《Star Hunter Usahime》 Chapter 1: The Girl Who Didn’t Belong Chapter 1: The Girl Who Didn¡¯t Belong The morning sun stretched across the turquoise waters of Okinawa, spilling golden light over the streets of Naha City. The scent of fresh sea air mingled with the distant aroma of street vendors setting up their stalls. It was a perfect day for anyone with a normal life. For Usa-hime, it was just another day of wishing she could disappear. She trudged down the road toward school, her worn-out sneakers barely making a sound on the pavement. Her platinum blonde hair, too light to blend in, swayed with each step, occasionally catching the breeze. Despite the humid warmth, she wore her blazer over her uniform, sleeves stretched over her fingers as if the extra fabric could shield her from the world. She could already hear the voices ahead before she even reached the school gate. ¡°Oi, Usa-hime!¡± Her stomach dropped. A group of students lingered near the entrance, leaning against their bikes, chatting about their weekend plans¡ªuntil they spotted her. One of the boys, Tanaka Ryo, grinned. ¡°Where¡¯s your carrot today, Rabbit Princess?¡± The others snickered. Usa-hime stiffened. Ignore them. Just keep walking. But Tanaka wasn¡¯t done. He tapped his foot against the pavement, his grin widening. ¡°I mean, shouldn¡¯t a bunny girl like you have a snack on hand? What do you even eat, anyway?¡± A girl with short hair, Megumi, chimed in. ¡°Maybe she drinks blood! Have you seen her eyes?¡± ¡°Yeah, those creepy red eyes. What if she¡¯s a vampire?¡± another student added. Usa-hime¡¯s face burned. Her red eyes. Her pale skin. Her weird name. She knew she looked different, but did they always have to remind her? She swallowed hard, gripping her bag¡¯s strap as she brushed past them, heading toward the school building without a word. ¡°Hey, wait! We¡¯re just messing around!¡± Tanaka called after her, his laughter still echoing. Usa-hime didn¡¯t stop. She wished she could shrink, disappear, blend in like the other students. But she never could. She was Usa-hime¡ªthe Rabbit Princess, the quiet, awkward girl who barely spoke in class. And even after sixteen years on Earth, she still felt like she didn¡¯t belong. Classroom Struggles The morning dragged on. As usual, Usa-hime sat in the back of the classroom, head down, taking notes in perfect silence. The math lesson blurred together with the hum of the air conditioning and the occasional sound of chalk tapping against the blackboard. She rarely raised her hand. Even when she knew the answer, the thought of speaking up made her stomach twist. Most of her teachers barely noticed her. All except for one. ¡°Usa-hime-san,¡± Saito-sensei, the history teacher, called out. She tensed. ¡°Can you answer the next question?¡± The class turned toward her. She hesitated, fingers gripping the edge of her desk. ¡°Uh¡­ I¡­¡± Her throat closed up. The words refused to come out. She knew the answer. She had studied. But the weight of everyone¡¯s eyes made her brain go blank. The silence stretched. A few students snickered. Saito-sensei sighed. ¡°Anyone else?¡± Relief and shame washed over her as someone else answered. She lowered her head. Why am I like this? Lunch Break Isolation Lunchtime was the hardest part of the day. While the other students gathered in groups, chatting and sharing their meals, Usa-hime sat alone by the window, eating her bento in silence. The sunlight streamed in, making her pale skin glow unnaturally bright. Another reminder that she looked different. She toyed with her rice, staring out the window at the blue sky beyond. A part of her wished she could be like the other girls, laughing, gossiping, making plans to go to karaoke after school. But no one ever invited her. She sighed, resting her chin on her hand. Maybe she was just meant to be alone. A Small Light in the Darkness ¡°Hey.¡± A voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She blinked and looked up. Standing in front of her desk was Taro, her childhood friend. He was one of the few people who didn¡¯t treat her like a ghost. With his messy black hair and lazy smile, he looked effortlessly normal¡ªunlike her. ¡°You¡¯re zoning out again,¡± he said, plopping down in the seat across from her. ¡°Thinking about space aliens or something?¡± She frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t think about space aliens.¡± ¡°Liar.¡± He grinned, stealing a piece of tamagoyaki from her bento before she could stop him. ¡°Hey!¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t eating it anyway.¡± She huffed but didn¡¯t argue. Taro had always been like this¡ªcasual, teasing, but never mean. He didn¡¯t care that she was weird. He was probably the closest thing she had to a friend. ¡°So,¡± he said, resting his chin on his hand. ¡°Wanna go to the arcade after school?¡± Usa-hime hesitated. She wanted to say yes. She really did. But then she thought about how the other students would look at them. How they would whisper. ¡°¡­I have to go home early,¡± she muttered. Taro raised an eyebrow. ¡°You always say that.¡± She forced a smile. ¡°Maybe next time.¡± He sighed, but didn¡¯t push. ¡°Alright. But you owe me more tamagoyaki next time.¡± As he walked away, Usa-hime stared at her half-empty lunch. She had turned him down again. Maybe¡­ maybe she was meant to be alone. A Storm Brewing The rest of the school day passed in a blur. By the time she walked home, the sky had turned a soft pink, the ocean breeze cooling the air. She passed by the usual shops, the usual streets, the usual people. Everything felt the same. But deep down, she felt like something was about to change. Like something was waiting for her beyond the horizon. And soon, she would find out just how right she was. An Uneasy Home By the time Usa-hime reached her house, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting an orange glow over the rooftops. The salty scent of the sea mixed with the crisp evening air as she walked through the familiar streets of her neighborhood. Her house wasn¡¯t anything special¡ªjust a modest two-story home in a quiet part of Naha City. It was normal. Safe. Yet tonight, something felt¡­off. She couldn¡¯t explain it, but as she reached for the door handle, a strange chill ran down her spine, like an invisible force was watching her. She shook it off. I¡¯m just tired. Stepping inside, she kicked off her shoes and sighed. ¡°I¡¯m home.¡± ¡°Welcome back,¡± her dad¡¯s voice called from the living room. The smell of curry drifted from the kitchen, a sign that her mom was cooking. The usual routine. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Nothing seemed out of place. And yet¡­ Usa-hime couldn¡¯t shake the unease in her chest. Secrets at the Dinner Table Dinner was quiet. Her dad, Inoue Renji, sat across from her, lazily stirring his curry. His messy brown hair and unshaven face made him look more like a washed-up surfer than a responsible adult. Her mom, Inoue Aoi, was his complete opposite¡ªsharp-eyed, silver-haired, and always composed. Usa-hime had asked before why they looked nothing like her, but they always brushed it off with, ¡°Genetics are weird.¡± She didn¡¯t push. But now, staring at them across the dinner table, she had the same nagging thought she always did. Why do I feel like I don¡¯t belong here? ¡°You¡¯re quiet today,¡± her dad said between bites. Her mom didn¡¯t even look up from her phone. ¡°She¡¯s always quiet.¡± Usa-hime hesitated. Should she tell them about school? About how the teasing was getting worse? No. They wouldn¡¯t understand. Instead, she mumbled, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Her dad frowned. ¡°Those kids giving you trouble again?¡± Her grip tightened on her chopsticks. ¡°I said it¡¯s nothing, Dad.¡± A heavy silence followed. Her mom finally looked up from her phone, studying her with sharp eyes. ¡°Usa-hime,¡± she said slowly. ¡°Do you ever feel¡­ different?¡± Usa-hime blinked. ¡°Huh?¡± Her mom¡¯s voice was calm, but there was something beneath it¡ªsomething serious. ¡°Like you don¡¯t belong here.¡± Her heart skipped a beat. How did she¡ª? BZZZT! A sharp, electric hum crackled through the air. Then, out of nowhere¡ª A holographic message flickered to life in the middle of the dinner table. The Message from Captain Rygar Usa-hime yelped, nearly knocking over her curry. The hologram¡¯s image was unstable, flickering in and out, but the figure was unmistakable¡ªa tall, battle-scarred alien warrior with a deep, menacing glare. His right eye glowed red, and his body was clad in heavy, metallic armor. His voice boomed through the room. ¡°Renji. Aoi. This is urgent.¡± Usa-hime stared in horror. ¡°WHAT THE¡ª?!¡± Her dad groaned. ¡°Dammit¡­ I knew this day would come.¡± Her mom sighed, rubbing her temples. ¡°Rygar, you¡¯re breaking at least six communication laws by contacting us like this.¡± ¡°Like I care,¡± the hologram snapped. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be here if it wasn¡¯t important.¡± Usa-hime¡¯s brain short-circuited. Why were her parents talking like this was normal?! ¡°Okay, WHAT IS HAPPENING?¡± she shouted, standing up so fast her chair nearly toppled over. The hologram¡ªRygar?¡ªpaused, noticing her for the first time. His glowing red eye narrowed. ¡°Ah¡­ so the kid¡¯s here, too.¡± Her mom¡¯s voice was firm. ¡°She¡¯s not involved in this.¡± ¡°She might have to be,¡± Rygar said darkly. Her dad scowled. ¡°Not a chance.¡± Usa-hime slammed her hands on the table. ¡°HELLO?! I¡¯M RIGHT HERE! SOMEONE EXPLAIN!¡± Her parents exchanged glances. Then her mom exhaled and set her chopsticks down. ¡°Usa-hime¡­ there¡¯s something we never told you.¡± Her dad sighed. ¡°We were hoping you¡¯d never have to find out.¡± Usa-hime¡¯s stomach twisted. The uneasy feeling¡ªthe way she never fit in¡ªthe questions she had buried for years¡ª Her mom¡¯s voice was steady but final. ¡°Your father and I¡­ were once intergalactic hunters.¡± The room spun. ¡°¡­You were WHAT?!¡± The Truth Revealed Usa-hime stood frozen. Her mind raced to catch up with the insanity of what she had just heard. Intergalactic hunters? Like¡­ alien bounty hunters? Space warriors? What? Her dad scratched the back of his head. ¡°Yeah¡­ so, long story short, before we moved here, your mom and I were kind of a big deal in the Alien Hunter Union.¡± ¡°You were legendary,¡± Rygar corrected. ¡°The best team the Union ever had. Until you abandoned your duties and disappeared to play house on this backwater planet.¡± Her mom¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°We didn¡¯t ¡®play house.¡¯ We retired.¡± ¡°Retired?¡± Rygar scoffed. ¡°The galaxy doesn¡¯t get that luxury.¡± Usa-hime felt like her brain was melting. ¡°Hold on, hold on, hold on¡ª¡± She pinched the bridge of her nose. ¡°You¡¯re telling me you¡¯re space warriors and I¡¯ve been living a normal high school life while you¡¯re just casually making curry every night?!¡± Her dad shrugged. ¡°Well, yeah.¡± ¡°ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!¡± Her mom sighed. ¡°Usa-hime, calm down.¡± ¡°CALM DOWN?! MOM, THERE¡¯S A SPACE WARLORD ON OUR DINNER TABLE.¡± Rygar coughed. ¡°Technically, I¡¯m a captain, not a warlord.¡± Usa-hime groaned and collapsed back into her chair. This was too much. The Threat of Helena Rygar¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this. I came to warn you¡ªHelena has returned.¡± The air in the room grew tense. Her parents exchanged a look¡ªone filled with something Usa-hime had never seen before. Fear. Her dad¡¯s voice was low. ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± Rygar nodded. ¡°She¡¯s rebuilding her army. The Union is preparing for war. We need you both back.¡± Her mom shook her head. ¡°We can¡¯t.¡± ¡°You have to. You know what Helena is capable of. If she completes her fleet, the entire galaxy is doomed.¡± Usa-hime¡¯s breath caught. A war. A galactic overlord. And her parents¡ªwho had always seemed so normal¡ªwere supposed to stop it? Her hands clenched into fists. ¡°So what are you going to do?¡± Her parents didn¡¯t answer. Instead, they looked at her¡ªat their daughter, their quiet, awkward little Rabbit Princess. And Usa-hime made a decision. ¡°¡­If you won¡¯t fight,¡± she said slowly, ¡°then I will.¡± Silence. Her dad¡¯s face paled. ¡°Wait, what?¡± Her mom¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Absolutely not.¡± But Usa-hime stood her ground. For the first time in her life¡­ she wasn¡¯t afraid. ¡°I¡¯m going to be a hunter.¡± The Weight of Her Decision ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere.¡± Her mother¡¯s voice was sharp, unwavering. Usa-hime had expected this reaction. She just didn¡¯t care. ¡°You don¡¯t get to decide that for me,¡± she said, crossing her arms. Her dad groaned, rubbing his temples. ¡°Usa, this isn¡¯t some game. This is real. You saw Rygar¡ªdo you think he¡¯s the type to joke around?¡± Rygar, still flickering as a hologram in the center of the dining room, raised an eyebrow. ¡°I have never made a joke in my life.¡± Usa-hime pointed at him. ¡°See? And that¡¯s exactly why I have to go!¡± Her mom¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°That makes no sense.¡± ¡°It makes perfect sense!¡± Usa-hime shot back. ¡°You guys are legends, right? And now the galaxy is in danger again, but instead of doing something about it, you¡¯re just sitting here, acting like we can ignore it?¡± Her dad opened his mouth to argue, but she cut him off. ¡°And don¡¯t say it¡¯s ¡®too dangerous.¡¯ Obviously, it¡¯s dangerous! But if you two could do it, why can¡¯t I?¡± Her mother scoffed. ¡°You? You can barely talk to your classmates without panicking.¡± Usa-hime flinched. That one hurt. Her dad groaned. ¡°Aoi¡­¡± But her mom didn¡¯t back down. ¡°You¡¯re not a fighter, Usa-hime. You don¡¯t know how to wield a weapon, you don¡¯t know how to fly a ship, and you certainly don¡¯t know what it takes to be a hunter.¡± Usa-hime clenched her fists. ¡°Then teach me.¡± Silence. Rygar tilted his head, observing her carefully. ¡°Hmph.¡± Her mom sighed. ¡°This conversation is over.¡± She turned to Rygar. ¡°We¡¯re not coming back, and neither is Usa-hime. Find someone else.¡± Usa-hime¡¯s stomach twisted. ¡°So that¡¯s it?¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯re really just going to let the galaxy burn?¡± Her mom turned away. Her dad looked guilty. Neither answered. And that was answer enough. Usa-hime bit her lip, then turned on her heel and stormed upstairs, her heart pounding. If they wouldn¡¯t help her¡ªif they refused to fight¡ª Then she¡¯d figure it out on her own. An Unexpected Visitor Hours passed. Usa-hime sat on her bed, hugging her knees, staring at the ceiling. Her mind was spinning. It had all been so much, too fast. One second she was just a nobody in high school, and the next, she was the daughter of legendary alien hunters. And they still saw her as nothing. She hated it. A knock at the window snapped her out of her thoughts. Wait¡­ the window? Her room was on the second floor. Slowly, cautiously, she turned her head¡ª And nearly screamed. A shadowy figure crouched just outside the window, glowing yellow eyes staring directly at her. She scrambled backward, heart pounding. The figure tapped the glass. Knock, knock. Then, before she could react¡ª They phased through the glass. Usa-hime gasped as the figure stepped into her room like a ghost, their body shimmering before solidifying. Now that they were inside, she could see them clearly¡ª A tall, cat-like alien, draped in sleek black armor, their tail flicking behind them. Their feline ears twitched as they studied her with keen, glowing eyes. ¡°¡­You¡¯re a lot smaller than I expected,¡± they said, their voice smooth and amused. Usa-hime¡¯s brain short-circuited. ¡°WH-WHAT?! WHO¡ªWHO ARE YOU?!¡± The alien gave a small, exaggerated bow. ¡°Name¡¯s Kuro. Top hunter in the Union¡¯s Shadow Division.¡± Usa-hime stared. ¡°T-The what now?!¡± Kuro smirked. ¡°We handle stealth missions. Spying. Assassinations. The cool stuff.¡± Usa-hime¡¯s breath hitched. ¡°Assassinations?!¡± Kuro waved a hand. ¡°Relax, I¡¯m not here to kill you.¡± She didn¡¯t feel particularly reassured. Instead, she pressed herself against the wall. ¡°Then¡­ why are you here?¡± Kuro¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°Because Rygar wasn¡¯t lying. Helena is coming. And if she finds out who you really are, she won¡¯t hesitate to wipe you out.¡± Usa-hime stiffened. ¡°W-What do you mean, ¡®who I really am¡¯?¡± Kuro¡¯s tail flicked. ¡°You¡¯re not just your parents¡¯ daughter, Usa-hime. You have their blood. Their talent. Maybe even more.¡± Usa-hime blinked. More? Kuro leaned in slightly. ¡°You felt it, didn¡¯t you? That feeling in your chest, like something¡¯s been pulling you toward something bigger?¡± Usa-hime¡¯s breath caught. She had felt that. Her whole life, she had felt like she didn¡¯t belong. Like she was something¡­ else. ¡°Your parents don¡¯t want you to fight,¡± Kuro continued. ¡°But they can¡¯t stop what¡¯s coming. If you stay here, Helena will find you.¡± Usa-hime swallowed. ¡°So¡­ what are you saying?¡± Kuro smirked. ¡°I¡¯m saying, if you really want to prove them wrong¡­¡± They reached into their pocket and tossed something onto the bed. It was a silver emblem, shaped like a star, with the insignia of the Alien Hunter Union engraved in the center. ¡°Come with me.¡± Usa-hime stared at it. Her heart pounded. She had a choice. Stay here. Stay small. Stay nothing. Or take a step forward. Take the risk. And become something more. She picked up the emblem. Then she looked at Kuro and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m in.¡± A Decision That Can¡¯t Be Undone Kuro¡¯s golden eyes gleamed in the dim light of Usa-hime¡¯s bedroom as she clutched the silver Alien Hunter Union emblem in her hands. She could still hear her parents¡¯ voices in her head. ¡°You¡¯re not a fighter, Usa-hime.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t belong in that world.¡± But now, she knew the truth. She had never belonged on Earth. She had always been meant for something greater. Her grip tightened around the emblem. ¡°I¡¯m going with you,¡± she said, her voice firm. Kuro grinned. ¡°Knew you would.¡± A sharp knock echoed against her bedroom door. ¡°Usa-hime,¡± her mom¡¯s voice came from the hallway, cold and stern. ¡°Who are you talking to?¡± Usa-hime¡¯s heart pounded. Kuro¡¯s ears twitched. ¡°Time to go.¡± Without hesitation, they pressed a small device on their wrist. The air shimmered¡ª A portal of swirling blue light opened behind them. Usa-hime¡¯s breath caught. ¡°Whoa.¡± Her mom knocked again, louder. ¡°Usa-hime! Open this door!¡± Usa-hime turned to Kuro. ¡°Will this take us to space?¡± Kuro smirked. ¡°No, it¡¯ll take us to a ramen shop. Of course, it¡¯s taking us to space.¡± Usa-hime glanced at the door, then at the portal. She could stay. Keep her safe, quiet life. Pretend she wasn¡¯t meant for something more. Or¡ª She ran forward and leapt into the portal. The last thing she heard before it closed behind her was her mother shouting her name. First Steps into the Unknown The sensation of falling through the portal was both exhilarating and terrifying. Light streaked past her, her body weightless as if she were drifting through a dream. The air smelled different¡ªsharper, electric, like the very essence of the universe itself. And then¡ª THUMP. Usa-hime landed hard on her knees. She groaned, blinking rapidly, trying to adjust to her new surroundings. And when she finally did¡ª Her breath caught in her throat. She was no longer in her bedroom. No longer in Naha City. She was standing in the middle of a massive space station, its ceiling made of transparent glass revealing the endless stretch of stars beyond. Dozens of alien hunters walked past her¡ªhumanoids, creatures with wings, robotic lifeforms, beings she couldn¡¯t even begin to describe. Some chatted, some argued, others checked weapons or prepared for missions. It was a world she had never imagined. And now, it was hers. Kuro stretched lazily beside her. ¡°Welcome to the Hunter¡¯s Academy, newbie.¡± Usa-hime exhaled, her heart pounding. This was real. She was here. And her adventure was just beginning. Chapter 2: The Hunter’s Academy Chapter 2: The Hunter¡¯s Academy Thrown Into Chaos The moment Usa-hime stepped out of the portal, her brain short-circuited. She had imagined space stations before¡ªmaybe something sleek and futuristic, with smooth white walls and glowing blue panels. But this? This was pure, unfiltered chaos. The Hunter¡¯s Academy was massive¡ªa colossal station floating among the stars, its ceilings made of transparent glass that stretched endlessly above, revealing the spiral arms of distant galaxies. Bright neon signs in languages she couldn¡¯t read flashed across massive screens, displaying mission updates, news reports, and rankings of the top hunters. And the aliens¡ª Dozens. Hundreds. All moving through the station¡¯s grand halls. Some were humanoid, others completely bizarre¡ªa six-armed lizard warrior adjusting a heavy blaster, a floating jellyfish-like creature clicking and chirping to a robotic drone, a seven-foot-tall insectoid carrying a duffel bag as big as Usa-hime. And then there was her. A small, awkward Earth girl standing frozen in the middle of it all. She swallowed. ¡°Oh crap.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯d keep that reaction to yourself,¡± Kuro muttered beside her, tail flicking as they stretched lazily. ¡°Fresh recruits get eaten alive around here.¡± Usa-hime stiffened. ¡°You mean, like¡ªliterally?!¡± Kuro smirked. ¡°Maybe. Depends on who you piss off first.¡± Before she could process that terrifying thought, a loud alarm blared through the halls. ¡°New cadet arrivals, report to the combat arena for evaluation immediately. Repeat¡ªnew cadet arrivals, report to the combat arena.¡± Usa-hime¡¯s stomach dropped. Combat evaluation?! She turned to Kuro. ¡°Wait¡ªwhat does that mean?!¡± But Kuro was already walking away. ¡°Figure it out, newbie,¡± they called over their shoulder. ¡°This is your first test.¡± And just like that¡ªthey were gone. Usa-hime felt her blood run cold. She was alone. Mistaken Identity With no idea where to go, Usa-hime hesitantly followed the other new recruits through the winding halls of the station. The deeper she went, the louder the atmosphere became¡ªhunters shouting, engines whirring, weapons humming as energy blades activated. She clenched her fists, trying to blend in¡ªwhich was impossible when she was one of the only humans here. Then¡ª ¡°Hey! You!¡± A voice rang out from behind her. Usa-hime turned, only to find herself face to face with a tall, armored girl with glowing blue tattoos. The girl¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°You¡¯re Usa-hime Inoue, right?¡± Usa-hime blinked. ¡°Uh¡­ yeah?¡± The girl¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. ¡°So, you¡¯re their kid, huh? The legendary hunters¡¯ daughter?¡± Usa-hime¡¯s stomach twisted. ¡°I¡ªum¡ª¡± Before she could deny it, another recruit snorted. ¡°Figures. Gets special treatment just for having famous parents.¡± A few others laughed. Usa-hime¡¯s face burned. They thought she was some kind of prodigy. She wanted to correct them. Wanted to say she had zero training, no experience, and barely knew how to throw a punch. But before she could¡ª A new voice cut in. ¡°She doesn¡¯t look like much.¡± A figure stepped forward¡ªa tall, lean girl with dark skin, piercing yellow eyes, and spiky black hair that flickered with energy. She carried herself with the confidence of someone who had already won the fight. ¡°Zyra,¡± someone whispered. Usa-hime swallowed. Even without knowing her, she could tell¡ªthis girl was dangerous. Zyra crossed her arms, eyeing Usa-hime critically. ¡°If you¡¯re as good as your parents, this should be interesting.¡± Before Usa-hime could ask what she meant¡ª A loud metal door slammed open. ¡°NEW RECRUITS!¡± A massive alien instructor stomped into the room, his heavy boots shaking the floor. His body was covered in cybernetic armor, his arms lined with scars from past battles. ¡°Evaluation begins NOW. No weapons. No excuses. If you can¡¯t hold your own, you don¡¯t belong here.¡± Usa-hime¡¯s throat went dry. She was so dead. Thrown into the Fire Before she knew it, she was standing in a coliseum-style combat arena alongside the other recruits. The walls shimmered with hard light barriers, forming a massive battlefield. Towering observation decks lined the edges, filled with senior hunters watching from above. Usa-hime¡¯s heart pounded. This was real. A robotic voice echoed through the arena. ¡°Evaluation round: survival simulation. Work with your assigned partners to neutralize enemy drones. If eliminated, you fail.¡± Panels in the ground slid open¡ª And from them, a swarm of combat drones rose into the air, their mechanical eyes glowing red. Usa-hime froze. ¡°BEGIN.¡± The drones attacked. Blaster fire rained down as recruits dodged and countered. Explosions burst across the field as energy shields deflected attacks. Usa-hime, meanwhile¡ª Stood there like an idiot. ¡°Move, Earth girl!¡± someone yelled. She snapped out of it just in time to see a drone diving straight for her. Her brain screamed. DO SOMETHING. But her body¡ª Moved first. Her feet shifted¡ªher body twisted¡ªher arms raised¡ª And in one swift, unnatural motion, she ducked beneath the attack. The drone missed by inches. For a split second, everything slowed down. She wasn¡¯t thinking. Her instincts had kicked in¡ªlike she had done this a thousand times before. Her parents¡¯ words echoed in her head. ¡°You¡¯re not a fighter, Usa-hime.¡± But¡ª What if they were wrong? She exhaled, tightening her fists. She could do this. She just had to prove it. A drone was coming straight for her. Its mechanical body whirred as it locked onto her, red targeting sensors glowing. A split second later, it lunged, a spinning energy blade extending from its side. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Usa-hime moved. She didn¡¯t think. Her body reacted. With speed she didn¡¯t know she had, she twisted under the drone¡¯s attack, her breath sharp as she felt the blade slice the air just inches from her face. Then, something in her muscles tensed¡ªan instinct buried deep in her DNA, waiting for the right moment to awaken. The drone came at her again. She didn¡¯t run. She jumped. Higher than she should have been able to. Gasps erupted from the other cadets as she soared above the drone, twisting mid-air. For a brief moment, time seemed to slow¡ª Then¡ª WHAM. She kicked downward. Her foot struck the drone¡¯s head¡ª And the entire machine crumpled like tin foil. A shockwave exploded outward, sending pieces of metal scattering across the arena. The drone was completely destroyed¡ªits core shattered, its once-lethal energy blade sparking uselessly on the ground. A stunned silence filled the coliseum. Usa-hime landed gracefully, barely out of breath. She blinked. Then looked down at the wreckage. Then back at her own foot. Wait. What just¡ª?! Realization "Holy crap," one of the recruits muttered. "She just¡ªtook that thing out with one kick!" another said in disbelief. Even Zyra, watching from the sidelines, narrowed her eyes. Usa-hime¡¯s heart pounded. That wasn¡¯t normal. She knew that much. She had never been strong. Never been athletic. But just now¡ª Her body had moved on its own. Fast. Powerful. Natural. Her legs still tingled with the force of that kick, as if some hidden strength had just been unleashed for the first time. What the hell am I? Before she could even process it¡ª "Multiple hostiles incoming." More drones descended from above. A dozen this time. The simulation wasn¡¯t over. And this time¡ªthey were targeting her. The Fight Awakens Something More The drones surged forward, blasters primed. Usa-hime tensed. Her body still felt light. Faster. She moved. With unnatural agility, she weaved between the drones¡¯ attacks, dodging every strike with precision she didn¡¯t know she had. A drone swung an energy blade¡ªshe flipped over it. Another fired a plasma shot¡ªshe twisted aside at the last second, the blast missing by a hair. She wasn¡¯t just avoiding attacks. She was predicting them. And then¡ª BANG! She kicked again. A devastating impact sent three drones flying at once, their bodies smashing into the arena walls. Another drone came from behind¡ªshe spun and lashed out with her heel¡ªCRACK. The machine collapsed into scrap metal. The force of her kicks was like a bomb going off. With every movement, every strike, she felt it¡ª Something inside her was waking up. Something not human. The Aftermath When the last drone hit the ground, the arena fell silent. Smoke and sparks flickered from the broken machines around her. Usa-hime stood in the middle of the wreckage, chest rising and falling with adrenaline. All eyes were on her. The recruits. The instructors. The senior hunters watching from above. Zyra¡¯s gaze was sharp, unreadable. Kuro¡ªwho had returned to the sidelines at some point¡ªhad a smirk on their face. The instructor finally spoke. "¡­Interesting." That was all. Then, the simulation shut down, and the evaluation was over. Usa-hime staggered backward, still shaking from what she had just done. Her mind raced. She had always been different. But this? This was something else entirely. And she needed answers. Shock and Aftershocks Usa-hime sat on a bench in the cadet waiting area, staring at her hands. Her fingers trembled slightly¡ªnot from exhaustion, but from fear. Not fear of the drones. Not fear of failing. Fear of herself. She had moved too fast. Too easily. And her kicks¡ª No normal human should be able to do that. She had felt the power surge through her body like a switch had been flipped. Her instincts were too sharp, her movements too natural¡ª Like I¡¯ve done this before. But she hadn¡¯t. Had she? Confrontation with Zyra "Not bad." A voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Usa-hime looked up¡ª And saw Zyra. The older cadet stood with her arms crossed, her electric yellow eyes sharp. She wasn¡¯t smirking this time. She wasn¡¯t mocking her. She was studying her. "You¡¯re stronger than I thought," Zyra admitted. "But that wasn¡¯t skill. That was instinct." Usa-hime tensed. "What do you mean?" Zyra narrowed her eyes. "You didn¡¯t fight like a cadet. You fought like a hunter. A trained one." Usa-hime¡¯s stomach twisted. Zyra took a step closer. "You¡¯re hiding something, aren¡¯t you?" "I¡ªI don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about." ¡°Zyra didn¡¯t look convinced. "We¡¯ll see." Then she turned and walked away. Usa-hime exhaled, her heartbeat still racing. Kuro¡¯s Explanation Before she could recover, Kuro dropped down from nowhere, landing lazily next to her. "That was fun to watch," they said, tail flicking. Usa-hime groaned. "You saw that?!" Kuro smirked. "Everyone saw that. You wrecked those drones like they owed you money." Usa-hime slumped forward. "I don¡¯t understand¡­ that wasn¡¯t normal." Kuro studied her for a moment. Then, their smirk faded. "It was your bloodline." Usa-hime looked up, confused. "What?" Kuro leaned against the bench. "Your parents were the best hunters in the galaxy for a reason. It wasn¡¯t just skill¡ªit was what they were." Usa-hime frowned. "But¡­ they¡¯re human." Kuro raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?" The question hit her like a punch. "Your speed, your reflexes, your power¡ªthat¡¯s not normal," Kuro continued. "That¡¯s in your DNA. Whatever your parents are, they passed it on to you." Usa-hime¡¯s breath hitched. She had always felt different. Always felt like something was off. And now, it was starting to make sense. She wasn¡¯t just some random girl. She was something else. A Challenge is Set Before she could respond, a holographic alert flashed above the training area. "Cadet Sparring Matches¡ªNow Open for Challenges!" Zyra¡¯s voice rang out from the other side of the room. "Usa-hime!" Usa-hime turned¡ª And saw Zyra standing in the middle of the arena. "You think you belong here?" Zyra called out. "Then prove it." She pointed at her. "Fight me. One-on-one." The room fell silent. Usa-hime¡¯s throat went dry. She wasn¡¯t ready for this. She barely understood what had happened in the simulation, and now Zyra¡ªone of the strongest recruits¡ªwas calling her out? But then¡ª Kuro leaned down next to her. "Do it," they whispered. Usa-hime swallowed. "What?" "You need to know what you¡¯re capable of," Kuro said. "This is the perfect test." Usa-hime clenched her fists. Her body still felt light. Her muscles still hummed with that hidden power. She wasn¡¯t sure what she was. But she was going to find out. She stood up. "I accept." The Arena Showdown The crowd of cadets gathered around the sparring ring, murmuring in anticipation. "She¡¯s gonna get wrecked," one whispered. "Maybe, but did you see her in the evaluation?" another muttered. "She¡¯s hiding something." Usa-hime stood on one side of the ring, her heart pounding in her chest. Across from her, Zyra stretched her arms, rolling her shoulders with a smirk of pure confidence. "I¡¯ll give you one chance to back out," Zyra said, her yellow eyes glowing with static energy. Usa-hime clenched her fists. She wasn¡¯t backing down. The training instructor raised a hand. "Sparring match: Zyra vs. Usa-hime. Standard combat rules¡ªno weapons, no lethal strikes. Fight until one yields or is unable to continue." The room grew silent. Then¡ª "Begin!" The Fight Begins Zyra moved first. Fast. Before Usa-hime could even react, Zyra closed the distance, her fist already swinging toward Usa-hime¡¯s ribs. WHAM! Usa-hime barely dodged, the punch grazing her side. She staggered back, eyes wide. Zyra wasn¡¯t just fast¡ªshe was precise. Another strike came¡ªa kick aimed at Usa-hime¡¯s head. Her body reacted on its own. She ducked¡ªlower than she thought possible¡ªand countered with a sweeping kick of her own. But Zyra was already gone. She¡¯s reading me. Usa-hime barely had time to think before Zyra came at her again, launching into a flurry of attacks. She¡¯s testing me. And it was working. Usa-hime was barely keeping up. She blocked a hit¡ªdodged another¡ªbut Zyra¡¯s skill was overwhelming. A final blow landed square in her stomach. BAM. Usa-hime gasped as the force sent her sliding backward across the floor. She dropped to one knee, coughing. Zyra scoffed. "Is that all?" Usa-hime¡¯s vision blurred for a moment. The impact should have knocked her out. But she was still awake. Still standing. Then she felt it. That tingling energy rushing through her veins. Her body wasn¡¯t giving up. It was adapting. The Awakening Zyra came at her again, fist raised. But this time¡ª Usa-hime moved. Her legs felt lighter. Her body felt faster. Zyra¡¯s punch barely missed as Usa-hime weaved under it, her instincts sharper than before. She twisted¡ªand kicked. Not a regular kick. A devastating, full-force strike. BOOM! The air rippled with the impact. Zyra barely managed to dodge, the sheer force of the attack cracking the floor where she had just stood. The crowd gasped. Zyra¡¯s eyes widened. Usa-hime landed, breath heavy, realizing what just happened. Her kicks weren¡¯t just powerful. They were weapons. Zyra grinned. "Now that¡¯s more like it." She charged in again¡ªfaster than before. Usa-hime met her head-on. They clashed, exchanging blows at a speed that Usa-hime wouldn¡¯t have thought possible just hours ago. For the first time¡ª She wasn¡¯t just surviving. She was fighting. The Final Blow Zyra¡¯s next strike came low¡ªtoo low. A feint. Usa-hime recognized it a second too late. CRACK! Zyra¡¯s elbow struck her shoulder, sending her crashing to the ground. Pain shot through Usa-hime¡¯s body. She tried to push herself up¡ª But Zyra¡¯s foot was already at her throat. "Yield," Zyra said, voice calm. Usa-hime¡¯s vision swam. She could barely move. But despite the pain¡ªdespite knowing she had lost¡ª A smile tugged at her lips. Because for the first time, she hadn¡¯t frozen. She had fought. "I yield," she rasped. The instructor nodded. "Winner: Zyra." The match was over. But for Usa-hime, something had just begun. Acknowledgment As the crowd dispersed, Zyra offered her a hand. Usa-hime hesitated, then took it, pulling herself up. "You¡¯re not there yet," Zyra said. "But you¡¯ve got potential." Usa-hime blinked. Zyra smirked. "I¡¯ll be watching you, Rabbit Princess." Then she turned and walked away. Usa-hime stood there, exhausted, bruised¡ª But grinning. Looking Up at the Stars Later that night, Usa-hime sat by one of the station¡¯s observation windows. Beyond the glass, the stars stretched endlessly into the void. She wasn¡¯t on Earth anymore. She wasn¡¯t the quiet, awkward girl who sat alone at lunch. She was something else. Something more. And this was just the beginning. Chapter 3: Baptism by Fire Sore, Bruised, and Confused Pain. That was the first thing Usa-hime felt when she woke up. Her entire body ached. Muscles she didn¡¯t even know she had screamed in protest as she sat up in her bunk. The sparring match with Zyra had left her covered in bruises, but somehow, she felt good. Like her body had changed. She flexed her fingers, remembering the fight. How she had moved¡ªfaster than she should have. How her kicks had shattered metal. Her mind still hadn¡¯t caught up with what had happened. "Maybe Kuro was right," she mumbled, rubbing her temple. "Maybe I really am¡ª" BZZZT! Her wristband vibrated¡ªa message flashing across the holographic screen. COMMAND SUMMONS: REPORT TO MISSION BRIEFING IMMEDIATELY. Usa-hime blinked. "Huh?" She had barely been here a few days. Why would command want to see her? A knock sounded at her door. Kuro¡¯s voice came from the other side. "Rise and shine, newbie. We got a situation." Before she could respond¡ª ALARM SIRENS BLARED THROUGH THE STATION. Under Attack "WARNING: BREACH DETECTED. HOSTILE FORCES INBOUND." A mechanical voice echoed through the halls. Lights flashed red as lockdown protocols engaged, sealing certain areas of the station. The cold metallic walls shuddered as klaxons blared, their shrill cries rattling Usa-hime''s skull. Usa-hime stumbled to her feet. "What the hell is happening?!" Kuro grabbed her wrist, yanking her into the hallway. "No time to explain. We¡¯re under attack." Cadets rushed past them¡ªsome panicking, others already arming themselves. Battle-ready cadets snapped weapons from wall lockers and darted into defensive positions. Energy rifles hummed to life, plasma blades flickered like lightning in the dim emergency lighting. Usa-hime¡¯s heart pounded. "Attacked?! By who?!" Kuro¡¯s ears twitched. "Not sure yet. But they¡¯re inside the dorm sector, and they¡¯re not here for a social visit." "What does that even¡ª" A deep, metallic BOOM shook the walls. The floor trembled beneath her feet. Dust rained down from the ceiling, and for a second, she swore she felt the whole station tilt. The air filled with static, thick and sharp like a brewing storm. Something was coming. Something big. "I don¡¯t have a weapon," Usa-hime stammered. Kuro grinned, sharp teeth flashing. "You are a weapon." Before she could argue¡ª The wall at the end of the hallway exploded. The Enemy Appears The shockwave hit first, slamming Usa-hime backward into the wall. She gasped as pain shot through her ribs, her vision spinning. Through the smoke and falling debris, she saw dark silhouettes stepping forward. The armored figures emerged¡ªhulking alien warriors clad in dark red exosuits, their faces hidden behind sleek, skull-like masks. Crimson lights glowed beneath their armor, pulsing like demonic hearts. Their blades hummed with plasma energy, crackling like unstable lightning. Their movements were calculated and deliberate¡ªthese weren¡¯t just random attackers. They moved like soldiers. Hunters. Their leader, taller than the others and bearing a jagged scar running down his helmet, stepped forward. His gaze swept the corridor like a predator seeking prey. "No survivors," he growled to his soldiers. Panic swept through the cadets. Some bolted back down the hallway, others froze in place. "MOVE!" Kuro barked, dragging Usa-hime to her feet. But before they could run¡ª The lead warrior¡¯s gaze landed directly on Usa-hime. "You," the warrior snarled, stepping forward. His crimson visor gleamed. "The child of the Ghost Hunters." Usa-hime¡¯s blood ran cold. "What are you talking about?!" she gasped. The warrior¡¯s blade ignited with a hiss. "Your parents thought they could hide you¡­ but you can¡¯t outrun destiny." Before she could react¡ª He lunged. Usa-hime felt her muscles tighten¡ªher instincts screaming¡ª And suddenly, her body moved on its own. She twisted aside as the plasma blade sliced the air where her head had been. The heat stung her skin, but she kept moving. The warrior struck again¡ª Faster this time. But so was she. Usa-hime ducked, her legs coiling like springs. When the warrior lashed out a third time¡ª She kicked. Her foot struck the warrior¡¯s armored chest¡ª And sent him flying. He smashed into the wall with a sickening crunch, leaving a crater in the metal. Sparks danced across his armor as he groaned, trying to push himself up. The hallway went silent. "What the hell¡­?" Kuro muttered, staring at Usa-hime. "Did you just¡ª?" The other warriors snapped out of their shock. They surged forward, blades igniting, teeth bared. "RUN!" Kuro shouted. Usa-hime¡¯s legs were already moving, her instincts pulling her faster than her mind could comprehend. The red-armored soldiers thundered after them, their blades cutting through walls and doors like paper. Her pulse roared in her ears, her body surging with that strange, overwhelming energy. I can outrun them, she thought. I can¡ª Ahead, the corridor split into two. "Go left!" Kuro barked. But Usa-hime barely heard. Her vision blurred as a burning heat surged through her veins. Her muscles felt tight¡ªalmost electric. "Usa-hime! Snap out of it!" The sensation swelled to an overwhelming surge, like something inside her was about to explode. The First Kill The red-armored warrior lunged¡ªfast. Too fast. Usa-hime barely had time to react before the alien¡¯s plasma blade came slashing down, aiming straight for her neck. Move! Her body acted before her brain could process it. She twisted aside, barely dodging the burning arc of the blade. The heat licked at her skin, close enough to singe her uniform. The alien recovered instantly, adjusting its stance with terrifying precision. It was a trained killer. And she was its target. ¡°Why is it after me?!¡± The warrior lunged again. This time¡ªshe countered. She didn¡¯t think, didn¡¯t hesitate¡ªshe kicked forward. Her foot collided with its chest. BOOM! A shockwave rippled through the hallway as the alien launched backward like it had been hit by a railgun. It slammed into the wall, the impact denting the metal plating. Gasps echoed from the other cadets. Even the enemy soldiers hesitated. Usa-hime froze, her breathing ragged. She had felt the impact¡ªthe sheer power in her legs. This wasn¡¯t normal. The enemy warrior groaned, shifting against the wall. It was still alive. Her heart pounded. She had never killed anyone before. Could she? The warrior snarled and pushed itself up. No choice. It moved to attack again¡ª Usa-hime spun and kicked. CRACK. The alien¡¯s helmet shattered. Its head twisted unnaturally. It collapsed. Dead. The first kill of her life. And there was no time to process it. Because more were coming. The Station Burns ¡°Fall back! Regroup at the armory!¡± an instructor¡¯s voice barked over the station¡¯s intercom. But the enemy was everywhere. Explosions rocked the station, sending metal debris and shattered glass flying. The once-sterile halls of the Hunter¡¯s Academy were now a war zone. Screams filled the air as cadets fought for their lives. Some were cut down instantly¡ªno second chances. A group of recruits tried to flee down a corridor¡ªonly to be gunned down by a squad of enemy warriors. This wasn¡¯t a drill. This was war. And Usa-hime was in the middle of it. ¡°Usa-hime!¡± She snapped out of it as Kuro grabbed her arm. ¡°We have to move¡ªnow!¡± More warriors stormed into the hall, cutting down cadets with ruthless efficiency. Kuro dragged her forward, weaving through the chaos. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. A plasma shot whizzed past them, melting a chunk of the wall. They turned a corner¡ªonly to stumble into another battle. And this one wasn¡¯t going well. Zyra¡¯s Last Stand Zyra was losing. She fought like a demon, her fists crackling with electric energy, but she was surrounded¡ªfive enemy warriors pressing in. She had already taken hits¡ªher uniform torn, blood dripping from a cut on her forehead. But her eyes still burned with defiance. An enemy swung¡ªa massive warrior with four arms and an energy hammer. Zyra dodged¡ªbut barely. The hammer grazed her side, sending her stumbling. The warriors closed in. One raised a blade to finish her off. Move, Usa-hime! Usa-hime launched herself forward. Before the warrior could strike¡ª She jumped¡ªhigher than she should have been able to. Then¡ªshe kicked downward. The force of her kick caved in the enemy¡¯s skull. The warrior collapsed instantly. Zyra stared, wide-eyed. ¡°You¡ª¡± ¡°Later!¡± Usa-hime shouted, grabbing Zyra and pulling her away from the other enemies. The warriors turned toward them¡ªfurious. They charged. Kuro snarled. ¡°I¡¯ll hold them off! You two¡ªgo!¡± ¡°Are you crazy?!¡± Usa-hime shouted. ¡°Less talking, more running!¡± Kuro drew twin daggers and vanished in a blur of shadow. Zyra groaned, clutching her ribs. ¡°I can still fight.¡± ¡°Can you run?¡± Usa-hime countered. Zyra grit her teeth. ¡°Tch. Fine. Let¡¯s go.¡± They ran. Trapped Like Rats The halls of the station were collapsing. Fires raged, smoke clogging the air. The once-sterile metal walls were scorched and broken. Usa-hime and Zyra sprinted through the chaos, leaping over fallen debris, dodging plasma fire. ¡°Where¡¯s the evacuation point?!¡± Usa-hime shouted. Zyra clenched her jaw. ¡°Upper sector! But we won¡¯t make it unless we clear the hangar!¡± Another explosion shook the station. The ceiling caved in behind them, cutting off their path. Then¡ªa deep voice rumbled from ahead. ¡°Running won¡¯t save you.¡± A towering figure stepped into their path. A general. His red armor was heavier, reinforced with black plating. Unlike the others, his mask wasn¡¯t sleek¡ªit was a monstrous skull, its teeth carved into a permanent snarl. The other warriors stopped. Even they respected his presence. Zyra¡¯s breath hitched. ¡°Oh, shit.¡± Usa-hime felt her chest tighten. This wasn¡¯t just a soldier. This was a predator. And he was here for her. ¡°You¡¯ve been marked,¡± he said, stepping forward. His glowing red eyes locked onto hers. ¡°You are the child of the Ghost Hunters, aren¡¯t you?¡± Usa-hime¡¯s blood ran cold. He knew. He knew who she was. She clenched her fists. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± she said. The general chuckled. ¡°You will. Soon enough.¡± He moved like lightning. Before she could react¡ªhis hand was around her throat. Pain exploded in her body as he lifted her into the air, squeezing hard enough to make her vision blur. Zyra lunged forward¡ªonly for the general to backhand her away like she was nothing. Usa-hime¡¯s vision swam. She was going to die. She wasn¡¯t strong enough. Her parents were right. She wasn¡¯t a fighter. But then¡ª A voice whispered in the back of her mind. A voice that wasn¡¯t hers. ¡°Do not break.¡± ¡°You are more than this.¡± ¡°AWAKEN.¡± Something inside her snapped. And then¡ªeverything changed. The Edge of Death The general¡¯s grip tightened around Usa-hime¡¯s throat. She could barely breathe. Her vision blurred, the sounds of battle fading into a distant hum. Her body was shutting down. ¡°Is this it?¡± Her fingers clawed weakly at his armored hand, but it was like trying to break steel. Zyra groaned from where she lay on the floor, struggling to get up. ¡°Damn it¡ªlet her go, you bastard!¡± The general ignored her. His glowing red eyes stayed locked onto Usa-hime, studying her. ¡°You don¡¯t even know what you are, do you?¡± he said, voice deep, almost amused. He squeezed harder. Pain exploded in her skull. Her lungs screamed. Everything was fading. But then¡ª Something answered her pain. A pulse. A deep, ancient power, buried inside her¡ªawakening. A voice whispered through her mind, clear and commanding. ¡°You are not weak.¡± ¡°You are not prey.¡± ¡°RISE.¡± Her body convulsed. A surge of heat exploded through her chest, spreading to every limb, burning through the pain. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. Then¡ª A blinding blue light erupted across her forehead. A crescent moon symbol burned into her skin, glowing like a star igniting for the first time. The general stiffened. His grip loosened¡ªjust for a second. And in that second¡ªUsa-hime moved. The First Surge She didn¡¯t know how she did it. One moment, she was being choked¡ªthe next, her hand shot forward, gripping his wrist. A sudden shockwave of cosmic energy blasted from her fingertips, sending cracks splintering through his armor. The general snarled in surprise. Usa-hime¡¯s entire body felt different. Her veins burned with starlight, her muscles thrummed with power. She didn¡¯t just feel stronger¡ªshe felt unstoppable. Her eyes snapped open¡ªnow glowing silver. The general lunged to finish her off. But this time¡ª She saw him coming. Her body reacted on its own. She ducked, twisting free from his grasp with inhuman speed. Then¡ªshe struck. Her knee slammed into his gut, sending him skidding backward. The gathered warriors froze. Their leader¡ªtheir unbeatable general¡ªhad just been forced back. Usa-hime exhaled, the cosmic energy still surging through her. She had never felt this alive. She could win. She could¡ª PAIN. A fist slammed into her ribs, lifting her off the ground. Her vision exploded with white. Then¡ªAGONY. She crashed through a wall. The Fight Turns She gasped, barely able to process the sheer pain rattling through her bones. Her newfound power hadn¡¯t made her invincible. The general was still stronger. He cracked his neck, stepping toward the hole in the wall where she had landed. ¡°Ah,¡± he mused. ¡°So that¡¯s what you¡¯re hiding.¡± Usa-hime struggled to stand. Her ribs throbbed. Her vision blurred. The moon symbol still glowed, but her body was breaking down. She had no control over this power. And the general wasn¡¯t holding back. He moved like a blur. A punch¡ªstraight to her stomach. She vomited blood. Another strike¡ªher side. She felt something crack. Then¡ªa brutal uppercut to her jaw. Her head snapped back¡ªstars exploding behind her eyes. She collapsed to the floor, coughing. ¡°Pathetic,¡± the general scoffed. His massive boot slammed onto her back, pinning her down. ¡°You have power, girl,¡± he said. ¡°But you don¡¯t know how to use it.¡± He pressed harder. Her body screamed. The glowing moon symbol on her forehead flickered. Was she going to die here? No. No. No. Something inside her refused to give in. She was not weak. She was not prey. She was a hunter. The Cosmic Explosion The moon symbol blazed to life. A massive energy pulse erupted from her body, shattering the ground beneath her. The general stumbled back, shielding his eyes as the entire room shook. Usa-hime pushed herself up. The air around her rippled with cosmic force. Her pain faded beneath the surge of pure power. And then¡ªshe moved. Faster than light. Before the general could react¡ªshe was in front of him. Her fist glowed with starfire. And she punched straight through his armor. The impact rippled through his entire body, a shockwave exploding from the point of contact. The general gasped¡ªhis first real sound of pain. His armor cracked apart. For the first time¡ªhe staggered. He looked down at his ruined chestplate, then back at her. And he laughed. ¡°You¡­ really are their child,¡± he murmured. Then¡ªhe disappeared. A teleport beacon activated, pulling him away in an instant. The other warriors vanished with him. The attack was over. But it had only been the beginning. The Aftermath The emergency sirens blared across the station. Medics rushed in. Cadets groaned from their wounds. The battle was won, but the Academy was devastated. Usa-hime collapsed to her knees, her breath ragged. The cosmic energy faded. Her moon symbol dimmed. Her body ached beyond belief. But she was alive. And she knew one thing for certain. This war? It was about her. She wasn¡¯t just a cadet anymore. She was a target. And soon, every hunter in the galaxy would know her name. Aftermath of the Attack The air was thick with smoke and blood. Emergency sirens wailed across the station as security teams and medics rushed through the ruined halls of the Hunter¡¯s Academy. Usa-hime sat on her knees, panting. Her entire body ached. Every breath burned. The battle was over. But her war had just begun. The enemy hadn¡¯t come to destroy the Academy. They had come for her. And they would be back. Whispers of the Unknown ¡°You¡¯re telling me you fought a general of the Crimson Dominion,¡± Zyra muttered, arms crossed. Usa-hime, still slumped against the wreckage, groaned. ¡°Fought is a strong word. More like¡­ survived.¡± Kuro knelt beside her, golden eyes sharp. ¡°The way you lit up back there? That was not normal.¡± Usa-hime sighed. ¡°Yeah. I kinda noticed when I punched through his armor.¡± Zyra scowled. ¡°And that mark on your forehead? You don¡¯t even know what it is, do you?¡± Usa-hime hesitated. The crescent moon symbol. It had appeared in the heat of battle, unlocking something inside her. Something vast. But the truth was¡­ ¡°I have no idea,¡± she admitted. Zyra and Kuro exchanged glances. ¡°Well,¡± Kuro said, standing, ¡°we better find out. Fast.¡± Summoned to Command They didn¡¯t get a chance to rest. An urgent message flashed on their wristbands. CADET USA-HIME INOUE. REPORT TO COMMAND CENTER IMMEDIATELY. Usa-hime¡¯s stomach twisted. The Academy¡¯s command center? She had been here for barely a week, and now she was being called to meet the leaders of the Hunter¡¯s Union. This was bad. The Council of Hunters The command center was a massive war room, lined with holographic maps of the galaxy. At the center stood a round table of the Academy¡¯s highest-ranking hunters. Captain Rygar was among them. His single glowing eye locked onto Usa-hime the moment she stepped inside. ¡°So,¡± he said gruffly. ¡°You¡¯ve made quite a mess.¡± Usa-hime swallowed. ¡°I¡ª¡± ¡°Silence.¡± The voice came from the head of the table. A tall woman in gleaming silver armor¡ªCommander Lysara. She was the highest-ranking hunter in the Union. A legend. And right now, her piercing violet eyes were locked directly on Usa-hime. ¡°You¡¯re the reason the Dominion attacked,¡± she said bluntly. The words hit like a hammer. Usa-hime tensed. ¡°I¡ª I don¡¯t even know why they¡ª¡± ¡°You¡¯re not human, are you?¡± Lysara interrupted. Usa-hime froze. Her heart pounded. She tried to respond, but no words came out. Because deep down¡­ She already knew the truth. She wasn¡¯t just some girl from Earth. She was something else. Something the whole galaxy wanted. A Dangerous Truth Lysara turned to Rygar. ¡°You knew.¡± The grizzled captain sighed. ¡°Had my suspicions.¡± Zyra stepped forward, frustrated. ¡°Can someone explain what¡¯s going on?!¡± Lysara¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t leave Usa-hime. ¡°You are not a normal cadet,¡± she said. ¡°That symbol on your forehead¡ªthat energy you wielded¡ªit is not human.¡± Usa-hime clenched her fists. ¡°Then what am I?¡± Lysara was silent for a long moment. Then she spoke. ¡°Your mother¡ªAoi Inoue¡ªwas not born on Earth. She is the last living descendant of the Celestial Bloodline.¡± The room fell silent. Usa-hime¡¯s breath hitched. ¡°¡­What?¡± Lysara narrowed her eyes. ¡°The Celestials were an ancient race. Their bodies were infused with cosmic energy, granting them strength beyond mortal limits. But they were hunted. Exterminated. Their power was too dangerous. Too feared.¡± Rygar crossed his arms. ¡°They were wiped out centuries ago.¡± ¡°Not all of them,¡± Lysara said. ¡°Your mother¡ªshe survived. She hid on Earth, changed her name. And she gave birth to you.¡± Usa-hime felt lightheaded. Her mother had never talked about her past. Always avoided questions. Now she knew why. Zyra frowned. ¡°And her father?¡± Lysara exhaled. ¡°Renji Inoue¡­ was human. But not ordinary.¡± She turned to Rygar. ¡°You tell her.¡± Rygar sighed, rubbing his temples. ¡°Your old man was part of Project Helios. An experimental program by the Hunter¡¯s Union. They wanted to create super soldiers. Humans enhanced to rival alien warriors.¡± Usa-hime¡¯s blood ran cold. She had heard of that program. Most recruits had. Only a handful of subjects survived the process. And her father was one of them. ¡°His abilities weren¡¯t natural,¡± Rygar continued. ¡°They were forced. Enhanced beyond what a human body should be able to withstand.¡± He met Usa-hime¡¯s gaze. ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re different. You have Celestial blood from your mother and engineered hunter genes from your father.¡± Zyra muttered, ¡°No wonder you hit like a damn meteor.¡± Usa-hime didn¡¯t answer. Her fists clenched. Her whole life had been a lie. Marked for Death Lysara¡¯s voice turned grim. ¡°You are a living weapon, Usa-hime. And now, the galaxy knows.¡± Her stomach twisted. ¡°They will come for you,¡± Lysara warned. ¡°The Dominion. The Warlords. Even those who call themselves allies. They will want your power, your blood. And they will not stop.¡± Usa-hime¡¯s hands shook. She had barely survived one battle. Now the entire galaxy wanted her dead? She looked at Rygar. At Kuro. At Zyra. She saw it in their eyes. They were afraid. Not just for her. Of her. She exhaled. Calm. Steady. Then she lifted her head. ¡°¡­Then I¡¯ll fight.¡± Zyra blinked. ¡°You what?¡± Usa-hime clenched her fists. ¡°I won¡¯t run. I won¡¯t hide.¡± Her silver eyes burned with new resolve. ¡°If they want me?¡± Her voice was steel. ¡°Let them come.¡± The Next Chapter Begins¡­ Lysara studied her. Then, for the first time, she smirked. ¡°¡­You have your mother¡¯s fire,¡± she said. Rygar sighed. ¡°Great. Another reckless warrior.¡± Lysara turned to the council. ¡°Prepare the cadets. The Dominion will not wait.¡± The command center erupted into action. But Usa-hime barely heard them. She stared at the vast holographic map of the galaxy. Helena. The Dominion. The war was coming. And now? She was right in the middle of it. Chapter 4: A New Battlefield A Sky of Colors The moment the transport ship broke through Zeyda¡¯s atmosphere, Usa-hime¡¯s breath caught in her throat. The sky stretched endlessly above them, painted in hues of lavender, rose, and deep cerulean. Wisps of golden clouds drifted lazily, illuminated by a sun that shone softer than Earth¡¯s, casting a warm, pastel glow over the land below. She pressed her hand against the glass window, eyes wide. Zeyda wasn¡¯t just beautiful. It was unreal. Below, the landscape was a blend of untouched nature and futuristic design. Vast crystal-blue lakes reflected the sky like mirrors, and rolling fields of soft, silver grass stretched toward the horizon. Towering alien trees, their leaves a luminous shade of teal, swayed gently in the wind. And in the center of it all¡ª A massive white-and-gold tower. The Celestial Spire. A structure so impossibly tall it seemed to pierce the clouds themselves. Its pristine, reflective surface gleamed under the pastel sun, surrounded by smaller training domes and sleek landing platforms. It looked like something straight out of a legend. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Usa-hime murmured. Beside her, Kuro whistled. ¡°Fancy place. Makes the Academy look like a dumpster.¡± Zyra, standing nearby with her arms crossed, smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t get too comfortable. A pretty training ground doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯ll go easy on us.¡± The intercom crackled. ¡°All cadets, prepare for descent. Welcome to Planet Zeyda.¡± As the ship descended, Usa-hime felt a weight settle in her chest. This wasn¡¯t just about training. This was about becoming stronger. Because if she didn¡¯t? She wouldn¡¯t survive the war that was coming. Arrival at the Celestial Spire The landing was smooth, the transport ship touching down on one of the glowing white platforms that extended from the Spire¡¯s base. The moment the doors hissed open, a rush of clean, crisp air filled the cabin. It smelled different¡ªfresher than Earth¡¯s, tinged with something electric, like a storm waiting to break. Usa-hime stepped out with the other cadets. Up close, the Celestial Spire was even more intimidating. The tower¡¯s smooth, curved design reflected the sky perfectly, and intricate golden etchings ran up its length, pulsating faintly with energy. It felt alive. Waiting. Watching. ¡°Alright, recruits, eyes forward!¡± A commanding voice snapped them out of their awe. At the center of the platform stood a tall man in a sleek white coat, his sharp, mechanical-looking visor glowing blue over his left eye. His uniform bore three silver insignias¡ªmarking him as a high-ranking instructor. ¡°I am Instructor Callen, weapons master and chief trainer of the Hunter¡¯s Arsenal Division.¡± He swept his gaze over the group, analyzing each cadet. ¡°You are here because you survived the first phase of training. That was the easy part.¡± His expression turned icy. ¡°Now? We find out if you¡¯re actually worth training.¡± A few cadets shifted nervously. Zyra, of course, looked completely unfazed. Usa-hime, on the other hand, felt her hands clench into fists. This is it. No more hesitation. She would prove herself here. No Time to Rest The cadets were led into the Spire, the halls polished and pristine, lined with elegant golden patterns that pulsed faintly. The air was cool and silent¡ªa stark contrast to the Academy¡¯s war-like atmosphere. Everything about Zeyda felt¡­ otherworldly. Callen led them through a set of high-tech doors into a massive, circular training chamber. It was unlike any room Usa-hime had ever seen. The walls were lined with rows of holographic weapons, each glowing softly. The ceiling arched high above, embedded with shimmering lights that mimicked the sky outside. And in the center¡ª A row of floating metal spheres hovered above a platform. ¡°This,¡± Callen said, gesturing to the room, ¡°is the Hunter¡¯s Armory. Your new home for the next several weeks.¡± He motioned toward the weapons lining the walls. ¡°The tools of a Hunter are not just weapons. They are extensions of your skill, and they will determine if you live or die in the field.¡± He turned, his visor scanning them. ¡°And today, we start with the basics.¡± A panel slid open in the floor, revealing a long rack of sleek, silver pistols. ¡°The Hunter¡¯s Laser Pistol. Your primary sidearm.¡± Callen picked one up and spun it effortlessly in his hand. ¡°Two settings. Single-shot precision mode.¡± He aimed at a target across the room¡ªfired. A single, concentrated laser shot pierced through the center of the holographic dummy¡¯s chest. ¡°Or, for those of you who lack patience¡ªspray mode.¡± He flipped a switch, and the pistol hummed. This time, when he fired¡ªa rapid stream of laser bolts rained down on the targets, shredding them apart. Zyra smirked. ¡°Now that¡¯s my kind of weapon.¡± Callen ignored her. ¡°Next¡ª¡± He gestured to the floating metal spheres. ¡°The Capturing Spheres. One of the most important tools in a Hunter¡¯s arsenal.¡± He grabbed one, tossing it effortlessly in the air. ¡°The purpose of a Hunter is not always to kill. Sometimes, we need our targets alive. That¡¯s where these come in.¡± He snapped his fingers. A training drone materialized¡ªa humanoid hologram representing a criminal fugitive. Callen threw the sphere. The moment it made contact¡ªit expanded, releasing a burst of energy. The holographic fugitive froze mid-motion, instantly miniaturized and cryo-frozen inside the glowing sphere. Then, as if nothing had happened, the sphere hovered gently back into Callen¡¯s hand. ¡°In one move,¡± he said, twirling the sphere, ¡°your target is captured, immobilized, and secured for transport.¡± A few cadets murmured in fascination. Even Usa-hime felt impressed. But Callen wasn¡¯t done. ¡°Of course,¡± he said smoothly, ¡°you¡¯re all rookies. And rookies tend to fail.¡± He tossed a sphere to Usa-hime. ¡°Let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got, Inoue.¡± Every cadet turned to her. Her stomach twisted. Oh, great. Proving Herself Usa-hime gritted her teeth and stepped forward, feeling the weight of the Capturing Sphere in her hand. The entire training room watched. A new target materialized¡ªa simulated alien fugitive, its holographic eyes glowing. Alright. Just throw the sphere. Easy. She launched it forward. It bounced off the target¡¯s head and rolled away uselessly. Silence. Then¡ªsnickers. Callen sighed. ¡°Pathetic.¡± Usa-hime¡¯s face burned. Her first real test, and she had humiliated herself. But as she clenched her fists¡ª She knew one thing. She would not fail again. A Rocky Start Usa-hime¡¯s failed attempt with the Capturing Sphere hung in the air like a bad joke. The other cadets snickered as the metal sphere rolled uselessly across the floor. Callen pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°You do realize you¡¯re supposed to actually hit the target, right?¡± Usa-hime¡¯s face burned. She clenched her fists, resisting the urge to kick something. Zyra chuckled from the sidelines. ¡°Wow, Rabbit Princess. You¡¯re deadly in a fight, but give you a ball and suddenly you forget how to use your hands?¡± More laughter. Usa-hime scowled. ¡°Shut up, Zyra.¡± ¡°Make me,¡± Zyra shot back with a smirk. ¡°Enough,¡± Callen snapped. ¡°Inoue, pick up the sphere and try again. Properly, this time.¡± Usa-hime exhaled sharply and jogged over to retrieve the sphere. This time, she focused. The target drone stood motionless, waiting. She gripped the sphere tightly. I can do this. She pulled her arm back¡ª And threw. The sphere soared forward¡­ ¡ªand completely missed again. It bounced off the floor and landed right at Callen¡¯s feet. Silence. Callen sighed heavily. ¡°This is going to be a long day.¡± Learning the Basics The rest of the morning was painful. The instructors drilled the cadets relentlessly, hammering the fundamentals of Hunter weaponry into their heads. Some, like Zyra, took to it naturally. Her precision with the laser pistol was ridiculous¡ªhitting every single target without breaking a sweat. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Usa-hime? Not so much. Her raw speed and strength were incredible, but aiming required control¡ªsomething she had never trained in. Her single-shot mode? Inaccurate. Her spray mode? A disaster. And the Capturing Sphere? A complete mess. Again and again, she threw, and again and again, she failed. The sphere either bounced off harmlessly, froze the wrong target, or, at one point, somehow hit herself. Even Kuro, who was normally relaxed, shook their head. ¡°You¡¯ve got all that raw power, but no finesse,¡± they mused. Usa-hime groaned, rubbing her face. ¡°I know. I know.¡± Nearby, Callen barked orders. ¡°A Hunter¡¯s tools are an extension of their body. If you can¡¯t use them, you¡¯re a liability.¡± Usa-hime gritted her teeth. She wasn¡¯t a liability. She just needed to figure this out. Fast. The Unexpected Challenge After hours of drills, Callen finally called for a break. Most cadets collapsed on the benches, gulping down water. But Usa-hime? She stayed standing, gripping the Capturing Sphere. She stared at it. Studied it. There had to be a trick to it. She had felt something earlier¡ªback in the battle with the general. Something deep inside her. Something powerful. Could she tap into that again? ¡°Still struggling?¡± Usa-hime glanced up to see Zyra watching her, arms crossed. Usa-hime scowled. ¡°Go away.¡± Zyra smirked. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? All that talk about fighting, and now you¡¯re losing to a metal ball?¡± Usa-hime bristled. ¡°You want to say that again?¡± Zyra¡¯s smirk widened. ¡°Why don¡¯t you prove me wrong?¡± She picked up a Capturing Sphere of her own and twirled it effortlessly in her palm. ¡°Let¡¯s have a little competition,¡± Zyra suggested. ¡°You and me. First to capture three targets wins.¡± Kuro, who had been lounging nearby, perked up. ¡°Oh, this I gotta see.¡± Other cadets overheard and gathered around. A challenge. A chance to shut Zyra up. Usa-hime grinned. ¡°You¡¯re on.¡± The Showdown Callen, overhearing the challenge, raised an eyebrow. ¡°A live test already? Fine. Let¡¯s see if either of you are worth my time.¡± He gestured to the combat arena, where three holographic targets materialized. ¡°Three fugitives, simulating real movement and evasion tactics,¡± Callen explained. ¡°You must capture them before they escape. No direct combat. Just skill.¡± He folded his arms. ¡°Let¡¯s see if either of you are Hunters¡­ or just brats swinging their fists.¡± The room fell silent. A countdown flashed on the screen. 3¡­ 2¡­ 1¡­ ¡°GO!¡± Usa-hime vs. Zyra Zyra moved instantly. With deadly precision, she locked onto a target, calculated its movement, and hurled her Capturing Sphere. The sphere glowed on impact¡ªthe fugitive froze mid-step, shrinking and locking into the metal sphere. One down. Usa-hime gritted her teeth. No way I¡¯m losing this. She turned, tracking a fast-moving target that was darting through the arena. She threw her sphere. It missed. Badly. The sphere bounced off a pillar and rolled away uselessly. Laughter erupted from the cadets. Zyra smirked. ¡°You trying to hit the floor instead?¡± Usa-hime ignored her. She closed her eyes, focusing. She had felt something before¡ªthat strange pull in her body. That instinct. That Celestial blood. She took a breath¡ªand moved. Her senses sharpened. The target zigzagged, trying to avoid capture. But now? She could see it. She predicted its next step. And before it could escape¡ª She jumped. High. Too high. Gasps rang out as Usa-hime flipped mid-air, twisting her body into a perfect throwing position. Her arm snapped forward. The sphere soared. It struck the target dead center. FLASH! The fugitive froze instantly, locked inside the sphere. The cadets went silent. Then¡ª ¡°WHAT?!¡± Zyra yelled. Kuro burst out laughing. ¡°Now that was insane.¡± Usa-hime landed, smirking. ¡°Looks like I finally got the hang of it.¡± Zyra gritted her teeth. The competition was far from over. They had two targets left. And neither of them planned on losing. A Rivalry Ignited Zyra glared at Usa-hime across the training arena, her golden eyes flickering with frustration. The watching cadets were buzzing with excitement. No one had expected Usa-hime¡ªwho had been struggling just minutes ago¡ªto pull off a mid-air capture like that. Kuro whistled. ¡°Didn¡¯t know you could move like that, Rabbit Princess.¡± Usa-hime rolled her shoulders, a cocky smirk playing on her lips. ¡°Guess I¡¯m full of surprises.¡± Zyra scoffed. ¡°Don¡¯t get too confident. We¡¯re still tied, and there¡¯s two fugitives left.¡± Callen¡¯s voice echoed across the room. ¡°Less talking, more hunting. Resume the test!¡± A loud alarm blared¡ªthe remaining fugitives activated. And just like that¡ªthey were off. The Chase Begins The two holographic fugitives took off in opposite directions. Zyra and Usa-hime split up without a word. Usa-hime locked onto her target¡ªa fast, agile humanoid weaving through the arena¡¯s urban simulation, leaping between holographic buildings and skidding around corners. It was smart. Predictable moves wouldn¡¯t work. She needed to be faster. Usa-hime took off, her enhanced agility kicking in. She vaulted over obstacles, scaled a wall in two quick steps, and jumped across rooftops with unnatural ease. The fugitive glanced back and stumbled. It knew. She wasn¡¯t normal. She was gaining. Precision vs. Instinct Zyra, on the other side of the arena, was all precision. She didn¡¯t need enhanced speed¡ªshe relied on calculated angles and expert aim. Her fugitive darted through a tight alleyway, trying to lose her. Zyra anticipated the move. She took a deep breath. Calculated the exact trajectory. And threw. The Capturing Sphere whizzed through the air¡ªbounced off a wall¡ªricocheted downward¡ª FLASH! The fugitive froze mid-stride, trapped. Zyra grinned. ¡°Too easy.¡± She turned¡ªonly to see Usa-hime still chasing hers. ¡°Tch. Still too slow, Rabbit Princess.¡± Pushing Beyond Limits Usa-hime¡¯s target knew it couldn¡¯t outrun her. So it changed tactics. It jumped off a ledge, diving toward the lower level of the arena, where a simulated moving train ran along a track. If it landed¡ªit would escape. Usa-hime¡¯s instincts screamed¡ªMove! She ran for the edge. Zyra¡¯s voice rang out behind her. ¡°You can¡¯t make that jump, idiot!¡± She jumped anyway. Gasps echoed through the arena. Usa-hime soared through the air, twisting mid-flight. The fugitive was just below her now¡ªseconds from landing on the train. She whipped her arm forward. The Capturing Sphere spun from her fingertips, streaking downward. A perfect throw. FLASH! The fugitive froze mid-air. The sphere hovered gently, sealed. And Usa-hime? She landed hard on the train roof, rolling before springing back to her feet. The watching cadets erupted. Even Callen looked mildly impressed. Kuro grinned. ¡°Alright, that was sick.¡± Usa-hime picked up the sphere, smirking. She turned to Zyra, holding it up. ¡°Tied again.¡± Zyra gritted her teeth. ¡°Damn it.¡± The Final Target Callen¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°Final fugitive has entered evasion mode. This will test your real-world tracking skills. First to capture it wins.¡± The last fugitive activated. But this one was different. It didn¡¯t just run. It vanished. Usa-hime blinked. ¡°Wait¡ªwhere did it¡ª?¡± Zyra¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°A cloaking fugitive? Seriously?¡± Callen smirked. ¡°A good Hunter must be ready for anything.¡± The game had changed. This wasn¡¯t about speed. This was about strategy. Hunting the Hunter The arena fell silent. Both Usa-hime and Zyra scanned the environment, listening. Then¡ªmovement. A faint ripple in the air, just beyond the simulation¡¯s alleyways. Usa-hime¡¯s eyes sharpened. She dashed forward, moving quietly. Across the arena, Zyra did the same. Both of them were hunting now. The Final Strike Usa-hime caught the slightest flicker of movement near a reflective window. A mistake. The fugitive was there. It saw her. It bolted. Usa-hime lunged¡ª Zyra, at the same time, fired a single laser shot. The fugitive staggered from the shot¡ª And Usa-hime took the opening. She threw the Capturing Sphere. Direct hit. FLASH! The fugitive froze instantly. The crowd held its breath. Then¡ª ¡°Capture confirmed. Test complete.¡± The Aftermath Usa-hime stood over the glowing sphere, breathing heavily. The realization hit her. She had won. Zyra stormed up, scowling. ¡°You stole my capture,¡± she muttered. Usa-hime grinned. ¡°You slowed it down. I finished it.¡± Zyra scoffed. But after a moment, she smirked. ¡°Guess you¡¯re not completely useless.¡± Callen stepped forward. His visor flickered as he analyzed the results. ¡°¡­Impressive,¡± he admitted. Usa-hime perked up. ¡°Wait¡ªare you actually complimenting me?¡± Callen¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky. You barely passed.¡± Her shoulders sagged. ¡°Figures.¡± ¡°But,¡± he added, ¡°there¡¯s potential.¡± Zyra folded her arms. ¡°So what now?¡± Callen¡¯s smirk returned. ¡°Now? We test you in the real world.¡± The cadets stiffened. Kuro raised an eyebrow. ¡°Real world?¡± Callen gestured toward the Spire¡¯s main entrance, where a sleek hunter dropship had just landed. ¡°Next lesson,¡± he said. ¡°A real bounty mission.¡± A Real Mission The atmosphere in the training hall shifted. Up until now, everything had been controlled. Simulated. A test to see if they could handle real weapons. But now? Callen¡¯s words hit like a lightning strike. ¡°Next lesson: a real bounty mission.¡± Usa-hime felt her pulse quickening. ¡°Wait,¡± Kuro said, ears twitching. ¡°You mean we¡¯re going out there? For real?¡± Callen smirked. ¡°What, scared?¡± Kuro scoffed. ¡°Excited, actually.¡± Zyra cracked her knuckles. ¡°Finally. A chance to do something that actually matters.¡± Usa-hime swallowed. She wasn¡¯t afraid. But the thought of stepping outside the Spire, into an actual mission¡ªwith real enemies¡ª It made her fingers twitch. No more controlled arenas. No more second chances. This time, if they failed, they died. Briefing Room: A Dangerous Target The cadets were led into a dimly lit war room, where a large holographic projection flickered in the center. The image? A wanted poster. A tall, reptilian figure with gleaming red cybernetic eyes and a jagged scar across his snout. His armor was mismatched¡ªclearly stolen from different battles. Target: Kren Zathor Bounty: 750,000 credits Status: Highly dangerous Last Seen: Zeyda¡¯s Outer Wastelands The room fell silent. Usa-hime stared at the glowing image. This wasn¡¯t a training drone. This was a real criminal. Someone who had killed Hunters before. Callen crossed his arms. ¡°Kren Zathor¡ªex-military, now turned bounty-runner and smuggler of illegal tech. He¡¯s been hiding out in Zeyda¡¯s wastelands, avoiding our scanners. Recently, he¡¯s been linked to Dominion supply routes.¡± That got Usa-hime¡¯s attention. ¡°Dominion¡­?¡± Zyra scowled. ¡°So he¡¯s working with the people who attacked the Academy?¡± ¡°Possibly,¡± Callen said. ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re sending a team to capture him alive.¡± The mission details flashed on-screen. Mission Parameters: ?Locate and subdue Kren Zathor. ?Use Capturing Spheres¡ªkill only if necessary. ?Confirm any links to the Dominion. Callen turned, his glowing visor flickering as he scanned them. ¡°You five are going in.¡± Usa-hime stiffened. ¡°¡­Five?¡± A door hissed open behind them. And someone stepped inside. The New Recruits A tall figure entered the room, their cloak shifting as they walked. They were slim but strong, their presence exuding confidence. Their face was hidden under a metallic half-mask, leaving only their piercing emerald eyes visible. The air felt different around them. Controlled. Dangerous. Callen gestured. ¡°Meet your fourth team member¡ªRaze.¡± Usa-hime¡¯s instincts flared. Something about them felt¡­ off. Zyra raised an eyebrow. ¡°Never seen you around before.¡± Raze tilted their head. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have.¡± Their voice was calm, steady. Hard to read. Kuro leaned against the table. ¡°So what¡¯s your deal? Another recruit?¡± Callen shook his head. ¡°Raze isn¡¯t a cadet. They¡¯re a hunter-in-training, directly under Lysara.¡± That got everyone¡¯s attention. Lysara¡ªthe Union Commander. Zyra scowled. ¡°So why are they on our mission?¡± Raze turned their gaze to Usa-hime. ¡°I volunteered.¡± The room tensed. Usa-hime¡¯s jaw clenched. Something about this person¡­ Felt like a test. Before she could process it, another voice cut in. ¡°Ugh, can we hurry this up? I¡¯ve got leaderboards to climb.¡± A young figure sat slouched on a supply crate, barely paying attention. Their holo-visor glasses flickered, cycling through multiple game streams, chat windows, and bounty alerts. They didn¡¯t even look up. Callen sighed. ¡°And your final team member¡ªCipher. Your tech specialist.¡± Usa-hime raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are they even listening?¡± Cipher waved dismissively. ¡°You shoot things. I shut things down. It¡¯s fine.¡± Zyra crossed her arms. ¡°This is our hacker?¡± ¡°More like the hacker,¡± Kuro mused. ¡°They broke into the Union¡¯s secure network last year just to cheat at a game.¡± Cipher grinned. ¡°And I¡¯d do it again.¡± Usa-hime sighed. This was going to be a disaster. The Uniforms of a Hunter Before heading to the dropship, the team was led to the armory. Inside, rows of sleek, high-tech uniforms lined the walls. Each was form-fitting with minor armor plating placed strategically over vital areas. Callen gestured to them. ¡°Hunter Combat Suits. These aren¡¯t just for show.¡± He tapped a control panel, and a holographic display appeared, showcasing the suit¡¯s enhancements. Features: ?Adaptive Combat Response ¨C Stimulates muscle reaction time, making it easier to dodge and counter. ?Armor-Plated Sections ¨C Protects key points while keeping the wearer mobile. ?Environmental Adaptation¨C Adjusts temperature based on surroundings. ¡°Basically,¡± Callen continued, ¡°this suit learns how you fight and adjusts itself. The better you get, the better it gets.¡± Usa-hime ran a hand over the fabric. It was smooth yet firm. Like wearing liquid armor. Kuro whistled. ¡°Looks sleek.¡± Cipher groaned. ¡°Ugh, do I really have to wear this? It¡¯s so restrictive.¡± Zyra smirked. ¡°You just don¡¯t want to put down your screen long enough to put it on.¡± Cipher grumbled. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong.¡± As Usa-hime slid into the uniform, she felt a shift. The material adjusted instantly, conforming to her form. She felt lighter. Faster. The moment she took a step, the suit reacted, amplifying her movements. Her fists clenched. She felt ready. Callen observed them for a moment before nodding. ¡°Alright. You¡¯ve got your gear. Now let¡¯s see if you can actually use it.¡± Next Stop: The Wastelands Outside the Celestial Spire, the Hunter dropship rumbled to life. Engines flared, dust swirling beneath it. Inside, the cadets secured their weapons¡ªlaser pistols, capturing spheres, and tracking gear. Usa-hime took a deep breath. This was real. Their first mission. Zyra glanced over. ¡°You ready, Rabbit Princess?¡± Usa-hime met her gaze. ¡°For this? Always.¡± The doors slammed shut. The ship lifted off. And their journey into the unknown had begun. Chapter 5: Into the Wastelands Touchdown in Hostile Territory The Descent The Hunter dropship roared through Zeyda¡¯s upper atmosphere, its sleek black hull cutting through pastel skies as it sped toward the outer wastelands. Below, the planet¡¯s stunning colors faded into something more hostile. The landscape stretched for miles in every direction¡ªcracked earth, jagged cliffs, and shimmering heat mirages. Ancient ruins jutted from the sand, remnants of a civilization long gone. It was a place where only the desperate or the dangerous survived. And right now? They were heading straight into it. Usa-hime sat near the window, staring at the endless expanse of nothing. This wasn¡¯t like the Academy. This wasn¡¯t a simulation. For the first time, she would be hunting something real. The thought sent a shiver through her. She flexed her fingers, feeling the tight grip of her combat gloves. ¡°I can do this.¡± Across from her, Zyra was checking her pistol, calm and focused. Kuro stretched lazily, tail flicking. ¡°So, any bets on how many shots before this bounty turns into a chase?¡± Cipher, slouched against the bulkhead, didn¡¯t even look up from their holo-screen. ¡°Five minutes in, someone¡¯s gonna trip an alarm. Then boom, chaos.¡± Zyra scoffed. ¡°You sound way too excited about that.¡± ¡°I just like being right,¡± Cipher muttered, swiping through their screens. Usa-hime glanced at Raze, who sat in the farthest corner, silent as ever. She still couldn¡¯t get a read on them. Who were they, really? And why had they volunteered for this? A voice crackled through the intercom. ¡°Approaching drop point. Get ready.¡± The ship lurched slightly as the pilot adjusted course. Callen¡¯s voice followed. ¡°Remember¡ªthis is a capture mission. We take Zathor alive. Don¡¯t get sloppy.¡± Zyra smirked. ¡°Yeah, yeah. Let¡¯s just get this done.¡± The dropship¡¯s side doors slid open, revealing the burning horizon. Wind howled through the cabin, carrying the scent of dust and rusted metal. And below them? A derelict outpost, half-buried in the sands. The last known location of Kren Zathor. The Landing The ship touched down with a metallic thud. Heat waves rippled across the desert floor as the team stepped out, their boots sinking into the dusty terrain. The outpost stood in eerie silence¡ªhalf-collapsed buildings, scattered debris, old energy burns scorched into the walls. Zyra adjusted her visor. ¡°Place looks dead.¡± Kuro¡¯s ears twitched. ¡°Doesn¡¯t feel dead.¡± Usa-hime¡¯s grip tightened on her pistol. Something was wrong. Callen¡¯s voice came through their comms. ¡°Scanners are picking up movement, but¡­ no life signs.¡± Cipher, still glued to their screen, frowned. ¡°That¡¯s not normal.¡± They tapped a few commands, sending out a data pulse to scan for signals. After a few seconds¡ª The screen glitched. Cipher¡¯s face twisted into a frown. ¡°Uh¡­ that¡¯s weird. I just got locked out.¡± Zyra narrowed her eyes. ¡°Locked out? By who?¡± Cipher muttered, fingers moving faster. ¡°Dunno. But whatever¡¯s in there? It doesn¡¯t want us snooping.¡± Usa-hime exchanged a glance with Kuro. That was all they needed to hear. Something¡ªor someone¡ªwas waiting for them. Moving In They advanced slowly, weapons drawn. The outpost loomed ahead, its entrance partially caved in. Zyra took point, scanning the doorframe for traps. ¡°Clear,¡± she muttered. Usa-hime and Kuro followed, stepping into the dark interior. Inside, the air was thick with dust. The walls were lined with rusted machinery, old control panels flickering weakly. It smelled like burnt circuits and decay. Cipher tapped on their wrist console, sending out a new scan. ¡°Power grid¡¯s still running¡­ barely,¡± they muttered. ¡°Whoever was here didn¡¯t leave too long ago.¡± Usa-hime spotted bullet casings on the floor. Her stomach tightened. This place had seen a fight. Raze, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke. ¡°This isn¡¯t an abandoned hideout.¡± Everyone turned to them. Zyra raised an eyebrow. ¡°Then what is it?¡± Raze¡¯s emerald eyes flickered. ¡°A trap.¡± And the moment they said it¡ª The walls came alive. The Ambush A sharp whirring noise filled the air. The outpost¡¯s defense systems activated. Turrets descended from the ceiling, energy cannons spinning online. Hidden drones burst from the shadows, blades unfolding. A deep metallic voice echoed through the speakers. ¡°Welcome, Hunters. I was expecting you.¡± Then¡ª The attack began. PThe Outpost Awakens ¡°Welcome, Hunters. I was expecting you.¡± The moment the voice echoed through the outpost, the walls came alive. Turrets descended from the ceiling, spinning into position with a shrill metallic whine. Holographic laser sights snapped onto them from every direction. Then¡ª The drones emerged. From the shadows, from the ceiling vents, from hidden compartments in the floor¡ªdozens of sleek, spider-like automatons unfolded, their bladed legs clicking against the metal as they surrounded the team. Their red eyes flashed. And they attacked. Survive or Die ¡°MOVE!¡± Zyra was the first to react, diving for cover just as a barrage of plasma bolts rained down. Usa-hime threw herself behind a rusted crate, barely dodging a shot that melted a hole through the floor where she had stood a second ago. Kuro vanished into the shadows, moving like a ghost. Raze flipped backward, narrowly avoiding a drone¡¯s bladed strike before kicking it mid-air, sending it smashing into a wall. Cipher? They just screamed. ¡°WHAT THE HELL?! I THOUGHT THIS WAS A SIMPLE BOUNTY JOB!¡± ¡°Less screaming, more hacking!¡± Zyra snapped, firing precision shots into the drones¡¯ glowing cores. Cipher fumbled with their wrist console, ducking as a turret blasted a hole in the wall behind them. ¡°Okay, okay! Shutting down the system¡ªjust give me a damn second!¡± ¡°YOU HAVE NO SECONDS!¡± Usa-hime shouted, kicking a drone away as its claw nearly slashed her leg. She raised her pistol¡ªswitched to spray mode¡ª And fired. Laser rounds ripped through the drones, but they kept coming. Too many. Too fast. Then¡ª A turret locked onto her. She saw the blast coming. Too late. Then¡ª A blur. Raze yanked her down just in time. The plasma shot grazed their shoulder instead. Raze didn¡¯t even flinch. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Stay sharp,¡± they murmured, before disappearing into the chaos. Cipher¡¯s Desperate Play Cipher¡¯s hands flew across their console. ¡°Alright, I got two choices!¡± they shouted over the gunfire. ¡°One¡ªI disable the security grid, but it takes three minutes.¡± ¡°Two¡ªI overload the power core and blow this place sky-high.¡± Kuro flipped over a drone, slashing its wiring with their claws. ¡°Are those really the only two options?!¡± Cipher ducked as a turret narrowly missed their head. ¡°Option three is we die, so pick quick!¡± Usa-hime gritted her teeth. Both choices were bad. Three minutes under this level of fire? They wouldn¡¯t last. But blowing the place up? They¡¯d lose Zathor. ¡°Shut down the grid!¡± Usa-hime ordered. ¡°We¡¯re not leaving without him!¡± Cipher cursed. ¡°Fine! But if I die, I¡¯m haunting you!¡± They slammed a command into their wrist console. A progress bar appeared. [SYSTEM OVERRIDE: 2:59] [2:58] [2:57] Usa-hime¡¯s stomach twisted. They just had to survive. For three more minutes. Holding the Line ¡°Keep them off Cipher!¡± Usa-hime shouted, twisting away from a drone¡¯s attack. Zyra was already ahead of her¡ªspinning mid-air, landing precise headshots on advancing machines. Kuro moved like a shadow, ripping through enemies with quick, precise strikes. Raze was a blur, disarming a turret, flipping off the wall, then kicking a drone straight into another. But even with all their skill¡ª The numbers were overwhelming. A drone leapt onto Usa-hime¡¯s back. She barely managed to slam it into the ground. Another clawed at her side, cutting deep. Pain. Sharp, hot. She spun, kicking it so hard it crumpled on impact. But then¡ª A turret locked onto Zyra. Usa-hime¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Zyra, MOVE!¡± Too late. The shot hit. Zyra grunted, collapsing onto one knee. Smoke rose from her shoulder plate, armor scorched. Usa-hime sprinted toward her, gunning down anything in her way. ¡°You good?!¡± Zyra winced. ¡°Been worse. Been better.¡± Kuro landed next to them. ¡°We¡¯re running out of time!¡± [SYSTEM OVERRIDE: 1:05] One minute left. One more minute of hell. Then¡ª Something big dropped from the ceiling. The ground shook. Usa-hime¡¯s breath hitched. A war drone. The Final Minute It stood at twice their size. Heavily armored, multiple plasma cannons loaded on its arms. Its glowing red eye scanned them. Cipher¡¯s panicked voice came through the comms. ¡°OH GREAT. A TITAN-CLASS SECURITY BOT.¡± ¡°Can you shut it down?!¡± Usa-hime shouted. ¡°NO, I¡¯M KINDA BUSY!¡± The war drone¡¯s cannons hummed. A deep, artificial voice boomed: ¡°THREAT LEVEL: CRITICAL. ENGAGING EXTERMINATION PROTOCOL.¡± Zyra groaned. ¡°Oh, for¡ª¡± The first shot fired. The team scattered. A shockwave ripped through the outpost, sending metal debris flying. Usa-hime rolled, barely dodging. Kuro and Zyra dove behind cover. Raze? They charged straight at it. ¡°What the hell are they doing?!¡± Usa-hime shouted. Raze jumped onto the war drone, flipping over its back, dodging its massive arms. They moved with surgical precision, slicing wires, exposing weak points. The drone staggered. Then¡ª Raze thrust a capturing sphere into the exposed core. The sphere flashed. And the war drone froze. For a moment, everything was silent. Then¡ª ¡°SECURITY OVERRIDE COMPLETE.¡± Cipher grinned. ¡°We¡¯re in.¡± The turrets shut down. The drones collapsed. The battle was over. And standing in the doorway¡ª Kren Zathor. His cybernetic eyes gleamed as he clapped slowly. ¡°Well, well,¡± he rumbled. ¡°That was fun to watch.¡± Then¡ªhe grinned. ¡°But you¡¯re too late.¡± The ground rumbled. And behind him¡ª Dominion warships descended from the sky. The Smuggler¡¯s Gambit The ground trembled beneath them. The sound of engines roaring filled the air as Dominion warships descended from the sky, their sleek black hulls gleaming in the burning light of Zeyda¡¯s twin suns. More were coming. And Kren Zathor knew it. The reptilian smuggler stood in the shattered doorway of the outpost, his jagged cybernetic eyes scanning the team with amusement. He was massive¡ªeasily over seven feet tall, his muscular frame wrapped in stitched-together armor that looked like it had been stolen from a dozen different battlefields. A glowing red insignia flickered on his metal-plated shoulder. Not the Hunter¡¯s Union. Not just a rogue. But Dominion-marked. ¡°That was fun to watch,¡± Zathor rumbled, his voice deep, slow¡ªmocking. He gestured toward the ruined war drone. ¡°But if that¡¯s the best the Union¡¯s got, you kids are in for a rough night.¡± Usa-hime raised her pistol. ¡°We¡¯re not here to chat, Zathor. You¡¯re coming with us.¡± Zathor chuckled. ¡°Am I? Because from where I¡¯m standing¡ª¡± He took a step forward, his heavy boots crunching over broken metal. ¡°¡ªI think you¡¯re all about to have a really bad day.¡± Then he lifted his arm. A detonator was clutched in his cybernetic fingers. And before anyone could react¡ª He pressed it. The Outpost Collapses BOOM! A chain of explosions ripped through the walls, fire and debris erupting outward. The ground shook violently as the entire outpost began to collapse. Zyra cursed. ¡°MOVE!¡± Metal groaned and snapped as the ceiling caved in. Usa-hime leapt back, barely dodging a falling support beam. Smoke and flames filled the air, the heat blistering against her skin. Through the chaos¡ª She saw Zathor sprinting into the ruins. Kuro vaulted over debris. ¡°He¡¯s running!¡± ¡°Cipher, track him!¡± Usa-hime shouted, pushing through the rubble. Cipher coughed, their visor flickering. ¡°I¡¯m TRYING, but the blast fried my signals!¡± ¡°Then move!¡± Zyra grabbed Cipher¡¯s hood and yanked them forward. They bolted after Zathor. A Desperate Chase The wastelands stretched ahead¡ªopen terrain, scattered with jagged cliffs and dead ruins. Zathor was fast. Too fast for someone his size. His cybernetic legs kicked up dust as he leapt over broken pathways, his heavy boots barely slowing him down. Usa-hime gritted her teeth. If he reached the Dominion¡¯s ships, it was over. She pushed forward, sprinting harder, her enhanced muscles burning. Zyra and Kuro kept pace, their footfalls pounding against the rocky terrain. Raze was somewhere ahead, moving like a ghost in the smoke. Cipher, panting, struggled behind. ¡°This¡ªsucks¡ªso much,¡± they wheezed. ¡°Run faster!¡± Zyra barked. ¡°How about¡ªyou¡ªcarry me¡ªsince you¡¯re so bossy?¡± Cipher shot back. Zyra rolled her eyes. ¡°Not happening.¡± Ahead¡ª Zathor reached an old canyon ridge and vaulted over it, disappearing from sight. Usa-hime skidded to a stop. A long, steep drop. A ravine. Kuro growled. ¡°Damn it¡ªhe¡¯s getting away!¡± Then¡ª A mechanical howl echoed through the canyon. And a massive beast-shaped war machine rose from the depths. Zathor¡¯s Escape Plan The machine was terrifying. A titan-class Dominion skiff, modified with four heavy cannon turrets and armored plating shaped like a predatory beast. Zathor landed on its back, gripping onto a mounted railgun. ¡°Better luck next time, Union scum!¡± he roared. The skiff¡¯s engines flared¡ª And it blasted forward, speeding across the ravine toward the incoming Dominion warships. Usa-hime¡¯s heart pounded. They were losing him. They had seconds to act. She looked at Zyra. Zyra looked back. No words. Just a nod. Then they jumped. Boarding the War Skiff Zathor¡¯s eyes widened. He hadn¡¯t expected them to be crazy enough to try this. Usa-hime landed hard on the skiff¡¯s outer hull, rolling to absorb the impact. Zyra caught a side rail, pulling herself up. Kuro landed like a shadow, claws scraping against the metal. Raze had already been waiting. Cipher? ¡­Cipher didn¡¯t jump. ¡°Yeah, no. Y¡¯all are insane,¡± they muttered, still at the cliff¡¯s edge. ¡°You BETTER be hacking that ship, Cipher!¡± Usa-hime shouted. Cipher groaned. ¡°Fine, but I want extra snacks when we get back.¡± They pulled up a holo-screen and started hijacking the skiff¡¯s control system. Meanwhile¡ª Zathor grinned. ¡°You idiots just don¡¯t quit.¡± He pulled a massive plasma axe from his back. ¡°Alright then. Let¡¯s finish this.¡± Then¡ªhe charged. The Battle on the War Skiff The Dominion war skiff roared across the ravine, kicking up waves of dust as its engines burned hot. Jagged cliffs blurred past, and in the distance, Dominion warships loomed, closing in on the battle. On the skiff¡¯s armored hull, Usa-hime and her team faced Kren Zathor¡ªand he was ready to kill. The reptilian smuggler swung his plasma axe, the weapon¡¯s red-hot energy blade humming with deadly heat. ¡°You should¡¯ve stayed on the ground, Union rats,¡± he growled. Then¡ªhe attacked. Chaos Unleashed Zathor moved fast. For someone his size, he was absurdly strong, absurdly quick. He came at Usa-hime first¡ªswinging his axe in a brutal downward arc. She barely dodged, rolling aside as the blade sliced into the skiff¡¯s metal hull, sending up a shower of sparks. Zyra fired two rapid shots¡ªbut Zathor¡¯s cybernetic arm snapped up, deflecting them with a flick of his wrist. Kuro tried to slash his exposed side¡ªbut Zathor grabbed them mid-strike and threw them across the deck. Kuro hit the railing hard. ¡°Okay¡ªow,¡± they muttered. Raze appeared behind Zathor, a blade flashing¡ª But Zathor anticipated it. He twisted, grabbing Raze by the throat before slamming them into the deck. The skiff lurched violently, nearly tossing everyone off balance. ¡°Cipher!¡± Usa-hime yelled into her comms. ¡°Where¡¯s my hack?!¡± ¡°DOING IT!¡± Cipher snapped back. ¡°Kinda hard when I¡¯m NOT ON THE DAMN SHIP!¡± ¡°THEN GET ON THE DAMN SHIP!¡± Zyra shouted. Cipher muttered something about ¡°stupid people making stupid choices¡± but kept working. Usa-hime¡¯s heart pounded. If they didn¡¯t take Zathor down fast, they¡¯d all be dead before Cipher even got through the firewall. Usa-hime vs. Zathor Zathor turned his gaze to Usa-hime. ¡°You¡¯re the one they really want, aren¡¯t you?¡± he mused. His cybernetic eyes scanned her, analyzing. ¡°That symbol on your forehead¡­ That energy you gave off back at the outpost¡­¡± Usa-hime gritted her teeth. ¡°Shut up and fight.¡± She charged. Zathor swung his axe again¡ªbut this time, Usa-hime was ready. She ducked low, feeling the heat of the blade as it sliced past her. Then¡ªshe kicked. Full force. Her foot slammed into Zathor¡¯s ribs¡ªthe impact sent a shockwave through the skiff. Zathor staggered back, coughing. But he didn¡¯t fall. Instead¡ªhe grinned. ¡°Not bad,¡± he said, rolling his shoulders. ¡°But I¡¯ve fought Celestials before.¡± Usa-hime froze. ¡°What did he just say?¡± Then¡ªZathor¡¯s cybernetic arm transformed. A massive energy cannon unfolded from his forearm, glowing with unstable red plasma. And he fired. Dodging Death The blast was enormous. The force of it ripped a hole straight through the skiff¡¯s hull, nearly blasting Usa-hime into the open sky. She barely managed to flip backward, her feet sliding against the unstable metal. Zyra cursed, diving behind cover. Kuro and Raze barely avoided getting blown overboard. ¡°WHAT KIND OF AXE TURNS INTO A CANNON?!¡± Usa-hime shouted. Zathor laughed. ¡°The kind that KILLS PEOPLE!¡± He fired again. Usa-hime dodged, barely escaping. But behind her¡ª The blast tore through a stabilizer wing. The skiff lurched violently. They were losing altitude. Cipher¡¯s Last-Minute Save Cipher¡¯s voice blared through the comms. ¡°GUESS WHAT, YOU PSYCHOS! I¡¯M IN!¡± The skiff¡¯s control panel flickered. ¡°RE-ROUTING SYSTEMS NOW!¡± The skiff jerked sharply, the stabilizers flickering back to life. Zathor stumbled, caught off guard. Cipher grinned from their control station. ¡°Skiff¡¯s mine now, ugly! Time for a crash course in LOSING!¡± They jerked the controls hard¡ª And the entire ship pitched to the right. Zathor lost his footing. Usa-hime saw her chance. The Final Blow She rushed forward. Zathor snarled, trying to recover¡ª But Usa-hime was faster. She ducked under his swing¡ª Twisted¡ª And slammed a Capturing Sphere against his chest. FLASH. Zathor¡¯s body froze mid-motion. His form shrunk instantly, locked in stasis. The Sphere hovered for a moment, glowing¡ª Then clicked shut. Usa-hime exhaled sharply. It was over. They had won. A Narrow Escape The skiff rumbled violently. Cipher shouted, ¡°Uh, yeah, so we have a TINY problem¡ªTHIS SHIP IS GOING DOWN!¡± ¡°WHAT?!¡± Usa-hime shouted. Zyra grabbed the Capturing Sphere. ¡°We got what we came for! Time to leave!¡± The Dominion warships were still closing in. They had seconds before they were locked in. ¡°SHIP! NOW!¡± Usa-hime yelled. A blast of wind roared overhead¡ª The Hunter dropship swooped in, its doors sliding open. Callen¡¯s voice rang through their comms. ¡°JUMP, YOU IDIOTS!¡± They didn¡¯t hesitate. One by one, they leapt from the skiff, their boots hitting the open ramp of the Hunter ship. The moment the last of them landed¡ª Cipher hacked the skiff¡¯s thrusters¡ªoverloading the engine. And as the Dominion ships moved in¡ª The war skiff exploded, engulfing everything in a massive fireball. The Hunter ship blasted away, dodging incoming fire as it sped back toward the Celestial Spire. They had done it. They had captured Kren Zathor. But as Usa-hime sat back, heart pounding, a thought nagged at her. ¡°I¡¯ve fought Celestials before.¡± Zathor knew something. And now, she had questions that needed answers. Chapter 6: The Hunter’s Choice Back to the Celestial Spire The Hunter dropship roared through Zeyda¡¯s upper atmosphere, cutting through the pastel-colored sky like a streak of midnight. Inside, the team sat silent. The adrenaline of the battle had finally worn off. The only sound was the dull hum of the ship¡¯s engine and the faint beeping of the Capturing Sphere¡ªstill glowing with the trapped form of Kren Zathor. Usa-hime stared at it. Even in stasis, she could still feel his presence¡ªas if his mere existence carried weight. He had said something back on the skiff. ¡°I¡¯ve fought Celestials before.¡± A cold weight settled in her gut. She wasn¡¯t done with him. Not yet. Arrival & Bounty Processing The dropship landed smoothly on one of the Celestial Spire¡¯s reinforced docking platforms. As the hatch hissed open, they were immediately greeted by a squad of Union enforcers, their silver-and-black armor gleaming under the artificial lights. ¡°Cadet team, step forward,¡± one of them ordered. Usa-hime and the others followed protocol, stepping aside as the enforcers approached the glowing Capturing Sphere. One of them, a tall, broad-shouldered officer, reached out a gloved hand and placed it over the orb. The sphere let out a low chime before lifting into the air and floating toward a sealed containment unit. ¡°Subject Kren Zathor, bounty confirmed,¡± the officer stated. ¡°Placing him in Level 4 stasis until trial.¡± The containment unit locked with a loud hiss. Just like that¡ªZathor was no longer their problem. But as the enforcers moved him further inside the facility, Usa-hime swore she saw a flicker of movement inside the sphere. A slight curl of Zathor¡¯s lips. A smirk. Her hands clenched into fists. He knew something. Something about her. And she needed to find out what. The Bounty Reward A few minutes later, the team was escorted into a large, secure hall, where a massive holographic bounty terminal floated above the ground. A robotic voice echoed: ¡°Mission Status: Successful.¡± ¡°Bounty Target: Kren Zathor¡ªCaptured Alive.¡± ¡°Reward: 750,000 credits¡ªDistributed Among Team Members.¡± Cipher whistled. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of zeroes.¡± Zyra smirked. ¡°Damn right it is.¡± Kuro flicked their ears. ¡°Too bad we don¡¯t get to keep all of it. Half goes to the Union¡¯s operational costs.¡± Cipher sighed. ¡°Capitalism wins again.¡± Despite the complaints, each of their wrist consoles flashed as their individual shares of the credits were deposited. Usa-hime barely noticed. She was still thinking about Zathor. Still thinking about what he had said. Then¡ª A familiar voice cut through the room. ¡°Not bad, rookies.¡± Callen¡¯s Praise Instructor Callen stepped into the hall, his usual cold expression unreadable. But for once¡ªthere was no sarcasm. No insults. Just a slight nod of approval. ¡°You did good,¡± he said simply. ¡°Better than I expected.¡± Zyra blinked. ¡°Wait¡ªwas that a compliment?¡± Kuro smirked. ¡°Someone mark the date. Callen actually praised us.¡± Callen sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t get used to it.¡± But even so¡ªthere was something genuine in his tone. Usa-hime felt a small swell of pride. They had done it. Their first real mission. And they had won. But Callen wasn¡¯t finished. He folded his arms. ¡°That mission wasn¡¯t just a test of skill,¡± he said. ¡°It was a test of resolve. And it¡¯s only going to get harder from here.¡± The air shifted. Everyone could feel it. A sense of weight. Finality. Callen¡¯s gaze hardened. ¡°Graduation is around the corner,¡± he continued. ¡°And you all need to make a choice.¡± Usa-hime¡¯s chest tightened. They all knew what he meant. The Hunter¡¯s Choice ¡°After this, there¡¯s no turning back,¡± Callen said. ¡°You¡¯ve proven you have what it takes. But being a Hunter isn¡¯t just about taking bounties and cashing in rewards.¡± His visored eyes scanned them. ¡°It¡¯s about dedicating your life to this fight.¡± The room was silent. Callen continued. ¡°Some of you might decide this life isn¡¯t for you. That¡¯s fine. The Union has other roles¡ªrecon, research, medical divisions.¡± He let that sink in before adding¡ª ¡°And some of you? You might decide to walk away entirely.¡± Usa-hime felt a strange weight settle in her stomach. She had never actually thought about leaving. But now that the choice was here¡­ It felt huge. Final. Callen crossed his arms. ¡°Think about it carefully. Once you graduate, you¡¯re in this for life.¡± He turned, heading toward the door. ¡°But for now, relax while you can,¡± he added. ¡°There¡¯s a banquet happening tonight. You¡¯ve earned a break.¡± Zyra perked up. ¡°Food?¡± Callen sighed. ¡°Yes. Food.¡± Cipher fist-pumped. ¡°Oh hell yeah. Let¡¯s go!¡± Even Kuro looked mildly interested. ¡°Finally, something good after all this work.¡± Usa-hime forced a smile. She wanted to enjoy it. To celebrate. But Callen¡¯s words still echoed in her mind. ¡°Once you graduate, you¡¯re in this for life.¡± And for the first time¡­ She wasn¡¯t sure if she was ready to answer that question. The Grand Hall The Celestial Spire¡¯s banquet hall was unlike anything Usa-hime had ever seen. The moment they stepped inside, a wave of color, sound, and energy hit them all at once. The room itself was massive, its towering arched ceiling lined with glowing constellations, shifting and twinkling like a real night sky. Enormous holo-banners floated midair, displaying images of famous Hunters, past and present. Hundreds of cadets, instructors, and Union officers were gathered, the air buzzing with laughter, chatter, and music. But the real sight? The food. Tables stretched wall to wall, covered in a dizzying display of dishes from across the galaxy. Usa-hime froze. ¡°What¡­ am I even looking at?¡± Kuro smirked, his golden eyes flickering with amusement. ¡°Welcome to the best part of Hunter life.¡± Zyra grabbed a plate without hesitation. ¡°Enough staring, Rabbit Princess. Time to eat.¡± Cipher had already disappeared into the crowd. ¡°If you need me, I¡¯ll be at the dessert section. Don¡¯t wait up.¡± Usa-hime was still overwhelmed. There was so much to take in. Plates of shimmering, translucent noodles that changed flavor with every bite. Towering fruit platters filled with glowing, orb-like berries that popped with citrusy fizz. A massive roast of some six-legged beast, its caramelized skin still sizzling from the heat. And at the very center of the feast¡ª A massive levitating bowl filled with a deep purple stew, its surface swirling with gold streaks. A sign floated above it. ¡°Starborn Broth ¨C Only for the Brave.¡± Usa-hime blinked. ¡°¡­Why does that sound like a warning?¡± A cadet next to her grinned. ¡°Because it is.¡± Before she could react, Zyra had already scooped up a bowl. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Let¡¯s see if it¡¯s worth the hype,¡± she muttered, taking a bite. The moment the stew hit her tongue, Zyra¡¯s eyes shot wide open. Her hair literally stood on end. A faint blue glow pulsed from her fingertips. ¡°What the¡ª?!¡± Usa-hime took a step back. Kuro snickered. ¡°It enhances your body¡¯s bio-energy for ten minutes. Stronger reflexes, heightened senses.¡± Zyra¡¯s hands twitched. ¡°This is INSANE. I FEEL LIKE I COULD FIGHT A WARLORD.¡± Cipher, who had somehow reappeared, grabbed a spoonful. ¡°Oh cool, drugs in soup form.¡± ¡°Cipher, don¡¯t¡ª¡± Cipher ate it anyway. Nothing happened. They blinked. Then shrugged. ¡°Huh. Tastes like blackberries.¡± Usa-hime shook her head, laughing. A Feast of the Galaxy For the first time in what felt like forever¡ªthey weren¡¯t fighting. They weren¡¯t being hunted, shot at, or forced into impossible life-or-death choices. They were just cadets. Eating, laughing, and experiencing the wildness of a hundred different cultures through food. At one point, Kuro challenged Zyra to a spice duel¡ªwho could handle the hottest dish? (They both lost. Horribly.) Cipher somehow convinced a nearby four-armed Ghardian cadet to trade them a floating fruit that smelled like electricity. (¡°It tingles when you eat it,¡± the cadet explained.) Cipher took a bite¡ªand immediately started glowing. Usa-hime laughed so hard she couldn¡¯t breathe. For a moment¡ªeverything was perfect. But then¡ª The mood shifted. A Rival Appears A new group of cadets entered the hall. They moved with confidence. Precision. Like they owned the place. And leading them? A tall, broad-shouldered young man with piercing silver eyes and a smirk that radiated pure arrogance. Valis Rendar. A top-ranked Hunter candidate. And from the way he walked¡ªhe knew it. He glanced around the room, then zeroed in on Usa-hime¡¯s team. His smirk widened. ¡°Well, well,¡± he said loudly, striding over. ¡°Look who finally made it back alive.¡± The air tensed. Zyra scowled. ¡°Not now, Valis.¡± Valis ignored her. His gaze locked onto Usa-hime. ¡°I heard you bagged Zathor,¡± he said. ¡°Congrats.¡± Then¡ªhe chuckled. ¡°Though let¡¯s be honest¡ªthat was pure luck.¡± Usa-hime¡¯s smile faded. The rest of his team laughed, a few of them whispering among themselves. ¡°Can¡¯t believe they actually think they¡¯re ready for real fieldwork.¡± ¡°I mean, come on¡ªthat team¡¯s full of rejects.¡± ¡°They¡¯ll never survive their first real year.¡± Usa-hime¡¯s jaw clenched. Zyra stepped forward. ¡°You got something to say, Valis?¡± He grinned. ¡°Just stating the obvious.¡± Then¡ªhe leaned in slightly, eyes sharp. ¡°And you,¡± he said, gaze locking on Usa-hime again. ¡°I don¡¯t buy it.¡± She narrowed her eyes. ¡°Buy what?¡± ¡°You.¡± Valis tilted his head. ¡°One minute, you¡¯re just some timid little nobody.¡± His silver eyes flickered to the crescent moon mark on her forehead. ¡°The next? You¡¯re suddenly special?¡± Usa-hime¡¯s hands curled into fists. There it was. The thing everyone had been thinking but not saying. Was she really meant to be here? Or was it just fate playing favorites? She could feel everyone watching. Waiting. For her reaction. For her answer. Her heartbeat pounded. But before she could speak¡ª Zyra stepped in front of her. ¡°Say one more word,¡± Zyra growled, her eyes burning, ¡°and I¡¯ll make you regret it.¡± Valis chuckled. ¡°Relax. No need to start a fight you won¡¯t win.¡± He turned away, gesturing to his team. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s leave the lucky ones to their party.¡± As he walked away, Usa-hime exhaled slowly, shaking off the tension. But the damage was done. Even as the banquet continued, she could feel the weight of the words settling in her chest. ¡°I don¡¯t buy it.¡± She gritted her teeth. She would make them believe. One way or another. Lingering Tension The banquet hall buzzed with life¡ªcadets laughing, music playing, drinks pouring. But at Usa-hime¡¯s table? Everything felt ice-cold. Valis and his team had left, but their words lingered. ¡°Lucky.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t survive your first real year.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t buy it.¡± Usa-hime stared at her untouched plate, the food completely unappetizing now. Her fingers tensed against the table. She had been fighting for weeks¡ªtraining, bleeding, nearly dying. And now, after everything? She was still being looked down on. Still being doubted. Zyra slammed her fist onto the table, startling the group. ¡°Next time I see that smug bastard, I¡¯m breaking his jaw,¡± she growled. Kuro leaned back, tail flicking. ¡°Tempting, but you¡¯d just prove him right.¡± Zyra scoffed. ¡°So? He deserves it.¡± Cipher, still finishing off a glowing fruit tart, muttered, ¡°Honestly? I say we hack his room and make his bed smell like unwashed space socks.¡± Kuro smirked. ¡°Now that¡¯s a plan.¡± Even Raze, who had been silent this whole time, let out a soft chuckle. But Usa-hime? She barely heard them. Her mind was somewhere else. A Storm Brewing Her grip on her cup tightened. ¡°I don¡¯t buy it.¡± The words repeated over and over in her head, echoing like a war drum. Her breathing slowed. Something inside her was boiling. Not fear. Not doubt. Anger. She had given everything to be here. And they still thought she was nothing? She gritted her teeth. No. She would not be looked down on. She would not be dismissed. She stood up suddenly, chair scraping against the floor. Zyra blinked. ¡°Uh¡ªRabbit Princess?¡± Without a word, Usa-hime turned¡ªmarching straight toward Valis¡¯ table. Her team froze. ¡°Ah, hell,¡± Cipher muttered. ¡°Here we go.¡± Confrontation Valis and his team were mid-laugh when Usa-hime reached their table. The moment he saw her, his smirk returned. ¡°Well, well. Didn¡¯t think you had the guts,¡± he said, turning to face her. Usa-hime stared him down. A sharp, burning silence fell over the room. Cadets began to notice. The music didn¡¯t stop, but conversations lowered, eyes turning toward the standoff. ¡°I have a problem,¡± Usa-hime said, voice calm, controlled. Valis raised an eyebrow. ¡°Do you?¡± ¡°You questioned me,¡± she said. ¡°Said you didn¡¯t buy it.¡± Valis leaned forward, arms resting on the table. ¡°And?¡± Usa-hime¡¯s next words cut through the air like a blade. ¡°Then fight me.¡± The room went still. Valis blinked. Then, after a beat¡ª He laughed. Some of his teammates laughed too, but others? They looked uneasy. Usa-hime didn¡¯t flinch. Didn¡¯t move. Didn¡¯t blink. She meant it. And Valis knew it. He leaned back, expression shifting to something more serious. ¡°You really think you¡¯re ready for that?¡± he mused. Usa-hime¡¯s fingers twitched. ¡°Try me.¡± Zyra, who had just caught up, muttered, ¡°Oh, I like this side of you.¡± Kuro crossed their arms. ¡°This is either really brave or really stupid.¡± Cipher grabbed a handful of popcorn from another cadet¡¯s plate. ¡°I mean, I¡¯m here for it.¡± Valis studied Usa-hime for a long moment. Then¡ª He stood. The height difference was immediate. He was taller, broader, stronger. A top-tier combat specialist with years of training. But Usa-hime didn¡¯t back down. Not one step. Then¡ªValis smirked. ¡°Not here,¡± he said, brushing past her. ¡°There¡¯s a combat hall two floors down.¡± A ripple of excitement spread through the crowd. A real fight. Cadets began moving toward the exits, following Valis and Usa-hime like a wave. Zyra clapped her hands together. ¡°Oh, this is happening. This is really happening.¡± Kuro sighed but followed. ¡°If we get kicked out of the banquet for this, I¡¯m blaming all of you.¡± Cipher just kept eating. ¡°Worth it.¡± And Raze? They simply watched, curious. The Combat Hall The hall was a circular arena, its walls lined with shielded energy barriers to prevent serious injury. Word had spread fast. By the time Usa-hime and Valis stepped onto the training floor, at least fifty cadets had gathered around. Some were taking bets. Some just wanted to see blood. Callen wasn¡¯t here. No instructors. Just them. Valis rolled his shoulders. ¡°Rules?¡± Usa-hime raised an eyebrow. ¡°You care about rules?¡± Valis grinned. ¡°Good point.¡± They took their stances. The crowd hushed. Then¡ª Valis attacked first. The First Hit The moment the fight began, Valis moved like a shadow. No wasted movement. No hesitation. One second he was standing across from Usa-hime. The next¡ª He was behind her. Usa-hime¡¯s instincts screamed. She twisted¡ªtoo late. CRACK. A fist slammed into her ribs, knocking the breath from her lungs. She staggered, barely keeping her footing. Valis didn¡¯t stop. He flowed like water, his strikes precise, ruthless. A knee drove into her stomach. An elbow cracked against her jaw. She reeled, forced onto the defensive, barely blocking his follow-up attacks. Zyra cursed from the sidelines. ¡°Damn, he¡¯s fast!¡± Cipher, still munching popcorn, muttered, ¡°Yup. She¡¯s dead.¡± Usa-hime gritted her teeth. She had fought skilled opponents before. But Valis? This was something else. He was faster, stronger. He read her movements like a book, adapting instantly. And then¡ª It got worse. Space Magic Valis swiped his hand through the air. A black tear split reality itself¡ªa shimmering void rippling with deep cosmic energy. A portal. Before Usa-hime could react, he stepped into it¡ª And vanished. Her eyes widened. ¡°What¡ª¡± A second portal flashed open beside her. And Valis stepped out. Right into a full-force punch to her gut. BOOM. The impact sent her flying. She hit the ground hard, skidding across the arena floor, gasping for breath. Kuro¡¯s ears flattened. ¡°Yeah, okay, that¡¯s not fair.¡± Cipher wiped their fingers. ¡°See? Dead.¡± Raze, watching intently, murmured, ¡°Not yet.¡± Usa-hime pushed herself up, coughing. That wasn¡¯t normal Hunter training. That was real magic. Space-warping magic. And he was ridiculously good at it. Valis stretched his arms, smirking. ¡°Not keeping up, Rabbit Princess?¡± Usa-hime spat blood onto the floor. She raised her fists again. Valis chuckled. ¡°Alright then. Let¡¯s step it up.¡± A One-Sided Battle Valis disappeared again. A portal flickered open above her. She barely dodged as he dropped from the sky, heel aimed at her skull. BOOM¡ª The force cracked the ground where she had been standing. She retaliated, aiming a high kick at his head. But another portal opened at his side¡ª Her attack went through empty space. Her own leg came out behind her, catching herself in the back. ¡°What the¡ª¡± Before she could react, Valis grabbed her arm¡ªand flipped her over his shoulder. She crashed into the ground, pain flaring through her body. The crowd winced. Zyra¡¯s fists clenched. ¡°Damn it, he¡¯s playing with her.¡± Valis stepped back, relaxed. ¡°You¡¯re not used to this, are you?¡± Usa-hime grunted, pushing herself up again. He continued, circling her like a predator. ¡°Hand-to-hand? You¡¯re strong. Fast. Maybe even skilled.¡± He flicked his wrist, opening two more portals. ¡°But this? You¡¯re way out of your league.¡± Usa-hime forced herself to breathe. Her body hurt. Her muscles screamed, her head spun. But worse than the pain¡ª She knew he was right. She was completely outmatched. The Breaking Point The next few minutes were a brutal display of dominance. Valis didn¡¯t just fight¡ªhe humiliated her. Every attack she threw, he redirected through portals, forcing her to hit herself. Every dodge she attempted, he was already ahead of her, striking from impossible angles. He warped behind her¡ªpunched her in the spine. He warped above her¡ªkicked her into the ground. Over. And over. And over. The crowd watched in stunned silence. Even the ones who hated Usa-hime started shifting uncomfortably. This wasn¡¯t a fight anymore. It was a lesson. And Valis was making damn sure she learned it. Finally¡ª Usa-hime collapsed onto her knees. Dizzy. Bruised. Blood dripping from her split lip. Her vision blurred. Her body refused to move. Valis stood over her, unimpressed. ¡°This is what I meant,¡± he said, voice calm. ¡°You¡¯re just lucky.¡± The words stabbed into her. ¡°Without your little power-ups, without whatever special treatment you¡¯re getting¡ª¡± He knelt slightly, looking her in the eye. ¡°You¡¯re just weak.¡± The words rang in her skull. Weak. Weak. Weak. Her fingers twitched. Something inside her¡ª snapped. The Smirk The arena was silent. Everyone expected Usa-hime to stay down. To admit defeat. But instead¡ª She laughed. Soft at first. Then louder. Valis¡¯ eyes narrowed. ¡°Something funny?¡± Usa-hime wiped the blood from her mouth. Then¡ªshe grinned. A slow, mocking smirk. Valis¡¯ jaw clenched. The crowd stiffened. Even Zyra looked surprised. Usa-hime tilted her head. ¡°You done?¡± she rasped. Her muscles screamed, but she pushed herself back to her feet. She spat more blood onto the floor. Then, she rolled her shoulders. And for the first time¡ªher silver eyes burned. ¡°Because I¡¯m still standing.¡± Valis¡¯ expression darkened. The crowd exploded. A wave of shouts, gasps, and wild cheers erupted across the room. Zyra slammed her fist on the railing. ¡°HELL YES!¡± Kuro grinned. ¡°Oh, this is getting interesting.¡± Cipher, munching on the last of their popcorn, muttered, ¡°She¡¯s either the bravest idiot or the dumbest genius I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± Even Raze, normally unreadable, watched her with new interest. Usa-hime cracked her knuckles. Her body hurt like hell. But right now? She didn¡¯t care. Because this fight wasn¡¯t over. Not yet. Not even close. Chapter 7: The Moon and the Void The Weight of Her Name Blood dripped from Usa-hime¡¯s split lip. Her vision blurred, her body ached, but she refused to fall. Valis stood across from her, breathing heavily, a faint scowl tugging at his lips. The arena was dead silent. Everyone watching knew¡ªthis should¡¯ve been over by now. But Usa-hime was still standing. Why? Because she wasn¡¯t just fighting him. She was fighting every whisper, every doubt, every mockery. They called her Rabbit Princess. They thought it was a joke. A name meant for a coward. But in her mind, a single truth ignited like fire. ¡°My name isn¡¯t a joke.¡± She thought of every person who had laughed at her. ¡°It¡¯s Usagi no Hime.¡± She thought of every person who looked down on her. ¡°The Princess of the Moon.¡± Her heart thundered. ¡°She who will rule all of space.¡± And then¡ª Something answered. The Cosmic Surge A pulse of light burned beneath her skin. The crescent moon on her forehead glowed¡ªnot just with power, but with purpose. A wind that wasn¡¯t real howled through the arena, stirring her platinum hair, sending ripples of shimmering blue-white energy spiraling around her form. The entire room felt it. Zyra¡¯s breath hitched. ¡°Oh, hell.¡± Cipher, mid-bite of a snack, dropped it. ¡°Okay¡ªokay, this is new.¡± Kuro¡¯s eyes flickered, reading the shift. ¡°She¡¯s not the same fighter anymore.¡± Raze, watching silently, finally muttered, ¡°She¡¯s awake.¡± And Valis? For the first time¡ªhis smirk faltered. The floor beneath Usa-hime¡¯s feet cracked as she took a step forward. Her silver eyes locked onto his. ¡°I¡¯m not done,¡± she said, voice eerily steady. Valis¡¯ jaw tightened. Then he lunged. Move for Move He vanished into a portal¡ªreappearing behind her in an instant. Before, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to react. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. But now? She turned faster than he expected. Their fists collided mid-air, energy rippling from the impact. Valis clicked his tongue. ¡°Tch¡ª¡± He warped again, coming from the left¡ª Usa-hime twisted, blocking his strike, countering with a spinning kick. He barely dodged. For the first time, he wasn¡¯t leading the fight. She was matching him. Move for move. His silver eyes narrowed. ¡°Impossible.¡± But Usa-hime just smirked. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she taunted. ¡°Not so easy anymore?¡± Valis clenched his fists. Then he stopped holding back. Moonlight vs. Abyss The fight became a blur of impossible speed. Blue-white moonlight clashed against black void energy, their blows sending shockwaves through the arena. Valis opened three portals at once, striking from multiple angles¡ª Usa-hime read his movement, ducking low, sweeping his legs. He flipped mid-air, landing perfectly¡ªonly for her to be right in front of him. Her fist slammed into his jaw. His foot crashed into her side. They both staggered¡ªpanting, exhausted, but refusing to stop. The arena floor cracked beneath their feet. Their bodies screamed for rest. But their souls wouldn¡¯t allow it. ¡°Not yet.¡± The Final Clash Everyone watching felt it coming. The final blow. Both fighters locked eyes. A silent understanding passed between them. No more tricks. No more holding back. Just one last strike. Valis¡¯ void energy surged around his fists. Usa-hime¡¯s cosmic aura flared like a burning star. They charged. Two unstoppable forces¡ªcolliding in the heart of battle. And then¡ª Impact. A deafening shockwave exploded outward. The entire arena shook. And everything¡ª Went still. The Aftermath When the dust settled¡ª Both fighters stood. Frozen. Then¡ª Valis collapsed. The moment his body hit the ground, the battle was decided. Usa-hime wobbled. Her vision blurred. Then, finally¡ª She, too, fell. Both unconscious. But in Valis¡¯ fading mind¡ª For the first time in his life¡ª Losing didn¡¯t feel so bad. Punishment Days later¡­ Usa-hime groaned as she dipped a scrub brush into a bucket of filthy water. Then, with absolute misery, she began scrubbing the floor of the cadet bathrooms. ¡°I hate this,¡± she muttered. Beside her, Valis¡ªequally miserable, equally stuck in punishment¡ªscowled. ¡°Shut up and scrub.¡± Their punishment for an unsanctioned fight that nearly destroyed the training hall? Bathroom cleaning duty. For two weeks. Cipher had laughed for a full ten minutes when they heard the verdict. Zyra had patted Usa-hime on the back and said, ¡°Totally worth it.¡± Kuro just shook their head and said, ¡°You brought this on yourself.¡± And Raze? They had just smirked slightly and walked away. Now, as Usa-hime scrubbed the fifth stall of the day, she sighed. ¡°Okay. Maybe this wasn¡¯t worth it.¡± Valis grunted. ¡°You think?¡± She glanced over at him. Despite the exhaustion, despite everything¡ªthere was no hostility. They had both fought their hardest. Both given it everything. And now? Now, they were just two exhausted idiots cleaning toilets. For a moment, there was silence. Then¡ª Valis snorted. At first, Usa-hime thought she imagined it. But no. The arrogant, untouchable Valis was trying not to laugh. She stared at him. ¡°¡­Are you actually enjoying this?¡± He glared at her. ¡°No.¡± Then¡ªhe smirked. And for the first time, Usa-hime smirked back. Rivals & Respect They weren¡¯t friends. They would probably never be friends. But in that moment, as they scrubbed in silence, there was an unspoken understanding. Valis still hated her. But it wasn¡¯t the same kind of hate as before. Now, it was the kind that pushed him. The kind that made him want to be stronger. And Usa-hime? She knew one thing for certain. She had proven herself. And she wasn¡¯t done yet. Valis tossed his scrub brush into the bucket. ¡°Don¡¯t think this means I like you,¡± he muttered. Usa-hime grinned. ¡°Good. Hate makes you work harder.¡± Valis rolled his eyes. But¡ªjust for a moment¡ª He smiled. Chapter 8: Navigating the Stars The Grand Hangar The Celestial Spire¡¯s hangar bay stretched farther than Usa-hime had ever imagined. Rows upon rows of sleek, battle-ready starships gleamed under the artificial lighting, their metal hulls humming with energy. Cadets from every squad gathered around, their voices filled with excitement, nervousness, and outright panic. At the front of the massive hangar, standing with his usual arms-crossed, I¡¯m-not-impressed stance, was Instructor Callen. ¡°Listen up, rookies!¡± he barked, his voice cutting through the chatter. ¡°The Union doesn¡¯t just need Hunters who can throw punches and fire blasters. Out there¡ª¡± he gestured to the massive space beyond the hangar¡¯s force field, ¡°¡ªnone of that matters if you don¡¯t know how to navigate.¡± A few cadets shifted uneasily. Others¡ªlike Zyra¡ªlooked outright thrilled. Callen¡¯s visor flickered as he paced. ¡°Every Hunter is expected to know the basics of piloting, charting courses, and not crashing into every asteroid that gets in your way.¡± The overhead lights dimmed, and a holographic projection of a starship flickered to life. A sleek, dagger-shaped cruiser, black with blue thrusters, hovered in the center. ¡°This,¡± Callen continued, ¡°is the Dagger-Class Cruiser. This will be your ship today.¡± Murmurs spread through the crowd. Usa-hime tilted her head. ¡°Looks fast.¡± ¡°Looks deadly,¡± Kuro added. Callen ignored them. ¡°Each team gets their own ship. You will work together to complete today¡¯s navigation trial. Your goal? Successfully pilot your cruiser through a simulated course and reach the rendezvous point.¡± Zyra smirked. ¡°Sounds easy.¡± Callen¡¯s visor gleamed. ¡°Then you¡¯ll love the second part.¡± Zyra¡¯s smirk vanished. ¡°You¡¯ll then take that same ship and pilot it across real space¡ªno Union guidance, no safety measures. You¡¯ll need to rely on your own skills to get to the outpost where graduation will take place.¡± Silence. Then¡ªCipher groaned. ¡°Great. I get motion sick.¡± Zyra slapped the back of their head. ¡°You literally stare at screens all day.¡± ¡°Yeah, but I don¡¯t move.¡± Callen cleared his throat. ¡°Get to your assigned ships. Try not to die.¡± Meet the Ship Usa-hime¡¯s team walked up to their assigned cruiser. The ship was smaller than a warship but faster than a transport, made for precision and agility. A single name was painted on the side in bold silver letters. ¡°STARDANCER.¡± Kuro ran a hand along the hull. ¡°Not bad.¡± Zyra stretched her arms. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go!¡± But the moment they reached the boarding ramp¡ª The arguing started. ¡°I¡¯m piloting, obviously,¡± Zyra said, cracking her knuckles. ¡°Uh, no,¡± Cipher scoffed. ¡°You have no sense of precision. You¡¯d fly us straight into a sun.¡± ¡°Excuse me?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m just saying, if flying required shooting things, you¡¯d be perfect.¡± Kuro sighed. ¡°I vote not Cipher. They¡¯ll be too busy gaming mid-flight.¡± Cipher gasped. ¡°I am offended by how accurate that is.¡± Usa-hime sighed. ¡°Okay, so who is flying?¡± The group went silent. Then¡ªall eyes turned to her. Usa-hime froze. ¡°Wait¡ªwhy me?¡± Zyra smirked. ¡°You have crazy instincts, and you learn fast. Plus, we all saw you dodge debris like a pro last mission.¡± Kuro nodded. ¡°She¡¯s got the reaction speed.¡± Cipher shrugged. ¡°Fine. But if we crash, I get to say ¡®I told you so.¡¯¡± Raze, standing silently in the background, finally spoke. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll watch.¡± That was the closest thing to approval anyone would get. Usa-hime sighed. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll do it.¡± She placed a hand on the hull of the Stardancer. ¡°Let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got.¡± Liftoff The cockpit hummed as it powered up. Usa-hime sat in the pilot¡¯s seat, gripping the controls. Cipher was at navigation, fingers tapping on their holo-display. Zyra manned weapons and defense, hands hovering over the targeting system. Kuro adjusted communications, syncing with the Union¡¯s tracking beacons. And Raze? Raze just stood behind them, arms crossed, watching everything. Usa-hime took a deep breath. ¡°Okay. I can do this.¡± She pressed the ignition switch. Engines roared to life. The ship trembled beneath them. The hangar doors slid open, revealing the vast stretch of space. Usa-hime¡¯s heart pounded. Then¡ª ¡°Stardancer, you are clear for launch.¡± She pushed the throttle forward. The ship lurched¡ªthen soared into the void. Into the Trial Run The moment they entered open space, a holographic course materialized. Brightly lit rings and markers spread across the sector¡ªan obstacle course designed to test speed, agility, and coordination. Callen¡¯s voice crackled through the comms. ¡°Your trial has begun. Make it through the course without crashing. If you fail, you get to repeat the exercise until I am no longer disgusted by your performance.¡± Cipher muttered, ¡°This guy¡¯s motivational skills are amazing.¡± Usa-hime exhaled. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s do this.¡± The first checkpoint ring came up fast. She tilted the controls, guiding the ship through. Smooth. The next set of rings were closer together. She adjusted¡ªtoo sharp. The ship tilted dangerously. ¡°Whoa¡ªwatch it!¡± Zyra snapped. ¡°I got it!¡± Usa-hime steadied the ship, her fingers gripping the controls tighter. The next challenge¡ªa moving ring. Cipher sighed. ¡°Because of course there¡¯s moving parts.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t be too hard,¡± Usa-hime muttered. Then¡ªCallen turned on the asteroid simulation. Massive chunks of space rock materialized, moving randomly. Zyra groaned. ¡°You HAD to say something!¡± ¡°Shut up, I¡¯m focusing!¡± Usa-hime dove under a spinning asteroid, barely scraping the hull. A narrow tunnel formed ahead¡ªa canyon of floating debris. ¡°Thread the needle, Rabbit Princess,¡± Kuro murmured. Usa-hime gritted her teeth. She nosed the ship down, then sharply tilted through the narrowest gap. No contact. Cipher let out a low whistle. ¡°Okay, that was kinda cool.¡± Zyra grinned. ¡°Not bad, rookie.¡± But just as they neared the final checkpoint¡ª Callen¡¯s voice interrupted. ¡°Trial complete. But now, the real test begins.¡± The holographic course faded. And suddenly¡ª They were in deep space. No guides. No assistance. Just the vast unknown. ¡°Find your own way to the outpost.¡± The comm cut off. Usa-hime¡¯s hands tightened on the controls. ¡°¡­Well,¡± she muttered. ¡°Now what?¡± Lost in Space The moment Usa-hime spoke those words, the cockpit fell into silence. Outside the ship? Nothing but the endless abyss. No markers. No beacons. No Callen barking orders in their ears. Just raw, untamed space. Cipher let out a slow whistle. ¡°Welp. We¡¯re gonna die.¡± Zyra smacked the back of their head. ¡°We are not gonna die!¡± Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Cipher countered, pulling up the ship¡¯s holo-display. ¡°Because according to this, we are now officially floating in the middle of nowhere.¡± Usa-hime gritted her teeth. This was still part of the test. They had to navigate on their own to reach the Union¡¯s graduation outpost. The problem? No one had any clue where that was. She turned to Cipher. ¡°You¡¯re the navigator. Start navigating.¡± Cipher blinked. ¡°Oh, you think it¡¯s that easy? Just ¡®navigate¡¯ through literal infinity?¡± Zyra crossed her arms. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Wow, I love how you all think this is just¡ªboop beep¡ª¡®plot a course and we¡¯re done.¡¯¡± Cipher mimicked pressing buttons dramatically. ¡°Space doesn¡¯t work like that! I need a point of reference, a star chart, something! We could be anywhere!¡± Kuro, arms crossed, smirked. ¡°So¡­ we¡¯re lost?¡± Cipher sighed deeply. ¡°Oh, we¡¯ve never been more lost in our lives.¡± Horrible Ideas Begin ¡°Alright,¡± Usa-hime said, taking a breath. ¡°Let¡¯s think. What do real pilots do when they don¡¯t have a map?¡± Zyra tapped her chin. ¡°Blindly go forward and hope for the best?¡± Cipher threw their hands up. ¡°Exactly! Which is why so many pilots die.¡± Usa-hime pinched the bridge of her nose. ¡°Okay, new plan. What if we¡ª¡± Suddenly¡ªa proximity alarm blared. Cipher looked at the screen and went pale. ¡°Oh¡­ oh no.¡± Usa-hime tensed. ¡°What?¡± Cipher slowly turned to face them. ¡°Okay, so, funny story¡ª¡± ¡°Spit it out!¡± Zyra snapped. ¡°We¡­ may be drifting into a nebula storm.¡± Dead silence. Kuro sighed. ¡°Of course we are.¡± The Nebula of Terror A swirling, cosmic cloud loomed ahead, glowing with red and blue lightning. Static buzzed through their comms as the ship entered its outer edges. Zyra gripped her seat. ¡°How bad is this?¡± Cipher gulped. ¡°On a scale of ¡®mild inconvenience¡¯ to ¡®cosmic nightmare¡¯? Yes.¡± The ship shuddered violently. Lightning arced through the nebula, creating massive electromagnetic pulses. Suddenly¡ª All screens flickered. Lights dimmed. Usa-hime¡¯s stomach sank. ¡°Cipher?¡± she said carefully. Cipher nervously poked at the control panel. ¡°Sooo¡­ small problem. Our systems just died.¡± ¡°WHAT?!¡± The ship lurched, spinning slightly. ¡°WE¡¯RE FLYING BLIND?!¡± Zyra shouted. Cipher frantically smacked buttons. ¡°I¡¯M TRYING TO REBOOT¡ªSTOP YELLING AT ME!¡± ¡°WE¡¯RE IN A LIGHTNING STORM, AND YOU WANT ME TO BE CALM?!¡± Kuro clawed onto his seat. ¡°Can we focus on not dying?!¡± Meanwhile, Raze? Raze just stood there. Completely unbothered. Improvising¡­ Poorly Usa-hime gritted her teeth, gripping the controls. ¡°Fine. If the systems are down, I¡¯ll fly manually.¡± Cipher turned horrified. ¡°Do you know how to do that?!¡± ¡°¡­No.¡± ¡°THEN WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT?!¡± Another lightning arc blasted nearby, shaking the ship. ¡°JUST DO IT!¡± Zyra screamed. ¡°WHY AM I PILOTING UNDER PRESSURE AGAIN?!¡± Usa-hime yelled back. Kuro sighed. ¡°This is going well.¡± A Near-Death Maneuver The nebula¡¯s energy currents threatened to drag the ship off course. Their sensors were offline. Their autopilot was fried. They had seconds before they got caught in a gravitational vortex. Usa-hime grabbed the manual throttle. ¡°If this works, I¡¯m a genius!¡± Cipher panicked. ¡°If it doesn¡¯t, we¡¯re SPACE DUST!¡± She yanked the controls hard. The ship barreled into a sharp spin, dodging a massive energy arc by inches. ¡°AAAAHHHHH!¡± ¡°OH GODS, WE¡¯RE GONNA DIE!¡± ¡°FASTER! LEFT! NO, RIGHT!¡ªWAIT, NOT THAT WAY!¡± Zyra slammed her hand against the dashboard. ¡°JUST PICK A DIRECTION!¡± ¡°I¡¯M TRYING!¡± Another lightning arc barely missed them. Then¡ªsilence. The ship cleared the nebula, shooting out the other side. The moment they entered calm space, the ship stabilized. They didn¡¯t die. They didn¡¯t crash. ¡­They actually made it. Usa-hime slumped in her seat, breathing heavily. Zyra wiped sweat from her forehead. ¡°Okay. Not doing that again.¡± Cipher looked like they had aged ten years. ¡°I need therapy.¡± Kuro chuckled. ¡°I mean¡­ we lived.¡± Usa-hime groaned. ¡°At what cost?¡± New Problem: Pirates Just as the team relaxed¡ª A red warning alarm blared. Cipher paled. ¡°Oh, come on!¡± Kuro checked the radar. ¡°Incoming vessels. Fast.¡± Zyra squinted. ¡°Union ships?¡± Cipher tapped their screen. ¡°Nope. Worse.¡± The holo-screen flickered, showing three ships closing in. Jagged designs. Skulls painted on the hulls. The mark of scavengers. Space pirates. Zyra sighed dramatically. ¡°I swear, space hates us.¡± Usa-hime sat up fast. ¡°Can we outrun them?¡± Cipher checked. ¡°Maybe. But¡ªuh¡ª¡± Kuro groaned. ¡°Just say it.¡± Cipher winced. ¡°They already locked onto us.¡± A distorted voice crackled through the comms. ¡°Unregistered vessel, this is Captain Drek of the Skull Fang Raiders. Power down your ship and prepare for boarding.¡± Usa-hime¡¯s stomach dropped. Cipher blinked. ¡°Oooor¡­ hear me out¡­ we just keep flying?¡± Zyra cracked her knuckles. ¡°Oh no. I say we fight.¡± Kuro sighed. ¡°This escalated quickly.¡± Space Pirates. Because of Course. ¡°Unregistered vessel, this is Captain Drek of the Skull Fang Raiders. Power down your ship and prepare for boarding.¡± The pirate¡¯s gravelly voice came through the comms like a death sentence. Usa-hime¡¯s grip on the controls tightened. Zyra cracked her knuckles. ¡°Oh, hell no. We are not getting robbed today.¡± Cipher waved their hands. ¡°Okay¡ªhold up! We don¡¯t even have anything worth stealing!¡± Kuro smirked. ¡°We have a ship.¡± Cipher blinked. ¡°¡­Oh. Right. Yeah, that¡¯s bad.¡± Outside the cockpit window, the three pirate vessels closed in, sleek and jagged, their rusted hulls covered in graffiti. Bright red tractor beams locked onto their ship, trying to pull them in. Usa-hime¡¯s heart pounded. They were cadets. This wasn¡¯t some Union-controlled training exercise. This was real. And if they got captured? There¡¯d be no Callen to save them. She exhaled sharply. ¡°Options?¡± Cipher swiped through the controls. ¡°I mean¡­ surrendering is an option.¡± Zyra grabbed their collar. ¡°Say that again and I¡¯ll throw you into deep space.¡± Cipher gulped. ¡°Noted.¡± Kuro pointed at the incoming ships. ¡°They¡¯re faster than us. Outrunning them isn¡¯t an option unless we lose the tractor beams first.¡± Raze, standing in the background, finally spoke. ¡°¡­Use the nebula.¡± Everyone turned. Zyra blinked. ¡°The electromagnetic death cloud we barely survived?¡± Raze nodded. Cipher looked at them like they were insane. ¡°You want us to go back into the lightning storm?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Usa-hime hesitated. It was insane. But it was also genius. The nebula¡¯s electromagnetic interference had fried their systems earlier. If they could get the pirates to follow them in¡­ It could disable their ships too. Usa-hime¡¯s mind raced. It was risky. But so was doing nothing. She grinned. ¡°Strap in. We¡¯re going storm-chasing.¡± Cipher¡¯s face went pale. ¡°I hate this plan.¡± Usa-hime slammed the thrusters forward. The Stardancer roared to life¡ªjerking sideways, breaking from the tractor beams, and rocketing back toward the storm. The pirates hesitated. Then¡ª ¡°They¡¯re making a run for it! After them!¡± The pirate ships followed. Exactly as planned. Reckless Maneuvers 101 The nebula loomed ahead, crackling with energy. Usa-hime gritted her teeth, weaving between floating debris, dodging asteroids like they were mere traffic cones. Cipher¡¯s screen flickered wildly. ¡°We¡¯re losing power again!¡± ¡°Just a little further!¡± The pirates weren¡¯t slowing down. The lead ship¡ª**a massive rust-covered cruiser¡ª**opened fire. Plasma bolts zipped past them, shaking the ship. Zyra¡¯s hands flew over the controls. ¡°Returning fire!¡± The Stardancer¡¯s turrets blazed, shooting precise, controlled bursts¡ªbut the pirates had shields. Usa-hime cursed. ¡°We need them inside the nebula!¡± Kuro, focused on the scanners, suddenly tensed. ¡°They¡¯re launching boarding pods.¡± Usa-hime¡¯s stomach dropped. On the radar, two fast-moving pods detached from the pirate ships¡ªeach one the size of a torpedo, designed to punch into a hull and deploy raiders. Cipher nearly fell out of their chair. ¡°Oh, NOW they decide to be smart?! GREAT!¡± Zyra growled. ¡°Not happening.¡± She locked onto the pods and fired. BOOM! One pod exploded mid-air. The other? It dodged. ¡°That thing¡¯s gonna hit us in ten seconds!¡± Kuro warned. Usa-hime scanned the controls. No weapons. No shields. No countermeasures. Nothing. Except¡ª Her eyes flicked to the side. A nearby asteroid, the size of a small building, drifting into their path. A crazy idea hit her. ¡°Zyra, be ready!¡± Zyra narrowed her eyes. ¡°For what?¡± Usa-hime jerked the ship upward¡ªtilting just enough to put the asteroid between them and the incoming boarding pod. The pod couldn¡¯t adjust in time. BOOM! The impact sent a shockwave through space. The pirate¡¯s pod shattered against the asteroid, torn apart by the force. The Stardancer shook violently from the explosion, but held together. Silence. Then¡ª Cipher threw their hands up. ¡°WHAT KIND OF INSANE STUNT WAS THAT?!¡± Zyra laughed. ¡°That was genius!¡± Kuro smirked. ¡°Not bad, Rabbit Princess.¡± Usa-hime exhaled. ¡°We¡¯re not done yet. Keep going!¡± Outplaying the Pirates The nebula¡¯s energy fields took hold, swallowing the pirate ships in a storm of electromagnetic interference. Their weapons short-circuited. Their shields failed. One of the smaller ships spun wildly out of control, crashing into a chunk of floating debris. The lead cruiser tried to reverse course, but a massive arc of lightning struck its hull, sending it spiraling. Static crackled over the comms. ¡°We¡¯re losing control¡ªCaptain, we need to retreat!¡± Usa-hime grinned. ¡°That¡¯s our cue.¡± She jerked the controls, tilting the ship into a sharp dive¡ªjust skimming the nebula¡¯s outer edge. For a moment, the Stardancer trembled, warning lights flashing. Then¡ª They broke free. The moment they left the storm, the engines stabilized, the warning systems shut off, and the radar cleared. Behind them? The pirates were dead in the water. Cipher let out a deep, shaky sigh. ¡°I hate everything about what just happened.¡± Zyra threw her hands up. ¡°Admit it! That was AWESOME!¡± Cipher crossed their arms. ¡°Fine. It was awesome. But it was also TERRIFYING, and I¡¯m going to file a formal complaint to the universe.¡± Kuro chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll admit, Rabbit Princess¡­ that was a hell of a move.¡± Usa-hime finally exhaled, her heartbeat still pounding. They did it. They outmaneuvered pirates. They survived the nebula. But¡ª They still weren¡¯t at the outpost yet. ¡°Alright,¡± she muttered. ¡°Where do we go next?¡± Cipher pulled up the navigation screen. Then paused. ¡°Uh¡­ so¡­ good news and bad news.¡± Zyra groaned. ¡°Why is there ALWAYS bad news?¡± Cipher shrugged. ¡°Good news¡ªwe¡¯re alive. Bad news? We are completely off-course.¡± Silence. Then¡ª Usa-hime buried her face in her hands. ¡°Of course we are.¡± Arrival at the Outpost Minutes later, the Stardancer finally broke through the last stretch of deep space. Ahead of them, the graduation outpost came into view. A massive orbital station, gleaming white and gold, surrounded by a fleet of Union ships. Unlike the Celestial Spire, which had the strict, towering design of a military base, this station looked more like a floating citadel. The grand docking rings extended outward like wings, glowing softly against the darkness of space. Cipher let out a low whistle. ¡°Okay¡­ that¡¯s fancy.¡± Zyra smirked. ¡°Yeah, yeah. Let¡¯s just land before something else tries to kill us.¡± Kuro¡¯s tail flicked. ¡°Agreed.¡± The comms crackled. ¡°Cadet team Stardancer, you are cleared for docking. Welcome to Outpost Helios.¡± Usa-hime took a deep breath, guiding the ship toward the designated platform. The landing was smoother than she expected¡ªa far cry from the chaotic near-death experiences they had just survived. And the moment the ship powered down¡ª Zyra stretched. ¡°WE LIVED!¡± Cipher groaned. ¡°I want to sleep for a month.¡± Kuro smirked. ¡°No time for that. We have a graduation to get to.¡± Usa-hime exhaled, stepping off the ship and onto the platform. They had done it. But their journey was just beginning. Meeting Captain Beios The docking platform led into a massive hall, where hundreds of cadets had already gathered. The air buzzed with energy¡ªexcitement, relief, and the lingering tension of knowing this was the final step. Then¡ª A new voice cut through the room. Deep. Commanding. ¡°Attention, cadets.¡± The room fell silent. Stepping onto the raised platform at the front of the hall was a towering figure, draped in a high-ranking Union officer¡¯s coat. Captain Beios. Unlike Callen, whose presence carried the weight of a battle-worn instructor, Beios radiated authority. His dark blue uniform was adorned with gold trim and battle medals. His scarred face spoke of countless battles, and his piercing gray eyes seemed to analyze everyone in the room at once. Even the rowdiest cadets straightened up. He wasn¡¯t just a leader. He was a legend. Beios clasped his hands behind his back. ¡°You have all survived your trials. You have fought, flown, and pushed yourselves to the limit.¡± His gaze swept over them. ¡°And now, you stand here¡ªon the edge of something greater.¡± The air grew heavy with anticipation. Beios continued, ¡°Graduation is not just a ceremony. It is a choice. A commitment. The final moment before you decide whether to dedicate your lives to the Hunter¡¯s path.¡± Usa-hime felt a shiver run down her spine. This was it. No more training wheels. No more simulations. After this, they were real Hunters. Beios let the weight of his words settle before speaking again. ¡°Tomorrow, you will stand before the Union as full-fledged Hunters. And after that¡ª¡± His voice lowered. ¡°Your first mission awaits.¡± A wave of murmurs spread through the hall. Cipher leaned over to Usa-hime. ¡°Okay, but like¡­ can the mission wait until after we sleep?¡± Zyra elbowed them. ¡°Shut up, this is the cool part!¡± Beios raised a hand, silencing the crowd. ¡°I will not tell you what lies ahead,¡± he said. ¡°You will learn that soon enough. But know this¡ªyour survival will depend on more than just strength.¡± His gray eyes darkened. ¡°You will need wisdom. Cunning. And the will to push forward even when the galaxy itself stands against you.¡± He paused. ¡°Tomorrow, you make your choice.¡± Then, he turned and walked off the platform. The room erupted into a storm of whispers. Zyra clenched her fists. ¡°First mission. Finally.¡± Kuro smirked. ¡°Hope you¡¯re ready, Rabbit Princess.¡± Cipher stretched. ¡°Yeah, yeah. But food first. Then existential dread.¡± Usa-hime barely heard them. Her mind was still on Beios¡¯ words. A real mission. She had trained for this. Fought for this. But now¡ªit was real. She looked up at the stars beyond the outpost¡¯s glass ceiling. And for the first time, she felt it. Not fear. Not doubt. Purpose.