they were regarded as the right hand of the Archimans. Not bad for a family that originally started off as a Master of a newly established Lesser Settlement and a Nurse.

However this also rose some rivalries with other families who have been around as long as the Archimans were and they didn’t like the Dirus Family being all the while being close with the Archimans. And so the rival families within the Masterdom have sent bandit clans to harass travelers entering their region hence why the local Soldiers, many of whom were loyal to the Dirus family long before their rise to power, operated within their borders actively.

“Must have been hectic for Grandfather,” Mark commented in the Truck as they were escorted back to Fenrir as he seated next to Miriam while the others were on the back.

“Didn’t you hear?” Miriam said reloading her guns in the vehicle. “Gramps is working in the Archiman Council, so technically speaking the Settlement Master for Fenrir is Mom.”

“Either way it must be hectic knowing the rest of the Settlements look at us with envy,” Mark said playing with his helmet meanwhile Miriam continued to explain to them the politics of the Masterdom, how the entire country was on the verge of a civil war with them at the center of it all.

A Civil War huh, if I play my cards right maybe I can provoke them into attacking first and then we can take them out and plant loyal or at least supportive Settlement Leaders. Mark thought as he considered various scenarios on how he can take advantage of the chaos and then make sure his family would come out on the top. Yes, that might not be so bad, and if I can get support from Hashira and forge alliances but the problem is the leaders though...

But his pondering were cut short as they arrived in the city of Fenrir which had changed for the better. He had seen Fenrir before but it was still badly being reconstructed, but now after three years the City can be mistaken for a second capital of the Archiman. Miriam smiled at Mark who’s jaw had just dropped to the floor with the sights that Mark had been seeing since their arrival on the City.

“Wait till you see our house here.” Miriam smirked teasingly at Mark as they arrived at he main headquarters of the Archiman Army where they were greeted by a lot of soldiers marching and doing various drills in anticipation of a potential attack, there was even a rotorwing that had just arrived which made Mark question how much did the city advance in the last three years.

"I like what you did to this place," Mark comment as they hopped off the Truck while Miriam smiled proudly as she carried her helmet under her arm.

"Thanks but I'm not the big boss of this base," Miriam said with a wave as a handful of Soldiers arrived and saluted Miriam. "I'm only the second in command of this regiment of the Archiman Army."

"Who's the commander of this Company?" Mark asked curiously.

"That would be me." He turned around to find a large man who looked like he was in his thirties and instead of wearing the combat armor, he was instead dressed in an officer garb.

"You must be Mark," The Commander said with a smile offering his hand to him. "My name is Oliver Frost, Captain of the Ninth Company of the Archiman Stormtroopers."

"Archiman Stormtroopers huh,” Mark hummed in a low voice, from what he recalled the members of the Neogean Alliance Treaty Organization form a massive Army during the first Neogean-Vakarian War comprised of various Regiments representing their own country and The Archiman Stormtroopers are the representatives of Archiman and are known for their Shock and Awe tactics.

In fact Mark was offered to join the Honshu Arctic Raiders which comprised of Elite Soldiers from the Hashira Enterprise but he declined as he prefers to work freelance as a Mercenary.

“Hey Miriam what’s your rank?” Mark asked Miriam who still had a smirk on her face.

“Lieutenant,” She said confidently.

“The bar must be that low,” Mark said trying to tease her.

“Insult my rank one more time and I’ll shoot you.” She said with a serious look on her face causing Mark and Oliver to chuckle in a low voice. Mark turned around to find Gaige talking to the rest of Mark's Team who was busy being interviewed by the rest of the Archiman Shocktroopers who rarely get to see foreigners.

"Jerry, you good?" Mark called out to Jerry who was being interviewed by the Stormtroopers.

"Yeah we're just interviewing him Kid, don't worry." One of the Stormtroopers said brushing him off.

"Hey do you know who you're talking too?" Miriam said walking towards them with a stern look but they quickly backed away. It was clear that in the eyes of the Stormtroopers of the Ninth Company, Miriam is a figure of authority.

"He's my twin brother." Miriam said crossing her arms. "And I appreciate that you treat my brother--"

"Miriam that's fine," Mark replied with a hand on her shoulder but then he felt the air change. It was filled with bloodlust, he turned to find the other Stormtroopers glaring at him as if saying 'how dare he lay a hand on their goddess' which amused Mark.

Ah so it's like that huh? Mark thought earning a confused look from Miriam, Gaige and the others seemed to have figured out what was happening and was slowly moving away from the Stormtroopers. Even Oliver, who was the Captain of the Company, started to back away.

"Dearest Sister, why don't you show your dearest brother around the base. I'm curious on how this place works." Mark said wrapping his arm around her shoulder much to her confusion much to the fury of the Stormtroopers but it was replaced with pride as though she misinterpret the situation at hand.

She was always easy to please.

"Why dear brother I'd love to show you how I work." She said with a fond smile, this time even Gaige appeared to have joined in the glaring session. The thing was, Miriam loved being spoiled but at the same time gullible. This is why Mark is able to maintain good terms with her over the years, he'd always try his best to fill her head with praises and flatteries as a result he managed to cultivate a relationship where she thinks he's a doting brother.

It was his way making sure his family is on his side.

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[Rise of the Dark Hound]

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"Well glad to see you two had fun," Gaige said as they returned to the motorpool, Miriam was visibly pleased with herself while Mark was just his usual aloof self despite attracting the glares of the entire Stormtrooper Regiment save for the Company Captain who figured out what Mark was after.

After all it was all meant to spite the aforementioned regiment.

"It was somewhat informative," Mark said though he knew that Miriam omitted some information since Mark was technically an outsider to the entire Company. But the tour had ended and now everyone is about to deal with the agreements.

It was discussed with Oliver and Miriam that Mark will hand over Gaige and Arnold to them so they can return to their respective Hashira Branch. Meanwhile Mark and his team are to be treated as guests until they await further orders.

And this leaves Mark with a rather quiet discussion with Professor Sara on the phone. His reason for calling is to assign him under Gaige's jurisdiction for two reasons, first is that this would give him front seats to Gaige's research on the Augment Driver and second he wanted to be around his family so when a civil war sets off he can work on a plan to put his family on top of the heirarchy. Though when he phrased it to Sara, he made it so that it would sound like Mark was prioritizing his family duties instead of the Augment Driver.

"I see, well it's a shame that we can't ask you to stick around but if it's the case." Sara said in a somewhat disappointed tone, this was inevitable as Mark was not only an MTF leader but also a skilled and highly competent Combatant.

"In this day and age Family is important, you never know when will be the last time you'll see them after all." Sara continued sad but there was a hint of pride in her voice. "Well godspeed Mark Dirus, inform your men of the change and I'll take care of th paperwork."

"I understand, thank you Professor." Mark said smiling deviously as he ended the call and walked towards Jerry and the others who were preparing for the trip to Hokda.

"Change of plans, I'm staying here." Mark said causing his team to exchange looks. It made sense, he was the glue that held them together and now that he's staying who will lead.

"Jerry I trust you that you can bring them home?" Mark said looking at Jerry expectedly. At first he fidgeted under his gaze but he then straightened, it was his chance to step up after all.

"It'll be an Honor to lead on." Jerry said on the verge of tears of joy as the other Combatants congratulated him on his promotion. Mark then saluted Jerry who then saluted back while slightly sniffing and the two went their separate ways.