In the captain’s chambers of the Royal Capital of Aurelia, Hans sat buried under an avalanche of paperwork. Fatigue gnawed at him, his head drooping as his fingers traced over the endless forms stacked before him. He had never been a fan of administrative work, but ever since his Emperor Ring had awakened, he had been forced to undergo the lengthy process of re-registration. He sighed, rubbing his temples, longing for the thrill of battle instead of the monotonous ink and parchment war he currently fought.

The door creaked open, breaking the stillness of the room. A familiar voice rang through.

“Oh? You’re still here, Hans?”

He lifted his gaze from the documents, blinking as Flo Rozenberg strolled in. Despite the years, she was still the same—strong, confident, and striking in a way that turned heads wherever she went. Back in academy, she had been a force to be reckoned with, her beauty matched only by her formidable strength. It was no surprise she had risen through the ranks to become a captain.

Hans yawned, stretching his arms before leaning back into his chair. “Yeah, I can’t believe registering an Emperor Ring could be such a hassle.”

Flo smirked and took a seat beside him, unwrapping a small package of sweets she had brought for herself. She plucked one out and took a bite before nudging the package toward Hans. “Want one?”

Hans eyed the sweets before taking one, the sugary aroma coaxing a reluctant smile from him.

“Have you read the latest reports?” Flo asked, resting her chin on her palm. “Martin Apollo and Marge Verdant just awakened their Emperor Rings. Turns out, those rings were hiding within the royal household all this time.”

Hans bit into the sweet, chewing slowly as he processed the news. “We’ve come a long way,” he muttered.

As he studied Flo, something seemed off. His eyes flicked over her attire—a travel coat instead of her usual battle gear. “You’re dressed differently,” he noted.

Flo grinned, stretching her arms above her head. “I’m taking three weeks off. Heading back to Vibrara. It’s been a while since I visited home, and my sisters have been pestering me to come back.”

Hans stood up, rolling his stiff shoulders. “That must be nice,” he said wistfully. “I just hope I can finish all this paperwork soon and actually be out in the field again.”

Flo chuckled, crossing one leg over the other. “I heard the Aegis Enforcers are tasked with escorting Lady Audries back to the capital from the Far East. Not to mention, there have been more frequent sightings of Greater Titans in that area, including the ones from the incident in Aetheris.”

Hans turned toward the window, his gaze drifting toward the lower districts of the capital. The golden light of dusk painted the rooftops in warm hues, and for a brief moment, he let himself breathe.

“I’m not worried,” he said finally. “Even without me there, the Aegis Enforcers are still the best in the Order.” His voice carried a quiet but firm pride. “Ellie and Jun’de are leading the mission, and the new recruits have already proven themselves.”

Flo laughed, a mischievous glint in her eye. “The best, huh? Maybe we should put that to the test—an exhibition match between the divisions, just like in the academy.”

Hans turned back to her, smirking. “You just want an excuse to knock me around.”

Flo grinned. “Not at all. I just want to see if our so-called best can still hold his own.”

Hans shook his head, chuckling. “I had secret mentors during academy days. That’s how I survived back then.” He leaned back slightly, his mind drifting to those days. “Master Khan’s training never really worked for me. I struggled with the structured forms and rigid techniques. But Ellie and Jun’de… they saw that. When no one else did, they secretly mentored me on the side, teaching me in a way that made sense. I owe a lot to them.”

Flo paused, tilting her head as she looked at him. Memories of their academy days resurfaced—the clumsy but determined boy she had first met, the one who had grown into a man worthy of his rank. She smiled to herself, then rose from her seat.

“Well, I’ll leave you to your paperwork,” she said, stretching lazily. “I better start packing. Home, here I come!”

With a final wave, she strolled out of the room, leaving Hans alone once more with his endless forms. He sighed, rolling his shoulders before settling back into his chair.

“An exhibition match, huh…” he muttered, a smirk tugging at his lips as he picked up his pen once again.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

——

The wind howled fiercely across the grassy plains of Kazhamara, twisting into wild spirals that tore through the battlefield.

"Cassian! Can you still fight?" Jun’de called out, his voice laced with concern.

Behind him, the battle had clearly taken a toll on his junior. Cassian was bruised and battered from relentless attacks, her breathing heavy as she steadied herself. The enemy—two humanoid figures—stood in front of them, their bodies forged from the remnants of fallen architecture. Their masks, resembling turtle shells, gleamed under the dim light, each adorned with a blue gemstone on the forehead.

They had introduced themselves as Mane and Ande, two more of Ozymand’s Seeds. Unlike the monstrous bulk of Oz, these two were leaner, faster—but their attacks still carried devastating power.

And looming behind them, the true body of Ozymand stirred, its colossal form shifting, sinking ever so slowly into the earth as if attempting to merge with the land itself.

Jun’de took a calculated step back, his mind racing. This isn’t good.

They were at a severe disadvantage. Two of their own—along with Lady Audries—were trapped inside the enormous titan’s body. Here, outside, they faced not only Mane and Ande but also the towering form of Ozymand itself. It moved sluggishly, but when it did attack, its destructive beams carved ruin into the battlefield.

We can’t win through direct confrontation.

The only way forward was to retrieve Lady Audries and the others from within the titan. But what was happening inside? Were they even still alive? Their comms were dead.

Jun’de exhaled sharply and turned to Cassian.

He tossed her a vial filled with an herbal mixture and a set of talismans.

"Drink that. It’s a rejuvenating remedy from Cloudspire," he ordered. His tone left no room for argument. "I’ll create an opening. You need to find Ellie and the others inside that thing. Once you do, use these talismans to carve a way out. Ellie will know how to activate them.”

Cassian hesitated, gripping the items tightly. "But what about you? You can’t fight them alone!”

Jun’de tightened the knot of his robe, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Who do you think I am?" He cracked his neck, stepping forward. "I’m the Co-Vice Captain of the Aegis Enforcers.”

But even through his confident facade, Cassian could see it—the worry behind his eyes.

Before she could protest, Jun’de leaped into the fray.

With a powerful swing of his baton, his rings ignited, the wind around him roaring in response. A violent sandstorm erupted, swirling around him like a raging tempest. The moment the gale struck the two Seeds, they staggered, pinned to the ground.

Jun’de’s gaze flickered toward the titan’s massive form. He willed the winds to churn into a violent vortex, coiling around his baton. Tightly fastened to its tip were explosive talismans, their sigils glowing ominously.

With a forceful throw, the baton hurtled through the storm, striking Ozymand’s colossal body.

A thunderous explosion tore through the battlefield.

The whirlwind twisted, ripping open a gaping wound in the titan’s structure.

"NOW!" Jun’de roared.

Cassian, who had been waiting for the signal, wasted no time. She harnessed the earth beneath her, raising jagged spires that surged forward, launching her toward the breach.

She took one last look at Jun’de—his silhouette framed against the swirling storm—before diving into the unknown.

——

As Cassian disappeared into the labyrinth, Jun’de turned his full attention to Mane and Ande.

The two Seeds had recovered from his initial sandstorm, their gemstone-adorned masks gleaming as they studied him with eerie precision. Their movements were swift—faster than he had expected. When they struck, it was like a synchronized dance of destruction.

Jun’de barely evaded a crushing strike from Mane, twisting his body mid-air as Ande lunged from the side. He kicked off the ground, using the force of his wind to propel himself backward, landing lightly on his feet. His ring, Dusty Dancer, pulsed with power, responding to his every motion. He was a storm given form—fluid, unpredictable, untouchable.

"You think you can keep dodging?" Mane hissed, voice distorted behind his mask.

Jun’de smirked. "Not dodging. Leading.”

He spun his baton in a wide arc, his ring flaring brighter. A cyclone erupted around him, lifting dust and debris into a blinding storm. The battlefield became his stage, and the wind was his music.

The storm twisted into jagged, razor-sharp currents, striking at the two Seeds with relentless fury. Mane and Ande dodged expertly, weaving through the gusts, but Jun’de anticipated their movements. He focused the wind into a narrow jet, launching it forward like a blade.

The attack connected. Ande’s left arm was shorn clean off, disintegrating into rubble before it even hit the ground.

But there was no scream, no sign of pain. Instead, Ande twisted his body unnaturally, using the momentum to spin into a devastating counterattack. His remaining arm struck Jun’de’s side, sending him skidding across the battlefield.

Jun’de coughed, feeling something crack. He forced himself up just as Mane descended from above, both fists poised to crush him.

The wind roared to life.

Jun’de twisted his baton, commanding a vortex beneath him. The moment Mane’s fists made contact, a counter-force exploded outward, launching them both apart.

He landed gracefully, but Ande was already moving, undeterred by the loss of his limb. Faster. More aggressive.

Jun’de gritted his teeth. "Shit. They’re adapting." He reached deep into his reserves, pouring more energy into his ring. The winds around him darkened, filled with swirling dust and razor-thin particles. A sandstorm of death.

He struck first. A hundred wind-carved blades slashed through the battlefield.

Mane deflected most, but one carved through the blue gem on his mask, cracking it down the middle. The moment it shattered, Mane’s body began crumbling into rubble.

And then, everything shifted. Ozymand’s colossal form shuddered violently, a deep, guttural groan escaping as some part of its body began to collapse.

Jun’de barely had a moment to register before Ande roared, launching a desperate attack.

Jun’de raised his baton, summoning a wind barrier. The gust deflected most of the projectiles, but a few slipped through, striking his ring’s gemstone.

A sharp crack echoed through the battlefield.

His heart sank. Dusty Dancer had fractured.