5. Primal Spell
It is said that just one epic spell allows an Awakened to fight somebody at a much higher level. But they’re also as expensive as a nuke.
“What do you mean by try my luck with an Epic?” Lucas asked, just to make sure he actually heard it right. It may be a simple question on the surface, but it’s a statement equal to that of: You’ve won the lottery jackpot, would you like to claim your prize?
“Spell combination.”
Lucas raised a brow. Spell combination is when the Awakened combines two spells of the same rank to acquire a spell of a higher rank. It’s the only way that the Awakened can imprint high-rarity spells.
There is practically no risk, even when combining two rare spells for an epic. Failure is possible but an Awakened can try again and again, given enough time passes for each attempt.
But there is a caveat. An Awakened will not be successful combining two spells if they don’t have the corresponding spell control level.
For example, an Awakened must have a level 2 spell control to be able to successfully combine two commons for a rare.
Lucas has a level 3 spell control, so he could combine up to epic – the tier after rare.
In addition, one still needs to have the spell book for their desired spell, like how he combined four common spells to imprint the Mist and Blink spell books that SPECTRA issued him.
“But I don’t have an Epic spell book.”
Hades summoned a spell book that hovered above his palm. “This is called Cooldown Reduction. I would say it is the most powerful spell of all. Far even more powerful than any Class V Elemental Spells.”
Lucas raised a brow. “Pardon me. But that’s difficult to believe.”
Hades sent him the details of the spell via the Awakened System.
Cooldown Reduction (Epic)
Class Requirement: III
Type: Passive.
Effect: Decreases spell cooldown reduction by 5%.
Just 5%? But..., Lucas thought there should be a catch. “For a spell at the base level, this is a bit underwhelming. Although, if it’s upgraded to V, I guess a 30% Cooldown Reduction is pretty strong – assuming the effect increases by increments of 5.”
Hades shook his head. “50% at V.”
Hades explained that [Cooldown Reduction I] enhances the effect by 5%. But after that, each upgraded increases the effect by increments of 10%. So, [Cooldown Reduction II] gives 20% – up to 50% at [Cooldown Reduction V]
“Do not ignore the fact that [Cooldown Reduction] is a passive spell that directly affects an attribute. It’s a Primal Spell. One not limited by your spell control.”
Lucas thought about it for a while. Now that he pointed that out. This spell... how potent, he thought. “A Primal Spell?”
“There are 12 others. Cooldown Reduction is the 13th Primal Spell. The strongest one.”
Lucas really didn’t understand, but Hades wouldn’t be too prideful for no reason. Primal Spell. Spells that directly affect an attribute. Never heard of them, but they do sound unique, Lucas mused. “Are you saying there are others like it? Like a Force Passive?”
“Yes. There is a Primal Spell called Force. But to compare it to mine is an insult. There are many ways for you to artificially increase your Force. But name me a spell or a magical equipment that breaks the limitations of time,” Hades said, before muttering a few other words. “Not that your world has any notable magical equipment aside from a few anyway.”
But at Hades’ inquiry; indeed, nothing came to Lucas’ mind.
“So. Would you like to gamble?”
“…Why do you keep saying gamble? There’s no risk to combining spells in any categories, unlike spell upgrades.”
“Sure. But Primals are unlike other epic spells. You can only attempt to combine a Primal Spell once. And if you fail, you also lose your Rare spells.”
At that, Lucas hesitated. Mist and Blink are difficult to find. Even within SPECTRA, only a few operatives were given the spells. And that’s saying something as the League has access to a Class III wizard.
Rare spells are also very expensive in the market. They cost an average of $300,000. That’s the price of a small one-bedroom condominium. And even the top Class III Awakened only earn around $200,000 a year. That is if they choose to consistently partake in high-level missions.
But, no matter how much he looked at the cost benefit, Cooldown Reduction is indeed practically priceless.
“Can I hold on to this decision until I raise my spell control to 4? Just to make the Imprinting process easier?” asked Lucas.
“Sure. But would you really want to wait that long?”
“What do you mean?”
“When you leave this place. The time between now and the next time we meet will depend on your abilities.”
Lucas frowned. “You’re saying even if I reach 4, I would have to wait to meet you again. Is this why you provided me the Mark this early? Because of timing?”
“You will not understand.”
Those words ticked off Lucas. “What could be so difficult for me to understand? Must you mock me every time I seek an answer?”
Hades regarded him for a moment with a silent gaze, until he finally answered, his tone sounding a bit annoyed.
“My abilities and intent are not for you to muse, Elysian. But if you must find the answer to your question, it is for you to get as much as benefit and advantage from the Mark as early as possible. It’s not timing, but practicality. Unlike what those fools believe,” Hades said, his tone filled with ridicule as he uttered that last phrase.
Hades continued. “Power is provided to those without it. Not to those who already do. But the universe always finds a balance. So, for one to attain true power, one must take risks. For risks are the currency we must pay the universe to bend its balance for us.”
Lucas grew silent as he considered Hades’ words – wondering what he meant. He felt a tad bit regretful that he did ask in the first place. “Right… risks, huh?”
“Well? What is your decision?”
“Not that I earned these spells by myself," he said. He can worry about SPECTRA or the Director (most likely) getting mad later on. He planned to tell everyone he trusted about what happened here anyway. "Let’s do it,” said Lucas as Hades tossed him the spell book.
“System. Combine Mist and Blink.”
[Combining…]
Lucas gulped, closing his eyes to concentrate. He felt a tug on his soul core as if it were being ripped apart.
The Soul Core is like an orange. Inside is the central core, surrounded by the individual slices of the fruit. Those segments of fruit are the spells imprinted to the Soul Core.
And combining spells is akin to peeling an orange with a knife and unrolling it. So, peel off the top and the bottom, slice one end, then unroll it on a table.
Then he needed to remove two slices of the fruit with surgical precision and combine them. After that, he needed to place the combined piece back into the orange. And roll it back to a sphere, before putting back the peeled-off skin on the top and the bottom of the sphere.
[Success. You have acquired Cooldown Reduction.]
“Congratulations,” said Hades as he summoned a comic book. “Your spell control is at least impressive.”
“Thanks…,” he said, trying to remain cool and hide his excitement. Hades might know what he’s thinking or feeling, but that doesn’t mean he should ignore decorum altogether.
He had already ignored it long enough.
But in his excitement, he still dreamed.
“System. Show me what Cooldown X would look like.”
Cooldown Reduction X (Epic)
SC Requirement: 3
Type: Passive.
Effect: Decreases spell cooldown reduction by 100%.
Lucas paled. “There’s no way…”
Hades scoffed for some reason, but Lucas ignored him. Hades must be scoffing at his comic book.
“Cooldown Reduction X… If I manage to do that. I can literally use even high level spells indefinitely. This is too powerful.”
“Have you forgotten the most basic universal rule when upgrading a non-common spell? If you hope to game the Aetheric Path, you’re in for a rude awakening.”
“Oh. Right…,” he sighed in disappointment. Even upgrading highly-sought epic elemental spells like Meteor from I to II has an 80% chance of failure. And one would need to chug a higher-concentrated Upgrade Potion to bypass that.
“There is another limitation to a Primal Spell aside from being able to only attempt it once,” said Hades. “Unlike other Epics, there are zero risks upgrading a Primal to V, but upgrading them beyond V requires you to spend 5 spell points per level.”
Lucas began counting his fingers, trying to do the math.
“Slow…,” Hades said with a tone filled with sheer disappointment. “A Cooldown X costs 30 points in total. 5 points to V, and 25 to X. Since my Mark doubles your SPP, you’d have 30 points if you reach level 150 – 35 if you consumed your 5 Upgrade Stones. That’s still under the assumption that you never fail your upgrades, which is highly unlikely.”
Lucas was a bit surprised that Hades said Level 150 so casually.
Level 150? Yeah. That’s impossible, he thought. Even the War Sovereign, Beral, the League’s strongest, is only Level 103. And he’s already 133 years old.
Meanwhile, even the highest level Awakened in the world is only Level 107 – the Emperor of Asari or the Sun Sovereign.
“Also, since you’re upgrading a Primal, even epic Upgrade Potions won’t have any effects. So, even if the universe is being generous to you, that means you’d likely only upgrade your Primal to VI even if you try five times.”
That's a lot of 'even', as if he's deliberately saying them, thought Lucas as he rolled his tongue in his cheek, before sitting down in a meditative position to think – still unconvinced; still dreaming of what he already knew to be impossible.
But after denial, came the acceptance. “I understand. So, I just need to acquire 5 Upgrade Stones for [Cooldown V],” muttered Lucas. “That would let me spam Aether Blade every second.”
A 3 SP spammable spell is practically equivalent, or maybe even stronger than a Class V offensive Elemental spell.
But 5 Upgrade Stones to achieve that? Where in hell is he supposed to get those? Not even SPECTRA or the government can procure them that easily.
Well, he'll just have to worry about that later on. “System. Can I defeat Muriel if I have CD V?”
[Unable to complete query. Muriel’s spell build is unknown. But simulating via your recent duel, there is a 0% chance of victory.]
“Right… Of course. How about any of the nine other Class VIs?”
[Their spell builds are unknown as well. But simulating via limited records of them, you would have a 0.0001752% of success. Please indicate a lower figure.]
“Class V?”
“0%”
“Wait… how about. Uh. Do you have full information on any… dead Class IVs?” asked Lucas. Sometimes, some Awakened earn a lot of money to have their spell builds uploaded in the System when they die.
It’s to allow for situations like this; to help the Awakened by allowing them to simulate their spell builds.
[Yes. Kim Belanger died in 2344. Level 87. Evoker. Global Rank 92 at death. Full access costs $1,230,000 at the Awakened Society.]
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
“I can’t afford that. But do you think I can beat them at my current level if I have CD V?”
[Running simulations… 37.2% Win Rate.]
“If I have Mist and Blink?”
[47% Win Rate.]
“Damn… Okay. So, with Mist and Blink, can I, at least, beat some Class Vs?” he asked, although he knew he was hoping for the impossible.
Class Vs may not be Sovereigns, but Class V is the only Awakened rank that refers to only one level. And that’s Level 100. They still reached the so-called peak.
And attaining such power is so difficult that there are only seven Class Vs in the world, with two of them being in the League. There hasn’t been a new class V in five decades. They die one way or another before they break through beyond the peak.
On the other hand, while the difference between a Class V and a VI is only one level, breaking through to 101 is said to be twice more difficult than leveling up from Level 1 to Level 100.
So, he didn’t feel so bad when the System answered his question with a: [No.]
“I mean. What about the percentage?”
[Please be reminded to be specific with your inquiries. But if you have Mist, Blink, and Cooldown Reduction V at your current level. Your chance of success defeating a Level 100 based on their limited information is 5%.]
“Rude… But that’s surprisingly high,” said Lucas with a smile, but that smile shattered not too long after.
[That’s the assassination percentage. You asked if you could beat a Class V, and you have 5% of success if you catch them unaware.
If you fight, your chance of success is 0.00000012%. Be reminded that Class Vs have multiple Tier V spells; an epic spell or two; and multiple high-grade equipment.]
Lucas sighed. “OK. I get it already. Can you please show me my spells?”
Spells – 3/10
(Spell Damage = Force x Spell Power)
1. Aether Blade X (Legendary) (GCDE)
SC Requirement: 4.10
Type: Active.
Effect: Form a blade of aether and strike forward in an arc. As an alternative, You may also manifest an arc blade that travels a vast distance.
Spell Power (SP): 3
Cooldown: 2 seconds.
2. Aether Amplify (Common)
SC Requirement: 2.10
Type: Buff.
Effect: Increase your Force by 50% for a limited duration.
Duration: 5 seconds.
Cooldown: 30 seconds.
3. Cooldown Reduction (Epic)
SC Requirement: 3.10
Type: Passive.
Effect: Decreases spell cooldown reduction by 5%.
“I guess that’s it,” Lucas said, extremely satisfied.
“I suggest that you pursue what you call buff and movement spells in the future. Aether Blade X is more than enough as your sole offensive spell. I doubt you’d need anything else,” said Hades.
“You’re right. And I’m totally going to miss Blink and Mist.”
Hades hummed as if he had some question in mind. “Your inquiries to the System.”
Lucas looked at him. “Yes?” he asked, though he wondered why Hades seemingly had a question to ask, even if he could hear his thoughts. Maybe he just wanted to chat?
“Is there something that compels you to hurry?”
Lucas fell silent at that.
“You wish to kill her. A Sovereign with the Aspect of Light. She who has lived for over a century and perhaps have slain many like you–– before you. To enact your vengeance with your own hands alone as you are now, you will never achieve your goal,” said Hades.
“…I know.”
“Yet you think that somehow you will strike her down? Even when you’ve denied the golden path, and would rather walk a road full of thorns?”
“…Yes," Lucas said as he gazed at the stars. "Because there is only one way I can ever defeat her with my own hands, right?"
When Lucas glanced over to Hades, the God of the Underworld smiled. "To reach beyond the peak," said Hades.
Lucas nodded. "I will become a Sovereign."
“Interesting,” said Hades before raising his hand.
Oddly enough, Lucas understood what that simple gesture implied. “Wait!” he yelled out as he saw only black.
Hades’ voice entered his mind. “This is just the beginning. To truly unravel the mysteries of the Almar, you must rise and grow. When the time comes, we will speak again. But… perhaps, to rush is not so bad. After all, evil does not wait.”
"What do you mean?" Lucas said weakly as he felt like drowning, no way to swim up, and with no air to breathe.
Hades may not have heard him or simply chose to ignore him. But the being's final words echoed deep within Lucas' mind. As if it was a warning. Or more...
"Perhaps in the future,
you will come to realize,
the power you forsake."
***
Lucas flashed his eyes open, still groggy and exhausted. The fact also still remains that Muriel shattered his Shield. He would have to wait for 24 hours before his Shield reforms again.
So, he’s practically defenceless. That doesn’t mean he can’t fight.
His focus was drawn back to reality as he took a step back, barely avoiding an Ashen that reached his range. And just like before, he could probably take out at least two or three Ashens before he makes his escape.
“Perish.” His blade of steel chimed as it cut through the air and the Ashen’s head flew overhead. Damn it… I won’t last very long, he thought as he realized that just a light swing of his sword already felt too heavy. It’s like swinging a giant hammer.
And there still were too many of the Ashens – hundreds. It would be foolish to keep fighting.
From the distance, Argus also moved and threw a massive rock at him, which he narrowly avoided before looking around with those same crazed eyes for somewhere to hide.
There! He ran to what led to a narrow street, but as he was about to turn the corner, he stopped.
Around a dozen Ashens looked up from their meal a few yards away, tilting their heads at him. “No way,” he said as the Ashens he tried to flee from also caught up, completely blocking his paths of escape – behind and at the front.
Both the groups of monsters then roared and charged at him. “If this is it… then come.”
But ripped to pieces, he was not. Instead, it was the Ashens that were sliced to pieces like butter. “What?”
Fully armoured figures that looked like silver robots dashed past Lucas. No, they weren’t robots. Combat Frames?
Indeed they were. Dozens and dozens of figures fully donning lithe armours of silver steel. Framers, he realized. Looks like the Defense is finally here.
And there were hundreds of them. Some of them engaged the Ashen, while the others engaged Argus.
That was only the beginning. The amount of reinforcement didn’t stop for they had come too–– the Awakened.
And… the Society is here as well, Lucas thought as he watched them.
Unlike the Framers, the Awakened wore sleek black Kevlar suits (Armada Armor System or just Armada suits), the protective metallic fabric stretching up to their necks. But even if they couldn't equip Combat Frames, they were no less dangerous.
There were also hundreds of them.
The Sentinels, their blades shimmering with silver light, clashed with the Ashen; while the Evokers shot their spells from afar.
It looked like the Framers and the Awakened had a contest to see who could kill the most.
But his attention was drawn to something particular.
Among the Awakened are dozens and dozens of Class IIIs just like him; evident with their elemental-infused blades, or the deadly elemental spells they cast from afar.
He never thought he’d see the day that so many Class IIIs would be gathered like this. After all, there are only 700 Class IIIs among the League's total population of about seven million people. It's rare for someone to see them in their lifetime.
Exhausted but relieved, Lucas finally dropped his blade, which rang as it touched the ground.
It didn’t take long for the combined forces of the Defense and the Society to clear out all the Ashens, before joining those who assaulted Argus first, keeping the giant at bay.
But Argus didn’t even flinch from their combined flurry of spells, reminding Lucas of the true capability of a Calamity. “…Of course,” he whispered as that feeling of hope was dashed away.
No doubt, the Ashens would be useless against the combined wrath of the Framers and the Awakened. They were only Grade I. Even a level 1 Awakened could deal with them–– they’re just mobs, after all.
Dealing with Grade Is simply is just a matter of stamina and some combat training.
The reinforcement were all truly here to slay the giant. But at what cost?
The colossal Ashen easily swatted them away and stomped on those who dared to venture too close. They were helpless as more screams of horror filled the air when Argus tossed them in his mouth.
The Combat Frames were crushed, along with their Framers. The Awakened were flattened, turning into mounds of unrecognizable flesh.
When suddenly… a man with a black Combat Frame rushed to Argus. A colour different from the standard silver issue.
Wait. That’s not a CF, thought Lucas.
It’s an Archframe!
The Archframe’s accents of silver, tracing the black suit, shimmered with light. In the chest area was a hexagonal core, radiating a soft, pulsating white glow.
The Archframe is a Combat Frame that could only be used by an Awakened. They’re so rare and expensive that the League only has 10 of them, divided among the League’s various agencies and organizations that deal with the Ashen.
And that black colour means that this particular Archframe is him–– the only Archframer in SPECTRA. “Black Spear,” muttered Lucas. “This also means they’re here. SPECTRA.”
As he expected, trailing Black Spear not too long after were five masked figures. It’s the Black Spear Unit. The strongest unit in SPECTRA (thus by extension, the strongest Awakened party in all of the League).
They’re all composed of Class III Awakened, except for its leader, of course – Oliver Hill, the Black Spear himself. He’s Rank 4 in the national Awakened Rankings and one of the only six Class IVs in the nation. A State-class Awakened.
“The five of you, retreat! I’ll buy us some time,” Oliver commanded his squad as he hurled a shadow spear at Argus.
“But sir!”
“I said go. Take 37 with you. I don’t want to hear Hummingbird screaming at me if he dies,” said Oliver with a laugh as they all dodged a big rock thrown by Argus. “But for someone who complains a lot, she’s dramatically slow.”
Lucas tried to move to join them in battle, but he could barely move his limbs.
“But it’s Argus! We don’t a chance,” one of Oliver’s squad members yelled.
“And you call yourselves SPECTRA?” Oliver told them as they briefly retreated from the giant, with the Society and the Defense giving them some cover. “Look alive! Look around you! Are you telling me Class I and IIs are braver than you?! That THAT child is braver than you?!” said Oliver as he pointed to Lucas without looking at him.
Oliver’s unit fell silent.
But although Lucas didn’t like how Oliver said that, he understood the sentiment.
“Sure, the city has fallen,” said Oliver as his Archframe’s headpiece parted to reveal his handsome face.
Then with a quick glance to Lucas, Oliver nodded at him. “And all we can do now is buy more time,” he said and shifted his gaze back to the giant, a shadow spear materializing on his hand. “But if we do that, even if we all die here today, then countless people will survive. And perhaps, we’ll finally see this giant slain once and for all.”
Lucas considered Oliver’s nod for a moment. He realized not too long after that it was not without a meaning.
Black Spear is right. The Dominion is lost. Lucas’ home city is lost. And Oliver would die. He’s prepared to die.
So Lucas nodded back. A simple gesture of respect to the damned.
Lucas may be a piece of shit. But he respected Oliver’s sacrifice. Whatever it was that he was buying time for.
Oliver danced and flew about Argus, able to actually wound the giant – much to Argus’ rage. A Class IV with an Archframe is almost equal in strength to a Class V.
So, the giant focused all its effort on Oliver, ignoring the torrent of spells from the other Awakened, and the blades of the Framers.
That’s impressive. Even if he’s not a Sustain, he actually managed to get all of Argus’ aggro, thought Lucas, but he wondered how long Oliver would last.
And… the Black Spear himself didn’t last for long. That time he sought, the Class IV could only buy a few minutes at most.
Lucas closed his eyes as Argus’ fist descended on Oliver.
And Oliver Hill, the Shadow Spear. Rank 4. He died just like that.
…The League lost one of its State-class Awakened just like that.
Oliver’s squad then retreated without even showing a hint of panic. True professionals even after witnessing their leader’s death.
They beelined for Lucas. “Let’s go,” said one of them.
Lucas nodded and opened his eyes, but as he was about to follow the group, he saw corpses in the distance. Why am I running again? Lucas thought as he felt time seemingly slow down almost to a halt.
“37…! Why did you stop? We have to go!” one of them grabbed him.
But Lucas ignored him and slowly picked up his fallen sword.
“What are you doing?!”
Ah, he felt sleepy. His vision was already blurry. And he could feel his consciousness slipping away. He’s reached his limit.
But perhaps with rage-fuelled adrenaline, he rushed at Argus, venom in his eyes. Right… that giant needs to die.
Voices from the Black Spear Unit mixed in the air.
- “Stop!”
- “Come back! You can’t even activate your Aura!”
But from behind him, there was a loud thud, as if something landed, and he felt a tight grip on his shoulder. Looking back, he saw Mildred looking at him. Through the slits of her crimson mask, Lucas saw the anger in her eyes. “37! That’s enough!” She roared with fury.
“Team leader…?” Lucas whispered as four masked figures appeared out of nowhere, forming a protective circle around him and Mildred.
Despite their masks, he recognized them. They were his friends; Cale, Soren, Adelia, and Lucy. And they’re also his teammates – the Hummingbird Unit.
One of SPECTRA’s only two all-Prime units, the other being Black Spear.
Among the six of them, Lucas and Cale were the youngest – who were both 13. Adelia, Soren, Lucy, and Mildred were 15, 17, 19, and 20 respectively. Lucy and Mildred are both Class IIIs, but Soren shouldn’t be far from breaking through.
They have so much potential, so why are they here? To die?
Mildred addressed the members of Oliver’s squad. “We got him. Thank you,” she said, cold eyes upon the mangled sight of Oliver and his Archframe. “Go… seek your revenge.”
They nodded before rejoining the fight, leaving the six of them.
“I’m sorry…” Lucas said when they were gone, his tone barely audible. When the attack happened, he abandoned his duties to find his family, refusing communication with his team.
So, he understood why Mildred was furious. He presumed the other four would be mad too.
But instead, they ignored him.
Mildred, not showing a hint of concern at the rampaging Argus, regarded Lucas.
“Cass… where’s your Mom? Micah?” she asked.
Lucas just shook his head.
Mildred widened her eyes, before averting her gaze back to Argus, still busy killing people with no signs of stopping – as if it was easier for her to begrudgingly witness death instead.
Thankfully, with the Black Spear Squad helping, the deaths were kept to the minimum. But Lucas wondered why they still fought if there was no chance of winning at all.
Mildred then gave him a light nod, and with her other hand, clicked something on the lobe of her ear. A comms device.
“Dr. Alana… Micah… they’re gone,” she whispered to it before looking back at Lucas. “Lucas survived,” she said and with another click, ended the transmission. If she used Lucas’ real name, she must have spoken to the Director.
Wasn't he planning to tell the Director everything that happened? And didn’t his mother tell him to ask him and Mrs. Livia about his birth mark anyway?
But he scoffed at the thought. When he received Hades' powers, he was too preoccupied with the prospect of the future that he forgot he still had to survive.
With how easily Argus felled Oliver himself, how could he even have the chance to tell them? The battlefield is lost.
Not even the combined might of the Society and the Defense can do anything against the giant.
And even if all of the League’s five remaining Class IVs and its two Class Vs were here–– it wouldn’t change anything. Not even if you suit them all up (and four more) with the League’s 10 Archframes, killing Argus would only be a dream.
Calamities have been named as such for a reason. Only a Sovereign would give hope. Multiples of them.
“Why are you here?” Lucas said, still weakly. “You don’t stand a chance,” he said with a grunt, a jolting pain in his spine. “You need to run.”
Lucas can’t have them carry him and slow them down.
But it seemed his words agitated Mildred, who slapped his cheek without delay. “Shut the fuck up!”
Lucas crashed to the ground, holding his reddened cheek. But he felt no pain. It’s as if the other four, who formed a circle around him and Mildred, were the ones in pain instead when they all grunted in unison and averted their gaze at the slap.
But for Lucas, Mildred’s familiar tone of tough love… was comforting.
“How… did you even find me?” Lucas said.
Mildred took a deep breathe, calming herself. When she answered, her voice seemed to fade away. But, he could still make sense of some of her words. “…survivors at 55th Street said there was only one Awakened fighting the Ashen in this district. A masked child. A SPECTRA. And there aren’t any other operatives your age aside from you and Cale. So we joined the reinforcement led by Master Hill.”
At the mention of Oliver, there was subtle rage in Mildred’s eyes. Lucas remembered that Oliver was akin to a father for her.
After a brief pause, she spoke again, her voice filled with pride. “But good job. We’ll need to talk about your–– actions, later on. But I must admit you helped save a lot of lives today.”
Lucas just pursed his lips.
“…Oh. Look! He’s come. It’ll be over soon,” she said, pointing at the sky.
At the sight, all that hopelessness he felt disappeared. Even the fear he didn’t realize he actually felt… vanished.
Time. They were fighting for time. Oliver died for time. This was why they didn’t retreat. He’s come.
“I… see,” Lucas said as his consciousness slowly faded to black, but not before witnessing an armoured figure descend from the sky – a pair of flame-like crimson wings on its back – accompanied by a battleship with six Archframes of various colours standing on the deck, visible from the ground.
Of course, if there is an Awakened who could deal with the giant. It would be him. “Beral…” muttered Lucas. The most powerful Awakened in all of the League. And one of the only nine Sovereigns – or ten if you include Muriel – in the world.
Mildred replied. “Mhm. And that suit of armor…”
Lucas completed her sentence. “…is Godframe Ares.” One of the 12 Godframes. Humanity’s most potent weapons against the Ashen.