《[LN]SEASON 6 Awakening The Angel System (LITRPG): Archangel》 S1 Chapter 1 LN: Mundane Day Meets [ANGEL] Chapter 1 LN: Mundane Day Meets [ANGEL] Corporate Alliance Territory Eden City// Cordell Industries Central Territory.
"Wow....everything kinda sucks..." Underneath the neon lights, an unassuming dark-haired teen stared blankly into the night sky, watching as aerial trams soared by. Or, at least what constituted as a sky for the massive underground city. The only defense between the humans that lived inside it and the hordes of monstrosities on the surface that wanted to tear them apart. At least that''s what the Corpo''s told them. ¡°Everyday, it¡¯s all the same isn¡¯t it.¡± Jack muttered as his gaze wandered from the billboard-ridden sky to some tech-junkies getting frisky in a nearby alleyway. Same woman, different customer Jack thought to himself, his gaze eyeing a familiar prostitute allowing herself to be undressed by a dirty vagrant. Alas before he could get a good peek, the sound of a squeaky door opening drew his attention from the naughty couple below. ¡°Can''t sleep?¡± the middle-aged police officer asked as he stepped out onto the roof of the dingy apartment building. Hearing the sounds of lustful moans, the man peeked over the rail where he was immediately disgusted by the sight. ¡°Hey! Go home Clara, or I¡¯m booking you for indecent exposure!¡± The Constable hollered down, picking up a random brick off the roof and throwing it at the deviants getting busy in the alley. The couple flicked him off, screaming obscenities as they scurried off into the cover of darkness. ¡°Tsk, damn tech junkies," Mike shook his head and swore, before turning to the teen and placing a hand on the boy''s shoulder. "You should get inside kiddo. Have you eaten today? I''ve got leftover crackers and gin.¡± Jack sighed, while it was true he was hungry, he wanted to be left alone and waved dismissively at the man. ¡°I''m still a minor Mike.¡± Jack replied flatly as he tried his best to focus on his own thoughts and hoping the man would catch a hint. Unfortunately, the boy¡¯s adoptive father shrugged before leaning his back on the rusty railing next to Jack. ¡°Cigarette?¡± The man offered, fishing a stick of nicotine from a hidden compartment of his prosthetic hand. Jack refused the offer causing the man to chuckle. ¡°Good, you shouldn¡¯t smoke kiddo. Bad for your health." ¡°Didn¡¯t you promise Jill to quit?¡± ¡°I did. That''s why it''s hidden in my prosthetic. Won''t tell if you don''t.¡± Mike laughed, lighting up the nicotine stick using the torch on his prosthetic finger. ¡°Your sister worries about everything. At the rate the world is going, pretty sure I¡¯ll die way before the sticks do me in¡­" Mike took a puff of his stick before continuing on. "So, what¡¯s up?¡± At Mike''s pestering, Jack looked up at the holograms in the sky. Far above the aerial trams where much of the "sky" was littered with advertisements and adverts from the various Corpos that ruled the city. ¡°The sky.¡± Mike smiled at the comment before taking another long drag of his cigarette. He looked up at the expansive light show that blanketed them above the city and shook his head. ¡°Minus the ads asking for kidneys, add some twinkles to it, maybe even a moon, and you could almost believe we were outside... So, what''s up? On Real this time. Nightmares? Stress? Work? Or are you worried about your day of adulthood?¡± Jack hung his head low as he relented to his father¡¯s constant questioning. Mike always pestered, never leaving anything alone until he got an answer that satisfied him. ¡°Combination of everything I suppose. How¡¯d you know what you¡¯d want to do after turning sixteen?¡± The man chuckled at the question before fixing his gaze over at the bustling sounds of pedestrians below them. ¡°It was a lot different forty years ago kiddo. We never got a choice. Back then the government was still drafting kids to fight Demonspawn on the surface, and we were still recovering from the War of Secession. Now though, at least they ask first before sending them to hell," Mike took another breath of his cig, reminiscing for a moment as sirens began blaring in the distance. ¡°Who knows, maybe you¡¯ll awaken this time and you¡¯ll get a choice pick instead eh kid. Might even make enough money to pay rent for once.¡± Jack scoffed at the response. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Don''t count on it. No one paying good creds will hire a drop out. Besides, I¡¯d rather take a mundane job where I can read and earn money than having to live that life of anxiety.¡± Jack said, watching as several white specks suddenly began buzzing around in the distance. ¡°Maybe Kagawa or Liu-Tech can hire me as a paper pusher. Always easier pushing papers than fighting demons.¡± ¡°True dat kiddo and if that fails you could also always do porn,¡± Mike laughed, his cigarette nearly sputtering out. ¡°Get inside soon alright? You got work early in the morning. Oh! And one more thing, remember to eat, Jill can do without a couple of new dolls and toys.¡± Jack turned toward Mike and flashed a smile, pinching his nose as he did so. "She says it''s part of a set. Apparently if you get them all together and scan a code you get a power bonus in-game, and transformation, whatever that means," Jack chuckled to himself, fishing out a small photo of a neon-green haired girl pointing at a specific character on a poster. A picture they had taken so Jack could know which toy to buy. "Don''t run yourself ragged kid." The middle-aged man shook his head before flicking his cigarette and departing, leaving Jack alone on the terrace with his thoughts. It had been nine years since the Elysium Massacre. An event where Demonspawn had somehow broken through the city defenses and slaughtered a number of people, including Jack¡¯s parents leaving him and his sister orphaned. The pair of siblings would have met a similar fate if not for dumb luck and Mike losing an arm for them. A fact of which Jack always felt guilty about whenever he saw the man. Most people would have sworn vengeance against the demons, and dedicated their life to fighting them. But not Jack, he had other responsibilities. Like taking care of his bedridden sister and paying back the closest thing he had to a father. Which is where his current conundrum stemmed from. He was bored of life. Despite his words about wanting a boring job to his adoptive father, Jack had plaguing thoughts about how mundane his life was. Every day was the same old, same old. Wake up, go to work, come home, and play video games. Wake up, go to work, come home, and play video games. Rinse and repeat. Thanks to his constant work and taking care of his sister, he had no friends to speak of, at least not IRL. And no hobbies outside of anime and gaming. A life of a depressive shut-in. That¡¯s what his days had become. He always told himself he¡¯d strike out or get lucky but he never went for it. Instead lazily idling his days away as he got older and older and saved every penny for his sister. But his Day of Adulthood was coming soon, and with that a second chance at Awakening. As humans grew, they could display an affinity for mana. Usually at the ages of five and six. If you didn¡¯t Awaken then, then you had one chance left and that was your sixteenth birthday. The Day of Adulthood. Awakening spelled a lot of opportunities for folks, mostly because being one granted you access to the outside world. A land of innumerable adventures and exploration, or at least that''s what the guilds advertised. But it was deadly to non-awakened where they could quickly become infected or succumb to mana madness, so access was heavily barred or at least taxed to the non-immune. At least that''s what the pamphlets said. That didn¡¯t stop people from trying though. Despite the safety of the underground City, folks risked life and limb to escape. And Jack was beginning to see why. Staring out at the spacious city, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit claustrophobic as he looked out at the neon night. He needed change. No, he craved it. He was so tired of living a life of atrophy that he almost considered signing up for the military just to get away from the city. Almost. "Hm, maybe I shoulda taken that cigarette." Jack mused, taking one last look at the metropolis before heading back inside his run down apartment. Jack sighed, he didn¡¯t know what he wanted to do, but one thing was for certain. He needed change. Maybe if he awakened he¡¯d have some motivation to change his life. Turning the doorknob to go back inside, Jack paused. Something was wrong. He could feel a tingle on his skin as his hair stood on end almost as if something was brushing up against him. Then he heard it, no, felt it. Something or someone screaming at him to move. Spinning around, Jack¡¯s jaw dropped as he eyed a black fireball hurling his way. The boy reacted by attempting to dodge, but it was too late. The rooftop erupted into a cornucopia of debris and flame sending Jack flying. Pain flooded his senses as his entire world spun, before finally settling to a dull ringing sound in his ears as he found himself incapable of moving. He didn''t know what happened but there was one thing he was certain of, he was hurt, and hurt bad. To what extent Jack didn''t know as his vision blurred and he tried to claw his way around the debris of the collapsed roof. "Uuurffh." Jack moaned, struggling to move. He couldn''t feel his legs, or his left arm for that matter and his side felt dull, almost as if something was missing. Looking down with what remained of his eyes, the boy''s mind went blank as he saw the bloodied remains of where his legs should be and a large spike of debris stabbed into his side. He reached down to remove the foreign object but only managed to rub a bloodied stump on the rebar. Where¡¯s my hand? As the realization of what he was staring at dawned on Jack, his breathing began to rapidly escalate with each breath coming up a little shorter with each intake. No,no,no,no my legs! My legs? I don''t want to die! I don''t want to die! Why? Why! No! Oh Saintess! Why! Oh no! No! NO! PLease. Oh God! My legs! My legs! My arm! "Help!" Jack screamed. "Help me please!" His mind raced, trying to figure out ways to save himself but came up short as weakness began to take hold. With his life force quickly dyeing the ground Jack struggled with every ounce of his being to stay awake but found himself slipping further and further into unconsciousness. I don''t want to die! Please! Suddenly the smoldering remains of the roof began to shift, revealing a slender silhouette of a naked girl covered in blood and dust with golden hair that seemed to shimmer under the neon lights. It would have made for a magnificent sight if not for her arms and legs that were bent in incorrect angles, snapping, and twisting as they realigned themselves. The Reaper! Jack gawked as the specter of death began shambling, every one of its movements unnatural and inhuman. "No¡­ stay away..." Jack pitifully wheezed as the figure began approaching him. ¡°So¡­rry.. I¡¯m.. sowry.¡± The mangled humanoid sputtered before falling and draping itself over the dying boy. Jack tried to shimmy away, but between the blood loss and weight of his assailant he only managed to let out a wailful moan. I dont want to die... Was Jack''s only thought as the creature¡¯s black palm filled what remained of his vision and his sight faded to black. S1 Chapter 2 LN: Story of the Girl and The [ANGEL]
¡°WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! THIS IS AN EMERGENCY PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT! ALL CITIZENS ARE TO STAY INDOORS AND TO AVOID CORDELL PLAZA! LOCK YOUR DOORS AND STAY SAFE! ¡°WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! THIS IS AN EMERGENCY PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT! ALL CITIZENS ARE TO STAY INDOORS AND TO AVOID CORDELL PLAZA! LOCK YOUR DOORS AND STAY SAFE! ¡°WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! THIS IS AN EMERGENCY PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT! ALL CITIZENS ARE TO STAY INDOORS AND TO AVOID CORDELL PLAZA! LOCK YOUR DOORS AND STAY SAFE!
Chapter 2 LN: Story of thE Girl and The [ANGEL] ??????? ¡°Trail ends here, the damn bitch escaped!¡± "Energy signature is weak, she couldn''t have gotten far. Getting a slight reading from the kid. Should we bring him in? He seems hurt pretty bad. Might even know where the mark ran off to." Jack faded in and out of consciousness as voices argued above his body. Angels? Jack thought as his vision cleared up just enough to make out what appeared to be three suits of floating white armor. "Do I look like a fucking ambulance? Leave him for the junkies. He¡¯s too far gone and we ain''t getting paid to waste our suits energy by floating around. Let''s move B, bitch has to be around here somewhere." Jack attempted to call out to the fleeing trio but found his mouth oddly dry and too hoarse to speak. Sleep. A voice whispered, coaxing him to rest. Feeling droopy Jack obliged, sleep did sound good. Real good. Closing his eyes Jack drifted off as fatigue racked what remained of his body and forced him back into a slumber. ¡°Hello?¡± A gentle voice suddenly called out, stirring Jack within his own subconscious. ¡°Hellllo? Hey, wake up!" At the command, the black faded and Jack suddenly became aware of himself floating in an endless void that seemed to stretch into an infinite blue nebula. ¡°Hello.¡± A voice spoke before a naked woman suddenly shimmered into existence in front of Jack. Momentarily taken aback by her beauty the teen stumbled over himself and looked away before remembering what had happened only seconds prior. ¡°Who are you?! Where am I?!¡± Jack demanded, his stupor immediately overwritten by confusion of the situation he found himself in. One moment he remembered reaching for the rusty door handle and then the next¡­ Jack''s eyes widened in alarm as he looked down and kicked, making sure his legs were still there. ¡°Oh thank the saintess!¡± Jack exclaimed, relieved that he could wiggle his toes. He crouched down, immediately kissing his knees and flexing his left hand. "I''ll never take you for granted ever again!" ¡°Your ephemeral body is very much still intact. Sadly, I can¡¯t say the same for your physical body.¡± ¡°What does that even mean?¡± Jack cried, confused by the woman''s words. ¡°Am I dead?! Oh god, I¡¯m dead! I¡¯m dead! What even was that?! What happened?! I-¡± A realization blanketed the teen as he recognized the golden-haired woman as the monstrosity he saw shortly before his vision went black. ¡°YOU! You did this! You killed me!¡± Jack jabbed at the woman, fury in his voice as the culprit of his demise merely stared at him. ¡°Mmmmh. I did warn you to move.¡± The woman casually folded her slender hands and cocked her head to the side, seeming impervious to the boy¡¯s outburst of anger and panic. ¡°I can''t- I. My sister! Oh man I have work in the morning I can¡¯t be dead! I-I-" Jack was finding it hard to breathe, every breath was coming up short and every word seemed to die before it could be spoken. He immediately recognized the symptoms for what they were. He was having a panic attack. ¡°Relax, you aren¡¯t dead... Yet.¡± ¡°Wha?¡± Jack managed to sputter, composing himself with his attention now caught by the golden specter. ¡°Welcome to your inner sea. The deepest root of your subconscious. Most people never get to see this space or experience it. Time here is but a thousandth of a second in real life. So relax. We have time." The woman''s hair broke into strands as she began swimming, making circles around the boy as he tried to wrap his head around what was happening. "Ok, but how does this help me not die?!" "Ever heard that patience is a virtue?" The woman giggled. "I''m getting to that. You see, I want to make a deal." "Deal?! Why would I make a deal with someone that just took my legs off! You should be fixing the mess you made!" "That''s fair. Unfortunately we live in an unfair world and you''ll accept if you want to live." A silence settled between the two before the woman stopped her graceful movements and hovered in front of Jack. The two locked eyes with neither blinking as both stared at each other. "What''s the offer?" Jack huffed after some time. "Hm?" "What do I need to do to live?" He couldn''t die. Not until he got his sister out of the slums and paid back Mike for all his help. Whatever it was, he was willing to do it. He always stayed out of drugs, guns, and crime, but if it meant violating all of his tenents then he would do it. Consequences be damned, he couldn''t leave his sister alone. The woman softened, surprised by the boy''s candor and determined expression. "For what it''s worth, I am sorry, I never meant to hurt you. You were just in the wrong place at the wrong time." "Yea so it seems. Just a stroke of bad luck huh." Jack shook his head, trying to get the imagery of his severed legs and arm out of his mind. "So what do you need me to do?" The woman smiled, reaching out and brushing a hand against Jack''s cheek. Despite her golden glow and angelic appearance, her touch was all but warm. She was cold, but it didn''t feel bad, on the contrary it was soothing, like a cool drink in an overcrowded packing facility. "Let me show you something first." The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Without warning, images began to flash before Jack''s eyes of a life that was entirely not his own. It started with a blue sky and a little girl with no name sold to a magical smiling man for petty change. The beginning of what would be years of injections, dissections, and experimentation. All while being told constantly that she was special. That she was unique. That she was the next evolution of mankind. A ¡°Savior¡±, they called her. Everything was for the restoration of humanity they assured as they assaulted her body both physically and mentally, breaking her down until she was nothing more than a husk. And yet¡­ despite their words about how special she was, there were hundreds, maybe even thousands like her. Children, plucked from the streets or sold to the Smiling man who wore a crescent star on his lapel. She never saw them, but she could hear them, feel their presence as she sat alone in her dark box. Unbeknownst to her tormentors, the little girl could feel the other children''s terror and anxiety as they underwent painful experiments. A secret she kept to herself. Fortunately, the childish screams never lasted long, a small mercy, but one that she was grateful for. Over time she grew numb to the voices, awaiting the day that her screams would eventually stop once and for all and she would join the countless others who had obtained freedom from this hell. Yet, no matter how much they injected her, how much they cut, broke, and bled her, she never succumbed to the loving embrace of death, her body, refusing to allow her to die. Eventually, the white coats would begin training her, forcing her to undergo grueling training that left her bleeding and in pain after every ¡°session.¡±. After years of this, when she could no longer feel pain, she was brought to a room where other ¡°Saviors¡± had been gathered. There could only be one, they announced before showing them images of a magnificent blue sky. A sky that triggered a flicker of hope within the shell of what remained of the little girl. They were simple photos of mountains underneath an sky, yet to those that had only known the damp cells all their lives, it was nothing less than a paradise just out of reach. Then they were ordered to kill each other, for the honor to become a ¡°True Savior.¡± The one that would be given their freedom and the ability to lead humanity to their next step. Freedom. That''s all she needed to hear. Fueled by her desire to see the sky, the girl killed without hesitation. At first with a stone, then with a knife, again with her hands, and then finally with mana. She swept through the other ¡°contestants¡± like a hot knife through butter, each victory, another step toward freedom. Each bloodstain, another corpse, merely kindling for her hope that grew brighter with every kill. Then a day came when there was no one left to kill. When she stood bloody and alone above a mountain of corpses. And that¡¯s when she met it. The Angel. A golden-winged being bound in chains, slumbering in a vat of glowing gooey liquid. The white-coats were ecstatic, brimming with joy as they congratulated the girl on a job well done. But she didn¡¯t care, she was mesmerized by the Angel in the vat. Of the wings on the woman¡¯s back that hinted at the possibilities of flying freely into the blue sky, like the birds from her picture books that she could barely recall. Not long after, the girl was stripped naked of her bloodied rags and made to lie in a smooth cylindrical machine. The touch of the metal, cold against her skin as they strapped her limbs to the contraption. Then they sealed the vat, instructing the girl to relax as the cylinder began flooding with liquid. Very quickly the slimy substance filled the container with the girl trapped inside struggling frantically to hold her breath as the green goo submerged her completely. She didn¡¯t last long as her need for oxygen forced her to inhale, and with it, sealing her fate. The girl thrashed violently inside the vat as her lungs began to burn. She tried to claw at her throat but only managed to shred her wrists on the metal restraints holding her in place. Fortunately, the spasming only lasted seconds before the girl accepted her fate, letting herself go into the embrace of death that she always wanted. Her last thought, one of the expansive blue sky she had always wanted to see again. Several moments passed as the girl¡¯s lifeless body remained suspended in the machine. Until suddenly, her eyes snapped open, brimming with golden power. The Angel was awake, and she was pissed! What happened next was beyond the white-coat¡¯s expectations. The girl broke free from her restraints, ripping her way out of the cylinder as easily as if tearing through paper. Chaos erupted not long after as the now golden-haired girl tore her way through the facility. Massacring white-coats left and right as they fled. She spared no one, using her bare hands to rip and tear apart human flesh even as they begged for mercy and huddled into piss-stained groups. With her bloodlust momentarily satiated there was only one thought on her mind. Fulfill the last wish of the little girl who wanted to see the sky. Not knowing where she was, the Angel blasted her way skyward, tearing through the floors of the facility one by one despite multiple attempts to stop her. By the time she broke free she was surprised to see the world around her, not one she knew. Momentarily blindsided by the foreign landscape she was caught unawares by her pursuers, allowing them to deal a fatal blow. Using every ounce of her remaining energy the angel fled, rocketing forward through the ¡°sky¡± in a last ditch attempt to flee until getting sniped by an expertly timed blast of energy that sent her spiraling to the ground. As the Angel fell she became aware of a boy in her flight path and tried to warn him of her rapid approach. Yet she failed to muster enough energy to activate her skill as the area around her erupted into an explosion of fire and debris. ¡°And that¡¯s how we¡¯re here now.¡± The woman said, retracting her hand and ending the memory. ¡°I¡­¡± Jack blinked a few times, trying to process the load of information that was fed to him all at once. Tears began falling from his face before he finally mustered a response. ¡°I¡¯m. Sorry.¡± Jack wept. He wasn''t one to cry often, but he had never seen or felt such raw emotion before. The memories were quick, but the sorrow, the anger, and the sadness all congealed to form a bullet that shot through Jack, dispelling all his anger and confusion to leave him saddened and remorseful of the little girl''s fate. The woman produced a soft smile at the boy''s response. ¡°It isn¡¯t your fault. At least I know you aren¡¯t like those humans at the facility. You too dream of the open sky.¡± Jack was momentarily taken aback as he realized that the Angel had read his memories as he read hers. ¡°Was this a test?¡± ¡°Yes. One that you fortunately passed.¡± Reeling in his emotions, Jack pondered to himself for a moment. Attempting to process the tiny details that could help him understand what deal the Angel wanted to propose. ¡°You melded with the girl and brought her body back to life, is¡­ is that what you plan on doing to me?¡± The Angel smiled faintly. ¡°Yes. If you want to live I have to meld with your body, Awaken it and fuse my soul to yours.¡± The Angel placed her palms on Jack¡¯s face and brought her snow-white face next to his until they were nose to nose. ¡°You want to live, and my nature can¡¯t stomach fading away before seeing them pay. Plus, this is the only way to save you.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just take control of my body?¡± The Angel looked Jack straight in the eye. Her golden eyes seeming to peer into the depths of Jack''s soul. ¡°I wanted to give you a choice. One that the girl never got.¡± The Angel said finally before releasing the boy''s face. ¡°Will you take over my body?¡± ¡°No. You will be free to do whatever you wish as long as you help me find the Smiling Man. I will guide and help you. Give you the means to fight and win, all I ask is that you help me take vengeance against the people that sowed such misery and despair.¡± ¡°Is that it? I''ll do it!" Jack grabbed the woman''s hand. " Whatever it takes. I¡­ I have people counting on me and I can''t¡­ I can''t die yet before paying them back." The Angel caressed Jack''s hand as she looked him directly in his eye. "I won''t lie to you. There is a chance that even if you survive, you could become crippled¡­ or worse. And there''s no telling what symptoms could occur from our fusion." "Worse?" Jack echoed. He couldn''t imagine anything worse than leaving his loved ones to fend for themselves. "What could be worse than dying?" The woman gave a sad smile but didn''t offer a response. Her eyes unfocused, almost as if the question seemed to dredge up some kind of unwanted memory. "Will it hurt?" Jack asked, drawing the Angel''s attention. "I''ll do whatever I can to make it as painless as possible. I promise." Jack grinned. "Then it''s a deal. I help you track down Smiling Man, and you help me not die and give me your power." ¡°Very well then.¡± The girl ceased floating, drifting down until her feet touched the floor of the void. The woman''s expression morphed from one of saddened mirth and laziness to one that left an impression of majesty as pure-white wings sprung from the woman¡¯s back. "On my name as Sahaqiel! The Steward of the Sky and last of the guardians. I offer you this covenant. A sacred vow to bind us as one." Jack knelt, instinctively knowing what to do as the woman held out her hand. "Are you willing to be my avatar?" "I am," Jack unhesitantly replied, he didn''t have much of a choice if he wanted to live. Taking the woman''s hand Jack kissed it. Almost immediately his body sparked with energy, as if he''d taken multiple shots of C4 energy drinks. "Thank you. The contract is sealed. Rest my champion. And for what it''s worth. I am sorry and I hope this works." Was the last words Jack heard before the void around him imploded into white. S1 Chapter 3: The [ANGEL] Arrives Home Chapter 3: The [ANGEL] ArriVes Home Corporate Alliance Territory Eden City// Cordell Industries Central Territory. "C4, C4, C4! When you just don''t have the energy, start your day with a bang! Guaranteed to give you the explosive energy you need to kickstart your life into overdrive!" Jack woke to the sight of an unfamiliar pasty yellow room as a TV blared another one of those annoying ads. Blinking, his vision focused enough to see that he was in a run-down room with flickering lights and water leaking from the ceiling that was suspiciously close to dripping on the rusty machines. He sat up and stretched, with the sound of loud snoring drawing his eyes to a middle-aged man propped up in a chair, sleeping soundly with his prosthetic arm pressed against his face as drool leaked everywhere. Jack breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing Mike here was a good sign, it meant his sister was safe as there was no way he¡¯d leave her alone if she was injured. Suddenly the realization of where he was and why he was there crashed on him as he noticed the hospital gown and rhythmic medical machinery. Jack panicked, immediately throwing back the thread-bare sheets to see if his legs were still connected to the rest of his body. Sure enough they were there. Wiggling his toes, Jack let out a nervous chuckle before plopping his head back down on the brick-like object that was supposed to be a pillow. Remembering the events, outside of being a little sore and feeling heavier than usual, he felt fine. Maybe even better than usual. Was everything just a hallucination? ¡°What a sick dream,¡± Jack murmured to himself as he stared at the dinky ceiling above. ¡°It wasn¡¯t a dream.¡± Startled, Jack shot up at such a speed he became light-headed from the sudden exertion. Sitting up he could see the naked woman from his dream, draped over his legs with her boobs pressing against his thighs. He hadn¡¯t even felt her lying down until he sat up to look at her! Wide-eyed, Jack''s vision shot towards Mike before shifting his gaze back to the wingless Angel. ¡°Put some clothes on!¡± Jack hissed. ¡°Oh relax, he can¡¯t see me. Only you can.¡± Sahaqiel replied lazily before rolling over, exposing her breasts to Jack who shyly covered his eyes and looked away. ¡°Can you at least cover yourself or something?!¡± "What are you shy? They¡¯re just boobs. I¡¯ve seen your memories, I know what your internet search history looks like.¡± Flustered, the teen took a moment to recover from the shocking revelation. "Don''t worry its just the surface stuff." The Angel assured, examining a nearby beeping monitor. "What is this?" ¡°Please¡­ just do something, they¡¯re¡­ distracting.¡± Sahaqiel giggled. ¡°Fiiiiine, is this better?¡± Removing his hand from his eyes Jack was astonished to see white light appearing from seemly nowhere and obscuring the woman¡¯s breasts and naughty bits. ¡°No¡­ Not, particularly. It¡¯s still very distracting.¡± Jack said. At his words the woman rolled her eyes before making the light begin to fade, causing Jack to leap up. ¡°No! Keep it, it¡¯s better that way.¡± Jack¡¯s sudden outburst caused Mike to stir, waking the man who immediately jumped up and scrambled onto the bed, phasing through the naked woman. ¡°Thank the maker, you''re awake!¡± Mike cried, hugging the boy as he watched Sahaqiel fade away with a wave of her hand. Soon a doctor and a nurse entered the room, performing generic checks and diagnostics on Jack as they asked him a series of various questions. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Ya one lucky kid to have survived an impact like that.¡± The doctor whistled, his cybernetic eye on his clipboard while his real eye stared at Jack. ¡°Minor bruising, some broken ribs. Concussion. With you being out for two days we did an MRI of your brain to make sure there wasn¡¯t any long-term damage. Luckily we found nothing so we did a body scan. With the exception of your left arm being about two inches longer than your right, you''re medically fine. Pretty much good to go.¡± Uh. Ok? Jack thought, unsure what to make of the arm comment. ¡°Hear that kiddo? You¡¯re good to go.¡± Mike smiled, smacking the boy on the back. ¡°How much do we owe Cisco?¡± Jack froze, it hadn¡¯t occurred to him that he would owe money. Seeing the expression on Jack¡¯s face, Mike made a subtle hand signal, telling him it was ok. ¡°Eh, uninsured rate? Full hushed? Couple hundred creds for each of the overnights since I like ya, six Gs for the MRI, and five hundo for the visit. Oh n forty bucks for the gown. Won''t charge you for the failed implant though, what''s that come out to Misty?¡± Jack looked down at the paper-thin hospital gown. Forty bucks are you serious?! Jack nearly cursed the man out if not for the nurse staring ominously at him. ¡°Six-thousand nine-hundred and forty credits doctor, plus taxes.¡± The petite woman answered, eyeing the duo like a hawk. From the outline near her waist, she was packing more than just boobs underneath her nurse''s gown. ¡°Oh yes, plus taxes.¡± The doctor clapped, not even bothering to hide his greedy grin. Mike sighed as he fished out a card. ¡°Eh, we don¡¯t take Liu credit here. Not worth much with Cordell winning the bloodbath they call an election.¡± The doctor taped a nearby desk, making a loud thunk sound. ¡°Need hard creds these days, non-traced, universal. If you can¡¯t pay we can make an arrangement. Kidneys are still a hot item.¡± Mike smirked at the comment. ¡°Yea, the department knows all about your arrangements, Cisco.¡± Mike retorted, taking out a chip and flicking it toward the doctor. ¡°I¡¯ll pass on your arrangement. Here¡¯s everything minus a half for being a greedy little fuck.¡± At the response, the nurse snapped toward Mike with a scowl on her face, a scalpel somehow already in her hand. The doctor raised an arm, stopping the woman from reaching for her waist as Mike¡¯s prosthetic whirled to life. ¡°Ha, sure, sure. Just teasing you Mikey,¡± The man laughed, pocketing the chip. "Come now kitten, we''ve got several goods to examine." The nurse maintained eye contact with Mike as she followed the doctor out the room. Seeing an opportunity, Mike stuck his tongue out, taunting the woman whose eyes visibility twitched before she stomped out. ¡°Heh. You good kiddo?¡± Mike turned to Jack. ¡°Little sore, but I think I¡¯m good. Is Jill ok? How''s the apartment?¡± ¡°Relax, she''s fine. The apartment is still livable and all of the bystanders and news folk are gone now so she¡¯s holding up in her room dying to see you.¡± Mike fished out a cigarette lighting it up. ¡°You ready to leave kiddo?¡± At the news, Jack let out a sigh of relief he hadn''t realized he¡¯d been holding. ¡°Yea, I''ll feel a lot better once we get away from this smell.¡± After putting on a fresh pair of clothes Mike had brought for Jack, the duo stepped out into the neon-lit alleyway where Mike helped the teen to the Constable cruiser parked in a damp alley. His legs were a bit sluggish, but he chalked it up to having been lying around for the last two days. ¡°Fascinating,¡± Sahaqiel murmured, unexpectedly materializing alongside Jack and startling him. ¡°You ok kiddo?¡± Mike asked, pausing as he opened the police car for Jack. ¡°Yea I¡¯m good, just getting used to walking again.¡± Jack replied, ignoring the butt-naked specter as she twirled in amazement at the concrete jungle around her. Getting into the vehicle, the ride was fairly silent as Mike navigated the congested traffic. The only sound in the car being the occasional oohs and aahs from Sahaqiel as she observed the urban blight they passed. [Surprising how far humanity has come despite not being able to evolve.] Jack went wide-eyed at the Angel''s words in his head. Are you in my head?! [Oh? Yes, relax I''m a part of you. This is how this all kinda works out. What did you think being my avatar meant?] Not you speaking in my mind? Sahaqiel chuckled. [If you think that''s mind blowing, You have no idea.] Suddenly needing a break from the Angel, he elected to ignore the glowing woman in the backseat laughing and turn his attention to the traffic to occupy his thoughts. As he focused on the view around him, Jack could make out several Awakened flying about. It was usually a common sight to see the White clad mercenaries, but now, instead of having a sense of melancholy and jealousy, all Jack felt was annoyance as he remembered how the Mercenaries had left him to die alone on his roof. With a sigh, Jack looked away from the flying humanoids and shot a quick glanced at Mike, where he decided to put to rest a nagging thought that had been plaguing him since they left the clinic. ¡°I¡¯ll pay you back.¡± Mike looked over and raised an eyebrow before smirking. ¡°Pfft, in which lifetime kiddo?¡± the man laughed, turning on his sirens to manipulate the cars ahead of him to move. ¡°Consider it your coming-of-age gift. Besides, Jill wouldn¡¯t forgive me if I let the scrappers take you.¡± Despite Mike''s nonchalant attitude, Jack knew it was a lot of money. He couldn''t help but feel guilty and at the same time annoyed by the string of events that had led Mike to spend so much on his behalf. Arriving outside their slab-grey home, Jack was amazed to see their building still standing. Somehow only the roof was damaged but everything else was still intact, with people going about their business as usual. Considering things going boom and people showing up missing was normal here, Jack didn''t expect much when he eyed the sight. Mike pulled the car up to the curb but didn¡¯t shut the engine off. ¡°Jill is waiting for you upstairs. I gotta go into work, since you were out there was a big disturbance downtown." Mike reached over and ruffled Jack''s hair. "In the meantime, you say hi to Jill for me and stay out of trouble ok?¡± "No promises," Jack grinned, getting out of the vehicle and making his way to the rundown apartment, unaware that he was being watched the entire time. S1 Chapter 4: ThE [ANGEL] and {Jillian}
¡°Britannia Shipping Stock rose today by fifty-five points after the unveiling of a new model of landship said to be rated for A-Class Monsters and below. The Imperium has already ordered the full inventory with an additional five on back order and is scheduled to deploy the first combat ready model on its first ever long road voyage.¡±- Korriban World News.
Chapter 4: ThE [ANGEL] and {Jillian} Corporate Alliance Territory Eden City// Cordell Industries Central Territory. ¡°Jack!¡± A petite girl in a wheelchair cried out, rolling up and ambushing Jack¡¯s waist before he could fully step inside the damp home. ¡°I was so worried!¡± ¡°Have you been waiting here for me the whole time?¡± Jack smiled, ruffling the girl¡¯s neon green hair as she nuzzled against him. ¡°Mayyyyybe. Hey, did you get taller?¡± Jack knelt down, bringing himself to Jill¡¯s eye level where he began checking the small box around her neck. ¡°Who knows, I¡¯m still growing and so are you,¡± Jack smiled, content that the box still read green. ¡°One day you¡¯ll be as tall as me, maybe even taller eh?¡± You think so?" Jill beamed, causing Jack¡¯s heart to warm as he stared at her bandaged legs. The little girl suffered from Black Rot: an incurable degenerative disease she contracted during the Demon breach that had killed their parents. The disease was aptly named, due in part to the coloration of the victim''s skin turning black and the resulting rot that ensued. The patient would develop sores, before slowly losing the use of their limbs as the corruption spread from their toes to the rest of their body, turning the infected into solid stone. Jill was luckily in the first stage, where only her legs were infected. Unfortunately, due to the magical nature of the disease, her legs couldn''t be amputated and replaced with cybernetics, as removing infected limbs would just cause the infection to jump, moving to a higher portion of the victim. Although Jill had lost the use of her legs, the box kept the rest of the symptoms at bay allowing the girl to live a relatively normal life. As long as the box was charged. "You''ve been taking your pills? Changing your bandages properly?" "Mhm!" The girl replied, bobbing her head enthusiastically as Jack checked the binding of the girl''s bandages. "That''s good, let''s get you back to bed and your box charged," Jack said, spinning the girl around and wheeling her through the narrow hallway. "Hey! But you just got back!" Jill protested. "Let''s watch a movie! Or play some games first! Your birthday is tomorrow, we should celebrate before you do your testing!" Jill put her arms out, latching onto the cracked door frame and stopping Jack from pushing her into her bedroom. "C''mon bro! Pleawse!" Somehow despite being sick, the girl possessed herculean strength in her arms that prevented Jack from moving her an inch. "Let me get settled in first, then I¡¯ll play some games with you!¡± At his words Jill spun her head to look at him with a pout. ¡°Promise?¡± ¡°Pinky,¡± Jack offered, holding out his finger. Jill ceased her struggle, locking her pinky with Jack¡¯s before folding her arms and allowing her brother to cart her back to her pod. Jill''s room was painted green with rows upon rows of books, Holotapes, and action figures adorning the walls. There was even a large TV screen connected to a gaming system that fed directly to a VR set in the pod, allowing Jill to comfortably watch shows or allow Jack to watch what she was playing. ¡°Alright up you go,¡± Jack said, lifting his sister from the wheelchair and into the tube, but as he did so he paused. The machine bore a striking resemblance to the same one from the dream. Remembering the fate of the girl, he hesitated placing his sister in it. ¡°Uhm... Are you ok?¡± Jill said, her brown eyes snapping Jack from his thoughts. ¡°Oh. Yea sorry haha, in you go.¡± Jack feigned a smile, placing his sister into the machine and plugging up her box where it began quietly buzzing as it charged. Jack turned to leave but found his sleeve caught by a slender hand. ¡°Hey¡­¡± Jill murmured with a look of concern on her face. ¡°What''s up?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be back right? You aren''t gonna leave me again right?¡± Ah. Jack felt his heart rate go up. That''s what this was about. She was worried, Jill had no one besides him and Mike and didn''t have any friends due to her condition that prevented her from being out and about for too long. ¡°Yea, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll always come back kiddo. I promise nothing bad is going to happen to me,¡± Jack said, mimicking Mike and giving his best-assuring smile before exiting the room. ¡°Cute sister." Sahaqiel said, appearing before Jack as he closed the door. "Holy hell!" Jack yelled, jumping back in fright as the woman suddenly appeared in front of him. "You''ve gotta stop doing that!" If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. "Doing what? I was just telling you what a cute sister you have." "You know exactly what you''re doing!" Jack hissed, his heart rate escalating as he headed off to his room next over. Luckily, Jill''s room was pretty sound proofed, as she had a bad habit of playing music or watching loud videos up till three AM. Opening his door, Jack entered the familiar plain room. Outside of his futon, PC, and pile of folded clothes next to a window there was nothing remarkable about his barren living quarters. "Where''s all your stuff?" Sahaqiel asked, plopping herself down on Jack''s futon. Jack had to look away as the woman''s breasts bounced up and down. "You''re looking at it." Jack made a grand gesture, waving toward what little he had. "Wow, and I thought Metatron was boring. At least he has stuff." "Who?" "Just some old fogey that only writes." Ignoring the woman rolling around on his bed, Jack turned on the baby monitor beside his desk before he checked his inbox where he was surprised to find several messages waiting for him. "Fugggg." Jack moaned, rubbing his temples. "What is it?" Jack let out a deep sigh as he rested his head on the window. "Termination papers. Fired for an undisclosed reason." Jack couldn''t believe his luck. He''d worked at the moving company for months, never missing a day, yet was fired for missing a couple of days. "Well, that''s good right? More time to help me find the smiling man." "No!" Jack snapped in annoyance. "Without work I can''t afford the damn mana canisters for Jill''s treatment!" Jack began running the numbers in his head. He had a couple of weeks worth of money saved. And he could stock up on replacement canisters, but that would be if he literally starved himself and didn¡¯t pay the electric bill for the month. "Why don''t you cure her then?" Sahaqiel asked, appearing behind Jack and resting her head on his shoulder. Jack shrugged her off. "Don''t you think I would if I could?! Black Rot is incurable!" Jacked yelled in frustration, knocking the screen off his terminal in anger. He didn¡¯t know what he was going to do. Work was scarce for a fifteen-year-old drop-out with no specialty training or backing. The future wasn¡¯t looking too bright for Jack. "No it isn''t." ¡°What?¡± Jack asked, half annoyed and not paying attention as he looked out his window. ¡°The curse isn¡¯t incurable.¡± Every ounce of heat left his body as the realization of what Sahaqiel had said dawned on him. "What?" Jack echoed again. Momentarily short-circuiting as he tried to process what the Angel said. "I said It isn''t incurable," Sahaqiel stated again. Jack spun around, faster than the Angel could react, and grabbed the apparition by the shoulders, causing her to tense up at the unexpected touch. "Oh? Right here? Right now? But we''ve only just met," Sahaqiel teased, placing a hand up to her mouth as she acted coyly. "What? No! What do you mean it''s not incurable?!" "Well you didn''t have to be so adamant about it. I mean that it isn''t. What you call Black Rot isn''t a disease, it''s a curse. And like all curses, it can be broken." Sahaqiel batted her eyes flirtatiously at Jack as he stared long and hard at her. "If you keep staring at me like that, you''ll make me gush." Ignoring the way her breathing made her breasts heave, Jack tried to get the blushing woman to focus. "Well, that''s simple silly, just Awaken and gain a skill strong enough to purge it. I can tell you how, but first, you need to give me some assurance that you''re looking for the Smiling Man." Sahaqiel said, running a finger across the teen''s chest. Jack smacked her slender arm away before sitting down at his terminal and plugging his monitor back in. Luckily the screen still worked. "Yea, a deals a deal. Let''s pull up the Info-Net and see what we can find," Remembering the details of the memories, Jack figured her escape must have turned heads. That someone must have reported about it. And he was right. Tuning onto the news there was a reporter standing in front of a familiar crater. "And in other news, Cordell Plaza remains cordoned off to the public due to Thursday''s Mana pipe rupture that devastated the downtown area. Cordell Engineering has issued a statement regarding the incident and is offering a substantial reward for information leading to the capture of this saboteur." A three-D rendering of a certain blond woman suddenly displayed on the screen causing Jack to swallow. "She is believed to be An Awakened of considerable strength and is extremely dangerous. The public is being warned to contact the Constables or Cordell SecForce with any information regarding the fugitive. Additionally, contracts will be posted at Guild halls by five PM tonight." "Ah spit," Jack cursed out loud as the cameraman zoomed out. Well, now he knew why he was fired. The garage he normally worked at was gone, along with most of Cordell Plaza. "Hells bells, you blew up the entire downtown?!" "What? I had to get out." The Angel shrugged. "Plus it''s not like I killed anyone that didn''t deserve it." This was crazy. Jack was beginning to freak out from the amount of money posted at the bottom of the screen and the constant showcasing of Sahaqiel''s face. With that amount of zeros he and Jill could live comfortably forever, there was no telling what others would do to get their hands on that reward. Sooner or later the Guild mercs would be looking for him, along with SecForce and every other faction in the city. Jack¡¯s hands were getting clammy as he realized that the first place they¡¯d start their search was his apartment building. "Oh calm down. It''s not like they''d ever find my body." Actually, that raised several questions Jack hadn''t thought of until now. "Speaking of bodies, what happened to yours? Why aren''t people swarming the rooftop looking for you?" "Well, there''s no body for them to find silly. Unless they do a DNA test on you." "What?" Jack turned to the Angel and narrowed his eyes. "How''d you think your legs grew back? Or your wounds healed? Did you not once question why your limbs felt sluggish or why your steps feel heavier?" Wait. No. Jack¡¯s eyes widened in alarm as he looked down at his body. Looking at his left arm he noticed scars that weren''t there prior and a slight barely noticeable difference in the skin tone. Tearing off his pants, Jack inspected his legs which were much more muscular than he remembered. ¡°I altered the density of the muscle tissue and pigmentation to try and match your body. It was a rushed job, but the best I could do given your state. You might even notice you¡¯re a bit taller and stronger too.¡± ¡°You¡­ used her body to¡­¡± Jack suddenly felt sick as he stumbled back onto his bed. ¡°It was a bit hard to body sculpt. Radueriel was always better than me at it.¡± Sahaqiel shook her head with a sigh, completely oblivious to Jack¡¯s moment of crisis. ¡°Sometimes I wish I paid more atten-¡± Sahaqiel suddenly stopped talking, a look of alarm plastered on her face. ¡°Jack! An Awakened is heading this way! ¡°Wha?¡± Jack replied, confused by the sudden change of tone and still processing the bombshell that had been dropped on him. ¡°Pay attention! An Awakened is heading this way!¡± ¡°What¡¯s that got to do with-¡± Before Jack could finish his sentence the doorbell of his apartment rang. ¡°Oh¡­ Oh no.¡± Jack stuttered as his heart leapt into his throat. They''d been found. S1 Chapter 5: MurdeRing an [ANGEL] Chapter 5: MurdeRing an [ANGEL] Corporate Alliance Territory Eden City// Cordell Industries Central Territory. Jack cautiously walked to his doorway where someone kept buzzing his doorbell. "I probably wouldn''t open that door if I were you." Sahaqiel appeared in front of Jack, stopping him. "And what? Have them wait and burst through my door blasting when they get impatient? " Jack nudged the angel away and grabbed a pistol hidden in the shoe rack next to the door. "I won''t risk Jill getting hurt." "Suit yourself." Sahaqiel shrugged, leaving Jack to his own devices. "Let this be a lesson then." Jack eyed the pistol in his hand, checking the magazine and disengaging the safety. The Mil-Tac PD Pistol was a gift Mike had given him as a means of self-protection when he got his own apartment. He''d always hoped he''d never have to use it yet now felt he comfort in the cold piece of steel. Holding the gun at his side, Jack peaked through the spyglass where he could make out a suit of white armor, but not the face it belonged to. "Great¡­ an Angel," Jack murmured seeing the bronze tab and Wing and Halo-shaped insignia on the breastplate. The Angels were an Awakened organization dedicated to the defense of humanity¡­ Or so they said. They weren''t literal angels like Sahaqiel, but branded themselves as such, despite being nothing more than one of the many glorified vigilante mercs. They were trouble makers, a group of magic users that sold themselves to the highest bidder and in this case, they seemed to be working for whomever had trapped Sahaqiel. Hiding the gun behind his back, Jack weighed his options before deactivating the lock. Perhaps he could talk his way out. ¡°Uh, can I help you?¡± Jack said, cautiously opening the door. There was a momentary look of surprise on the slanty-eyed woman¡¯s face as she looked Jack up and down before her expression morphed to a predatory smile. "Oh, well look who''s up and about. Looks like my hunch was right after all!¡±" Seeing her reaction, Jack immediately rushed to backpedal and raise his gun, but the woman was on him, faster than he could react. He barely managed to raise the firearm halfway before the pistol was ripped from his hand and he was suddenly lifted into the air by his throat. "Well, that''s not very polite!" The woman snickered, carrying Jack effortless into his apartment while kicking the door shut behind her. "Wha-t do you want?!" Jack choked out. His legs dangling as the woman held him casually by his neck. He went to kick her but his foot scraped futilely against the woman¡¯s armor. "Where''s the girl?" Ah shit. "What girl?" At Jack''s response, the lady threw him into the wall where he left a crack before falling onto the sparse living room floor. ¡°That¡­ was really rude¡­¡± Jack moaned "Don''t play coy with me kid! I saw your wounds. No way in hell some rip-off-doc patched you up that good." The woman snarled, picking up the groaning boy and sending him flying again. Jack slammed into an empty shelf, his shoulder making an audible popping sound before he landed with a thud on the hard wooden floor. "Ugh!" Jack grunted as pain ripped through his shoulder. "C''mon kid, tell me what I want to know and the pain stops." Jack went to repeat what he had said earlier but paused, realizing why he recognized the woman''s voice. It was the same voice from the night he was injured! "I don''t know¡­ What you''re talking about, please¡­" Jack huffed, attempting to peel himself off the floor. ¡°I¡¯m just.. A kid.¡± "Playing hard to get huh?" The armored woman kicked Jack in the stomach, knocking the air out of him before grabbing him by the hair. She yanked the boy up, lifting his head to meet her brown eyes as she crouched down to his level. "One last time, otherwise this is going to get ugly. Where''s. The. blonde?" ¡°I told you I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about!¡± Jack cried, sticking to his story. Maybe if he kept playing dumb she¡¯d leave him alone. There was no way in hell he could tell her that he¡¯d fused with their target. The last thing he wanted was to be captured and become some kind of guinea pig in a lab like the little girl. "Leave my brother alone!" Jack¡¯s heart skipped a beat as a nearby door opened and he watched his sister roll out of her room. What made the scene worse was the oversized pistol she held in her tiny hand. "Jill, go back inside!" Jack hollered as his assailant suddenly slammed his head into the floor, causing his vision to warp with flashes of black and white. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! "A Black Rot victim? Well, what a cutie you are. Do you even know how to use that thing?" "I said leave him alone!" Jill cried, her voice coming out shaky but determined. "Go ahead. Shoot me girlie." The woman teased. Suddenly Jack felt something dig into his back, causing him to yelp in pain. ¡°Shoot me or I¡¯ll break his back!¡± He could hear Jill crying now, the sounds of her sobbing giving him the strength to look up despite the ringing and pain in his ears. "I''ll do it! I''ll really do it! Leave my brother alone!" "Jill, go back to bed!" Jack moaned, looking up through his bloodied vision to see the tears flowing down her face as she shakily aimed the pistol. "Jill-" Time seemed to come to a standstill as a loud crack echoed out. Jack couldn¡¯t believe what was happening, and from her expression, neither could Jill. A momentary silence settled in the room before it was quickly disrupted by manic laughter. Contrary to Jack and Jill¡¯s expectations, the bullet remained suspended in mid-air, caught by some form of green barrier that had shimmered to life. "Wow! You actually shot at me!" "Wha- why didn''t it?" Jill sputtered, confused that the woman remained unharmed. Jack felt the pressure suddenly lift from his back as the mercenary began slowly walking towards the frightened girl in the wheelchair. In a panic, Jill squeezed the trigger several more times, letting out a series of rounds that each failed to connect with their intended target. "How lucky am I? I''ve always wanted to see the effects of Black Rot and now I have a live specimen!" The room seemed to chill by a few degrees as Jack watched the figure bend down and snatch the gun from Jill''s hands. "Leave her alone!" Jack screamed. Suddenly finding the strength to peel himself off the floor, he lunged at the woman. A green barrier sprang up, intercepting Jack before he could connect with his sister¡¯s assailant. The woman turned, gazing at the boy and making a sadistic smile as she traced the edges of Jill''s detoxifier with her finger. "If you touch her I swear to God I''ll kill you!" Jack shouted, his voice laced with rage as he desperately banged his fist repeatedly onto the barrier as the woman toyed with Jill. "Just tell me what you know, otherwise-" The so-called Angel wore a cruel grin as she racked her gauntlet on Jill''s face, causing the girl to whimper in pain as the gauntlet sliced her cheek and drew blood. "-We''ll get to see how Black Rot¡­. works-hmm?" At the sight of Jill bleeding, an overwhelming surge of emotion took hold of Jack. His vision narrowed, with the sounds of the outside world fading away as raw rage boiled in his veins like lava. Unbeknownst to Jack, his hair had grown, morphing to a molten gold, as his eyes radiated with power, drawing stares from both Jill and their assailant with their mouths agape at the unexpected transformation. Suddenly Jack''s fist punched through the barrier, shattered it like glass as he rabidly reached out to Jill''s attacker. "I SAID I''D KILL YOU!" Jack screeched, forcing the woman to step back in fear as blood from the boy''s sliced arm flung around the room. "Not so fast!" The woman yelled, recovering with her eyes alight with a faint glow as she attempted to grab Jill as a hostage, but contrary to her expectations, she found herself unable to move. "What?!" The Asian lady screamed in confusion as she began unwillingly approaching Jack''s outstretched hand. "How are you doing this?!" The mercenary demanded as the power from her eyes suddenly faded. She threw an open palm toward Jack, yelling "Fira" in the process but retracted her hand in shock when nothing happened. Seeing the futility of her actions, the woman started to panic. Her feet began leaving the ground as Jack raised his hand higher and higher. She attempted to say something but it came out in desperate gasps and garbled sentences as her eyes started to bulge from their eye sockets. ¡°Ple-ase..¡± She finally managed to garble. ¡°I told you I¡¯d kill you if you touched my sister.¡± Jack hissed coldly, his voice laced with an echo that seemed to terrify the woman. Jack hadn''t realized it but his left arm was glowing with runes, a trail of intangible energy siphoning from the woman to his body as the specter of Sahaqiel became tangible for a split second behind him that shook the woman to her core. The intruder clawed at her throat, fanatically tearing at her own flesh with clawed gauntlets as she struggled desperately to breathe. She looked down, begging for her life with her eyes as Jack strangled her to death. But Jack wouldn''t let her go. No, she needed to die. She had to. No one was allowed to hurt his family and get away with it. The woman''s spasming lasted for what felt like an eternity, with tears mixed with blood flowing down her face until finally, her arms dangled lifelessly at her sides. Jack exhaled, a wave of exhaustion hitting him all at once as the woman''s body dropped to the ground. Before he could process what he had done, a screen appeared in front of Jack. Drawing the boy¡¯s attention away from the corpse at his feet and the strange sense of euphoria that was bubbling up within him.
[E Grade Awakened Drained.] [Drain Efficiency]+10% for E grade creatures and below. [Absorption] +1 [Viable skill detected!] [Skill Check for obtaining skill¡­ Success, Fira obtained. Skill auto assigned slot/Information hidden due to insufficient user rights. Admin locked] [Status Screen Hidden due to insufficient Awaken Grade]
The screen faded as fast as it came, not allowing Jack to process everything on the screen. Lucky, the disruption brought the teen back to his senses. Where he immediately rushed toward what was truly important right now. His sister. Trampling over the crumpled suit of armor, Jack checked on his sister who was looking at him stunned. "Jill, are you ok?!" Jill shook her head, her pupils dilated and her eyes unfocused, clearly in shock. "Where did you get a gun?!" "U-u-uncle Mike, he said that I''d need i-it in case I-I- I needed to protect myself!" Jill cried, a fresh stream of tears flowing down her face that pulled at Jack''s heartstrings. "Am I in trouble?" "No. No, of course not," Jack assured, hugging her tight and letting her stain his shirt with her tears. The siblings sat there for some time before Jack pulled away to check the detoxifier box and wound on her face. He was halfway through Jill¡¯s checkup when the door unexpectedly opened. Jack immediately sprang into action, scooping up the gun and placing his body between the door and Jill. Using himself as a shield for the frightened girl as he pointed the weapon at the door. "Wha! Watch it kiddo! It''s just me!" Mike exclaimed, hands in the air as he stumbled at the sight of a gun being shoved in his face. Jack let out a sigh of relief, lowering the weapon. "Sorry Mike, we¡­" Jack trailed off, he didn''t have a good explanation for everything that had happened. "Shit kid, is that a body?!" Surprised by the sight of a corpse, Mike hastily closed the door before rushing past the siblings and checking the crumpled corpse on the ground. Noticing the armor insignia and lack of a pulse, Mike''s eyes went wide. "Oh hells bells kiddo. Hells bells, What have you done?" S1 Chapter 6 LN: [ANGEL] Flashing a Cop Chapter 6 LN: Angel Meet Cop Corporate Alliance Territory Eden City// Cordell Industries Central Territory. "The latches are on the back." Mike instructed as Jack helped him strip the body. This was crazy. Jack was afraid that Mike would have blown a gasket or at worst, turned him in. However, upon seeing the body, Mike immediately went to work. He didn''t ask questions, he didn''t give Jack any lip or berate him. He just ordered Jack to put his sister to bed. When he returned, Mike was undoing the merc¡¯s armor and stuffing it into a plastic bag. "Aren''t¡­ aren''t you gonna ask why?" Jack asked after the duo had finished tearing the clothes off the woman''s body. "No time kiddo. We need to get her body to the Rip-Off-Doc, clean this place up, and dispose of her armor. How''s Jillian?" "Jill''s ok, she has a little cut, but she should be fine." The entire ordeal had tuckered the girl out, putting her to sleep quickly. "Good. Get the extra large duffle bag from across the hall. The one in the closet, here''s my key." Mike tossed his apartment key to Jack, not bothering to look up as he began folding the woman''s limbs. Jack quickly ran across the hall, fumbling with the lock on Mike''s apartment for a moment before getting through. Mike''s unit was similar to Jack''s; the only difference was it was extremely cluttered and messy. The man never picked up after himself, forcing Jack to navigate the labyrinth of dirty laundry, nudy mags, and random nick-nacks to get to the closest. Forcing it open, Jack eyed the duffle bag with an XL on it that hung on a hanger. He grabbed it, quickly trudging his way back to his apartment where Mike was busy breaking the corpse''s limbs. Jack paused at the sight. The sound of bones cracking causing him to wince. "What took you so long? Hand me the bag kiddo," Mike held a hand out, not bothering to look up at the boy as he positioned the body. Jack obliged, sitting to the side and watching mortified as Mike quickly stuffed the humanoid torso into the bag with deft hands. "Listen kid, I''ma head out to Cisco and then to the department to take care of everything. When I get back we''ll discuss whatever the HELL happened here, but don''t open this door for anyone, understood?" Mike ordered, his usual jovial expression nowhere to be seen. "Kid, I need to know if you understand." Jack shook himself from his stupor. "Yea. Yea I understand." Mike''s face made a strange expression before he placed a firm hand on Jack''s shoulder. "Everything is going to be ok. Whatever happened I''m sure it wasn''t your fault. Stay with Jillian, I''ll be back shortly." Mike said softly, pulling Jack close and hugging the boy before exiting the room. Jack suddenly found it hard to breathe as the door closed behind Mike. He stumbled a bit, using his shoulder to prop himself up on a nearby wall while he tried to catch his breath. He just took a human life. The enormity of what he''d just done and everything that had happened suddenly came crashing on top of Jack. Not only was it the fact that he''d just murdered someone, but also that she was a member of the Angel''s Mercenary group. Sooner or later someone would notice and come looking for her, tracing her steps which would lead them directly to him and Jill. Sitting on the ground, Jack tried to get his panicky breathing under control. Everything was going to be ok. It had to be. "Are you alright?," Sahaqiel said, her head appearing in Jack¡¯s lap looking up at him. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. "What ¡­ what happened back there?" Jack asked, the woman¡¯s nudity no longer bothering him as he recounted the feeling of rage and anger that appeared when he choked the life out of Jill''s attacker. "You desired power and I answered, temporarily Awakening you and allowing you to use one of your body''s latent skills." Sahaqiel stated flatly, almost as if it was the most common thing. Processing the information Jack began to look down at his new hand. "What was that screen? The thing that said absorption?" ¡°Your system silly, or well, soon to be. Once you actually Awaken. Every Awakened gets one, though yours is a bit different seeing as it isn¡¯t yours per se and I¡¯m still having a hard time molding your core to Awaken.¡± Systems? Cores? He didn¡¯t have a clue what the angel was talking about, although now that he thought about it, Jack did recall something about Awaken having some kind of system. It was a general rumor, one of those things that everyone knew about but was never confirmed. ¡°How long do you think until I can access it?¡± If trouble was coming Jack was going to need all of the tools he could get. Sahaqiel pursed her lips before responding. ¡°Mmmmmh, probably by the end of the night.¡± ¡°Can you do it faster? I want to be ready in case something happens.¡± ¡°Oh you greedy boy. You know I¡¯ve been working non-stop since we¡¯ve fused. Give a lady a break why dontcha? I¡¯m only one Angel. Plus¡­¡± Sahaqiel disappeared, only to reappear again behind Jack where she draped herself over his shoulders and whispered sinisterly. ¡°In your state, you¡¯d get yourself killed long before you¡¯d help me get my revenge.¡± ¡°So then what do I do?¡± The pair sat in silence for a while as Sahaqiel used a finger to draw circles on Jack¡¯s chest. ¡°I don¡¯t know Jack. You¡¯re the host here, it¡¯s up to you to decide. But whatever you choose I¡¯ll do my best to support you as long as you honor our covenant.¡± And with that Sahaqiel faded away, leaving the boy alone to stew in his thoughts. Jack sighed. "Very helpful." After their discussion, Jack wandered around his apartment for a while, pacing anxiously in front of Jill¡¯s door as he waited for Mike to return. He checked the locks, pistol magazines, and even stood around analyzing ways to safely evacuate his sister. Eventually the doorbell rang causing Jack to spring up in alarm from his introspection. He grabbed the gun, chambered it and held the barrel against the door before looking through the spyglass. He was caught unawares once, he wouldn¡¯t be caught off guard again. Jack breathed a sigh of relief, seeing the familiar police uniform, It was only Mike. Jack tucked the gun away and disengaged the lock, allowing the man to come through. ¡°You ok kid? No one¡¯s been through here right? You¡¯ve kept the door closed?¡± Mike rattled off, turning around to check the hallway before closing the door behind him. ¡°There was a report of shots fired but I called in a code green, you want to tell me what the HELL all this was about?!¡± Jack didn¡¯t know where to begin. So he started with the beginning. Mike put on a cup of noodles as he listened to Jack explain everything that had happened. From the explosion, to the memories, to his fusion with Sahaqiel, all the way up to his encounter with the Awakened who threatened Jill¡¯s life. Jack felt a weight fall from his shoulders as he told his adoptive dad the story, but while he did so, it seemed so incredulous that even Jack was beginning to doubt it was all real. After it was all over the duo sat in silence at the sparse dining room table. Neither speaking as both parties tried to comprehend what had been said. Maybe I died and this is just me hallucinating in my final moments. Jack thought to himself. Mike cleared his throat, finally breaking the silence. Jack felt himself shrinking in his chair as he waited for his adoptive dad to call him crazy. ¡°So an Angel huh. An actual Angel¡­ I¡¯ll be honest kid, this all seems¡­ rather unbelievable.¡± ¡°But it''s true!¡± Jack exclaimed, slapping his hand on the table. ¡°I swear it Mike-¡± ¡°Now hold on! I¡¯m not saying I don¡¯t believe you. I do.¡± At Mike¡¯s words, Jack was both confused and relieved. ¡°Wait, really?¡± ¡°It makes sense kiddo. No way in hell you¡¯d take out an Awakened by yourself. Plus, the entire city is in a hissy fit. Kagawa, Liu, Cordell. Even Barrington has contracts out looking for your ¡°Friend¡±. Hells bells kid, you¡¯ve kicked the hornets nest on this one.¡± Mike leaned back in his chair, taking a cigarette out and lighting it. ¡°Cisco is a greedy little fuck, but he keeps his mouth shut. Maybe we can swing by and he can see about this Angel nonsense. Maybe even remove it from you.¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t work.¡± ¡°What the hell?!¡± Mike hollard out, falling from his chair with an audible thud but recovering quickly with his weapon drawn. Sahaqiel had suddenly appeared, lying on the table between Jack and Mike while leisurely twirling her hair between her slender fingers. ¡°Are¡­ are you the Angel?¡± Mike asked, his eyes darting between the naked woman and Jack but not lowering his pistol. ¡°The one and the same,¡± Sahaqiel said, flashing a smile and extending a hand. ¡°Let¡¯s get better acquainted shall we?¡± S1 Chapter 7: An[ANGEL] Awakens a YOuth
"Another dungeon has been closed after the successful subjugation of it''s Nest Guardian and Agents, bringing the total dungeon breaks this year to a total of twenty-five. The highest recorded of any year."- Korriban World News.
Chapter: 7 An[ANGEL] Awakens a YOuth Corporate Alliance Territory Eden City// Cordell Industries Central Territory. Mike sucked his teeth as he processed the information thrown at him. ¡°So let me get this straight. Your soul is fused with Jack¡¯s and if you¡¯re removed he dies?¡± Mike pinched the bridge of his nose, staring out the window. ¡°And how do I know you aren¡¯t just saying that to use my boy as some kind of puppet?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t, but are you really willing to take that chance?¡± Sahaqiel smirked, draping herself across Jack¡¯s legs and lying down in his lap. Mike paused, deep in thought while he scanned the street level below. "Do they have a way to track you?" "Not that I''m aware. And soul tracking is a niche skill anyway." Sahaqiel assured. ¡°I thought he couldn¡¯t see you,¡± Jack snickered, rolling the Angel off his lap. Instead of hitting the floor as Jack intended she merely floated to her feet. ¡°No one can, not unless I want them to.¡± A thought occurred to Jack that immediately made him fume with anger. ¡°Wait a minute! You¡¯ve been able to materialize this entire time and didn¡¯t bother helping me protect my sister?!¡± Expecting the outburst, Sahaqiel didn¡¯t even flinch as Jack grabbed her shoulders. ¡°Oh cool yourself, just because they can see me doesn¡¯t mean I can interact with them.¡± Sahaqiel booped Jack¡¯s wrinkled nose before disappearing and reappearing behind the angry boy and hugging him tight. ¡°Besides¡­ Only you¡¯re allowed to touch me,¡± The woman purred in Jack''s ear, making a chill crawl along his skin that snuffed his anger. ¡°Focus People! We need to figure out our next plan of action.¡± Mike yelled, disrupting Sahaqiel¡¯s teasing. ¡°What can I do?¡± Jack asked, calming his libido. ¡°Anything, I¡¯ll do it.¡± ¡°Well first kiddo you can¡¯t stay here. In fact you can¡¯t stay in the city anymore. You need to leave, and leave fast.¡± That wasn¡¯t the answer Jack was hoping to hear. He had spent his entire life in the shelter of Eden, there was nowhere for him to go. He was penniless, destitute, and couldn''t afford to move anywhere with Jill. ¡°Where am I supposed to go? I can¡¯t afford a trip to a different city, and I don¡¯t even have a license to venture outside. Even if I do go to a different shelter, all of them in this quadrant are under the control of the Corpos.¡± Mike took a sharp breath before fishing out another cigarette.¡°Not the ones controlled by the Imperial Military.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Look, I know it isn¡¯t what you want to hear. But tomorrow, during your day of adulthood you need to enlist into the Empire," Mike lit another cigarette. "What?!" "You said anything right? Well this is it. Angel lady, or whatever your name is. You are Awakening him right?¡± ¡°Working on it. Should be done by tonight. Much more complex task when they don¡¯t have the aptitude.¡± "What is that supposed to mean?!" Jack protested. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°It means you lack talent.¡± Sahaqiel replied flatly. ¡°Luckily I¡¯m here to make up for it.¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s that. This is the only way to get you out of the city and away from prying eyes Jack. The Empire hates the Corpos and vice versa. Lucky for us under their special ceasefire treaty, the Empire is allowed to recruit Awakened within the city so¡­ Tomorrow you¡¯re going to sign up.¡± Mike held a hand up, squashing whatever Jack was going to say as he abruptly left the apartment. Mike soon returned, this time holding a large box covered in cloth. ¡°I was wanting to give this to you when you were older or in dire financial straits but¡­¡± Mike undid the cloth, opening the wooden box beneath to reveal what looked to be a pair of expensive silver revolvers with gold and black engravings. ¡°These were your mothers. They¡¯re supposed to attach to some kind of blade and fire special ammo. I had them restored as much as possible, but they don¡¯t manufacture the firing pins here, and the blades themselves were specially made. These should fetch a pretty penny though, if you wish to sell them.¡± Jack couldn''t explain what he was feeling as he gazed upon the expensive metal pieces. He was half surprised Mike hadn¡¯t sold them, but also surprised that Mike had kept them all this time. The intricate patterns, and engravings that read Jack and Jill on each of the revolvers made Jack well up with emotion. There was also some kind of medallion in the shape of a shield and sword. Jack carefully accepted the box, eyeing the pieces of his mother¡¯s legacy. He didn¡¯t own anything from his parents, nor did he have any keepsakes. When his parents died, everything had been sold to pay off Jill¡¯s medical debts. But now he had something, and he would cherish it. Blinking away the tears forming in his eyes, Jack managed to set the box aside and concentrate on the topic of his enlistment. ¡°But then what about Jill? What if they come looking?¡± ¡°She can¡¯t stay here either. Luckily the Empire takes care of their contracted and their families. They provide housing, medical treatment, and care for those that Awaken and enlist. They should be willing to take Jill in.¡± The more Jack heard about the Imperium the more he wondered what the downsides were. Outside of having to fight demons twenty-four-seven, the Imperial Army seemed too good to be true. ¡°The caveat is that you have to swear loyalty to their Matriarch and become an Imperial citizen. Their culture is¡­ different. And it¡¯s a ten year minimum contract, where they¡¯ll throw you into the grinder.¡± Mike had a faraway look in his eye as he spoke. Almost as if he was talking at Jack, but not to him. ¡°Not like it¡¯s any different with the Corpo¡¯s military but the combat conditions are far worse with the Empire.¡± ¡°Maybe I should take my chances with the Corpos,¡± Jack half-joked. ¡°This is serious Jack.¡± Mike turned to Sahaqiel who was busy twirling in the air. "Hey you, can you assure me that Jack will Awaken by tomorrow?¡± The Angel smiled, touching down in front of Mike in a not-so-graceful way that made her breasts jiggle. ¡°My eyes are up here,¡± The Angel teased. ¡°But yes. In a few hours it should be done.¡± ¡°And you¡¯ll look out for him?¡± "I promise. After all, we''re bonded to the soul. Whatever happens to him happens to me as well. Trust me, I''m an Angel after all." Sahaqiel assured, suddenly sprouting wings and making Mike back step and do a double take. "A bonafide Angel huh¡­" Mike murmured. Lighting up another cigarette with his prosthetic. Any lingering doubts he seemed to have about Jack''s situation seemed to evaporate as he stared at the golden wings. "Hell''s bells." On top of planning for tomorrow''s test and what to expect from boot camp, Mike and Jack spent time reminiscing about the days they spent together. Occasionally Sahaqiel would pop in asking to hear embarrassing stories about Jack, who would then swat her away. ¡°You should get some sleep kiddo. Big day ahead." Mike said, interrupting their conversation about the time Jack had found Mike''s porn stash as a kid. "Mike¡­ For what it''s worth¡­ Thanks for everything." Mike paused and shook his head. "Yea¡­ Don''t mention it kiddo. Just try and stay safe and don''t get caught. And most importantly. Trust. No one. Good night kid." "Night¡­ Dad." Mike smiled and left, leaving Jack alone in the sparse apartment. He sat there for a moment with Sahaqiel staring at him as he pondered his next moves. "Well, I guess its time for that adventure I always wanted..." Jack muttered, causing Sahaqiel to smile. Eyeing the time Jack cradled the wooden box and went to his room, pausing only to check on Jill. Opening the door she was out like a light, cuddling her mechframe plushie tightly. Jack smiled at the sight. Watching her sleep comfortably seemed to make everything worth it. If joining the Empire would give Jill a comfortable life then so be it. [Jack, prepare yourself.] "What?" Suddenly a strange tingle shot through Jack''s body, causing him to spasm and lock in place. His nerves were on fire, making him use every ounce of willpower not to scream in pain and wake the slumbering girl. Fortunately, the torture only lasted for a second but it was one of the most painful experiences he''d ever had, like stubbing his toe twenty times back to back. He''d almost equaled it to having his limbs torn off if the adrenaline and shock hadn''t overridden the pain. After recovering from the abrupt electrocution, a screen appeared in front of Jack, causing him to blink and reel back in shock from the words hovering in front of him. [Congratulations User: Awakened System Online!] S1 Chapter 8: [ANGEL] Testing for CitizeNship Arcane: CH/8RWLN/V-0001 Chapter 8: [ANGEL] Testing for CitizeNship Corporate Alliance Territory Eden City// Cordell Industries Central Territory.
Jack stood nervously in front of the Awakened Testing office, waiting in line with the other hopefuls who came to get tested. Despite the large crowd of people and traveling pedestrians, Jack felt exposed. As if a Corpo goon or Angel Merc would show up at any moment and snatch him up. Luckily, no such event occurred as the line began steadily moving, but he couldn''t help but feel anxious eyeing the neon high-rise surroundings. Entering the facility, Jack was made to surrender his gun for safekeeping before being issued a number and then ushered to a seating area, where dozens of hopefuls his age and children were being corralled by their parents into a cramped room. There were even people outright partying and eating cake in the lobby, celebrating their collective birthdays as they threw the facility into chaos. Taking a seat on a hard plastic chair, Jack pulled up his system and began eyeing the information. It wasn''t much but it''d help to get his mind off of the pending test and worry of Corpo spies.
[Angel System Status] [TITLE]- [The Incomplete Nephilim]/[???] [Class]- None HP-[180] MP-[6] [???]-
FREE POINTS REMAINING: - 0 [STRENGTH]- 15+3(18) [VITALITY]- 18 [SENSE]- 12+10(22) [AGILITY]- 12+10(22) [ARCANA]- 3 [???]- 2 [???]- 1 [Active Buffs] Wind Affinity I(+10 Sense, Reduce cost of Aero based skills) [Passive Buffs] Partial Rune of Atalanta(Left+Right Leg+10 Agility modifier) Weakened Sigil of Gehenna(Left arm+3 Strength),Fractional Blessing of Sahaqiel(+20 Wind Affinity+10 Light Affinity) Skill Siphoning. [Resistances]- +5 Radiation(Human Innate) +50 Anti-Curse, +20 Anti-Corruption. [?????]- [ACTIVE SKILLS SLOTS] [Slot 1]: Gasp of Gehenna LvL 1(Drain target of mana. Warning: excessive drain can lead to the target''s death.¡± EVOL [Slot 2]: Fira LvL 1(Let loose a burst of hot flames from palm) 20MP [Slot 3]: Wind Blade LvL 1(Condense wind into a blade and fire it)20-15 MP=5(TH) [Slot 4]: Dash LvL 1 (Acquire a momentary burst of speed) 5 MP [Slot 5]: Optics of Sahaquiel LvL 1 {SEALED} [Slot 6]: N/A
DATA HIDDEN. ACCESS DENIED
Much of the system was hidden, apparently by a restriction of the system due to how weak he currently was. But Sahaqiel assured him that it would only be temporary until he grew. Eyeing the skills and his abysmal Arcana stat, Jack started rehearsing what he was going to do. He was worried that his low arcana would make the test read negative. However, Jack knew that if he demonstrated a skill, the testers would have to pass him. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Sahaqiel materialized into existence in front of Jack, distracting the teen once again as she observed people and looked over their shoulders nosily. Would you at least put some clothes on?! Jack yelled internally, making the semi nude angel covered by tiny specs of light roll her eyes before fading out of existence. [Relax, it¡¯s not like anyone can see me. I''ve been stuck in a coma for tens of thousands of years, I just want to look around, stretch my legs.] I get that, but even if they can''t see you, I can! And you¡¯re very distracting! Sahaqiel reappeared in Jack¡¯s lap, cupping her face with both hands. ¡°Oh stop you¡¯re gonna make me blush you charmer, you.¡± Exasperated by her antics, Jack got up to use the bathroom but froze when a horrific thought occurred to him. He turned his head slowly toward the angel watching some child play with an Intellipad. Can¡­ can you see me using the bathroom? Looking up at Jack the Angel made a devious smile. ¡°Well of course silly. I see and feel everything you do." Sahaqiel replied, making Jack¡¯s eyes go wide. Suddenly he didn''t need to use the bathroom anymore. Fortunately, Jack didn¡¯t have to dwell on the ramifications for long as his name got called by a test proctor. Navigating the crowd, Jack went through a pair of steel colored double doors where he bypassed a crying child. Ignoring the kid, he was then greeted by a man who seemed more machine than human. "Eh, number twenty-three? You Jackie Knight?¡± The cyborg said, looking at the teen skeptically. Ironically, despite all of his cybernetics the man held an intellipad in his hands. ¡°Yea, that¡¯s me.¡± Jack replied, holding out his ticket to the man who glanced at it and then back to his electronic pad. All that chrome and no note system. Jack thought to himself. ¡°Alright, over here.¡± The cyborg opened a nearby door and directed Jack inside where a crystal obelisk sat in the middle of an empty room with a camera overlooking it. ¡°Just touch the crystal firmly. If it lights up, you¡¯re an Awakened. if it doesn¡¯t, vete a la mierda.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°It means get the fuck out. Now get to it and stop wasting my time. I¡¯ve got a hundred more people to fail today.¡± Ignoring the man¡¯s rudeness, Jack stepped into the room and eyed a smooth obsidian crystal sitting squarely on a pedestal in a concrete chamber. [Fascinating, they took a shard of Amrythum and used it to conduct Awakening tests] Sahaqiel said in Jack¡¯s mind. What does that mean? [It means it glows based on the amount of mana absorbed. I''m assuming its because most newly Awakened don''t have skills. From your abysmal mana level, you won¡¯t be able to just activate a skill if it reads negative. The obelisk will just absorb your mana.] Then what do I do? [Don¡¯t worry I have a plan, just touch the crystal.] Jack hesitantly approached the crystal and reached a hand toward it. On contact he could feel a connection of sorts being established between his body and the crystal before abruptly feeling something leave his body and flow directly into the crystal. Yet despite the connection, the crystal didn¡¯t light up. C¡¯mon, ¡®c¡¯mon, c¡¯mon. Please! Jack begged internally. Looking over his shoulder he could see the test proctor staring with a bored expression on his face. After a few minutes of the crystal being blank, Jacked looked at his system where his mana had fallen to zero. ¡°Alright pendejo let¡¯s go. Thanks for wasting my time.¡± The cyborg called out, beckoning Jack to leave. Jack ignored him, focusing on Sahaqiel as she fed him instructions. [Keep your hand on the obelisk and activate the Gasp of Gehenna, but don¡¯t let him see your arm.] Sahaqiel said. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me? Don¡¯t make me tell you again.¡± The irate man began moving towards him, causing Jack''s heartrate to beat rapidly in his chest. ¡°Wait!¡± Jack exclaimed, holding out his right arm to signal to the large man to stop. ¡°Just give me a few more seconds.¡± Jack activated the sigil on his left arm, causing a glow to appear. Luckily his body was positioned in just a way that it obscured him from the approaching test proctor. "So uh, what do you think about the new model android they have out?" Jack stalled, attempting to make small talk as he felt his energy returning and his MP bar filling back up. "I heard it even has uh special time features." ¡°No me pagan lo suficiente, let''s go! You aren¡¯t an Awakened kid, stop wasting my time.¡± The cyborg went to grab Jack but he nimbly moved away putting his hands up. ¡°Look, I can prove I¡¯m an Awakened! I have a system!¡± ¡°Yea, that¡¯s what everyone says. But I can''t see it. Look e mano, I have a hundred more like you that swear they have systems, but the test don¡¯t lie. Veta a la mierda kid.¡± The man cracked his neck before grabbing at the boy who went wide-eyed. ¡°I can prove it! Look!¡± Jack dodged the man¡¯s swipe and panically activated Wind Blade, firing a blade of thin energy from his hands that narrowly missed the man and left a minor cut in the ceiling. The cyborg paused, mere inches away from grabbing Jack and turned his muscular head to look stupefied at the crack in the ceiling. Jack held his breath. ¡°Huh¡­ you actually are an Awakened. Well shit e mano, that¡¯s a first, most Awakened don''t have skills right off the bat.¡± The test proctor¡¯s tone changed from rude and dismissive to one of genuine surprise. Jack scrambled back and held his palm out to the man. ¡°So I pass right?¡± ¡°Yea, you pass kid." The man chuckled before murmuring something and heading to the exit. "Wait here while I go notify my manager.¡± Jack breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed to the floor, watching as the robotic man disappeared. Oh man that was close. ¡°Congratulations Jack-ie.¡± Sahaqiel said, appearing in front of Jack and patting his head. It took him a moment to realize the Angel was messing with him. ¡°Knock it off.¡± Jack grumbled. ¡±This isn¡¯t even the first step.¡± ¡°Oh don¡¯t be such a downer. Would it help if I let you squeeze one of my boobs?¡± ¡°Yes actually.¡± Jack went to cop a feel but the Angel immediately faded away. [I was kidding! Jeez]¡± Sahaqiel yelled. Despite not being in front of Jack, he could tell she was flustered. ¡°Then stop teasing me.¡± Jack huffed, shaking his head and lying on the ground. Lets just get this done and over with. A/N! THIS STORY IS STUBBED! Check it out on Kindle Unlimited or Amazon! Over hundreds of positive reviews! S1 Chapter 9: RecruitiNg the [ANGEL]
¡°After weeks of deliberation, the Cintelli Theocracy has made a bold move, naming Archbishop Hugo Fritz of the Conservatives as Cardinal Veltrilli¡¯s successor. As you may know, Cardinal Boris Veltrilli was tragically killed in last month¡¯s devastating monster swarm. Which saw many members of the Church Progressives killed. What this could mean for the state of the Theocracy, only time will tell.¡±- Korriban World News
Chapter 9: RecruitiNg the [ANGEL] Corporate Alliance Territory Eden City// Cordell Industries Central Territory. After filing a series of paperwork, getting his picture taken, and requesting his transcripts, Jack finally found himself sitting down in a cramped closet space, where all of his expectations about the Imperium were being wildly discarded. An elderly recruiter tugged at the collar of his blue uniform as he eyed Jack''s paperwork, before looking the teen up and down and sighing with a head shake. "Welcome son, I''m Lieutenant Colonel Potter of the Imperium. Before we begin, let me ask you. Are you sure you want to join the Empire?" The elderly man asked, staring incredulously at Jack as if he were an extraterrestrial being. Jack cleared his throat and shifted in his chair before replying, remembering what he had rehearsed. "Uh. Yes sir. I heard that the Imperium takes care of their contracted and their families." Jack replied, trying his best not to look at the white-haired disheveled officer passed out underneath his chair. "Well, son I can definitely say this is a first for me," The recruiter glanced over to his fellow officer sprawled on the ground. "And Captain Domino if he were awake." "Is¡­ is he ok?" "Oh don''t mind him son. It''s just his way of protesting his involvement with the military. Anyway, let''s get back to the main caboodle. Yes, the Empire does offer a myriad of benefits for contracted. Jackie was it?" "Yes sir, but I prefer Jack." Jack answered, feeling a little nervous as the officer tapped on his terminal. "Well Jack, we have you listed as male E-Zero grade Awakened, oh but you¡¯re chantless,¡± The Colonel raised an eyebrow. ¡°Hmmm but this still doesn''t qualify you for a lot of benefits. In fact E-Zero is the lowest rank we can assign to an Awakened! How about you tell me more about what you''re looking for and your situation. We might even be able to point you in a better direction." Jack could feel his anxiety spike as he listened to the man''s words. It almost sounded as if the officer were trying to dissuade him from enlisting. ¡°Well sir, my mother was an Imperial citizen but she died during the Elysium breach, leaving my injured younger sister and I alone. I heard that the Empire helps support the families for Awaken that enlist, plus, I¡¯ve always wanted to see my motherland. ¡± Jack lied. While it was true his mother was a former Imperial citizen, he had never given any thought to the Empire. As far as he knew, it was just like the Alliance, except run by women who liked to wear red and blue a lot. The Colonel narrowed his eyes at Jack as if sizing the boy up. After a few moments of this, the officer shook his head in resignation. ¡°Well son, while it¡¯s true the Empire takes care of enlistee¡¯s dependents, it''s wholly based on your Awaken grade and number of dependenas. At E-Zero we can maybe squeeze you and your sister in, but I can¡¯t guarantee the quality of care that she will receive or housing.Though I can see here that you named her your beneficiary in case you die. Can you tell me more about her condition?¡± ¡°Well, my sister suffers from Black Rot and-¡± At Jack''s words he was nearly knocked to the ground as the man underneath his chair seemed to wake him up, scrambling to shake Jack¡¯s hand. ¡°DID YOU SAY BLACK ROT?!¡± The Captain exclaimed with a maniacal look in his heterochromatic eyes that instantly made Jack uncomfortable. ¡°Colonel, if you don¡¯t sign him I will! I¡¯ve always wanted to study the effects of Black Rot but those bitches never let me close to a lab! How about this?! I fudge some paperwork together and when we get to the Empire you hand your sister over to me to run some experiments? Free of charge! I¡¯ll even pay you!¡± Appalled at the man¡¯s offer, Jack had a sudden urge to strangle him. And he wasn¡¯t alone. Jack could see Sahaqiel standing angrily behind the man with her eyes brimming with holy fire. If looks could kill, the Captain would have been a charred pile of ashes. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Captain! Excuse yourself! What you are offering is not only illegal, It is morally, and ethically wrong!¡± The Colonel slammed his fist into the table before pointing at the zealous man. ¡°If you keep up with this nonsense behavior you¡¯ll never be off probation!¡± The man grinned. ¡°That¡¯s the point Colonel! Every day I¡¯m on probation is another day that I¡¯m not on the front lines! How am I supposed to conduct experiments if I¡¯m stuck in a MASH unit or being used to fight a pointless fight? Just because I can heal, doesn¡¯t mean I want to! I want to explore! Discover! Pioneer new research! But just because I¡¯m a multi-colored I can¡¯t?! Hogwash Colonel! Hogwash!¡± Jack didn¡¯t know what the man was ranting about, but he did know one thing. He was insane. Colonel Potter sighed before shooting a glare at the man. "You know damn well why you aren''t allowed to run tests, now get out of my office before I have you cleaning latrines for the rest of your damn miserable life in the army!" After kicking the ranting officer out and apologizing, the Colonel sat back down and began listening to Jack regale him about his sister¡¯s condition and living situation. ¡°Well ok. I¡¯ll make a couple of calls and see what I can uncover. If there¡¯s an opening I¡¯ll try and find an MOS for you and see about a waiver or two.¡± ¡°MOS?¡± ¡°Military Occupational Specialty, son. It¡¯s what the military calls a job. You can wait out in the lobby while I review your paperwork and get approval from my boss.¡± At that, Jack was dismissed. Exiting the closet the teen found a seat in a lobby with no souls in sight and filled with nothing but rows upon rows of empty chairs that was separate from the other areas of the facility. It was completely barren. With no windows, machine, or even posters to look at. Just chairs. ¡°Oh man.¡± Jack sighed. He really hoped everything went through. If he didn¡¯t manage to enlist into the Empire then he really didn¡¯t know what to do. He could try living in the underground but he had no contacts and no friends. Even if he somehow managed to escape the Corpo search parties he¡¯d be screwed living a life of a vagrant. ¡°Not to mention you wouldn¡¯t be honoring our covenant.¡± Sahaqiel said, materializing in the chair across from Jack with her legs crossed. "Yea. I just need to make sure Jill is safe, then I''ll work on getting stronger and helping you. I promise." Sahaqiel smiled. "You shouldn''t talk out loud so much Jack. Its a bad habit." Jack blinked. Yea. Sorry. "Look, I don''t doubt you. I can feel how much you care for your sister and your conviction. I know you''ll try your best. By the way, maniac approaching from behind." Sahaqiel said, suddenly vanishing. "What?" "HEY FRIENDO!" A voice called out before Jack suddenly found an arm slung over his shoulder. "Did you give any thoughts to my offer?" Annoyed, Jack quickly stood up but bit his tongue to stop himself from yelling at the man who could very well end up being his superior officer. "Well?" Jack took a deep breath, remembering Mike''s words about not trusting anyone. "Thanks, but no thanks. I''ll pass on your offer." "Aw c''mon¡­ Please?" "No. Final answer." At Jack''s reply the Captain was about to say something but seemed to change his mind mid word. "Well, suit yourself friend." Oddly, the man shrugged and gave up, leaving the lobby. "Well, that was easy," Sahaqiel said, massaging Jack''s shoulders. "A little too easy." he narrowed his eyes. He hadn''t known the man for very long but he had a feeling he was the type to never give up unless he got his way. "I have a bad feeling about this." After sitting around for what felt like an eternity Jack was finally called back into the closet space by the gentile officer. "Alright son, after reviewing your paperwork and talking to General Minerva we''ve managed to pull some jobs for you that can take care of your sister. Apparently, someone over at I-GRO has a soft on for your plight so we''re prepared to offer a contract. "Really?" Jack let out the breath he hadn''t realized he''d been holding. "Well, what are they?!" "Well hold on now son. Don''t get your hopes up too high, these aren''t exactly the best of jobs," Turning his monitor around, the Colonel let Jack see his screen. "Sixty-One-W? Eleven-B? Nineteen-D?" Jack read aloud. He had no idea what any of that meant. "Sixty-One Whiskey, Combat Medic. Eleven Bravo, Infantry. And Nineteen Delta Cav Scout. All front-line jobs. Since you aren''t ranked high enough in Awakened power, plus you''re a drop-out, these are the only jobs we can give you that will allow your dependents to join you. Included with these contracts, a caretaker is being provided but you¡¯ll receive reduced pay," The Colonel turned the monitor back around. ¡°Are you sure you don''t want to reconsider? Maybe take a year or two to upgrade your ranking to E-One? At this point, you''ll basically be with the regular Army until you rank up and can attend an institute." [As long as we train and integrate more, you should be able to grow substantially. Take it, if ranking up is the requirement to get in we can deal with that later. At least this gets your foot into the door.] Sahaqiel advised, standing behind the Colonel and reading his screen over his shoulder. [Fascinating contraption these computers are.] "I''m sure," Jack replied firmly, making the old man adopt a frown that only lasted for a fraction of a second. "Well then son¡­ what job do you want?" S1 Chapter 10: EAting with an [ANGEL]
¡°Hey! Has anyone seen B? She missed core training today and she isn¡¯t picking up any of my calls.¡± ¡°Did you check her apartment?¡± ¡°Yea, called her place but her husband said she hasn¡¯t been home.¡± ¡°Hmmm. Maybe she got black-out drunk and passed out somewhere? You know how she gets.¡± ¡°Nah, something is up. Her husband said her armor is missing and she doesn¡¯t drink on the job.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll turn up.¡±- Angel Mercenaries discussing the whereabouts of their colleague Clementine Bee
Chapter 10: EAting with an [ANGEL] Corporate Alliance Territory Eden City// Cordell Industries Central Territory.
After hearing the Colonel''s explanation of the jobs, Jack took a moment to confer with his partner in crime. Does Combat Medic sound good? Jack asked the Angel. [No. While it is one of the more noble professions it¡¯s not what is needed for our task. And neither is Infantry. For you to get stronger and demonstrate your abilities, you''re going to need more autonomy, where you aren¡¯t surrounded constantly by onlookers. Cavalry Scout seems like the best option.] How so? [You''ll need to hunt monsters. To that end you''ll need to be alone so that no one can see you activating your abilities. From what I¡¯ve garnered so far, the Gasp of Gehenna and other abilities you have aren''t exactly normal. Especially for how low your mana pool is.] So I should be hiding them? [Yes, unless you really need them, focus only on wind blade for the time being.] "I''ll join the Cavalry Scouts." Jack finally said, with the Colonel turning and inputting his response into the terminal. "Alright son, your application to join the Empire was approved. Welcome to the Imperium Recruit. We''re scheduled to ship out back to the Empire at Oh-Six-hundred tomorrow. So get your effects together and a car will be there to pick you and your sister up. Oh one last thing, she uses a wheelchair right?" "Yes sir she does." "Alright we¡¯ll send a specialty car. Good luck on your endeavors and stay safe on the way back home son." "Understood, thanks for the help Colonel." The duo shook hands as Jack left. "Don''t thank me just yet." The man muttered as the door closed behind Jack. By the time Jack had stepped outside from when he entered, nearly nine hours had passed. It was almost night time and Jack was absolutely famished. Retrieving his firearm from the clerk, he tucked the gun into his brown shoulder holster and went on the prowl for food. Unfortunately with the crowd of people still outside, it made finding a food store that wasn''t packed nearly impossible. Luckily, he was able to find a neon pink food truck that was parked behind the Awakened Testing facility selling tacos in an alley. [That smells heavenly.] Sahaqiel commented as Jack approached the truck. "Hola hermano, I see everything went ok huh." Jack was momentarily taken aback by the familiar cyborg cooking meat and chopping vegetables in the back of the food truck. "So ese, you want a taco? Real authentic, none of that fake gringo basura." "Uh sure. Aren''t you a test proctor for the facility?" "What? You saying I can''t also sell tacos on my break?¡± The cyborg raised an eyebrow. ¡°We all got to make a living.¡± ¡°No! Not at all!¡± Jack laughed nervously his face a little flustered. ¡°I was just.. surprised to see you here.¡± ¡°So what will it be? You want carne asada, barbacoa, or just ground pork?" ¡°I have no idea what any of what you said means, so I¡¯ll take pork.¡± The cyborg shook his head and tapped the side of his truck where a menu was taped on. ¡°Barbacoa is roasted beef, and carne asada is grilled steak.¡± ¡°Pork is fine.¡± Jack replied, not in the mood to be particularly adventurous. Despite the man¡¯s size and cybernetics, his hands moved deftly, quickly preparing and cooking the materials in front of Jack as he waited, making his mouth visibly water from the smell. Jack held his hand out to sync his wrist wallet with the register but the man waved him off. ¡°Here hombre, on the house on account of my piss poor attitude earlier.¡± The man handed Jack an expertly wrapped taco that was warm to the touch despite the heavy foil around it. ¡°Really? Thanks!¡± Jack replied, cradling the soft tortilla and heading to the station where a tram was about to take off. After forcing the barely working doors of the aerial train and boarding, Jack unwrapped his food and bit into the soft tortilla shell, where an explosion of flavor coated his taste buds that made him freeze mid chew. ¡°We have to go back.¡± Sahaqiel said, materializing in front of Jack with her mouth drooling. For a moment Jack considered doing so and spending his entire life savings to buy all the tacos the part-time taco cyborg could make, but before he could give it more thought, Sahaqiel suddenly leapt, attempting to bite Jack¡¯s soft shelled taco. Fortunately the teen reacted quickly, strategically placing a palm on the Angel¡¯s head to intercept the gaping maw that attempted to steal his food. ¡°Get your own!¡± ¡°Give me!¡± The woman yelled, swatting at Jack¡¯s hand that held the taco. Luckily the train cabin was an empty husk with barely any working electronics, seeing as no one ever rode this line, Jack was free to scream in defense of his taco. ¡°Chill out! It¡¯s mine! Can you even eat?!¡± A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. At Jack¡¯s words the Angel froze before composing herself and sitting back down next to Jack. ¡°That¡¯s a good question, I don¡¯t know. Let''s try it.¡± ¡°What? Try what?¡± ¡°Feeding me.¡± Sahaqiel said coyly, leaning close to Jack with her eyes closed and pinkish lips ajar. ¡°Aaaah¡± Jack''s face went immediately tomato red, he crossed his legs and looked away before shoving a portion of his taco into the Angel¡¯s mouth. Suddenly his taco felt lighter and Jack could taste the Mexican delicacy on his tongue, almost as if he¡¯d just taken a bite out of it. ¡°It''s so good!¡± Sahaqiel cupped her face and exclaimed joyfully, her entire body shaking in delight from the taste. Looking down at his taco, Jack could see what appeared to be a bite mark. ¡°Weird, I can taste it¡­ I thought you couldn¡¯t interact with things?¡± Jack asked, hiding the rest of the taco as the woman savored the taste. ¡°I can¡¯t, but it seems with certain inanimate things that don¡¯t produce a mana field I can consume. Like food. That¡¯s just my guess though.¡± Suddenly Jack¡¯s system flickered to life and updated. [Acquired Skill! Consume LvL 1]
[Angel System Status] [TITLE]- [The Incomplete Nephilim] [JOB]- None HP[180] MP[6]
FREE POINTS REMAINING: - 0 [STRENGTH]- 15+3(18) [VITALITY]- 18 [SENSE]- 12+10(22) [AGILITY]- 12+10(22) [ARCANA]- 3 [Active Buffs] Wind Affinity I(+10 Sense, Reduce cost of Aero based skills) [Passive Buffs] Partial Rune of Atalanta(Left+Right Leg+10 Agility modifier) Sigil of Gehenna(Left arm+3 Strength),Fractional Blessing of Sahaqiel(+20 Wind Affinity+10 Light Affinity) Skill Siphoning. [Resistances]- +5 Radiation(Human Innate) +50 Anti-Curse, +20 Anti-Corruption. [ACTIVE SKILLS SLOTS] [Slot 1]: Gasp of Gehenna LvL 1(Drain target of mana. Warning: excessive drain can lead to the target''s death.¡± EVOL [Slot 2]: Fira LvL 1(Let lose a burst of hot flames from palm) 20MP [Slot 3]: Wind Blade LvL 1(Condense wind into a blade and fire it)20-15 MP=5(TH) [Slot 4]: Dash LvL 1 (Acquire a momentary burst of speed) 5 MP [Slot 5]: Optics of Sahaquiel LvL 1 {SEALED} [Slot 6]: Consume LvL 1(Extend your mana to dissolve a non-living item to replenish nutrients.) DATA HIDDEN.
¡°Jack, we should go back and get more tacos!¡± Sahaqiel suggested, interrupting Jack as he tried to view his system. Her face was nose to nose with his, forcing him to put a palm out and push the Angel away. ¡°As much as I¡¯m inclined to agree, we¡¯ve got work to do, Sara. Plus¡­ I still need to learn more about my abilities and how all this system stuff works.¡± ¡°Sara?¡± ¡°Sorry, calling you Sahaqiel sounds weird and Saha doesn¡¯t sound right to me.¡± ¡°I¡¯spose that makes sense.¡± Sahaqiel said, calming down. ¡°So what did you want to know?¡± ¡°Well, how does the system work exactly? I just got a skill from whatever you did. And during the¡­ incident last night, I ended up using Gehenna without access to the system. Plus after, you even said that my body was still in the process of gaining access to it. So what happened there? I thought Awakened could only use skills with a system.¡± Sahaqiel leaned her head on Jack¡¯s shoulder as he munched on his taco. He wasn¡¯t looking at her but he could feel her gaze boring a hole in his tortilla. Reluctantly he held out the taco. ¡°Well, to begin with, the system is just a crutch.¡± Sahaqiel said in between bites. "From my understanding it was created to help our descendants deal with the Demonspawn¡¯s return. Humanity is perfectly capable of using abilities and skills and even developing their own. But the development cycle of a human being capable of creating their own abilities and techniques was too long. So a system was designed by our administrator to assist humanity when the time came.¡± ¡°Wait, are you telling me god designed the system?¡± ¡°Yes and no. First off, let''s clear something up. I¡¯m not some kind of special creature or servant of some god. I¡¯m a human. Same as you, but... Hmmm I guess changed and a few thousand years older? Well, I was originally a human anyway.¡± ¡°What?¡± Jack replied. A little stupefied at the Angel¡¯s remark. "Then what''s with the wings and Angelica appearance? I thought you were some kind of servant of god?!¡± ¡°Pfft, there''s no such thing as gods or demi-gods, silly.¡± Sahaqiel let out a laugh. ¡°At least from what I know. If there are any, I''ve yet to meet them. Though there were a few that came close to what you could consider godhood I suppose. From your memories and my experience, non-Awakened always deified us True Awakened as gods. My wings is what inspired angels. Dagda, Shiva, Fujin, Loki, Nezhah, Ishtar. They all existed at one point or another. Sometimes as warlords, or taking on the guise of different people when they got bored like Tarhunna who you call Zeus.¡± ¡°True Awakened? Is that different from regular Awaken?¡± Jack asked, no longer feeling hungry and caught up by Sahaqiel¡¯s words. His entire understanding of an Awakened being elevated by just a few sentences. ¡°Of course, what you call Awaken are just people that uses Eve''s system to fight and gain abilities. A true Awaken however is someone like me who can perceive mana naturally and manipulate the energy to my will. Once you become enlightened and evolve, your morphology will change and adapt to the flow of energy around you. Sadly, humanity lost this ability over time and Eve had to create a system that would allow what remained to fight back.¡± At the word ¡°evolve¡±, Jack¡¯s curiosity soared as he looked at his system. He was aware of monsters evolving but not humans. In fact he never heard of a human being undergoing visible evolution. ¡°What changed to make us lose that ability?¡± Sahaqiel paused mid chew. ¡°Everything,¡± Sahaqiel whispered after some time. She was no longer leaning on Jack¡¯s shoulder but staring blankly into empty space as if she were seeing something that wasn¡¯t there or recounting a bad memory. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to bring up bad memories,¡± Jack said, suddenly feeling sad as Sahaqiel¡¯s emotions channeled into him. He placed a gentle hand on the crestfallen Angel¡¯s shoulder which seemed to snap her out of her trance. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. I¡¯m just¡­ still adapting to the world I knew no longer being here. The price of freedom I craved I guess...¡± The angel let out a melancholy chuckle. Jack wanted to give her some space, but he needed to know more. ¡°So what will happen to me? Will I evolve? Change to be like you? My system says Incomplete Nephelim are there stages to this?¡± ¡°Yes. Eventually you will evolve as we merge closer together and your biology will shift to be more like¡­ me.¡± Lets hope I don''t develop the urge to be naked all the time. [It''s not my fault your subconscious perceives me as such. Maybe if your hormones weren''t all over the place.] Sahaqiel quipped. Jack took a moment to process everything he heard. If what she was saying was true, then he would eventually become a demi-god of sorts. He wanted to ask about the fate of the True Awakened, but judging from the disheartened look on her face, Jack decided to table the topic for later. The rest of the train ride was largly uneventful as Jack and Sahaqiel sat in silence, staring idly at the crowded neon metropolis below them. Occasionally Jack would shrink back or hide in an alley as he spotted flying suits of white armor, but luckily it seemed they were non the wiser to their target being directly beneath their nose. After much skulking, Jack soon found himself back in front of his familiar run-down apartment, where Mike stood leaning on a blue patrol car smoking a cigarette. Upon seeing Jack the man waved him down. ¡°Hey kid, we need to talk,¡± Mike said, approaching the teen with his weapon drawn. AAS: SEASON 6: CH1: Coronation of The Queenslayer Upon a highrise tower of ebony and gold, a man with white hair stood, his golden eyes staring down at the metropolis below him that was the crown jewel of the Selfian Empire. Jack Knight, soon to be Jack Cordelica folded his hands, leaning over the balcony with a pensive expression. Today he would be getting married, a tense and stressful day for anyone. But Jack also had the additional benefit of being crowned as King of a nation that hated his kind. Eyes to the bright blue sky, Jack closed them, taking a moment to breath in the crisp air that was different from the plains he called home. So different from the stalactite underground of his childhood. Life¡­ it had become so different. The man he was, now a contrast to the boy that left that underground cyber hellscape so many years ago. Jack spun, facing his companion of old, the spectral woman with white wings and gold hair who served as his literal heart. Sahaqiel smiled at Jack, the archangel lounging on the queen sized bed as a smol pale woman in armor lay in her lap munching on candy. Ruby, Jack''s guardian. And to the far corner of the room, perhaps the only one uninterested in the entire affair, Lilith. Swath in shadows, the fallen specter stood in darkness, the only thing visible from her being crimson eyes and the occasional black feather that fell from her body and faded into the ether. A knock at the door, a woman with silky brown hair entering in with her long red dress swaying from side to side. ¡°Ada,¡± Jack smiled, eyeing the love of his life as the three other women, invisible to the mortal world vanished. ¡°Tanji,¡± Ada replied, her soft smile lifting a heavy weight off of Jack''s heart. ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Ready as I can be.¡± Jack sighed before he moved to embrace the lithe woman. ¡°Are you nervous?¡± ¡°Me? Naahh.¡± ¡°Well, remember that one time in the clinic closet?¡± Ada smirked, walking her fingers up Jack''s chest, her hazel eyes fixed on his golden gaze. ¡°If I recall, you were the one that tackled me into that closet.¡± Jack said, brushing the woman''s hair over her ear before locking lips with the nomad. ¡°Ahem.¡± The pair jolted, standing at the entrance of the bedroom was a short red-haired woman, her green eyes a contrast to the matching red dress she wore to Ada. ¡°If you don''t hurry up, we''ll be late,¡± Leona said, her tomboyish voice one of disapproval. ¡°And if you''re gonna do that, at least close the door and wait till after the wedding!¡± ¡°Yes mom,¡± Jack replied, causing the woman to roll her eyes. ¡°Don''t think I won''t tan your behind,¡± Leona hissed before walking in and tidying the blue military uniform Jack wore. She eyed his wrists, making sure the runic tattoos were covered by his sleeves and white gloves. ¡°Now come on.¡± Jack followed the woman out, Ada giggling in the process. ¡°So where''s Celeste?¡± Jack asked, a hint of worry in his voice as he asked about his daughter. ¡°She''s with your cousin Jin,¡± Leona reported, walking briskly down the velvety red hall flanked by suits of armor and noticing Jack''s jaw clenching repeatedly. ¡°Enjoying her new dress. Relax, do you think I would give her to someone I don''t trust?¡± ¡°No, it''s not that I don''t doubt she''s in good hands. I just worry is all,¡± Jack replied as the trio came before a large ornate double door of expensive oak. ¡°You''re so cute when you worry.¡± Ada replied, poking Jack on the cheek. ¡°Well, here we are. I''ll see you two at the afterparty I guess,¡± Jack sighed. ¡°Reception, Jack,¡± Leona corrected. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Wedding reception, not party,¡± Leona explained before grabbing Ada¡¯s wrist and taking her away, the latter planting a kiss on Jack''s face before going.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Jack watched the pair race off, leaving him alone to stew in his thoughts. ¡°You got this Jack!¡± Sahaqiel cheered. ¡°It''s just marriage!¡± Well. Physically alone. ¡°Thanks.¡± Jack caught his breath, clenching both fists before he reached out to the knob of the golden door. ¡°Hello Jack darling,¡± Duchess Bell said, facing Jack with another set of doors behind her. ¡°Are you ready for me to walk you down the aisle?¡± She stood somehow at six foot two, a green-haired woman with matching emerald eyes stuffed into a red gown fitted with gold jewels and green sashes. ¡°Yeah. Let''s get this over with. How''s Celeste?¡± Jack sighed, tugging at his military dress uniform that bore the rank of Major. ¡°Playing with her favorite uncle Jin. Don''t worry, she''s in good hands,¡± Duchess Bell assured, offering her soft hand out to Jack. ¡°Now come along, fix your posture darling, we''ve got a room full of politicians to make angry and scam.¡± ¡°Right we do.¡± Jack said, taking the woman''s painted fingers as the double doors opened to orchestral music. Unlike in the Corporate Alliance or nomadic weddings, in the Empire, sons were led down the aisle by their mother. Or, in lieu of that, a mother-figure. As the head of his deceased mother''s noble house, Duchess Bell just so happened to be the nearest thing Jack had. Entering into the chamber, Jack''s pristine black boots stepped in time with Duchess Bell¡¯s red heels, his gaze forward as hundreds of eyes belonging to strangers he''d never met descended on him. Murmurs could be heard. A hundred mouths all speaking about Jack, their whispers clear as day to his awakened senses. ¡°Who is that guy?¡± ¡°This is the man the Queen chose?¡± ¡°Rumors are he''s related to the Blood Rose.¡± ¡°Preposterousness!¡± ¡°Hmm. I admit he has exemplary features but what''s with his white hair?¡± ¡°I thought this was a scion of House Bell, not Light?¡± ¡°Maybe another wayward like the Domino children?¡± ¡°No he would still have green hair, or those streaks.¡± ¡°A major? Of all the Generals and Colonels available she chooses a Major?¡± ¡°I''ve had my son courting the crown for years and I lose to some random nobody?!¡± Jack kept a straight face, one foot in front of the other with his golden eyes focused on the white-haired woman who held a fourth of the civilized world in her palm. Well, her mechanical palm. Finally Jack stood across from his bride, Selfia dressed in a blue uniform, her long white hair tied up in a bun with a pin in the shape of a rose in it. The duo stood beneath a white arch, flanked by women with green hair and ceremonial gold armor as a priestess in black vestments stood between the two. Suddenly silence. The quartet¡¯s music ceasing with not a single sound made in the wedding chamber. ¡°Dearly beloved,¡± The red-eyed priestess began, reading from her book. ¡°We come today-¡± Jack tuned the woman out, focusing instead on the figure in front of him in dress blues, her military uniform covering up her mechanical arms. His spouse, the current Queen of the Arthurian Empire. Selfia Cordelica. Jack did his best not to look at the crowd, instead maintaining a seemingly loving smile with the beautiful woman who smiled back at him. It was all a show. A farce. Neither party really intimate with each other but rather using one another to achieve their own means. For Selfia, Jack¡¯s legacy, hoping to garner the support of the Progressives who had remained neutral and to unite the nomads scattered across the imperium. For Jack, well¡­ Selfia¡¯s resources and army to search for his sister and protect his daughter. Despite being surrounded by people related to him, they were nothing but strangers to Jack who had grown up an orphan under a rocky black sky. Suddenly Selfia took Jack¡¯s hands, her mechanical fingers felt beneath her white gloves. It was time. ¡°-do you take this man to be your husband, to live together in matrimony, to love him, to honor him, to comfort him, and to keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?" The priestess asked Selfia. ¡°And if you so do, then, proclaim your lineages and state your affirmations under this sacred union.¡± Selfia grinned, not a soft smile, but an actual grin that belied her true nature. ¡°I, Selfia Cordelica, daughter of the Red Empress and The Knight of One Lancelot, Queen of the Imperium and heir to the Cordelica bloodline, take you as my husband.¡± The priestess turned to Jack, repeating the question to him. Jack blinked, doing his best not to hesitate under the limelight of a hundred glares. It wasn¡¯t that the concept of marriage was scary, nor was it the fact that he would crowned King Consort, no, what made his heart beat rapidly was that with his next words he would be setting into motion a set of events he couldn''t take back. ¡°You got this Jack!¡± Sahaqiel said, offering Jack support by way of materializing as a cheerleader with his name on her shirt. Of course no one else could see her unless she wanted them to, and thankfully so as it made Jack¡¯s smile appear much more genuine. ¡°I¡­ Jack Knight, son of the Blood Rose and the Burning Devil, heir to the house of Bell do,¡± Jack recited, sealing his fate. At Jack¡¯s words, a tense stillness hung in the air, even the priestess stood jaw agape as Jack revealed his identity to every nobleperson under Selfia¡¯s banner. ¡°WHAT?!¡± a woman in the crowd shouted, followed by an elderly noble passing out. Selfia smirked, her Bell Guards turning to face the crowd in an uproar. ¡°Let''s have some fun shall we Jack?¡± Selfia giggled before pulling Jack into an embrace and sealing their marriage with a kiss. AAS: SEASON 6: CH2: King and Country AAS: SEASON 6: CH2: King and Country Under the moonlit rainy night, a man in red armor sat in a trench, his blue eyes gazing down at his dirt covered hands that were torn and matted with blood. His blood? Or someone else''s? He didn''t know, the cold chill of winter had numbed whatever sensations he had left in his battered body. ¡°Fuck this sucks.¡± Conrad sighed, turning his green eyes to his battle buddy who let out a low chuckle. ¡°Whining isn''t going to help,¡± Ferdinand said, the man half asleep on a wooden trench wall with his arms crossed clutching his m-20 rifle. ¡°But coming over here and cuddling me will.¡± Conrad shifted his head.¡°That''s gay.¡± ¡°I''m cold.¡± Conrad sighed, ¡°Yeah me too.¡± Several moments passed, both men shivering in their positions. ¡°Fucking gay man,¡± Conrad hissed, moving over in the trench to sit with his friend with his head on the man''s shoulder. ¡°Aw. I knew you loved me.¡± ¡°Just so you know, I''m not doing this because I want to.¡± ¡°Are any of us?¡± Ferdinand replied, the pair shifting to hold each other. ¡°Fuck this sucks.¡± ¡°Whining isn''t going to help.¡± Conrad quipped, Ferdinand shaking his head. ¡°Cuddling tonight are we gentlemen?¡± A man snickered, walking down the trench line, his red helmet obscured by the white hood over it. ¡°¡°We¡¯re cold,¡±¡± Ferdinand and Conrad replied. ¡°Same, make some space,¡± Achmad said, sitting down between the duo. ¡°Man¡­ this kinda sucks,¡± Achmad groaned. ¡°¡±Whining isn''t going to help.¡±¡± ¡°So, when do you think the war will be over?¡± Achmad asked, nuzzling close to Conrad. ¡°For you? A LOT sooner than the rest of us if you keep getting any closer Akmood, god damn it,¡± Conrad snapped. ¡°Don¡¯t mind Conny boy here, he doesn''t know how to express his love, his parents left when he was a kid,¡± Ferdinand joked, resting his head on Conrad¡¯s shoulder with Achmad doing the same. ¡°I hate you both,¡± Conrad sighed, shivering with his breath coming out foggy. ¡°So¡­?¡± Achmad said, closing his eyes. ¡°So what?¡± Conrad replied. ¡°The war. When do you think it''ll be over?¡± Achmad asked, rubbing his runny nose. ¡°At this rate? End of spring maybe.¡± ¡°Really? That''s pessimistic,¡± Ferdinand yawned. ¡°Realistic,¡± Conrad grunged, also yawning. ¡°We''ve already lost. The brass just don''t know it yet.¡± ¡°Ya know, they say that when one person yawns after another, it means they''re connected,¡± Achmad added. ¡°Shut up, Achmad.¡± Conrad growled. ¡°Aww. We''re connected,¡± Ferdinand chuckled. ¡°I hate you both.¡± Conrad replied as a crunch of boots took their collective attention. ¡°¡±¡°Sir.¡±¡± The trio replied, nodding to the Mage Captain walking in red armor that had no extra padding against the elements. The red-eyed man looked down at the three, his brow raising. ¡°Cold?¡± Hoffman asked, eyeing the machinegun emplacement. Conrad looked to his left and right. ¡°Just a bit sir.¡± ¡°I''ll send for a blanket,¡± Hoffman said, inspecting their trench area. ¡°Thank you sir.¡± ¡°In the meantime, cut up some more logs, I chopped down a few more trees so make sure to shore up your defenses a bit, word is a Selfian push is coming,¡± Hoffman said, easily shifting bits of the emplacement that would take two men to do. ¡°Yes sir,¡± Conrad replied, the trio watching as the officer walked off. ¡°So¡­ Spring huh?¡± Ferdinand said, making sure the officer was out of earshot. ¡°That means you''re stuck with us for another four months.¡± Conrad sighed, holding his head low. ¡°What do you think of the new Captain?¡± Achmad asked. ¡°Achmad has anyone ever told you you ask too many fucking questions?¡± Conrad hissed. ¡°Eh once or twice,¡± Achmad shrugged with his words coming out stuttery. ¡°I think he''s alright. Tries a bit hard but he''s good stuff for a mage,¡± Conrad shifted, holding back a sneeze. ¡°Bit of a bleeding heart if you ask me.¡± ¡°Did you guys hear that the Selfian¡¯s got a King now?¡± Ferdinand said, watching as a signal flare flew into the sky. ¡°Really? That amputee bitch getting dicked down now?¡± Conrad replied. ¡°Yup,¡± Achmad said, sitting up. ¡°And get this, apparently the Selfian King is the son of the burning devil.¡± ¡°Bullshit,¡± Conrad scoffed.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Nah, I heard the same thing too. Big uproar with the trads,¡± Ferdinand interjected. ¡°Heard a few of the traditionalists have gone missing after being too vocal.¡± ¡°Fuck. We really drew the short end of the stick huh,¡± Conrad sighed as a man came by, dropping off a blanket. ¡°Then again, maybe this ain''t so bad.¡± **** Standing shirtless on the balcony of his luxury palace room, Jack observed the bustling city below that was teeming with life. Two weeks had passed since his marriage to Selfia and coronation as king. And in those two weeks¡­ he''d been stuck in his room. He wasn''t allowed to leave, nor was he allowed visitors. In fact, he was basically a prisoner who''s visitations were limited to Ada and Kamila who brought him food, and the scheduled play time with Leona and Celeste. A King captive in his own kingdom. For his own protection? Perhaps. At least that''s what Selfia said, but it was hard to tell with a woman he seldom saw. ¡°This sucks,¡± Jack sighed, head hung low. ¡°At least you have access to three hundred shows and the intranet,¡± Sahaqiel offered, the angel laying on his velvety red bed and hugging Ruby close like a body pillow. ¡°Yeah, but there''s nothing good ever on.¡± ¡°Picky.¡± ¡°Probably. At least you can come and go as you please,¡± Jack said, turning around as a knock on the door took his attention. ¡°Door''s open. Let yourself in.¡± The knob of the large wood entrance turned, the door opening to a familiar woman dressed as a stereotypical maid. Ada strolled into the lavish room, the woman in a form of disguise as she brought Jack food on a silver cart. Since the coronation, this was how the pair met, the two lovers unable to be public with each other in this castle constructed of vipers. Although most of the staff were gone, the guards there were liable to speak off duty, allowing the spread of rumors which would damaged Selfia''s image. At least, thats what he was told. However, contrary to popular belief, the Kings were, on paper, allowed ¡°fluffers¡± and ¡°releasers¡± women who took care of his needs so that he may better service the queen. But in reality, it was just a rumor spread by the Traditionalists to keep the Progressives happy during past monarchies. Jack had no such luxury. Well, he did. But if it were found out there would be an uproar from Selfia''s powerbase. So a secret it was. Ada didn''t seem to mind so much as she found the affair hot, Jack on the other hand just wanted to leave the room. ¡°Well hello beautiful,¡± Jack said, approaching the woman from behind and hugging her, his hands cupping her breasts that were somehow larger than usual. ¡°Tanji! At least let''s eat lunch first!¡± Ada exclaimed, batting the man''s hands off her body that seemed to be getting slightly thicker. ¡°Fine, fine, what did Kamila cook today?¡± Jack asked, causing Ada to shoot a glare at him. ¡°Nothing! Because I made today''s-¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°DON''T SOUND SO DISAPPOINTED!¡± ¡°I''m not disappointed honey, I didn''t mean it like that! I just-!¡± Jack quickly stated, attempting to salvage the mess he made. ¡°What? You just what? You just what?!¡± Ada snapped, suddenly crying. ¡°Smooth Jack.¡± Sahaqiel said as Ada began to full on sob. WHAT?! I DIDN''T MEAN TO MAKE HER CRY! ¡°Ada-¡± Jack began but was cut off as she suddenly kissed him. ¡°Let''s fuck,¡± Ada whispered, guiding a confused Jack to his bed. **** ¡°The hell was that?¡± Jack murmured as he lay there alone on his king-sized bed sweating. He sat up, rubbing his temples. A headache forming as he looked over at the covered trays of food left untouched on a cart. Jack lifted a silver platter, eyeing the charred contents within. ¡°Actually inedible,¡± Jack remarked, eyeing the bite marks taken out of several chunks of burnt meat. ¡°How can anyone eat this?¡± Eyeing the food, there was also cake, melted ice cream, and soups. All half eaten of course. So much for lunch. How the hell did she eat so much from the kitchen to here? Jack pondered, eyeing the soup. ¡°Maybe she''s pregnant,¡± Sahaqiel offered. ¡°Hah!¡± Jack barked a laugh, shaking his head before another knock on his door. ¡°It''s unlocked!¡± ¡°Daddy!¡± ¡°Celeste!¡± Jack spun, grabbing the little blonde girl in his arms. ¡°Oh! How''s my little sunshine?¡± The girl beamed a smile, Jack''s fatigue immediately melting away. ¡°Food!¡± The little girl pointed, indicating the plates of leftover food. ¡°Ah, you don''t want that. Auntie Ada made it.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Celeste let out, freezing in place. ¡°I''ll getcha some ice cream later kiddo.¡± ¡°YAY!¡± ¡°Ehem,¡± Leona interjected. ¡°If you''re a good girl.¡± ¡°I''m good! I''m good!¡± Celeste repeated. Jack smiled, walking across the room with Celeste in his arms as Leona entered the room. ¡°So what game do you want to play today?¡± Jack asked, opening a cabinet that held a slew of expensive game consoles and board games. ¡°Jack,¡± Leona said, tapping him on the shoulder to get his attention. ¡°Hm?¡± Jack turned his head, eyeing the folders in the red-headed woman''s hands. Paper? Not tablet? Jack raised a brow at the extra security. Tablets could be hacked. Intellipads compromised. But pen and paper? Fool proof so long as a person kept the documents out of sight from nosy peepers. ¡°Celeste honey, how about you get a game setup while your dad and I talk real quick?¡± Leona said, Jack reluctantly letting his daughter go. ¡°Ok mommy!¡± Celeste said, grabbing a game console off the shelf along with various wires and controllers. Jack smiled before walking off to the other side of the room as Leona handed him documents. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°Files. On the High Table,¡± Leona said, Jack''s eyes rapidly scanning over the paperwork. ¡°Fresher data that we''ve collected over the last two weeks.¡± ¡°This¡­ this tells me nothing,¡± Jack replied, narrowing his eyes. ¡°Money transfers, shipments of liquid nitrogen? And apples? What the hell do apples have to do with the High Table?¡± ¡°As Selfia says, big picture Jack. Various cities in the Empire and the Corporate Alliance import apples from the Theocracy.¡± ¡°So what? The High Table is bankrolling themselves through Apple farms?¡± ¡°With their influence and power? Please. The apples are just a way to get around,¡± Leona explained, handing Jack a photo of a truck crossing a border. ¡°Now, you know how the Theocracy is in shambles right?¡± ¡°Yeah. I''ve read Lita¡¯s reports. Refugees. Blight. Famine. Everyday people struggling to get by.¡± ¡°Well isn''t it funny that even though the country is-¡± Leona looked over her shoulder, eyeing Celeste humming to herself as she got tangled up in cords. ¡°Gone to shit, they''re still exporting apples? In such large quantities they can still service multiple cities across the word?¡± Jack frowned. It was indeed fishy. ¡°Intel has three separate apple producing companies. Honey Rite, ApplesRUS, and Applee. All three companies service different areas of the world but they all meet in Neo-Chicago from three Theocratic cities.¡± ¡°This is all speculation,¡± Jack said, stroking his chin. ¡°I''ve been waiting around for two weeks. I need something more concrete, Leona.¡± Leona sighed ¡°I know. I know this isn''t what you want to hear. But these things take time. If it were so easy we would have mopped up their whole operation years ago,¡± Leona explained as the room suddenly filled with audio from the flat screen TV blaring game music. ¡°We''ve got surveillance on the trucks and are monitoring the companies. Right now, we need to see where they''re going, when they''re going, and if possible, get a list of all personnel and machinery that can lead us to potential HT facilities.¡± Jack pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°All this waiting around is killing me, Leona.¡± Leona gave Jack a soft smile. ¡°I know. We''re doing the best we can with what we have. Checkmate is running round the clock and we''ve got agents in the field as we speak. We''ll find her Jack,¡± Leona assured. ¡°In the meantime. Cherise this peace. For as long as it lasts.¡± Celeste approached Jack, tugging at his pants to get his attention with a game controller in hand. ¡°Come on let''s play!¡± Celeste smiled, her childish innocence like a cool breeze on Jack''s dark mind. AAS: SEASON 6: CH3: Room Arrest Sitting in his room, Jack tapped his fingers impatiently as he sat at a table on his balcony overlooking the gilded city with silver feathers dancing around him. Arcing off his body, sparks, the faint glow of mana as he practiced circulating Gehenna with energize. ¡°She¡¯s almost here,¡± Sahaqiel said, alerting Jack to his aunt¡¯s presence before she knocked on the bedroom door. ¡°Open!¡± Jack called out, his silver feathers disappearing into their sheathes on the corner of the balcony. The door opened, Duchess Belia Bel, adorned in a blood-red dress, strolled into the room with the grace of a mature noblewoman. She smiled lightly, her green eyes settled on the man basking in the light of the sun beaming down on him on his balcony. ¡°Jack darling, how are we today?¡± Duchess Bell asked, taking a seat across from Jack. ¡°Same as yesterday,¡± Jack replied, his eyes scanning the city below. It would be so easy for him to just leave. One step off the balcony and he could fly to wherever he wanted. ¡°Same as everyday it seems.¡± Duchess Bell sighed, ¡°I know you don¡¯t enjoy your current situation, but-¡± ¡°Its for my protection,¡± Jack rolled his eyes, repeating what he¡¯d heard a dozen times already. ¡°I can protect myself auntie.¡± ¡°From physical threats yes,¡± Belia said, reaching over the table to still Jack¡¯s anxious hand. ¡°But not from the political ones. The emotional ones. You have an image to protect now Jack, a fantasy that you need to live up to in order to get what you want.¡± ¡°I know that. Trust me, I¡¯m more than aware of the expectations people have of me,¡± Jack replied, his gaze fixed on the city below. The duchess took on a sad look, her lips pursing as she retracted her well-manicured hand. ¡°Yes, I suppose you''re no longer that teenage boy gawking at my breasts.¡± ¡°H-h-hhuh?! What?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m kidding,¡± Belia giggled. ¡°It''s good to see that you still get flustered.¡± Jack sighed, lowering his head with a chuckle. ¡°So, how are you adjusting to parenthood?¡± Duchess Bell asked. ¡°It''s¡­ something. Different than when I used to take care of Jill ya know?¡± Jack said, recounting memories of his baby sister when he was bottle-feeding her in his run down apartment. ¡°Celeste isn¡¯t a baby but¡­ when I have her in my arms¡­¡± A sudden tightness began to swell up in Jack''s chest as Duchess Bell pursed her lips. ¡°I¡­ I don''t know. The world feels less shitty ya know?¡± Jack said, ¡°I just wish this world was a better place for her.¡± ¡°And you¡¯ll have an opportunity to make it better,¡± Belia said only to be met with a scoff. ¡°Yeah, doing a lot of changing from this gilded cage.¡± ¡°I understand you''re unhappy, but this is necessary darling, it may not seem like it but Selfia is always working,¡± Belia argued. ¡°Two weeks.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Two weeks since Selfia last talked or saw me in person,¡± Jack said, rising from his bedroom to pace around his room. ¡°She could at least see me in person to keep me in the loop but no, she''s busy doing paperwork and micromanaging a war in her office below her throne.¡± ¡°Selfia is just bus-¡± Duchess Bell paused, blinking once. ¡°Wait, how do you know about her secret planning room?¡± ¡°I have my ways,¡± Jack replied, his brow furrowed to glare at his aunt who was still unaware of Sahaqiel''s presence, ¡°But that''s the thing, we''re supposed to be working together. There shouldn''t be a secret I''m not privy to if we''re going to fight this war and win.¡± ¡°Look darling, consider this a vaca-¡± ¡°I don''t need a vacation,¡± Jack spat, his hands tightening on his chair to the point the fine wood began to show cracks. ¡°I''m losing my mind stuck in here all day being a passive player in an active game. People are dying while I sit here on my ass all day.¡± ¡°Tell me what you need darling.¡± ¡°Out. I need out.¡± ¡°You know we can''t do that.¡± Jack rubbed his eyes, leaned forward and sighed. ¡°I know.¡± Standing up, Jack brush past his aunt and took a seat on his bed, head held low, ¡°I''m not good at all this waiting.¡± ¡°I know darling, I know it''s hard, but trust that Selfia has a plan. That she''s doing this for a reason. Beyond this castle, you have no allies within the empire,¡± Belia said, sitting beside Jack and coaxing him to rest his head on her shoulder. ¡°Just be patient. There''s a lot going on.¡± Jack sat there for a moment, allowing his head to be stroked by the woman.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°I can see about giving you access to the entire wing,¡± Duchess Bell offered. ¡°Allow you to stretch your legs, maybe more play time with Celeste?¡± ¡°I¡­ I would appreciate that,¡± Jack sighed, sitting up. ¡°Thanks.¡± Duchess Bell stood up, walking to the door as a knock sounded out, the time for Jack''s dinner. ¡°Jack darling, before I go¡­ Remember what I told you all those years ago,¡± Belia said, pausing at the door. ¡°You must be careful with your love. In this game of politics, Celeste will be your greatest strength but also your greatest weakness. Same with Jillian. Hold your heart close.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Jack said, sitting back down at the table on his balcony as Kamila entered with food. She was dressed in a servant''s uniform, a regular maid outfit that accentuated her small form. ¡°H-he-hello.¡± Kamila said, pushing in the cart to serve Jack at his table. ¡°Hey Kami,¡± Jack said, grabbing silverware and plates to help to prep the table. ¡°What''s for dinner?¡± ¡°C-chicken Sauerbraten.¡± Kamila said, lifting up a silver platter covering for Jack to smell the sauteed meats. ¡°Oooh, oh that''s real nice,¡± Jack said, Kamila blushing as he leaned down to get a better wiff and stick a finger into a pool of heated brown soup. ¡°Currywurst? The consistency is pretty good, thick, which starch did you use?¡± Kamila smiled, the usually shy girl standing straight with her shoulders relaxed. ¡°Tapioca, my parents typically used it for baking but it''s interchangeable for regular cooking.¡± ¡°Mhm. We should eat this before it gets cold,¡± Jack said, pulling out a chair for Kamila. ¡°T-thank you.¡± Kamila said, taking a seat as Jack placed a plate in front of her and took a seat himself. ¡°Uhm. We''re all out of goldenrod so uhm. I used rooibos instead i-if that''s ok?¡± ¡°Yeah, that''s fine,¡± Jack replied, pouring himself a cup from a pot. ¡°Thanks Kami.¡± Kamila blushed, hunching down with a big smile on her face as Jack began to eat. ¡°H-how is it?¡± Kamila asked, her eyes eager for praise. ¡°Good. Great. Really good. Much better than Ada¡¯s cooking.¡± Kamila seemed to visibly glow, the woman sitting in silence and watching Jack eat. ¡°Wat?¡± Jack asked, noticing the woman staring at him. ¡°Do I have something on my face?¡± ¡°N-n-no.¡± Kamila said, looking away. ¡°I''m j-just happy you like my cooking.¡± ¡°Well, come on, dig in. I can''t eat all this alone,¡± Jack said, the pair sharing dinner together and making small talk. ***** From another room, a hidden chamber beneath the throne filled with monitors and paperwork, Selfia sat across from Sahaqiel, the two in deep conversation. ¡°Are you sure you don''t want to?¡± Selfia asked, her brow furrowed and staring at the angel before her. ¡°Final time I''ll ask.¡± Sahaqiel clenched her jaw. ¡°Thank you, but no. If what you said is true, my body may be the ace in the hole. Jack can''t take another soul.¡± ¡°SERIOUSLY?!¡± Lilith hissed, the raven-haired woman¡¯s eyes flashing red. ¡°ARE YOU SHITTING ME?! You have an opportunity and you deny it?!¡± ¡°Yes. It''s my choice and Jack needs me, especially for what we''re plotting to do. So until that day he doesn''t, I will remain by his side,¡± Sahaqiel said, glaring at her angry counterpoint. ¡°Heaven forbid I leave him with you whispering in his ear.¡± "Oh, but you''re perfectly fine dumping him on me after you kill-" "Its something you and I both know is necessary," Sahaqiel snapped, causing Jack to raise his head at the sudden flare of anger. Selfia sighed, ¡°Ok. Fine. It''s your decision Sarah, I won''t force you. But if you change your mind it''ll be there. I''m glad we see eye to eye on this.¡± ¡°Tsk,¡± Lilith let out, vanishing. ¡°Thank you,¡± Sahaqiel said, staring at the humanoid sized black canister with her name on it. Her physical form, bound in the confines of a coffin. Sara? Jack called out. ¡°Sec Jack''s calling me,¡± Sahaqiel said before vanishing. ¡°Yes?¡± Can you check up on Celeste for me again? I want to see if she''s ok. ¡°Sure, no problem,¡± Sahaqiel replied before appearing back in Selfia''s chambers. ¡°Celeste again?¡± Selfia said, reclining in her office chair with her black army boots on her desk. ¡°Yeah, he just worries.¡± ¡°She''s safe in these halls, he should know that by now.¡± ¡°Maybe, but Jack still harbors some distrust, with good reason I might add. Being stuck in his room all the time doesn''t help, and it especially doesn''t help that his sister was lost under your care,¡± Sahaqiel replied absentmindedly, unaware of the statement she made until Selfia looked away. ¡°Ah, sorry, it wasn''t -¡± ¡°No, Jack is right to feel the way he does. I made a promise and I failed to keep my end of the bargain,¡± Selfia sighed, her mechanical hand tapping the table. ¡°Only thing I can do now is to rectify that mistake. Which unfortunately means we''ll have to hurt him. As for the room thing, that should be lifting shortly so long as he behaves himself.¡± ¡°You know he isn''t going to like that his house-arrest was just a test.¡± Selfia shrugged. ¡°Well, I have to see personally what kind of man he''s become and become more acquainted with his nomad wife,¡± Selfia said, her eyes focused on a monitor displaying an image of Ada Nguyen, the nomad woman in the midst of painting on a large canvas. ¡°Ya know, there is a way to learn more about a person that doesn''t involve a computer screen,¡± Sahaqiel said. ¡°And talk in person? Ick. No thanks. I do enough of that with the nobles and bankers.¡± Sahaqiel shook her head. Selfia switched the display, rotating the image out for one of Celeste and Leona, the pair lying in a pink bed with Leona reading the girl a bedtime story. ¡°And then they lived happily ever after,¡± Leona said softly with Celeste throwing her hands up and screaming ¡°Yay! SEEGS!¡± Leona immediately became flustered, the woman demanding where Celeste heard that word. Selfia immediately changed the channel, recalling an awkward conversation she had with the child. ¡°Yup. No more talking in person for me. At least for a couple of days till that cools off,¡± Selfia said, turning her attention back to the angel. ¡°Smooth. Avoiding your problems.¡± ¡°I prefer tactical maneuver in the opposite direction of oncoming issues,¡± Selfia countered. ¡°Riiiiight.¡± ¡°Also¡­ is there a reason Lilith looks like me?¡± Selfia asked, deflecting the angel¡¯s attention. ¡°Ah-¡± Selfia smiled, enjoying the talks she had with Sahaqiel and the intel Lilith possessed. A small break between the monotony of paperwork and plots. Almost akin to a form of girl time that the ever stoic Violet just didn''t get. As Sahaqiel talked, Selfia¡¯s eyes drifted, focusing on the screen of Jack, the man giving Kamila a foot massage as the TV played classical music. Oh Jack, what am I going to do with you? AAS: SEASON 6: CH4: Quality Time. ¡°Daddy!¡± ¡°Celeste!¡± Jack replied, beaming a smile at the little girl running up to hug him as he knelt down. ¡°You''re outside!¡± ¡°I am kiddo,¡± Jack replied, ruffling the girl''s blonde hair. ¡°From this moment on, no more stuffy bedroom visits.¡± ¡°Awww! But I like games! Mom doesn''t let me otherwise,¡± Celeste complained. ¡°Is that right?¡± Jack said, eyeing the red-haired woman sitting at a nearby picnic table filing her nails. ¡°What? It''s bad for her brain. She''s still developing I don''t want my child to have her brain be all mushy.¡± ¡°Mushy!¡± Celeste protested. ¡°Right. Ok, I''ll tell ya what, if you keep being a good girl, we¡¯ll set up some gaming time for you, ok?¡± Jack said, picking Celeste up who cheered. With his daughter in his arms, Jack walked into the play pit set up in the middle of the courtyard, a small garden sequestered in the left wing of the castle devoid of all life save for Jack, Leona, and Celeste. A private paradise, at least for Jack. ¡°Speaking of brain, how is her education coming along?¡± Jack asked, setting Celeste down so she could play in the sand pit. ¡°Private tutoring, I''m handling all her education.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Jack said, smiling at his daughter as she opened a play chest filled with toys. ¡°How about enrolling her into a preschool?¡± Leona blinked, taken aback. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°What?¡± Jack asked, eyeing the woman who held an incredulous look. ¡°I''m¡­ just surprised you want to enroll her into schooling.¡± ¡°Why not? She''s a growing girl, she deserves to have friends her age,¡± Jack said, putting on a tiny hat that Celeste handed him, ¡°I spent a long time homeschooling Jill, and while she was always happy to see me she was always alone and depended on me for everything. I want to shelter Celeste but¡­ I don''t want to stunt her growth. And I don''t want her to grow up spoiled.¡± ¡°That''s a real mature thought Jack.¡± ¡°Is it? I just want her to grow up normal,¡± Jack replied, ¡°Jill and I never had those opportunities, so, if I can give them to her, then she deserves it.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Leona set down her nail filer, producing a vial of nail polish from her bracelet. ¡°The empire doesn''t have public schooling like the Corporate Alliance. At least until the age of seven. But that''s for basic readiness training. Most nobles tend to homeschool while many families attend general education at age five or they don''t go to school at all.¡± Jack frowned, ¡°Well¡­ it''s a thought.¡± Leona pursed her lips, ¡°Well, if you''re serious about this sort of thing¡­ Selfia has a new education reform she''s interested in passing. If you want, Celeste can be part of that.¡± Jack raised a brow, ¡°What kind of reform?¡± ¡°Standardized education. Bringing the entire population to a certain level of general knowledge. Kinda similar to the Corporate Alliance¡¯s public education system but less¡­ VR.¡± ¡°VR?¡± ¡°Ya know, virtual reality.¡± ¡°I''m familiar with the concept. What''s VR have to do with teaching?¡± ¡°What? Your school never had VR sets?¡± ¡°I dropped out.¡± ¡°I mean, I was homeless but still went to a school that had VR. I thought they all used it.¡± ¡°Not the one I went to,¡± Jack replied. ¡°We had everything taught to us by a robot. Most of the education was automated now that I think about it. I guess with robots they didn''t have to pay anyone.¡±Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°Well, Selfia wants in person teaching. Actual humans, no automation with classrooms and people from all walks of life, kinda like Almus but more inclusive,¡± Leona explained. ¡°Don''t think that''ll be very popular.¡± ¡°Yes, which is why it''s a test case, Selfia wants to produce more academics and effect change starting from the bottom.¡± ¡°And you think it''ll work?¡± ¡°I hope it does. But, if you''re interested, we can see about enrolling Celeste.¡± ¡°Daddy! Mom! Look! Look at what I made!¡± Celeste exclaimed, the girl covered from head to toe in sand and approaching the pair with a drawing. ¡°That''s¡­¡± Jack blinked, his eyes round as they focused on the drawing of himself, Leona, Celeste and¡­ a raven haired woman with wings all holding hands. Jack and Leona were at a loss for words, both stunned in place at the drawing. ¡°Celeste darling, who is this?¡± Leona asked, the woman unaware of the figure that Jack knew all too well of. Jack clenched his jaw. ¡°A friend!¡± Celeste said happily. ¡°Friend huh?¡± Jack muttered, narrowing his eyes as Leona took Celeste in her arms, the woman doing her best not to show her worry. ¡°Tell me more about that friend, what does she do? Does she make you do things or tell you to do stuff?¡± Leona asked, Celeste shaking her head. ¡°She watches me sleep. She says she''s a gardening!¡± ¡°You mean a guardian?¡± Leona inquired. ¡°Yup!¡± Jack clenched his jaw, an action that didn''t go unseen by Leona. ¡°Do you¡­ know something about this?¡± ¡°I do. I''ll take care of it. Just-¡± *Ding! Ding!* The sound of a bell chiming out cut Jack off, turning his attention to Ada and Kamila rolling in carts of food. ¡°FOOOOOOD!¡± Celeste exclaimed, running out of Leona¡¯s arms to hop up and down in front of Kamila. ¡°I wish people were that excited about my cooking,¡± Ada grumbled. ¡°Your cooking is great honey,¡± Jack said, placing the drawing to the side as he embraced Ada who rolled her. ¡°Yeah, yeah. Don''t WORRY, Kamila did most of the leg work. Ugh, my knees I need to sit down,¡± Ada said, taking a seat as she rubbed her back. ¡°Are you ok?¡± Jack asked, noticing Ada seemed pale. ¡°I''m fine. Just been-BLEKH!¡± ¡°EWWWWWWW!¡± Celeste giggled as Ada vomited on Jack, causing him to sigh. ¡°...Ok. Are you sick? What''s wrong?¡± ¡°Ugh, I''m disgusting,¡± Ada said, waving Jack off. ¡°It''s just a stomach bug.¡± ¡°Are you sure? You seem-¡± ¡°I''m fine!¡± Ada snapped, her teeth letting out a loud clack as she suddenly grew flustered at Jack who stood frozen like a deerling in headlights. ¡°Ah¡­ right. I''ma go get a mop,¡± Jack said as Ada began to cry. ¡°Four hallways down and to your right there''s a maintenance closest,¡± Leona said with Jack thanking her and walking off. **** As Jack wandered off, Leona sat down beside Ada, grabbing a napkin to dab the woman''s mouth that was dripping with green chunks. ¡°So¡­¡± Leona said, making sure Jack was out of the room before setting down a round black device on the table. ¡°What''s that?¡± Ada asked, looking down and then back up with reddened eyes on the verge of crying. ¡°It''s a device that prevents eavesdropping from Awakened,¡± Leona said before crossing her legs as Kamila let Celeste taste a piece of cake nearby with the little girl hopping up and down with EXTREME hyperness. ¡°So how far along are you?¡± ¡°I''m sorry, what?¡± ¡°Your pregnancy.¡± Ada went wide-eyed. ¡±I-im sorry, I don''t know what you''re talking about haha!¡± Ada exclaimed, giving off not-so-convincing fake laugh. ¡°Seriously? I''m a field medic and a doctor. Well, psychiatrist, but that''s beside the point. You aren''t fooling me. Now how long?¡± Ada deflated. ¡°Six weeks,¡± Ada replied sheepishly. ¡°When did you find out?¡± ¡°Two weeks ago¡­¡± Ada sighed, sagging her shoulders. ¡°I''m always so hungry and icky and achy and-¡± Ada began to cry. ¡°And everything just feels like it sucks!¡± ¡°Ah¡­ yup. And¡­ Jack doesn''t know?¡± Ada shook her head. ¡°He''s got enough on his plate right now! So I''m trying to figure out a good time to tell him!¡± Ada sobbed before hugging Leona and smearing her nose on the woman''s pristine military uniform. ¡°Ah¡­Ok. I have to dry clean this ya know?¡± ¡°Oh! Oh I''m sorry!¡± Ada began to cry harder. ¡°Nononono! It''s ok! It''s ok! There, there!¡± Leona said, taking Ada in her arms. ¡°You''re ok, you''re fine.¡± ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Celeste asked, standing in front of the pair and cocking her head as she munched on a cake smushed between her fingers. ¡°Honey, go help Auntie Kamila set the table,¡± Leona instructed with the smol girl giving a juberiant ¡°Ok!¡± before running off. ¡°Do you need anything?¡± Leona asked to Ada. ¡°No food. I can already feel my gut expanding,¡± Ada cried holding her stomach. ¡°I''ma get chunky!" ¡°Well you have to eat, you''re eating for two now and Awakened pregnancy is a bit different than regular pregnancy.¡± ¡°I knoooooow,¡± Ada said, slouching as Jack returned with a mop. ¡°Found the mop,¡± Jack said as Leona pocketed the sound jamming puck. ¡°Uh, is everything ok?¡± ¡°Yup. Just dandy,¡± Leona smiled, dropping an arm over Ada and coaxing her to the table. ¡°Let''s eat.¡± AAS: SEASON 6: CH5: Noble Date Under the moonlight casted over the city of lights, Jack sat on the balcony of his room, drinking a cup of tea as he stared at the sprawling city below. ¡°Tanji,¡± Ada said, opening the sliding door of the terrace. ¡°I''m going to bed. How much longer are you going to be out here?¡± ¡°Not too much longer Hun,¡± Jack said, sipping his tea as he relaxed. ¡°Ok. Love you.¡± ¡°Love you too,¡± Jack replied, smiling gently at the woman who slid the gilded door and went inside. Jack closed his eyes, opening them up again with company at his side. Lilith and Sahaqiel, the pair sitting across from Jack. ¡°So. Let''s continue our conversation from before Lilith,¡± Jack said, his eyes fixed to the fallen soul that had been ignoring him. ¡°I told you before. I''ve done nothing.¡± ¡°Yet.¡± ¡°Yet.¡± Jack and Sahaqiel said, both focused on the woman whose bloodlust they could feel. ¡°I have no intention of hurting my child.¡± Jack blinked. ¡°I''m sorry, your child?¡± ¡°You and I are one. Your arm. Your legs. Your ribs, lungs, and organs. All mine. Taken from me to save your life,¡± Lilith replied, her red eyes glaring at Jack. ¡°You and I are one.¡± ¡°Three. Really,¡± Sahaqiel said. ¡°Four if you included Ruby, but her circumstances are different than ours.¡± ¡°And only possible because of me.¡± ¡°Please, don''t over sell yourself darling, it''s not that great of a look, I did most of the heavy lifting for that.¡± ¡°On accident because you don''t know what you''re doing.¡± ¡°Ladies!¡± Jack snapped, cutting the two specters off. ¡°I need you both to focus here.¡± Jack took a breath, taking a moment before he''d ask the two a gnawing question hovering in the back of his mind since he learned Celeste was his. Tell me¡­ does my¡­ special Constitution mean anything for Celeste? The twin specters shared a look. ¡°Yes,¡± Sahaqiel said, a sinking feeling dropping in Jack''s stomach. ¡°Selfia is already aware from the testing she''s done. Celeste¡¯s genome is¡­well, has the potential to become a full angel over time. Much like you were, she''s a nephilim, she doesn''t have mana yet. But it''s only a matter of time.¡± Jack furrowed his brow, his mind processing the angel¡¯s word slowly. Is¡­ there anything special I should know about? ¡°Unlike today''s humans, Celeste will eventually begin to feel mana. Notice it in the air with her body growing to naturally attract it like yours does.¡± So¡­ she''ll be able to inherently use mana? ¡°Without a system? Yes.¡± Jack closed his eyes, leaning back in his chair as he savored the cool air of the night. Suddenly, a grapple hook latched onto the guard rail of his balcony, the metal hook interrupting Jack''s thoughts. The hell? Jack peaked over the edge, eyebrow raised at the blonde-haired woman scaling the rope. ¡°A little help?!¡± Selfia called out from several floors down, the woman in disguise. ¡°Pull me up!¡± ¡°You know there''s a door right?!¡± Jack yelled back, the queen of the empire flicking Jack off. ¡°Help me up!¡± Jack grabbed hold of the rope, pulling the string, tugging Selfia along in the process who was climbing up at a rappelling up at a rapid pace. Finally, Selfia climbed up and over the guard rail, standing on the terrance. ¡°Jeez! I forgot how hard it is to climb this building,¡± Selfia said, flicking her fake hair to the side as she took a moment to catch her breath with her blue eyes devoid of her red contacts.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Selfia was dressed in a blonde wig, pink Hello Kitlin hoodie with comfortable black gym pants on and scuffed up sneakers to match. All in all, a far cry from the noblewoman she portrayed herself as. ¡°Well hello Selfia, long time no chat,¡± Jack said, hands on his hips. ¡°To what do I owe the pleasure your highness?¡± ¡°Hold that thought,¡± Selfia said, holding a finger up before climbing back over the edge of the balcony. ¡°What? Where are you going?!¡± ¡°Follllllow mEEEEEEEEEEEEE!¡± Selfia let out before leaping off the twelth floor balcony. ¡°YOU KNOW THERE''S A DOOR RIGHT?!¡± Jack yelled over the edge before shaking his head. Jack turned his head towards his bedroom, wondering if he should say something to Ada. He opened the door and peeked inside, eyeing the woman who was sound asleep underneath the blankets of his king sized bed. Keep an eye on her for me Sara? ¡°Sure.¡± Comfortable that Ada was fine, Jack walked out back to the balcony where he glanced over the edge, Selfia at the floor level waving at Jack. Great¡­ Jack shook his head before taking the leap, activating float to break his fall. ¡°Fancy skill,.¡± Selfia said, standing in the courtyard. ¡°What''s this about?¡± Jack said, approaching the woman who held out clothes for Jack. ¡°Less talking, more stripping.¡± ¡°Can you at least buy me dinner first?¡± ¡°You already had dinner, now shut up get naked!¡± Jack rolled his eyes, changing into the leather jacket, trousers, and baggy shirt. ¡°Oh, put this on,¡± Selfia said, handing Jack a black-haired wig. ¡°Weird how your hair is white. Would be funny if we were brother and sister don''t you think? Be like one of those pornos!¡± Jack turned his head slowly. ¡°That''s disgusting.¡± ¡°Yeah yeah, come on out on the damn wig and let''s go,¡± Selfia replied. ¡°Where we going?¡± ¡°Surprise surprise surprise Jackie, you''ll see when we get there,¡± Selfia said with Jack sighing. Jack did as told, putting on the wig before following Selfia into a nearby hallway. **** Exiting out of a secret tunnel, Jack and Selfia entered into a small wooden room. ¡°Cough! Wh-where the hell is this?¡± Jack let out, smacking away cobwebs and dust as he scanned the room filled with old barrels. ¡°Come on.¡± Selfia said, opening a door. Jack followed along, his ears picking up music and chatter as he ascended up a flight of stairs and into a dimly lit room with rows of bottles and classical jazz playing. ¡°This¡­¡± Jack began. ¡°Is a bar!¡± Selfia exclaimed. ¡°Hey Selts!¡± A blonde man called out, the bartender calling Selfia''s cover name with the clientale at the bar turning and saying the same thing. ¡°Whose the man meat?¡± A brunette woman in Selfian blue uniform asked. A sergeant from the chevons on her collar. ¡°My boooyfriend,¡± Selfia giggled, causing two men to groan at the table and the soldier to swear and oggle Jack. ¡°So this is the elusive J?¡± The bartender said, eyeing Jack up and down. ¡°Yup, that''s me,¡± Jack said, flashing a smile as the group of people at the bar waved at him. ¡°I''m Kale,¡± The bartender said before pointing at the others at the bar. ¡°That''s Ray, Happy, and CC.¡± ¡°Hey, nice to meet you guys.¡± Jack said, taking a seat besides Selfia. ¡°Vodka on the rocks, orange and extra lime please,¡± Selfia asked. ¡°Oh, and, green tea for my bubby here.¡± Jack put on a fake smile, allowing Selfia to hug and brush up against him. ¡°Gross,¡± The soldier name CC grumbled. ¡°Don''t be jealous! You''ll find a man!¡± Selfia laughed as Kale made her drink. ¡°Mhghdja,¡± CC replied incoherently. ¡°Not much of a drinker?¡± The bartender asked, placing a cup of tea in front of Jack. ¡°Not really. What kind of bar serves tea?¡± Jack said, staring at the bartender¡¯s hand. ¡°A good one.¡± Kale replied, the young man missing his pinky and ring finger. ¡°Curious about the hand?¡± ¡°A bit.¡± ¡°War injury,¡± The man shrugged. ¡°Lots of that going round.¡± The old man named Happy grumbled. ¡°I tell yea right now-¡± ¡°Oh here we go,¡± Ray rolled his eyes. ¡°-no! Don''t here we go me, I''m telling ya dis hol damn war is hogwash! Just a way to line the bureaucrat¡¯s pocket!¡± ¡°My God, shut up.¡± ¡°No you Ray! Without the Solomon expeditions the industrial military complex needs something to sink their money in. This war is it. I wouldn''t put it past that Selfia bit h to have he brother be a scapegoat-¡± ¡°Can we not today Happy? Please?¡± CC cut in, placing her head on the bar. The old man named Happy paused, eyeing the woman before looking away. ¡°Tsk, yeah, yeah. Sorry C,¡± Happy grumbled, downing a shot of alcohol and settling down. ¡°What''s that all about ¡° Jack whispered, asking Selfia. ¡°Today''s the day she lost her sister, battle of Frelia.¡± ¡°Oh¡­lovely,¡± Jack said, not realizing today was the anniversary of that battle. ¡°So¡­ what are we doing here?¡± Selfia stared at Jack, eyeing him, her eyes almost as if searching him for something. ¡°Night on the town, can''t I take my boooyfriend out?¡± Selfia said with an innocent grin. ¡°Hm,¡± Jack smiled before sipping his tea. ¡°Kale, can I get this to go?¡± Selfia asked. ¡°Put it on my tab.¡± ¡°Sure thing Selti.¡± Selfia got up, taking a moment to stop by CC. ¡°If you''re still having trouble with the dating, I can hook you up.¡± ¡°Really? You?¡± The soldier scoffed. ¡°No offense Selti but I doubt it.¡± ¡°Really? He''s an awakened officerrrrrrrrrrr,¡± Selfia teased, causing the soldier''s ears to wiggle at the mention of officer. ¡°Oh?¡± CC said, her brow raised. ¡°Yup! He''s handsome, well groomed, likes whiskey, got a nice combat scar under his eye and! He was in a kindorsoldt unit just like you!¡± Wait a minute. Jack looked up from his tea. ¡°Oh? Oh? Oh you''ve been holding out on me all this time?!¡± CC exclaimed. ¡°Hehe. Are you interested?¡± ¡°Yes! Yes! I''m tired of being single! Give me a high paying man!¡± ¡°Then it''s a date!¡± Selfia giggled before signaling Jack. ¡°Honey! Let''s go.¡± ¡°Uh, right,¡± Jack said, following Selfia out of the bar and into the night. ¡°Aaaaah. Fresh air,¡± Selfia said, Jack and the Queen one of themany sidewalks of the city. ¡°Really? Python. You''re setting her up with Python?¡± ¡°Why not? They both like whiskey, both are soldiers, and he''s been stressed nonstop-¡± ¡°Gee I wonder why,¡± Jack muttered as Selfia made vulgar gestures with her hands. ¡°Anyway, him having someone to dolt on him would help ease his mental fatigue. Plus! I like playing matchmaker!¡± Selfia said before grabbing Jack''s hand. ¡°Now come along O'' husband of mine, we''ve got a long chat ahead of us.¡± ¡°About?¡± Jack asked, brow raised. Selfia smiled. ¡°The future of the world of course.¡± AAS: SEASON 6: CH6: Old Faces. Jack took a breath, adjusting his collar in the mirror, the military uniform he wore bearing an emblem of the unicorn on his left collar and a rose crossed with a blade on his right collar. ¡°You look¡­ very dapper honey,¡± Ada said, hugging Jack from behind ¡°You think so? I think I look very rigid and generic.¡± ¡°Well, trust me dear, your very far from generic although I do miss your long hair.¡± ¡°Really? I thought I looked a bit like a hobo.¡± ¡°Could you at least have kept the beard?¡± ¡°Why? Saying I need man makeup?¡± Jack joked, giving Ada a light kiss. ¡°No, I''m just saying I liked your beard,¡± Ada pouted, laying down in bed, the woman reaching over to a nearby plastic plate to eat last night''s leftovers. Well, her leftovers. Whatever she was eating seemed to be some combination of cheesy chips dipped into strawberry yogurt with a side of peanut butter and ketchup. Absolutely vile. Jack had concerns, but decided to keep his mouth shut for fear of his own safety. ¡°Fine. Maybe I''ll grow it out.¡± ¡°You promise?¡± Ada asked, batting her eyes with her mouth smeared with yogurt. Jack smirked. ¡°No promises Ada,¡± Jack said, walking over to the woman to kneel and take her hand. ¡°But I''ll try. Just because I''m the Queen''s consort doesn''t mean I don''t have to follow the military grooming standards though.¡± ¡°You¡¯re such a good boy,¡± Ada teased, smiling as a knock on the door sounded. *Sorry to disturb you two, it''s time sir,¡± Leona said, the woman in matching uniform as Jack but with a lieutenant¡¯s rank where Jack''s medallion of a rose was. ¡°Alright. Time for me to go,¡± Jack said, wiping Ada¡¯s mouth with a napkin and giving her a kiss. ¡°I''ll miss you,¡± Ada said, almost tearful. Jack smirked, ¡°I''ll be back, I''ll only be gone for a few hours. Oh, and tell Yuki I said hi, I''ll try and swing by after.¡± ¡°Sure, now hurry up and go so you can hurry back,¡± Ada said with Jack heading out the door. **** ¡°Are you sure you''re up for this?¡± Leona asked, she and Jack standing in front of a double door that led to the outside. ¡°I''d really hate to ruin my nails if you aren''t.¡± ¡°Is Celeste safe?¡± Leona raised a brow. ¡°She''s with your Aunt and Kamila right now at her mansion. Along with an entire BRose team on standby.¡± ¡°Well, vacation time is over. It''s time to get to work,¡± Jack said, Leona shrugging and pulling open the door that spilled daylight onto Jack. Outside, a convoy of black unmarked cars parked in the driveway, the rear entrance to the palace that was littered by dozens of men and women in gold armor. ¡°Consort, Mage Lieutenant Tali,¡± A suit with a cybernetic hand said, standing beside a black armored SUV. ¡°J-jess- Sergeant Ashfield?!¡± Jack exclaimed, caught off guard by the woman he hadn''t seen in nearly four years. Jessica smiled, the woman in a black suit and tie. ¡°Lieutenant now. I will be in charge of your security detail sir. If you would, your chariot awaits sir.¡± ¡°Seems like everyone is moving up in the world,¡± Jack said, flashing a look at Leona as he boarded the black leather interior of the car. ¡°Selfia thought it be better to see a familiar face,¡± Leona explained, sitting beside Jack who was smiling at the woman across from him. ¡°Or two.¡± Corporal Yun Vichecht. The red-eyed blonde woman smiling at Jack.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Yun!¡± ¡°Sir!¡± The perky woman replied, giving a casual salute. ¡°And here I thought you forgot about me hehe.¡± ¡°Buckle up please,¡± Jessica said, eyeing the pair through the rearview mirror, her brown eyes settled on Jack doing as instructed as she reached for her radio. ¡°Chicken Two this is Chicken One. Big Rooster is on board, lead us out.¡± Big Rooster? Jack raised his brow. ¡°Copy that,¡± a familiar voice called back. ¡°We''re wheels up.¡± ¡°Alright, get comfortable. We''re off sir,¡± Jessica said, winking at Jack before the car lurched, taking off through the gilded archway and into the city. ¡°Yun, it''s been ages!¡± Jack exclaimed, eyeing the blonde in a suit. ¡°How''s it been? What have you guys been up to? ¡°Oh, ya know. Dodging bullets, getting shot at, chasing bad guys,¡± Yun said, almost giddy. ¡°Lots and lots and lots and lots of classified stuff! Fun stuff! You look good by the way! Real-¡± ¡°What she means is that after the Gamma Outpost raid,¡± Jessica cut in. ¡°We''ve been working with Queen Selfia on a number of ops.¡± ¡°You¡¯re kidding,¡± Jack said. ¡°Selfia recruited you guys?¡± ¡°Jeez. Why do you sound so surprised?¡± Yun snorted, smiling. ¡°Everyone from Gamma station has combat experience. And we all completed our SERE, OCDTS, and STARs training.¡± ¡°Stars?¡± ¡°Special Tactics and Rescue training,¡± Leona cut in, filing her nails. ¡°All Checkmate agents undergo it.¡± ¡°Checkmate¡­¡± Jack whispered. ¡°Wait, is everyone from Gamma on my protection detail?¡± ¡°Yup! Well, almost everyone. Elena is on maternity leave, so we¡¯re using a replacement from Saber Team.¡± ¡°Wow! Really? Time moves fast huh,¡± Jack said, recalling the sharp-eyed who once ambushed him in the showers. ¡°How far along is she?¡± ¡°Eh, about a few weeks. She''s been vomiting a lot, eating all my snacks, and crying all the time,¡± Yun replied, rolling her hand in the air. ¡°Usual pregnant stuff unsuited for the battlefield. Ya know last week, she microwaved fish with peanut butter in the office. Had the whole place stinking! ¡± ¡°Heh, sounds like someone¡­¡± Jack trailed off, his eyes widening. No¡­ no way? ¡°Sir?¡± Yun said, Leona flashing a look at Jack. ¡°No¡­ can''t be,¡± Jack shook his head, chuckling to himself in disbelief as he rubbed his chin. ¡°What? What''s so funny?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Jack sighed. ¡°Tell me more bout what you guys have been doing for the last four years.¡± **** Some time passed as Jack rode in the car md listened intently to the woman showing off her prosthetic metal leg. From the Battle of Frelia, to the Roland v Selfian frontlines, Yun and the others had seen it all, often raiding High Table facilities, their chance run in with a teenage boy altering their destinies. Since the battle of Gamma station, Yun, Elena, Jessica, Tyrah, and Jena had been serving aboard The All Under Heaven, Selfia''s tactical command airship that had been scuttled after the Battle of Frelia and it''s fight with the former Queen''s Flying Fortress. ¡°So, you were there. At Frelia.¡± ¡°Yuppers. On ship defense duty and DECOM. Now let me tell you that was some SCARY stuff! We had an outbreak on the ship and¡­¡± Yun blinked, eyeing both Leona and Jack, the pair holding pensive looks. ¡°Right, anyway yeah. We were there. And got really lucky.¡± ¡°Alright. We''re almost to our destination,¡± Jessica called out from the front seat. Jack looked out the tinted window,, taking in the rows of trees and formations of soldiers and trucks passing by. Before long, the car stopped. ¡°We''re here,¡± Jessica said, as a VTOL flew overhead. Jack blinked as Yun opened the door, his eyes adjusting to the harsh light. He stepped out of the black SUV, his gaze sweeping over the gathered men and women in blue training fatigues, the soldiers standing formation. Glancing left and right, Jack surveyed the field he stood upon, the grassland stripped away by countless footsteps, trucks, and mechs to be replaced by dirt. ¡°ATTENTION!¡± The officer in charge barked, a woman rendering a salute at Jack. Jack''s jaw clenched lightly, an action not unseen by Leona. ¡°At ease,¡± Jack replied, the entire formation shifting to stand at parade rest as the officer approached. ¡°Commander Margaret Houlihan I presume?¡± ¡°Yes sir,¡± The blonde replied, shaking Jack''s outstretched hand. ¡°The entire Hundred and Fifth are awaiting your inspection sir, right this way.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Jack said, before turning to Jessica and eyeing Jena and Tyrah, the rest of Gamma squad standing by their cars. ¡°I''ve got it from here Lieutenant. It was good seeing you again.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Jessica blinked. ¡°Are you asking us to leave?¡± ¡°Is that a problem? You guys don''t need to stick around.¡± ¡°Yeah, that''s not how this detail works sir,¡± Jessica said. ¡°You realize that I''m going to be doing some training with the hundred and fifth right?¡± Jack whispered, making eye contact with the woman. ¡°Yes, I''m aware of the PR stunt going on. But let me tell you sir. Wherever you go. We go. Our job is to protect you.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± Jack said, choosing not to address the glaring issue that his bodyguards weren''t awakened. ¡°Right sure. Commander, lead the way.¡± Walking with his entourage, Jack was led to a crowded barracks room of women where all eyes focused on him. Jack calmly walked through, picking up a change of clothes set aside on a bunk for him in the form of fatigues. He began to strip, taking off his uniform, his muscular body on display much to the shock of everyone inside. ¡°Holy shit,¡± Someone whispered, noticing the massive scar on Jack''s chest that extended to his back. A rare trait for awakened due to their healing but a reminder of his defeat. He didn''t care though, he quickly changed, taking off his pants with Jessica and Leona standing beside him and also getting undressed. The bigger splash he made, the more the impact would ripple. And that was the item on the day''s agenda. Causing ripples. AAS: SEASON 6: CH7: PR Training ¡°Vehicle gunnery is part math, part eyesight and part black magic,¡± Mi''shka said, standing in a hangar filled with soldiers. The Colonel giving a lecture to the gathered platoon as Jack observed from the sidelines. ¡°When operating a gunnery position, these are some important factors to consider. Is the target above, or below you? Is it moving towards, or away from you? What is the angle of the target in relation to you? Is it climbing, or descending? What is the ballistic drop of your ammunition? What is the air pressure, temperature and humidity? Small factors, but they do make a difference Are your barrels right hand, or left hand twist? Is the target stationary or mobile? Are YOU stationary or mobile?¡± Mi¡¯shka paused, sweeping his eyes over the gathered platoon. ¡°Any questions?" A soldier raised a hand. ¡°Yes, Private Swift,¡± Mi¡¯shka said, pointing at a blonde woman. ¡°We learned this at basic, why are we going over this again?¡± The woman asked, a few eyes drifting over to Jack as if he were the answer to that question. ¡°Good question,¡± Mi''shka said, clapping his gloved hands repeatedly. ¡°Repetition. Repetition. Repetition. Training is just that, repetition. Information and knowledge is always changing, always adapting. Most of you have trained on the P-Scope. So, this information, may not be too relevant and-¡± Jack leaned over to Leona, the woman in fatigues like him. ¡°P-Scope?¡± ¡°Predictor Scope. Most emplacements have them, including mechframes. They predict where the target is moving via a dot then relay that to the gunner,¡± Leona explained. ¡°Pretty low tech but takes out all the guessing.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°-but what happens if your P-Scope gets damaged? If an EMP goes off or if the damn hand-me-down crap the army calls Military Grade blows a fuse in its osculator?¡± Mi''shka continued before pausing with his hands on his hips. ¡°That''s what we''re gonna find out today.¡± **** ¡°So, Head instructor Domino,¡± Jack smiled, walking in step with the heterochromatic officer along with his protection detail. ¡°Hey! Why do you sound so surprised?¡± ¡°Just didn''t take you for a big responsibility type,¡± Jack replied, pausing at a door that had the Colonel¡¯s name on it. ¡°That''s me, big responsibility type,¡± Mi''shka replied sarcastically before opening the door of his office. ¡°Trust me, I wasn''t keen on the idea first. But if it keeps me away from fighting.¡± ¡°Give us a moment,¡± Jack ordered, addressing Leona and his security detail with Jessica narrowing her eyes but complying. Sarah? ¡°Yes dear?¡± Sahaqiel replied playfully. Mind scouting out the base, get some feelers for me? Pick up some rumors. ¡°Sure,¡± Sahaqiel replied, taking off as Jack took a seat across from Mishka''s desk that was just a cheap plastic table with papers stacked on it. Beyond that, the office was devoid of any personal touches besides a cabinet of liquor and a photo frame. ¡°Not a fan of the war?¡± Jack asked, eyeing the photo of a remarkably younger Mi¡¯shka in dress blue uniform, the man smiling alongside a blonde woman in similar dress, a woman Jack knew well. Mi''shka followed Jack''s gaze, grabbing the photo frame. ¡°No. Not since Eleanor,¡± Mi¡¯shka said, eyeing the photo with a soft smile before setting it to the side and grabbing a brown bottle of liquer from a cabinet. ¡°Eleanor died because of a plot from the High Table, I rather not be a pawn in all that when the real threat is elsewhere. Plus, this keeps me close in case Selfia needs and I get to run all the experiments I want within budget. Drink?¡± ¡°No thanks, its not like I can get drunk.¡±If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°You can if you try hard enough, Colonel Potter loved this stuff,¡± Mi¡¯shka replied, laying down on a hammock that served as his office desk. ¡°So, my King, how are you liking your army?¡± ¡°Can''t complain. Soldiers seem willing and ready,¡± Jack replied. ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, war is looking pretty favorably for Selfia.¡± ¡°It is, but that¡¯s just the war in daylight,¡± Mishika yawned, ¡°And you? Are you ready friendo?¡± ¡°That''s what we''re here to find out right?¡± Jack said, drawing a look from white-haired man with red and green eyes. ¡°What? I''m not so dumb to think this is all just a PR stunt. Selfia wants me up to date on combat tactics and have me observe the day-to-day people.¡± ¡°Right, can¡¯t keep anything from you now can we?¡± Mi¡¯shka smiled, his eyes hinting that there was more to it than just that. But the officer kept it to himself, instead putting on a farce for Jack. ¡°Well, let¡¯s go. I got a dinner date with the missus tonight.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Mi¡¯shka said, getting off the floor with a groan. ¡°And here I had a whole speech planned to walk you into what we would be doing today.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m sure you can tell me your story on the way," Jack said, opening the door to leave for training. **** Hour long marching through woods and the military base. Exercising under the harsh heat and full military gear. Gun drills using pellet guns with the pellets fired at Jack moving so slow he dodged them with ease. Jack spent hours training alongside the Hundred and Fifth. His awakened status on full display to the regular humans out of breath, panting, and struggling to keep up. The only ones who weren¡¯t out of breath were Jack and Leona, the two sitting on a bench and observing the soldiers waiting for their next training. ¡°A dimmie king? What''s the Queen doing choosing a non-citizen?¡± ¡°Did you see his imprint? I''ll tell you what she''s doing.¡± ¡°Gross. I don''t care if he''s hung, I''d rather die than let a dimmie stick their cock in me.¡± ¡°Aren''t you a lesbian?¡± ¡°Yeah so?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Jack turned to a different conversation. ¡°Then she accused me of being not romantic enough! Like Bitch! I ate whip cream out of you-¡± Nope! Shifting his focus, Jack listened to a different conversation. ¡°He''s handsome.¡± ¡°That''s it? That''s all you got?¡± ¡°What? You asked me for my opinion, I gave it,¡± The soldier said, drawing a chuckle from another soldier. ¡°What about¡­ his condition?¡± ¡°Condition?¡± ¡°Ya know, his eyes.¡± ¡°So what? It''s just an eye color. Delreese and Sledge have brown eyes and they''re alright people.¡± ¡°Wow, look at the progressive.¡± Another round of chuckles. Jack moved on, reaching out, his senses picking up a different conversation. ¡°Bayonet training is next, think we''re gonna get a shot at the King? He¡¯s shown us up on everything.¡± ¡°And end up in the brig? Hung up and executed for striking royalty? Ha! No thanks. Do you see his security detail? They''d shoot us the moment we lay our hands on him. Especially that cyborg chick.¡± ¡°You two are a bunch of pussies,¡± A different voice cut in. ¡°If the dimmie wants to tangle, let em tangle. I''ll show him how true soldiers fight.¡± Jack opened his eyes, focusing on the blonde woman with scars and a tattoo on her shoulder standing with her foot on a bleacher a few yards away. The group of soldiers drinking from canteens stopped talking, realizing Jack was looking at them. ¡°Do¡­ you think he can hear us?¡± One soldier asked nervously. Jack looked away, surveying the other soldiers idling about. ¡°Maybe, mage officers all have enhanced hearing right? Can he hear us from across the field?¡± ¡°That''s just a rumor. They''re stronger, faster, and have magic but they all die the same,¡± The tattooed blonde said confidently. ¡°Oh? And how''s that Myra?¡± ¡°Crying like little bitches and choking on their blood,¡± The soldier smirked. ¡°Let me step up, I''ll put em in his place.¡± ***** ¡°KILL! KILL! KILL!!!¡± A woman barked. At the signal Jack charged forward, red-tipped stick in hand jabbing out at a woman in padding trying to kill him. She dodged, leaning back, slashing with her own staff, the red end nearly hitting Jack in his helmet if not for him grabbing the stick made to resemble a bayonet. ¡°What?!¡± The red-eyed blonde yelped, struggling, the woman attempting to take back her weapon that was locked in Jack''s grasp. ¡°So, what''s this about you putting me in my place?¡± Jack said, brow raised as the woman went pale. ¡°I-¡± Jack jabbed the woman in the stomach with his own stick, the red end knocking the woman on her ass. ¡°RED IS DEAD Private Myra, congratulations! You are now dead!¡± The training officer barked. ¡°Get off my beam!¡± Jack put his hand out, offering to help the soldier that glared at him momentarily before her anger rapidly dissipated as it donned on her who she was glaring at. She reluctantly took it, walking off of the balance beam. Fear in her eyes as the enormity of what she''d said weighed on her. Jack stood on a stage, defeating the soldiers one at a time. Even Jessica and Yun stepped up, the two on close security while Jena and Tyrah guarded their cars. ¡°Would anyone ELSE like to try their luck against the Queen Consort?!¡± Commander Houlihan barked, the platoon¡¯s last hope in the form of a loudmouth blonde Jack was aware of. When no one took the bait, Jack began to step off the platform but stopped as a certain red-haired stood on the balance beam. ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try,¡± Leona smirked, twirling her stick. Jack smiled beneath his helmet, crouching low, the two awakened squaring off. ¡°Mana or no mana?¡± Leona asked. ¡°I haven¡¯t been using any,¡± Jack replied, eyeing the look in the woman¡¯s eyes. ¡°No mana it is!¡± Leona barked before taking off. ¡°En garde!¡± AAS: SEASON 6: CH8: El Gato Negro Eyes wide, Jack evaded Leona¡¯s kick, the woman tossing a feint before striking with her foot, nearly breaking Jack''s nose if not for his back step. Leona smiled, kicking off the ground rushing Jack with her stick with Jack parrying the move. The pair clashed, training staffs shattering with the crowd of gathered soldiers gasping at the display of raw strength. ¡°L-leona!¡± Jack exclaimed, wide-eyed. A broken weapon didn''t slow Leona down however, the woman tossed away the non-res half, entering a low guard, grin on her face as she threw jab after jab at Jack now on the back foot. ¡°What? Wait!¡± Jack barked, dodging a jab that skinned the side of his tempo. Fine then. Jack¡¯s face contorted, displaying a vicious smile, foot planting, his body going low before he shot forward. No mana augmenting his body, Jack unleashed a flurry of blows, Leona tucking into herself, tanking the hits expertly with the practiced finesse of a boxer. ¡°Uh, should¡­. Should we stop them?¡± Yun asked, a tablet in her hands being tapped furiously by a pen. ¡°You want to interrupt two awakened throwing hands be my guest,¡± Jessica replied. ¡°But at least put me down as your main insurance beneficiary first.¡± ¡°Aww. Silly LT, don¡¯t you know all my money from my insurance goes to my ham ham?¡± Yun replied. ¡°Right. Your hamster. Which has no concept of money or ability to even feed itself if you''re not there,¡± Jessica sighed, flinching from the audible sound of bones breaking. Jack hit Leona in her ribcage, the woman¡¯s body lifting slightly off the ground as her fist found Jack¡¯s nose. ¡°LOOK OUT!¡± The two were sent flying, Jack landing into a pair of bleachers with Leona hitting the crowd of soldiers. ¡°Oooook, so now do we break them up?¡± Yun asked, Jessica sighing. Jack got out of the crush bleachers, his face dripping with blood but his injury already healed. Leona fared worst, the red-headed woman grinning and standing in the crowd of soldier''s despite the audible shifting of her broken ribs. ¡°That all you got?¡± Leona quipped, clenching her fist as blood and steam flowed from her bloody mouth. ¡°Leona¡­ you''re bleeding internally,¡± Jack said, rolling his neck and blowing a blob of blood from his nose. ¡°Nah, let''s go. It''s been ages since I''ve been able to let out steam!¡± Leona grinned, before eyeing Jessica glaring with a look of disapproval. ¡°Respectfully sir. We can-BLeHk.¡± Leona vomited blood. ¡°MEDIC!¡± Commander Houlihan snapped. ¡°Stand down! I got this,¡± Jack barked, quickly wading through the crowd of soldiers that parted ways for him. Jack reached out, grabbing Leona, his hands glowing with mana and healing the woman. ¡°H-h-hes a healer?!¡± ¡°A mage healer!¡± ¡°A priest?!¡± ¡°Fucking hell.¡± Jack jolted, eyeing the gazes on him, the tone and mood of the soldiers shifting drastically as they stared at him not with contempt, but awe. ¡°STOP GAWKING! AND GET BACK IN FORMATION!¡± Commander Houlihan said, standing next to Jack. ¡°Sir, if you would, let us get you cleaned up sir.¡± ¡°Uh, right. Ok,¡± Jack replied, getting the sense that the Commander wanted him gone. **** ¡°Some show,¡± Jack said, showering in the barracks shower amidst the gawks and stares of soldiers. Mostly women, with whispers echoing out throughout the entire room. ¡°Said the one showing off,¡± Leona replied, looking over the stall at Jack. ¡°Hey. My eyes are up here lady. Plus I''m married,¡± Jack said, causing Leona to chuckle. ¡°Keep this up and they''ll be rumors.¡± ¡°Heh,¡± Leona let out under the hot water, leaning over the stall door that separated her and Jack. ¡°Whoa hey! Haven''t you heard of privacy lady?¡± ¡°Please, your the king. You don''t get privacy,¡± Leona said, batting her green irises to the side where Jack''s security team was standing drenched in steam. ¡°Jack, there''s so many hot girls here! And guys! SO MANY ABS! SO MANY BOOBS!!¡± Sahaqiel squealed. ¡°Muscles! Lushes locks! It''s like a MEAT BUFFE-¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± Jack sighed, turning the water off as his mood soured. ¡°Well, I''m done here.¡±You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. ¡°Jack! No! NO! DON''T LEAVE!¡± **** ¡°See you around King,¡± Mi¡¯shka said, shaking Jack''s hand. ¡°Be cool on the flippity flip Jack.¡± ¡°Yeah, sure. Whatever that means,¡± Jack said before turning to his security team standing by their cars. ¡°Have fun sir?¡± Jena asked, the woman still with a sarcastic tone that he remembered fondly. ¡°Lots,¡± Jack replied, recalling the last time he spoke to the black-haired woman she had handed him a grenade to kill himself in case the monsters took him. ¡°Been awhile Jena, Tyrah. How''s it been?¡± ¡°Oh you know sir, low pay, lots of hazards, and long hours,¡± Jena replied before Ty cut in. ¡°What she means sir, is that we''ve been very busy serving the country honorably mi¡¯lord,¡± Ty said, the medical technician smiling. ¡°Well, that''s good. Maybe I''ll see about upping your pay now that I''m your boss and all,¡± Jack joked, getting into the car. ¡°Can he do that?¡± Yun whispered, calling out to Jessica about to get into the driver seat. ¡°He''s the king, he can do whatever he wants,¡± Jessica replied. **** Day in and day out, Jack''s days consisted of training with Selfian soldiers, dueling with Leona, and long drives home. The nights were spent with Ada and his daughter mostly, Kamila occasionally surprising Jack with her mouth after Celeste left at Ada¡¯s request who liked to watch. However, as days passed, Ada¡¯s sickness seemed to progress, her vomiting continuing with Jack helping to hold her hair and clean up after her whilst Sahaqiel and Lilith spent time arguing. Mostly mundane things, revolving around ways to use abilities and skill, but a lot of it just background insults being traded between the two ghosts. ¡°Tanji,¡± Ada said as Jack stood at the mirror fixing his uniform. ¡°Do I look fat?¡± Jack spun, raising a brow, eyeing the thicker than usual woman in her kimono up and down and causing Ada to scoff. ¡°YOU BITCH!¡± Ada exclaimed, catching Jack off guard and storming out the room, brushing off Leona in the process who was there to collect Jack. ¡°Uh oh. Trouble in paradise?¡± Leona asked, brow raised. ¡°No? I-i don''t know what I did! She just snapped at me,¡± Jack replied, confused as Sahaqiel facepalmed and shook her head. ¡°What happened?¡± Leona asked, fixing Jack''s collar. ¡°She asked if she was fat.¡± ¡°And you said?¡± ¡°Nothing! I just looked her up and down and- why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°The answer is no, Jack. It''s always no. Immediate. Fast. You idiot.¡± ¡°What? I just-¡± ¡°No. Answer is always no Jack.¡± Jack sighed. ¡°Alright. Collar fixed. You really should learn how to pin these pins yourself,¡± Leona said, the pair walking towards the exit of the manor. ¡°I''m trying. My fingers are too damn big and the pins are so damn small,¡± Jack groaned. ¡°Plus, I''ve already crushed like two of these medallions trying to get them in.¡± ¡°Ya know sir, I don''t recall you being such a muscle head.¡± ¡°You know I could have you tied up and thrown into the brig right?¡± Jack joked, causing Leona to giggle. ¡°Don''t threaten me with a good time sir,¡± Leona replied, the pair exiting the manor with Jessica there to great them. ¡°¡°Morning sir!!¡±¡± Yun and Jessica barked, saluting. ¡°At ease,¡± Jack replied, getting into the car. ¡°Chicken Two this is Chicken One. Big Rooster is on board, lead us out,¡± Jessica said, putting the car in drive. ¡°We really need to come up with a better call sign other than big cock,¡± Jack whispered to Leona who shrugged. ¡°The code phrase was chosen at random. Through a generator!¡± Yun said, picking up on the conversation. ¡°At least that''s what the queen told us.¡± ¡°Yeah. I''m really sure it was chosen at random,¡± Jack said sarcastically, eyeing the surroundings they were driving through, a different route today like the others. Eyeing the scenery, Jack''s attention was caught by a taco shop, a certain robotic man standing out front and hammering a sign that read EL GATO NEGRO! ¡°JACK!!!!¡± ¡°Hey. Hey! Hey stop the car!¡± Jack ordered, Jessica turning her head and slowing down the vehicle but not stopping. ¡°Sorry sir, we''re on a schedule. OPSEC demands we maintain mobility.¡± ¡°Ok, well, stop the car. I''m overriding the OPSEC.¡± Jessica raised a brow, Yun looking at her. ¡°Sorry, but this comes from the Queen sir.¡± Jessica replied carefully. Jack sighed. ¡°Alright. Fine. Suit yourself,¡± Jack opened the door and leapt out, tucking into a roll and hitting the road as a car nearly struck him. The convoy came to a screeching halt, every car door opening as Jack took off. ¡°SIR!¡± Jessica barked. ¡°Huh?¡± A certain Cyborg said, the dark-skinned man going wide-eyed at the man running towards him being chased by black suits. ¡°HUH?!¡± ¡°Hey! Five tacos please! Carne uh something. Actually! No, give me some tostadas! Six! No! Twelve! And throw in some tacos!¡± Jack exclaimed, skidding to a stop in front of the Taco truck. The man stumbled back, taking a moment before breaking out into a wide grin. ¡°HOLA! AMIGO JACKIE!¡± The cyborg said, reaching over the counter and embracing Jack in a hug. ¡°AH! ITS BEEN SO-¡± The man froze, eyes wide at the copious guns suddenly shoved into his face. ¡°Release The Queen Consort. Now, or we''ll turn your brain matter into a smear across the pavement,¡± Jessica hissed. ¡°Uh¡­ yeah,¡± The man said, releasing Jack immediately who signaled for the others to stand down. ¡°It''s fine. This is a good friend of mine. Leona, Jessica, Yun, Tyrah, Jena. Meet¡­¡± Jack froze, smile on his face. ¡°Right¡­ I''m realizing that I don''t actually know your name haha.¡± ¡°Carlos Ruiz amigas. Ah, you''ve got some feisty chicas now eh amigo?¡± Carlos said, nudging Jack much to the ire of Jessica and the others. ¡°Mind your tongue when addressing the king,¡± Jena spat, brow furrowed. ¡°King?¡± Carlos said, the sound of a shotgun being racked sounding out. ¡°OUI! YOU BITCHES BETTER POINT YOUR GUNS AWAY FROM MY MAN!¡± An Asian woman yelled, pointing a gun out of the window of the shop. Ah crap. **** After settling everyone down, Jack sat at on a stool, mouth full as Sahaqiel moaned in ecstasy nearby. ¡°Gross,¡± Lilith said. ¡°See, this is why you suck,¡± Sahaqiel said. ¡°You can''t appreciate the food.¡± ¡°So. King of the empire huh?¡± Carlos said, passing a burrito to Yun who took a bite before waiting two minutes and handing it to Jack. ¡°Are you going to do that with every burrito?¡± Jack asked, taking the burrito with a generous bite mark. ¡°We have to test everything you eat sir,¡± Yun said, chewing loudly. "Its standard protocol," Tyrah said, standing behind Jack as Jessica and Yun ran crowd control to disperse the pedestrians getting nosy. ¡°Right. But that doesn''t explain why half my burrito is missing,¡± Jack said, shaking his head. ¡°Weird,¡± Yun said. ¡°Yeah. Weird.¡± ¡°Uhm. Sorry about the whole aiming a gun at you all,¡± The Korean woman said, Carlos¡¯s wife whose name was Clara. ¡°Don''t worry about it,¡± Jack smiled, putting on his most reassuring smile. ¡°I guarantee you won''t be executed haha.¡± ¡°Hahaha,¡± Clara replied, laughing nervously as her face drained of all color. ¡°Sir, we''re exposed out here and on a timetable,¡± Jessica said, a burrito suddenly shoved into her mouth. ¡°Here, hold this for me,¡± Jack said, eyeing the crowd lingering. ¡°Carlos.¡± ¡°Yes sir ami-ah, King Jack.¡± ¡°How fast can you whip up thirty burritos?¡± Jack grinned, handing the man his credit chip that had been storing money since he first got it four years ago. ¡°For you my friend? No time at all,¡± Carlos said, the cyborg flashing a smile. AAS: SEASON 6: CH9: Bottom Bitch Duties ¡°I forgib you!¡± Ada said, mouth full of taco with her hands attempting to stuff burritos into her face. ¡°Right¡­ you know these are for you and ever-¡± Jack began, reaching to grab one of the tacos. ¡°HISSS!¡± Ada spat, hissing at Jack, her massive nodachi bursting from a nearby wall to shower the pair with splinters. ¡°Right! Rightrightright. I can see that you''re hungry,¡± Jack said, the blade caught in his hands merely a millimeter away from his face. ¡°I''ll just leave you alone.¡± Jack went to leave, yet a hand reached out, grabbing him by his uniform and pulling him down to sit beside Ada on their shared bed. Burp! ¡°Ugh. I''m gross,¡± Ada let out before turning and feeling up Jack, her hand on his thigh and creeping higher. ¡°Wanna have sex?¡± Jack pursed his lips, eyeing the woman whose eyes were closed with puckered lips covered in taco meat. Ah. I''m screwed¡­ ¡°HEY! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW FUCKING EXPENSIVE THESE WALLS ARE?!?!¡± A voice barked ¡°Oh thank God,¡± Jack whispered as Selfia in a pink bedgown kicked her way through the giant new entrance in Jack''s bedroom. ¡°You! With me! Now!¡± Selfia barked. ¡°Pervert¡± Hush! ¡°Right, love ya honey,¡± Jack said, pecking Selfia on the cheek before quickly retreating to follow the Queen out. **** Inside Selfia''s secret office below the thrown room, Jack took a seat in the room filled with chalk boards, maps, and the permanent stench of coffee. ¡°So, interesting few days out,¡± Selfia said, tossing a newspaper in front of Jack as she walked towards her side of the desk cluttered with files. Jack looked down, grabbing the newspaper and eyeing the headlines. ¡°El Negro Gato¡­ The King¡¯s favorite eatery?¡± Jack read aloud, his eyes drifting down to an image of himself with his mouth full of taco. ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°Care to explain that?¡± Selfia asked, propping her feet up. ¡°Good publicity,¡± Jack said quickly. ¡°Gotta admit though, the tabloids run fast. This was only an hour ago and it''s already in print?¡± ¡°Focus Jack,¡± Selfia sighed. ¡°This wasn''t part of the plan. Plus, that picture isn''t very flattering and you made Jessica very unhappy.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Jack replied, setting the paper to the side, eyeing the numerous tabloids on the desk. ¡°They do work quick huh.¡± ¡°You know what they''re calling you?¡± Selfia asked, robotic fingers tapping on her desk. ¡°An oaf, a barbarian, uncivilized, uncouth.¡± ¡°They?¡± Jack blinked. ¡°The nobles. The conservatives. At least the general pop gets a kick out of this but your stunt hurt us in the eyes of the nobility. Whom I kinda need to finance this war buddy boy.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± Jack frowned. ¡°Sorry. I make no excuses for my actions.¡± Selfia blinked, staring at Jack, her fingers stopping. ¡°Well, whatever. It''s not all bad. You scored some brownie points with the locals AND you helped to put a fledgling business on the map,¡± Selfia said, rolling her hand. ¡°So, overall, good publicity.¡± ¡°And that part about the nobles?¡± ¡°Eh, fuck em. The point is I need you to be aware that your actions have consequences, even something as trivial as getting a taco. Trust me, theres a reason for all my planning.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Jack said, sweeping his eyes across the office. ¡°I get that.¡± ¡°Do you?¡± ¡°I do, now let''s talk about why we''re here,¡± Jack said, leaning forward in his chair and setting the tabloids to the side. ¡°High Table.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Selfia said, pursing her lips, her fake red eyes glancing down at the paperwork. ¡°Do you remember a black MECHFrame? With wolfish features, a tail, and autonomous armor? Looks something like this?¡± Selfia pulled out a manila folder with an image of a MECHFrame stapled to it and handed to Jack. ¡°Yeah, this thing attacked me during our¡­ uh. Reunion.¡± Jack replied, remembering vividly the howl it made and the aura it gave off. ¡°Well, this thing has been wrecking our forces all along the damn frontline. I''ve lost several officers, six platoons, and Colonel Domino¡¯s sister was ambushed and taken.¡± Jack frowned, recalling the petite woman that punched the former Captain on stage during the academy opening bonfire. ¡°Taken? Not killed. How can you be sure?¡± ¡°Because of this,¡± Selfia said, handing Jack an intellipad that showed a white blanket of white with dotted black spots and some kind of blue circle in the center.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Ok? What am I looking at?¡± ¡°Cintelli territory. High orbit images. What you''re looking at is a signal from an undetectable transponder strobe surgically attached to Major Taya Domino. That blue circle, that''s the strobe.¡± ¡°I''m assuming underneath that snow is a base?¡± Jack said, purposely ignoring the fact that Selfia had surgically implanted a device in her soldier''s body. ¡°Yup. And she''s not the only one that''s been taken. Besides our people being snatched, Paladin Lita has reported a number of her people disappearing, her own resistance forces running into the black MECHFrame.¡± ¡°So¡­ what do you want me to do here?¡± Jack replied, confused. ¡°Right, I''m getting to that, anyway the egg heads in the intelligence department believe that this facility is where your sister was taken.¡± Jack''s eyes went down to the page, his jaw clenched, eyes furrowed. ¡°When do I head out?¡± ¡°Slow your roll cowboy,¡± Selfia said, a floating arm appearing from behind a pillar and setting Jack back down in his chair. ¡°I¡¯m prepping a team. And it''s gonna take a bit.¡± Jack inhaled, sitting down, Sahaqiel appearing beside him and placing her hand on his shoulder. ¡°How¡­ long is a bit?¡± Jack asked slowly, doing his best not to drop everything and run off. ¡°Three weeks.¡± Silence took the room, no one speaking with Selfia observing Jack and his clenched palms. A moment passed, then another, almost an eternity passing by before Jack''s fists relaxed. ¡°Ok. What do you need from me Selfia?¡± Selfia smiled softly. ¡°Continue what you''re doing. In three weeks time the strike group will be assembled. In the meantime, I''ve looked over your proposal about Celeste attending a formal school. And I like it-¡± ¡°I''m hearing a but.¡± ¡°-but! I''ve got an amendment to the idea,¡± Selfia said, handing Jack a file she plucked out of a seemingly random pile. Wait. Jack blinked. ¡°You¡­ seriously?!¡± Jack exclaimed, jaw agape. ¡°Yes,¡± Selfia smiled. What Jack held in his trembling hand was a birth certificate. One that held Celeste¡¯s name, Jack''s and¡­ Selfia. A simple piece of paper, but one that would change the trajectory of Jack''s daughter¡¯s life. ¡°First Princess Celeste Cordelica. CC has a nice ring to it, don''t you think?¡± Jack stared at the paper. ¡°Jack? Yo, yoo-hoo, earth to Jack?¡± ¡°Uh. Yeah. Uh¡­ are¡­ are you sure this is ok?¡± Jack asked, gently placing the document on the table as he read the plans for a school, one sponsored by the crown with Celeste attending as part of its grand opening and announcement of an heir. ¡°Eh, I plan on dissolving the monarchy anyway. Eventually, but until then Celeste will be royalty. I guarantee it. Plus with a heir we won''t have to fuck in front of a bunch of people to officiate our-¡± ¡°I''m sorry, what?!¡± ¡°Oh? You didn''t know? The Queen and her consorts are required to do the dirty under the gazes of witnesses to mark their joining or whatever, don''t worry about it, an old traditionalist thing, my great grandmother was a freak,¡± Selfia said, tossing Jack another file. ¡°Ok¡­ officially not worrying about it then,¡± Jack frowned before opening the new file that contained images of Hoshido, Jack''s home and settlement. Reports, statistics, letters, and even pictures taken by Jiang featuring Mo Ye, Granny Cao, Ming, and a secret photo of Kenichi holding hands with a certain uptight woman by the name of Valentine near the lakeside. ¡°The settlement is coming along nicely, from the reports, they even have roads now. Albeit, cobblestone and gravel, but it''s a start,¡± Selfia explained, "We''ve already begun construction of a wall and a route to the main imperial border through Victoria''s border crossing." A soft smile settled on Jack''s face, his brow relaxing a bit. ¡°They look happy.¡± ¡°They better be! Do you know how hard it is to smuggle material in and out of an active warzone?!¡± Selfia exclaimed, her floating arms flying into the air in exasperation. ¡°Stupid hard! That''s how!¡± ¡°Right. Thanks, Selfia. Seriously.¡± ¡°Yeah yeah, just remember who has your back bucko,¡± Selfia replied, waving Jack off. ¡°And this don''t come free! Quid pro quo!¡± ¡°Ok, so name your price,¡± Jack replied earnestly, locking eyes with the woman, the two staring at one another for a second before Selfia looked away. ¡°Jeez. When ya say it that way it sounds like you''re making a deal with the devil,¡± Selfia replied before slouching in her chair and munching from a large bag of chips that lay nearby. Sahaqiel giggled. ¡°I wonder what the populace would think if they could see their queen.¡± ¡°Anyway,¡± Selfia said, mouth full with one pair of floating hands shoveling chips into her mouth and another pair handing Jack various files. ¡°For the next three weeks here''s the schedule. I''ve got a ribbon cutting ceremony on a new factory we have to attend.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°A masquerade ball with a bunch of stuffy nobles-wait you know how to dance right?¡± ¡°Uhhhh.¡± ¡°No, ok don''t worry you''ll learn-¡± ¡°Grea,.¡± Jack murmured sarcastically, taking the next file. ¡°-A marching parade welcoming the Seventy-Seventh Combat Corps home, and then after that, we''ve got to pay a visitation to the dockyard to christen the HMS Winchester.¡± ¡°Ok, HMS Winchester, destroyer class airship,¡± Jack replied, reading the file header before another folder was dropped into his hands. ¡°And finally, a small tournament to watch that''s hosting several military officers, mercs, and new prospects,¡± Selfia said, dropping the last of six manila folders in Jack''s lap. ¡°Of course you''re going to attend. Will be a day affair, no long tournament arc thing.¡± ¡°I have to ask Selfia¡­ why so much paper? Why not put this all in an intellipad?¡± Jack said, organizing the stack of folders in his lap. ¡°Cuz an intellipad can be hacked, duh. Could you imagine if people had my schedule? Would be an assassin''s wet dream. Plus this way I know I''m the only one with a copy. Oh, by the way, here''s this.¡± Jack flipped open the folder titled nomad, his eyes going round. ¡°Huh?! Wait a minute?! What the hell is she doing here?!¡± Jack exclaimed standing up. ¡°Surprised?¡± Selfia said, Jack''s eyes fixed to the picture of a nomadic girl he was all too familiar with. A mischievous teenager that was a constant troublemaker. In Jack''s hands was a mugshot of Ho-sook, the korean girl arrested and thrown in jail with her tongue sticking out at the camera. ¡°Yeah! Damn right I''m surprised, what the hell is she doing here?!¡± Jack exclaimed, his brow furrowed as he debated storming off to the jail to yell at the girl. ¡°MPs picked her up with aid from several awakened officers. Apparently she''s responsible for a string of pickpocketing and evading constables for the last few weeks. She was only brought in because she stole from an Awakened officer who just so happened to have several friends with speed skills to catch her,¡± Selfia explained as a slight smirk appeared on Jack''s face. ¡°What? What''s funny?¡± ¡°Ah, nothing. For some reason I''m feeling angry but also somewhat proud,¡± Jack said, eyeing the photos of Ho-sook¡¯s escapades through the city alone. ¡°So I take it she''s in holding?¡± ¡°Yerp. I thought you''d want to have a chat with her first, maybe call some people to pick her up.¡± Suddenly a boom, an influx of mana. ¡°Right. Yeah. I''ll talk to Victoria and have her get me a line to the village leader,¡± Jack sighed as Selfia got up. ¡°Coo Coo anyway, have fun with that. I''ma go make sure that woman of yours isn''t destroying more of my home. Leave the files on my desk when you''re done,¡± Selfia instructed, walking off and leaving Jack to his homework. ¡°Great,¡± Jack sighed, rubbing his chin, a soft smile on his face as he pondered what kind of noble he would be. AAS: SEASON 6: CH10: Sitting cross-legged, Jack inhaled, holding his breath as his shirtless sweating body wafted with brackish golden energy. At his side, Sahaqiel and Lilith, both specters standing over their host, observing the man circulated his mana with his palm held out towards a floating potted plant. ¡°Now reverse the flow, pull in that energy,¡± Lilith instructed, the runes on Jack''s arms glowing, mythical symbols the helped to ease his burden. The plant suddenly began to wither, the life force of the little shrub turning brown as its energy was ripped out of it. Jack opened his eyes, beholding his handiwork. The plant drained without having to touch the target or activate Gehenna. ¡°Incredible¡­¡± Jack whispered, eyeing his palm. It had taken a few tries, but ultimately, it had succeeded despite Sahaqiel¡¯s disapproval. It wasn''t as fast or as efficient as touching someone and willing the skill to activate, but this now gave Jack a way to replenish while at a distance. ¡°This is fine and all. But it''s completely unusable. Anyone with mana sense will just be able to avoid Jack''s mana touch,¡± Sahaqiel said, the angel looking to the side with her arms crossed. ¡°Be that as it may, this is just the building block for new abilities. If I can reach out and steal energy from my foes, that means I can keep a healthy distance indefinitely and not get hurt,¡± Jack replied as the door of the balcony opened. ¡°Talking to your imaginary friends?¡± Ada asked, the woman a mess with her hair going in all directions, mouth covered in crumbs with her once pristine pink bathrobe sporting mysterious stains. ¡°Morning Ada,¡± Sahaqiel said, revealing herself with a smile. ¡°You''re looking stunning as usual. A very earthly glow about you.¡± Ada responded with a middle finger. ¡°What¡¯s up? Feeling better today?¡± Jack asked, closing his eyes as he gathered more mana to repeat his test on another potted shrub. ¡°Well¡­¡± Ada said, placing her hands on Jack''s shoulders and massaging them. ¡°Celeste will be here in ten, so I was wondering if you wanted to join me in the shower?¡± Jack''s eyes shot open as Ada dropped her robe and strutted back into the room with Jack''s head snapping towards the woman beckoning him. ¡°Right! Yup! On the way!!¡± **** ¡°Daddy!¡± Celeste exclaimed, running up and hugging Jack''s legs. ¡°Oh! How''s my number one baby girl!¡± Jack asked, picking up the short girl and hugging her in his arms. ¡°Tickles! Tickles!¡± Celeste let out as Jack gave her multiple kisses on her head. ¡°I''ll see you later. I''m gonna go check on Yukino,¡± Ada said, the woman neat and tidy as she walked out with Leona. ¡°So,¡± Jack said, waiting until the two were out of sight. ¡°What do you wanna do today princess?¡± Celeste looked up, blinking at Jack with her golden eyes, her appearance reminding Jack of Colette. ¡°Can we have ice cream?¡± Jack smiled. ¡°Sure, let''s see if Auntie Kamila is in the kitchen.¡± ¡°Yay!¡± **** ¡°So how''s it been with Jack?¡± Leona asked, walking through the empty palace wing off limits to anyone else but authorized personnel. ¡°Fine I think,¡± Ada said, rubbing her belly. ¡°I think I''m grossing him out though.¡± Leona looked down. ¡°Have you told him?¡± ¡°No. Not yet.¡± ¡°Well, you better girl. I''m not trying to call you fat but you are looking a little Thicc.¡± ¡°Hey!¡±Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°But in the good places,¡± Leona joked, the pair turning into a corridor. ¡°Ugh, I keep eating and eating and eating and I can''t seem to stop myself. Is that normal? I feel bloated but not and I think I''m just stress eating.¡± ¡°We''ll, you''re eating for two. Have you done an ultrasound yet?¡± Leona asked. ¡°Yeah¡­ Kamila has been helpful with that. Sel-uh, her Majesty has been scheduling me visits with Doctor Alencia. We''ve been doing a number of tests because of Jack''s biology to make sure the baby is healthy and there''s no complications, too hard to tell yet,¡± Ada said, the two pausing outside of a wooden door. ¡°Well that''s good. But I do think you should tell him,¡± Leona said, placing a well manicured hand on Ada¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Plus, I''m pretty sure he already knows, he''s just in denial.¡± ¡°You think? I''m just worried is all. Especially with his sleep talking.¡± Leona raised a brow. ¡°Sleep talking?¡± ¡°I¡­ uhm I probably shouldn''t have mentioned it,¡± Ada replied quickly, attempting to open the door but being stopped by the red-headed officer who grabbed her wrist. ¡°No, if something is concerning you, you should open up about it. Especially if it''s about Jack,¡± Leona said, the pair staring at one another. "If his health is in jeopardy we should know." Ada clenched her jaw, wondering if she should speak up or not. ¡°Well¡­ he has nightmares. Not every night, but sometimes he says things in his sleep.¡± ¡°Like?¡± ¡°He''s begging,¡± Ada said, looking away. ¡°Like he''s pleading with someone. Sometimes he''s begging to save the Hoshido and other time''s he''s murmuring about failing. Sometimes it''s his sister''s name, other times¡­¡± ¡°Other times? It''s ok. I''m a friend and a psychologist Ada, it''s fine to talk to me.¡± ¡°Well¡­ who is Mai and Eleanor? You used to know him before he came to us, do you know who they are?¡± Ada asked, her arms folded around her body as she looked at the woman who was taken aback. ¡°Well?¡± Leona sighed. ¡°Mai was a classmate of ours. She and I weren''t very close, but she was good people. She and her boyfriend both died in a Cintelli ambush during our first landnav training four years ago,¡± Leona explained, an odd look on her face as her gaze seemed to be staring at something down the corridor that wasn''t there. ¡°Could be lingering survivors'' guilt. A lot of our cadre washed out after that. As for Eleanor, that was a MECHFrame pilot who died saving Jack.¡± The pair stood in silence for a solid minute, the minds of both women moving. ¡°I see,¡± Ada said. ¡°So you see why I can''t tell him? He''s so stressed out as is.¡± ¡°Ada, I''m sure he already knows,¡± Leona assured. ¡°But it should come from your mouth.¡± Ada sighed. ¡°I''m sure you''re right,¡± Ada said before finally turning the door knob and entering into a white drabbed room filled with the fragrance of flowers and antiseptic. ¡°Morning!¡± Ada let out, entering the room with a wide smile where a brown-haired woman missing her left arm and leg sat flipping channels on a TV with a bored look. ¡°Sup,¡± Yukino said, her gaze not moving from the large TV screen. ¡°Hey! Why so gloomy! Today''s the day you get shiny prosthetics!¡± Ada said, putting on her best smile for her friend with bags under her eyes. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°You should be excited!¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°You¡­ Yuki. Are you ok?¡± Ada asked, dropping the facade as she eyed the untouched eggs and greens that lay cold on a plate. ¡°I just want to go home.¡± The pair sat there neither speaking as Leona picked up her chart at the end of the bed. ¡°Once we get you outfitted with the new prosthetics and through recovery, we''ll get you back to where you belong,¡± Leona assured. ¡°But it''s important you eat. Gather as much strength as possible.¡± ¡°Ok.¡± Yukino said, almost a whisper blinking once before she turned over in her bed and shut her eyes. ¡°I''m tired. I want to sleep.¡± Ada stroked the woman''s hair that had long since lost its pink dye. "Did you know? Its the darnest thing, but Ho-sook is here." This seemed to catch Yuki''s attention, albeit for a moment. "Snuck into the city on our convoy, apparently she''s been stealing and causing quite the fuss," Ada continued, "When we pick her up do you want to see her?" Yukino paused, seeming to consider it. "No... I''m okay..." ¡°Ok,¡± Ada smiled softly before leaving with Leona. ¡°I''m going to have an attendant look after her. Check in every thirty minutes or so,¡± Leona said. ¡°I''m worried about her.¡± ¡°Well, she''s still in the process of grieving. Plus the traumatic experience she suffered and loss of her limbs. Anyone in her situation would feel depressed.¡± Ada turned, opening the door and peaking into the room at her friend curled up on the queen-sized bed. ¡°Is there anything I can do to help?¡± ¡°Just be there,¡± Leona said. ¡°Time is going to be the biggest factor here.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Ada said, pursing her lips before she closed the door. **** In the distance of Lunacrypt, a petite feminine man in a maid outfit with a pawn tattoo beneath his eye stood on the outer defensive wall of the city. Next to him, a woman in a jester outfit, another pawn surveying the bustling landscape teaming with life below. ¡°Ah. There''s so many women and children down below!¡± The Maid exclaimed, hugging himself as he began to sing. ¡°Can you imagine their screams?" ¡°Settle down please. We have a job to do. Best not fuck this up,¡± The Jester replied, the pair invisible to the armed Selfian patrols passing by. ¡°Yeah! Yeah! Whateva! Jeez, can''t have any fun. It''s not fair that cowboy gets to go out blowing stuff up but I''m stuck here doing this!¡± The Maid exclaimed, his slender legs dangling off the eye of the wall. ¡°Don''t complain. If Purple Pawn find out we''ll lose more than just an arm this time.¡± ¡°Tsk!¡± The Maid replied. ¡°Now come on, we''ve got work to do,¡± The Jester said, taking the Maid¡¯s hand with the pair disappearing into a cloud of smoke. AAS: SEASON 6: CH11: The Child In the underground garage of the palace, Jack frowned, arms crossed, head shaking as Ada screamed at the grimy covered girl in torn floral robes and shackles. ¡°IRRESPONSIBLE! SELFISH! AND DOWN RIGHT IDIOTIC!¡± Ada hollered. ¡°Do you have any idea how much trouble you are in?!¡± Ho-sook winced, the girl in rags tucking into herself, avoiding Ada¡¯s eyes and trying not to focus on the gold armored knights who had suddenly appeared at the prison and stuffed her into a black box before moving her to this dank place. At first the girl was ecstatic, the sight of Tanji and Ada finally good news for the wayward teen after struggling to survive on the streets of the city. However, that excitement soon faded as Ada bore down on her. ¡°I just-¡± Ho-sook let out, but was quickly silenced by Ada. ¡°No! NO excuses! Nothing you say or do can excuse running away from the village and following us here! Do you have any idea how dangerous this city is?! How dangerous the world is for a little girl?!¡± ¡°...¡± Ho-sook kept her head downcast, the girl on the verge of tears. ¡°Ada,¡± Jack said, touching the woman¡¯s shoulder and gently pulling her away from the terrified child. ¡°Let''s at least hear what Ho-sook has to say.¡± Ada spun, a glare on her face that quickly changed upon seeing Jack''s expression. ¡°Ho-sook.¡± Jack said, his shadow towering over the girl. ¡°Explain yourself.¡± ¡°I¡­ I didn''t want to be lonely,¡± Ho-sook sobbed. ¡°Lonely?¡± Ada said, brow raised. ¡°You¡­ and Tanji were leaving. Yuki was going too and Lin Lee doesn''t play with me anymore and I just didn''t want to lose everyone and I tried sneaking back in sooner but the g-guards¡­¡± Ho-sook trailed off, the girl hiccupping and incapable of finishing her sentence. Jack pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh. ¡°Come here,¡± Jack said, gently pulling in the crying girl. He stroked the girl''s hair, letting her cry into his chest. ¡°It''s ok. You''re ok.¡± ¡°I-I- was scared! The people here are mean and I want to go home!¡± Ho-sook yelled, bawling her eyes out as Jack and Ada shared a worried look. ¡°Come on. Let''s get you new clothes and some food.¡± ***** ¡°So. Is everything ok?¡± Selfia asked as Jack sat across from the woman at her desk. ¡°Yeah¡­ she''s a little shook up. Apparently she found it very easy to sneak out of the palace but not back in,¡± Jack said, rubbing his face with a sigh. ¡°Well, she''s very resourceful. Would make an excellent Blackheart,¡± Selfia quipped, filing paperwork with one set of hands while another sipped on tea. "How about giving her some formal tra-" ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Jack said quickly, narrowing his eyes, memories of Ruby''s training surfacing in his mind. ¡°I¡¯m familiar with House Lamperouge¡¯s training methods. I won''t have Ho-sook dragged into anything. I''ve contacted the village and they''re sending a friend of mine to pick her up.¡± Selfia looked up and blinked, wondering how he could know about House Lamperouge before putting her head back into her notes. ¡°I was kidding,¡± Selfia said, chalking Jack''s knowledge to his bond with Ruby. ¡°Anyway, tell me more about that girl.¡± ¡°Well, after she escaped, she said she tried to talk to the guards, but they dismissed her as being another orphan dimmie,¡± Jack explained, recounting Ho-sook''s tale on the streets of the empire. ¡°After that, she tried sneaking in, but was caught by the MPs and beaten. Then she loitered around, homeless, before being forced to steal to survive. Still¡­ she''s safe now. And she''s smitten with the palace and having a bed. The important thing is she''s safe now.¡± A few moments passed in silence with an intangible uncomfortableness hanging in the air. ¡°I see,¡± Selfia looked away, the woman propping her feet up on her cluttered desk as she took out her contacts. ¡°Well, she''s also learned a valuable lesson out of all this I spose.¡± ¡°And what''s that?¡± Jack asked, Selfia''s blue eyes slowly turning to focus on him. ¡°That the world is a cruel place.¡± **** Three days later. ¡°Are you ready Jack?!¡± Selfia yelled, the Queen decorated in a deep blue gown with gold trimmings and silver jewelry as she stood in front of a mirror next to the underground garage door. ¡°Yeah, was just helping Celeste get her gloves on.¡± Jack explained, the man decked out in blue reg wear carrying the little girl in white who was playing on an intellipad. ¡°Whoa! Whoa! Whoa little missy!¡± Leona said, taking the tablet out of the girl''s hands. ¡°What did I tell you about electronics? No video games until after twelve.¡± ¡°B-but daddy-¡± Celeste stuttered, her face on the brink of tears, reaching for the tablet. ¡°No butts missy!¡± ¡°Oh, what''s a little bit of game time before we take off for the reveal? Shouldn''t hurt anything and it keeps her calm,¡± Jack asked, setting Celeste down who ran over to Kamila to pester the woman for icecream. Fortunately, Ada intercepted the girl before she could attack the group''s weakest link and cohorce the timid imperial medic. ¡°It''s brain rot,¡± Leona frowned, crumpling the tablet like a piece of paper and tossing it into a nearby fireplace. ¡°Right¡­¡± Jack replied, calling Celeste over. ¡°Do you all think that these walls and toys come free?¡± Selfia asked, fixing her makeup. ¡°Because they don''t and I''d really appreciate it if you guys would stop destroying expensive stuff.¡± ¡°Sorry, just making a point,¡± Leona said before helping Selfia apply her eyeliner. ¡°Ok, are we all set?¡± Selfia asked, ¡°Are we all dressed? Does everyone know their lines? Everyone used the bathroom and brushed their teeth? We aren''t stopping for bathroom breaks.¡± Selfia paused, looking down at Celeste twirling in circles in her white sundress. ¡°Sweetie, do you know your lines?¡± Celeste paused, eyeing Leona and frowning before nodding at Selfia. ¡°Yes Mommy,¡± Celeste said, earning her a head pat from Selfia. Leona''s lip quivered slightly, her heart suddenly feeling heavy at the little girl addressing someone else as her mother. Why¡­ Leona clenched her jaw. Holding in her emotions and helping Selfia to zip the back of her dress where she couldn''t see.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°Ok. Gather around everyone, I want to make sure we''re all on the same page,¡± Selfia said, running through the daily assignments as usual. ¡°Kamilla, you''re my attendant.¡± ¡°Y-yup. Yes ma''am.¡± Kamila replied quickly as Selfia turned to Ada. ¡°You will obviously be Jack''s attendant. But no PDA you two!¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am¡­¡± Ada replied, trying to get comfortable in her frilly blue dress that gave her plenty of breathing room. ¡°Leona is head of Jack''s security detail and Celeste''s personal guard,¡± Selfia continued. ¡°While my hunky man over here is my arm candy.¡± ¡°Thanks. I love being objectified,¡± Jack replied as one of Selfia''s arms wrapped around his, much to Ada¡¯s disapproval. ¡°And finally!¡± Selfia said, beckoning Celeste who hopped up to her and Jack. ¡°Our totally legitimate child hidden away! Isn''t that right princess?¡± ¡°Yup!¡± Celeste said, smiling before her eyes drifted to Leona who nodded. ¡°Ok, everyone dressed? Everyone have everything?¡± Selfia asked, doing a last minute check before the doors of the foyer swung open, a familiar voluptuous green haired lady entering in her regal green dress. ¡°DARLING!¡± Bellia let out, Jack flinching as the woman rapidly approached. Yet, instead of scouting Jack, she picked up Celeste, smothering the child who giggled. ¡°OH! MY PRECIOUS GRAND NIECE! I could just eat you up! Om nom nom!¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± Celeste let out, poking her head out between the large woman''s breasts with her cheeks squished by the boobs. ¡°Huh¡­ she really is your child.¡± Sahaqiel commented. The hell does that mean? Jack shot back yet got no response. ¡°No faiiir I want to come,¡± Ho-sook moaned from a balcony above, the nomad girl on house arrest until the Hoshido could send someone to pick the girl up. ¡°Ho-sook!¡± Jack barked, pointing at the girl who quickly ducked. ¡°Get back to your room! Now!¡± A groan was heard, but ultimately the teenager complied, a loud banging sounding out from a door being closed. ¡°Alright. Let''s gogogogogo! Like we reversed!¡± Selfia said, ordering everyone out to the underground driveway surrounded by gold clad guards, black cars, and black suited agents. ¡°Your Majesty.¡± Jessica said, bowing as she opened the car door of the black armored limousine. A specially crafted vehicle made of Armytheum to cancel out mana attacks and lined with reactive armor over a carbon fiber titanium alloy shell. A vehicle too heavy to be lifted by a MECHFrame, and guaranteed to stop anything short of an Anti-Army skill. At least according to Jessica when she was showing Jack where all the hidden weapons were. Jack entered the car, sliding to sit next to Yun who was as stiff as a board, her eyes trying desperately not to look at the Queen. Jenna was the same, her face eyes beneath a pair of shades but looking away from the Queen. Jack looked down, eyeing the intellipad in his hand, instructions and prompts scrolling across the screen as a reminder of the day''s activities. Queen Selfia Cordelica to Announce opening of First Public Academy. The headline of the day''s tabloid. First, the academy announcement, along with Celeste¡¯s reveal to Garner a crowd. Then, a museum opening. Followed by meeting investors at a mall and supporting local business owners before finally visiting El Negro Gato, a shop Jack''s antics had put on the map. Today, like every other day would be busy. But, unlike the other days since Jack had been making a public appearance, today was the day they announced the heir to the throne. Today was the day they revealed Celeste to the world. Jack sighed. ¡°This is Little Chicken. Big Boss and Big Rooster are onboard. Behemoth is Oscar Mike.¡± Jessica said, the driver putting the car in gear. The journey to their destination was quaint, mostly silent, no one speaking save for Celeste bouncing on Jack''s lap and pointing at people through the black tinted glass with Leona trying to calm her down. Ada smiled at the sight, doing her best not to throw up as she casted Soothe on herself. A low level skill that eased her urges. **** ¡°Well. We''re here, your Highness,¡± Jessica said before relaying orders to the rest of their protection detail. The car door opened, light and noise flooding into the interior as the sound of paparazzi surrounded the armored cars behind red string barricades and capitol police. As rehearsed, Ada exited the car first into the chilly air, the woman acting as Jack''s attendant. She held her hand out, Jack exiting the car with the woman handing him a coat as Kamila exited next. Selfia stood beside Jack, smiling as he stood stoically, surveying the mass of noise coupled with winter¡¯s bite was akin to a flash bang to his senses. It took a moment, but he recovered, gold eyes sweeping across the crowd begging for the Queen to look their way. Man¡­ I hate this. Jack griped inwardly, the obnoxious crowd snapping hundreds of photos. Don''t they know that''s annoying? Jack had half a mind to conjure up mana and destroy the cameras, but he restrained himself, putting on a smile and waving like a good mascot. Now comes the hard part... Leona exited the car next, standing off to the side as the little blonde Celeste hopped out of the car, her yellow boots kicking up snow. Suddenly, a tangible shift occurred through the crowd. The mass of paparazzi photo taking slowing from frantic to a crawl with eventually everyone going silent. Selfia continue to wave, walking in step down the red carpet laid out for her with Jack, Celeste, and their protection detail in tow. I think I prefer the camera spam. Jack griped, Sahaqiel giggling as they made their way through the silent crowd with their unawakened guards. The group moved towards the flight of marble stairs, bypassing a statue of an angel with her legs kicked up, lying down with a smile on her face a she read a book. A statue that looked eerily like a certain angel. Selfia shot a knowing smirk, one that made Sahaqiel flustered and vanish. The crowd began taking pictures again, just as Selfia and the others made it to the top of the stairs where Madam Hightower, the former principal of Almus Academy stood with Bellia Bell. Beside her, a familiar cyborg stood. A man named Peter, who had helped Victor and Brigid to take Jack''s measurements for his old armor set. According to the faculty staff dossier, a teacher in charge of teaching metalworking of all things along with Brigid who put on a small smile at the sight of Jack. The other teachers were also just as strange as Peter and Brigid, diverse backgrounds from different walks of life. A former cop, a former meth maker, a disowned noblewoman, and many teachers from Almus who had survived its destruction to work at its successor. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen,¡± Selfia said, standing at the podium, her body posture and stance a far cry from the usual slouching, the tone she took, authoritative that took hold the eyes of all gathered. ¡°I speak to you today, to announce the grand opening of a public institution. The first, of many, a bastion of education that I wish to swath the nation in. An initiative that ha been met with pushback, and doubt. Many of you have heard the phrase, knowledge is power-¡± Selfia paused for dramatic effect, her head turning to Celeste with the gaze of mother. ¡°An idiom,¡± Selfia continued. ¡°That I hold dear to my heart. True strength comes from understanding the world around us and the many threats that surround our nation. And it is with this, I announce the grand opening of Frelia Public Academy, for our people are only as strong as the weakest amongst us.¡± The crowd applauded, taking photos, various tabloid writers scribbling notes. Selfia raised her hand, the crowd silencing. ¡°And to affirm my commitment to this initiative. My own daughter-¡± Suddenly the crowd immediately grew loud, the sentence barely completed before questions and shocked exclamations rang out. ¡°- Celeste Cordelica will be enrolling into the academy come spring,¡± At Selfia''s words, Celeste waved at the crowd, drawing hundreds of cameras on her. ¡°Hello!¡± Celeste called out, prompting Jack to pat her on the head. ¡°Applications to enroll are opened on the intranet site,¡± Selfia continued, a billboard lighting up above her that displayed instructions for enrollment. ¡°FreliaAcademy.Gov, the academy doors are opened to all that apply while slots are available. From Early Childhood, Kindergarten, Schuleingangsstufe, to weiterf¨¹hrende Schule, and vocational training. The Crown thanks you for your continued support and consideration.¡± Jack picked up Celeste and filed out, walking in step with Selfia as Kamila, Ada, and Leona followed them. All around them, nonstop photos. Questions being asked at Selfia and Jack who ignored them and entered their limo. ****Elswhere**** In an empty room of an office building, a blonde man wearing a cowboy hat frowned, peaking through the scope of his specially crafted sniper rifle. Through the lens, he could make out a barrier, a field of mana emanating from Jack, the man akin to a detection dog encircling his entourage with mana. Any attempt at attack would be detected, and with the man''s speed and reflexes, Ivan was sure he wouldn''t be able to deal the fatal blow against Selfia. Not that he wanted to really anyway. ¡°Tch,¡± Ivan sighed. ¡°Guess it''s your way then.¡± ¡°Finally! Told you!¡± The Man Maid said as the Jester sighed, the two walking off. ¡°Hey!¡± Ivan called out. ¡°What?¡± The Jester girl replied, brow raised. ¡°Try and keep civilian casualties to a minimum.¡± ¡°Now where''s the fun in that!¡± The Man Maid let out, sticking his tongue out before grabbing the Jester''s wrist and dragging her away. Ivan sighed, peeking through his scope once more, watching as the car drove off with a heavy heart. AAS: SEASON 6: CH12: Face to Face ¡°Holy fuck Selfi,.¡± Jack frowned, muttering over the sound of constant chatter and flash photography. ¡°I just want to eat in peace.¡± ¡°Welcome to nobility Jack, no such thing as peace,¡± Selfia said, waving at the crowd with a smile. ¡°Yeah¡­ but what''s the point of us being here if we''re not eating?¡± Jack said as Sahaqiel sulked in a corner beside a batch of tacos under the scrutiny of the press. ¡°Publicity duh,¡± Selfia said as the owner of the El Gato Negro, Carlos Ruiz came out with a number of burritos on a tray. ¡°Ah, your highness. As ordered,¡± The cyborg said, his hands visibly shaking as he placed the tray on the table. ¡°Oh, this looks good. You didn''t poison this did you?¡± Selfia replied, cocking her head in a manner that Jack found creepy. Immediately Carlos went pale, the cyborg chef frozen in place. ¡°N-n-no! Of course not!¡± Carlos replied quickly, bowing as Kamila brought out a fork and knife, cutting up Selfia''s burrito into meat squares. ¡°So disrespectful,¡± Sahaqiel commented, offended at the way the burrito was being dissected. The cutlery was handed to Selfia, allowing her to bring a bite of it to her mouth. ¡°Hm. I see what all the rage is about,¡± Selfia said, chewing in a dignified manner as Celeste looked on with hungry eyes. ¡°May I have some?¡± Celeste asked. ¡°Not right now dear,¡± Selfia replied, causing the little girl to deflate. ¡°Awwww.¡± ¡°Don''t worry, I''ll make sure you get some,¡± Jack whispered, making Celeste beam a smile. Selfia dabbed her mouth with a cloth. ¡°Ok. Time to go. Bring the burritos with.¡± Kamila and Ada bowed, taking with them the burritos in styrofoam containers provided by Carlos. Selfia stood up, walking back to the parked Behemoth limousine. Wait. That''s it? Jack wanted to protest, but ultimately said nothing, sharing a glance with Ada. As a man, Jack followed tradition and waited for everyone to enter the car, his form stoic as his eyes scanned the crowd. Something was up, an odd sense of foreboding that prodded at Jack. Yet all he saw were citizens and his security team. Along with his Bell warrior cousins who kept the crowd at bay with their blood abilities. Jin flashed a smile upon spotting Jack, but quickly going back to work. Entering the leather interior of the behemoth, Jack went wide-eyed, his gaze locked on Selfia munching loudly on the burritos, fighting with Ada trying to stop her from eating them all with Kamila caught in-between like a rag doll. ¡°Get off of me Ada! I swear I will-HOLY FUCK! CALM YOURSELF GUERILLA! WATCH THE DRESS! WTCH THE FUCKING DRESS!¡± Selfia screamed. ¡°Fight! Fight! Fight!¡± Celeste giggled. ¡°Right,¡± Jack let out, Celeste cheering them on as Yun sat in the corner of the car, the bodyguard wide-eyed. ¡°Jessica, get us out of here.¡± **** Back at the castle, Jack furrowed his brow. Eyeing the numerous tabloids on his bed documenting the day''s adventures. ¡°Heir to the throne¡­ Child out of wedlock. Queen, a Demi Lover¡­ El Gato Negro, Food fit for a Queen. Handsome Jack¡­ Jack The Ripper? Hero of The Frelia Mountain Massacre¡­ End of an Empire? Sellout Queen¡­ Where has Jack been? ¡± Jack frowned in his pink pajamas, reading aloud the dozens of printouts, some a far cry from the other rumor-mills with many insulting the queen. Usually, most of them were speculating about him or just blatant falseties. Never outright insults to Selfia. Treason, depending on who was asked. ¡°If you ask me. Seems like someone''s angry.¡± Lilith said, a rare moment of commentary from the darkened specter. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Someone unhappy about Celeste''s reveal? ¡°Probably a would-be suiter. After all, Selfia did turn down hundreds of suitors for you. And her revealing she had a child all this time, well. It just means everyone wasted their time.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Sahaqiel said, poking the specter on the nose, resulting in the black angel scowling. ¡°When did you become such an expert at love affairs? Here I thought all you could do was hate.¡± ¡°Please, I¡¯m a Professional.¡± ¡°Hater.¡± ¡°Call it what you will.¡± No. She has a point. I hadn''t considered what the coronation would mean for those eyeing the throne. Jack frowned, remembering the large crowd of unhappy individuals at the wedding. Had Selfia just painted a target on Celeste¡¯s back? ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Ada asked, hugging Jack from behind, the woman fresh from the bathroom in her pink gown. ¡°Talking? I haven''t said a word.¡± Jack replied, caressing Ada¡¯s hand. ¡°No, but you have a look on your face when you''re in deep thought, plus you not speaking out loud doesn''t mean you aren''t talking,¡± Ada said, pecking Jack on the cheek. ¡°Hi Sarah.¡± ¡°Howdy love,¡± Sahaqiel said, revealing herself reclining on a nearby chair. ¡°Right¡­ I''m just worried about everything is all,¡± Jack sighed, mulling over the point of all this waiting. ¡°And Selfia''s plan. Can''t help but feel like I''m placing targets on everyone''s back and gathering more enemies¡­ plus, with you pregnant, I have more to lose than I''ve ever had before.¡± ¡°Well¡­ It-¡± Ada froze. ¡°W-wait, you know I''m pregnant?¡± ¡°Uh. Yeah. I''m a little slow but I''m not stupid honey.¡± Ada slumped her shoulders. ¡°Right.¡± Jack chuckled, turning, his hand rubbing Ada¡¯s stomach. ¡°Heh¡­ roll.¡± ¡°HEY!¡± Ada snapped, slapping Jack''s hand pinching her stomach. ¡°Rude! Don''t play with my roll! UGH! You''ve made me chunky!¡± ¡°You aren''t chunky babe. You''re Thicc.¡± ¡°Y-you think so?¡± Ada asked, tears in her eyes. ¡°Of course,¡± Jack said, his eyes taking on a certain glint that made Ada flustered. ¡°Oh? So what you''re saying is you like my body huh?¡± Ada whispered, moving up on the bed. ¡°Y-¡± ¡°Jack.¡± ¡°Jack.¡± Jack froze, a sense of alarm as Lilith and Sahaqiel called Jack''s name. ¡°What? What''s wrong?¡± Ada asked, confused as Jack took on a worried look. ¡°Stay here,¡± Jack said, mana oozing off his body, spreading out, enveloping the palace rapidly. Every nook, cranny, hidden place where mana could flow, Jack''s energy seeped into until he found it. A man in a cowboy hat. ¡°Ada. Go find Captain Jin,¡± Jack said, tapping on an intellipad nearby to contact Selfia but finding it displaying no signal. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Don''t question it, go. Now. Get to Celeste,¡± Jack ordered coldly, opening his bedside drawer and taking out his gun blade revolvers. ¡°Ok. Ok!¡± Ada said, summoning her nodachi from the closet and taking off. Sara. Go to Selfia. I need to have a private chat. Jack sent, eyes narrowing with fury as he loaded bullets into his guns. ***** Entering the basement garage, Jack spotted a familiar blonde gunslinger, a man leaning on the nearby concrete wall under the low light with a black mask on his face. ¡°Hey budd-¡±, *BANG* Jack wasted no time, his hand up, opening fire with his silver revolver before Ivan could finish his sentence. The gunslinger shimmered out of place, teleporting, avoiding all six shots Jack fired. ¡°Whoa! Whoa! Hey! Are you trying to kill me?!¡± Ivan yelled, standing atop one of the black armored cars nearby. Jack glanced at the bodies laying on the ground. ¡°No. I was aiming for your legs. Next one''s going in your head.¡± ¡°Ah ah ah, I wouldn''t suggest firing that HE round,¡± Ivan said, hopping off the hood of the car. ¡°Those guards aren''t dead, just napping. A little insurance in case you get a little... explosive.¡± Jack clenched his jaw, but ultimately lowered his gun. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°To say hi of course,¡± Ivan smirked, tipping his cowboy hats. ¡°It''s not everyday one gets to have a chat with royalty face to face. We''re friends aren''t we?¡± ¡°Ivan¡­ I need you to know. That what''s about to happen. Is personal. It''s very personal,¡± Jack said calmly, his body giving off sparks as the air ionized. ¡°Easy hotshot, I come in peace. Here to give you a warning dipshit,¡± Ivan said, teleporting as Jack''s hand nearly closed around the man''s neck. Ivan broke out into a cold sweat, grinning as he clutched his neck tingling from the close call. ¡°Wow! You''re fast brother! Almost took my neck! You''re getting scary.¡± Ivan said as Jack reached out, the air shimmering around the pair as Ruby emerged, the dark knight appearing behind Ivan. ¡°You made a grave error Ivan. Not only do you have the gall to appear before me. You dare to try to speak to me as if we were friends,¡± Jack hissed. Ivan sighed. ¡°Yeah¡­ I spose, with what I''ve done, anyone would be right to be pissed. But I''m here to help you.¡± Jack raised his brow. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because The Black King has ordered Selfia''s death.¡± ¡°And this helps me how? It was only a matter of time,¡± Jack replied, narrowing his eyes. ¡°Because of the nature of the attack. A lot of people will die.¡± ¡°That didn''t stop you before. What''s different now?¡± ¡°Because¡­¡± Ivan clenched his jaw. ¡°I''m sorry.¡± ¡°Fuck you,¡± Jack said, his voice cold with his hand cackling with power. ¡°If you''re truly sorry, you''ll spill all of your secrets before placing your neck in my hand.¡± Ivan smirked before shaking his head. ¡°Sorry bud, no can do. I''ve got someone waiting for me,¡± Ivan said, tipping his hat. ¡°Heed my warning, things will get explosive. Better you get out and take your daughter with you. I''d hate to see the girl hurt.¡± And like that, Ivan was away, leaving Jack glaring in the garage as Jin arrived with several guards in tow. AAS: SEASON 6: CH13: Reflection of the Past Ivan was gone. Leaving Jack with a bitter taste in his mouth as Jin arrived. ¡°Are you ok?¡± Jack''s cousin asked. ¡°Yeah. Check on the guards. They¡¯re unconscious but not dead. Lock down the area,¡± Jack ordered before taking off. ***** ¡°What are we going to do about this? He was here. In this palace, a place supposed to be impenetrable and heavily fortified!¡± Jack demanded, sitting across from Selfia in her private office. Beside Jack, Leona held Celeste while Ada laid down on a futon nearby and Kamila served tea. ¡°Relax Jack,¡± Selfia sighed, taking an intellipad from Violet, the armored black knight making a rare appearance in the castle. ¡°Nothing happened.¡± ¡°But what if it did? What if he decided to plant a bomb, unleash an Anti-Army skill, or let loose a bio weapon underneath our feet like in Frelia? What then Selfia?! What?!¡± Jack spat, his hands slamming on the table that cracked under the strain of Jack''s strength. ¡°Look Jack, I understand how you feel, but-¡± ¡°No you don''t. Don''t pretend that you do,¡± Jack hissed, all eyes on him. ¡°My family was in danger tonight. Family. Which means more to me than just a fucking bargaining chip. Now I have done, EVERYTHING! That you have asked. That everyone has asked of me. And all I want is protection for those I love and the means to fight at enemies that we share in common. How fucking hard is that?!¡± ¡°Language!¡± Leona spat, yelling at Jack with her hands over Celestes ears. Unbeknownst to Jack, his body began to emit black shadows, eyes flaring up with crimson. ¡°Tanji,¡± Ada coaxed, caressing Jack''s shoulders. ¡°Come, sit down with me.¡± Jack clenched his jaw, but ultimately followed, sitting with his head held in his hands. ¡°Selfia. I want to get these people. And I can''t do it sitting here, on my ass playing the image of your boy toy,¡± Jack sighed. ¡°I have to kill every single one of them if I want to be free.¡± ¡°You will get that opportunity Jack. I promise. But right now I need you to be levelheaded, things are in motion,¡± Selfia said, taking a sip of tea from the cup served by Kamila. "What things?" Jack demanded, "You keep telling me stuff is in progress but you aren''t telling me what those things are." ¡°Remember the plan. Two more days till the masquerade. Once I secure my control, we''ll have you on your way. I promise.¡± ¡°Plan?¡± Ada asked, the first she was hearing of it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it Ada,¡± Jack said, resulting on a smack on the head. ¡°Don¡¯t give me that! Need I remind you I¡¯m carrying your child Mr! If something¡¯s going on I want to know about it,¡± Ada hissed. ¡°I¡¯m hosting a ball,¡± Selfia interjected. ¡°Where I will carole many of my dissenters and arrest them. With them all in once place, I¡¯ll be able to move in on them all at once.¡± Leona raised a brow at the declaration, but ultimately said nothing. ¡°What about the High Table kill order?¡± Jack asked. ¡°What about it? The galla will be heavily guarded, high profile event. And I can handle myself Jack. We knew that eventually they would come for me,¡±Selfia replied, two of her floating arms placing a talisman around her neck. ¡°And besides, with the Aegis, anything short of an anti-army attack skill will be stopped.¡± ¡°Do you think Ivan can be trusted?¡± Leona asked as Kamila handed her a pair of what appeared to be enchanted earrings to Jack''s eyes. ¡°No. Absolutely not¡­¡± Jack said, trailing off before wetting his lips. ¡°But¡­ fuck. I can¡¯t make sense of this. Why warn us?¡± ¡°To get in our heads? To defect?¡± Leona offered, placing a pair of earmuffs over Celeste''s head who was staring at her intellipad. ¡°Also, language!¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Jack replied as he pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°A High Table defector would be good to have,¡± Selfia mused. ¡°No,¡± Ada chipped in, drawing looks from Selfia, Leona, and Kamila. ¡°He has to die. He hurt my friends. Killed my clan¡¯s guardian and Elder. Blinded his son, took my best friend¡¯s arm and leg. It¡¯s too late for repentance. I want his head.¡± Silence took the room for a moment, at least until it was broken by Kamila collecting Selfia¡¯s plate. ¡°Right,¡± Selfia said, standing up. ¡°It¡¯s late. Everyone should get some sleep. I¡¯ll enact some contingencies but for now, the threat is over.¡± ***** In his chambers, Jack sat reviewing every file, paper, and note Selfia had on the High Table. As a condition of his continued support, she gave him everything she had, at least allegedly, allowing him access to even CHECKMATE¡¯s data, and what Director York had on the group. First a sergeant aboard a landship, then a family aid, Alan York had entered the service of the Bell famila through a chance encounter after taking custody of Jill. And because of that encounter, his daughter had been marred, hooked up to life support machines that allowed her to remotely pilot Mechframes but do little to anything else. Now he spent his days as Director of CHECKMATE, a group formed to hunt down the High Table with special autonomy from Selfia. A man on a mission. A man like Jack. Yet, Jack couldn''t help but feel guilty about the man''s predicament, as if everyone he met was harmed just by running across him. ¡°So¡­¡± Ada said, hugging Jack from behind on their shared bed. ¡°It¡¯s been three hours, you¡¯ve already looked over this a dozen times.¡± ¡°And I¡¯ll look over it a dozen more times,¡± Jack said, eyes furrowed. ¡°I need to keep you safe. And the first part of doing that is understanding what I¡¯m up against.¡±This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°But you¡¯ve seen this data before. Nothing knew has changed.¡± ¡°I know¡­ but it helps to distract my mind,¡± Jack said, intellipad in hand and reading over the report of the special actors in play. Black King/Smiling Man: ??? Green Bishop: Pope of the Theocracy Hugo Fitz White Knight: dUMBASs Roland Cordelica Gold Queen: Cynthia Rockefelle of Cordell Engineering. Red Rook: ??? Purple Pawn: ??? Pawn#1: Robo Kat/(Unknown)KIA Pawn#2: Man Maid(Finn Star) Pawn#3: Mad Hatter(Juliana Ardona) Pawn#4: Raven Mask(Cici Vernon) Pawn#5: Cobalt Claw/(Lerry James)KIA Pawn#6: Metal Man/(Unknown)KIA Pawn#7: Blizzard Butcher(Serena James)KIA Pawn#8: Gunslinger(Ivan Petroff) Jack reviewed the list, a compilation of all key players painstakingly put together by Selfia¡¯s people over the years. Every name had a drop down box. Their skills, activities, sightings. There were even information regarding blood type, ingested foods, and speech patterns. Under one bodycam video, there was Python, he and a dozen awakened fighting Pawn number 5, Cobalt Claw, the man shimmering with unique luna energy that he formed into claws to tear through the CHECKMATE agents. Multiple videos of engagements culminating finally in the man¡¯s death at the hands of Python strangling him with vines. Each name had nearly two dozen combat files attached. Recovered data from corpses mostly. Very few ending in success for the CHECKMATE agents. In nearly four years, Selfia had only managed to kill three of the pawns while Jack had taken one down on his own. This was what he was up against. An organization that spanned the world with the power of an army, and support of nations. ¡°If she knows who they are, and what they''ve done, why not publicize this information?¡± Ada asked, watching with Jack. ¡°Selfia says it''s a master card. That she''s waiting for an opportunity.¡± Jack replied before he sighed, powerig off the tablet. ¡°How''s Yukino?¡± ¡°Physically? She''s ok. But¡­ she wants to go home. She has her augments already and has been doing physical rehabilitation with Doctor Light and Leona, but¡­ You should check in on her.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jack said. ¡°I¡¯ll try and visit her tomorrow.¡± ¡°You know¡­¡± Ada said, ¡°Speaking of Yuki¡­ You never told me you knew the man who attacked her.¡± Jack froze. ¡°I¡­ does it make a difference?¡± Jack asked, going back to his files. ¡°I knew him. But¡­ he''s not the man I once knew.¡± ¡°Ok¡­¡± Ada said, realizing she wouldn''t get more out of Jack without prying. ¡°Who was he?¡± Jack paused his video, pinching the bridge of his nose for a moment. ¡°Ivan¡­ was a former classmate. A somewhat decent guy who liked to joke around and play pranks. Sometimes it got him into trouble with Sergeant Dave and other teachers, but he had Mai to rein him in.¡± At the name Mai, Ada raised a brow. ¡°Is she the woman that died during your training mission?¡± Jack turned to Ada. ¡°How do you know about that?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Ada frowned. ¡°You talk in your sleep sometimes. And you''ve mentioned her name. I was worried so I asked Leona, and she told me about it.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± Jack looked away, his gaze staring at something that wasn''t there. ¡°Yeah. It was¡­ something. When Mai died, Ivan he¡­ he changed. He turned ruthless. Hunted Theocracy soldiers with impunity and whatever light in his eyes was lost the moment he lost her.¡± Jack turned back to Ada, letting out a chuckle as he shook his head. ¡°Perhaps the worst part, is that I can''t blame him for what he became. All those lost. All those dead. For what? We were fighting an enemy we had no cause to hate until they gave us one. Until they made us hate them,¡± Jack''s gaze turned to his palms, envisioning that clawed gauntlet stained in blood. ¡°Made children into killers. But Ivan made his choice. Just like the theocracy took from him, he took from us. So now, I have to take from him.¡± ¡°But can you do it? Kill your friend?¡± Ada asked, hugging Jack from behind, her face nestled into his shoulder. ¡°I''ll do what needs to be done,¡± Jack said, his jaw clenching as he recalled how he failed to capture the man. ¡°You shouldn''t,¡± Ada said, caressing Jack¡¯s hair. ¡°When the time comes, you won''t have to handle it.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I''ll take care of it,¡± Ada said, the pair sitting there for a bit in silence. ¡°Ok,¡± Jack replied after some time. ¡°Good. Now let''s get some sleep,¡± Ada said, clapping her hands to turn off the lights. Jack clenched his jaw, closing his eyes, Ada cuddling up to him with the pair quickly falling asleep¡­ At least Ada did. After an hour, Jack snuck his way out from Ada¡¯s grasp, walking out onto the balcony where he stood staring at the moon and the city of lights below. Collecting his thoughts, Jack sat down, closing his eyes, his palm outstretched towards a tree in the distance where he began pulling at it with Gehenna. ¡°Let''s not waste anytime ladies," Jack said, summoning Lilith and Sahaqiel, "I need to get stronger.¡± **** Ada opened her eyes, the rays of light, illuminating the bedroom. The first thing he noticed, was that Jack wasn''t there, the second thing she noticed, was that her clock read six AM. She turned, grabbing her pink bathrobe off her nightstand before spotting Jack on the terrace, the man shimmering with black and gold energy, his body wafting steam. She could feel it, mana, a thick wall of energy that was condensed and flowing upward as to not alert or wake her. Ada went to check on him, but she paused, noticing how deep of a trance he was in and all of the plants that covered the terrace now wilted and dead. Sweat flowed from his brow, dripping off his nose, coatings his half naked body that had shed his pajamas. Ada smiled lightly, retracting her hand before an odd sense of hopelessness touched her. For a moment, she regretted being pregnant, a thought that appalled her immediately. She glanced over at her nodachi, the weapon giving her a chance to fight, to help, to be a part of Tanji¡¯s life. To make his life easier. Now¡­ she couldn''t help but feel like a burden as she rubbed her stomach. Ada turned away, summoning her blade with a sudden sense of determination. Just because she was pregnant didn''t mean she couldn''t exercise. Couldn''t train! Well¡­ light training. After all, Leona did say she needed up to thirty minutes of exercise, something she''d been neglecting. Ada quickly got dressed and brushed her teeth, by the time she came out, Jack was still in a trance, the man an unmoving statue. Finding a piece of paper, Ada wrote Love you, on the paper and taped it to the window, a small message for when he was done. Exiting the room, Ada was greeted by Jack''s security detail, a group of women who seemed to be well acquainted with Jack. ¡°Ma¡¯am,¡± A woman at the door named Jessica Ashfield said. ¡°Good morning Lieutenant Ashfied. Have you all been here all night?¡± Ada asked, noticing the woman gathered in the hallway armed and in black armor that made her weary, almost like they were they''re but weren''t. ¡°Yes ma''am,¡± The woman said. ¡°We''ll be escorting you from here on out. Wherever you go, we''ll go.¡± ¡°Even¡­ to the bathroom? Because I don''t know if you notice but I am pregnant and have to pee a lot.¡± The officer smiled. ¡°We''ll try not to invade.your privacy too much, ma¡¯am,¡± Jessica said. ¡°Where would you like to go?¡± ¡°To grab breakfast, then train a bit.¡± ¡°Train, ma¡¯am?¡± Jessica asked. ¡°Yes. I''m getting a bit chunky if you can''t tell, and I''ve been slacking,¡± Ada replied with a soft smile that seemed to radiate an earthly glow. ¡°Plus, I need to keep an eye of a certain teenager running around these parts.¡± ¡°Right¡­ of course,¡± Jessica said, signaling two women, Jena, and Tyrah to follow her. **** Jack let out a breath, steaming exiting his mouth as electrical sparks radiated across his body. He opened his eyes, surrounded by dead and decaying plants, his eyes taking in the sun as the words. [Authority of Gehenna LvL2-> 3] Hovered in front of his golden eyes mixed with red. AAS: SEASON 6: CH14: Jack... You failure. ¡°In today''s news, the city of Lunacrypt prepares for the Magna Galla, a prestigious event hosted by the Queen and her benefactors. Alrighty the Royal Guard are out in force, patrolling the streets and making their presence known.¡±- Korriban News. Jack frowned, eyeing Yun and Jena standing in the bathroom with him. ¡°Seriously? Is this really necessary?¡± Jack asked, pursing his lips. It was one thing having Sahaqiel, Lilith, and Ruby present at every moment, it was another with physical people. ¡°Look, I''m not going to judge you if you''re into this kind of stuff, but I have to warn you. I''ve had nothing but protein and I''m pretty sure you both know what''s about to happen.¡± When neither woman responded, Jack began to unbuckle his pants. Yun turned to Jena. ¡°Ya know maybe we are overdoing it.¡± ¡°Orders are orders. And this would be when he''s most vulnerable.¡± ¡°Yeah. But he''s the king.¡± ¡°And the person that gave us the order is the Queen,¡± Jena shot back. ¡°And last I checked, the Queen outweighs everything.¡± Jack sighed. ¡°Ok, well. Ruby, if you will.¡± Suddenly two spectral chains shot out from outside the bathroom, wrapping around the two women. Before either could string out a sentence, they were gone, yanked out by Ruby with the bathroom door closing. Jack sighed. ¡°What''s the point of unawakened bodyguards?¡± ***** Exiting from the bathroom, Jack frowned, eyeing Selfia in a shorts feeding sweets to Ruby who sat on the floor munching. Beside her, Violet stood, the twins heights disproportionate to one another making them appear as though they were mother and daughter. ¡°Selfia, to what do I owe the pleasure of your unannounced and unexpected visit?¡± Jack said, purposely drawing out his words. ¡°Here to remove my escort?¡± ¡°It''s my castle. Can I not go where I please? And no.¡± ¡°Right, but what do you want?¡± Jack said, raising a brow. ¡°You in gym wear doesn''t bold well for me.¡± ¡°Stop being silly ya silly goose. Nothing bad is happening,¡± Selfia said, one of her floating arms smacking Jack on the back. ¡°Uh huh.¡± ¡°This is for our dance practice so go on, get dressed!¡± Selfia said, a pair of floating arms dropping a bundle of clothes into Jack''s arms. ¡°Ah. There it is,¡± Jack frowned. ¡°Listen Selfia, do I really have to dance? Can''t I just stand in the corner ornamentally?¡± ¡°Haha. Nope! It''s a dance! A galla! If you don''t dance what''s the point?¡± Selfia exclaimed loudly, walking out of Jack''s room. ¡°Get dressed hoooooney!¡± Jack sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. ¡°Could you have gotten me a color other than pink?!¡± Jack yelled, holding a set of pink trousers aloft as Yun giggled. **** Fitted in pink shorts and a pink shirt that read Juicy, Jack raised a brow as he stared at the mirror in his room. ¡°Juicy,¡± Ada said, slapping Jack from behind. ¡°I¡¯m feeling extremely objectified right now,¡± Jack replied, eyeing Ada strapping on running shoes. ¡°And where are you going?¡± ¡°Running with the girls. Gotta get my exercise in.¡± ¡°Girls?¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Oh, Leona, Yukino, and Kamila. Also Jessica and Tyrah. Don''t worry, Celeste is with your aunt.¡± ¡°Right¡­ is that good for the baby?¡± Jack asked, a sudden realization dawning on him. ¡°Yeah, Doctor Light recommends at least thirty minutes of exercise daily,¡± Ada said, before she began to repeat the diet plan and exercise routine the doctors had laid out for her to Jack. ¡°Man¡­ I need some guy friends,¡± Jack muttered, his mind trailing, wondering what Python was up to. ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Ah, nothing. How''s Yuki? Good to know she''s up,¡± Jack said. ¡°She''s still getting used to her implants. So this run is for her too,¡± Ada said, pausing at the doorway of their room. ¡°You should visit her.¡± ¡°I know, I''ll get to it after this dance thing,¡± Jack said as the door closed. ***** ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t¡­ I¡­ can¡¯t continue,¡± Jack let out, panting, out of breath, dripping with sweat as his sore muscles ached, his heart pounding in his chest that was felt by the breast squishing up on him. ¡°You can! And you will!¡± Selfia snapped, her make-up ruined, lips glistening as she sat atop Jack, pinning him down, their heated breaths intermingling as Selfia¡¯s robotic hands locked firmly around Jack¡¯s, their fingers intertwined. ¡°I CAN¡¯T CONTINUE ANYMORE! THIS IS STUPID! I HATE DANCING!¡± Jack screamed, attempting to get away as dozens of robotic hands latched onto him, pinning him down against the hard tile floor. ¡°Listen up you talentless hack! You are going to get up! And you are going to perfect this dance or so help me I will end you! You hear me?! END YOU!¡± Selfia yelled. ¡°Oh Yeah?! I¡¯d like to see you try!¡± Jack hissed, slowly getting up, his muscles straining against the multitude of Selfia¡¯s floating groaning arms. ¡°DON¡¯T TEMPT ME JACK!¡± Selfia replied, the two now locked in a contest of strength with Selfia''s arms struggling and slowly being pushed back. ¡°HOLY FUCK! WHY ARE YOU SO STRONG?!¡± ¡°Why are you so shocked? Shouldn''t you be happy?!¡± ¡°YEAH! I''M HAPPY MY HUSBAND IS A GORILLA!¡± ¡°The hell is a gorilla?!¡± After six hours of non-stop ¡°dancing¡± Jack had had enough. The entire evening had been dedicated to dancing and its form and function, a class taught by Selfia who, Jack came to learn, WAS A HORRIBLE INSTRUCTOR. ¡°She isn''t a horrible instructor, you just suck,¡± Lilith commented, breaking Jack''s concentration just enough for Selfia to force him back. ¡°What''s wrong Jack? Losing your edge? How hard is it to do the fucking waltz?!¡± ¡°Very when you keep stepping on my toes!¡± Jack hissed. ¡°I''m only doing that because you keep doing it to me!¡± ¡°Fuck it! Pause! I''m doing something else!¡± Jack spat, sidestepping and letting Selfia fall to the floor. ¡°Hey! No! No pausing! The Masquerade is tomorrow!¡± Selfia called out in exasperation. ¡°We can train later!¡± Jack yelled, marching out of the room annoyed. ¡°Hey, juicy,¡± Ada called out, stopping Jack as he walked past her and- ¡°Yuki?¡± Jack blinked, eyes cast onto the oriental woman in gym shorts sporting a sleek silver arm and leg. ¡±What are you-¡± ¡°Well you didn''t come to visit so I brought her to you.¡± Ada said, smiling in contrast to Yuki who looked at Jack with a frown. Black circles hung under Yuki¡¯s eyes, her features, a bit skinnier than how he remembered her and less vibrant without her pink hair dye. The pair locked eyes, neither having spoken since the news of her father''s passing. ¡°Yuki-¡± ¡°You were friends with my father''s killer,¡± Yuki interjected, cutting Jack off. Gone was her bubbly persona, her pink hair, and her cheery attitude. Instead it was replaced with heated rage barely contained in her tone and quacking eyes. ¡°I was... Once. But he''s not the man I knew back then. We¡¯re hunting him down,¡± Jack assured. Yukino narrowed her eyes, air searching Jack''s mind. ¡°Good. He''s mine. I want to be there when you put him in the ground. I want him dead!¡± Yuki spat, jabbing Jack on the chest with her bionic hand. ¡°I promise you, he''ll pay,¡± Jack assured. ¡°Good.¡± The trio sat in silence, an air of awkwardness bubbling up. ¡°Right. So¡­¡± Ada began, breaking the silence. ¡°Have you eaten dinner? Kamila is making something right now. How about we all eat?¡± ¡°I''m tired. I''m going back to bed,¡± Yuki said, walking off much to Ada¡¯s exasperation. ¡°She''s¡­ better than I expected,¡± Jack muttered before turning to Ada. ¡°You told her?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It kinda came up and she insisted on seeing you. This isn''t how I wanted you two to reconnect,¡± Ada explained. Jack sighed. ¡°Well, she''s up and about. I''m sure she''ll bounce back.¡± ¡°I just hate seeing her like this,¡± Ada said. ¡°She isn''t smiling. Barely eating. Everyday she''s just glaring.¡± Jack realized how familiar that sounded. ¡°I''ll¡­ sorry. I got caught up with Selfia''s plans. I''ll make it a point to hang out with her more,¡± Jack said, unsure if it was healthy. But, at the very least, she didn''t seem to hate him like Kenichi did. ¡°Please. She''s very out of the water here.¡± ¡°How about you?¡± Jack asked, turning on the woman. ¡°Are you feeling out of the water?¡± Ada paused. ¡°A bit. This¡­ all of this is a bit¡­ different. Don''t get me wrong, I enjoy the free food, the bathrooms, and the TV shows, deserts, perfumes, and view. But¡­ I''d rather be home. I want to raise Itodori with his people.¡± ¡°Ito¡­ you want to name our child after the elder?¡± Jack blinked, crouching down with his hand rubbing Ada¡¯s stomach. ¡°Well, why not? Itodori if he''s a boy, and I''m thinking Iris if it''s a girl.¡± ¡°Iris huh¡­ I kinda like it,¡± Jack said as Ada smiled, completely unaware of the twin feathered woman at her back. ¡°Ito¡­¡± ¡°You don''t like it?¡± Ada asked, her tone worried. ¡°No. I think it''s good,¡± Jack said, looking up with a soft smile. ¡°Itodori or Iris.¡± Ada smiled, reaching down with a hand that caressed Jack''s face. ¡°I love you.¡± ¡°I love you too,¡± Jack said, his hand taking Ada¡¯s calloused hand, the pair unaware of the red eyes peeking at them through a nearby door. AAS: SEASON 6: CH15: Prelude to The Disaster of Lunacrypt Standing in the corner of the pink playroom, Lilith exhaled, eyeing Celeste and Jack with the latter chewing on a toy block. ¡°Cel! Stop chewing on that!¡± Jack exclaimed, much to the girl''s dismay. ¡°But me hungry!¡± The golden princess retorted. ¡°You just ate! You keep eating you''ll get chunky!¡± ¡°I¡¯m chunky!¡± ¡°No. Bad! Give me the blocks!¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°Give me the blocks Celeste!¡± ¡°NO!¡± Celeste bolted, the girl attempting to run, but not before Jack reached out, levitating the girl with air. ¡°And where do you think you''re running off to?!¡± ¡°WEE!¡± Celeste let out before she was spun and brought back to Jack. ¡°Gimme the block.¡± ¡°Up! Up!¡± ¡°Celeste, be a good girl and give Daddy the block.¡± ¡°Up!¡± Jack sighed. ¡°If I send you up, you have to give me the blocks, ok?¡± Jack said, the girl nodding enthusiastically as Jack smiled. Lilith turned, her red eyes glaring at Sahaqiel. ¡°What the fuck are you smiling about?¡± Lilith spat. ¡°Oh nothing. What are you smiling about?¡± ¡°Fuck off,¡± Lilith spat, returning to Jack''s inner sea. ¡°Wow. For all your murder tendencies You''re really just a big softy huh,¡± Sahaqiel teased, joining Lilith in the expansive void with Ruby held aloft in her arms like a doll. The raven-haired woman narrowed her eyes but said nothing, walking into the golden cracked orb centered in the middle of the endless void. Immediately her vision was flooded with equations. Thousands of floating sigils passing like a torrent of water let loose from a dam. This was information. In its purest form. A complex weave of mana circuitry that incorporated all that Jack was and the spirits within him. In this shower of gold, there were cancerous blots, black voids, and warped language. Damage done to Jack''s soul that was unseeable under any microscope. Lilith went to work, the black specter purging strings of code with the precision of a surgeon that were untouchable to Sahaqiel. Unlike the angel who had a rudimentary understanding of rune codes, Lilith was taught how to transcribe them since the moment she was initiated into Project Savior. Here, Lilith spent most of her time accessing the data stream, cleaning up the corruption that was an ongoing byproduct of Jack''s existence as a vessel. Sahaqiel was capable of mending and stitching things back together, of repairing soul damage, but what she couldn''t do was target and erase the lines of bad code. This is where Lilith came in. Using her powers of destruction, Lilith cut out the cancer, eliminating the corruptive information before Sahaqiel replaced it. On the surface level, Jack felt nothing, each action seemingly insignificant but if left untreated¡­ Well, Lilith didn''t want to stop existing just yet. So she reluctantly worked with the angel, cutting out the corruptive properties that would turn Jack into an abomination. ¡°Lilith. I''ve been wondering, what type of deal did you make with Jack?¡± Sahaqiel asked, observing each pattern Lilith cut out and every code she weaved. ¡°None of your business.¡± ¡°Well, it IS my business, especially when it concerns our host. Jack is a good person, and if you hurt him-¡± ¡°What? You''ll destroy me?¡± Lilith snickered. ¡°You failed the last nine times, what''s a tenth try little angel? If you''re so worried, ask your crush. But before you do that how about telling him about the secrets you''ve been keeping from him? Or the plan you''re conspiring with Selfia with?¡± Sahaqiel frowned, her feathers ruffling a bit. The angel glared at the fallen soul, concerned about the pact that Jack had made with the devil before her. All Sahaqiel could sense was an abomination. A warped and twisted being that oozed resentment and anger. And although she appeared human, Sahaqiel could see the woman''s monstrous nature spurred on by the Infinity machine.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. And Jack had struck a deal with it. One cut off from Sahaqiel with no input from the angel. ¡°What cunt? You have a staring problem?¡± Lilith said over her shoulder. ¡°Respectfully, you''re a bitch,¡± Sahaqiel said, turning with Ruby''s legs dangling and storming off as Lilith snickered. In silence, Lilith sat, observing the angel discretely until she left, leaving behind Ruby that sat in front of her. In the void, only the two remained, Ruby staring at Lilith who ignored the woman. With the angel preoccupied, Lilith pulled at the data stream, images appearing all around her of memories that weren''t Jack''s. Lilith¡¯s memories. Everything that she was laid out in the vortex around her. The Smiling Man, the doctors, the children. All of the memories of her time as a test subject. After an hour, Lilith fixed her red eyes on the knight who did nothing but stare. ¡°Fuck you.¡± **** Affixing his sleek black jacket that accentuated his muscles, Jack frowned, rolling his shoulders as he stood in the cramped dressing room. ¡°Is¡­ this really necessary? I thought the Galla was supposed to be about the royal family?¡± Jack asked, adjusting the white frilly mask he wore on his face and his dyed jet black hair. Taking in his outfit, he wore all black save for his mask and the red contact over his eyes. ¡°Don''t we need to be like¡­ noticeable? Also this damn thing is itchy.¡± ¡°It IS, about the royal family, but also those who support it,¡± Selfia said, standing behind a partition that separated her and Jack as Brigit worked on her make-up. ¡°Our anonymity is to give everyone a chance to mingle and voice their ideas. Think of it as more of a meet and greet, but, minus the orgies.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry? Did you say orgy?¡± Jack spun, his jaw agape as Victor Belfusa entered the room. ¡°Did you say orgy?¡± ¡°As requested your highness, the Mark V,¡± Victor Belfusa said, unlatching a container nearby and showcasing a pair of hands that were so lifelike, Jack nearly thought they were real. ¡°Lightweight carbon fiber with gelatin infill, wrapped in synthetic meat layered by pig skin,¡± Victor explained, pinching part of the machinery that pulled like flesh before bringing them to Selfia. ¡°Battery life?¡± Selfia asked. ¡°Eh, twenty hours with consistent use. Sixty on standby. Five for combat mode. It features a motion charger to generate energy based on the friction from movement.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± Selfia said. ¡°Combat mode?¡± Jack asked. ¡°Think it¡¯ll come to that?¡± ¡°Maybe. You said it yourself that we should be on alert due to Ivan and the High Table.¡± ¡°I mean, I also said we should cancel the gala. So that innocents don¡¯t get hurt,¡± Jack replied. ¡°Trust me, Jack, there are no innocents. Every person attending is a noble or a profiteer.¡± ¡°What about their families? Their children? I''ve read the guest list, Selfia. Not everyone that is coming is bad. And not everyone is being arrested,¡± Jack frowned, noticing an inconsistency in Selfia''s plan. Selfia peeked around the partition, the now blonde woman sighing. ¡°Don''t worry about it. You''re just there to smile and wave. Eat good food. And at the end, we''ll reveal ourselves with a grand speech and all,¡± Selfia explained, a floating hand on Jack''s shoulder while Victor and Bridget helped connect the new arms to Selfia''s metal shoulder connectors. Jack frowned, but ultimately, this was the price he had to pay to find his sister. ¡°Selfia. I''ve been thinking¡­¡± ¡°Oh dear, do you need first aid? A doctor? I hope you didn''t hurt yourself.¡± ¡°Ha! Very funny, no¡­ I¡­ I would like to move back to my home after Ada gives birth. Just for a few months. To help her with our child,¡± Jack said as Bridget moved to adjust his mask. ¡°Ada and I think it''s important to raise him- or her with our people. Again, only a few months. And I can split my time between here when you need me and there.¡± ¡°Ok.¡± Jack blinked. ¡°Ok?¡± ¡°Yeah. Sure. If you want to move back to your home, by all means.¡± ¡°That''s¡­ that''s it? A simple yeah?¡± ¡°Yerp,¡± Selfia replied. ¡°A few months of air would do us good.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Jack said, not expecting the response. ¡°Wait, us?¡± Selfia leaned around the partition again, a mischievous smile on her face. ¡°Oh yes, I believe by this time next week, the region should fall to General Olivia''s forces. I plan on turning the area into a gate to the frontier for its natural resources.¡± Jack narrowed his eyes. ¡°And¡­ how are my people involved?¡± ¡°Well, officially, nomads aren''t imperial citizens. And if I were to decree that they were, I''d get a lot of blowback from my supporters. So, Hoshido City is being classified as a special autonomous zone. Don''t worry, I''ve got it all planned out. Although your little village may be a lot different than you remember it.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Jack said, a feeling of unease taking him. ¡°So, how do I look?¡± Selfia stepped out from behind the partition, the woman now in a black dress, black frilly half mask with her false arms exposed. The dress itself was cut low, accentuating her breasts and pale skin with emphasis on her shoulders that showed no signs of deformity. ¡°Well? Don''t just stare at me!¡± ¡°Ah, right,¡± Jack replied, recovering quickly with his eyes drawn to the golden pendent on her neck. ¡°You look good. Really good. I honestly can''t tell that your arms are fake. The skin is amazing.¡± ¡°Damn right it is boy,¡± Victor said, ¡°Took me a whole damn month to get that skin like that.¡± ¡°Uhm. Sir,¡± Bridget cut in. ¡°You really shouldn''t call the king, boy.¡± The man grunted. ¡°Anyway! Are you ready?¡± Selfia asked. ¡°Yeah. I''m all set,¡± Jack replied, smoothing down his suit with his matching black gloves. ¡°Good. Then let''s go.¡± ¡°Go? What do you mean go? The gala is in an hour isn''t it?¡± ¡°No¡­ it''s right now?¡± Selfia said, raising a brow. ¡°Wait, I thought it was at seven?¡± ¡°No, it''s at six.¡± ¡°But it isn''t even night out?¡± ¡°Does it have to be night to dance?¡± ¡°No but¡­¡± Jack frowned, suddenly feeling put on the spot. ¡°I just¡­ I thought we would have more time to practice¡­¡± ¡°Well, you''re the one who wasted time playing with Celeste.¡± ¡°I wasn''t playing with her, I was chasing her. She got into the kitchen and stole all of Kamila¡¯s bags of blueberries. Which, by the way, stain everything they touch,¡± Jack countered. ¡°I spent most of the day scrubbing the floors and don''t get me started on the glitter.¡± ¡°Why didn''t you just tell the servants to clean up?¡± ¡°You mean Kamila.¡± ¡°She is a servant and that¡¯s her job. Even if you two fuck occasionally. But what you do with Ada and Kamila in the bedroom is your business.¡± Jack frowned, noticing Bridget''s shocked expression. ¡°Why am I sensing I''m in danger?¡± Jack sighed. ¡°Come on, no cold feet now! Let''s go!¡± Selfia said as the door opened to the sound of music, chatter and applause as dozens of people mingled in a room filled with high-class nobles. AAS: SEASON 6: CH16: Angelic Waltz Jack swept his gaze across the crowd, a menagerie of black gowns, black masks, and fancy jewelry coating nearly every inch of the palace ballroom floor. Selfia had given Jack an order, one to mingle and socialize. To be discreet. Yet, as he stood in the corner of the room, he found he had nothing to talk about with these people. All of their discussions revolved around weather reports, business transactions, trade agreements, and the state of the imperium. Safe topics that were akin to small talk for the red-eyed imperials Jack was now pretending to be one of. ¡°Can''t believe the Roland dogs have begun allowing murk-eyes into nobility.¡± ¡°I heard Roland is appointing a Charlemagne reject, allowing the boy into their caste of nobility.¡± ¡°Disgusting. The demis really have no shame polluting the word noble. The very concept seems foreign to them.¡± Jack frowned, trying to focus his senses elsewhere a his eyes stared at the massive glass chandelier that hung above. Where the hell is Selfia? Jack shook his head, scanning the crowd once more, no sign of the Queen. ¡°At least the music is nice.¡± Sahaqiel said, materializing beside Jack in her own masquerade-like dress. Except hers was all white, the gown she wore, made of pure white feathers that contrasted the sea of black with her back exposed to display her wings. Jack blinked, eyeing the dress that only he could see that accentuated the woman''s form. ¡°My. The way you''re looking at me Jack, you''re making me blush.¡± ¡°Aw shut up.¡± Jack muttered, drawing eyes to himself. ¡°Sorry, not directed at you.¡± Jack walked off, frowning. Man, I hate nobles. I hate wearing this suit. Uniforms are one thing but I feel so out of place. Jack gripped to Sahaqiel. ¡°Well, according to Selfia, it''s only a temporary problem. Sahaqiel replied, hovering over Jack, her slender arms draped around his neck. ¡°Do you like my dress? I saw it in one of Selfia''s catalogs.¡± I do. I think it looks nice on you. ¡°Oh, if only we could dance. Perform the waltz around the room as all eyes fell onto us and marveled at our display. Oh! Desserts! Let''s get some dessert!i¡± You realize I can''t dance right? Jack rolled his eyes, ignoring the fawning angel as he approached a table lined with various deserts. Jack paused, noticing not a single soul was eating despite the lavish display of food. Sara. I think you''re going to have to consume stuff on your own. Jack sent, eyeing a few onlookers. ¡°Sigh. See this is why I never go to parties. Always some traditions or grandstanding to be had.¡± Sahaqiel complained, several desserts disappearing in a blink of an eye. ¡°Using consume just doesn''t have that texture and feel that it does when you eat something.¡± But I still taste it. Can we not combine everything all at once? I''m not a fan of the vanilla. ¡°Oops.¡± Walking around, Jack finally found a familiar face, Jessica, the woman carrying a tray of wine and heading into the kitchen. Out of boredom, Jack decided to follow, entering the busy room where a flustered Kamila was screaming at Jena, Yun, and Tyrah. ¡°No! NO! NO! DOES THIS LOOK LIKE A CUP OF DICE STRAWBERRIES TO YOU?! DICED! NOT CUT! DICED! AND THESE COOKIES ARE HALF-BAKED! I TOLD YOU 450 DEGREES!¡± Kamila yelled, clutching her hair in the midst of a dirty and flour-stained kitchen as Yun cried. ¡°Whoa! Whoa! What''s going on?!¡± Jack said, rushing to the woman on the verge of a meltdown who kept muttering ¡°Lefaye¡± over and over again. ¡°Lady Kamila is¡­ uh¡­¡± Jessica attempted to explain, the bodyguard sporting a chef''s outfit over her usual black armor. ¡°Lefaye ordered a hundred of Kamila''s cookies and desserts,¡± Jena interjected. ¡°Ok?¡± Jack said, raising his brow. ¡°Whose Lefaye? I assume he''s a noble?¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°She!¡± Kamila exclaimed, the usually timid woman grabbing Jack by the collar and shaking him. ¡°And she''s only the most famous baker in the Imperium! She even earned her nobility from her baking!¡± ¡°Alright! Ok! I understand. Calm down before you get my suit dirty.¡± Jack said, chopping the woman lightly on the head who hugged Jack, getting flour on his clothes. ¡°Well¡­ too late now.¡± ¡°She''s stressing out because the baroness wants to showcase her desserts at the end of the galla and take some home with her,¡± Jessica explained. ¡°And we have no strawberries! None!¡± Kamila cried, falling to the floor, her hands creating a line of flour on Jack''s new black suit. Jack pursed his lips. ¡°Ok, how about this. Jessica, you know where the El Gato Negro is right?¡± Jack said, fishing out a credit chip. ¡°They sell strawberry desserts, how about you run down there and ask them for all their strawberries.¡± Jessica shared a look with the rest of her squad. ¡°I would love to sir, but I''m kinda on duty,¡± Jessica frowned. ¡°It may not look like it, but we''re part of the security detail. Elite I might add.¡± ¡°It''s fine. If anything goes wrong, I''m here. Just grab the strawberries and hurry back. Call it an executive order from the king,¡± Jack said, pressing the chip into Jessica''s hand who reluctantly took it, patting a sobbing Yun on the head before leaving. Suddenly a hand clamped down on Jack''s shoulder, his attention turned towards a woman in a floral pattern black dress with laced arms and a black bow atop her cat-shaped mask. ¡°Ada?¡± Jack said, blinking as the woman took his hand. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± The woman smiled beneath her half mask. ¡°I''m here for you,¡± Ada said, taking Jack by the hand before looking him up and down. ¡°But¡­ maybe you need to change?¡± ¡°No, I''ve got it,¡± Jack said, flicking his hand. Suddenly a current of air flew through the kitchen, entering through the bottom of Jack''s pants and pushing the flour out from his clothes. ¡°Wow. Impressive,¡± Ada said, her eyes dancing with amusement before snatching Jack''s hand. ¡°Come on! Let''s go dance!¡± ¡°What? Wait! Hey!¡± Jack let out, Ada dragging him back into the ballroom where the band was playing a different tempo of music. ¡°Ada! What is this? What are you doing?! I can''t dance!¡± ¡°Don''t worry! I got this! I''ve been taking lessons,¡± Ada said, taking a hold of Jack, one hand in the small of his back while the other interlocked with his. ¡°Relax, just let me lead.¡± Jack couldn''t relax. Between being moved by Ada, Sahaqiel''s giggling, and the looks from the nearby nobles thanks to his stumbling, Jack''s face quickly began to grow red beneath his mask. ¡°Who taught that Buffon to waltz?¡± A person snickered, causing Jack to grow even more flustered as he accidentally stepped on Ada''s toes. Another couple laughed, both Ada and Jack''s awakened sense picking up the mockery. ¡°Just ignore them,¡± Ada said, blinking at Jack through red contacts. ¡°It''s kinda hard not to when they''re actively making fun of us,¡± Jack replied as an electrical sensation took him. ¡°Enough of his.¡± ¡°Huh?!¡± Ada let out as Jack suddenly took hold of Ada¡¯s waist, his once limp wrist now straightening out to firmly grab hold of the slender soft hand he held. HEY! WHAT IS THIS?! Jack sent inwardly as he lost control of his body and began to lead Ada in the waltz. ¡°I won''t have you embarrass me with your shit ability for rhythm. Now. Repeat after me if you want to salvage this evening.¡± ¡°I''ll lead,¡± Jack said, his voice deeper as Lilith took hold. ¡°O-o-ok.¡± Ada let out, following Jack as he straightened his back and glided into the center of the floor with Ada in tow. ¡°Forward left, side, now dip,¡± Lilith instructed, Jack drawing whispers of disapproval from several of the gathered nobles. ¡°We have to let Ada lead! We''re drawing too much attention!¡± Sahaqiel chastised, a sharp pain coursing through Jack as the angel attempted to break Lilith''s hold. ¡°Good. Let them talk. They should be happy I don''t slaughter them for their insolence.¡± Lilith spat, a tinge of mana wafting off of Jack''s skin. ¡°Now dip her.¡± Jack lowered Ada, her leg brushing against his crotch as his body rotated. Ya know! Sara has a point! Selfia wanted me to be discreet! Together, the pair quickly became the focus of the dance floor, all eyes on them, mostly disapproval from the older female nobles while it the younger ones looked on with interest. THIS ISN''T DISCREET! ¡°Oh, you haven''t seen anything yet.¡± Suddenly, Jack''s hands let go of Ada, allowing her to spin gracefully to the left as a woman in white was forced to materialize on Jack''s right side. SARA?! ¡°hUH?!¡± The angel let out, dumbfounded as hundreds of eyes gazed at her corporal form. She didn''t have time to react however as Jack''s hand shot out, mana reaching out of his body to wrap around hers and pull her close. Sahaqiel spun, flabbergasted, her face completely red with her large feathers tucking into themselves as she found herself in Jack''s arms, the two now dancing under the massive chandelier. With Lilith in control, the Angel was forced to follow Jack¡¯s movements, to keep the illusion and to not make a scene as murmurs broke out. The tempo of the music began to pick up. The rhythm shifting with Jack and the specter gaining speed with their bodies stepping lightly around the floor. Suddenly a cold wind blew through the ballroom, white feathers shedding off of Sahaqiel''s white wings, the pair seeming to gain in elevation as they danced in on air above the onlookers, each step, a new platform of mana that kept them aloft. The two closed distance, chest to chest and for a moment, as Jack looked into Sahaqiel¡¯s golden eyes, he could have sworn he felt her heart. Felt her breath, her gold eyes seeming to quiver as she and Jack stood in the air with their faces merely inches away from each other. But it was just an illusion. Her body, just a construct of mana that gave it enough form for Jack to take hold. And although they were so close, they could never truly touch one another. Never feel the skin on skin and the warmth of a soul. ¡°You''re cruel¡­¡± The words echoed through Jack''s mind, a pain shooting through his body as he held the angel aloft. And it was cruel, perhaps a form of payback from Lilith but whatever it was, for the first time in a long time, Jack felt Sahaqiel¡¯s sorrow. ¡°I¡­¡± Jack let out before his entire world suddenly exploded in blinding light. AAS: SEASON 6: CH17: Deaths Ballad Jack blinked, the blinding light settling, all eyes cast to the source of the flash as the music subsided. Immediately Jack''s blood ran cold, his face going blank beneath his mask as he eyed an all too familiar woman on the band¡¯s stage wearing a Jester¡¯s outfit with a smiling white mask adorning her head. ¡°What? What''s wrong?¡± Ada asked as Sahaqiel disappeared. ¡°Do you remember what Selfia was wearing?¡± ¡°Hm? Y-yes. What''s-¡± Ada let out before tracking Jack''s eyes that were focused on the insignia of a pawn on the Jester''s mask. ¡°Fuck.¡± ¡°Go find her. Now.¡± ¡°Ok,¡± Ada nodded and took off, melting into the crowd to find the Queen as all of the guests focused on the performer who had enraptured them with her entrance. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen,¡± The Jester said, bowing, her slender white gloved hands moving in an exaggerated manner. ¡°It is my pleasure to put on a killer performance.¡± Jack frowned, tensing up, the woman waving her hands and summoning a crystal violin in one hand whilst her other held an ornate rapier-like blade with a string fixed to either end. How the hell did they get in here? This place is supposed to be guarded. Jack looked around, eyeing the numerous guests that hung around the ballroom but seeing none of his gold-armored cousins. The hell? Alarm bells rang under Jack''s skin, the enormity of what was about to happen making him catch his breath as he debated on what to do. According to the dossier, the Jester worked with a partner, so if the Jester was here, that meant the Man Maid was too, an explosives expert that with one attack could turn this entire palace full of people into a bonfire. ¡°Fuck,¡± Jack muttered under his breath. Obviously, a statement was being made. And now Jack was here with no support, no back up, a hundred hostages that made up the bulk of Selfia''s powerbase in her empire. ¡°Where the fuck is everyone?¡± Suddenly, the Jester began to strum her violin, a sharp crescendo stabbing at Jack''s ears in a way that annoyed his Awakened senses but captured the attention of the entire audience. The Jester played her violin, harmonic sounds echoing through the hall as the red eyes beneath her white mask affixed on Jack, almost as if she knew¡­ no. She did. Despite his disguise, she knew who he was immediately, her gaze focused on him. Music flooded the ballroom, despite the lack of a band, an orchestra sounded, a symphony of music that Jack admittedly would have enjoyed if not for the pretense of how he was hearing it. [You have Resisted the Maestro¡¯s Music] Jack blinked, the notification touching his senses as the guests around him became entranced and began to move in tune with the music. All around Jack, the guests had fallen sway to the Pawn¡¯s performance, the crowd turned into an ocean of moving bodies that danced under the spell of the Jester. Jack was a lone island, the only one unmoving, the only one staring at the woman who''s music began to grow in tempo as mana caressed Jack''s skin. Suddenly the ballroom lost all light, the chandelier above shutting off and casting the room in darkness. All around Jack, the sounds of dancing and music continued to flood the room, not a single soul reacting to the loss of vision. ¡°JACK!¡± Jack spun, leaning left, avoiding a spectral blue blade as it stabbed at him from behind. Giggling echoed through the darkness, followed by dozens of magical sigils pulsing in tune with the music.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Jack casted fira, his palm peeling awy the darkness as bodies continued to dance around him. Immediately Jack put his gaze towards the stage, yet the Jester was no longer there and activating angel eyes blinded him due to the mana that coated the room. ¡°I''m afraid that won''t work,¡± A giggling voice sounded, confirming Jack''s fears that they had made a countermeasure to his eyes. ¡°Fuck¡­¡± Jack let out as dozens of magical sigils casted their spells. ***** ¡°Kamila!¡± Ada let out, bursting into the kitchen where the woman coated in flour looked up in alarm. Suddenly the power gave out, casting the kitchen darkness as a headache touched her mind. [You have Resisted the Maestro¡¯s Music] Ada winced, clutching her head as a snarl sounded out. Without warning, Ada was abruptly being accosted, a pair of hands grappling at her, tearing at her dress in an attempt to pull her down. Yet she was an awakened, the feeble hands of normal people no match against her strength. Ada shoved the pair back before casting her skill guiding light, the bolt of mana illuminating, to her horror, Jena and Yun rabid, the two charged at her again as Kamila screamed, yelling at Tyrah to get off of her. The pair of bodyguards charged Ada, both attempting to bring her down which she easily avoided, the two crashing into various kitchen appliances. For a moment, her heart nearly stopped, thinking the two were corrupted, yet her brain immediately connected their actions with the notification she had received earlier. That Pawn! It casted a skill on them! Ada frowned before immediately pivoting on her feet and grabbing the pair of humans by their throat, the pair scratching and clawing that ceased as she activated Soothe. As if a switch had been hit, the two guards began to sputter, cough, before Ada let them go. ¡°What¡­ the fuck?¡± Jena let out, the sarcastic soldier glaring up at Ada. ¡°Ow my heeead,¡± Yun cried. ¡°What the hell?¡± From across the room, Tyrah shook her head, Kamila also casting sooth, breaking the spell that held the other bodyguard. ¡°Whats happening? Why is the power out?¡± ¡°We¡¯re under attack!¡± Ada said quickly, gathering the attention of all those within the kitchen. ¡°There''s a pawn in the ballroom and I can¡¯t find Selfia!¡± Yun and the others quickly straightened up, untucking their shirts and pulling out guns, the trio going to work pulling out crates from under appliances and cabinets that they opened to reveal weaponry and armor. ¡°Where are all the other guards?¡± Kamila asked, shaking, the timid girl frowning as Tyrah put a bulletproof vest over her. ¡°Dead most likely, no one is picking up on the comms,¡± Jena replied, scowling as Yun shook her head. ¡°Communications blackout. EMP too, everything not locked in a faraday is fried and their signal jammer is blocking our signals from getting out,¡± Yun reported, racking the bolt on her FCS7-Fletchgun. ¡°Do you think something happened to Captain Jin?¡± ¡°Doubtful. But if the awakened aren¡¯t responding¡­¡± Jena shook her head, the woman now fully equipped in black armor that covered her from head to toe. ¡°We need to get the power back on and get the calvary. Yun, stay with Lady Kamila and Ada, Tyrah and I will get the power back on.¡± ¡°Wait, hold up, you want us to stay here?¡± Ada asked, flabbergasted at the notion. ¡°What about your Queen?¡± ¡°We have our orders and we¡¯re trained for the scenario. If the awakened guards are all dead, it means they were targeted due to their mana signatures, thats why we¡¯re here. Since we don¡¯t have any mana, we have the element of surprise. No offense, but taking a pregnant lady and a timid medical officer into battle isn¡¯t on my vision board,¡± Jena replied as she opened the door that lit up the kitchen with light. ¡°Just as I thought, for now, we¡¯re going to go into the basement and turn the power back on. From the looks of it, they tapped into the grid and are using it to jam our communications, but if we hit the emergency, we can broadcast a stronger signal to break their jammer.¡± Orders? Ada cocked her head to the side, wondering what they meant. From the looks of it, it almost seemed as though this was all planned. ¡°You have command. On you,¡± Tyrah replied, donning her helmet, the black visor giving off a slight red glow in the darkness. ¡°How¡­ can you tell that?¡± Ada asked. ¡°Because this palace operates on three different power grids in case of an attack so that the rest of the palace can be used as an evacuation shelter,¡± Tyrah explained before cocking her head to the side ¡°I¡¯m seeing alot of Xs here Jena.¡± ¡°I know¡­turn ours off,¡± Jena replied, her robotic voice coming through her helmet unable to hide her concern. ¡°Yun, turn off your IFF.¡± ¡°Kay,¡± Yun replied. ¡°Xs?¡± Kamila asked, hugging Ada. ¡°Dead allies. All of the guards patrolling outside have IFFs that link up with friendly HUDs. Every single one of them are dead. Meaning they control the walls,¡± Jena reported, drawing a frightened look from Kamila. ¡°Bastards using our own equipment against us.¡± ¡°Ready?¡± Tyrah asked, peeking out of the kitchen and down the hall of the well-lit hallway. Jena nodded. ¡°Wait!¡± Ada called out, stopping the pair as they were about to leave. ¡°I¡¯m coming with you.¡± ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Jena spat, but Ada shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not giving you a choice. I may be pregnant but I¡¯m no damn push over, and I¡¯ll be damned if I sit here like a damsel in fucking distress while my man is fighting!¡± Ada yelled, shoving past the two and into the hallway. ¡°Lets go. If you get injured or fall under a spell again, you¡¯ll need a healer anyway.¡± AAS: SEASON 6: CH18: Death of the Maestro Jack shifted, dodging another spectral blade that appeared in tune with the crescendo of the music. ¡°Fucking!¡± Jack let out, avoiding an enthralled dancer as the mindless crowd around him turned on him. Fortunately, his winds kept them at bay, unfortunately, this tied up his hands as he tried to figure out where the Jester was amidst the darkness. He activated his eyes, attempting to sift through the mana in the room but to his vision, all he was greeted by was the sight of the room completely coated by energy. Damn Jester. Jack gritted his teeth. To make matters worse, those attacking him were all important people, people that were Selfia''s backers, and main supporters, if they got hurt, Jack could only imagine the consequences nationwide. But that did beg the question, if these were her chief supporters, where were the awakened? Even nobles employed guards and the guests attending were no different. Where were their knights and bodyguards? In fact, where the hell was Jin and his cousins?! I can''t operate like this, Sara, give me light! Jack closed his eyes, his mana draining, his body releasing a flash bang that blew away the darkness in a spontaneous burst of light. Fortunately for Jack, his target wasn''t so hard to find. With her smiling white mask, rainbow colored suit, hat with bells and a crystal violin, the maestro of the nightmare orchestra was quickly spotted in the far corner of the ballroom. Gotcha. Jack stomped his foot, activating wind barrier, the ground erupting with air that forced everyone back. Let''s make this quick. Suddenly the music began to dim, the Jester pointing at the man flying at her with her rapier. ¡°Fortissimo,¡± The Jester laughed, her voice high pitched. Dozens of magical sigils lit up, visible music notes floating in the air that pulsed with mana. ¡°Shit,¡± Jack let out, realizing too late the nature of the attack. Prime to explode the music notes collided with Jack, the latter summoning his wings to shield against the detonation that consumed the hall, a myriad of screams sounding out as the guests within the room burned. Jack tumbled, his expensive clothes alight as winds blew out the flames around him. ¡°Fuck!¡± Jack let out, rising to his feet in horror at the guests still dancing despite their bodies burning. Around him, the black dressed nobles began to drop. With no muscles left to support their limbs, one by one the guests fell to the floor, fortunately Sahaqiel had managed to contain much of the explosion, leaving many of the guests unharmed. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. But they were still enthralled, dancing without a care and laughing despite the room quickly filling with smoke and flames. Jack shot off the ground, charging towards the Jester who giggled before vanishing. Not this shit again! Why does everyone have a teleport ability?! Activating his eyes, Jack tried to find the woman''s path, but with the mana flooding the hall, it was impossible to pin down her exit point. ¡°You''ll have to try better than that b¨¦b¨¦,¡± The Jester laughed, her voice echoing through the halls like nails on chalk. [You have Resisted the Maestro''s Madness] Jack winced, a headache forming, the sounds of gurgling churning around him as the guests began to tear and claw at each other ravenously. We have to end this now! And quick! Sara! Lilith! Help me find her! Jack ordered as he sidestepped another volley of spectral blades. ¡°There, on your left. Search for the influx of mana rising,¡± Lilith sent, Jack pivoting and flinging a bolt of lightning at the invisible figure. The Jester broke concealment, her rapier moving, parrying the lightning with the sparks coiling around her weapon and being flung to the side. Swiping her rapier through the air, the Jester conjured a massive note, a sharp that flew through the air, parting the tiles of the floor with Jack going wide-eyed as it slammed into his wings ¡°Of course. Close quarters it is then.¡± Jack unfurled his feathers, taking off, pivoting through the sea of spectral blades as his mana began to rise. Unbeknownst to him, Lilith appeared, a black cowl hanging around his neck that ate away the mana of the spectral blades that past, fueling Jack''s stores with his eyes glowing red. The Jester seemed to freeze up, her movements going stiff for a second before she placed her bow upon her violin and began to strum the strings violently. Sigil after sigil lit up, a barrage of magical attacks aimed at Jack, each one, breaking apart as Lilith devoured the skill with Gehenna. What was the Jester''s mana, became Jack¡¯s, the latter closing distance despite the Pawn teleporting away. ¡°On your left,¡± Lilith reported, Jack''s head spinning just as a large musical note flew at him. Jack''s hand came up, the tattoos glowing beneath his skin reacting as he activated Gehenna. The attack exploded, the energy siphoning into Jack''s palm, arcing along his arms with a visible buzz before he kicked off the ground in a flash of light. This time, faster than the Jester could react. She immediately attempted to lift her bow, the violin tool slashing at Jack''s outstretched palm only to be greeted by the silver feathers that coated his arm. Sparks flew, the pair entering a dance of slashed and swipes, the Jester put on the back foot as she repeatedly attempted to teleport only to have her skill destroyed by Lilith. ¡°Fuck off,¡± Jack laughed, closing the distance, the Jester conjuring a barrier that did nothing to Jack''s fingers that crushed her mask and gripped her face. ¡°No-¡± The woman''s voice cut off, Jack''s other hand plunging into her stomach as his palm clenched down over her mouth. Wide-eyed, the red eyed Jester''s gaze quivered, the woman''s weapon poking through Jack''s chest with little effect on the man. Enough of this. Jack dug his hand into the woman''s body, his hand wrapping around something hard, the Jester spitting up blood as her hands dropped her weapons and grabbed at her assailant in a futile attempt at self preservation. Suddenly her body seized, Jack locking eyes with the pawn who held tears in her eyes. Through muffled words, the Jester surprisingly began to beg. ¡°Stop-¡± ¡°No,¡± A simple word uttered by a growl mixed of two voices. Jack retrieved his gore covered hand, pulling with it the woman''s spine out of her chest in a burst of blood. The Jester gurgled, wide-eyed, her arms flailing before her eyes rolled back and her body folded in on herself, her legs buckling with her corpse hitting the floor with a thud. Lilith snickered, Jack''s eyes flashing. ¡°One down¡­¡± Jack spat, tossing away the vertebrae as a door at the end of the hall opened to reveal a bloodied feminine man in a maid outfit gawking at the Jester''s corpse. ¡°One more to go.¡± AAS: SEASON 6: CH19: Mad Bomber AAS: SEASON 6: CH19: Palace Flames. ¡°NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!¡± A voice cried as Jack felt a strange power enter him. Jack blinked, distracted, he was blasted back, hitting a pillar and snapping it in the process of tumbling through the air. JACK! Sahaqiel screamed, a barrier of wind forming around Jack with Ruby appearing at his side to deflect the rapier that slashed at Jack. Suddenly the music began to pick up once more, a loud orchestra of strings sounding out as fire took the room. ¡°Aw what the fuck.¡± Jack let out, eyeing the Jester corpse that was twitching sporadically, letting out loud snapping sounds in tune with the music like a terrible horror movie. Maniacal laughter sounded, the Jester standing back up, wobbling to her feet despite missing her spine. On her barren head, a new white mask grew, a wretched smile plastered on her face as blood leaked from every orifice. ¡°TrY. a-GaIN!¡± The Jester sung, head cocking to the side, her bloodshot pupils wide before they were covered by her new mask. ¡°It''s time for my swan song!¡± ¡°See this shit. This is why you always double tap Jack,¡± Lilith hissed. ¡°Right. Double tap¡­ I ripped out her fucking spine!¡± Jack replied, dodging a symphony of spectral spears and music notes firing at him. ¡°You don''t get more double tap than that! If anything I triple tapped her!¡± ¡°Obliterate them next time!¡± Jack bolted forward, feathers out, the man maid throwing out clay figurines that exploded in the former¡¯s face. Conjuring wind, Sahaqiel contained the explosion, the force pushing Jack back as dozens of music notes boomeranged and forced Jack back. ¡°Four! We''ve got to go! This is a trap! We''ve been played!¡± The Man Maid let out, accosting her partner who turned to her fellow pawn. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Five is here! He''s here! He''s not dead!!¡± The Jester spun her head, eyeing the smoldering Jack, the latter confused before the doors to the room burst off their hinges. ¡°Heeeey, Crotchpuncher!¡± Tenno yelled, Ada joining the man shortly. ¡°Why didn''t you invite me to the party?!¡± ¡°Tenno?! What the hell are you doing here?!¡± Jack yelled back, wide-eyed at the man who was supposed to be protecting the Hoshido village. ¡°Oh you know me, out for a stroll!¡± Tenno barked, shooting off the ground towards the pair of pawns with a laugh. ¡°Fuck you cunt!¡± The Man Maid spat, the bloodied pawn giving Tenno the middle finger before the entire world was illuminated by a small sun. ¡°ADA!¡± Jack called out, eyes wide, his hand outstretched as Ruby''s hand grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back with her shield taking the blunt of the explosion with the two flying from the impact.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Spinning through the air, Jack unfurled his silver wings, taking flight, grabbing Ruby upon being expelled from the castle to see the entire structure up in flames. ¡°No!¡± Somehow the building was already collapsing, imploding from within with multiple detonations going off at the base. ¡°No¡­ NO!¡± Jack let out, his voice quivering before he flapped his wings and dove into the red mushroom cloud. Immediately the heat tickled his skin, burning away what remained of his expensive clothes, yet Jack didn''t care, he pressed on, rushing forward as Sahaqiel cleared a path for him through the rubble and debris. ¡°ADA!¡± Jack roared, swiping his hand, the wind answering his will and sweeping away a large swath of smoke and flames. ¡°ADA!¡± All around Jack, charred corpses lay, his heart beating in his ears, eyes searching for his love. ¡°Here! Tanji!¡± Jack''s heart seemed to skip a beat, his eyes fixating on the silhouette amidst the flames. There, beneath a translucent bubble of golden energy, Ada stood, her earringa radiating protective energy. ¡°Ruby! Protect her!¡± Jack ordered, his einherjer leaping forward to collect Ada as Jack and Sahaqiel held the flames at bay. The fire around Jack seemed to suddenly burn brighter, his HP rapidly dropping from the heat making his skin perspire. Around him, the roof began to cave, debris and paneling falling as Jack pushed the flames away from him and Ada, creating a tunnel of open air that led to the outside. ¡°Tanji! Kamila and the others are still downstairs!¡± Ada cried, stopping Jack right as they came to the crumbling opening in the wall. Jack clenched his jaw. ¡°Ruby! Take her to safety!¡± Jack ordered, a section of the flooring giving way beneath Jack''s feet. Sarah! Find them! Jack could feel the angel separate from him, the woman phasing through the collapsing palace in search of Kamila and Jack''s security team. Found them! Lower level! Generator! ¡°Where?!¡± Jack yelled, stopping in place as he looked down, his vision momentarily overlapping with Sahaqiel. Below you! Straight down! Jack activated wind sphere, sucking on the flames, his body courting with lighting as energize compounded the skill and began to chew through the floor and debris. The ground beneath Jack''s feet was obliterated, shredded, allowing Jack to free fall through several floors before he hit the bottom most with an audible thud. Still, he hadn''t arrived at his location, his target, another floor down and separated by steel and concrete. Immediately Jack punched the floor, attempting to break the concrete, his fist creating a crack in the crumbling ground. ¡°Sigh. Try this instead.¡± Suddenly Jack could feel his mana leaving his body, directed by Lilith and creating what felt like a massive maw in the space below him. Then the mouth closed, chomping down, the floor disappearing to reveal a soot-covered Kamila giving CPR to a figure clad in black. ¡°Kamila!¡± ¡°J-j-jack?!¡± The woman spun, shielding her eyes, disbelief in her tone as heat flooded the basement. ¡°Hold on! I''m going to get you out of there!¡± ¡°Hurry! Yun isn''t breathing!¡± Jack grit his teeth, his body burning up from within with the constant mana being used to sustain a wind tunnel. Between Lilith, Sahaqiel, and Ruby, Jack''s resources were being stretched thin. ¡°Ok. Just hold on!¡± Jack scanned the ground below, activating float, dropping off the edge as the world around him burned. **** Jin frowned, stepping out of yet another mansion filled with corpses, the man¡¯s black-armor covered head to toe in gore. ¡°The invited have been dealt with,¡± Jin said, speaking into his gauntlet as other black-clad assassins left the estate, their eyes cast out to the column of flames in the distance. Not a word was spoken between the warriors, their task, half done, but all shared the same look over the deeds they had committed. ¡°Good,¡± Selfia''s voice replied back, her voice cold. ¡°Get to the palace. Our uninvited are on the run and Jack''s friends aren¡¯t that helpful.¡± ¡°Yes, your highness,¡± Jin replied, nodding his head as the dozen armored awakened took off. ¡°It will be done.¡± Jin sighed, rolling his shoulders, taking a moment to eye the carnage behind him that consisted of various nobles, knights, and soldiers he had known and served with for years. Awakened that were felled by his hands with entire bloodlines now exterminated. A dark task, but a culling needed to be done to fundamentally change the empire into something more. Jin gripped his spear, sighing. ¡°Forgive me kid.¡± AAS: SEASON 6: CH20: Betrayal Most Foul ¡°BREAKING NEWS! CASTLE MORNE IN FLAMES! UNTOLD CASUALTIES! WE GO LIVE NOW, TO OUR CORRESPONDANT ON THE SCENE!¡±- Korriban News *** Amidst a background of flames, Jack stumbled naked out of the fire, walking with Kamila on his back and Yun in his arms as wind scattered the crowd of first responders and bystanders attempting to snap photos and ask questions. ¡°BACK OFF!¡± Jack snapped, the air bursting from his roar that sent the bystanders packing. ¡°Out of my way! Queensguard, move!¡± Jessica yelled, pushing her way through the crowd. When the bystanders refused to yield, a pulse of sickly mana shot out, explosive energy that radiated from the black armored knight beside Ada. Jack laid Yun down as Jessica slid beside her, the woman¡¯s hands touching the bloodied body of the corporal. ¡°Nononono! No! Yun! Oh god girl! Please! Jack!¡± Jessica turned to Jack, clawing at him. ¡°There''s gotta be something you can do! Anything!¡± ¡°I¡­ I''m sorry,¡± Jack muttered, taking a step back, his eyes glancing down at the hole in the woman''s armor. He could mend broken bones, regenerate organs, regrow limbs¡­ but what he couldn''t do was bring someone back to life that was already dead. Jessica slumped over her fallen friend, tears in her eyes as Ada joined Jack and Kamila slid off Jack''s back to weep into her palms. The crowd continued to take photos, indifferent to the carnage and suffering, something that irked Jack deeply to the bone. He could feel Lilith rising, the black specter fuming with anger, their emotions stacking atop one another. Walking forward, Jack''s face morphed into a glare, his palm rising with arcs of electricity dancing around his body, and for a moment, a split moment Ada thought Jack was about to attack the crowd as they stumbled back in fear. Yet no attack came, instead, a fog began to emit from Jack''s body, shrouding the area and blocking the crowd¡¯s view. Several brave souls attempted to move into the fog, yet as they did so they were shocked, ionic particles coursing through the fog thanks to Jack combining his porous fog with electrify. ¡°What. Happened?¡± Jessica demanded. ¡°W-we¡­¡± Kamila began, sobbing before she fell to her knees. ¡°We were betrayed.¡± **** Fifteen minutes prior.*** ¡°Keep close,¡± Yun ordered, Ada and Kamila walking behind the woman as Jena led the way through a darkened wing of the palace with rifle raised. ¡°Try and stay ahead of me so I can target anyone behind us.¡± ¡°I think we should go back,¡± Kamila whispered, hugging Ada¡¯s arm whilst doing her best not get in the way of the massive blade on the woman''s shoulder. ¡°We can''t, there''s no telling what else is out there, we''re safer staying together while Tanji handles one of the High Table.¡± Ada replied. ¡°Do you think he''ll be ok?¡± ¡°Who? Tanji? He¡¯ll be fine,¡± Ada stated matter of factly. ¡°Right now the best we can do is get out of his way.¡± ¡°B-but he''s alone.¡± Ada paused for a moment. ¡°Trust me Kami, he''s never alone.¡± Suddenly Jena stopped, halting the group as Yun approached a nearby door protected by a keycard reader. ¡°Shit,¡± Yun let out. ¡°What? What''s wrong?¡± Ada asked, strolling up to the gathered soldiers. ¡°The door''s locked,¡± Tyrah reported. ¡°Ok? Don''t you guys have a key?¡± Ada asked as Yun took out a screwdriver and began fiddling with the keypad. ¡°It''s not that simple. With power out we can''t use our key cards or bypasses. And the explosives we have won''t work thanks to tritanium bulkhead design,¡± Yun stated, prying the lid off of the keypad. ¡°I''ll try and see if I can conne-¡± ¡°Step back,¡± Ada pulled the technician back and lifted her blade, moving the massive nodachi to her waist in a backhand grip. Her body began to glow, illuminating the hallway before she stepped forward and slashed. ¡°Well¡­ that''s one way of dealing with things,¡± Jena muttered, the blade cutting through the door as easy as a hot knife through butter.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°After you,¡± Ada said, Jena shrugging and shining a light down the stairs before descending into the darkness. ¡°Thanks muscles,¡± Yun giggled, smiling as Ada rolled her eyes and walked passed. Walking in silence, the group made their way into the stairwell, rifles raised with only the sound of their muffled footsteps echoing into the abyss. ¡°Where is everyone?¡± Yun asked, breaking the tension of the darkness. ¡°There should have been at least one team down this corridor. Ugh. This is Gamma station all over again.¡± ¡°Please don''t remind me,¡± Tyrah interjected. ¡°I''m serious. I''m getting bad vibes. How the hell are all our comms down? How did they sneak through our defenses? And where are all the other guards?¡± Yun continued. ¡°Yun, do you ever just shut the fuck up?¡± Jena spat. Yun giggled. ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°Guys, stay alert. We don''t know what''s down here,¡± Tyrah chastised. The soldiers continued in silence, no word spoken until Jena and the rest entered into a narrow hallway illuminated by red emergency lights. ¡°Whatever happens. Stay close to me,¡± Yun instructed, handing Kamila a pistol. The woman eyed the weapon, but ultimately took it, racking the slide before reluctantly nodding to Yun. ¡°Where''s my gun?¡± Ada asked. ¡°Please, you''re too much of a badass,¡± Yun replied before Jena called out through the squads shared voice comms, beckoning the trio to keep up. ¡°Plus I only have one spare sidearm.¡± Marching on, Ada narrowed her eyes, her nodachi now angled around her waist as Kamila seemed to hug her closer. ¡°We''re approaching the third power relay now I think,¡± Tyrah said, a 3D map of the castle grounds emitting from her gauntlet. ¡°Eyes up,¡± Jena whispered, the group coming to an ajar metal door. ¡°Tyrah, Yun, prepare to breach.¡± The two women stacked up on the wall. ¡°What do you want us to do?¡± Ada asked. ¡°Stay here and look pretty, we''ll call when it''s clear or if we need help,¡± Jena said before going in after Yun and Tyrah. ¡°Be careful,¡± Ada said before turning to Kamila, the woman visibly shaking. ¡°Are you ok?¡± ¡°Uhm. Y-yes. I can fight! I-I- just get a bit jittery is a-all.¡± Kamila stuttered. ¡°I don''t really like violence to be honest.¡± ¡°So, why did you enlist to join the Empire?¡± Ada asked. ¡°For money. And to be recognized as a true citizen s-so my parents could get benefits,¡± Kamila explained, the two sitting back as they waited for Jena and the others. ¡°And how are your parents?¡± ¡°Dead,¡± Kamila replied deadpan, looking away. ¡°Killed in a Roland raid.¡± Ada looked down, noticing the woman''s balled fist. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn''t mean to bring up painful memories,¡± Ada said. ¡°It''s¡­ ok. Jack is good at killing them. So I''m happy that he''s around,¡± Kamila replied, her usually timid face twisted with anger. Changing the topic, Ada stood beside Kamila and cleared her throat, her eyes focused on the door Jena and the others had gone through. ¡°So, how did you and Tanji meet?¡± ¡°O-oh¡­ we¡­ met back at the academy we went to¡­¡± Kamila said, a small smile on her face as if recounting a fond memory. ¡°He. Was very nice to me.¡± ¡°I se-¡± Suddenly the duo¡¯s conversation was broken by the sound of gunfire with Ada jolting and immediately taking off as Kamila tried to stop her. One shot, two shot, three. Rushing through the iron door, Ada ran down a corridor until she entered a spacious room humming with the low whine of electricity and machinery. She scanned the area, looking left and right in the darkness for her companions, eyes dancing but unable to see clearly thanks to the black that coated the room. ¡°W-w-wait!¡± Kamila let out, catching up to Ada who activated mote of light, one of her basic cleric skills to cast away the darkness. ¡°No¡­¡± Kamila whispered, staring in horror at the body of Tyrah and Yun, the pair lying in a pool of their own blood. Immediately Kamila went to render aid, yet was stopped by Ada, the latter narrowing her eyes. ¡°Wait.¡± She drew her blade, noticing a thin wire on the floor that connected to a hastily placed pack of clay stuck to the bottom of a nearby machine. Ada lifted her blade, cutting the trap wire, disabling it as a chuckle sounded. ¡°Awwww,¡± A manic voice let out, bouncing around the darkness. ¡°And here I thought you¡¯d dash in bravely to save your comrades. That normally works! Do you not care about their lives? Their wellbeings? Tsk tsk tsk! Guess we¡¯ll have to do this the hard way.¡± A moan sounded out from Yun, her body shifting, the woman still alive despite her gunshot wounds, her injuries from some form of flechette gun. ¡°Help her, I¡¯ll deal with this,¡± Ada instructed, letting out a breath as she readied her massive blade. Kamila cautiously did as told, crouching down over Yun¡¯s body and checking Tyrah¡¯s condition as Ada looked around for Jena, the only one missing. Ada and Kamila shared a glance, the latter shaking her head No with tears in her eyes. ¡°Oh? Deal with me? You¡¯re a million years too early to try dearie.¡± The manic voice called out, almost echoing. ¡°My, you have such a big blade, are you overcompensating for something?¡± Ada¡¯s brow furrowed as Yun coughed, the woman reaching up to Kamila to whisper something. Kamila¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°WATCH OUT!¡± Ada spun, the flash of the shotgun encompassing her entire view as a deafening boom hit her ears. Her nodachi came up, the blade glowing, moving as if it had a will of its own and deflecting the flechettes in a show of sparks. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The firearm roared over and over again, Ada¡¯s arms moving as fast as her weapon shifted, the enchanted nodachi protecting Ada from her assailant¡¯s surprise attack. Click. An audible sound of an empty weapon chimed. Furrowing her brow, Ada to lowered her blade, her eyes focusing on the woman in black armor, the only one of three that entered the room that was uninjured. Jena Leslie, the woman glaring as she tossed her shotgun and drew her sidearm just as a jagged blade entered the edges of Ada¡¯s peripheral vision. AAS: SEASON 6: CH21: Long Time Cometh Ada shifted her head, the serrated blade slicing her cheek as bullets ripped through the space she¡¯d just been. ¡°GET YUN TO SAFETY!¡± Ada ordered, Kamila taking off as manic laughter closed the distance. Ada spun, her nodachi spinning to deflect several shots as her blade swiped the air where the laughter was. Her assailant leapt back, avoiding the arc of the weapon with a laugh as Ada readied her weapon. In front of her, was what appeared to be a woman wearing an exaggerated black maid outfit, a pale girl who was barely at Ada¡¯s height with half her face obscured by a white mask with a pawn-shaped crest carved into its ivory surface. In her hands, she held a jagged black dagger, one that glowed and sent alarm bells ringing through Ada¡¯s mind. Whatever it was, it was dangerous. ¡°Oh hey! I recognize that blade! That thing belonged to Number five!¡± The woman squealed, twirling in place with the hems of her maid skirt flowing upwards. ¡°Did he cry like a little bitch when he died? Did he beg? Did he go on a sob story about his whittle faMAhRy?¡± Ada narrowed her eyes, her vision split between her attackers and the skills of her weapon. [GRADE/S: Legendary Artifact: Monohoshizao] [Proficiency: 45/100] [SKILL]: ???? [SKILL]: Temporal Concealment [SKILL]: Mountain Strike [SKILL]: Swallow Reversal [SKILL]: Swallow Slash [SKILL]: Blade of Elegance [SKILL]: Multi-Dimensional Strike [SKILL]: ???? [SKILL]: ???? [DESC]: A weapon made to replicate a legend that never existed. Suddenly Ada¡¯s weapon disappeared, the long blade turning invisible as Kamila helped up a barely conscious Yun and fled. ¡°Go after them. We don¡¯t want any witnesses after all,¡± The Maid smiled, turning to Jena, the woman nodding and taking off. Immediately Ada moved to intercept, but the Maid was on her, the woman¡¯s serrated teeth filling Ada¡¯s vision as her dagger slashed. **** Scurrying in the darkness, Kamila could feel her heart pounding as bullets trailed her feet. ¡°Leav¡­ me¡­ the servos in my leg are shot, I can''t run,¡± Yun coughed, held up by Kamila who craddled the woman in her arms as she applied healing mana to her. ¡°N-no! I¡¯ve got you!¡± Kamila retorted before another gunshot sounded, this time striking the nearby machinery beside her as she struggled to navigate the darkness. ¡°Stop running!¡± Jena called out, unloading several shots into the darkness with one grazing Kamila¡¯s head and taking off her ear. Unlike Kamila who was basically running blind, Jena had night vision, her helmet painting her prey clearly in the pitch black. ¡°GO AWAY! I call upon the light of Order!¡± Kamila spat, turning and firing two bolts of mana at her pursuer who casually dodged the first ball of light with the second striking her with seemingly no effect. Jena paused, shaking her head and tapping her visor before firing a salvo at Kamila who conjured a mana barrier to shield both her and Yun before turning down a bend. ¡°Tsk Fucking rodents,¡± Jena spat. Kamila took a moment to catch her breath, propping Yun against a wall and activating mend, her healing skill slowly stitching up the woman. ¡°My gun¡­ Kami. My gun. Give me my gun and leave me to go help Ada. Your level of magic won''t work against her armor,¡± Yun said, prompting Kamila to shake her head. ¡°No, If I don¡¯t heal you you¡¯ll die!¡± Kamila retorted, feeling the woman¡¯s injuries. With the flechettes digging into Yun¡¯s flesh, her recovery would be hindered until they could be removed, meaning her flesh would continue to bleed the entire time Kamila tried to heal her. Both of them knew this, and so did Jena. ¡°My gun, just give it to me,¡± Yun said, shifting as she looked down, noticing her blood trail. ¡°I¡¯ll hold her off while you heal me then.¡± ¡°O-o-ok.¡± Kamila said, acquiescing and handing the woman her pistol tucked in her waistband. ¡°Can you run at all?¡± Yun shook her head, her helmet looking at her ruined metal leg. ¡°Not on this-¡± ¡°You realize that I can see where you guys are going thanks to this trail of blood right?¡± Jena called out, attempting to provoke a response. ¡°What? Can''t talk all of a sudden? You were yapping nonstop just a minute ago Yun.¡±Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Yun leaned over, firing several shots into the darkness, prompting Jena to yell ¡°Bitch!¡± ¡°Ok, that should buy us some time,¡± Yun huffed, letting out a groan upon Kamila plucking out several pieces of metal from the woman''s thigh. ¡°Gentle! I''m a delicate flower!¡± ¡°S-sorry!¡± Kamila replied, flinching as a bullet ricocheted off a nearby wall. Yun winced, leaning over and firing another volley at Jena who ducked behind another set of machinery. Suddenly a boom sounded, an explosion from nearby that illuminated the cramped generator room as an unfamiliar voice barked a laugh. ¡°How are you with guns?¡± Yun asked. ¡°N-not good,¡± Kamila frowned, causing Yun to squeeze her eyes shut for a moment beneath her helmet. ¡°Wait,¡± Yun''s eyes snapped open, her eyes blinking rapidly and turning on her helmets processors. Yun reached down, unclamping her robotic leg, the woman looking up at Kamila still bleeding from her shoulder wound with steam rising. ¡°Ok, okiely dokiely. I have a plan,¡± Yun said, taking off her helmet. ¡°Help me up.¡± **** Standing with her back pressed against a wall, Jena peaked around the corner of the wall, her helmet showing the world in a greenish hue that painted her surroundings clearly. Behind her, flashes of light, Number Three clashing against Ada who was somehow holding her own against the mad Maid. Ignoring the battle, Jena had her own fight to finish, one that had been four years in the making. ¡°Yun! Kamila! Come out! I can explain why I did what I did!¡± Jena called out, performing a tactical reload before stepping out with her weapon raised. Suddenly her HUD lit up, displaying Yun¡¯s IFF a few meters away in the darkness. ¡°I already know why you did what you did¡­¡± Yun sent back, her voice echoing through Jena¡¯s helmet. ¡°Oh yeah?¡± Jena said, inching her way forward towards the electronic signature. ¡°And why''s that?¡± Jena furrowed her brow, eyeing the bit of metal that was Yun¡¯s prosthetic leg peeking from around a corner. Figured the girl just left her and ran. Typical high born mage. Jena said to herself before she paused. ¡°Cuz you were always a bitch,¡± Yun spat. ¡°Yeah¡­ I get that,¡± Jena replied before she turned the corner, gun firing twice as she pivoted to face her victim. ¡°Too bad you-¡± Jena went wide eyed, instead of hitting her former comrade, all she shot was concert flooring and a partially dismantled helmet left abandoned on the floor. ¡°Shit!¡± Jena spun to the sound of movement, just in time to take a bolt of mana to the chest, the air knocked out of her as she stumbled back, her night vision momentarily flared from the sudden brightness with her eyes blinking uncontrollably. Immediately her arm came up, attempting to return fire, yet she found herself struck from behind, a thud hitting the floor before the roar of a handgun planted three 45acp rounds in her back. **** As Jena Leslie''s body hit the floor, Yun lowered her gun and released the microphone in her hand, sighing as she lay on the ground slick with her blood ¡°Yun!¡± Kamila called out, rushing to the downed soldier as the fighting in the background seemed to intensified. ¡°Go! Help Ada! I''m fine!¡± Yun yelled, ordering Kamila away towards the clashing of Ada against the maid. ¡°I-I- I just¡­ I just need to catch my breath.¡± Kamila''s jaw dropped, her eyes quivering at the sight of Ada somehow regenerating at an extreme pace with the earrings she wore giving off a brilliant shine. But more than that, what surprised her more was the giant of a man she wasn''t expecting to see, a warrior that held power similar to Jack. Tenno. The man was smirking, walking forward, the maid yelling obscenities at the unexpected foe who held Ada¡¯s nodachi in his hand. ¡°You! You''re supposed to be dead! The King said you were dead!¡± The Maid screamed, backing away, slashing at the air in a panic. ¡°Ah yes¡­ tells of my death were very much¡­ exaggerated,¡± Tenno laughed. ¡°You traitor! After everything we¡¯ve done for you!¡± The maid exclaimed, retreating as Tenno advanced. ¡°Go on. Run, you know I like a good chase,¡± Tenno said, allowing the maid to flee much to everyone''s surprise. The maid hesitated for a moment, face scrunching up with at the indignation before turning and fleeing. ¡°Why?! Why are you letting them get away!¡± Ada screamed. Tenno shrugged. ¡°It''s funner this way,¡± Tenno smirked before kicking off after his fleeing prey. Ada took off as well, chasing the duo, leaving Kamila behind who spun towards Yun only for her eyes to go wide. ¡°Yun!¡± Kamila ran forward, rolling the woman over, her body barely illuminated under the red emergency lights. Immediately Kamila''s hands came back slick, the woman''s wounds bleed profusely from the flechettes still stuck in her flesh. But more than that, Kamila could feel the woman''s life force leaking beneath the armor, prompting Kamila to tear off Yun''s chest plate, the piece of armor saturated in warm crimson. ¡°No! No! Nonononono!¡± Kamila let out, horrified, realizing from the angle of the buckshot wound it had bypassed Yun''s armor from her armpit. ¡°Yun! Yun! Corporal!¡± No response. Kamila attempted to heal the woman, to mend. But between a use of soothe, four mana bolts, three attempts at mending, and her injury being healed with cure, she barely had enough mana to activate the skill. Still, it didn''t matter. Wouldn''t matter. Yun was bleeding internally and externally. Perhaps the only one able to save her being Jack who was- *BOOM!* Suddenly the world around Kamila erupted in a fiery explosion, her eyes going wide as flames moved to consume her. ¡°AH!¡± Kamila screamed, hands raised, her heart leaping out of her chest as the explosives left behind by the maid consumed her¡­ A moment passed. Then another. Kamila sitting in mute shock with her eyes squeezed shut as she waited for the heat to take her. Yet it didnt. Kamila slowly opened her eyes, blinking rapidly, a translucent barrier enveloping her, with a brilliant shine coming from herself, she reached up, touching the earrings given to her by Selfia. H-huh? ¡°H-how?!¡± Kamila let out incredulously before another boom sounded. Without warning, a loud thud echoed from above, almost like a battering ram slamming into a thick wall. Kamila looked up, the ceiling consumed in flames, no path to escape, each second passing making it harder to breath. Distraught, Kamila looked down, hand placed on Yun¡¯s body. ¡°If only I was stronger¡­ i-im so sorry Mrs. Vichet,¡± Kamila cried, futilely attempting CPR despite knowing Yun was gone. ¡°I¡¯m! Sorry!¡± ¡°KAMILA!¡± Kamila froze, turning, tear in her eyes as the flames parted to reveal¡­ Jack. He was there, the concrete floor gone, her eyes going round as his muscular form hovered in the air like a godsent angel. Kamila''s jaw dropped, an indescribable feeling blossoming in her chest as tears fell from her eyes. ¡°J-j-jack!¡± AAS: SEASON 6: CH22: Jack the RIpper Hearing Kamila¡¯s story, Jack could only exhale, his shoulders tensing up as his hands balled into fists. Tyrah¡­ Yun¡­ Two soldiers who, despite not being awakened, had fought beside him, bled beside him, and ultimately died in a scheme he was involved with. ¡°Jack. It''s not your fault.¡± Sahaqiel cooed, attempting to redirect Jack''s guilt. Yet the pain he felt that touched his heart was only compounded by Lieutenant Jessica¡¯s crying. What could have been done differently? What should have been done differently? Where was Selfia? His Uncle Jin? Questions piled up in Jack¡¯s mind, mixing with his anger, his guilt, and worst of all, the sense of dread that his enemies had succeeded in eliminating Selfia. ¡°She''s right, Jack. It''s not your fault. It''s theirs,¡± Lilith said, pointing out into the distance. Suddenly an explosion rippled in the distance of the city, the sounds of clashing, screaming, gunfire, and violin strings playing out that pricked Jack''s ears. Jack''s breath caught, his eyes furrowing with rage, blood boiling as the unmistakable roar of familiar revolvers caressed his ears amidst the carnage. Ivan. ¡°Stay here!¡± Jack ordered, turning, his brow furrowed, teeth clenched, realizing that the battle wasn''t over. Bloodlust took hold, a desire to purge those who would dare lay a finger on his loved ones. Jack summoned his feathers, unfurling them into large electrified silver wings that enraptured the crowd of pediatricians. Across Jack''s body, spectral tattoos arced, oozing black flames as his eyes glazed over with red. ¡°Tanji!¡± Ada called out, yet he was gone, flying towards the vortex of mana in the distance and leaving behind Ruby to guard them as the crowd pointed and shouted. *** ¡°Fucking hell!¡± Ivan winced, teleporting away as the manic musclehead slashed with his nodachi. ¡°Stop running you little chicken shit!¡± Tenno laughed, casting a shield that blocked another clay explosion from the man in a maid costume and a musical note. The twin clowns attempting to pincer him as Ivan unloaded six shots from his revolver before teleporting again. ¡°Spread out! Keep up the assault and break his barrier! We have to kill him if we want to escape!¡± The Jester, bleeding from every orifice and visibly weakened. ¡°Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m trying?!¡± Ivan barked, reloading his revolver before his skin began to tingle, buzz, the hairs on his arms standing on end like in the presence of static- ¡°IVAAAAAN!!!¡± A roar sounded, drawing the gunslinger¡¯s eyes to the yellow comet rapidly approaching. ¡°Oh. Oh shit! WAIT!¡± Ivan let out, teleporting as a spear of silver feathers shattered the red roof of the building he stood on and swallowed it in an electric explosion. Jack followed a moment after, crashing through the structure like an asteroid, the clouds above darkening in his wake. ¡°Ha! You''re fucked now!¡± Tenno bellowed, slicing at the Maid who threw a series of smoke bombs and explosives at the man. ¡°Retreat! Three¡¯s backlash is in effect! We can''t fight like this!¡± The maid called out, running across the rooftops of Lunacrypt. ¡°Don¡¯t you think I know that?!¡± Ivan yelled, appearing from a puff of mana and sliding down a roof before leaping across to another building, narrowly blocking a slash from Tenno with his revolvers. The Maid shook his head as the gunslinger was sent flying, signaling instead to the Jester. If anyone was going to have to be sacrificed, it might as well be the new guy after all. Is what The Maid thought before his eyes widened, spotting in the distance, golden figures, multiple of them, lead by one carrying a familiar blood-red spear oozing with power. ¡°Ah¡­ shit.¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Realizing it was a trap, the maid spun to his comrades, just in time to see Ivan attempt to teleport only to be pulled out of his ability by Tenno and fall through the sky. ¡°Ah! And where do you think you''re going?¡± Tenno called out as Ivan hit a nearby roof and tumbled into an alleyway, losing his cowboy hat in the process with an audible fuck! Suddenly a roar, Jack emerging from the rubble of the collapsed house, fury contorting his face, the air vibrating with power, his eyes darting around in search of his prey until they locked onto the Jester and the Maid on a nearby building, the two immediately frowning. The injured woman took a step back before doubling over, her body showing visible cracks from the strain of her earlier encounter with Jack. The Jester clutched her side as her mask fell off and vomited blood, the wound in her abdomen regenerating slowly for some reason. ¡°Why¡­ am I not healing?¡± The Jester let out as The Maid screamed out for her. But it was too late, Jack was in front of her in a clap of thunder. Eyes wide, she met his angry gaze that was merely an inch from her face, his hyper-focused golden irises tainted with crimson spots, the last thing she saw before her world spun, all sensation below her neck gone. ¡°NO!!¡± The Jester heard someone say before an incredible heat took her. ¡°Burn in hell,¡± Jack growled, incinerating the jester¡¯s decapitated head and body until even the ashes were burned away. This time, he wouldn¡¯t chance the Jester coming back. This time there would be nothing left to regenerate. Jack flicked his other hand, the crimson droplets flying into the air. Turning, Jack spun to face the Maid who had attempted to save it¡¯s friend, the pawn stepping back with shaking legs. ¡°You,¡± Jack exhaled, the roar of thunder sounding, the air swirling. ¡°W-w-wait!¡± The Maid threw several clay explosives, the subsequent explosions blowing away a chunk of Jack¡¯s face and flesh, yet it did nothing to stop the skeletal hand held together by ligaments of enhanced muscle rushing out of the black cloud. ¡°I think I''ll kill you. Slowly,¡± Jack growled, his voice almost guttural as he snatched the fleeing pawn by his neck. ¡°NO!¡± The Maid screamed, pulled back by the hands wrapping around his throat, the only thing he could do in the moment was stare up in horror at the monster before him. Half of Jack¡¯s face was gone, revealing mangled flesh and bone, his left eye boiled away by the heat but regenerating rapidly. ¡°You dare,¡± Jack hissed, dangling the Maid off the ground. Unable to speak, The Maid brandish a colorful knife, attempting to stab the monster yet the moment he did so it struck silver feathers, earning his ire. Jack leapt, holding the flailing petite crossdresser in his hand before flinging the man at the earth. A resounding boom sounded, the city shook, Tenno letting out a whistle before Jack descended from on high as the dust cleared. Crawling out of a crater in the middle of the road, the mangled body of the pawn responsible for so many deaths could be seen pathetically clinging to life. Jack walked casually beside the crawling man before moving to stand in front of him. ¡°W-ww-wait. Yo-¡± The maid let out before Jack¡¯s foot pressed down on the back of the man¡¯s neck. ¡°Shut up. There''s nothing from your mouth I want to hear,¡± Jack said, anger fueling his bloodlust. ¡°AHHGH!¡± The Maid screamed, silver feathers piercing his skin, impaling him to the ground by his ankles and arms. ¡°Not laughing now are you? Any of you huh?¡± Jack growled, the pawn crying, his eyes pulsing, body spasming as metal feathers refused to let him go. ¡°I¡¯ve killed two of you now. And I¡¯m coming for the rest of your organization.¡± A crowd had gathered now, dozens of recording devices out, pointing at the naked man publicly executing someone. ¡°Fuck you! FUCKYOU!FUCKYOUFUCKYOUFUCYKahswk!!¡± The Pawn screamed, a crack sounding as blood spurted from the his now ruptured eye. Jack narrowed his eyes, his feathers pressing down, cutting through flesh and bone until the man''s screams were accompanied by the snapping of his limbs being amputated. ¡°Jack! Wait!¡± A set of gold boots touched down nearby, a dozen royal guards landing as a dome of blood rose from the ground and pushed away the spectators. ¡°He¡¯s lost. Let us take him into custody,¡± Jin approached Jack, the man beckoning for the latter to step away from the pawn. ¡°We can bring him in for interrogation, extract information from him.¡± Jack¡¯s body pulsed with lightning, conducting into the metal feathers, the pawn screaming. The scene caused Jin to frown, he had seen horrific actions, done horrific things, his own hands stained with blood of guilty and innocent alike¡­ yet seeing the man he had met as a na?ve teen with the gaze of a killer shook something in the veteran. Tenno appeared, the man smirking as he crouched in view of the fallen pawn. ¡°Sup crossdresser. Looks like you might need a hand there buddy. Maybe a new set of legs?¡± ¡°Pfhuk.. Phuk you,¡± The pawn let out, blood pooling around his head pressed against the pavement. ¡°Tenno,¡± Jack said, his voice cold as he glared at the man. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be protecting the village? I spared your life for that purpose.¡± The edges of Tenno¡¯s eyes twitched before the man broke out into a wide smile. ¡°I think, your Highness, the better question you should be asking, is where is your gunslinger friend?¡± Jack¡¯s eyes pulsed, his head snapping at the hole in the blood dome Tenno casually pointed at. In an alley, a man with a cowboy hat was running, disappearing into the city of Lunacrypt. But he wouldn¡¯t get far as the thunder boomed and Jack vanished. AAS: SEASON 6: CH23: Selfia. You Bitch Running through an alleyway, Ivan unloaded six shots, firing behind him at the lightning storm chasing him. ¡°IVAN!!¡± Ivan spun, vanishing just as a hand swiped at his neck. ¡°Jack!¡± Ivan let out, grinning as he clutched his neck, his burned skin steaming and regenerating at a slow pace. ¡°Buddy! How''s it going?¡± Jack stared at the gunslinger, unresponsive as the man backed up into a corner. ¡°What? Kitlin got your tongue? Is this anyway to greet a friend? I swear it''s almost like you''re trying to kill me!¡± Ivan chuckled before his smile faded and the barrel of his gun came up. Jack vanished, his fist striking the building as Ivan teleported. However, this time Jack was prepared. Reaching out, Jack''s eyes activated, his hand outstretched, Gehenna in effect with guidance from Lilith that disrupted the gunslinger¡¯s skill, pulling Ivan out from his teleport. ¡°F-fucl!¡± Ivan let out in surprise, tumbling onto the ground and firing a salvo of shots at Jack that were dismissed by his silver feathers. ¡°You like? A little something I''ve been cooking up since last we saw each other,¡± Jack said coldly, approaching Ivan. ¡°No more teleporting. No more fleeing. No more running Ivan.¡± Ivan blinked, backing up, the man still grinning with his eyes darting to and fro, almost as if pondering his escape. Then, the gunslinger did something Jack didn''t expect. ¡°Ah¡­ well. Seems like you''ve got me then. I know when I''ve been beat,¡± Ivan shrugged, hands held up, revolvers dangling from his fingers in a gesture of surrender. ¡°Good job. Although Selfia might have something to say about it.¡± Jack blinked once before his brow furrowed, his eyes dancing with lightning. ¡°Choose your next words carefully,¡± Jack said, one hand on Ivan''s throat, the other, poised to strike with a hundred silver feathers surrounding the pair. ¡°Let him go, Jack.¡± At the voice, Jack spun, eyes wide, Selfia standing behind him in silver armor alongside Jin. ¡°You¡­¡± At a loss for words, Jack''s voice trailed off, his mind racing as he found himself surrounded by a dozen mechanical orbs of Selfia''s design. No¡­ ¡°Jack, I''d do what she says. Believe it or not bud. We''re actually on the same side,¡± Ivan choked out. Jin stepped forward, hands raised. ¡°Jack, you''ve done good. Now it''s time you let us take it from here.¡± ¡°You¡­ lied to me,¡± Jack said slowly, his face contorting as he stared at Selfia before realizing Jin was covered in blood. ¡°I didn''t lie to you. Please. Let''s just.. go somewhere else and talk,¡± Selfia said. ¡°I need Ivan alive.¡± ¡°Talk? Talk about WHAT?!¡± Jack snapped, the sky roaring with thunder as the city seemed to shake in response to Jack''s emotions. ¡°Tell me... Selfia. You didn''t know about the attack. Tell me this wasn''t all just another ploy of yours. That you didn''t kill everyone at the galla, that you didn''t endanger my wife and my unborn CHILD! Tell me you aren''t working with them!¡± ¡°Jack. I''m not working with them, I''m using them. Please. You have to understand-¡± ¡°No. I don''t have to do anything! Leslie, Yun, and Tyrah died because of your plot! Kamila nearly died! WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF ADA WAS HURT?!¡± Jack roared, his grip tightening around Ivan''s neck, the man shimmering in place as he tried to teleport, only for his skill to be disrupted as Jack drained him. ¡°Leslie was a traitor! I had to root out who in Gamma squad was-¡± Jack squeezed his eyes shut, his mind racing, trying to cross the Ts and dot the Is. ¡°Shut up! I''ve had enough of your conniving!¡±This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°Jack listen to me!¡± ¡°How am I supposed to trust you when you''ve endangered those I love?! How am I supposed to listen to you when you lie to me? Keep me in the dark?!¡± Ivan began to kick at Jack, the former''s face going pale as the air, mana, and life began to fade from his body. ¡°Uhkz. Choking. Choking me!¡± Ivan coughed. ¡°I HAD NO CHOICE!¡± Selfia screamed, a rare moment of flared anger directed at Jack. ¡°You''re a monster! The literal antisises of every awakened! You can out heal most injuries, summon Anti-Army skills, rip mana from people, and command the literal FUCKING souls of the deceased! The world, our world is unprepared to deal with something like you. To deal with an organization powerful enough to create a monster like you! And perhaps worst of all, you''re such a goddamn FUCKING bleeding heart, you would have ruined my plans with your hero complex!¡± Jack recoiled at being called a monster, his face twisting as he stared at the Imperial Queen who now stood in his face with a multitude of floating arms. Somehow, it hurt being called such by Selfia. "Said the monster to the monster," Jack snickered, ¡°You could have told me Selfia.¡± Selfia closed her eyes and looked away. ¡°No. I couldn''t have. If you knew the things I did today. The orders I gave. The lives I snuffed. You would have stopped me. I did what I did today because I had no choice." "Choice?! We all have a choice Selfia, and YOU, chose to put my family in danger! To put the woman I LOVE in danger. But of course how could you know what I feel when you''ve never loved anyone in your life." "I..." Selfia looked away, her demeanor deflating, "Your family was never in any real danger.¡± A sinking feeling built up in Jack''s chest, his eyes moving towards the blood covered man in black armor. Jin¡¯s green eyes looked away. ¡°What did you do?¡± Jack asked, a mortified look on his face. ¡°What needed to be done to guarantee the survival of mankind,¡± Selfia said. ¡°The reason¡­ all the guards weren''t there. Why there weren''t any awakened¡­¡± ¡°We killed them. As we speak, a purge is taking place, all across the empire. Three hundred and sixty-nine lives are being snuffed, maybe more if they''re unlucky. Political opponents, rivals, dissidents. Anyone that would slow the advent of the New Republic dies today,¡± Selfia said much to Jack''s horror. ¡°You¡­ the list. You said¡­ you''d arrest them. That with them out-¡± ¡°Out of the picture I could solidify my power,¡± Selfia said, finishing Jack''s sentence and cutting him off. ¡°I didn''t lie about that.¡± ¡°No, you just lied about the method.¡± ¡°Of course, I did it for your sanity. If I said, hey Jack, I''m going to kill hundreds of people. Would you sit there and be ok with it?¡± Selfia said. ¡°Of course not! This way-my way, gives me a target to blame it on.¡± Jack furrowed his brow, taking a moment to process the words said. ¡°Did¡­ did it for my sanity? Do you even hear yourself?!¡± Jack spat. ¡°The names on that list. Children. Entire bloodlines¡­ You put Ada and everyone I care about in danger-¡± ¡°I know!¡± Selfia yelled, four of her arms flying upwards in exasperation. ¡°And I¡¯d do it again in a fucking heartbeat! We are talking about the fate of the entire world. The continuity of mankind! And I have made it my life''s mission to guarantee a future where monsters like me don''t need to exist! If I have to chop up infants, if I have to level cities, if I have to kill thousands to ensure the millions that populate this earth survive then so be it! I have sacrificed EVERYTHING! My arms, my morals, my heart, any chance at love! For. This. Mission. And it''s time you understand that the gloves can no longer be kept on!¡± Jack clenched his jaw, the audible sound of his teeth grinding against themselves being the only thing that permeated the space. ¡°Tell me one thing, Selfia¡­¡± Jack said, turning to the gunslinger he now had pinned to the adjacent building before looking back at the Queen. ¡°Did you know about the attack on my village? On my people?¡± Thunder roared, the air swirling, Jack''s body arcing with electricity as the nearby lights fluctuated. For a moment, Selfia feared she would die in that alley, her entire life flashing as an unfamiliar feeling of fear bubbled up. Jin took a step forward, hand gripping his spear tightly as he saw something with red eyes shimmering behind Jack, a specter of an angry woman glaring at him and his queen. Selfia sighed. ¡°No. I swear to you I did not know. The honest truth. Ivan is an embedded agent. Part of a deep infiltration. I wasn''t aware of your survival and the details until after¡­ In fact, you two weren''t supposed to meet again,¡± Selfia said solemnly. ¡°Please... I need him alive.¡± ¡°It would be a fickle thing to snap his neck,¡± Lilith whispered in Jack''s ear, the specter of vengeance wanting the gunslinger dead just as much as Jack. ¡°If he can help us fight the round table. We should at least spare him. For now Jack,¡± Sahaqiel commented, the twin spirits playing advocates in Jack''s mind. Jack stood in silence, moments passing before he looked up at the gunslinger. ¡°You''re lucky you aren''t mine to kill,¡± Jack said, a visible look of relief on Selfia, Ivan, and Jin¡¯s faces. ¡°But you don''t need to be in one piece to be alive.¡± Before anyone could react, Jack reached over, ripping off Ivan''s arm in a display of blood and gore. Ivan screamed, the man''s seemingly permanent grin lost as Jin and Selfia attempted to save him only to be greeted by Ruby who blocked their path. ¡°JACK!¡± Selfia and Jin cried out, both horrified by the gruesome display as Violet landed in front of her sister with the pair rallying to their masters. ¡°Don''t worry, I won''t kill him,¡± Jack said, standing over the moaning man missing his arm. ¡°But I will hurt him.¡± Jack''s golden glare mixed with red fixed on Selfia. ¡°And after, you and I are going to have a more in-depth one on one. And you better pray that I like what I hear.¡± AAS: SEASON 6: CH24: Choice. Standing in Selfia''s office, Jack pursed his lips as Selfia held up and dangled a familiar earring that Ada and Kamila had worn at the gala. Ada was out with Kamila, the two with Leona in a safe house along with Yun, the group with his daughter while Jack had a sit down with the Queen of the Empire. Across from Jack, Ivan, the man clutching his regenerating arm as Tenno laid splayed out on the floor and Jin and Violet stood guard. ¡°The Immutable Shield. Beautiful isn''t it?¡± Selfia said, the once luxurious jewel dim with no ounce of its former luster. ¡°People think it''s a shield, but really they''re sets of earrings. Only five sets were ever made. Crafted after my grandmother''s demise, they exhaust years of accumulated mana to protect from one fatal attack. Anti-Army skills, artifacts, tank rounds. The bearer is immediately filled with rejuvenating power as the crystals exude a mana barrier. Sadly, to keep the craftsmanship a secret, my mother had the woman killed but could you imagine if I had more of these?¡± Selfia took on a forelong look before her blue eyes shifted to Jack. ¡°Is there a point you''re making?¡± Jack asked, his arms crossed. ¡°My point. Is that Ada and Kamila were never in any real danger Jack. You are a valuable asset. I wouldn''t run the risk of permanently alienating you if I could help it.¡± ¡°And that? You don''t think that isn''t alienating me?¡± Jack said, gesturing to the TV screen that displayed the ongoing news from the gala attack and the various attacks occurring across the empire. ¡°Three Hundred dead Selfia. Three hundred lives while this fucker lives.¡± ¡°Bit rude bullying the one armed man,¡± Ivan muttered but quickly shut up as Jack shot him a look. ¡°You aren''t looking at the big picture Jack. Every action I''ve taken has been to clear the obstacles in the way of democracy. With them gone, a power vacuum has emerged, one that I plan on filling. Additionally, I dealt with a traitor,¡± Selfia said as various screens lit up displaying charts, photos, and action plans. ¡°As we speak, documents are being leaked, dissidents are being silenced, and everything is being wrapped up into a nice, little fuck you for the High Table.¡± ¡°Well good for you. How nice,¡± Jack said sarcastically. ¡°Good for everyone,¡± Selfia said before she sighed, a robotic hand pinching the bridge of her nose. ¡°Look. I get that you''re angry. But you have to understand. What was I supposed to do? You would never sign off on this plan.¡± ¡°Plan? It¡¯s fucking chaos out there! Hundreds dead! Some of which include bystanders and innocents!¡± ¡°I did what needed-¡± ¡°NO!¡± Jack yelled, standing in front of the queen. ¡°Don¡¯t justify this act of murder as something that needed to be done. There was a way, a different way, some other path that didn¡¯t include murdering those uninvolved or putting my baby in danger. What if Ada miscarried? What if something happens to my child because of your actions? Dress it up however you want, it still doesn''t hide the fact that you put people in danger.¡± Selfia glared silently at Jack for a moment, ¡°Yes. You¡¯re right. I make no excuses for my actions.¡± ¡°Tch! Tell me something, who else was roped into this? Anyone else I know consulted besides me?¡± Jack said, glancing at Tenno. ¡°No. Tenno was a¡­ recent addition. An unwelcomed tag-along with your friend Kenichi.¡± ¡°Kenichi''s here?!¡± ¡°They arrived last night to pick up the stowaway Ho-sook and discuss trade terms. Leona¡¯s been entertaining them.¡± "Great, just one thing after another," Jack frowned, his focus now on Ivan. What the hell am I supposed to do here?! Jack clenched his jaw. ¡°Great. Fucking great. Do you realize Selfia, the position you''ve put me in?¡± Jack yelled, slamming his fist on the nearby desk and shaking the holograms. ¡°Ivan killed Kenichi''s guardian, MY FRIEND and you-¡± Ivan stood up, his one good arm up. ¡°Ok hold up, if you''re talking about the sword wielder I didn''t kill him. The catborg did that one.¡± ¡°You permanently blinded my friend and took his sister''s arm and leg,¡± Jack hissed. ¡°Held a man I regarded as my father by gunpoint! Forced him to commit suicide!¡± ¡°Right... Yeah. Ok that one''s on me,¡± Ivan relented, sitting back down. ¡°The only reason you''re alive is because your head belongs to someone else,¡± Jack said. ¡°But if you open your mouth again in my presence, I''ll gouge your fucking eyes out.¡± Selfia held a blank expression as Tenno barked out a laugh. ¡°Just¡­¡± Jack sighed. ¡°Tell me, does this help me find my sister? Does this protect those I love?¡±A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Selfia furrowed her brow before locking eyes with Jack. ¡°Yes. I swear it,¡± Selfia lied and of course Jack knew it, sensed it, something more that the queen wasn''t telling him. So thats how it is... Jack said to himself as he made a choice. ¡°Ok¡­ I''ve done everything you''ve asked to this point. Now it''s time for me to cash in,¡± Jack said, standing up. ¡°I want everything. Everything promised. Every guarantee. Give me what was agreed upon or so help me Selfia, there won''t be a bunker on this world that you can hide in that will prevent me from reaching you.¡± Selfia''s jaw clenched, but ultimately, she nodded her head. ¡°Soldiers. Supplies. Weapons. Whatever you need. I''ll have Python deliver everything and get you in the loop.¡± ¡°Ok. I''m sure you have a speech to make, more people to lie to,¡± Jack pointed at Tenno. ¡°Not a word about anything that happened today.¡± ¡°Mum''s the word. See ya Trigger-finger, bye your Majesty,¡± Tenno bowed mockingly. ¡°Today was fun.¡± Jack glared at Ivan. ¡°You aren¡¯t off the hook.¡± As Jack walked out, Ruby stepped from his shadow, the smaller guardian sharing a nod to her sister as they passed. **** Upon entering his room, Jack let out a sigh as he sat on his bed, his head held in the palms of his head. Sahaqiel materialized. ¡°Are you ok Jack?¡± ¡°No. I''m not. I¡­¡± Jack looked at the nearby TV cabinet, eyeing the game station and video games Celeste had forgotten to put away. ¡°How does she do it?¡± ¡°Do what?¡± Sahaqiel asked, wrapping herself around Jack. ¡°Turn off her emotions. Turn her heart cold? I¡­ rationally I understand it. I do. I get it. But¡­¡± ¡°Stop being such a bitch,¡± Lilith quipped much to Sahaqiel¡¯s dismay. ¡°What? This is war. Or have you both forgotten? There''s no time to feel self-doubt or pity. Man the hell up Jack.¡± ¡°You best watch-¡± Sahaqiel began but stopped as Jack raised a hand. ¡°No¡­ she¡¯s right,¡± Jack said, staring at the palms of his hands as they parted away from his face. ¡°I know she¡¯s right. But¡­ knowing what I know¡­ Every time I kill, every time I see someone die. I feel this weight on my chest like there a truck pressing down on me. Like a tiny sliver of my soul is being carved out of me. And every day, I just¡­ I¡¯m scared. Of losing everything. Of their fates becoming like¡­¡± The image of the wilted nest appeared in Jack¡¯s mind, the horrid voices of millions overlapping one another as Jack connected with it. All the people at the gala¡­ the scent of burning flesh¡­ All the people sentenced to death by Selfia¡¯s order. If Ada¡­ A vision of Ada''s face contorted into a nest played, forcing Jack to clench his jaw, his hand clamping over his mouth to muffle the hiccup as tears welled. For Selfia, just another plot, but for Jack. Ada and their unborn child had been placed in danger. Kamila had been in danger. People he cared about had been deliberately placed in harm''s way with Yun and Tyrah losing their lives to snuff out a traitor¡­ "How do I fight death?" Jack whispered. He sat there for a moment, Sahaqiel doing her best to comfort him. ¡°It¡¯s ok to be cold Jack,¡± Sahaqiel offered. ¡°Just not cruel. Remember Jack, remember who and what you¡¯re fighting for. You have purpose. A cause, people you love that are depending on you.¡± Jack blinked, his eyes seeming to lose a bit of light within them. ¡°Right¡­ you''re right. Selfia isn¡¯t above damning herself to get what she wants. And neither are my enemies,¡± Jack let out, his eyes staring at his palms, a still coldness taking him as Lilth smiled from the corner of the room. ¡°So why should I? The Smiling Man. His power. My enemies. Maybe the only way I get what I want is by becoming a monster. To be strong enough to overcome that fate.¡± ¡°Thats. That''s not what I-¡± ¡°If you want. I can help you,¡± Lilith chimed in. Jack narrowed his eyes at the specter. ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°My, so rough. The problem you have is that you¡¯re too empathetic. Too heart in the heart,¡± Lilith said, strolling from across the room to crawl onto Jack¡¯s bed, a slender finger poking at Jack¡¯s chest. ¡°But what if we cut out the emotions?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Jack asked, puzzled. Sahaqiel hugged Jack, the angel glaring at Lilith. ¡°Hush!¡± ¡°What? Don¡¯t you agree? I can suppress your emotional response. Your empathy. Your guilt,¡± Lilith replied, smiling. ¡°I can make you into a remorseless warrior.¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking about altering my personality?¡± ¡°Shut up! Jack don¡¯t listen to her!¡± Sahaqiel barked, glowing gold. ¡°Not alter, suppress. You can still feel, see, and would act normally, you just won¡¯t be such a bitch about everything. If the problem you¡¯re having is your empathy, let''s mute it.¡± Lilith said with Jack¡¯s brow furrowing before he turned to Sahaqiel. ¡°Is that¡­ something she can do?¡± ¡°I¡­ it is. It¡¯s something I can do too. But Jack it would be like altering-¡± ¡°Do it,¡± Jack said, turning to Lilith. ¡°JACK!¡± ¡°Sara¡­ I can¡¯t¡­ I can¡¯t take the guilt. Every time I close my eyes, all I hear are screams. I hear the voices of the nests. The screams of pain. The images of people I¡¯ve failed. Those I¡¯ve lost. I don¡¯t dream. I can¡¯t sleep! Every night is a new nightmare of horrors, and I¡­¡± Jack trailed off, his hand shaking as he grabbed it with his other. ¡°I can¡¯t let my own issues,¡± Jack said, his voice a whisper. ¡°My own weaknesses get in the way of what I need to do. I just want this to be over. Please. I¡¯m so goddamn tired.¡± ¡°But Jack-¡± ¡°Lilith. Do it,¡± At Jack''s command, he felt a sudden weight lift off his heart as his eyes seemed to dim. Suddenly, a knock on the door echoed, followed by Ada poking her head through to spy on the man sitting blankly in the dark. ¡°Tanji?¡± Ada said, walking into the room with a concerned look as she eyed the downtrodden Jack. ¡°Hey honey.¡± Jack said, a slight smile as he reached out to Leona carrying Celeste in her arms as Kamila trailed behind. ¡°Are¡­ are you ok?¡± Ada asked, standing to the side. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m fine,¡± Jack replied, his gaze unfocused. ¡°I¡¯m ok.¡± AAS: SEASON 6: CH25: Will Three Days Later¡­ ¡°But I don¡¯t want to go to school! I don wanna! I wanna stay home!¡± Celeste cried, the girl protesting as Leona grabbed the little girl by her legs and attempted to remove her from the black unmarked car. ¡°Celeste. You need to come out,¡± Jack said, standing outside the grand academy with the sun to his back while Ho-sook hummed absentmindedly. Although she was supposed to be going back home, Kenichi had made the surprising decision to send Ho-sook to the academy. Something Selfia didn''t mind but encouraged. Jack glanced over to the teen. Plus, it didn''t hurt that the teenager was trained as a shinobi. A nimble guard to be by Celeste¡¯s side. ¡°B-b-b-ut! I won''t see you and dad anymore!¡± Celeste cried, making Leona pause. ¡°What? Of course you''ll see us! Now let go! Jeez girl! How do you have such an iron grip?!¡± Leona exclaimed, unknowingly drawing Jack''s fear that Celeste had awakened. ¡°You''re going to be late for school!¡± ¡°Nuh uh! Nu uh! Kamila told me I have to go away for eighteen years! Eighteen!¡± Celeste cried. ¡°I''ll never see you again!¡± ¡°¡°Huh?¡±¡± Jack and Leona let out. Celeste began to cry, drawing the attention of various guards. Fortunately, they were there early, to beat the flood of new kids, parents, and paparazzi that would be arriving within an hour. Of course there had been a few paparazzi around when Jack had arrived, but they were quickly detained by Jack''s guards in the name of national security. ¡°Honey. School lasts for about eighteen years. But it''s only during the day, in the afternoon Auntie Bell and I will pick you up,¡± Leona assured with a smile. ¡°Then you can come home and play with Auntie Ada and Uncle Jin.¡± ¡°R-r-really?¡± ¡°Yup!¡± ¡°You promise?¡± Celeste said, rubbing her eyes and holding out her hand. ¡°Pinky promise. I''ll always be there for you,¡± Leona said, locking her pinky finger with the little girl''s. Jack looked away. ¡°Plus, you''ll get to see Uncle Mi''shka, Auntie Kamila, and Uncle Belfusa everyday! And you''ll make so many new friends!¡± Celeste turned to Jack who was staring off into the distance. ¡°What about Daddy?¡± Jack turned at the little girl tugging on his army uniform pants. ¡°Of course honey. You''ll see me again. But¡­ Daddy has to go away for a while,¡± At the end of Jack''s sentence, Celeste began to cry again, prompting Jack to kneel to bring himself to his daughter''s eye height. ¡°But when I come back, you''ll get to meet your aunt Jill.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Celeste looked at Jack with wide golden eyes, a look of excitement on her face. ¡°Yes. But only as long as you behave,¡± Jack said, ruffling Jill¡¯s- Jack blinked, the image of his baby sister fading away to reveal his daughter''s smiling face. I wonder how old she''d be. Jack''s smile faded as footsteps echoed from behind him. It was time. ¡°Your Majesty,¡± The familiar voice of Madam Hightower said. Jack closed his eyes with a sigh. ¡°Madam Hightower,¡± Jack said, rising to his feet, guiding Celeste in front of him. ¡°It''s been awhile.¡± The middle-aged woman smiled gently, a facade Jack knew all too well from having spent time with her and Selfia. The principal was just as foul-mouthed as the queen she raised. ¡°Yes it has, milord. I was saddened that we could not speak during the grand announcement of the academy,¡± The now gray-haired woman wearing a large white brim hat said. ¡°But¡­ I want you to know¡­ I''m happy to see another one of my students survived.¡± The woman took on a forelong look. ¡°Yes,¡± Jack said, yet the way he said it drew Leona''s eyes. ¡°Please take care of my daughter.¡± ¡°I promise Celeste will be safe under my care. The academy is enchanted top to bottom. Protected by the royal guards and under my structiny. I swear to you, that no harm will befall your daughter and her friend.¡± ¡°Thank you. Madam Hightower. That''s all I can really ask of you,¡± Jack said, eyes taking in the copious amounts guards, hidden Black Hearts, and a stoic Violet herself that was standing at a nearby pillar.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Despite all the fail-safes, guards, and copious security apparatuses, Jack still didn''t feel at ease leaving Celeste. Yet¡­ It was something he had to do. If Celeste was going to be safe. If Ada and everyone else was going to be safe¡­ he had to put an end to those threatening their lives. So, Jack made the most difficult decision he''d ever made. He let his daughter go. At least until his own plans bore fruit. ¡°Go on Celeste, have a good first day of school,¡± Jack said, Celeste taking a step forward but pivoting and hugging Jack. ¡°I''ll miss you daddy,¡± Celeste cried, Jack giving off a small smile. ¡°I''ll miss you too. Now go, be a good girl for Madam Hightower.¡± ¡°O-okay,¡± Celeste said, walking up the stairs of the grand academy with Madam Hightower. ¡°Ho-sook.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± The teen turned. ¡°You know what your job is. If you get into trouble you will be punished.¡± ¡°Yup yup. Don''t worry, I''ll take good care of her!¡± Ho-sook said, shaking her head vigorously before following after Celeste and Madam Hightower. Jack watched them go, standing there well until Celeste was within the walls of the academy. ¡°Are you ok?¡± Leona asked, hand on Jack''s shoulder. ¡°I promise she''ll be safe. She has an entire army protecting her.¡± ¡°I''ll be fine,¡± Jack replied, turning dispassionately and entering into the black sedan where Jessica awaited him as his driver. ¡°Are we done here?¡± Jessica asked, Leona sitting up front. ¡°Yes,¡± Jack replied, adjusting his feather holsters. ¡°But first, bring me to Yun''s and Tyrah¡¯s apartment.¡± Jessica blinked at Jack''s request, staring at him from the rearview mirror but ultimately complied with an ¡°ok.¡± and radio instructions to Jack''s security team. Driving through the city, Jack eyed the grand structures, thinking back on his life when he was forced to take public transit and walk everywhere. Now he had his own security, a child, chauffeur, and a stack of scattered last wills and testaments from Yun, Tyrah, and even¡­ Leslie. Traitor as she were. Yet.. despite all that, he felt¡­ hollow. An effect of Lilith''s tampering? Maybe. But the sense of dread that always accompanied his every movement was gone and so too was the guilt and remorse. Overall, Jack couldn''t complain. In fact, he felt... eager? ¡°We''re here,¡± Jessica said, parking the car outside of a two story beign colored house on the edge of the city. Jack stepped out the car, walking past a group of Black Rose guards who had locked the area down to pick apart every bit of Leslie''s life. ¡°Entspannt,¡± Jack said in Imperial, approaching two Black Roses outside of the apartment entrance that snapped to attention. ¡°Woanders hin gehen¡­ verstanden?¡± The two blonde women shared a glance, hesitating before both clicked the heels of their boots. ¡°¡±¡°Jawohl!¡±¡± The two walked off, allowing Jack entry into Yun''s home. Entering, Jack''s ears picked up the sound of a TV, voices of some talk show host speaking about the last few days of which were being labeled the Day of Decimation. ¡°Reports of the actions undertaken by Roland''s High Table continue to flood in. From the Attack on Frelia, to the experimental facilities where kidnapped -¡± Jack turned the TV off. Sweeping his eyes over the apartment floor, Jack eyed the sparse furnishings. Mostly pink couches and dozens of throw pillows and blankets. A place more akin to a storage unit than a home. ¡°There isn''t much here,¡± Jessica said, standing behind Jack as he stared at a game system. ¡°We seldom got to stay here between missions. But when we did we usually just napped. Tyrah liked to play video games and watch movies though.¡± Jack walked around, no goal in mind but to observe the place his allies once lived. At least until he came to a hallway filled with picture frames. ¡°Yun liked to paint and draw, so¡­ there''s a lot of drawings hung up,¡± Jessica explained as Jack eyed a fierce drawing of a bonebat with wings outstretched that hung on a wall beside a drawing of a Slicer breaking into a bunker. ¡°Ah, that one was to remember -¡± ¡°Gamma Station,¡± Jack said, his fingers tracing the image as he remembered the monster that had taken Yun¡¯s leg. If I had the power then that I have now. Maybe no one would have suffered. ¡°Take me to Yun''s and Tyrah''s room,¡± Jack ordered, Jessica complying and leading Jack upstairs. ¡°Leslie''s room is across. I have the master room down the hall,¡± Jessica said as Jack entered Yun¡¯s and Tyrah''s room that was filled with posters, art supplies, and plastic model toys. On a nearby wall however, was a series of photos of the room, a documentation from the investigation team to keep everything tidy. Even the TV downstairs has been left on as part of the investigation. Then, Jack spotted it, what he was searching for. A plastic container filled with hay and two rodents running on wheels. Hamburger and Hamtaro. Just as Yun¡¯s will had reported. Two robo-dwarf hamsters. Jack picked up the container, the two furry golden-haired creatures burrowing into the hay to hide. ¡°Are you¡­ sure?¡± Jessica asked. ¡°A parting gift for Celeste. Yun wanted them to be taken care of. So it''s the least I can do,¡± Jack said, walking into the hallway and pausing in front of Leslie''s room. He didn''t dislike the woman. But he didn''t¡­ hate her either. He could still recall the terrified look in her eyes when she handed him a grenade back at Gamma station. Still remember her words telling him that she had been saving it for herself so she wouldn''t be ripped apart by monsters. An act of mercy on her behalf. To spare Jack who was riding out on a suicide mission to distract the monsters. Had that all been lie? No. Even as little as he knew of the women, one thing has been for certain. The fear had been real. She hadn''t wanted to die so then¡­ why? Why did she sabotage gamma station? Why did she spend all this time being a mole? What compelled her to betray those she had fought alongside for so long? Jack entered Leslie''s room in hope of understanding. Neat. Tidy. Two words that came to Jack''s mind. Although there were signs of items being shifted, ultimately the place was as spotless as the photo that hung on the wall. Then, Jack spotted the primary reason for his visit. A leather bound journal that sat upon a nightstand beside Leslie''s tiny bed draped with a weighted blanket. ¡°The Queen has the full copy digitized. You''re free to take it,¡± Captain Helena Belfusa said, entering the room to keep an eye on Jack. ¡°I''m aware Captain,¡± Jack replied, holding the journal in his hands, his brow furrowed as he reviewed the contents. AAS: SEASON 6: CH26: Welcome to The Theocracy Jack closed the journal in his hands, taking a breath as he sat in the g¨¹rteltier-class dropship''s rumbling gunmetal interior. Across from him, Python sat, chewing on a daylilly leaf as usual. To his right, Lieutenant Jessica Ashfield, and at the far end beside the cockpit, Tangerine and a frozen stiff Yukino, along with six helmeted awakened all clad in white-colored suits of armor. Yukino had been a last minute tag-along, a new addition to fill in a need for a team medic outside of Jack. Trained as a hoshido shinobi, the pink-haired woman was a valuable asset for the infiltration mission at hand. Of course, she wasn¡¯t a soldier, so she wasn¡¯t given any rank. Instead, Yukino was an attache-specialist, a guest of the queen to assist Fireteam Majestic in this operation. He hadn''t wanted to bring her but she was eager to help and Ada wanted someone she knew close to him. Simultaneously, his team included a Mechframe, Damocles and her pilot, Tangerine who seemed to have mellowed out a bit since last Jack saw him. Still, that didn¡¯t mean the teenager had forgiven Jack, but, at this time, Jack didn¡¯t really care. The mission came first. Jack¡¯s team would be assaulting a facility in the capital of the Theocracy. One headed by a High Table member known as the Green Bishop, aka, the Pope of the Holy Nation, and the man who had created Lilith and now the de facto leader of what remained of the monster-infested state. Of course, they wouldn¡¯t be going it alone. Attacking the heavily fortified heart of the papal nation would be suicide even with a full army backing him. Instead, Majestic team¡¯s goal was to link up with a group known as the Reclaimers, a military faction of partisans, rebels, and paladins headed by none other than Lord-Commander Lita von Strongarm. Once there, they would formulate a plan of infiltration, attacking the hidden facility as a decapitation strike to remove the head of state with Lita and her group replacing what remained of their government. That was the plan anyway. Simple. So long as they succeeded. ¡°Hey.¡± Jack looked up at Python, the latter eyeing Jack up and down. ¡°You ok?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Jack replied to the narrow-eyed man. ¡°You?¡± ¡°Could be better. Can¡¯t say I¡¯m too thrilled being back in a dropship flying over winter mountains,¡± Python smirked, ¡°But, it¡¯s just like old times. I¡¯m happy you''re here though.¡± ¡°Yup.. just like old times,¡± Jack murmured, turning his head to look out the port window that showed nothing but white. But it won¡¯t be the same as last time. Suddenly, Python moved, sitting beside Jack. ¡°Hey, lad¡­¡± Python said, addressing Jack informally in a whisper. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re ok?¡± ¡°I am,¡± Jack replied, noticing everyone that several of the commando¡¯s helmets faced him slightly. ¡°Just focusing on the mission.¡± ¡°Right. The mission. Sure it doesn¡¯t have anything to do with that journal?¡± Python pressed. ¡°You¡¯ve been glaring the entire trip.¡± ¡°Like I said, I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Look, I-¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine Colonel. Drop it,¡± Jack ordered coldly, his golden eyes flashing a hint of red. Python¡¯s eye twitched, a moment passing in silence before he rolled his jaw. ¡°Yes, sir. Sorry, I asked.¡± Jack and the rest of the crew sat in silence, not much said besides the occasional clearing of throats. At least, on the surface. Jack could tell the members of Majestic were talking, their voices inaudible to him thanks to their squad VC that linked their helmets, Of course, Jack could always tune into it and override their private channel to listen in, but he refrained, allowing them their peace. From aways, Jessica occasionally glanced at Jack, but neither had spoken since he visited her shared apartment. Should I say something? She had skipped Yun¡¯s and Tyrah''s funeral to be on this mission, yet try as he might, Jack didn¡¯t know what to say to the woman.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Sahaqiel had nothing to add, so, he remained silent, instead opening the journal again to read Leslie''s diary. *BZZT* An orange light turned on, illuminating the interior of the dropship. ¡°Ten minutes out to drop site Golf!¡± The pilot called out over the intercom. Jack exhaled, standing up as the flight chief called everyone to collect their gear and rise with the rear door of the dropship opening and allowing cold night mountain air to flood into the vessel¡¯s interior. Standing up, Jack noticed Yukino still remained seated, the woman wide-eyed while others hooked up to the chute line. ¡°Come on Yukino, it¡¯s time,¡± Jack said, the overhead light flashing from orange to yellow. ¡°Y-y-yup! Just give me a moment!¡± Yukino let out, looking out the window at passing mountains. ¡°This is uh¡­ very high up.¡± Yukino¡¯s behavior was very reminiscent of Mai¡¯s, a similarity that pulled at Jack¡¯s heart, but he ultimately ignored it. A part of Jack wanted to tell her of Ivan, to let her know that her revenge would soon be at hand. But¡­ he couldn¡¯t. Not yet. The location of the Green Bishop had been provided by Ivan, along with intelligence on the Gold Queen and Red Rook whereabouts. Vital information that would be useful in battling the Black King¡¯s goals. So far, she seemed to be back to her old self, although, if Jack had to guess, it was only a facade. One that would collapse if the truth came out now. So¡­ Jack said nothing. He had his list now. All those he would have to kill to protect what he loved. And he wouldn''t have had it without Ivan''s help. Jack, could only hope that when the time came, Yukino would understand. ¡°Didn''t you go through the paradrop course?¡± Jack asked, placing a hand on the woman as Python checked his parachute. Yukino''s face twisted. ¡°IT WAS A THIRTY MINUTE LECTURE FOLLOWED BY THROWING ME OFF OF THE PALACE ROOF WITH A PARACHUTE!!¡± Yukino protested, clutching her duffle bag filled with gear. ¡°This hardly compares!¡± ¡°... That''s fair.¡± Jack said as the light above flashed three times. ¡°Alright, grab onto me.¡± ¡°Kay, just give me a sec,¡± Yukino said, grabbing Jack with a chuckle. ¡°Not how I expected the circumstances to be to get you to hold me.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Yukino said as Jack hugged the woman from behind and she put on her wrap-around helmet commonly used by all members of the airborne. ¡°Are you sure you can carry me and all this bag of¡­ cans?¡± ¡°Are you forgetting I can fly?¡± Jack said. ¡°No, I just don''t wanna plummet to me death in case there''s a weight limit. J-just so you know! I''m not fat it''s just my cybernetics!¡± Jack rolled his eyes. ¡°Hook up!¡± The flight chief barked, signaling everyone to fasten their chute openers to the line above. ¡°Prepare to jump!¡± ¡°Your helmet,¡± Python said, handing Jack a helmet as the light turned green and he donned his own helmet. ¡°See ya on the other side.¡± ¡°We are green! Drop! Drop! Drop!¡± One by one, Majestic team cast off, the awakened leaping out of the aircraft with Jessica leading the way. When it was Jack and Yukino¡¯s turn, the latter tensed up, the woman making a slight muffled sound with her cybernetics twitching. ¡°Let''s go.¡± Jack stepped to the edge and unfurled his feathers, the silver plates overlapping upon one another to create majestic wings that hung off his white armor. ¡°Oh, this is gonna suUUUUUUUCK!¡± Yukino screamed, eyes closed as Jack leapt, the pair plummeting into the snowy mountains below. ¡°NoNONONONONONONONonononOnononononononononoNONO-Nnno no?¡± Yukino trailed off, opening her eyes. ¡°Are you done?¡± Jack asked, standing upon a snowy plain with the woman in his arms. ¡°Pfft, that was it? Jeez see? No sweat. EZ PZ! No SweA-T¡± Yuki let out before Jack dropped her into the snow. ¡°Hey! I¡¯m a delicate flower here!¡± ¡°Yeah yeah, get up, we¡¯ve got to head to the rally point and meet up with the others,¡± Jack said, walking off with Yuki¡¯s duffle bag as he sent Sahaqiel ahead. ¡°WHY ARE YOU SO MEAN TO ME!¡± ***** After walking for an hour, Jack and Yukino eventually spotted the Damocles, the GEN-5 MECHFrame kitted out in white reactive camo. ¡°About time you made it,¡± Python said, the man sitting beside a pot of stew alongside the rest of the taskforce taking a moment to eat before they shuffled on. ¡°Is this everyone?¡± Jack asked, eyeing the group of blonde women under his command and Jessica who was stirring the pot. ¡°Eleven by eleven. We''re all accounted for.¡± Python reported. ¡°Good. We''re at RV Fox now, we need to get to RV Delta by night to meet up with the paladins. We''re a little behind on our time table so I want us packed up and on the move in five,¡± Jack said, tapping on his gauntlet that pulled up a holographic map of the nearby area. From their position, they were fifteen miles out from the next RV point, the next spot where they would meet up with the partisans before heading out to Lita¡¯s hideout located in the ruins of a theocratic city. A countermeasure to mask their presence within the Theocracy. The commandos quickly broke down their camp, moving in concert and filing out as the snow began to pick up. As the light snow turned into a heavy blanket, Jack raised his hand, the wind moving to displace the falling white away from the strike team. ¡°How much further until we''re at the next checkpoint?¡± Yukino huffed, her voice clearly audible on the TEAMCOM thanks to her helmet. ¡°Ten miles,¡± Jack replied. ¡°Uuugh.¡± ¡°Jack.¡± Sahaqiel reported, the angel above the group. ¡°Rithorns.¡± Jack blinked, putting a hand up to stop the group. How many? ¡°Fifteen. There''s also a nest agent with them.¡± ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Jessica asked, shouldering her rifle. ¡°Rithorns and a nest agent.¡± Jack relayed, the group tensing up. Rithorns were monster¡¯s indigenous to the mountain region and part of the reason no one ever visited the mountains. The creatures were a combination of an old Earth snow leopard mixed with a porcupine and a turtle. It had the face of a prehistoric sabertooth, coat of a snow leopard, a turtle shell decorated with poisonous quills and a torso that ended with a long stringy tail adorned with spikes. Dangerous in their own right, they were made more so threatening by the presence of a nest agent. In the past, Jack would have avoided the threat, but¡­ Jack had come a long way since his time on the Frelia mountains and now, it was time to shake off a bit of rust before the main course. AAS: SEASON 6: CH27: Lita Von Strongarm Jack willed his feathers into a spear, his eyes narrowed as Jessica and the rest of the commando''s took up firing positions. ¡°Lad, are you sure about this?¡± Python asked worriedly. ¡°A drawn out battle might attract unwanted attention.¡± ¡°If we don''t deal with them now, they may become a problem in the future. Trust me, this won''t be drawn out,¡± Jack replied, activating energize and lightning imbue, his body radiating with sparks that intertwined with the lightning now coursing through his feathered spear. Python winced, taking a step back as the lightning turned brackish, the man before him releasing black arcs that made the hairs of the commando''s stand on end. ¡°Well, that''s got their attention,¡± Sahaqiel commented, the Nest Agent in the distance rearing its bird-like head towards the influx of energy. The Nest Agent roared, releasing its scream that stung Jack''s ears. Jack scowled, twirling his weapon, the feathered pole trailing sparks as its wielder aimed it at the screaming bird face. ¡°Die.¡± With a thunderous boom, the spear flew, a surge of thunder snapping through the snowy mountain as the weapon shot a hole clean through the abomination. Python went wide-eyed, even Yukino gasped as the commandos eyed each other through their helmets. Immediately the Rithorns roared, the porcupine chimeras charging through the snow. ¡°Get ready!¡± Python barked, his body glowing with mana. Nonchalantly, Jack flicked his wrist, the feathered spear breaking apart and returning a hundred feathers his way. Consequently, this attack struck the charging rithorns, the monsters freezing up as lightning conducted through them, chaining and intensifying the attack until every monster was but charred corpses. Jack lowered his hand, his feathers returning before turning on the commandos. ¡°Shall we?¡± Jack said, stepping forward with a few of the commandos wondering why they were even here. ¡°Jack,¡± Sahaqiel said, materializing beside a mostly intact rithorns corpse as his group passed. ¡°Why don''t you try siphoning this one?¡± Jack turned, Yukino and Jessica eyeing him as he broke away from the group to pick up the monster carcass. ¡°You going to eat that?¡± Python asked with Jack shaking his head with a chuckle. ¡°No, I''ve got plans for it.¡± After two hours of walking, Jack and the others finally paused, stopping to make camp within a cave as they waited for the Theocracy Partisans to find them. ¡°Ugh. Finnnally,¡± Yukino let out, dropping her bag and removing her helmet, the woman slumping onto the nearby wall as the other commandos set up the cave. ¡°Lieutenant Ashfied,¡± Python called out. ¡°I want sentries and rotating patrols. Determine fire watch and have the Damocles-¡± ¡°That won''t be necessary. I have a three-sixty view of our location.¡± Jack said, placing the monster corpse at his feet as Sahaqiel hovered above the cave. ¡°Let them rest for now.¡± Python blinked, taking a moment before nodding his head. ¡°Right, your friend. Well then, you hear your king. I want everyone to take a moment and rest. Eat. Relieve yourselves. We don''t know when we''ll get another chance.¡± Sitting down to rest his legs, Jack eyed Tangerine, the boy standing in the cold beside his camouflaged mech. The only one not bothering to eat, sleep, or rest. Jack again wanted to reach out, to talk to the teen mech pilot, but ultimately he reached down, activating Gehenna on the monster corpse. Lilith. ¡°What?¡± The black specter replied as Jack siphoned the monster. Tell me more about the Green Bishop. What can I expect? A moment passed before the spirit showed herself, the black-winged being sitting across from Jack. ¡°He''s evil,¡± Lilith said, her feelings of bloodlust coursing through Jack''s veins. ¡°A thing that wears the skin of a human while spouting about the glory of mankind. I don''t know what his abilities are, or what he''s fully capable of, but¡­ if you have an opportunity to kill that son of a bitch¡­ take it.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. I''ll keep that in mind, Jack replied, recounting Lilith''s memories in the facility. [Monster, Rithorn Drained] [Drain Efficiency]+5% for C-grade creatures and below. [Absorption] +1 [Skill Check for obtaining skill¡­ Success! Skill! Harden LvL 1, Obtained!] [Harden LvL 1: Use mana to condense your skin cells, strengthening them against sharp and piercing blows.] Jack blinked at the notification and new skill, a skill that allowed him to hardened his body at the cost of mana. ¡°Interesting,¡± Jack let out, a bit happy at the selection< unaware that the others were staring at him and the now dessicated monster corpse at his feet. ¡°Did I do good or did I do good?¡± Sahaqiel said, the angel laying on his lap. Yeah, you did. Wish I had a skill similar to this a lot sooner. Jack responded, smiling. A few hours passed before Sahaqiel notified Jack of movement, small shuffling squares of white. ¡°They¡¯re here,¡± Jack called out, alerting his team. Walking out of the cave, Jack waved in the direction of the partisans. The Theocracy rebels removing their camouflage blankets as they''d clearly been spotted. Jack eyed the partisans, a hodgepodge of soldiers in mismatched bits of Templar armor and furs. Equipped with Fiddler SMG-12s, and Fuscilla-92 shotguns, the weapons used by the partisans were all urban warfare gear, nothing suitable for long range. Something Jack took note. Out of the snow, an armored woman covered head to toe in gold and white armor emerged, walking with the gait of a seasoned warrior. The helmet¡¯s mechanisms peeled away the visor as the knight drew close, revealing a familiar face in the form of Lita von Strongarm, the blonde woman¡¯s features sharper than Jack remembered. Jack walked forward intending to shake the woman''s hand, however, in a twist, the knight kneeled. ¡°Lumenese. Colonel Est, it is with great honor that I welcome thee to the Theocracy.¡± Lita said, the paladin kneeling alongside her soldiers. Lumenese¡­ thats what she called Selfia back at the academy¡­ Jack said to himself, realizing the honorific was because she was aware of Selfia¡¯s identity the entire time. Jack cast it to the back of his mind as just another thing Selfia hadn¡¯t told him. ¡°On your feet Lita,¡± Jack instructed, helping the paladin up. ¡°You¡¯ll never have to bow to me, it''s not something I''m comfortable with, especially from a friend.¡± ¡°You are too kind, your Grace,¡± Lita replied, the blue-eyed blonde rising with her gaze fixed on the Damocles behind Jack. ¡°Please, if you would, follow thy companions. There is much to do.¡± *** Trudging through the snow, Jack''s party eventually reached the outskirts of a ruined village covered in snow. The first thing Jack noticed was the lack of defensive fortifications. No walls, battlements, litany of cannons, or mobile homes. A completely exposed village of destroyed shacks and ruins, a far cry from the settlements of the Imperium and Alliance. Littered around the village, Jack could make out numerous mounds studded with dull gemstones. Deactivated War Golems from the looks of it. Jack had read the reports about the frigid winters of the Theocracy, the cold landscape that served as a harsh counter to many monsters that roamed the surface. But with their numerous awakened, and magecraft, the Templars had managed to keep the demonspawn in check thanks to their extremely specialized brand of awakened. You either controlled a golem, became a healer, or fought on the frontline as a Paladin. There were also the Judicators as well, an uncommon class within the Templar ranks that were more akin to Imperial Black Hearts and Black Rose. However, unlike the two groups, the Judicators served as both inquisitor and Special forces, using skills not seen by their other papal soldiers. The Jester of the High Table had been a judicator, and apparently so had the Green Bishop. ¡°This way,¡± Lita instructed, leading the team to a frozen river. Following the trail, the commandos and Jack eventually came to a large sewer well, one big enough to fit a truck, or in Jack''s case, a MECHFrame if it crawled. ¡°This pipe leads into the old city waterways. Your Battle Chariot will have to crawl if it wants to follow.¡± Python signaled to Tangerine and The Damocles, the MECHFrame crouching down and going into a low crawl. ¡°From the reports, I was led to believe the entire Theocracy was overrun with monsters,¡± Python said, voicing a thought Jack had. ¡°The infestation is mostly centered around our city centers and borders,¡± Lita explained as one of her partisans activated a lighting spell for the party to navigate the tunnel. ¡°When Hugo Fritz activated the bombs to escape our Judicators, most of our strategic bastions were eliminated, including the bulk of our armed forces being converted into night terrors.¡± Hugo Fritz, the Green Bishop¡¯s name. ¡°Your¡­ Judicators?¡± Jack asked, the conversation taking his interest. ¡°Your government attempted to arrest him?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lita replied, leading the group into a frigid catacomb of pipes ¡°Before his death, Cardinal Veltrilli had tasked a group of Judicators to investigate Mr. Fritz. There were¡­ concerns about his experiments and obsession with souls. When the Judicators had discovered what he was really up to and a part of, it was already too late.¡± ¡°The bombs.¡± Python said. ¡°His creation. We lost seventy-percent of our total population during his attack. Anyone that was left was forced to bend the knee or face execution by his Neo-Crusaders.¡± Lita explained. ¡°Except you didn''t,¡± Jessica chimed in. ¡°That''s very commendable.¡± ¡°Of course. As a Judicator in training, I was sent to the Imperium to illicit aid on the behest of Cardinal Veltrilli.¡± ¡°So, that''s why you were at the academy,¡± Jack said, putting two and two together. ¡°Yes, your Grace, forgive my deception,¡± Lita said. ¡°Lumenese Selfia heard my proposal and promised me aid, of course. Through my time with her, I discovered the nature of the threat Mr. Fritz truly posed and the organization he was a part of.¡± ¡°I''m sorry that it''s taking us so long to honor our agreement,¡± Python said. ¡°With the war-¡± ¡°What matters is that you''re here now,¡± Lita said, cutting the colonel off. ¡°With your help, we shall cut the head of this Hydra and put to rest the victims he has claimed.¡± Within Jack, Lilith stirred, the specter resonating with Lita''s words. ¡°We''re here you''re Grace.¡± Lita said, pausing at the exit of a pipe. Jack narrowed his eyes, walking forward towards the light, his mouth going slightly ajar as he stared at a junktown metropolis built into sewer lines. But, perhaps more than that, was the monument at the center of the refugee camp that took Jack''s attention, a marble statue of a woman in prayer, her wings unfurled to cast a shadow over the town. A statue that was, of Sahaqiel of all things. AAS: SEASON 6: CH28: Battle Plans. Jack cocked his head to the side, his eyes staring at the human-sized statue of Sahaqiel. Even at a distance, he could tell what it was, WHO it was with a sense of comfort emitting from it. ¡°Is that¡­¡± Jack trailed off, blinking repeatedly, unable to process what lay before him. ¡°The statue of our patron Saint, Saint Citri, founder of the Theocracy,¡± Lita added, misinterpreting Jack''s confusion. ¡°Not many outsiders have been bestowed with the grace of bearing witness to our maiden. Thanks to her presence, demonspawn have limited power when attacking the city. But the traitors know we have the statue of her holiness, and have been scouring the city ways in search of her.¡± Sara¡­ is there anything you want to tell me? ¡°I-no? I don''t know! Why should I know why there''s a statue of me down here?!¡± Sahaqiel replied, the angel flustered as she tried to make heads or tails of why there was a statue of her likeness. Jack asked Lilith, but the specter held no reply, in fact, the more he drew closer to the statue, the more fatigue he felt. Almost as if there were a dampening effect on him. But why? Jack frowned, remembering the words of the avatar of the Nest Heart that had called him a.... deviant. Led through the shanty town, Jack eyed the partisans that stared through windows, leaned over rickety bridges, and tracked the commando team and their MECHFrame as they passed. With fair skin with blonde hair and clothed in rags ill suited to the weather, Jack noted that they all had blue eyes, however¡­ that wasn¡¯t what caught Jack¡¯s attention. ¡°Jack¡­¡± I know. They¡¯re all awakened.... Jack replied to Sahaqiel, his brow furrowing beneath his helmet. Every person Jack came across he saw red and orange cores, his eyes picking up the abundance of energy that flowed through the air. Albeit weak, every person here was the equivalent of a low ranking mage officer. But how? And why? There were too many here for it to be a natural phenomenon. At least, Jack thought so. The empire had one awakened per hundred thousand citizens while the Alliance had even less than that, yet here¡­ there were hundreds of them. ¡°So the statue keeps the demonspawn at bay? How does that work?¡± Jack asked. ¡°The grace of Lady Citri shields us,¡± Lita replied, ¡°Through her blessing we are kept safe through the channeling of her will, her presence alone flows through the city with the outer edges of our walls being the barrier to where here divine protection ends.¡± Jack eyed the statue above, the woman locked in prayer. Must be why I feel lethargic, Sar- ¡°I''m sure! I have NO idea why they''re worshipping me!¡± ¡°I''m freezing,¡± Yukino complained with Jack noticing how lightly clothed the partisans were. Must be cold resistance. ¡°There''s a lot more than I thought¡­¡± One of the commandos commented, using the TEAMCOM feature of their helmet to remain anonymous to the outside world. ¡°Creepy. Look at their soulless blue eyes,¡± Another commando said. ¡°Cut the chatter Majestic,¡± Jessica cut in, silencing the group as they were led towards the base of the statue where a chapel lay beneath its massive six wings. Around the ice-covered church, armed paladins and Templars, along with black-robed clergy women brandishing submachine guns and staffs. ¡°Ynell,¡± A priestess said, the group of battle-nuns stepping forward. Lita paused, halting Jack and his party of commandos. ¡°Your team will have to wait out here,¡± Lita said, addressing Jack. ¡°Only your lumenese and followers of our Church may enter our sacred grounds whilst prayer is in secession.¡± At this, Jessica stepped forward, the woman attempting to say something but was stopped by Python. Jack didn''t get how prayer was so important considering the circumstances but he held his tongue, electing to say nothing in the face of a foreign culture.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Understood. We''ll wait outside,¡± Python said, signaling the team. ¡°Thank you Colonel. Sister Vere will show you to your accommodations.¡± Yukino cocked her head sideways at Jack, but ultimately went as the latter nodded. ¡°This way sir,¡± Lita said, the nuns parting ways for Jack to enter their humble church through the wooden doors. Within the abbey of rustic wood, there was a congregation in mass, a man in white papal robes speaking to the crowd in the language of the Theocracists. ¡°This way,¡± Lita instructed with Jack following behind into a nearby room that was covered in electronics. A far cry from how the rest of the settlement appeared. Inside, armored men and women, Templars with their golden trim platemail who gave Jack a sideways glance as they talked over a hologram of a city. ¡°Good. He''s arrived,¡± A woman wearing blue and black robes said, walking across the room to shake Jack''s hand, her features as cold as the ice that chilled the air. ¡°Welcome to the Theocracy, King Bell, I am-¡± ¡°Superbia...¡± Jack said, the woman''s name out his mouth before he realized it. The blue-eyed blue-haired woman paused, staring at Jack as he took his helmet off, his golden eyes glaring with tinges of red. "I''m sorry, have we met?" ¡°No, not in person, but I know of you,¡± Jack said, the woman raising a brow. ¡°Frelia. I stood on the battlements as you casted your Anti-Army skill at our walls.¡± The woman blinked, taken aback, her eyes casting downward to lock on the hand that firmly held hers. A stillness settled within the chamber, all eyes focused on Jack with two templars moving slowly to flank Jack, perhaps on instinct as they felt the subtle shift of mana. ¡°I see. You were responsible for the mountain massacre¡­¡± ¡°I was,¡± Jack replied, the pair of Templars in the back sharing glanced at one another. ¡°Well... a lot of mistakes were made that day,¡± Superbia said, Jack''s eyes taking in the woman''s purple core. ¡°Mistakes¡­ Right¡­¡± Jack replied, releasing the woman''s hand. ¡°Alot of good people died. Children too¡­ but that''s not why we''re here. Fill me in on the assault plan.¡± ¡°Paladin Velmont,¡± Superbia said, turning to a man in white trim, the paladin shifting the hologram. ¡°The battle plan.¡± ¡°Of course Lady Superbia,¡± Paladin Velmont said, the man''s voice gruff as he shifted the hologram to a bird''s eye view. "The Veneer Chapel and Sindel Underground stand with us. Boosting our numbers to roughly three thousand." Three thousand? That''s a lot more support than I thought. Jack thought to himself. ¡°What of the Carja Clan?¡± Superbia asked. ¡°We sent scouts, but¡­ their enclave no longer exists,¡± Velmont said before zooming the hologram out. ¡°We are three thousand verses a force of fifty thousand papal guards.¡± Jack frowned, ¡°Those are extreme odds. I can try to contact Sefian command for more backup, maybe send a cruiser.¡± ¡°No. Our mission isn''t conquest, but decapitation,¡± Lita cut in, beckoning Velmont to shift the hologram to what appeared to be factories. ¡°The Holy City festers the factories used to create the antegent that once rained on Frelia to create monsters. Our objectives here are to remove the so-called Green Bishop and shut down his science facilities.¡± ¡°And a large-scale imperial incursion over our border would immediately sound the alarm,¡± Superbia added before Lita stood beside Jack. "We will have to hit them first before any more imperial reinforcements arrive less we sacrifice our element of surprise." "That will be alot of causalities," Jack replied, taking in the mobilization plans. ¡°Whatever the cost, we will pay to remove this snake and to rectify the sins of the past,¡± Lita said. Jack sighed. The paladins were right, they had the element of surprise, but the losses¡­ ¡°I understand. What''s our battle plan here exactly?¡± Jack asked, pointing at the facility deep within the Holy City where their target lay. ¡°Many of our cities have large sewer pathways, leftovers from the old Bunker cities during the Collapse. Usually these pathways are manned by papal guards, however, what the Green Bishop doesn''t realize is that we''ve replaced his people with our own,¡± Superbia said, tapping at the hologram to move the image, ¡°These sewer entrances are our way for our main forces to navigate the city. Once in, we''ll infiltrate and push to the Papal Citadel and hold a defensive line there while launching simultaneous attacks.¡± ¡°What about their air support? Titan class enemies? Anti-air? Anti-army?¡± Jack asked. ¡°Our saboteurs will take care of their anti-air. When we begin the assault, we''ve got a squadron of bombers that will take out their hangers. For Anti-Army, I will handle that while our Titans classes battle against theirs,¡± Superbia explained. "Although outnumbered, you fight beside the Theocracy''s elite, you will not find our warriors wanting for capability." ¡°So what happens after we kill the Green Bishop?¡± Jack asked, furrowing his brow. ¡°Selfia has promised a King Raven as standby support but against fifty thousand, I doubt it will draw the battle to a conclusion. Then theres the problem of the Roland soldiers that control the border who may decide to join the fight. Honestly, I can''t help but to think I''m throwing you all into a slaughter just to kill one man.¡± ¡°The Papal council room houses a nationwide broadcasting unit. Once we breach it, we''ll bring to light the horrors perpetuated by the Green Bishop, once word of our revolt spreads, others shall join thy cause,¡± Lita said resolutely. ¡°And? What if they don''t take? What if they don''t care?¡± Jack said. ¡°Then we fight,¡± Superbia said, ¡°However many of the Templars that stand with Hugo only do so out of self preservation and hunger. Once we remove their leadership, the rest will crumble.¡± ¡°Ok, so this brings me to my next question, who are their commanders then?¡± Jack asked. ¡°Lady Matoya Cerda and Lord Jeremiah Fi,¡± Superbia replied. ¡°You need not worry about them, we will handle our own. The only thing you need to do is focus on the false bishop and carve us a path to victory.¡± The hologram changed, showing the schematics of the Green Bishop''s facility. ¡°Right,¡± Jack said, clapping his hands together. ¡°I''ll take this to my team. I assume you have your forces ready?¡± ¡°On standby milord. We''re prepared to move tomorrow,¡± Paladin Velmont said, Lita handing Jack an intellipad with the schematics and action plan. Short notice, but Jack could work with this. ¡°Good,¡± Jack said, furrowing his brow as he took the intellipad. "Then get some rest. I have an amendment to make to the plan before we hunt our quarry." AAS: SEASON 6: CH28.5: Adjustment ¡°I give my all for the glory of humanity,¡± -From the diary Jena Leslie. ****** Underneath the light of a mote of mana, Jack reviewed the layout of the city via a large paper map. ¡°So? What do you think?¡± Python asked, twirling a daylily leaf in his mouth. ¡°I think¡­ I don''t have enough experience with managing large scale warfare,¡± Jack replied, ¡°But I do know we''re severely outnumbered. We aren''t going to take this city without additional reinforcements.¡± ¡°So? Whats your plan?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Jack frowned, wishing that Ieyasu or Selfia were here to do the planning instead, ¡°I can probably call down a hurricane and wipe out the city center?¡± ¡°There''s still civilians gathered there,¡± Python said, pointing at buildings on the map, ¡°You use an anti-army skill there you''ll wipe out a bunch of civilians.¡± ¡°We''ll be wiping them out anyway when we launch our assault,¡± Jack sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. ¡°Do the paladins have any plans for civilian evacuations?¡± ¡°None, not that I''ve heard. The resistance is going all in. This attack is just for us to launch our decapitation strike, truth be told, what happens to them isn''t our problem, we''re only here for the Green Bishop,¡± Python said, tapping the image of Hugo Fritz that lay at the center of the map. Jack turned to the man, while on paper, using the paladins to bear the brunt of an attack rather than Imperials seemed logical, however, it didn¡¯t sit well with Jack who suddenly felt a sense of a kindred spirit with the soldiers being used by Selfia. ¡°So that''s it then? We use them and then throw them away?¡± ¡°Its-¡± ¡°What? It''s what? These are our allies, Python. What the hell happened to the man I knew who hated the Empire? Who hated the way they wasted lives? If we sacrifice them how are we going to convince others to join our fight?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that simple, if we call in imperial reinforcements it''ll draw troops away from the frontline and that sort of action draws eyes.¡± ¡°Python, I was promised soldiers. An army. The more I look at this, the less I like. We are up against an army of fifty thousand. What happens when we kill the Green Bishop? What happens to the city? The people? How are we going to escape the chaos? Every bit of this plan seems sour to me.¡± Jack and Python hung in silence for a moment. The pair staring at each other''s eyes with Jack frowning as something seemed to intrude his mind. It was slight, a faint echo,but looking into Python''s eyes the world Pylon crossed Jack''s mind. ¡°If I call Selfia for additional support, if we do this, there''s a high possibility we''ll be fighting Roland soldiers as well. Adding fuel to the fire, this could turn into a protracted battle, alerting the High Table of our efforts.¡± ¡°Better to fight with air support than none at all,¡± Jack said, staring at Python. ¡°Look, I don''t like the Theocracy either. But I know their value and they''re our allies. We can''t sacrifice them and all hope for the North, otherwise we''re no better than the guys we''re fighting.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Python said, reaching into a nearby satchel and removing a folded up tripod with a crystal orb attached.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°A ray shift beacon. It''s how our airships navigate in shift to specific cities but with the civil war, most of them are turned off.¡± Jack frowned, ¡°Sonuvabitch, this was another test wasn''t it?¡± ¡°No actually, just a contingency in case we need help, but it''s good to see you haven''t changed much,¡± Python said as he handed Jack the tripod. ¡°If we activate this, it''ll allow us to have a Selfian airship here in minutes.¡± ¡°And Roland airships¡­¡± ¡°Yes, but the caveat is that we''ll have ours here first. A strike group is already assembled, but if we do this, we''ll turn the place into a full on warzone. We¡¯ll alert everyone by having our strike group cross the mountains.¡± Jack took a moment to mull over the decision. ¡°At least with air dominance we can try and evacuate the civilians and minimize casualties, this will give the paladins a fighting chance,¡± Jack argued. ¡°Do it.¡± Python nodded. ¡°I''ll contact Selfia and let Lita know of the change in operation then,¡± Python said before snapping a salute and walking out of the snow covered hovel as Yukino entered. ¡°Wow, heavy stuff huh, we can hear you two arguing for the last hour,¡± Yukino said, wrapping herself around Jack''s neck. ¡°Not right now, I''m busy.¡± Yukino maneuvered around Jack, facing him directly while still clinging to his neck. ¡°C-moon you''re always busy! Why not let me help you rela-¡± ¡°Stop. I¡¯ve got enough to deal with right now. You want to help me? Go help Python,¡± Jack said as he freed himself from the pink-haired woman''s grasp. The Shinobi frowned, stepping back, her brow furrowing before her face contorted and she stomped out of the room. ¡°Smooth. Is there a reason you keep turning-¡± ¡°Hush,¡± Jack sent back to Lilith before turning his attention to the map. ¡°Sara, have you figured out why there''s a statue of yourself down here?¡± Silence, the angel unusually unresponsive. ¡°Sara?¡± ¡°I¡­ am not sure¡­ but I can feel a resonance. Like I''m looking at a mirror of myself. Whatever it is, it''s old. Not like¡­ my time old, but at least a thousand maybe five?¡± Maybe five? So you don''t know? ¡°It''s strange. It''s like I''m touching myself when I place my hand on its face. Whatever it is though, it has a scrambling effect on rune code,¡± Sahaqiel replied, the archangel floating in front of the crowd of theologists worshipping her visage. They couldn''t see her, not unless she willed it, but the funny thought did occur to show herself for a moment. Something she would have probably done in a past life, but the pandemonium would probably jeoparidize and delay the mission so Sahaqiel thought better of it. Meaning? Jack asked as he began marking the map for potential killzones and landing sites for refugees. ¡°Meaning it weakens demonspawn and their connection to the Infinity Machine. Since you''re kinda like a nest, that tingling sensation you keep feeling is that. It seems to have a high radius, protecting the city from demonspawn.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Jack let out, pausing as he thought about how useful it would be to Hoshido. In fact, most places wouldn''t need high rise walls and gun emplacements if they had statues like the one of Sahaqiel. But removing it would probably spell the end for the Theocracy¡­ ¡°According to some, the statue used to be an actual person, someone that martyred themselves to found the Theocracy,¡± Lilith added, the raven specter being unusually helpful. ¡°I would know if I was awake to found a nation,¡± Sahaqiel retorted, cocking her head to the side to continue examining the statue as Lilith appeared beside her. ¡°And how are you knowing this?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m from here. This is where I was born¡­ I think?¡± Lilith suddenly laughed, her face contorting with a devilish smile, ¡°You know if you were to reveal yourself, you could probab-¡± ¡°Absolutely not. I¡¯ve been venerated as a goddess before. The last thing I want is to do so again. Do you know how disturbing it is to help a person only to come back hundreds of years later with statues made of clay and people sacrificing other people on altars in your name?¡± ¡°Sounds like a party.¡± ¡°Trust me, its not,¡± Sahaqiel said as she turned to the crowd below her on their knees and praying to her. AAS: SEASON 6: CH29: Behold, The Angel of War {*WILL be an Edit here to showcase Talks between Yukino, Jack, Python, and Jessica. CH28.5] Beneath the sewer grating leading out into a sprawling metropolis of ivory and stone covered in ice, a dozen figures in white-patterned armor stood at the ready. Jack cast his eyes to the Templars nearby, his former enemies now allies against the threat of the High Table. Without meaning to, the two parties had segregated themselves, Jack''s imperial commandos on the left, and Templar soldiers on the right. Although they were allies, there was still a tension between them that was palpable in the sewer air. Jack tapped into his com-link, synching to his teammates. ¡°Remember Majestic,¡± Jack began, ¡°We''re here to help these people, not make their lives worse. Minimum structural damage if possible, no civilian casualties. Watch your shots, understood?¡± A series of green acknowledgement blips appeared on Jack''s HUD. ¡°Are you set milord?¡± Jessica asked as Jack tightened his helmet. Sara? Are we ready? Jack sent to his faithful companion. ¡°Lita¡¯s armored divisions are ready to move from the warehouse. Yukino and Python are setting up the rayshift beacon now,¡± Sahaqiel replied, the angel overlooking the desolate city smothered by winter''s embrace. ¡°Are you ready? This will be a fight against mostly humans, not monsters and I know-¡± ¡°Ich bin bereit,¡± Jack confirmed coldly with his eyes on his head-up display that read 1859. At 1900, the assault would begin, all he was waiting for was the- BANG! At the sound of the timed detonations, Jack jolted to attention and leapt upwards, his wings protecting his head as broke through the paved road above to emerge into the city street thrown into chaos. In the open air, everywhere Jack looked he saw flames and explosions, a battlefield raging as aircraft, tanks, and rag-tag rebels poured into the holy city from their hidey holes towards the papal soldiers caught off guard by the cry of thousands going to war. ¡°Go forward comrades! Not a step backwards! Liberate our home from these polluters!¡± Jack ignored the Templar Chaplain beneath him, moving instead to rise into the air where he was joined by Sahaqiel. ¡°It''s begun.¡± ¡°So it has,¡± Jack replied as he unfurled his feathers his eyes dancing with sparks as a storm gathered above him. **** Three days later¡­ Over a sprawling megacity wrapped in flames and ash, lead and ionized bolts flooded the air, traded between hulking masses of metal commanded by humans fighting for air dominance. ¡°Push through! The enemy is in retreat!¡± Jack roared, his arm swinging his silver gunblade stained in black ichor that beheaded a four-armed homunculus. ¡°We end this today!¡± Atop a mound of bodies and debris, adorned in white armor with silver wings upon his back, Jack stood firm as the never-ending tide of abominations poured forth from the enemy''s headquarters. They were close. So close to the enemy yet far. What was supposed to be a blitz attack had turned into a drawn out brutal clash, the entire city lying in ruin as coalition forces battled the High Table in brutal urban and air warfare. To make matters worse, Roland airships had appeared, reinforcing the Cintelli traitors with imperial soldiers as demonspawn under the command of the Green Bishop poured out from the laboratories below. This had been a trap. But it was one that Jack would break as he spun, bisecting an man with his left wing while his right broke apart, impaling a squad of papal soldiers rushing him. ¡°My Lord!¡± Jessica called out, the soot-covered lieutenant pointing to a black tide of ravenous monsters bringing down a Templar dropship from above. Jack narrowed his eyes, his golden glare flashing with red as his hand reached out, the wind responding to his will and catching the falling craft like a form of telekinesis. Days of practice had finally bore fruit, his mastery over the wind growing with each subsequent use. Sara. Jack ordered, his wings breaking apart to release hundreds of feathers that ripped apart the gargoyle-like creatures tearing at the steel carapace of the Templar vessel. Suddenly, as Jack attempted to save the crashing aircraft, a wounded papal soldier emerged from out of hiding, rushing Jack whom he thought off guard. Jack¡¯s gaze shifted, his head turning slightly to lock eyes with the awakened man who froze, his chipped sword stopping mid-swing. Then, the weapon fell, the papal loyalist dropping his weapon before being quickly subdued by Jessica who began beating the man in submission. With the threat dealt with, Jack turned and finished his business with the gargoyles.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. With the ship deliced, Jack set the craft down, allowing the crew to safely disembark onto the depilated streets of the city. ¡°Lumenese, we are ever grateful for your assistance my Lord!¡± The pilot in white overalls said, kneeling as he and his aircraft gunners joined Jack and Jessica. ¡°Templar, are you or any of your men injured?¡± Jack asked, sending his feathers out to shred a lurking nest agent that dared to try and ambush him. ¡°No, my Lord. Thanks to you.¡± ¡°Then rejoin with Commander Strongarm, we need every able gun in this fight, take this prisoner back too,¡± Jack ordered, tapping the com-link to radio the Paladin Commander. ¡°Lita, I''m sending a trio of rescued Templar pilots to you plus one prisoner.¡± ¡°Understood Lumenese, Roland Air support is pulling back to the citadel, opening the airways, the 8th armor and 14th are on the way to you,¡± Lita radioed back as Jack cast his eyes to the flood of armored units and white-clad infantry charging across bridges, racing through open streets, and disembarking from imperial aircraft. Imperial and Theocracy forces working together. An odd sight to Jack''s eyes who still felt a bit apprehensive about the Templars. Still, emotions aside, there was work to be done. A war to be won. This battle just one of many in the long road ahead. Jack narrowed his eyes at the cluster of soldiers in the distance. ¡°Damocles, this is Angel, I''ve got papal golems forming a vanguard for a counter-assault at the south citadel gates. I need disruption,¡± Jack said, relaying information from Sahaqiel. ¡°... Understood Angel," Tangerine replied, his voice almost bored, "Standby.¡± From above, Sahaqiel eyed the formation of papal awakened, men and women protected by demonspawn and monstrosities born from the twisted mind of the Green Bishop gathering to try and rebuff the invaders. The attempt didn''t last long as a sleek, wolf-like MECHFrame in black armor descended from above, crashing into the group with an explosive force that flattened the south gate. ¡°Papal golemancers down,¡± Tangerine reported to the sound of automatic gunfire echoing from his comlink, ¡°Holding position.¡± ¡°Understood Damocles,¡± Jack said, turning to the crunch of tank tracks crushing falling debris that took his attention from behind. About damn time. ¡°Lumenese!¡± Lita, the 6ft tall platinum blonde woman with blue eyes called out from atop a Templar battle tank. A sight to behold, ¡°We''ve got these bastards on the run! The 9th, 12th, and 56th have secured their sectors with Roland air support fleeing from your King''s Raven. All that remains is the citadel.¡± Kingrave Jack almost corrected but didn''t. ¡°Good work. All that truly remains is the facility that lies below,¡± Jack said, boarding the Eclipse-Class battle tank, courtesy of the Empire as paladins flowed past him. ¡°Correct. My Judicators and your pink-haired acrobatic have secured the secret tunnels and passageways. The Green Bishop will not elude us this day,¡± Lita answered to the backdrop of massive red-eyed golems flanking the tank she rode up on. ¡°I must thank you Lumenese. Without your assistance victory would not be so decisive.¡± Jack narrowed his eyes, focusing on the heat and flame that surrounded the city, along with the corpses of both Papal and Templar forces. ¡°Don''t thank me Lita, I''m merely here to find my sister and to keep Selfia''s promise to aid you,¡± Jack replied as the Damocles came into view, the jet black MECHFrame piloted by Tangerine standing amidst corpses of the Papal resistance. Ahead, Jack could hear singing, power, his eyes picking up strong traces of mana overlapping over one another. ¡°Captain Verlance, report,¡± Lita said, her tank coming to a pause beside a group of white-armored injured paladins. ¡°The traitorous forces have retreated into the audience chamber, erecting a barrier with their choirmen that is proving to be unbreakable to our pious brothers,¡± The Captain said, pointing at the translucent barrier of gold expanding from within the citadel. ¡°They are also protected by hellspawn, two agents that have already killed scores of my men.¡± ¡°Where is Superbia?¡± ¡°Lady Superbia is still lock in combat with the enemy general Cerda.¡± Jack¡¯s brow furrowed, his angelic eyes registering the lifeforms within. ¡°I''ll deal with this,¡± Jack said, stepping off the tank, his feathers flying through the air to reform his silver wings. Walking up the marble stairs, the Templars and Imperials gathered snapped salutes, standing like a form of honorguard for Jack who stood before the ruined gates of what had surely once been a majestic citadel. Ahead of him, he could hear the singing, the prayers. A futile attempt to keep the attackers out of the citadel and away from the secret chambers that awaited below. ¡°There''s fifteen of them and two nest agents,¡± Sahaqiel reported, acting as his forward recon. Jack took a step forward, entering the grand chamber, his surroundings now that of a massive auditorium that had once been used to house hundreds of papal politicians. Now, however, there were only a dozen men and women, clergy who still held firm despite the inevitable defeat in the form of Jack knocking at their door. Two nest agents ran at Jack, two monsters that, years ago would have terrified him, now¡­ were no more than a nuisance as their drained husks hit the floor beside his boots. [Agent of Ferkal Drained! Ski-] Jack ignored the pop-ups, stepping over the corpses to stand before several Papal Paladins who kneeled to Jack, begging for forgiveness from the man akin to an Angel of Death. ¡°T-th- Ripper man!¡± A paladin cried out, prostrating himself before Jack. Days of fighting had built up Jack¡¯s mythos, the constant carnage he displayed steeling the heart of the man whose eyes held a blackness to it that could only be described as an erosion of the soul. For all their monsters, for all their weapons, Jack now stood before his quivering enemy deep in prayer, a sight that once may have moved his heart now¡­ did nothing for the King of the Imperium whose eyes held no trace of the youth who once dreamed of the open sky. Jack reached out, touching the shimmering barrier of mana that blocked all physical and magical attacks. Feeling the absence of air, it even blocked sound not of magical nature. It¡¯s strong¡­ ¡°But not strong enough for me¡­¡± Lilith smiled, Jack¡¯s bloodlust rising as the raven-colored specter rose from his shadow. She was eager, Jack could feel it. Despite being silent for so long, he could feel the spirit of vengeance craving violence from her creator. Jack was all too happy to oblige. Lilith howled, letting out an ear-piercing scream that silenced the prayers. Across the battlefield, thousands of eyes turned, both horror and human, everyone¡¯s attention enraptured by the cry of vengeance echoing through flame-filled sky. The barrier before Jack fell away, the nuns, and clergy falling to their knees weeping before Jack who stood indifferent to their cries of mercy. After months of warfare, after years of bloodshed, and violence, Jack held no sympathy for his enemies. But he wasn¡¯t a monster. And so he let them be as he walked by their quivering forms and grabbed hold of a vault door that stood between him and his quarry. With one tug, Jack¡¯s enhanced strength ripped the metal gate off its hinges. ¡°Sir, what should we do with the prisoners?¡± Jessica asked, catching up to him with Commander Verlance leading templars into the chambers. ¡°Lita will handle them, our objective remains the Green Bishop. Stay here and contact Colonel Python, I have a bad feeling about this,¡± Jack ordered while his thoughts turned to his wife and child as he peered into the abyss below. AS: SEASON 6: CH30: Where Children Become Monsters Deep within the sprawling bowls of the Theocracy, Jack narrowed his eyes as the putrid scent of decay assaulted his nose with every step he took into the abyss. It was a foul odor, a sickly sweet texture that clung to Jack as he moved his way down. Then, he felt it, a presence that irked the raven spirit within. Lilith stirred, Jack''s murderous ideation rising as every iota of his being screamed to rip and tear. ¡°Lieutenant,¡± Jack said to Jessica, the woman nearly hugging him with her rifle raised. ¡°Take your team surface-side and rejoin with Yukino to lock down the passageways, I''ll go it alone from here.¡± Jessica gave Jack a sideways glance, apprehension readily on display behind her white visor. Despite the advanced armor they wore and gadgets, the imperial commandos were ill-equipped if fighting occurred in such a narrow corridor. This they knew, but duty compelled them to protest. Jack shook his head as Jessica began to open her mouth. ¡°Back to the surface, what happens next is only something I can deal with, you''ll only slow me down.¡± Reluctantly, Jessica pursed her lips but ordered the commandos back, allowing Jack to be alone. Yet, he wasn¡¯t truly alone. With him was Sahaqiel, Lilith, and Ruby. Three souls whose existences were tied to his. Assured by their presence, Jack stepped into the darkness. As he went, the ominous energy seemed to increase the deeper he traversed until finally, Jack came to a large metal bulkhead surrounded by various security systems. Jack turned his head upwards, focusing on the camera with its red light aimed at him. Sara, can you see inside? What am I dealing with? The angel took a moment before responding. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ unsure. Whatever is inside, I can¡¯t see. It¡¯s like there''s a barrier of energy creating a void to my senses,¡± Sahaqiel replied. Loud it is then. Jack said, gathering mana to himself. Suddenly the intercom beside the bulkhead crackled to life, a high-pitched, almost maniac voice that exiting from the machine. Jack could already envision the man''s smile. ¡°Mr. Knight. Or¡­ shall I say your majesty? King Knight? Or doust thou prefer King Bell? Heh. My apologies, ehem. Welcome to my abode my child, if you would give me but a moment, I shall unloc-¡± Jack placed his palm to the bulkhead, the mana around him swirling until it became visible as he inhaled¡­ Then exhaled. What happened next was a massive detonation, a blast of concussive force generated from wind propelled by Jack¡¯s mana that blew open the metal gate. Almost immediately Jack was greeted by a hail of gunfire and vicious snarls. Jack¡¯s eyes lit up, his golden pupils flaring with crimson marks as he activated numerous buffs and walked into the stainless white-coated hallway. More chimeras¡­ Jack said to himself, his hand decapitating a hybrid beast of man and monster, a nightmare creature fused by mana and animated by science as the trademark of the Green Bishop. Two, three, maybe four dozen? Jack counted, standing in the center of the hall as his eyes darted left and right amidst the bullets and claws bouncing off his mana barrier. ¡°I will give everyone three seconds to surrender before I kill you all,¡± Jack said loudly, less of a threat and a guaranteed fact, his voice filled with conviction that his winds carried through every crevice of the facility. Still, despite his offer, the monsters and papal guards kept attacking, his words falling upon empty ears to the defenders who fired from behind makeshift barricades of desks and lockers.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Well¡­ I tried. His silver wings flapped once before breaking apart, the Daedalus armory rising above Jack to create a hundred daggers that floated and spun above him. Then, on Jack¡¯s command, the silver knives in the shape of feathers flew, exploding in every direction to paint the white room red with gore and ichor. Corpses of both human and monster fell, the noise that once clouded the white hallway now silent with Jack alone left standing. Did he enjoy the work? No. Did he feel guilty? No. All Jack felt was a numbness as he walked and slaughtered his way through the minions of his hated foe. ¡°Marvelous¡­ Absolutely marvelous!¡± A voice from an intercom within the facility cried, swooning over Jack who left bloody footprints in his wake. ¡°I had heard of your exploits, but to see my child so grown! So strong! My Angel, my bird! KRIEG! KRIEG!¡± Sara, where is he? Jack sent, ignoring the ravings of the mad scientist. ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t tell,¡± Sahaqiel sent back, the archangel feeling an ominous energy that seemed to stain their surroundings. ¡°If I had to guess. He¡¯s in the Observation deck.¡± Lilith answered, the raven-haired woman directing Jack to a hallway on his left. Jack turned, walking through the facility guided by Lilith until he stood upon a room of green vats filled with viscous gore and cages lined with tattered flesh. Flashbacks took hold of Jack, memories not his own but Lilith¡¯s, shadowed glimpses of a life forsaken. ¡°Let''s move on. Please.¡± Lilith hissed, perhaps the only time Jack had heard the fallen spirit say please. ¡°The intake¡­¡± Jack whispered, his jaw clenching as he eyed a large cage nearby that at one point or another, had been filled by children. Guilt and anger took hold in Jack¡¯s heart, fuel that tightened his fists until his palms bled despite his mind not feeling such emotions. ¡°Jack, we need to move on,¡± Sahaqiel said, refocusing Jack amidst the anger clouding his vision. Jack pressed on, continuing past numerous numbered chambers that were empty or opened, rooms that once held the captives and experiments of the Green Bishop¡¯s project. Captives like Lilith. This will not be Celeste¡¯s future¡­ Jack vowed. ¡°Take a right here,¡± Lilith instructed, a cold calm pressing at the back of Jack¡¯s mind as more memories took him. Memories of being blind-folded, memories of being marched up and down these pristine white-halls for days, months, and years on end. In a way, Jack felt at home. More home here within this artificial land than nearly any other place. But he knew it wasn¡¯t his emotions but rather Lilith¡¯s. The original host of his power brought back to the origin of her creation. ¡°Yes! YES MY CHILD! Come to me, come back to papa! You are more than I had-¡± The maniacal voice cackled through an intercom that was soon silenced by a silver feather. Jack brushed it off and kept moving, focusing on the mission as his nails dug into his flesh and his jaw clenched, the taste of hatred like a venom upon his tongue. Every step Jack took he saw and experienced the emotions and memories of Lilith. Every turn, every pivot, every inch he moved closer to the ominous presence seemed to bleed Lilith¡¯s memories onto Jack until his surrounds were filled by a hallway of ghosts. In a way, it was almost akin to phantom pain that took root in Jack, something he knew wasn¡¯t there but, in a way, was. A trick to his senses that demanded recognition of the suffering they¡¯d endured. Imaginary screams filled Jack¡¯s ears, sickening laughter plagued his mind, sorrowful tears, and images of broken children flooded Jack¡¯s eyes. Jack¡¯s pace soon began to falter, his movements slowed by the echoes of shattered lives clawing at him and demanding he look at them. Still, Jack¡¯s heart remained iron-clast, his emotions dulled as he listened to their suffering. Finally, Jack came to another bulkhead, this one different than the others. It was opened, two nest agents flanking the door like an honorguard awaiting Jack¡¯s presence. ¡°Be careful Jack. This will be unlike anything we¡¯ve ever been up against,¡± Sahaqiel warned. I know. Jack replied, narrowing his eyes at the vile energy that poured forth from the darkness that seemed darker than black. Jack entered the massive room as the nest agents hit the floor, both bird-beasts executed by his silver wings spreading out. In front of Jack, he could make out a mass of¡­ something within the darkness, something even his angel vision couldn¡¯t discern. ¡°H-how¡­ why?!¡± Sahaqiel yelped in horror, the angel taking aback as Jack¡¯s eyes adjusted to focus on the hundreds of children joined together by metal cranium devices linked to a glob of pulsating raw flesh. Before Jack could fully process the horror of what he was witnessing, a light from above shone, revealing a bulky man in the garments of a priest upon a balcony smiling down at Jack. ¡°Welcome home my angel,¡± The Green Bishop grinned, his eyes in the shape of crescents behind round-rim glasses that were ill fitting for a man of his burley stature. Bloodlust took hold, Jack¡¯s hand going up and unleashing a lighting bolt that arcing through the air only to strike futility against a golden barrier that shimmered to life to protect the mad scientist. ¡°BASTARD! BASTARD! BASTARD!!!!!¡± Lilith screamed, the mere sight of The Green Bishop sending a shockwave of liquid rage through Jack''s body. Following Jack¡¯s failed attack, every light within the room turned on, illuminating every crevice of the training hall as the bulkhead behind Jack closed. ¡°Rude, is that how you greet your creator? Nay! Your father,¡± The Green Bishop said, his voice warped with the disappointment of a parent reprimanding a child. ¡°At least say hello to your other siblings!¡± At the Bishop¡¯s words, the crowd of immobile humans shuddered, their heads rising, both short and tall, all eyes flaring red as they fixed their fish-like eyes on Jack. ¡°Shit,¡± Jack said to the chorus of a thousand wails letting out their banshee cry. AS: SEASON 6: CH31: Choir of the Damned Blasted back into the hallway, Jack managed to form a shield with his feathers just before the attack connected with his body. Rolling to his feet, Jack winced as his field of view flared into an all-consuming brightness from the source of power bursting from within the chamber. Jack turned his angelic vision off, focusing on the choir of children singing at the top of their lungs in a language he didn''t understand. But Sahaqiel did. And she wept. Within Jack, sadness welled up, the language of the angels singing hauntingly of a bygone time that Sahaqiel hadn''t heard since she was a child. Before the war. Before Heaven fell. Before she became what she was. However, that sadness quickly turned into wrath, the language of the angels being perverted into a heinous tool not something Sahaqiel could abide. ¡°Kill him,¡± Sahaqiel seethed, her voice echoing with Lilith¡¯s with their combined rage flowing into Jack who was all but too happy to oblige. Jack bolted forward, or, at least attempted to before the ground shook, the facility beneath Jack''s feet violently vibrating. A trap?! No, the laboratory was moving, rising upward with red alarms blaring as Jack lost balance and began to slide until he hit a bulkhead. ¡°Jessica! What''s going on out there?!¡± Jack barked through his COM-LINK as he activated float to stabilize himself mid-air. Jessica¡¯s voice chimed in a moment later. ¡°The entire city is moving! It''s a flying fortress, it chaos ou-!¡± Jessica called out before the line went dark. ¡°Jessica? Jessica?!¡± Jack called out before attempting to reach out to Lita, Python, and Yukino. No answer. With his back blocked by some kind of black metal he couldn''t break through, Jack flew forward, entering back into the training hall where he suddenly found himself surrounded by a barrier of golden energy. Above the center of the room, the Green Bishop floated, cackling over his morbid creations like a machiavellian mad scientist. Jack scowled. At nearly seven feet tall, the Green Bishop was a beast of a man who belied the stereotype of a scrawny scientist. Instead, his body bore the telltale signs of augmentation alongside his muscular frame supported by modifications. According to the dossier, the Bishop was a chant less caster with a background as an Cintellian Judicator. A class of warriors that served as the Theocracy¡¯s death squads to hunt and police other awakened. What his class was however was a secret, but from what Jack could tell, the man wasn''t an angel at the least and weaker than Tenno. Which mean he was dead. Immediately Jack''s hand went up, black lighting arcing through his arm to lash out at the bishop. The attack failed however, the bolt of plasma smashing futility against a barrier. ¡°Did you believe that WE didn''t know that you were coming? Did you not think that we weren''t aware of your attack?¡± The Bishop cackled, arms outstretched as his eyes flared red behind his glasses. ¡°For every step you take, you fulfill the path made by his excellency!¡± A sickly sensation caressed Jack''s skin, one that filled him with revulsion as he stared at the man who seemed to be in a state of twisted euphoria. Lilith, Sara, I need options here. Jack sent, dodging a multitude of beams from the mouths of the captured children firing at him. ¡°We can get through it with Gehenna.¡± Lilith offered. Jack reached out, the runes upon his skin lighting up as Gehenna came online. At the sight of Jack''s action, the Bishop licked his lips and summoned dozens of floating drones, all of them pointed at Jack with cameras instead of guns. What is this? Some kind of experiment to him? Jack wondered, trying as much as he could to absorb and dismantle the barrier to get at his prey. However, for all his siphoning, every ounce of mana Jack took was simply replaced as the singing grew louder. ¡°Yes, yes! Let''s see how much you can withstand! Show your father what you''re made of!¡± The Bishop screamed, placing his face against the barrier with his wide eyes glaring at Jack with disgusting fascination. At the provocation, Lilith''s bloodlust rose to an all time high with Jack releasing several bursts of arc repulse just to release the accumulated mana.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Damn it! Why isn''t this working?! It didn''t take long before Jack had his answer. ¡°Listen to that melody! That joyous love of your siblings!¡± The Bishop roared, tears streaming down his face as he gestured to the choir of deformed human bodies singing what could only be compared to as a church hymnal. ¡°The children! He''s using the children as servitors to power the barrier!¡± Sahaqiel directing Jack¡¯s gaze towards the sight of several collapsing bodies. Realizing what he was doing, Jack immediately stopped siphoning the barrier as his eyes snapped towards the Bishop who now looked bored. ¡°You still aren¡¯t there are you?¡± The Bishop said with disappointment as the madman¡¯s eyes lost all luster. ¡°Here you are, a mere foot away from your quarry and you still fail to take the step that is needed.¡± A loud boom shook the facility, consequences of the raging battle outside. ¡°Every second you delay clinging to your morals is another life lost. But fret not, papa is here to teach you.¡± Jack narrowed his eyes. ¡°Teach me?¡± Jack hissed, smashing his fist angrily against the barrier. ¡°How is it possible for you all to be so cruel?! For you all to be such monsters?!" The Bishop recoiled with an expression of genuine hurt at Jack''s accusation. ¡°What? Me? A monster? A MONSTER?!¡± The Bishop spat, approached one of the singing children and knelt, taking the child¡¯s pale hand. ¡°Let¡¯s ask a third party shall we? Tilly, is your father a monster?¡± The small child turned her exposed cranium laced with metal toward the man in priestly vestments. What part of her face that wasn¡¯t covered in electronics smiled at the touch of the Bishop as her voice continued to sing that haunting melody. ¡°Busd de cordziz, busd de ge oecrimi ge, ofekufa ge de a ror faorgt, Asc! asc! torzu od bring ah new future-¡± Jack frowned, realizing that he could understand the words being sung so reverently. -for humanity, Glory to us, glory to us, glory to us, glory to humanity, Our hope, ascension, The sky we beg to see. Glory to us, glory to us, glory to us, glory to humanity, Though the path we walk, is long and tiresome, Stalwart, we shall be, all for humanity! All for humanity! Hand in hand we will always walk with thee, Stalwart are we for humanity. Even though our bodies break, our voices crack All that has passed is for humanity, Though deep our song shall be, nearer to the sky are we, Glory to us, glory to us, glory to us, glory to humanity-¡± For humanity? What a sick joke¡­ Jack¡¯s eyes twitched as the lyrics he listened to from the choir made his hands ball into fists. The Bishop had a point though. Outside, the battle was still raging and every second he delayed in killing the Bishop more people died. This was war, he knew this. But it still felt wrong. Almost as if he were condemning his soul. ¡°Is this the face of a suffering child? Is this the face of a being experiencing cruelty?¡± The Bishop demanded before rushing over with one of the children to place them before the golden barrier and in front of Jack, the two separated by a dense sheen of golden light. ¡°Look at my child. Look at what I have made! These children were all orphans! Outcasts, nobodies with no hope! No future! Starving rats that I took in! Feed! Clothed! Gave them purpose beyond the limited scope of their station! What else can that be called other than love?! Other than care?!¡± ¡°Sickness,¡± Jack said, his voice echoing with traces of Lilith before he reached through the barrier and grabbed the surprised Bishop by the throat. ¡°What?!¡± Immediately the man was slammed against the barrier. Once, twice, five times until the barrier faded and Jack slammed the Bishop onto the ground. ¡°H-how?! How did you get past our love?!¡± The Bishop spat, rising to his feet only to be greeted by a knee into his chin. The large man reeled, shaking his head, what connection he had to the mass of singing children somehow severed as Jack''s feathers unfurled, stabbing the man in every limb and pinning the man to the ground. The Bishop opened his mouth and roared, feeling his body lethargic as his power was siphoned by Gehenna as Jack calmly coldly approached. "You! This isn''t how this was supposed to play out!" The Bishop spat, attempting to fire a blast of mana at Jack only for his hand to be covered by metal feathers where the appendage violently exploded. "This... You weren''t supposed to-How are you in stage-" Lilith manifested, the raven woman standing before her creator. ¡°Hello Father,¡± Lilith spat, the answer to Jack''s ability, ¡°Did you miss me?¡± ¡°Sasha¡­¡± The Bishop let out, his face paling as Jack stood over him. ¡°You''ve come back to me.¡± Jack didn''t know what to make of the man recognizing Lilith so easily, but he could feel a pain swell up within. ¡°To kill you. Yes,¡± Lilith said as Jack''s shadow seemed to stretch, revealing black chains that snaked from the darkness towards its pinned down prey calling out Lilith''s name in perverted jubilation, almost accepting his fate. ¡°Wait.¡± The chains stopped, Lilith''s ability halted by Jack''s command. ¡°What is this?¡± Lilith hissed, turning her red eyes on Jack. ¡°I need him alive.¡± ¡°What? That wasn''t what-¡± ¡°I need to know what happened to my sister. We need him alive,¡± Jack growled as the Bishop barked out a laugh. ¡°No¡­ No! He dies here and now! That was part of our deal! He dies today!¡± Lilith shrieked, attempting to kill the man only to be stopped by Ruby¡¯s shield. Lilith turned to Jack, rage in her eyes as she realize her powers were answering to Jack. ¡°And he will! But first I need to know where my sister is! Lilith, stand down. Now,¡± Jack hissed, attempting to reel in the rampaging spirit threatening to overload his senses with bloodlust. ¡°HE USED US!¡± Lilith screamed. ¡°Fed us lies! Gave us promises of a better tomorrow and TWISTED US! DECEIVED US! All to play out his sick perversions in the name of ascending humanity! He has to die! He has to die! Hehastodiehehastodiehehastodie!¡± Lilith began to cry, the first Jack had seen from the specter as Sahaqiel appeared and held the woman back. Jack frowned, only realizing a singular fact he had overlooked. Lilith was still a child. A small girl taken advantage of with no chance at growing up. He could feel her emotions as clear as day, a strong desire for closure from her tormentor who let out a maniacal laugh. But. That wasn''t something he could give her right now, not when they knew so little about their enemies. His sister''s whereabouts aside, the Bishop was better off alive for the time being than alive. ¡°Lilith. Give me time. I promise he won''t escape justice,¡± Jack said, pulling the spirit back as an explosion blew upon a hole nearby and Jessica entered the chamber with several Imperial commandos trailing her heels. AS: SEASON 6: CH32: Too Easy With the Green Bishop bound and gagged in mana suppressant shackles, Jack sighed as the imperial commandos began to carry the prisoner away to a grey-metal transport. ¡°What should we do with¡­ them?¡± Jessica asked, taking her helmet off to see for herself the abominations that stood behind Jack. ¡°Nothing. I''ll deal with them,¡± Jack said, focusing on the horde of inanimate children that stood in limbo after their Master had ordered them to cease singing. ¡°As you say sir. We''ll take the prison-¡± ¡°What is this? Why isn''t he dead?!¡± Superbia demanded, stepping into the labyrinth with her entourage of paladins. ¡°The Empire has need of him,¡± Jack replied, drawing a scowl from the blue-haired woman covered in injuries, fresh from her fight with the papal general. ¡°This wasn''t part of our agreement with the Imp Queen,¡± Superbia spat, the S class Awakened¡¯s power flaring for a moment. Jack narrowed his eyes at the woman moving to intercept the imperial commandos; however she didn''t get far before Jack impeded her path with his body. He took off his helmet, making sure to meet the woman''s steely blue gaze. ¡°That Imp, is my wife. And I am the King of the Empire. You would do well to check your tone when addressing me, Judicator,¡± Jack replied, speaking before Jessica could draw her gun from her holster. Un-used to being talked back to, the Named Awakened glared at Jack who stood over her. Searching his gaze, all she felt was the spark hidden behind his eyes that spoke of unspeakable violence to come if they clashed. She wouldn''t win. That was what her senses told her. Yet¡­ she couldn''t just do nothing while the man responsible for the downfall of her nation escaped death. The air grew heavy, the chamber split between Imperial soldiers and Theocracy paladins with neither side moving. Despite three years, the wounds of the Theocracy invasion were still fresh in the mind of every imperial. Jack didn''t want to alienate potential long term allies, but if they made a move and got in the way between him and his family¡­ ¡°Yoooohoooo! Tanjii!¡± A jubilant voice cried out, piercing through the intensity of the chamber. Out of the hole in a wall out came the bouncing bunny known as Yukino, the woman taking well to her cybernetic limbs as she strolled between the two parties. ¡°Yuki? What is it?¡± Jack said, breaking his gaze with the paladin S class to turn to his friend. ¡°Snake Eyes says he wants you and everyone on the bridge! Says it''s urgent,¡± Yuki said before her eyes trailed to the assortment of flesh and machines that lay behind Jack. ¡°What-?¡± ¡°Don''t worry about it,¡± Jack said, pulling Yukino to the side and directing her to the imperial entourage leaving the scene. ¡°Tell Python I¡¯ll be with them soon. I¡¯ve got to take care of some things. Go, get out of here.¡± Yukino paused, her jaw clenching momentarily, ¡°I understand.¡± Jack turned back to the bodies that stood in mute silence, the servitors waiting for commands that didn¡¯t come. But why? Why didn¡¯t the Green Bishop order them to attack? If he did he wouldn''t have been captured so easily. Was this ploy part of his plan? Was this still all part of the Black King¡¯s machinations? Jack didn¡¯t know, but he did know that he couldn¡¯t leave them here. ¡°Heretical,¡± Superbia hissed, ¡°Mixing flesh with metal, it is unnatural, disgusting, perverted. Marring the flesh given to us by the goddess.¡± Jack stood in silence, wondering what he could do. Judging from their condition, they were comatose standing up. No more than suits of flesh being piloted by the machines that coated their bodies. Sara¡­ What do I do? Is there anything I can do for them? Sahaqiel floated towards a child, rubbing her incorporeal hands against the cranium of her subject. The angel took on a grave expression. ¡°There''s Nothing here. Their souls are shattered beyond repair. Anything that could be human is¡­¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Kill them.¡± Lilith spat, ¡°Spare them their suffering.¡± But if I do they''ll come back as monsters¡­ ¡°Better than to be playthings of the Bishop. Man the fuck up and do one right thing. They''re already monsters.¡± Jack sighed. ¡°Yeah¡­ you''re right,¡± Jack muttered aloud, drawing a look from Superbia before he moved. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Making this as painless as possible,¡± Jack whispered before his hand came up. Will you help me Sara? The angel was mute, but ultimately her support was felt as a cold wind blew. Under Sahaqiel¡¯s guidance, the air began to wrap around the crowd in limbo, the winds caressing their necks like a rope. Then, Jack closed his fist with a resounding SNAP sounding as dozens of necks were broken simultaneously. The room fell silent, the Paladins that remained staring at the still bodies now on the floor. A heavy weight fell upon Jack''s heart, but he did what needed to be done. Even if this was a ploy by the high table, at the very least, it had been done in a humane way to spare them their suffering rather than out of anger or forced coercion. ¡°We share a common enemy,¡± Jack said to Superbia. ¡°I promise the Green Bishop won''t escape justice. I will personally kill him myself. In the meantime, you can satisfy yourself by hunting down the rest of the survivors, don¡¯t allow their evil to spread.¡± Glaring Superbia only nodded, allowing Jack to pass unscathed to link up with his Imperial forces. **** ¡°Bloody hell,¡± Python sighed, rubbing his temples as the door of his office opened and Jack strolled in. ¡°I take it you''ve seen the helmet footage?¡± Jack said as he reached over, taking the bottle of Python''s whiskey and pouring himself a drink. ¡°Since when do you drink?¡± ¡°Now,¡± Jack replied, downing the entire bottle. ¡°Fair warning, that''s not going to do anything to you. I drink mostly out of ritual and habit than anything,¡± Python said before sliding an intellipad over to Jack that displayed a video of a tied up man being waterboarded. ¡°Anything useful yet?¡± ¡°Nothing. We''ve got techs running analysis on the augmentations we ripped off of the bastard but it''s doubtful we''ll get anything useful. From what we can tell so far however, they¡¯re covered in the same mutagen that prevents us from healing. Talk about commitment to the cause,¡± Python sneered. ¡°Has he made any demands? Asked for anything?¡± Jack said, watching the Green Bishop being interrogated. ¡°This all feels too easy.¡± ¡°Then you aren''t going to like what I say next lad,¡± Python sighed before tapping the side of his office where a Transpo-screen lit up, displaying a massive flying city in the distance. ¡°Apparently that homogenous fucker over there is a gift from the Black King. A baby shower gift.¡± Jack frowned at the news, his thoughts turning immediately to Ada and his unborn child. ¡°I don''t like this,¡± Jack said, staring at the floating structure that rivaled the Imperial Solarus. ¡°Me either. Despite how close we get it still feels like those fuckers are a step ahead of us.¡± ¡°So what are we going to do with this gift?¡± Python rubbed his face, the tired twenty-three year old Colonel taking out a daylily leaf to chew on. ¡°That¡¯s another thing on my plate. Selfia wants us to take the floating City back to Imperial territory to analyze it-¡± ¡°But? I¡¯m hearing a but.¡± Python smirked, ¡°-but, Lita and her remnants want to keep it.¡± Jack slumped in his chair. ¡°Fucking politics¡­Why wasn¡¯t there any intelligence that this city was a flying fortress?¡± ¡°Apparently the religious fanatics JUST found out themselves. Lucky that huh?¡± Python shook his head, a headache forming. ¡°They aren¡¯t exactly our allies, and they aren¡¯t even technically a country anymore. So politically we owe them nothing. Still¡­¡± Python gazed out at the city in the distance still teeming with paladin clean up crews and sporadic gunfire from Papal remnants. ¡°Let them keep it.¡± ¡°What?¡± Python turned to Jack. ¡°Let them keep it. I don¡¯t want to have to kill people I¡¯ve just spent the last fifty-six hours fighting alongside,¡± Jack said. ¡°You realize lad that Selfia would be pissed if I didn¡¯t-¡± ¡°Its fine. I¡¯ve got an idea. We let them keep the city, but we bring the city with us.¡± Python gave Jack a sideways look. ¡°This land is lost,¡± Jack continued, eyeing the landscape below where hordes of demonspawn were crawling about. ¡°Their country is in ruin and overrun. If they stay here, they¡¯ll no doubt all be killed in time. But if we bring them to the empire, settle them in neutral territory as a free city. We can not only gain the floating city, but also allies and whatever secrets lie below.¡± ¡°Settling thousands of refugees is no easy feat Jack, never mind the logistics, materials and their religious¡­ quirks, most of the Empire doesn¡¯t like them. Hell, I don''t even like them.¡± ¡°Most of the Empire doesn¡¯t like us,¡± Jack countered, ¡°Fortunately I know a place that doesn¡¯t discriminate and is needing in manpower and resources. Away from any imperial city.¡± Python paused, taking a moment before he realized what Jack was getting at. ¡°That¡­ could work. With most of Selfia¡¯s opposition dead¡­¡± Python rubbed his chin. ¡°I¡¯ll make the call to the Queen if you talk to Lita?¡± ¡°Deal, you¡¯re more used to her yelling anyway,¡± Jack smiled before getting up. ¡°And uh¡­ I¡¯ll get you another bottle of whiskey.¡± ¡°Eh, don¡¯t worry about it lad,¡± Python tapped a button on his desk, revealing a hidden shelf nearby that opened to reveal dozens of bottles. ¡°I¡¯ve always got my ass covered. Hey¡­ you ok lad?¡± Jack paused, eyeing the man. ¡°Yeah, I''m fine.¡± Python pursed his lips. ¡°If you''re good, you should get yourself showered first, you smell and you''re getting blood everywhere, we¡¯ll reconvene in an hour?¡± ¡°Sounds good,¡± Jack said before giving a casual salute to Python who waved his King off. With a sigh, Jack exited Python''s office to stand within the hallway of the Imperial Aircarrier Suck My Dick Roland. AS: SEASON 6: CH33: De-stress? AS: SEASON 6: CH33: De-stress? "Uuugh," Jack let out a loud moan as steaming hot water hit his bare skin. After navigating the hallways of the unfamiliar craft, Jack had finally made it to his quarters, a suite set aside for VIPs and officers. Inside the shower, Jack was alone for once as Sahaqiel and Ruby kept a handle on Lilith looking over The Green Bishop. Jack watched as days of butchering washed off his body. The tile beneath his feet was coated in red, the viscera and grime that seeped through his armor coating the floor. Jack sighed, closing his eyes, allowing the warmth to caress his skin as screams echoed in his mind. Of course they weren''t real, just a figment of the ghosts that followed him around. Jack rested his head beneath the water and closed his eyes, allowing himself a moment of peace as the heat washed away his sins. ¡°Man it''s hot in here.¡± Jack opened his eyes and turned to the woman suddenly behind him holding his crotch with her hand. ¡°Yukino? What are you doing in here?¡± Jack said, more annoyed than flustered as the woman began to stroke his soapy nether regions. ¡°Seizing an opportunity,¡± Yukino whispered coely in Jack''s ear. ¡°Did I catch you by surprise hehe?¡± In truth, no. Jack knew she was there, sensed her presence the same way he sensed and heard all awakened. He simply chose to ignore her. ¡°You realize that Ada is having my kid and I''m a married man don''t you?¡± Jack replied as the woman stood on her tiptoes to kiss his neck. ¡°Said the man banging his maid, getting spied on by his daughter¡¯s adopted mother, and having a child from a woman he¡¯s not married to.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± ¡°It''s ok,¡± Yuki whispered, increasing the speed at which her hands caressed Jack''s body. ¡°I got permission after all huhu-EEP!¡± Jack suddenly spun, catching Yukino''s hands by surprise and pinning her against the bathroom wall. From Selfia? Doubtful, the last thing she¡¯d want is more concubines to keep track of. ¡°Permission huh? So Ada put you up to this?¡± Jack growled, the woman''s brown eyes wide with surprise. ¡°Well? Did she?¡± Jack leaned closer until Yukino''s breath was felt against his face. At five-five, Yukino¡¯s body was similar to Ada¡¯s. C cup breasts, wide hips with tanned skin, the only real off-putting thing about her was her cybernetics that she refused to cover with synthetic skin.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Her body bore the scars on her flesh but it wasn''t grotesque to Jack, rather, it was just a reminder of his failure and what he needed to prevent in the future. Despite Yukino tagging along for the assault, Jack had her relegated to real echelon duties, patrols, and scouting so as to keep her away from him and keep her safe. Now though? Now there were no such assignments to separate the two. ¡°Uh¡­ uhm,¡± Yukino let out, at a loss for words as the steam rose the duo¡¯s body temperature. ¡°You don''t want this,¡± Jack said, his chest pressing up against her bare breasts with her hard nipples rubbing his skin. ¡°And you shouldn''t have come.¡± Further down, something else was erect, the head of which was pressed against the nomad''s soft abdomen. Yuki¡¯s eyes fluttered down, the woman subconsciously biting her bottom lip with want and desire clear as day on her face. Still¡­ for Jack, there was business he needed to conduct first. At a loss for words, Yuki could only stare before Jack turned, going back to his shower. ¡°If you''re here you can wash my back,¡± Jack said, tossing the woman a bar of soap. A few seconds passed in silence before Yukino finally spoke up. ¡°Am I¡­ Not good enough?¡± ¡°It''s not that-¡± ¡°THEN WHY?!¡± Yuki shouted, standing up and spinning Jack to face her. ¡°Why Ada and not me? Why that imp girl and not me? You''ve been running away from me for days and now that I''m literally throwing myself at you with Ada¡¯s blessing you still won''t take me!¡± Jack pursed his lips, his golden eyes connecting with a tearful gaze that looked back at him. ¡°What?¡± Yuki spat, ¡°Do you think I can''t take it? Do you think you''ll hurt me?! Is you denying my feelings you trying to protect me?! I''m a grown woman Tanjii, all I want is for you to love me! I threw myself at you for years! SO WHY WON¡¯T YOU AT LEAST FUCK ME!¡± Yuki¡¯s joyful facade was gone, replaced instead with what lay hidden below her usual bubbling personality. Anger. Jealously. Envy. Jack could see it all through his eyes making contact with her, almost as if he could read her thoughts. ¡°What? Are you just going to stare at me?!¡± Yukino demanded. It took a moment, but Jack finally managed to turn away. ¡°What I think is that you''re confused. That you''re hurt. That you''re trying to go back to a normal before your dad died,¡± Jack replied coldly, rubbing his arms with a sponge. ¡°I can see the act you put on. Everyone can. And I don''t want to take advantage of your suffering to fulfill some carnal desire.¡± ¡°You''re wrong Tanjii,¡± Yukino spat, her fists balling. ¡°I''m not. We haven''t talked about Itodori¡¯s final moments. His final words. You''ve barely talked to me since coming out of your coma and worst, you even skipped out on your brother visiting you to chase me down. You aren''t ok, and until we have that talk, I¡¯m not ready to do anything with you.¡± ¡°Y-you?!¡± Yuki fumed before slapping Jack across the face. ¡°You! You! Fuck you!¡± Jack turned his head, watching as Yukino stormed out of his shower. ¡°Smooth. Real smooth.¡± Lilith cackled as she stood nearby, no doubt returning to Jack upon feeling him get smacked. ¡°You could have at least fucked her before going all psychologist on her.¡± ¡°What is with women always bothering me in the shower¡­¡± Jack sighed. ¡°Does this happen a lot?¡± ¡°Unfortunately¡­ Look, it needed to be done. Just because I don''t feel excessively guilty anymore doesn''t mean I don''t want the best for her. If she wants to fuck, I rather do it when her mind is more clear. At least that''s how I process it logically.¡± ¡°Seemed clear to me.¡± ¡°Just like yours is?¡± Lilith narrowed her red pupil eyes. ¡°Fuck you,¡± Lilith hissed before disappearing to keep an eye on the Green Bishop. AAS: SEASON 6: CH34: My Plans. Fully dressed and freshly showered, Jack took some time to inspect the crew of the HMS Fuck You Roland. As King, everyone aboard was technically his servant, something Jack still didn¡¯t enjoy as they snapped their salutes. Jack spent twenty minutes walking around his airship. During that time he observed his troops, made small talk, and made his presence known to those onboard. To the wider Imperium, Jack was still an enigma, a person whose accomplishments and feats were few and whose only claim to fame was his background and position as King. That wouldn''t do. Most had heard of Frelia, but none really knew the details or the sacrifices he made, only that he was their boss¡¯s boss and that they needed to be on their best behavior. However, despite this fact he still got flak for being a non-red, usually in the form of whispers behind closed doors and drunken stupors. But, his prowess in the latest battle had spoken for itself, silencing much of the dissenters. Albeit for now. Jack smirked, wondering what expression they''d make if they knew their Queen was a demi like him. He sighed, leaning close to the window that overlooked the FYR¡¯s MECHFrame launch bay, a room usually reserved for the air wing commander and his some twenty staff. However on Jack''s order the room was temporarily cleared, allowing him a private terrace to watch over his soldiers when the ship wasn''t engaged in battle. ¡°Sir?¡± Jessica asked, breaking Jack''s focus on the teen named Tangerine sitting alone beneath his MECHFrame across the launch deck. ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Templar Commander Lita and her party have landed and are awaiting you within suite three,¡± Jessica, his now aide-de-camp, said as she held an intellipad close to her blue Selfian uniform. ¡°Thank you, Lieutenant Ashfield,¡± Jack said, turning his head back to Tangerine conversing with his machine. ¡°Tell me something lieutenant, you''ve served beside Tangerine for some time now. Does he always sit alone?¡± Jessica blinked, taking a moment before replying. ¡°Since he lost his entire squadron against the WolfFrame, yes.¡± ¡°WolfFrame?¡± ¡°The Khloros, your Majesty.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± Jack recalled that machine, a sickening twist of metal and flesh. ¡°I would like a report on everything we have on Tangerine¡¯s augments. His training and the Damocles.¡± Jessica opened her mouth to reply yet stopped herself, silencing her curiosity with a ¡°Yes, your Majesty. I shall have it prepared for you after your meeting with Templar Commander Lita.¡± ¡°Thank you, Lieutenant. That will be all, I''ll call for you later.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ sir,¡± Jessica said, bowing before taking her leave as Jack took out Leslie''s journal to continue reading. ¡°Do you think Selfia will agree with what you plan on doing?¡± Sahaqiel asked as Jack took out a device to prevent any unwanted eavesdropping, a little gift from Leona. ¡°Either she will or she won''t, at the end of the day I''m only doing what I think can help my people and protect my family,¡± Jack said, sitting down on the chair to read another paragraph. ¡°I dislike being so reliant on her while she keeps me in the dark. I''ll admit, I''m not the best thinker, but I don''t like her methods.¡± ¡°So you think having Lita''s troops in your debt will help you?¡± Sahaqiel asked, hugging Jack from behind with her slender finger tracing his jawline. ¡°Something like that.¡± ¡°You aren''t thinking of rebelling are you?¡± Sahaqiel joked, the angel now resting in Jack''s lap.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Nothing so grand,¡± Jack replied, eyes fluttering over to Tangerine sitting alone. ¡°If anything were to happen to me, or Selfia and things fall apart¡­ I need a backup plan.¡± ¡°And the Templars are it?¡± Sahaqiel looked up at Jack inquisitively. ¡°They are a start. Combining the Nomads and the Templars together is one of my objectives, and saving these people is too, but ultimately the end goal will be for my loved ones and them alone,¡± Jack sighed, closing the journal. **** Entering the VIP suite of the airship set aside for special guests, Jack kept a neutral face under the gaze of twelve disgruntled paladins, chief of which was Superbia. ¡°My apologies for the wait,¡± Jack said as the entire group stood to bow before Jack, save for Superbia. ¡°Lumenese, thank you for taking time-¡± Lita began but was immediately cut off by Superbia. ¡°We won''t be allowing the Empire to take our home,¡± Superbia said, ¡°We appreciate your aid in our issue, but the Holy City is the last bastion of the Theocracy. Do you understand? It is our city, and we will die fighting-¡± Jack strolled past the blue-haired woman, taking a seat on a velvety couch where he crossed his legs and yawned. ¡°No, go on. I''m listening,¡± Jack assured, looking on lazily at the woman about to metaphorically explode. ¡°Are you mocking me?¡± ¡°Not at all. I understand the predicament you and your people are in and I seek no quarrel Paladin,¡± Jack said, tossing his sound-deafening device on the nearby table. ¡°In fact I want to help you guys.¡± ¡°Help us?¡± Superbia raised a brow. ¡°Yup, so here''s the deal,¡± Jack said, clapping his hands together to release a crisp noise. ¡°You and your people load up into the city and move to imperial territory.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Superbia recoiled, the awakened woman not expecting Jack''s proposition. ¡°Are you offering to make us Imperial citizens?¡± Lita asked carefully, drawing looks from her entourage of papal officials. ¡°No. Not at all, I don''t plan on abolishing your country¡¯s sovereignty or making you citizens. What I propose is an asylum project. Establishing a refugee in the corner of the Imperium where your people can live freely and practice your-.¡± ¡°You want us to abandon our home? Never!¡± Superbia spat, ¡°This is our-hek?¡± The Awakened''s outburst was cut short as she suddenly fell to her knees. Wide-eyed, the group of Templar guards raised their mana, attempting to help their own comrade only to falter as their mana was stripped away. Hm. It helps they aren''t that strong. Superbia was on all fours, clutching her throat as Jack compelled the wind to do his bidding. Pain, she could turn off, injuries she could heal, but one thing all humans even super powered awakened needed was air. Something he was getting extremely good at manipulating, even without the system. ¡°Listen well, this will be the last warning I give,¡± Jack said, his tone icy as his golden glare settled on the woman being siphoned by Gehenna. ¡°When I''m talking, you don''t interrupt me. Not only is it rude, but it''s annoying. The next time you interrupt me, I won''t stop with just bringing you to your knees.¡± ¡°My apologies Lumenese!¡± Lita exclaimed, taking to one knee. ¡°I beseech thee release-¡± Superbia gasped, taking in a breath of air as Jack gazed coldly at the woman glaring at him. He''d seen her type before, someone who didn''t like being talked down to, someone who was used to getting her way and used coercion, influence, and even others to get her way. In short, she was just another Victoria. ¡°Here is what''s going to happen,¡± Jack said, standing up. ¡°You will put a call out, evacuating all remaining Theocracy citizens to the Flying City. You will be brought to territory within the Empire where you will be allowed to settle. This is not a negotiation, this is me saving your lives. You can either do this or die, at the end of the day, you are without adequate, food, shelter, and ammo. And sooner than later, the demonspawn will come.¡± Lita furrowed her brow, helping Superbia shakily rise to her feet. ¡°What aren''t you telling us?¡± Lita asked. Jack took a moment to respond, frowning as he flicked dirt from his nail. ¡°Our enemy is the High Table,¡± Jack said, standing at a viewport that showed the Capital of the Theocracy in all its splendor. ¡°Selfia is willing to do anything and everything to secure the future of the Empire and that includes eradicating every single one of you so she can get her hands on that Thing in the distance. No doubt she¡¯s interested in its research and facilities within. However, this way-my way, ensures all parties involved get what they want. Selfia can conduct studies on the flying city, and you lot get to live and enjoy the sovereignty of being a free nation.¡± ¡°There''s nothing free about being under the boot of the Empire,¡± Commander Velmont hissed, a sentiment shared by the other paladins in the room. ¡°You won''t be under the boot of the Empire, you''ll be under mine,¡± Jack said, turning to face the entourage of paladins. ¡°Or did you forget I am the King of the Empire? The same one who murdered hundreds of you when you boldly attacked Frelia. The same one who brought down the Green Bishop when none of you could touch him? I''m not asking for your trust, or your loyalty. All I''m asking is for you to survive.¡± Suddenly a knock at the door took everyone¡¯s attention with Jessica entering a moment later. ¡°Your Majesty, please pardon my intrusion, Colonel Python wishes to see you immediately.¡± I guess Selfia wants a word. Jack turned to Lita and the Templars. ¡°Think it over, the Queen isn''t quite so accommodating to people that have tried to kill her before,¡± Jack said, staring directly at Superbia, "A sentiment, I''m beginning to adopt." And with that, Jack turned and left, allowing the paladins to stew in their thoughts while he handed other matters. AAS: SEASON 6: CH35: Show me. ¡°No? What the fuck do you mean, NO?!¡± Jack sighed, turning his head as Selfia¡¯s holographic projection yelled and screamed. ¡°As I said, we''re going to help these people, not condemn them. We were here to help them,¡± Jack replied. ¡°Noooooo, what we were here to do is KILL the Green Bishop! Kill. K-I-L-L. KILL! KILL! Not increase my workload!¡± Selfia yelled, slamming her robotic fist down on her desk before she groaned loudly, ¡°Still¡­ you captured him, so we''ll use this opportunity to pry some information out of him. Di¡¯luk- oh wait she isn''t here¡­ Leona! Jin! One of you get in here and order up a vat of acid!¡± ¡°Selfia, focus, my plan?¡± Selfia frowned, eyeing Jack with a look of skepticism. ¡°If you can get them to behave and that''s what you want to do, then by all means. You''re the King, if this is what you think is best, as your wife I guess I''ll have to support you every once in awhile,¡± Selfia said with little resistance much to Jack''s surprise. ¡°Of course, I can''t spare any resources with Roland''s fucking SURPRISE offensive so you''ll have to make do with the troops you have.¡± ¡°...huh.¡± Python let out, mirroring Jack, Sahaqiel, and even Ruby¡¯s sentiments, the latter of which sat on in a corner munching on a chocolate bar. ¡°So, have you gotten anything out of him yet?¡± Selfia asked, pulling up what appeared to be a holographic image of a satellite before swatting it away. ¡°Nothing yet your Majesty, we''ve been waterboarding him for two hours but all he''s been doing is praying,¡± Python reported. ¡°I don''t think we''ll get anything out of him this way.¡± ¡°Figured,¡± Selfia sighed. ¡°Fanatics like him are the fuuuuuuucking worse.¡± ¡°I do have a way to get information out of him,¡± Jack said, drawing all eyes. ¡°It''s not pretty, but it''ll work.¡± Inside Jack, the malevolent spirit flared, the hungry specter looking forward to what was to come. ¡°Aw, and I was wanting to use the acid vat,¡± Selfia groaned, ¡°Well, whatever, microwave his hamster, peel off his foreskin with a razor, force feed him glass, so long as he gives us something useful I don''t care what you do. Keep me posted and don''t move that city until we clear it for transportation. Who knows what those grubby little lunatics in the church are doing to it right now.¡± Selfia shot a look at Python, the latter of which nodded before Jack spoke up. ¡°Anyway, thank you Selfia, we''ll keep you updated,¡± Jack said before the Queen waved her hand as the hologram fizzled out. **** ¡°So, she took being told no better than I thought,¡± Python asked as he and Jack stood on the observation deck of the MECHFrame launchbay. ¡°I was just as surprised, now its up to Lita and the Templars to agree,¡± Jack replied, ¡°I take it you''re here with me to babysit me during my talk with the Bishop.¡± Python fell silent before he chuckled, ¡°Yeah, Selfia wants to make sure you don''t murder him.¡± ¡°What? Don''t trust me?¡± ¡°Not to kill the man?¡± Python scoffed, ¡°I know what you''re capable of lad, If you have to get your hands dirty to get what you want you won''t hesitate. In a way you''re very much like Selfia.¡± ¡°How so?¡± Jack furrowed his brow with Python pausing as he twirled a daylily leaf between his lips. ¡°Passionate,¡± Python replied. ¡°You two may have different methods, ideologies, and sense of right n wrong but you both want good things and go to great lengths to achieve it. Really, I guess at the end of the day it''s all bout whose willing to go the furthest for their goals.¡± Jack shut the journal he was reading, his mind on the Green Bishop''s mocking and monologue. ¡°Do you think I''m too soft?¡± Jack asked with Python falling silent for a moment. "..." ¡°I just don''t want to be a monster at the end of all this,¡± Jack sighed. ¡°Selfia is willing to murder countless innocents, men, women, and even children to get what she wants. She lies to everyone she knows and probably even lies to herself. And quite frankly the only reason I trust her is because I trust in her vision for the futu-¡± Jack paused, looking down at Leslie''s journal. ¡°-huh.¡± ¡°Come to an epiphany?¡± ¡°Something like that,¡± Jack said, turning around and heading towards the brig with Python in tow. ¡°Care to share?¡± ¡°It''s occurred to me that we don''t actually know what the High Table is fighting for,¡± Jack said, turning down a corridor and holding up Jena''s journal. ¡°We know their facilities, parts of their plans, their methods, but we don''t know what they''re fighting for or what motivates them.¡± ¡°So what are you about to do?¡± Python asked, standing in front of Jack to block his path from the cell door that contained his quarry. ¡°Find out,¡± Jack said before pushing the man to the side and entering the torture chamber.Stolen story; please report. Within a twenty foot square room devoid of light hung a man, one beaten, bruised, and actively bleeding from wounds unable to be healed thanks to the suppressant devices attached to his chest. ¡°Ah¡­ Sasha¡­ I knew you''d¡­ come,¡± Hugo Fritz, formerly the Green Bishop eked out as he weakly gazed at Jack. *SMACK!* ¡°You don''t have the right to speak that name,¡± Jack growled, holding back his strength just enough that he didn''t break the man''s neck. Python folded his arms, watching nearby with focused eyes to make sure Jack didn''t kill their prisoner. ¡°It brings me joy to see my child grown,¡± Hugo said as Jack flexed his hands, staring down at the man looking up. Kill him. Kill him. Kill him. Kill him. Phantom words, hissed from Lilith''s mouth. ¡°I''m going to punch you now,¡± Jack said coldly before cocking his fist back that was caught by a vine. ¡°Hey... we need him alive,¡± Python said, a vine snaking out from his boot to catch Jack''s arm with grassy tendrils. ¡°I''m aware. I don''t plan on killing him, at least not quickly,¡± Jack replied before ripping himself free of the vines and knocking several teeth out of the Green Bishop''s mouth. ¡°Hm... That didn''t make me feel better.¡± Hugo let out a chuckle as blood leaked from his mouth, ¡°The Black King¡­ Would be delighted¡­ by who you are now¡­¡± ¡°Hm,¡± Jack knelt, bringing himself to eye level with his prisoner. ¡°That''s where you''re wrong. He''s not going to like me.¡± Jack reached over, grabbing the man''s thinning hair and yanking him up to look Jack in the eye. ¡°You see, I know something he doesn''t,¡± Jack said, glaring at the man as Python looked on inquisitively. ¡°Sasha¡­¡± Hugo muttered in disbelief, eyes wide as a hand tightened against his throat while fingers reached into his mouth. ¡°I told you,¡± Jack said, his fingers gripping the slimy tongue attempting to wiggle away. ¡°You don''t deserve to say that name.¡± Jack pulled, taking with it a gush of blood that splattered on his face. ¡°Can I say that name?¡± Python asked, curious about whom he was referring to. ¡°I rather you didn''t,¡± Jack replied, his eyes producing a dangerous glare. ¡°Right,¡± Python said, wondering what Selfia hoped he or anyone for that matter be able to do if Jack wanted the man dead. ¡°But now I wonder how your going to get him to talk with no tongue.¡± ¡°Easy,¡± Jack said as a dark shadow appeared over him as he felt Sahaqiel''s disapproval. ¡°By ripping his mind apart.¡± ¡°N-nwo!¡± Hugo exclaimed through his bleeding mouth. Before Python could intervene, Jack''s hand swathed in shadows slapped against the flailing man''s head, directly over his eyes. "You see... I learned something rather recently after thinking about my last run in with your King. About illusions and prying out information." "NW! NUH!" Hugo screamed, his eyelids forced open to stare into Jack''s glowing eyes. ¡°What do you see?¡± Jack and Lilith''s voice echoed as the duo projected their will onto the man. Lilth¡¯s ability was deconstruction, obliteration, and consumption with the true essence of Gehenna being to take and subsume. A handcrafted weapon that should have been broken when her psyche was shattered by an angel. Yet here she was, a variable unaccounted for by the Black King. Hugo groaned, attempting to resist as dark tendrils leapt from Jack''s hand to stab into his victim. ¡°The hell¡­¡± Python muttered, taking a step back as the shadows in the room started to flicker. According to Jack''s dossier, there was nothing about this on file. ¡°Show me what I desire,¡± Jack commanded as blood began to sleep from Hugo''s orifices. Fortunately Jack was a healer, allowing him to keep the Bishop alive as he attempted to shift through the man''s mind. ¡°Why do you fight?¡± ¡°Love.¡± The word that was uttered sickened Jack. But more than that, was the sense of devotion, the sense of justice, and worst, affection Jack felt emanating from the Bishop''s mind. Taken aback, Jack''s fingers subconsciously dug into the Bishop''s skin, tearing the flesh as the skull let out an audible crack. ¡°Jac-¡± Python began but flinched as raven wings manifested around Jack. ¡°Love? LOVE?!¡± Jack roared, the voice that left his mouth not his but Lilith''s. ¡°Tell me what I wish to know! What does the Black King want?!¡± "Guh! GUUUUH!" The Bishop''s head shifted, skin tearing as he forcefully tried to look away. ¡°Tell me what I want to know!¡± Jack roared, glaring into the man''s eyes as memories belonging to Hugo Fritz entered his mind. Images. Hundreds of them. Broken stills that were sporadic, fractured, unintelligible mostly save for the few images of a well dressed man who looked like an older version of Jack. There were others too. Each wearing white suits with fedoras, each body different but ultimately being possessed by the one Jack knew as the Black King. ¡°AAAAAAAAHG!!¡± Hugo screamed, the howls leaving his mouth nerve-shattering even to Python who turned away. ¡°Tell me what the Black King wants!¡± Jack roared, pushing Hugo''s face back with the man¡¯s eyes adopting a golden color. ¡°I-i-I!¡± Hugo muttered, shaking his head violently as hundreds of pictures poured from his mind. ¡°SHOW ME!¡± ¡°Jack!¡± Python called out, attempting to reach out to stop the torture only to retreat. Around Jack he could make out another presence, a black-haired woman glaring with pure hatred in her eyes, the raven woman latching onto the Bishop. ¡°Prosperity! Salvation! The King! The KING! Solomon!¡± Hugo shrieked, his eyes bulging with blood seeping from his sockets. "He will grant humanity prosperity!" A memory of a memory passed before Jack''s eyes, an image of a spectral being with golden wings, a knight holding a flaming sword and a staff. And then, like that, Jack''s heart paled as Sahaqiel¡¯s shock and anger broke through. This confirmed what the angel already knew, she had hoped it wasn''t the case but now, everything made sense to her as she turned away from Jack. ¡°Solomon. Solomon!¡± The word kept echoing from the Bishop''s mouth. ¡°Jack! Enough! We need him alive!¡± Python yelled as several commandos entered the room. ¡°No. Not yet! He still needs to tell me where my sister is,¡± Jack growled, his hands firmly pressed into the man''s skull. ¡°WHERE IS SHE?! Where is Jill Knight?!¡± Jill. The image of a green-haired girl appeared in Hugo''s mind, a child holding hands with a white-haired man who bore a striking resemblance to Selfia. ¡°Bastards,¡± Jack hissed. Jack released the man, his brow furrowed, face twisted in a snarl as he stood back to eye his handiwork. Immediately medics went to work on the Bishop, tending to his wounds as Jack turned and left, leaving his prisoner dangling lifelessly with blood leaking from every orifice as he left the room. AAS: SEASON 6: CH36: The Pieces of the Puzzle ¡°Out, Geh jetzt!¡± Jack ordered, walking into the airship¡¯s directory where every file it had was located. ¡°Alright, you want to tell me what the fuck was that?¡± Python asked as Jack''s hands danced across the keypad to search up names and references to Solomon. ¡°Seventh Solomon¡­¡± Jack muttered, pulling up a directory labeled Project Solomon from the airship''s main data vault. Jack''s eyes rapidly began scanning files, darting between each mention of Solomon. From what he knew, the expeditions were an Imperial led coalition of corporations, military industrialists, and nations. A force to navigate and scout out the continent once known as Africa and known to the rest of the world as the Lost Lands. From what little information he had, the continent was overrun by demonspawn and covered in never-ending corruptive smog, the same kind that had turned the citizens of Frelia into mindless beasts. What the Black King sought was there. Buried beneath the cradle of humanity with every expedition undertaken by his orders. Jack scowled, changing data sets rapidly. The Theocracy, the Alliance, even the Empire were secretly in some way under an Archangel¡¯s boot and heel. The implications of which unsettled Jack. ¡°It''s very likely the Infinity machine is there,¡± Sahaqiel said. ¡°If he''s organizing expeditions into the continent he probably doesn''t know where exactly it is.¡± Yeah. I get that. But why does he need me? What does he seek to gain by pissing me off and sowing so much chaos? Jack frowned, opening another file. He¡¯s stronger than anything I¡¯ve ever encountered so why does he need fodder to do his work? ¡°I don''t know. Micheal¡­¡± Sahaqiel said, her tone remorseful as she finally uttered her brother''s name. ¡°He was a beacon of light during our age. The chief enforcer of Heaven and leader. After the war he put the survivors of the cataclysm back together. Gave us purpose, gave us hope. And we stood by him to rebuild everything¡­¡± Jack paused. You knew all this time. Sorrow blossomed inside of Sahaqiel, ¡°I¡­ didn''t want it to be him. I''m not even sure how he¡¯s alive. I thought he died during the outbreak. To think that all this time¡­. He was alive. Alone in this world.¡± He isn¡¯t who you thought he was Sara. Or at the very least not anymore. Understand that if I have the opportunity, I will kill him. Jack sent back before the screen in front of him was abruptly shut off. ¡°Oui! You gonna talk to me or just ignore me while getting frown lines?¡± Python asked, waving his gloves hand in front of Jack''s face. ¡°Sorry, just lost in thought.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°Ok, well, do you want to talk about what the hell that was back there? You almost killed him with your demon curse crap,¡± Python demanded. Jack turned to the man, ¡°Demon curse crap?¡± ¡°Is what the hell I¡¯m calling it,¡± Python replied, sucking loudly on a daylily. ¡°Look, I¡¯ve seen a lot, hell I¡¯ve done a lot, but that¡­ shit. That was some wicked stuff. Just tell me one thing.¡± Jack raised a brow. ¡°Are you ok lad?¡± Jack blinked twice, taken aback by the question before he sighed and put on his most reassuring smile, ¡°Of course, better than I¡¯ve ever been.¡± Python¡¯s face took on a look of disgust, ¡°Right, ok, I¡¯m putting you under orders for psych eval.¡± ¡°Heh, I¡¯m fine, really. And I¡¯m the King of the Empire, I outrank you remember?¡± Jack chuckled before his expression turned grave. ¡°Still¡­ there''s work to be done. Thanks to my demon curse crap I¡¯ve found a few pieces of the puzzle out. Namely where my sister is and what the Black King is up to.¡± ¡°Care to enlighten me?¡± Python said, pressing the button to turn the monitor back on. ¡°The Black King is searching for something known as the Infinity Machine,¡± Jack said, opening a map of the Lost Lands as well as various files related to the Soloman Expeditions. ¡°Everything he¡¯s done has been to find and access the machine.¡± ¡°Ok? Care to explain the why?¡± ¡°To control the demonspawn,¡± Jack lied, choosing to spare Python the truth about reincarnation and souls. To know the potential hell that awaited every life taken. That knowledge was better left unspoken than shared. ¡°And bend the world to his whim. The problem is he lacks the resources and manpower to secure a beachhead to safely search for his prize.¡± Jack opened up the folder labeled Seventh Solomon, the last expedition undertaken by Imperial forces of which included his uncle Mike and Mi¡¯shika. ¡°Isn¡¯t he stronger than you? What would he need protection from?¡± Python asked, drawing a look from Jack. ¡°No offense lad, just he made you and he¡¯s got an army of lunatics at his beck and call.¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re right¡­¡± Jack said, looking away. What could he need protection from? Suddenly a memory flashed before Jack¡¯s mind, pictures belonging to Sahaqiel of old friends turned into abominations. Tarhanna, Athena, Ares, angels brought down before rising back up as different creatures. ¡°The Apostles,¡± Sahaqiel chimed in, her words knitting together a missing piece of the puzzle that Jack could only hope weren¡¯t true. ¡°Fuck¡­No¡­ it makes sense¡­¡± Jack muttered, hand over his mouth. ¡°What?¡± ¡°It just occurred to me, if angels and demons of lore exist,¡± Jack sighed, staring at the folder of the Seventh Solomon expedition as his thoughts shifted to the mercenary with tattoo of a staff and the number seven, the man Mike had murdered. ¡°Where the hell did they all go?¡± Python furrowed his brow, blinking once before his mouth twisted into a slight frown. ¡°Are you trying to tell me there are worse things out there than us?¡± ¡°Do you want to know the answer to that?¡± Jack said, facing Python fully. ¡°Ya know what, I think I¡¯ll read it in a briefing,¡± Python replied, taking out another leaf. ¡°So what''s our next step?¡± ¡°I need to talk to Lita and her group, figure out their answer.¡± Python shifted the leaf in his mouth, ¡°And if they don¡¯t agree to your plan?¡± ¡°Then we make them,¡± Jack said coldly, his back to Python. ¡°If they won¡¯t listen to reason, then we¡¯ll do what we¡¯ll have to.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± Python said slowly, wondering if Jack was even capable of what he was suggesting. ¡°Brief Selfia on the Solomon expedition link, I¡¯ll talk to the Templars and then we¡¯ll go from there after making sure the flying city is safe to move,¡± Jack ordered as his thoughts turned to his sister and the war going on back home. AAS: SEASON 6: CH37: Jack, Judge, Jury, and Executioner ¡°Have you come to a decision?¡± Jack asked as he stood before Lita and her entourage of paladins. Beside him, stood Jessica as well as three imperial commandos. ¡°You aren¡¯t giving us much of a choice,¡± Superbia spat. ¡°Think about it rationally,¡± Jack said, walking to stand beside a viewport to stare at the floating city. ¡°Your people and arms are depleted. You barely have food for your population and your lands are overrun by demonspawn. Even if we left you to your own devices, you¡¯d be overtaken in a week? Two? Best case scenario, a month without the Green Bishop manipulating the demonspawn to keep them away.¡± Of course there was always that strange statue of Sahaqiel in the sewer hideout, but as far as Jack could tell, its deterring effect could be overcome. ¡°Your answer? Believe it or not I have other things to do,¡± Jack said, turning to face Lita''s group. ¡°Bit rude Jack, maybe ease up a bit?¡± Sahaqiel chimed in. The more time we waste here, the more time Jill spends in captivity. I want this to be over Sara. Lita moved the fuming Superbia behind her. ¡°We agree, however we have terms, your Majesty.¡± The word Majesty irked Jack, but he kept a straight face. ¡°Of course, let''s hash this out,¡± Jack said, sitting down at the table to negotiate with the Theocracy. **** Aboard a dropship, Jack looked out the G¨¹rteltier-class dropship¡¯s side viewport to stare at the nearing city. Wearing his helmet, a yellow icon appeared on his HUD. ¡°Sir, forgive my¡­ presumptuous, but may I speak frankly?¡± Jessica said over a two-way private helmet-to-helmet channel to avoid the other soldiers listening in. ¡°What is it?¡± Jack replied, leaning his head towards the woman strapped to the flight-seat across from him. ¡°Are you sure this is a wise course of action?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Bringing Templars into Imperial territory. It''s risky.¡± ¡°I''m well aware of the risks,¡± Jack replied, turning his head as his vehicle neared the city citadel. ¡°Respectfully, and I mean this with the utmost respect, but are you sure you do? You were absent for most of the war, but the Theocracy laid waste to a number of cities, massacred thousands during their invasion. The Empire has a long memory and some would even say the Theocracy deserved what they got.¡± ¡°I wasn''t aware you felt so strongly,¡± Jack said as the dropship touched down, the hull of the metal coffin lurching a its hydraulics stabilized it''s mass. ¡°I don''t, I just felt I should inform you of the sentients commonly held by the people of the empire who serve you,¡± Jessica replied. ¡°Well, it''s a good thing it won''t be imperial citizens who will have to deal with it,¡± Jack said as the ramp went down and he exited the dropship to the sight of two dozen white-clad people on their knees. ¡°Lord Lumenese,¡± a paladin said, snapping an imperial salute to Jack as he approached. ¡°We''ve secured the prisoners per Lady Lita¡¯s instructions. The site is awaiting your inspection.¡± Jack removed his helmet to meet the man¡¯s blue eyes. ¡°Good work Paladin, we''ll take it from here,¡± Jack said before signaling his soldiers to apprehend the prisoners who sat bound and gagged.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Although Jack had an understanding of the facility thanks to Lilith''s memories, he still needed to see it first hand and recover any data they could use against their enemies. To that end, Selfia had dispatched him with a team of techs commanded by Jessica who was already well versed in what they were calling Sensitive Site Exploitation. Jack''s job was to run security and keep the hundreds of Templars weary in case they tried anything funny. Eyeing the prisoners, Jack''s blood boiled as Lilith demanded her crimson rage be satiated, but Jack had other plans. Ones that included his new skill. ¡°I''m going to go for a little air, make sure there''s no surprises,¡± Sahaqiel said, taking off. Okay. Jack sent back, his eyes downcast at a prisoner shivering in place. *** After an hour, Jack began to get restless. Between the Templars praising him, Lilth''s constant rage, and Sahaqiel munching of any desert or treat she could find, there was nothing for him to do as he waited for reinforcements to pick up the prisoners. ¡°You must tell us lumenese, how do your wings work?¡± The paladin who had greeted Jack asked, now one of many Templars pestering him. ¡°It responds to my will, moving as a part of me,¡± Jack replied, deciding to humor the paladin and hand a feather to the man. ¡°Whoa¡­¡± The paladin said, holding the feather out to the other Templars who marbled at the silver shard that was light and malleable and began wiggling under Jack''s order. ¡°Sir,¡± Jessica¡¯s voice echoed through his earpiece. ¡°We''ve got something you should see.¡± ¡°Understood lieutenant, I''m on the way,¡± Jack said, retrieving his feather to join Jessica within the Bishop''s facility. After navigating a series of winding tunnels, Jack''s heart sunk as he stood before a room filled with cages and imperial commandos rushing about with food and medical supplies. Within the cages, children, test subjects of various ages in different stages of starvation, decomposition, or dying. Immediately Jack spun, leaving the facility as Jessica called out to him. However her words fell upon deaf ears as Jack exited the laboratory to stand upon the platform where the prisoners were being loaded onto G¨¹rteltier-class dropships. ¡°Wait!¡± Jack barked, stopping an Imperial Black Rose soldier from loading up a white clad priest into the transport. ¡°Yes? Your maj-¡± The woman said before her voice died as the prisoner she held was suddenly decapitated. The entire platform fell silent, all eyes focused on the headless body dropping to the floor. Jack flicked his bloodied hand, splattering the floor with the crimson gore. ¡°Bring them back out, and line them up,¡± Jack ordered as one High Table technician screamed at the sight of their companion. On his order the imperial soldiers with assistance of the Templars did as ordered, marching the scientists from the transport and lining them up. ¡°S-sir!¡± Jessica let out upon joining Jack strangling a High Table technician. ¡°We need them alive!¡± ¡°No we don''t,¡± Jack hissed as he grabbed a prisoner and lifted the flailing human by his head. ¡°B-but-¡± ¡°We only need their memories. Not their bodies,¡± Jack replied as he decided to get some practice in. Between Jack''s fingers, he could see the fear in the man''s eyes, his muffled pleas vibrating through his gag to touch Jack''s hand. ¡°Look into my eyes,¡± Jack ordered as a malevolent aura rose, Lilith all but happy to indulge Jack''s wishes. ¡°NmHH! MMH!¡± The man screamed, his feet kicking with his body wiggling back and forth upon Jack''s mana intruding the man. ¡°What do you see?¡± Jack said, his words ripping out the foremost memories of the man who began to cry out in agonizing pain. ¡°Mmmm! HMMMM!¡± The eyes of Jack''s victim turned golden, mirroring Jack''s eyes that glared with power as the nearby paladins tried to keep the panicking prisoners in check. ¡°What do you see?¡± Jack repeated calmly as his prey went still and tears flowed from his eyes. A connection was made, memories of dark deeds, torture, mundane days, and the man''s hopes and wishes pouring into Jack. Much like that ability has done to the Green Bishop, memories poured forth from the man''s mind. However, unlike the fanatic, the images seen by Jack were less blurry, more clear, with more images and sound. Was it because the man wasn''t an awakened? Was it because he had less force of will or less resistance? Jack didn''t know, but fortunately he had plenty of ways to test his ability. ¡°I see what you are,¡± Jack hissed before he released the man, allowing him to drop to the floor with a resounding thud as all signs of life left twitching technician. Jessica rushed forward, taking his pulse as Jack moved on. Alive, but seemingly comatose. The next High Table agent gazed at his companion and then Jack, yelling something through his gag. ¡°Remove his gag,¡± Jack said, his tone so cold all those nearby instinctually shivered. Jessica did as told, removing the man''s mouth guard with the High Tables Agent immediately groveling. ¡°Please! Please! I¡¯ll tell you anything you want! Everything!¡± The clergyman pleaded, ¡°Please! Please! My lord! King!¡± Jack cracked his fingers into a fist. ¡°That''s the neat thing, you already will,¡± Jack said as he reached out with his eyes glowing gold. AAS: SEASON 6: CH38: Tides of War ¡°Milord?¡± Jack narrowed his eyes, his gaze staring out into the distance as a frown plagued his features. ¡°Milord?¡± Jessica repeated, this time positioning herself in front of Jack who stood with crimson ichor dripping from his hands. The landing platform was silent, devoid of life besides Jack and Jessica as everyone else had vanished to spare themselves the screams of the tormented. Even the Black Rose, agents whose duty was it to capture and interrogate foes of the empire stepped away as the screams echoed into the air. Finally, Jack¡¯s eyes shifted to his adjutant, the woman startled by the gaze she received, almost as if the boy she had once known was now peering into her soul. ¡°What?¡± Jack said deadpan, his tone devoid of any emotion. ¡°What do you want us to do with the bodies?¡± Tied up and lifeless, dozens of corpses littered the platform with the once pristine floor slick with blood. ¡°Nothing, tend to the children. Destroy all relevant research, I want all systems not related to the city¡¯s propulsion destroyed,¡± Jack ordered, suddenly overcome with a need for air. Jessica hesitated, ¡°But, her Majesty-¡± ¡°I have all the relevant information we require. Destroy it, Lieutenant. Destroy it all. Nothing good will come of that data,¡± Jack said softly before donning his helmet, spreading his wings and taking flight. ¡°Sir? Sir!¡± Jessica called out but it was too late, Jack was in the air and gone. ¡°Thank you, Jack,¡± Lilith said out of the blue as Jack aimed himself towards the airship in the distance and went slow. ¡°Don''t mention it,¡± Jack replied, ignoring his HUD that began to beep repeatedly. A call from Python, no doubt to berate him for his actions. Jack ignored it and aimed himself upward, soaring into the air at top speed until the cold touch on his skin made him numb. He was above the clouds now, floating, his eyes gazing out into the distance where one could almost believe that all the terrors of the world were non-existent. Tranquility, to summarize the experience, a view many would never see in their life. ¡°Beautiful, isn¡¯t it?¡± Sahaqiel asked, materializing beside Jack.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°It is,¡± Jack replied, taking his helmet off to take in the thin air. ¡°I see why you were always on the move, staying away from the troubles of the world.¡± ¡°Up here there''s no one to bother you, no troubles to weigh you down.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Jack said, floating aimlessly in the sky. ¡°So¡­ what are you going to do?¡± Sahaqiel asked, hugging Jack and doing her best to comfort him. ¡°Speak to me, Jack.¡± ¡°I¡¯m unsure. All I know is that I need to find Jill, if they were willing to do this to children¡­¡± Jack shuddered at the thought of what could have happened to his sister. Fortunately, none of the technicians that Jack had interrogated had memories of his sister, so¡­ there was hope. Faint, but it was there. ¡°Sara, I don''t know what I would do if something happened to my sister. And¡­ If they did do something to her¡­ promise me that-¡± ¡°Nothing will-¡± Sahaqiel began but was cut off as Jack turned to her. ¡°I''ll do what needs to be done. I promise.¡± ¡°You won''t be alone,¡± Lilith said, the raven specter showing herself. ¡°Come what may, I''ll be there for you.¡± ¡°Me,¡± Ruby added, the rare spoken word by the knight causing Jack to smile slightly. ¡°Thank you,¡± Jack said as an imperial dropship appeared into view with Python radioing him once more. "These apostles... the angels. What happened to them all?" "I... I''m unsure. Remember I died, I wouldn''t know what happened after..." Sahaqiel replied, an answer Jack expected but wasn''t hoping for. "Right..." ***** 5 Days Later: Southern Front: 12 Miles outside Windermere City. Captain Colette Gemini scowled, the short-haired blonde with red eyes frowning as she read the reports beneath lamp light inside her concrete bunker. Selfia''s army was closing in, marching through the dunmass marshes with heavy land ships and walkers in tow. What was supposed to be a counter offensive to catch the Selfians off guard had ended in a bloody reversal. Poor logistics, lack of winter clothing, and deserters had put Roland on the back foot, not to mention the Selfian¡¯s newly unleashed orbital array smacking down on Roland positions and decimating all unshielded locations. Cities across the empire were burning, set aflame with causalities mounting by the hour. Several city states had already capitulated, even the nobles that had stood by Roland from the beginning were now submitting to Selfian forces. This was the end, but even now, Colette wouldn''t surrender. As a Knight of House Light, her duty was to fight for her family, to fight for those that had given her everything she had. Without them, she would still be some orphan girl starving in the streets, or worse, fodder in one of the kindersoldat groups. She owed them everything for what they had done. Colette frowned. Still¡­ not a day went by that she didn''t regret being there for her daughter. The lonely nights of explosions filled her with stray thoughts, day dreams, and sometimes even nightmares of the future she abandoned. But it was better this way. She was unfit to be a mother, truth be told she never wanted a child and didn''t know the first thing about even caring for a one. War however, this she knew. Fortunately, the winter snap and geography of the region had bought her masters time, but it was nowhere what she needed to fully secure the Light House. ¡°Captain,¡± Lieutenant Hoffman said, her adjutant stepping into the dugout bunker. ¡°King Roland has arrived and Regalia Isabella has called for you.¡± Colette sighed, ¡°Understood, Lieutenant, have the maintenance teams run diagnostics on the shield generators, the last thing we need is Selfian hellfire raining down on us.¡± ¡°Yes ma¡¯am,¡± The man snapped a salute before turning to his duties. Colette rolled her shoulders, turning around to go and tend to her duties as a Knight of House Light. AAS: SEASON 6: CH39: Old Face. Stepping off the loading ramp of the Fuck You Roland, Jack scanned the massive structure of struts, machines, and robots built to handle multiple docked airships at once. Rows of MECHFrames filled the interior, along with artillery shells, vehicles, and personnel mustering for deployment. ¡°Seems Selfia has been busy while we were away¡­ oh, incoming!¡± Sahaqiel commented as a little girl wearing a white skull cap and a blue uniform sprinted across the gunmetal hanger. ¡°DADDY!¡± Celeste squealed, leaping into Jack''s outstretched arms. ¡°Hey Princess,¡± Jack said, smiling as he picked his daughter up. From both sides of the loading ramp, the gathered formations of soldiers snapped salutes, their uniformed movements heralding the coming of the white-haired woman adorned in a blue dress with silver arms and jewelry. ¡°Welcome back my husband,¡± Selfia said, approaching with her entourage of gold-armored Bell guards, one amongst them being Leona. Amongst the crowd of thousands, Jack lowered his head in accordance with custom. ¡°Your Majesty, I''ve returned from my campaign,¡± Jack said with all the decorum of a general returning from war. ¡°So you have,¡± Selfia said, a gentle smile on her face as a reporter snapped a photo in a flash of light. **** ¡°What the FUCK were you thinking?¡± Selfia spat, visibly annoyed as the door of her armored limousine slammed shut. ¡°Language!¡± Leonas hissed, reaching over Jack to adjust Celeste¡¯s bunny-styled headphones on the child¡¯s head. ¡°I did what needed to be done,¡± Jack replied, holding Celeste who lay in his lap more concerned with playing her handheld game. ¡°What needed to be done?! You murdered twenty-six prisoners!¡± ¡°No,¡± Jack snapped towards Selfia, the pair locking eyes, ¡°I put down twenty-six monsters. I took their lives as easily as they took others. Say what you want to say, I know what I did was right and I won''t apologize for ridding the world of creatures unfit to waste the oxygen in the air.¡± Selfia pursed her lips, taken aback by Jack''s tone. However, her shock was short-lived as Jack passed an intellipad her way. ¡°What''s this?¡± ¡°All related information on the High Table that was recovered from the prisoners and the citadel.¡± Selfia looked down, swiping the screen repeatedly to read the dossier composed of paragraphs of information. ¡°This¡­¡± Selfia could scarcely believe what she was reading, ¡°Is too easy.¡± Jack glanced over to the woman before glancing back out to the streets they passed, ¡°You think so? The Green Bishop said the flying city was a gift from the Black King.¡± Selfia furrowed her brow, tapping her chin with a metallic finger. ¡°Gift,¡± Selfia scoffed, ¡°This is definitely a trap¡­ Or a means to tie up our resources while he sucks off my brother.¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°You mean a diversion?¡± ¡°Could be,¡± Selfia frowned, ¡°The last holdouts of my brother''s forces are collapsing and whatever hasn''t capitulated will be ours within a month or two. If the High Table were to make a move it would be amidst the chaos of several ongoing operations. Throw in a few misdirects-¡± Selfia held the tablet up and pointed at it, ¡°-And it would tie us up nicely while whatever shenanigans he''s got planned happens.¡± ¡°So what do you think we do?¡± Jack said, leaning forward. ¡°We hit them,¡± Selfia said, lowering the pad. ¡°We hit them all and leave not a single place unturned.¡± Jack frowned, ¡°So you want us to play into his hand?¡± ¡°We hit them but we do it on our terms,¡± Selfia said, leaning back in her chair. ¡°And how do you plan on doing that?¡± Selfia smirked, a wiry smile on the Queen''s face. ¡°Well if the plan is to waste our resources and split our manpower, we''ll just hit them so fast whatever plans he''s got cooked won''t have the opening to deploy.¡± ¡°You make it sound simple,¡± Jack said, petting Celeste''s head who was now fast asleep and drooling onto his lap. ¡°If I was still the princess with a large triad backing this would be a problem, but hiroshimaing several buildings on land I own? To stomp out a genocidal cult? Yeah, no problem, can have this done in a week now that I don''t have a council of old geezers to entertain,¡± Selfia giggled maniacally, ¡°Of course if nuking them isn''t in the equation this is what Checkmate was made for, the strategic elimination of High Table assets. I''ll have tier-one units move onto the sites. If wasting resources is the name of the game, the Imperium has infinite to spare.¡± Jack grunted, looking down at his daughter and then back up. ¡°Whats hieroshimaing?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, anyway of course we''ll have to deal with my brother first. The war is almost over but the sooner his forces are dealt with the more manpower I¡¯ll have to spare,¡± Selfia said, handing Jack a tablet. ¡°Of course, You could always help.¡± Jack''s heart dropped, his eyes going wide at the aerial image of a blonde woman with short hair wearing red armor. ¡°Colette?¡± Jack said, his voice breaking slightly. It had been four years since last he saw the former bodyguard of Victoria. Four years since they last spoke. Four years since Celeste was born. Jack immediately looked down at their daughter who was nearly five and then back the picture of her absent mother. ¡°It so turns out that the defense of this fortified city is being helmed by the Regalia of House Light with none other than Colette commanding one of its many trench lines,¡± Selfia said as she stared intently at Jack, almost as if she were reading his reactions. ¡°Windermere is a heavily fortified port city and to siege and capture the city could take months.¡± ¡°So you want me to talk to her? Convince her to betray her house?¡± Jack asked, turning the tablet off and making sure Celeste was asleep before speaking in a hushed whisper. ¡°She gave up our daughter, what makes you think she''d listen to me?¡± ¡°I hold no illusions of managing to convince a loyalist like Colette to defect. Believe me, I tried. I just wanted to give you the chance. My army is on the march and House Light is impending us. I only care about her because you do, but to me she is just another enemy.¡± Jack sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. ¡°I don''t understand, if the war is basically over why is House Light fighting still?¡± Jack asked. ¡°Because even if they surrender they''ll all be hanged,¡± Selfia said bluntly. ¡°What?¡± Now it was Selfia''s turn to sigh. ¡°The condition of your Aunt''s support. From your reaction I can see you don''t know this so I''ll fill you in,¡± Selfia said, the limo now parked in front of their mansion. ¡°Before Roland attempted his secession bullshit, House Light was under orders by my mother to eliminate House Bell. After your fight with Lancelot, it became open season on any and all Bell familia members. Hundreds died, be they Bell familia or simply someone that had spoken to one in passing. Of course your Aunt and I knew this would happen, and made arrangements to mitigate this, but because of the chaos of the invasion, many Bell members were isolated and hunted down by members of House Light.¡± Jack listened to the words and processed them intently, knowing that what came next was still more words he didn''t want to hear. ¡°So they''ll fight to the end¡­¡± Jack muttered, looking down at the image of Colette barking orders at several Roland soldiers. ¡°I know what she means to you and I''d be appalled if I was the one responsible for taking Celeste''s mom away from her,¡± Selfia said as the car came to a stop outside their palace. ¡°Maybe you can do something.¡± ¡°Tch, more like push the responsibility on us,¡± Lilith hissed inwardly. ¡°Yeah, maybe,¡± Jack said as he attempted to wake Celeste gently. ¡°Mhhhhm,¡± Celeste groaned. ¡°Come on honey, time to get up.¡± Instead of sitting up, Celeste closed her eyes, cuddling up to Jack who then resigned his fate as that of a pillow for his daughter. AAS: SEASON 6: CH39.5: Lice AAS: SEASON 6: CH39.5: Lice Surrounded by a mountain of pillows, plushies, and laying on a couch, Jack rubbed Ada¡¯s swollen belly as the pair watched an old movie on a seventy-inch TV screen. ¡°I missed you my love,¡± Ada said, lovingly stroking Jack''s head as he pressed his ear to her stomach. ¡°I missed you too,¡± Jack replied, before recoiling as he felt Ada¡¯s stomach shift. Ada giggled, ¡°You should see the look on your face.¡± ¡°Did-¡± ¡°He kick? Yeah, he''s really reactive when people touch his momma,¡± Ada said, rubbing her stomach. Jack blinked, taken aback before Ada guided his hand back to her stomach. ¡°He? How do you know it''s a boy?¡± Jack asked, an odd mix of wonderment, fascination, and joy welling up within. ¡°I just do,¡± Ada assured. ¡°Ada¡­¡± Jack sighed, retracting his hand. ¡°I want to ask you something.¡± ¡°Hm? What is it?¡± ¡°If I do a bad thing for the greater good, do the ends justify the means?¡± Jack asked, his eyes narrowing as he adopted a serious tone unfamiliar to Ada. Eyeing her lover, Ada could see something weighed heavily on him. ¡°I think¡­ if it was done with good intentions¡­ and done out of love, then everything will be ok,¡± Ada assured, caressing Jack¡¯s cheek before pivoting the topic. ¡°So, how is Yukino? I tried reaching out but she hasn''t responded.¡± ¡°We got into a bit of a fight,¡± Jack sighed. ¡°I''m sorry. It was my idea that you two talk,¡± Ada said, sinking into the couch. ¡°She''s been really off since waking up but I thought it''d be good for her.¡± ¡°Oh we talked, then she grabbed my dick and-¡± ¡°WHAT?!¡± Ada snapped, sitting up with alarm on her face as Jack felt a pulse of power. ¡°Oh¡­ I take it you weren''t-¡± ¡°Aware?! No! I told her to talk to you! Not try and get dicked down!¡± Ada shrieked, ¡°Oh I knew she''d try something. Like, I don''t mind too much, it''s understandable and I''m willing to share you. I mean, I myself think about your-¡± ¡°Okaaay, honey, relax. You''ll stress the baby out,¡± Jack said, coaxing the flustered Ada to lay back down. She shot him a predatory look, one that he knew all too well that made Jack flinch. ¡°Wait, Ada-!¡± Ada attempted to pounce at Jack, yet contrary to her expectations, all Ada could do was lift herself slightly. ¡°Hrn!¡± Ada let out, wiggling. ¡°Hrrrn!¡±This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°You okay?¡± Jack asked, standing across the room. Tears began to fall from Ada¡¯s face. ¡°Uggghk I hate being pregnant! Look at what you did to me!¡± Ada screamed, throwing her arms up in defeat. ¡°I can''t even move! I''m a hippo! A hippo!¡± ¡°Babe you''re not a hippo,¡± Jack assured, skirting around the room. ¡°Yes I am! I''m chunky! Big ol chunk! You''re gonna leave me for that tight piece of ass!¡± Ada yelled, reaching out to Jack. ¡°Come here so I can tear your shirt off with my teeth! I''m tired of being so pent up!¡± ¡°Ada I''m not going to leave you.¡± ¡°YOU''RE LITERALLY LEAVING NOW!¡± Selfia spat, pointing at Jack who was standing beside the door, ¡°Do you even love me anymore?!¡± ¡°Of course I do! You''re the fire in my heart, the light in my world covered in darkness,¡± Jack replied, his words handpicked by Sahaqiel. ¡°I love you more than life itself honey.¡± ¡°Do you like Yuki?¡± Ada sobbed. ¡°I mean she''s pretty-¡± ¡°NOOOOOO!¡± Sahaqiel yelled. ¡°Idiot.¡± ¡°Get out,¡± Ada hissed, her eyes flaring with rage. ¡°Huh?¡± Jack said, ¡°I SAID GET OUT! I CAN''T HAVE YOUR BIG DICK OUT HERE TEASING ME! Go fuck your whores!¡± Ada screamed, flinging multiple pillows at Jack until he fled. **** Walking through the halls of the Imperial palace, Jack sighed as he contemplated what he was going to do in regards to Colette. Between Lita''s flying city, his sister''s whereabouts, and juggling Ada¡¯s pregnancy and the High Table¡¯s shenanigans, there was a lot going on that he needed to do. ¡°Uhm, your Majesty.¡± Jack turned to the timid voice behind him. ¡°Kamila? Are you on the way to Ada¡¯s room?¡± Jack asked, noting the woman had a tray of food. ¡°Y-yes, welcome back,¡± Kamila said, bowing to Jack. ¡°I didn''t see you when I got here, where have you been hiding?¡± Jack asked, ruffling the short woman''s head out of habit. ¡°N-n-no! Just busy is all¡­¡± Kamila said as Jack eyed the short girl up and down. ¡°Ada¡¯s been super cranky so I''ve been taking care of her.¡± ¡°Is that so? Thanks,¡± Jack said, his hand resting on Kamila¡¯s soft cheek. If there was one thing Jack could agree with Ada on, it was that he was feeling pent up too, especially after the fiasco with Yukino that had made his lower region tense. ¡°Uhm¡­ I should get going, Ada needs her tea.¡± ¡°Yeah, I''ll see you later, okay?¡± ¡°Uhm, okay,¡± Kamila said, tucking her chin into her skirt to hide her blush. ¡°Daddy! Dad! Dad!¡± Celeste¡¯s voice called out, the little girl running up to Jack and hugging his leg. ¡°Hey Princess, what''s going on?¡± Jack said, picking his daughter up. ¡°I have lice!¡± Celeste said jubilantly. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Lice!¡± Celeste repeated. ¡°Oh there you are!¡± Leona exclaimed, the woman out of breath as she turned a corner and spotted Jack and Celeste. ¡°Hold her still! I need to put this Lice cap on her!¡± ¡°No! NO! It makes my head itchy!¡± Celeste protested, squirming out of Jack''s arms only to be tackled by the red-haired woman. ¡°Your head is itchy because you have bugs on them!¡± Leona yelled, pinning Celeste down and trying to place a translucent hat on her head. ¡°They''re not bugging me!¡± ¡°You better put this hat on or I¡¯ll tell Auntie Kamila not to bake any cookies for you!¡± Leona roared, dragging the little girl by her ankles as she clawed at the ground in a desperate bid to escape her fate. ¡°Daddy! Dad! Daddy help me!¡± Celeste pleaded, reaching for her father whose hand reacted and sent Leona flying with a gush of wind. ¡°I''ve got you, baby girl, daddy''s here,¡± Jack said, holding his daughter close as she sobbed into his chest. ¡°What was that for?!¡± Leona roared, the red-haired firecracker peeling herself out of a nearby wall. ¡°She has lice!¡± ¡°So? If she''s sick I''ll take care of her,¡± Jack replied, gently rubbing Celeste¡¯s head and preparing to take her away.. ¡°She''s not sick! She has a bug infestation on her head, you idiot!¡± Leona yelled before Jack looked down at his daughter rubbing her head all over his chest. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Jack let out as he suddenly felt itchy. AAS: SEASON 6: CH40: iNTERMission ¡°Nice hat,¡± Selfia said as a buzzcut Jack sat across from her with a lice cap on his head. ¡°Thanks¡­¡± Jack groaned, reaching over and taking the intellipad from the desk. ¡°Anything from Lita and Python?¡± ¡°Yes, you''ll be happy to know that the city has passed inspection and is on its way to Hoshido. Kenichi isn''t happy about it but Di''luk- is keeping him amenable.¡± The edges of Jack¡¯s lip raised slightly. Good for him. ¡°The children?¡± Jack asked, seeing no report on them. ¡°I''ve tasked my personal physician, Alencia to handle that. As we speak all three dozen are on their way here to a facility so we can diagnose and figure out treatment plans.¡± Lilith stirred, clearly not enjoying the fact that the children were being moved into another facility. ¡°Selfia, just to be clear, I don''t want them being put in a Kindersoldat group,¡± Jack said, ¡°Or used in some experiment.¡± ¡°They won''t, the program is nearly phased out anyway, once the war is won, there''ll be no need for child soldiers anymore,¡± Selfia assured, something that gave Jack comfort. ¡°In fact, I''m thinking about raising the age limit on enlistees, maybe have it mandatory that they all attend academies instead. What do you think?¡± Jack raised a brow. ¡°You want my thoughts on political affairs? That''s your game, not mine.¡± ¡°Jack, you''re my husband and I value your opinion. Even if our marriage was a sham, you''re the only one besides Python who¡¯s willing to call me out if I''m doing wrong. So, your thoughts?¡± Selfia said with calm sincerity Jack wasn''t used to from the woman. Jack looked away. ¡°Wait, hey! Are you fucking blushing right now?!¡± ¡°No,¡± Jack mumbled under his breath, his hand obscuring part of his face. ¡°Stop! Stop at once!¡± Selfia yelled, bouncing a rubber ball off of Jack''s head. ¡°I think it''s a good move, a step to a better future,¡± Jack said after recovering, ¡°I''ve been reading Tangerine¡¯s files, and I heard what happened to the rest of his squad. I''ve been thinking, but I want him discharged from the military, maybe attend the academy...¡± Selfia went silent, all traces of mirth gone. ¡°I can''t do that. Not at this stage.¡± Jack frowned, ¡°And why not?¡± ¡°He''s an ace. Outside of Bytra he''s one of our best pilots and too much military hardware and funding has already been spent on hi-¡± ¡°Wait, yesterday you told me that the Empire had a surplus of soldiers, and now you''re telling me you can''t spare one teenage pilot?¡± ¡°Look, after we win the war, maybe. The truth is Tangerine has some of the best performance of all our Aces. Even Director York¡¯s daughter has trouble matching up and shes-¡± Selfia trailed off, what words she was about to say dying as she met Jack''s eyes. ¡°I''ll see what I can do, but he''s old enough to make his own choices. Have you given any thought about Colette?¡± Jack sighed, ¡°Yeah, I''ll lead the assault on Windermere. See if I can''t talk to her.¡± ¡°And if she doesn''t surrender?¡± Jack¡¯s eyes held a dangerous glint. ¡°I won''t kill her if that''s what you''re asking. But I guarantee the city will fall,¡± Jack said, wondering if Hoffman here what he would say about it, ¡°Have you heard anything new about Jill¡¯s location?¡± ¡°Nothing. If what you said is true my spies would have picked something up, but no news of a girl matching her description has reached us.¡± Jack pursed his lips, leaning back in his chair. ¡°Fuck.¡± ¡°Are you sure Roland has her?¡± Selfia asked, her hand moving a file away stamped with the logo Khloros. ¡°Yes, I''m sure of it,¡± Jack said, flexing his hands. ¡°Have you gotten anything from the Bishop?¡± ¡°You mean our resident vegetable? Besides drooling everywhere nothing. What did you do to him?¡± Selfia asked. ¡°I opened up his mind,¡± Jack replied before getting up. ¡°What''s our timetable for the invasion?¡± ¡°I can give you a day to prep, I know you just got back but war waits for no one.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jack turned, moving to leave Selfia''s office. ¡°Oh! Your grandma says hi! And Victoria wants to know if you''re gonna call her. Whatever the fuck that means,¡± Selfia called out as Jack left the office. Jack paused, his eyes downcast, ¡°Windermere¡­¡± **** Standing in the courtyard of the palace Jack exhaled, the air leaving his lungs as he meditated and felt the mana surrounding him. Beside him, Lilith and Sahaqiel, the two acting in concert to regulate the flow of energy in and out of his body and around his core. ¡°Your core is looking good Jack, real strong, there''s barely any cracks now,¡± Sahaqiel said. ¡°In fact, you don¡¯t even need me anymore.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll always need you Sara,¡± Jack replied, causing the angel to swoon comically. ¡°Are we done? I have things I want to do,¡± Lilith hissed, crossing her arms as her black wings flapped gently. ¡°You mean stalk my daughter?¡± Jack muttered causing Lilith to scowl. ¡°I''m not stalking her like some creep! I''m making sure she''s safe!¡± ¡°Aw, you actually have a heart!¡± Sahaqiel teased with Lilith snapping at the angel.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Jack opened his eyes, pulling up his system. ¡ª- Angel System Status Level 10 TITLE: Nephilim [Regeneration++ Mana Synthesis++] User: Jack Tanjihiro Chae-wong Total Class Level: 15 HP 500/500 Soul Ignite [ERROR!] CLASS: Key Holder Level 3 CLASS: White Mage Level 3* CLASS: Wind Aesir Level 10* MP 186/322[050/300] [Reservoir] Free Points: 30 AFFINITIES LIGHT[40] WIND[75] FIRE[25] ABYSSAL[25] STATS: STRENGTH: 75 VITALITY: 50 SENSE: 45 AGILITY: 40 ARCANA: 170 POTENTIAL: 17 SOUL STRENGTH: 10 Spiritrons Available: 3(View list) Spiritron Slotted: Ruby Viole Lamprouge(Loyal) Summon Class: Soulfire Shielder(70MP) Usable Skills: Wall of Immovable Chalk(20MP), Moonlight Roar(30MP), Spirit imbue(20MP), Energy Blast/SV(15MP), indomitable Spirit(30MP). Guard(10MP). [BUFFS]: Partial Rune of Atalanta(Left+Right Leg+10 Agility modifier) Weakened Sigil of Gehenna(Left arm+3 Strength),Fractional Blessing of Sahaqiel(+20 Wind Affinity+10 Light Affinity) Skill Siphoning. Pain Tolerance LvL 4. Sense of Bodily Self(Detect bodily belongings) Mental Fortitude LvL 1, Fire Resistance LvL 2, Mana Control LvL 5, Apprentice of the Wind(+5 Wind Affinity) Mana Recovery LvL 3(Passive Recovery+5 MP/s), Elemental Resistance LvL1, Streamline LvL1.(Reduce mana cost of skills), Ride the Lightning, Lightweight+, Aesir constitution. Nephilim Constitution. Mana Resistance LvL 1. Blessed(+2 Potential). [DEBUFFS]: [?1h^&a)o3¡±] Soul Binding -20MP, Soul Fracture, System Disruption. [RESISTANCES]: +10 Radiation +75 Anti-Curse, +105 Anti-Corruption. +10 Inertia +15 Fire Resistance +20 Mental resistance, +5 Paralytic Resistance, +10 Freeze Resistance, +5 Poison Resistance, +5 Light resistance, +5 Void Resistance, +5 Wind resistance, +5 Life Resistance. SKILLS [Slot 1]: Authority of Gehenna LvL 3 (Absorb Mana and dominate it at a short distance.) [Slot 2]: Fira LvL 4: (Let loose a burst of hot flames from palm. Toggle to continuously drain MP to maintain flame effect) 10MP(10/s)(AUG1: Extension) [Slot 4]: Wind Blade LvL 5: (Condense wind into a blade and fire it, now with increased range and sharper potency) 1MP [Slot 4]: Dash LvL 3: (Acquire a burst of speed. Toggle to continuously drain MP to maintain speed) 5 MP (2/s) [Slot 5]: Eyes of the Angel: {Focus your sight. Analyze creatures as you see them.} [5 MP Keybind not set] -20 HP to copy a skill [Slot 6]: Organic Consume LvL EX: (Extend your mana to dissolve items to replenish nutrients, items depend on the complexity of the material.) MP (1) [Slot 7]: Healing Hands LvL 5: (Extend your mana to stitch flesh back together. Toggle to continuously drain MP to expedite healing using the target''s bodily resources.) 2MP(10/s) [Slot 8]: Flash Bang LvL 2: (Release a blast of bright mana, stunning foes. Delay function) 15MP [Slot 9]: Smite Ray LvL 3: (Unleash a blast of Light infused mana from above at your target, smiting them) 15MP [Slot 10]: Soothe LvL 5: (Using your mana, you help to ease the pain of others.) 1MP [Slot 11]: Regenerate LvL 7: (Circulate your mana to quickly regenerate yourself and others. Uses bodily resources.) 2MP/s 15HP/s [Slot 12]: Mana Barrier LvL 4: (Conjure a physical barrier of mana to blunt attacks) 20MP [Slot 13]: Wind Sphere LvL 4: (Form a large-sized ball of skin tearing air in your palms. Accelerate the wind by expending more mana) 5MP(5/s) [Slot 14]: Gust LvL EX: (Conjure an adjustable gust of biting wind, can be manipulated based on energy consumed) 3MP [Slot 15]: Shocking Touch LvL 3: (Utilize your mana to send an electric shock to anything you touch, can expend mana to [Slot 16]: Windshield LvL 3: Pressurize wind to conjure a protective barrier of cutting wind.) MP 15( [Slot 17]:Feather Fall LvL 2: (Designate an area to manipulate wind to conjure a rising dampening effect to cushion impact.) 10MP/s [Slot 18]: Lightning Bolt LvL 3: (Conjure an electric charge and shock targets at close to medium range.) 10MP [Slot 19]:Mana Release LvL EX: (Radiate mana to let your presence known) (1-Max capacity)MP [Slot 20]: [ATTACHE SKILL]: Daedalus Armory: Control the feathers of Daedalus as if they were an extension of yourself. (5-100) MP/ Keybind{Eleanor} 45/60 Feathers. [Slot 21] Dispel Curse LvL 1: (Disrupt and dispel curse effects. Effectiveness varies depending on curse and level. Warning! Skill may have unintended side effects!) [Slot 22] Heal LvL 5: (Using your magical power and life force you inject healing into another.) 60HP/10MP [Slot 23] Shell LvL1: (Conjure a shell of magical power to shield yourself.) 15MP/s [Slot 24] Purify LvL 3: (Inject light energy to counteract corruptive forces.) 35MP [Slot 25] Energize LvL 3: (Course lightning through your body to accelerate your reflexes). 10 MP/s [Slot 26] Wind Cage LvL 4: (Form a cage of cutting wind, slashing anyone that attempts to break free). 25MP [Slot 27] Lightning Imbue LvL4:(Imbue an object with lingering lightning) 15MP [Slot 28] Volt Repulse LvL 4: (Channel electricity in your core before blasting the area around you, delay to charge your body with energize) 20MP/s Chargable. [Slot 29] Frost Breath LvL 2: (Channel Mana and release a breath of chilling fog, obscuring vision and inflicting chill on those entering within the mist. 20MP) [Slot 30] Fulmination LvL 1: Project an untamed blast of lightning, scorching and disintergrating everything around you. 150MP [Slot 31] Hover LvL 6: Gather Mana to adjust your weight, allowing your body to hover in place for a short time. 5MP/S [Slot 32] Pores Fog LvL 1: (Emit a magical fog from your body that is difficult to dispel. 50MP) [Slot 33] Harden LvL 2: Use mana to condense your skin cells, strengthening them against sharp and piercing blows.] [Slot 34] Telekinetic Hold LvL 1: Use mana to bind something with your will. 40 MP/S) [Slot 35] Flash Freeze LvL 1: Condense mana and rapidly lower the temperature of a touched object to freeze it. 30 MP) Thanks to his recent incursion into the theocracy he had picked up a few new skills, and leveled a few new skills granting him increased efficiency for the most part. And after killing so many demonspawn and humans, his wind aseir class had finally reached its max level, allowing him to advance his class. Still, despite having access to true magic, the system still granted him access to different skills and allowed him to track his progress, a useful tool despite not being as reliant on the system. Jack frowned, eyeing the curated advancements Sahaqiel had picked out. [Living Lightning: You are attuned with the raw natural power of lightning. Within you is a spark that is as raw and chaotic as the storms that have laid waste to entire cities.] [Wind Seraphim: Sahaqiel was the first of the gods to take flight. As a gifted being saturated in the energies of the air, you walk the path of the first angel, spreading your metaphorical wings and soaring freely with bolt and wind in your arsenal so that not may touch you.] [Thunder Bringer: The quake of thunder heralds your arrival. As the embodiment of thunder, you command the awe and ire of others. You are an apex lightning bender, and any who stands up to you will be silenced with a boom.] Jack eyed his class selections. Compared to others, his class progression was lightning-fast, but he couldn''t help but lament his wasted time and effort. Maybe he could break through to a full angel to be stronger? But Sahaqiel didn''t know how and Jack''s evolution seemed to have come to a crawl, forcing Jack to rely on his system once more. ¡°Tanjii?¡± Yukino said, her voice breaking his concentration. Ah, about time. Jack said to himself before turning to face the woman. AAS: SEASON 6: CH41: Love? AAS: SEASON 6: CH41: Love? ¡°So, how are you feeling?¡± Jack said, drying his sweating body with a towel. After sitting so long under the sunlight Jack''s body now sported a flattering tan. One of which made Yukino unable to stare at the man who towered over her. ¡°Better, I wanted to apologize about-¡± ¡°Look, don''t mention it,¡± Jack said, ¡°You weren''t in a good spot and honestly I didn''t think it was a good idea to drag you out with us.¡± ¡°No, I needed the air¡­¡± Yukino said as Jack gestured to her to take a seat on a nearby green mat where a floral pattern white tea set sat. ¡°So, how are you feeling?¡± Jack said, passing a small jiang tea cup to Yuki. ¡°Is this?¡± ¡°From Hoshido? Yeah, a gift from Mo Ye,¡± Jack said, fishing out a letter and handing it to Yuki. ¡°The village is coming along nicely, with the imperial techs helping to build, she''s been exploring new hobbies.¡± Yuki eyed the oriental cup, a small smile on her face before she set it down on the mat. ¡°Tanji¡­ I think, I hate you.¡± Jack sipped his tea and adjusted his shorts, ¡°Yeah, I think I hate me too. So, let''s talk.¡± *** As Jack watched a now humming Yukino go, he sighed. ¡°Are you sure you''re okay leaving it like that?¡± Sahaqiel asked, materializing beside Jack. ¡°It''s for the best right now,¡± Jack said as he clenched his fist. ¡°I need to keep her away and busy until Ivan''s no longer useful. Plus Kenichi can use an annoying voice to pester him.¡± ¡°But sending her back home?¡± ¡°Ignore her, she''s just horny,¡± Lilith hissed with Sahaqiel scowling. ¡°I liked it better when you didn''t talk.¡± ¡°I would like it better if you two got along better,¡± Jack said as he began setting the tea set to the side for Kamila who entered the courtyard with a cart. ¡°Are you done?¡± Kamila asked, averting her gaze from Jack''s upper body. ¡°You know you don''t have to be shy around me right? It''s not like we haven''t seen each other naked,¡± Jack chuckled, causing Kamila to blush. ¡°It''s still embarrassing¡­¡± Kamila said, before handing Jack a new cup of aromatic tea. ¡°Uhm, here you go, I made this for you.¡± ¡°Huh? Thanks,¡± Jack said, sniffing the black liquid that smelled similar to a rose. Was this mixed with roses? Jack took a sip, blinking a few times as he tried to ascertain the taste and flavor.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Minty? With a hint of cinnamon? What is this? ¡°Do you like it?¡± Kamila asked, looking at Jack earnestly as if expecting something. ¡°It''s not bad, very different. What in this?¡± Jack asked, taking another sip. ¡°Just some stuff to help blood flow and mana circulation,¡± Kamila said as Jack rubbed his hand that seemed oddly sweaty. ¡°Here, a cookie.¡± ¡°Oh, thanks,¡± Jack said, taking the treat that looked like a chocolate chip cookie only to be very¡­ bland? Something Jack wasn''t used to from Kamila. ¡°Hey, I''ve been meaning to thank you for looking after¡­¡± Jack paused, suddenly feeling his body temperature rising. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Kamila asked, cocking he head to the side as she bit her lower lip, moving closer to Jack. Jack downed his tea, attempting to wash the dryness of the cookie away. ¡°Yeah¡­ just¡­ huh¡­¡± Jack began to feel hot, real hot with his mind fuzzy as he tried to process what was happening. Had he been poisoned? No. Jack''s system would have notified him and he didn''t think Kamila would hurt him¡­ would she? ¡°Ada is asleep and Leona is with Celeste at school,¡± Kamila said, tucking her chin into her scarf as she approached the stumbling Jack. ¡°The Queen is giving a speech today so the palace is empty¡­¡± ¡°Kam¡­ Kamila¡­ what did you do to me?¡± Jack hissed, rousing his mana as Kamila pressed her hand against his bare chest with her head resting on his pects. Suddenly Jack''s pants became tight, his body overcome with desire as his eyes snapped to Kamila. She licked her lips, scrambling back as the hungry animal suddenly advanced on her. **** ¡°Uggghh this fucking sucks!¡± Selfia let out, slamming a beer mug onto the bar table as she laid her blonde head down. ¡°What''s wrong, Selti?¡± Kale said, the bartender pouring the queen-in-disguise another glass of vodka before he went back to juggling his either clientele. ¡°Just boy troubles¡­¡± Selfia sighed, stirring her drink lazily. ¡°Kale, how do you get a boy to like you?¡± The bartender raised a brow, ¡°Why are you asking me? I''ve never dated a man.¡± ¡°I don''t know, you''re a guy, I just thought¡­¡± Selfia sighed again as Python sat beside her slack-jawed. ¡°Can I go home now? I have reports I need to work on,¡± Python asked. ¡°No! That''s an order!¡± Selfia spat, downing her glass. ¡°Besides, if you leave you won''t get to meet the love of your life!¡± It was Python''s turn to scowl. Dressed in slacks and a green button-up shirt, Python sat beside Selfia and nursed his glass of whiskey. After being refused by Jack, Selfia had no one to hang out with except for Violet who only stared and Leona busy chasing Celeste around. In short¡­ Selfia had no friends. ¡°Please don''t tell me you brought me here to set me up,¡± Python groaned. ¡°You need to get laid, plus I''m tired of you mohping all the time!¡± ¡°Mohping? I don''t mohp lass,¡± Python said as a brunette woman wearing a Selfian uniform entered the bar. ¡°CC!¡± Selfia shot up, hugging her friend. ¡°Selti!¡± The sergeant cried, returning Selfia''s excitement with a hug. ¡°Oh it''s so good to see you!¡± As the two embraced Python looked away, focusing instead on his glass as the two women began to speak in increasingly excited high-pitched voices. I should have pretended to be sick¡­ Python lamented. ¡°Whiskey neat please,¡± CC said, taking a seat between Selfia and Python and reaching out with a hand to great Python. ¡°Hi, I''m- wait, I know you.¡± ¡°Do you?¡± Python replied, uninterested. Although the woman wasn''t bad looking he just had too much on his mind. ¡°Yeah, you''re Python Est, you were there at Frelia,¡± The woman scowled, ¡°You''re the reason my sister died.¡± The noise pollution of the bar audibly dimmed, several of the patrons within eyeing the duo as the bartender narrowed his eyes with his hand gripping an icecrusher. ¡°I''ve been responsible for alot of people dying, you''ll have to be specific,¡± Python grunted, turning away nonchalantly from the non-awakened woman to focus on his daylily and his drink. ¡°Diana Colt,¡± CC said, staring at Python with an almost accusatory look. ¡°Do you remember her?¡± At the name Python paused, his gaze fixed on his glass. ¡°Eighty-Ninth-C, kindersoldat group out of Bakor. Fluent in Cintelize?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± CC said as the bartender delivered her glass of whiskey. ¡°So watcha been up to dick?¡± Python sighed, turning his gaze to Selfia who held two thumbs up. AAS: SEASON 6: CH42: Briefing for the Seige of Windermere ¡°With the activation of the old Earth orbital relays and weaponized satellites, Selfian forces have brought the Roland army to its knees. Fresh from his conquest of the Cintelli Theocracy, King Consort Jack Cordellica, son of the infamous Queen Slayer, now turns his attention towards Windermere and the last bastions of the Roland army. Could this be the dawning of a new age? This researcher is on his heels as to what comes next¡±- Loyd Hawk On his Talk to Ya Podcast. **** Aboard the Fuck You Roland, Jack rubbed his head from the headache forming in his mind as he sat at his desk being yelled at by the voice coming from his intellipad. ¡°For the last time, I don''t remember any of that,¡± Jack said as Ada continued to yell. Of course, all he remembered was drinking tea given to him by Kamila, but both Sahaqiel and Lilith were being oddly quiet about the event. ¡°How could you not?! Leona still can''t walk straight and all Kamila does is blush and day dream about yo-¡± ¡°Daddy!¡± Celeste called out, appearing into view. ¡°Hey honey,¡± Jack said, a wide smile on his face, happy about the interruption. ¡°How''s your day princess?¡± ¡°Good! Ho-sook got me candy!¡± Celeste exclaimed, hyperly bouncing up and down whilst flashing a smile filled with colorful leftovers. ¡°Ah¡­ Really? I''ll have to talk to her,¡± Jack smiled outwardly, regretting putting the teenager on bodyguard duty. ¡°Well at least she''s having fun.¡± Sahaqiel said before Celeste was dragged off of Ada¡¯s bed by a certain green-haired Duchess who waved to the screen before leaving. Suddenly footsteps vibrating against the floor nearby, judging from the gait it was Jessica here to get him for his briefing. ¡°I¡¯ll be right there!¡± Jack called out before turning back to Ada. ¡°Oooh. You aren''t off the hook mister!¡± Ada hissed before her expression softened, ¡°Please be safe, I love you. I don''t want to be a single mother.¡± ¡°You won''t be, I love you too,¡± Jack said, kissing her hand and placing it over the screen before he signed off. Taking a moment, Jack eyed his system, having selected his new class, Wind Seraphim, his attunement with the wind had escalated his sensitivity to changes in the air. This included the vibrations of people walking including the sounds and noises of a thousand souls moving in tandem on the ship. It had taken a moment, but thanks to Sahaqiel he was able to suppress the noises. Was he stronger? Not much, his natural mana manipulation was stronger than the system taught skills, but it at least augmented his skill set. Jack donned his uniform coat adorned with medals and exited his cabin, walking towards the ship''s observation deck where he could see the bulk of his troops mustered below. Three thousand infantrymen, including one platoon of tanks, a company of MECHFrames and one squadron of fighter pilots with a wing of bombers. The SIA: Fuck You Roland was a King Raven-Class airship, one of six in service to the Selfian Imperial Air Force. With its array of support weapons, 120mm and 380mm cannons, it could take on an entire city whilst fending off demonspawn attacks with its CIWs.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. The same kind of ship that had taken on and held off an entire Cintelli invasion force to buy Frelia time. Now it was underway to join the assault on Windermere with its entire arsenal under Jack''s command. ¡°Lord Consort,¡± Jessica said, bowing her head. ¡°Admiral Skirita and Director York are waiting for you on the command deck.¡± ¡°Then let''s not keep them waiting,¡± Jack said, turning with his adjutant following him. ¡°His Majesty, Lord Consort!¡± Jessica announced upon entering the bridge, summoning all hands to salute their king. Clean shaven, hair cut, Jack held all the markings of a military officer. Enough so that Admiral Skirita and the former sergeant turned Director, Mr. York, did a double take upon eyeing the man who had once been a wide-eyed teen. ¡°At ease,¡± Jack said, waving the soldiers off as he walked to the holodeck. ¡°Admiral, bring me up to speed.¡± Director York smirked, ¡°You heard the King, Admiral,¡± ¡°We are an hour away from the Windermere staging point,¡± Skirita said, the gray-haired officer sitting on his command chair and beckoning to the display that showed all fifteen battle groups descending on the fortified city. ¡°Once we link up with the other battlegroups, we will disembark our ground forces before moving to skirmish the Roland Air Force.¡± ¡°Skirmish? Why not try and achieve air dominance?¡± Jack asked, eyeing the army of land ships, aircraft, and battlegroups surrounding the city. At Skirita¡¯s command, Lieutenant Harper stepped forward, changing the screen. ¡°Roland forces are dug in and have at their disposal a retinue of anti-ship emplacements protected by mage officers and MECHFrames. Combined with their Air Fleet, a full frontal assault on their forward defensive line would result in a forty-five percent combat effectiveness reduction of our forces,¡± Lieutenant Harper reported, a fancy way of saying a lot of people would die. ¡°We''ve had the AIs run the analytics and multiple battle sims, and while victory over Windermere is guaranteed, the casualty rates to blitz the city are unsustainable for our ongoing campaign.¡± ¡°So what''s our plan?¡± ¡°Our airships on station will only be able to provide limited air coverage for our ground forces until those guns are down. So the first stage of our operation is to locate and eliminate the enemy emplacements. Given the situation, it is highly probable that Roland command is aware of our intentions and have stationed mage officers to protect their defenses. So it will be a heavy fight. After the enemy AA are dealt with, we''ll move in with the rest of our fleet to destroy the enemy trenches before assaulting the city proper.¡± Jack studied the map, looking for Colette''s position. ¡°Okay, before we begin our assault I want to issue a call of surrender to the Roland forces,¡± Jack said, surveying the gathered officers. "If we can reduce the casualties we ought to try. I want a unit dedicated to accepting prisoners and housing them.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Skirita said, ¡°I''m aware of your special situation. Make no mistake Lord Consort, while you are officially in charge of this campaign, operational command still belongs to me. You are here as a special attache, if your actions jeopardize the security of our war effort, I will do what needs to be done in order to fulfill our Queen''s orders. ¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Jack replied, all too happy to relinquish tactical command to someone else. After all, his skills were best suited to punching things rather than planning and strategizing. ¡°What can I do to help?¡± Skirita glanced towards the Director who stepped forward, ¡°We''ve identified multiple named mage officers on the battlefield, several members of House Light and Charlemange that are personally leading the defense alongside their retinue of knights. To expedite our assault, eliminating these targets would greatly ease the pain of our ground forces. Opening up breaches in the Roland defense and demoralizing their soldiers.¡± Harper transferred a list of targets to Jessica''s intellipad who handed it to Jack for review. ¡°There''s well over a dozen awakened here,¡± Jack frowned. ¡°Some have anti-army skills¡­¡± ¡°With the firing of the orbital arrays most of the Roland forces have congregated to defend their remaining bastions. Before we begin our assault, we''ll deploy an anti-army skill for a clash to nullify further anti army skills.¡± ¡°This is a target rich environment, why not hit them from afar?¡± Jack said, parroting something he once heard Selfia say. ¡°Why not fire the lasers across the trenches? Smoke them out?¡± ¡°Technical issues related to heating and repair mostly,¡± York replied, the balding blonde man frowning. ¡°Most of the satellites are refurbished old-earth tech. Not to mention needing the satellites in proper orbit to fire, the weapons are a strategic tool with limited use, not something we can use at will.¡± ¡°Great,¡± Jack muttered, ¡°Hard way it is then. What about demonspawn activity?¡± ¡°Swarms are being dealt with, we''ve got reserve units dedicated to their interception and elimination. The battlefield is secure. You just need to focus on your tasks. We''ll handle the rest sir.¡± Jack sighed slightly. ¡°Alright, keep me updated,¡± Jack said as he readied himself for war. AAS: SEASON 6: CH43: Anti-army From her concrete bunker layered with titanium sheets, Colette watched through her observation scope aimed at the Selfian assault force a hundred klicks out. ¡°There''s so many¡­¡± Hoffman muttered, a hard look on Colette''s adjutant¡¯s face as he observed the enemy aircraft hovering just out of range of their 155-millimeter Tarkov anti-armor cannons. Weapons designed to tackle the roaming Titan-class demonspawn that once roamed the surface. Now, these weapons were repurposed, used to fight not the terrors of the night, but mankind. ¡°You are correct lieutenant. But so long as we keep the enemy away from our gun batteries, their logistic lines will run dry attempting to handle both demonspawn and a frontal assault,¡± Colette said, turning her scope to the matriarch class tanks. ¡°We only need to buy time.¡± For what? The two words hung on Colette''s lips, almost threatening to come out. ¡°Captain Light,¡± a radio technician called out, signaling Colette, whom like most of the knights under House Light''s command had been adopted in an unprecedented move to secure their loyalty. ¡°Report,¡± Colette said before stepping away from the observation scope to face the crowd of technicians and support staff coordinating requests within the command bunker. ¡°There''s a signal broadcast from the Selfian army, it''s full spectrum, every receiver is picking it up!¡± A demoralization tactic? Colette furrowed her brow, stepping over to the soldier and taking a spare headset to listen in alongside Hoffman. ¡°... Citizens of the Empire-¡± Stunned, Colette''s chest ceased moving as her ears picked up the familiar voice of a boy named Jack. ¡°-I am Jack Cordellica, son of the Queen Slayer, a dimmie, and King Consort of her Majesty, Queen Selfia Cordelica-¡± Jack¡­ it was Jack! Colette¡¯s vision began to shake, her hands sweaty as visions of a singular night of passion took her mind. ¡°-I reach out to you now to offer you a chance to lay down your arms. To survive the coming battle that will lay waste to this city. Imperial war doctrine dictates that so long as you have the means to resist, you are forbidden to surrender. But that Imperium is dead. Ashes for the future that you can be apart of¡­ So I ask you, citizens of the empire, do not stand in the way of the future.¡± ¡°Tch,¡± Hoffman scowled, the sentiments on his face shared by others nearby. ¡°Selfia obliterated entire cities! No way in hell I''d ever surrender to those Selfian dogs!¡± ¡°If you wish to surrender, no harm will befall you. You will be treated humanely, and allowed to live in the Cordelica Democracy as a free citizen,¡± Jack continued. What? Colette went wide-eyed.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! At the word Democracy the gathered Roland loyalists stood stunned, collectively wondering if they had heard correctly. Democracy?! The implications of such a word ran contrary to everything the Empire had been built on! Was this a ploy? Jack wasn''t the kind of person to try some underhanded maneuver, rather this sounded more like something Selfia would do. Colette pursed her lips, her emotions abuzz as she realized she''d have to fight Jack. ¡°Disregard the enemy''s words! The Selfians are attempting to sow seeds of doubt!¡± Hoffman barked, silencing several soldiers who had begun muttering. Hoffman turned to Colette, concern evident on his face, ¡°Captain, we need to silence the enemy''s broadcast, we cannot allow them to continue a stratagem of confusion.¡± Colette stood there, unsure of what to do as a heavy feeling hung heavy on her heart. Jack had manipulated her, used her, twisted her mind into loving him. Yet why did she feel so conflicted? Why did she- ¡°Captain!¡± Hoffman yelled, pulling her elbow to get her attention as mana swelled nearby. Someone on their side was casting an anti-army skill! **** ¡°It seems your call to surrender wasn''t well received,¡± Admiral Skirita said as the command deck of the ship picked up the influx of mana indicative of an anti-army skill. ¡°Is our countermeasure ready?¡± ¡°Captain Belfusa is responding in kind, her anti-army skill is deploying!¡± Lieutenant Harper barked, putting on a coat with Jack rushing to look out the viewport for any sign of the Black Rose Captain. Ice? Then, he saw her, Eleanor''s sister chanting as a whirl of ice began to coat the outer viewport of his ship and the temperature of the room soon plummeted. Jack narrowed his eyes, watching the woman standing upon the bow of a nearby airship as a powerful blizzard swarmed past. To his left, Jack could feel the power of another anti-army skill. He turned, joining the parka-wearing officers observing the towers of light erected in the distance. ¡°All hands brace for anti-army skill detonation,¡± Skirita said, speaking into an intercom as the entire bridge, save for Jack, rushed to their positions. To Jack''s eyes, he could see the constructs were bursting with mana, massive towers that channeled energy from below to power the orbs suspended above the towers. Then it fired, the anti-army skill unleashing a blinding wave of light that was met with a massive fog of mana that detonated upon impact. Jack winced, the deafening detonation akin to a star going supernova to his eyes. ¡°Pale imitations¡­¡± Sahaqiel muttered. If Sahaqiel considered this a pale imitation, Jack didn''t want to see what a true anti-army skill could do. ¡°Manacules spike, the battlefield is saturated. Confirm anti-army cancelation,¡± Lieutenant Harper reported, shivering at her terminal. ¡°Dampening field in effect.¡± To Jack''s eyes, the entire field in front of him was like a wall of random colors, a rainbow spilled onto the battlefield that was the result of the clash of two titanic powers. With this, awakened on the battlefield would have their powers damped by the hyperactive mana coating the air, but Jack¡­ ¡°Huh¡­¡± Jack muttered as the booms of artillery cannons shook the command bridge. ¡°Admiral Skirita.¡± ¡°Yes, Lord Consort?¡± The aging man replied, barely paying Jack any mind as his gaze focused on his command terminal. ¡°I will be taking to the field.¡± At his words the entire command staff turned, a pause settling on the bridge. ¡°Respectfully Lord Consort, but we-¡± ¡°I''m not asking, I''m telling you. I¡¯ll eliminate the guns while the dampening field is in effect. Have your airfleet on standby, I will be the tip of the spear,¡± Jack said before leaving to find his child''s mother. AAS: SEASON 6: CH44: Battlefront Standing at the edge of the MECHFrame launchpad, Jack surveyed the ongoing bombardment of the once lush landscape of grass and rolling hills that stretched out before him. For the imperial mage officers hunkered in trenches and fortifications, a nuisance, but for the regular men and women who bore Roland¡¯s colors, hell. Jack could hear their screams, the Wind Seraphim class augmenting his senses and picking up the cries of anguish on the winds. Colette was out there, somewhere amidst the chaos commanding soldiers. ¡°Sir! Sir!¡± Jessica huffed, the lieutenant finally catching up to Jack. ¡°Please reconsider! You cannot take to the field! It''s too dangerous!¡± ¡°For who?¡± ¡°You! If you go out we can''t support you! And if you die it will demoralize our army and embolden the Roland defenders!¡± Jessica exclaimed as Jack''s silver feathers twisted into wings. ¡°Please, this isn''t like the Cintelli front, the Roland soldiers are trained and supported, Ada would have my head if something happened to you!¡± Ada not Selfia¡­ Jack smirked, amused that the lieutenant was more afraid of the pregnant Ada than the Queen of the Empire. ¡°I''m well aware of what I''m doing,¡± Jack assured, spreading his wings. ¡°Besides, a leader should make a name for himself. Have Admiral Skirita continue his bombardment, I''ll need the screening.¡± And like that Jack was off, soaring through the air amidst the canopy of artillery rounds and cannon fire that flew nearby as Jessica screamed "WHAT?!" Sara, Lilith, help me. Jack asked, the two specters flying in different directions to search for Colette as Jack hovered atop the enemy defensive lines. Suddenly a spark, a ricochet of a bullet snapping off of his mana barrier. The soldiers below were firing at him, shooting their guns despite the hail of hellfire surrounding them. Jack ignored the soldiers, funneling the hyperactive mana in the air to strengthen his mana barrier as his eyes scanned the battlefield. Hm. Sixteen awakened nearby. A few yellow. Mostly orange¡­ two cyans. Jack counted the awakened, his angel vision picking out the Roland mage officers clearly through the chaos. None nearby were a threat to Jack, at least none that he recognized. The cyans are probably officers, maybe I should ask them. Jack decided to descend, landing in a trench where he was immediately beset by a hailstorm of automatic gunfire. ¡°Enemy mage! Enemy mage in the trench! FIX BAYONETS!¡± A Roland soldier cried before charging Jack with a bayonet. ¡°Move,¡± Jack said, catching the barrel of the man''s weapon and crushing it under his grip. The soldier balked, eyes wide before screaming at the top of his lungs and pulling out a shovel. "DIE SELFI-" ¡°I said move,¡± Jack said, grabbing the man by the face and forcefully displacing the soldier into the nearby trench wall. With his path clear, Jack continued forward, the other soldiers fleeing and shooting at Jack as he strolled calmly down the trench. ¡°Earth shape!¡± Jack suddenly found himself bound, the earthen walls of the trench morphing to catch him in a vice. Before Jack was a mage officer, a blonde Roland lieutenant in red armor and blue dress, glaring at Jack who was now surrounded by armed infantry. ¡°Jack,¡± Sahaqiel said, ¡°They¡¯re moving cannons to target you. I can deflect them or search for Colette, but I can¡¯t do both. If they start pummeling us we might be in danger.¡± Okay, keep a wind barrier up. Jack replied, deciding to find the information he sought another way.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. ¡°You must have a death wish jumping into our trench like that!¡± The officer spat, clenching his fist together with the earthen vice around Jack tightening ever so slightly. ¡°Where is your company headquarters?¡± Jack asked calmly, much to the dismay of the awakened officer. ¡°W-why isn''t my skill crushing you?!¡± ¡°Answer my question,¡± Jack ordered, the earthen vice breaking apart as the magical energy that kept it together abruptly vanished. With his skill nullified the mage raised his hand, chanting a quick incantation before firing a bolt of mana at Jack who promptly caught it in his palm. ¡°This is the last time I ask nicely,¡± Jack said, crushing the sphere of energy with the mana becoming his own. ¡°O-o-open fire!¡± Annoying way it is then. The air shifted, the nearby soldiers impacting the ground unceremoniously as Jack simply waved his hand. ¡°Wh-what?!¡± The mage officer exclaimed, not sensing a skill activation from Jack. ¡°Oxygen toxicity,¡± Jack said calmly as he towered over the officer and lifted the man up by his throat, ¡°The spike in air pressure forces an excess of oxygen into their bloodstreams, causing an instant blackout. The reverse to what I''m doing to you but with similar results.¡± Jack tightened his grip, the officer flailing frantically. ¡°Having to repeat myself is getting annoying,¡± Jack growled before bringing the terrified man to meet his gaze. ¡°Where IS your command post?¡± ¡°JACK!¡± At the warning Jack spun, twisting his body just in time to catch a blast of mana with his forearm and deflect a tank round with wind. Under the canopy of falling debris, Jack glared at the crew of the hidden anti-tank emplacement under his wind dome, the red-armored soldiers rushing to reload as two yellow-core mages charged toward Jack. ¡°Ruby, deal with them,¡± Jack ordered, the shadow knight emerging from his shadow to engage the twin assailants while he went to work prying the information he needed from the officer. ¡°Tell me what I want to know.¡± With Lilith¡¯s help, the officer withered, his memories being forcefully sifted through as Jack invaded his mind. Guttural screams filled the air, both from in front of Jack and around him as Ruby¡¯s shield and chains ripped through the Roland imperials. ¡°I see¡­¡± Jack frowned, dropping the soldier, more questions than answers in his mind. ¡°So you¡¯re underground¡­¡± From the man¡¯s memories, he could see that the Roland soldiers weren¡¯t operating from a singular command structure but rather several, a spider¡¯s web to link their forces in case of a Selfian decapitation strike. Clever. Jack frowned, climbing out of the trench, walking upon open ground where hundreds of guns opened fire to greet him. This just meant he would need to search each and every one of them until he found his target. In the meantime, he might as well take care of that list. *** Under the constant barrage of Selfian artillery, Colette grit her teeth, the reports of numerous casualties reaching her ears down within the concrete bunker that served as the eastern command bloc. ¡°Captain Light!¡± An operator called out, taking Colette¡¯s attention away from the holomap she and Hoffman were standing over that depicted the battlefield. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°An enemy mage officer has infiltrated our trench lines!¡± The soldier reported. One? Colette had a sinking feeling who it was. ¡°Details, get us more information,¡± Hoffman demanded with the technician sending the relevant information to a large monitor. ¡°Cameras fifty three and six are up on screen. Feed live from South Bloc-4.¡± Colette and her adjutants gathered around the screen, watching as six 120mm cannons fired in unison at a plume of smoke. ¡°Switch to HE and airburst! Hit near him! Direct shots won''t work!¡± A line officer at the front barked. Then, Colette''s and Hoffman''s jaws dropped, their hearts sinking in horror as a man wearing nothing but a blue Selfian¡¯s officer uniform adorned with silver wings on his back stepped unharmed from the smoke. ¡°Jack¡­¡± Colette whispered unconsciously, drawing Hoffman''s eyes. ¡°KEEP FIRING! Where is our mage support?!¡± The Line officer barked, drawing his sidearm and firing alongside the barrage of cannons. ¡°Commander Light and the Sand Mage are gone! They''ve fallen!¡± A radio operator reported as Jack drew near. ¡°HQ is dispatching MECHFrame reinforcements! Our orders are to hold! We cannot allow him to attack our train lines.¡± ¡°Then keep firing!¡± Colette flinched as a cannon fired at Jack with the shell exploding and releasing hundreds of flechettes that were carried away by the wind. ¡°He''s not stopping! Nothings working!¡± A loader cried, dropping a shell and fleeing. ¡°Fall back! Get the fuck out of here!¡± ¡°Where are you going?! Come back here! Stand your ground! Your family is depending on you! The future is depending on you! ARE YOU NOT MEN OF ROLANDA?!¡± The Line officer spat, grabbing a fleeing soldier only to freeze as a shadow descended over him. Hoffman turned to Colette, ¡°Captain, allow me to sorte with a squad of mages to support the QRF.¡± Colette peeled her eyes away from the man and his black armored shield maiden. Four years. Four years had passed since she''d last seen him. Four years since she gave up Celeste¡­ ¡°No, I will go. Inform Major Light of my departure,¡± Colette said, grabbing her sword as she readied herself to meet Jack in battle. AAS: SEASON 6: CH45: Colette. Standing beside a decrewed anti-ship cannon, Jack stood on the tip of his toes, groaning as he pushed up against the barrel of the weapon. ¡°There''s gotta be a better way to do this,¡± Jack hissed whilst Ruby fought off an imperial mage officer attacking her with a scythe. Finally the metal of the tungsten cannon began to groan, the barrel bending as Jack winced from the sparks from a nearby ricochet. Just need to bend it a bit more! Jack huffed, surveying the battlefield as his eyes picked up a flurry of cores. Two greens, an indigo, a blue and several cyans. Imperial mages using flight gear to traverse towards him. At least one named¡­ and model four MECHFrame reinforcements. Jack frowned, dealing with running infantrymen and awakened were one thing, but fighting a MECHFrame was another. While he could drop the air pressure and choke out soldiers at a whim, reaching into a full-sealed machine to attack the operator wasn''t something he could quite do¡­ yet. There was also the problem of the machines initially being anti-demon weapons, constructs with armyrethium lined blades and heavy weaponry. If these were anything like Damocles, or Lovelace, Jack would be pressed. Eight awakened and three mechs, Jack listed them off before his eyes settled in place on the blonde woman leading the charge. ¡°Colette¡­¡± The name leaving Jack''s mouth as the bob-cut woman''s armored boots touched the ground. ¡°Halt, under the wartime law, we offer you this one chance to surrender peacefully,¡± Colette said, the words that left her mouth stinging Jack in a way he wasn''t accustomed. Jack took in the mother of his child fully, at five-four, the knight was short and stocky with an athletic body honed by war with red armor that brandished her affiliation. ¡°After all these years, that''s the first thing you say to me?¡± Jack said, his tone almost resigned as the mage officers and GEN IV MECHFrames spread out to flank him. Blue. Jack noted, his eyes focused on Colette''s core that was indicative of her hard work over the years. ¡°So am I to take it you won''t surrender?¡± ¡°No. Not today,¡± Jack replied before turning his head to a nearby cyan core. ¡°I would like some space to talk in private please.¡± The mage opened his mouth to speak, yet all sound was drowned out as the wind began to pick up, the awakened nearby feeling their strength waning as Jack began siphoning them. Immediately the MECHFrames reacted, shifting their weapons upon Jack as he closed his eyes. Sahaqiel. The ground exploded, a wind storm rising with Jack at its epicenter. The MECHFrames were pushed back by the strength of his wind currents, the awakened sent scattered into the air as those aboard the Selfian air carriers observed Jack with awe.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Wide-eyed, Colette could only gawk at the man floating from the ground, exuding power that shouldn''t have been possible in a mana dampening field. For the common mages, they could utilize their basic skills, conjure up mana barriers and release attacks to repel assailants but nothing like what Jack was doing! Colette could feel the wind blowing past her like a stream, a raging ocean of air formed at a whim that made her simultaneously terrified and in awe. Aboard the SIA: Fuck You Roland, Admiral Skirita rose from his command chair, watching with shaking eyes at the storm that had suddenly swelled up within the Roland lines. ¡°Admiral! The wind spike is threatening to pull us in!¡± Lieutenant Harper reported. ¡°Full throttle, pull us back six hundred yards and have General Oliva hold her assault,¡± Skirita commanded, pursing his lips as he tried to make sense of what was going on below. Jack opened his eyes, the might of the wind at his beck and call, the energies swirling around him in a vortex of mixed mana as his body seemed to be overcome with the sensation of weightlessness. A hurricane began to form, tropical level winds picking up with the energy of the two anti-army skills reacted to Jack''s command. Through Jack, Sahaqiel called, and nature answered, wiping away Roland cannons, and drowning out screams. At the center of the storm, Jack stood before Colette, the two face to face for the first time. ¡°You can''t win Colette, Roland is a lost cause,¡± Jack said, standing firm amidst the storm. ¡°It''s time to come home.¡± ¡°Is this what you think this is about?¡± Colette spat, drawing an armyrethium blade from her scabbard. ¡°My allegiance is to House Light, not that shortsighted bastard. So long as they require, I shall be their stalwart blade. And nothing, not even you, will dissuade me from my duty as a knight.¡± ¡°Not even your daughter?¡± Jack glared, stepping towards Colette whose face twisted with rage. She swung her blade, striking Jack who didn''t react to the weapon stuck in his collarbone. ¡°Feel better?¡± ¡°Tch! What do you know?! Don''t look at me like that! You filthy dimmie!¡± Colette hissed, ripping her weapon from Jack''s body. ¡°You were dead! Dead!¡± Colette¡¯s body hummed with lightning, the woman summoning a whip of manifested lightning, an impressive feat given the mana dampening field. The knight went to swing, yet this time a black chain stopped her, Ruby appearing from behind and binding her wrist whilst Jack caught her blade. ¡°I¡¯m here now,¡± Jack assured, his hand attempting to guide Colette to release her weapon. ¡°Celeste''s waiting for you.¡± ¡°No! You can''t come back into my life after all these years! I forgot you! I left you behind, I gave her up so I wouldn''t have to be reminded about what you did to me!¡± Colette spat, grinding her teeth as lightning sparked from her body. ¡°Did to you?¡± Jack replied, caught off guard by the outburst. ¡°You dimmie bastard! Did you forget? You twisted my mind! Made me fall in love with you and then-!¡± ¡°Colette¡­¡± Jack took the woman¡¯s callous hands, holding them as Ruby disappeared. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. That''s all I can say. You know I never intended this to happen. I never wanted to hurt you¡­ I never wanted to hurt anyone¡­ These powers, this strength. I never wanted this.¡± Jack''s eyes were downcast now, shoulders slumped as the pair stood there amidst the storm. ¡°How is she?¡± Colette whispered. ¡°She''s doing well. She''s going to school-¡± Colette looked up, eyes wide with fear. ¡°-for an education to be something other than a soldier. Other than a killer like you and I,¡± Jack continued, this time getting to one knee. ¡°Colette, you can be a part of our daughter''s future. Be a part of-¡± ¡°I can''t!¡± Colette snapped, freeing herself from Jack''s grasp. ¡°Not when the fate of House Light is at stake. Even if we surrendered we''d be assassinated, punished, hunted by the Bell familia for the crimes we committed. I won''t allow my family to die.¡± "Your family? Celeste is your family!" Jack spat, "She is your daughter who deserves a mother not rotting away in a dungeon or a corpse on a field!" "You just don''t get it," Colette raised her mana, ¡°They gave me everything. Adopted a worthless girl like me and gave me purpose, gave me a home! I can''t let them die! I won''t! As a Knight of House Light, I will cut a path through any obstacle that stands in their way! Even you!¡± Jack rose to his feet, ¡°I see. I''m sorry Colette.¡± "I... I have to do this, I..." Colette put on a fake smile, tears flowing from her face as she held her sword aloft, sparks radiating from her body. ¡°Please protect my baby.¡± ¡°Goodnight Colette,¡± Jack sighed as he held his palm outstretched. ¡°And forgive me for what I''m about to do.¡± AAS: SEASON 6: CH46: Strength of an Angel \ ¡°Take her,¡± Jack ordered, placing Colette¡¯s unconscious body on a gurney where Helena¡¯s team of Black Rose knights were there to receive her and several white haired nobles who lay unconscious. Jack climbed atop a ruined gun emplacement, surveying the battlefield. ¡°Is that all sir?¡± Captain Helena Belfusa asked, standing beside Jack with Jessica as allied MECHFrames walked by. Jessica stood in awe of the destruction, Jack''s attack carving a path of destruction through the Roland defenses. It wasn''t enough to bring in Skirita''s airships and send their air fleet, but it was still impressive, allowing Selfian soldiers to flood the trenches with MECHFrames moving into positions. Jack looked down at the silver bars in his hand, a captain¡¯s insignia stripped from Colette''s collar. He cast them to the side, throwing away the emblems into the mud as his eyes took in the hellscape before him. Jack could hear their cries of anguish, pain, and rage. The wounded and angry alike bellowing their lives into the sky amidst the rounds of lead. ¡°Don¡¯t lose yourself, Jack,¡± Sahaqiel cautioned, hovering beside Jack and embracing him. ¡°You are a good man.¡± The more I fight the more I feel as though I¡¯m just a pawn Sara. A puppet being masterminded by the High Table with my loved ones as collateral. I¡¯m tired of being a pawn. I¡¯m tired of being used. In the sky, the Roland airforce stayed back, hovering closer to the city just shy of the city shield, perhaps weary of Jack''s display of power. This is my chance to make a statement. Jack narrowed his eyes at the massive airship. ¡°Oh. I like this.¡± Lilith snickered, her hunger rising up from within Jack. ¡°Tell Admiral Skirita that all members of the Light familia are to be captured not killed. Anyone who violates this order will answer to me,¡± Jack said, sweeping his gaze across the battlefield swarming with gunfire. Helena furrowed her brow, the officer apprehensive of Jack''s order. ¡°Sir, what your asking is-¡± ¡°I''m well aware of the blowback. Consider it a standing order from your King, Captain,¡± Jack said, stepping off of the smoldering cannon to stand face-to-face with the blonde officer. ¡°I want them brought in. Alive. But if it comes to it, and you''re left with no recourse, do what you have to do.¡± Jessica and Helena shared a look, one of subjects guessing at what their liege was up to. ¡°Sir, you should rest. After a display like that, you must be tired,¡± Jessica coaxed, attempting to bring Jack away from the front lines.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Jack replied, staring at the tattoos on his hands that were glowing slightly before he took out a gunblade from his storage device. ¡°The Roland defensive line is broken. Go with the Captain and secure the prisoners, in return I will give Selfia victory.¡± And like that Jack was off, flying into the air and leaving little room for doubt or discussion as the silver-winged angel took off towards the Roland Air Force. **** ¡°Commandant!¡± Hertz barked, the observer turning to the RIN: Bloodhound¡¯s Captain. ¡°Scanners are picking up a mage officer! Closing fast!¡± At five-six with greying hair, Commandant Gareth Chalky glared at his monitor, the display showing a singular man soaring through the air above the flak cannons that couldn''t reach him. Silver wings? Shit, it¡¯s the same one from the report! ¡°Deploy interceptors and have the marines on standby to repel boarders!¡± Chalky snapped, a sensation of unease welling up within as he tracked the awakened. One awakened charging an airship? Madness. Suicide under normal circumstances, but he had seen the anti-army skill firing off in an area that shouldn¡¯t have been stable for him to do so and watched as thousands of his compatriots were swept away by a raging storm. This awakened was dangerous. Chalky grinned his teeth, images of the first war playing in his mind as he recounted a run in with a certain burning devil. ¡°Sir?¡± An officer from a nearby console said, his tone incredulous. ¡°You heard me! Do it now! If this mage officer is coming at us, it''s for a damn good reason!¡± Hertz replied as a transpo screen of their launch bay appeared beside him, displaying two squads of mechframes readying their flight gear. Chalky turned his attention to the view before him, the blue-uniformed mage officer floating roughly sixty yards from their bow. ¡°XO, do we have a targeting solution?¡± ¡°Forward cannon is locked, starboard CIWs are loaded, gunners waiting on your command sir,¡± Hertz replied. ¡°Fire at will,¡± Chalky ordered calmly before the floor beneath him suddenly groaned. ¡°What the hell?¡± An officer let out, mirroring Chalky¡¯s thoughts as his view of the outside world seemed to shift. ¡°Navigation!¡± Chalky barked. ¡°Sir! We¡¯re listing! We¡¯re moving off station! Sensors are picking up massive wind turbulence!¡± Chalky¡¯s head snapped towards the man in the distance before his eyes shifted to the monitor focused on the mage. He was floating there, eyes closed, hand outstretched toward them. Chalky turned his attention to the screen showing the launch bay, the mechs within moving frantically to stabilize themselves as engineers ran. ¡°Reverse engines! Fire up propellers to counteract the f-¡± Suddenly the air ship lurched, knocking Chalky and his staff to the side as the groaning intensified. ¡°-Fire! Fire! Fire everything we have at that bastard right now!¡± **** Jack cocked his head sideways, gritting his teeth with Sahaqiel hovering behind him, instructing him as she did her best to divert the storm of gunfire and heavy rounds aimed in his direction. ¡°You are getting so much closer now. Feel the flow of the wind and direct it, coax it. Gently guide it as you visualize what you wish for.¡± Jack closed his eyes, the deafening booms around him mute to his ears as the world peeled away and he gave his body over to wind. Was this what being a true mage felt like? Was this what being free was? Jack could sense the pull and push of mana, the energy in the air like a full balloon just waiting to pop. Every waking moment he could feel himself grow stronger, more attuned with the world and able to call upon the natural forces. And now, he was about to call upon those same forces to bring down a hundred-and-sixty-yard air destroyer down upon a city. Slowly, Jack opened his glowing gold eyes, embracing the power as the vessel, still firing its one-twenty millimeter guns at him careened into the city wall and exploded. AAS: SEASON 6: CH47: Men Among Monsters. *** ¡°Confirm sir! Roland troops are in retreat. Infantry are boarding trains and carriers enmasse and are evacuating the city,¡± Harper reported from her terminal upon the bridge of the command ship. ¡°Shall we pursue?¡± Admiral Skirita pursed his lips, the graying officer standing beside the transposcreen with his hands clasped as he surveyed the destruction of the city defensive line. ¡°Incredible¡­¡± Skirita whispered, his gaze unable to look away from the storm sweeping across the battlefield. Beside him, Director York, the blonde man rubbing his chin at the spectacle. ¡°Lieutenant Harper, are we recording?¡± ¡°Yes Director.¡± ¡°Document everything, lieutenant, the eggheads back home may be able to make some sense out of this,¡± York said, the blonde man ordering the crew despite being a guest aboard the ship. Skirita took out a cigar, a bad habit he''d developed over the years after watching so many young men die. ¡°Five years.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Since I last saw that punk,¡± Skirita said as York reached over with a lighter, ignoring the cigarette for the old officer. ¡°And look at what he''s become.¡± ¡°If I didn''t know any better you sound annoyed at our new king, old friend,¡± Skirita said as York wiggled his nose at the sweet pungent scent coating the bridge. Normally it was against regulation to smoke on the bridge, but who was going to stop a full bird admiral. ¡°Not annoyed Director, just tired. Men like you and I, what hope do we have against monsters like that? An entire destroyer? An entire defensive line broken in a day which would have taken us months,¡± Skirita shook his head. ¡°Sir,¡± Lieutenant Harper butted in, ¡°Shall we give the order to pursue?¡± ¡°Negative lieutenant,¡± Skirita replied, taking a long drag of his cigar. ¡°The city defenses are still online. Looks like they aim to flee while having the city cover their retreat,¡± York surmised. ¡°Do you think our king would be so kind as to level the city for us?¡± Skirita grunted, ¡°You want a kid to slaughter an entire city?¡± ¡°Why not? You all ask my daughter to do so,¡± York quipped, his eyes settled on the raging battle below. ¡°Remind me how old you are, Director York?¡± Skirita said, his cigar nearly finished.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Thirty-eight.¡± ¡°And yet you look almost as old as me,¡± Skirita grumbled, sweeping the cigar ashes at his feet with his boot. ¡°Lieutenant Harper, contact the Jericho and Vigilance, I want those destroyers advancing to support General Oliva on the ground. And get flight command on the com, it''s about time we got into this fight.¡± ¡°Aye sir, Major Vulk linked to your station, instructions sent to the destroyers,¡± Harper replied as Skirita took a seat at his command chair whilst Director York stared at the silver-wing angel hovering over the city in the distance. **** Hoffman fell to his knees, his jaw agape as his gaze focused on his home. Retreat. The order had been given. All Roland forces were being ordered to retreat, to regroup around Rolanda, the capital of the new Empire. Hoffman could scarcely believe it, even as he watched his fellow soldiers board trains, even as he watched his comrades climb into land ships and flee the frontline. In a span of a day, hell had been brought down upon the Roland army, not because of the Selfians but because of one man. ¡°Sir! The last train is leaving soon!¡± Corporal Ferdinand shouted, joining Hoffman beside the entrance of the command bunker that now lay in ruin. Following standard retreat operations, the bunker had been destroyed, along with anything that could be valuable to both Roland and Selfian soldiers. ¡°Achmad and Conrad can''t stall them anymore! Sir we''ve got to move!¡± Adolf Hoffman didn''t budge, his body rooted to the cold soil beneath him. His home. His city that was being sacrificed to buy his king time. ¡°For a better tomorrow¡­¡± Hoffman whispered. ¡°Sir!¡± ¡°Go ahead corporal, I won''t be coming,¡± Hoffman ordered as he turned his attention towards the figure in the sky watching the Roland soldiers retreat. Fortunately for some reason Jack was ignoring the Roland Air Force, allowing their army to retreat. ¡°But High Command-¡± ¡°If it was your home would you run?¡± Hoffman said with the corporal falling silent to the echo of gunfire. ¡°Go, join the rest of the army. I will stay behind with the vanguard to defend my home and buy our army time.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Ferdinand began but trailed off, a sudden feeling of patriotism welling within the man. Hoffman turned to the sound of a four-wheeler puma pulling up beside him, the titanium chassed off-road vehicle operated by a familiar face to the Roland Officer. ¡°Sir, the trains are set to depart,¡± Corporal Conrad reported, the blonde visibly bloodied as he sat at the steering wheel of the open-top truck. ¡°Colonel Lambert wishes to know your intentions.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be staying here, corporal, go join the rest of the army.¡± ¡°Understood, sir, if that was the case the Colonel instructed me to stay behind and relay your orders.¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Hoffman said, rising to his feet. ¡°Per Colonel Lambert and General Light orders, I am to relay that you are to defend the city to the last man and to congratulate you on your promotion, Captain Hoffman,¡± Conrad said, handing Hoffman a pair of silver bars and beckoning him aboard the puma. ¡°What are your orders Captain?¡± Hoffman looked down at insignia. Under different circumstances he would have been elated, but he, just as everyone here knew, he was just being promoted posthumously. The blonde imperial turned to the sky, eyeing the blue skies beginning to be replaced by dark clouds. ¡°Take us to the wall,¡± Hoffman said quietly, boarding the puma as his eyes shifted from the clouds to the two destroyer-class airships bearing down on his home. AAS: SEASON 6: CH48: Hoffman With his eyes closed, Jack was above the city of Windermere, floating there in the cool breeze even as droplets of rain began to caress his skin. ¡°You know you''ll catch a cold if you continue to sleep out here. We should head back and rest, you taking a nap out in the open isn''t really safe.¡± I know. But its not like they can do anything. Jack replied to the angel, opening his eyes to take in the port city below. Well¡­ it''s time to get to it. Soaked, Jack descended, moving towards the city that had been abandoned by the Roland army. That didn''t mean they were defenseless however as black artillery pieces on the city walls opened fire. ¡°Well¡­ they''re committed,¡± Jack sighed, his barrier of mana blocking the flurry of explosive flak. Anyone else would have probably been shredded into thousands of bits thrice over, but thanks to Jack''s body constantly funneling mana, it was almost as though his mana barriers had become unbreakable. Jack waited until the smoke was clear, allowing himself to be seen under the moonlight as several spotlights across the iron wall focused on him. Sara, can you help me propel my voice? ¡°Speak your mind,¡± Sahaqiel said as the air visibly shifted. ¡°Citizens of Windermere! Your leaders have abandoned you!¡± Jack barked, broadcasting his voice across the city with the wind carrying his words to every citizen within its walls. ¡°I am Jack Cordellica, under the grace of her Majesty Queen Selfia Cordelica, I offer you a chance to surrender. Send out your delegate so we can...¡± Jack frowned, trailing off mid-sentence before a sniper¡¯s round bounced off his mana barrier. ¡°Rude¡­¡± ¡°Parlay. The word you¡¯re looking for is parlay.¡± ¡°Parlay! And discuss the terms of your surrender,¡± Jack continued. ¡°Why ask them to surrender when we can simply beat them into submission?¡± Lilith hissed in Jack¡¯s ear. ¡°And what? Destroy the town? Wipe out the innocent men women and children cowing in their bunkers?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± ¡°I understand what you meant Lilith, and it would be easy. But would you rather fight a thousand soldiers or a handful of loyalists? If we begin butchering them word would spread of a massacre and embolden the rest. I rather not stain my hands with more blood than necessary,¡± Jack replied as he floated above the bustling city teeming with soldiers and waited for the garrison¡¯s response. More specifically, a certain officer who would no doubt cease to remain silent with Jack at his door. ¡°Plus all this mana manipulation is stressing my body. I''m not bleeding like usual but too much more and it''ll start hurting.¡± ¡°Then let''s hope your little display scared them enough.¡± ¡°If he doesn¡¯t surrender,¡± Sahaqiel began. ¡°What will you do?¡± ¡°Whatever I need to,¡± Jack said to the angel as the massive metal gate of the city opened up, revealing a lone man stepping from the fortified city. Lilith frowned at Jack¡¯s response, something about his demeanor unsettling her. Jack floated downwards towards the man with a blue core wearing what appeared to be an assortment of enchanted gear. ¡°Hoffman, or should I say, Captain Hoffman? Congratulations on your promotion,¡± Jack said as the rain seemed to pick up and lights from the wall cut through the torrent to illuminate the two men. ¡°Congratulations to yourself sir,¡± Hoffman said, standing before Jack, his mana signature akin to a burning star from his ornaments. ¡°I heard you had a daughter?¡± Jack eyed the armed men and women atop the walls, hundreds of rifles pointed at him alongside a multitude of cannons and machine guns. No MECHFrames¡­ "Looks like they really did abandon them..." ¡°Celeste,¡± Jack said as Sahaqiel analyzed the man¡¯s gear. It wasn¡¯t uncommon for Jack to encounter people using enchanted items; however, none of them, save for the hammers he¡¯d stolen, were of any use to him as they just complicated his already growing kit. ¡°And fraulein Ngyeun?¡± Hoffman said. ¡°We¡¯re expecting,¡± Jack replied as he listened to Sahaqiel¡¯s report while his eyes moved toward the black obsidian chest plate. ¡°Lowest grade is D, his cape is a shield, his bracers channel lightning, his boots grant what I think is flight, the sword has a flash effect, and his chest plate is¡­ it''s like the gauntlets¡­ but different, I need more time to analyze it!¡± ¡°Congratulations again sir,¡± Hoffman flashed Jack a warm smile, almost as if he weren¡¯t talking to a man standing at his home with an army at his back. ¡°Do you know what it''ll be?¡± ¡°We¡¯re hoping for a boy.¡± Staring at Hoffman, Jack¡¯s eyes began to hurt, almost as if the mere sight of the man was causing a strain on his senses. However Jack quickly realized that it wasn¡¯t Hoffman but rather the smooth chest plate he was wearing. ¡°The armor is causing a distortion, almost as if the-¡± ¡°It''s made to amplify my power,¡± Lilith cut in as Sahaqiel began her report. So what? The armor eats data? ¡°No, the gauntlets are made to intake data while the chest plate is made to distort and mask it. The distortion you''re seeing is the armor in effect. Those enchantments on his gear won''t last long,¡± Lilith reported as Jack inhaled, feeling his connection to the wind was lessening in the presence of the armor.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. The Black King¡­ always a step ahead¡­ ¡°So, Captain Hoffman, where did you get that armor?¡± Jack asked. ¡°A gift from my King to halt the invaders,¡± Hoffman said, his tone almost proud as he stood defiantly before Jack. ¡°So I''m an invader now?¡± ¡°Isn''t that what you are? This is my home, sir. And you bring an army to raze it to the ground even after I offered to give you a tour.¡± Jack pursed his lips. ¡°Hoffman, listen to me. Roland is being used, same as he''s using you, you''ve seen the papers, you''ve read the documents about the High Table,¡± Jack said, raising the wind to attempt and knock Hoffman out, yet try as he might, the armor shielded him. ¡°Surrender the city and we can talk.¡± The rain picked up, the falling droplets torrential now as lightning roared in the sky above. ¡°I am a knight, under his Imperial Majesty King-¡± ¡°Hoffman!¡± Jack barked as the officer unsheathed the blade at his side. ¡°-Roland, rightful ruler of the Empire. And I have been charged to halt the enemy advance.¡± Jack exhaled, ¡°You realize, that if you force my hand, you won''t walk away from this.¡± ¡°Then so be it,¡± Hoffman said before slashing at Jack who shifted his head back just in time to avoid the blade aimed at his throat. Jack winced, blinking twice before his hand rubbed his neck where a thin line of blood oozed from his skin. ¡°It would be wise if you did not look down on me sir,¡± Hoffman said coldly, rousing his mana that rapidly shifted from blue to an indigo hue. Lilith! ¡°The armor is igniting his core, boosting his abilities.¡± Like soul ignition¡­ Jack clenched his teeth, reaching out, attempting to probe at Hoffman''s defenses only for the distortion effect to knock away gehenna. ¡°Tsk. So be it,¡± Jack said, drawing his revolver from his hip, the rain water moving along the engraving on the barrel that spelled out Jill. Jack put the barrel into his storage bracelet, removing the weapon that was now affixed with a silver blade. ¡°Thank you sir,¡± Hoffman said before raising his left hand, flinging two disks of light at Jack who flicked them away as the mage officer drew near. Jack parried the man''s blade, the enchanted sword suddenly igniting into a star as Jack backpedaled and opened his mouth, spewing frost at his assailant. Hoffman raised his arm, erecting a barrier of mana that quickly became covered in ice particles and obscured his vision. ¡°What''s the point of this Hoffman? Why fight me?!¡± Jack demanded, more annoyed than angry as he rubbed his eyes from the sudden flash from Hoffman''s sword. ¡°I don''t have a choice,¡± Hoffman said, the man circling Jack. ¡°We all have a choice, now stand down!¡± Jack spat, pointing the barrel end of his blade at Hoffman. ¡°I have my orders!¡± Hoffman yelled, clenching his jaw, adjusting his feet, the Roland officer dry swallowing with fear evident in his eyes, ¡°And I will obey them.¡± "I''m so sick of this loyalist shit!" Hoffman charged, swiping left and right as Jack sent his feathers to intercept yet as he did so the feathers fell short, their connection with Jack waning as he reluctantly pulled the trigger on his gun. The revolver roared, hitting Hoffman squarely in the chest and sending him off his feet and into the mud. An audible gasp reached Jack''s ears, onlookers worried for a moment as their officer lay on the ground. ¡°Agh¡­¡± Hoffman groaned, the wind clearly knocked out of him. Jack allowed the man to rise to his feet, watching as every defender on the wall cheered for their champion. ¡°Hoffman,¡± Jack¡¯s face twisted, his eyes squeezing shut, ¡°Is this what you want? To be a martyr for a cause? To be a pawn?¡± Hoffman opened and closed his mouth repeatedly, the Roland officer staring down the invasion force behind Jack that stood like an audience to their fight ¡°I only wish...¡± Hoffman huffed, visibly out of breath. ¡°To be useful to my king. To be a part of his vision for the future.¡± Jack could feel his anger rising, a sensation akin to lava boiling in his veins. First Colette now Hoffman! Suddenly Hoffman was off, charging at Jack who reacted by moving his feathers into a shield and blocking the attack with a dull clang. Alarm rang through Jack''s mind, his connection with his wings distorting as the silver feathers began to hit the ground. ¡°From the bottom of my heart,¡± Jack said through clenched teeth, ¡°I want you to survive this. Roland has already lost the war, you don''t have to go down with him. Cede city to us. Order your men to surrender!¡± ¡°Do you know what Selfia has done?!¡± Hoffman hissed, his strength seeming to grow exponentially with Jack forced to dig his boots into the muddy soil. ¡°She turned weapons on us! Weapons of mass destruction that obliterated entire cities! Massacred thousands! The age of the matriarchs must come to an end! The future of the empire depends on a king!¡± To Jack''s eyes, he could see Hoffman''s core churning, the energy swirling within threatening to explode as steam rose from the officer¡¯s body. ¡°Hoffman! That armor you''re wearing!¡± ¡°I¡­ am deeply sorry, but I can''t give the order to surrender!¡± ¡°Hoffman!¡± Hoffman closed his eyes only to open them a moment later with tears streaming down his cheek, ¡°I can''t let you pass! I am Adolf Hoffman, officer of Lord Roland¡¯s Royal army and I SHALL NOT YIELD THE WAY FORWARD!¡± With a roar Jack was blasted back, the eruption of mana from Hoffman akin to a grenade set off at point blank range. Jack pulled up his revolver, weapon pointed at Hoffman who closed the gap almost instantaneously and moved around his weapon''s range. Hoffman''s sword cut through the air, blade aimed dangerously at Jack''s neck who reacted on instinct, hand reaching out and punching Hoffman in the face. Oddly the man took the hit, the force of Jack¡¯s punch usually capable of disabling or killing a normal man. Yet to the mage officer, he merely stumbled, dropping his sword. ¡°Hoffman, take off that armor! Now! It''ll kill you!¡± Jack ordered, only to be met with a fist from the mage officer. "Shut up! Shut up and fight!" ¡°Damn it! You idiot! Why won''t you listen?!¡± Trading blows, Jack reluctantly answered in kind, attempting to beat the man into submission whilst the latter cried and continued his assault. The blonde tackled Jack, forcing the him to pick the man up and fling him into the mud where he slid for several feet. [-22 HP] Jack winced, looking down, noticing a silver dagger lined with armytheium stuck in his side. Suddenly the weapon began to heat up, immolating Jack''s flesh who calmly reached down and removed the enchanted blade from his body. ¡°Enough games Jack. You''ve done all you can, kill him and take his armor, we need it,¡± Lilith whispered in Jack''s ear. Discarding the dagger, Jack approached the man with a murderous glint in his eye. Hoffman rose from the ground, picking himself up to meet Jack face to face, the former bleeding profusely from his injuries despite Jack holding back. ¡°Hoffman, stop," Jack said, tossing the enchanted dagger to the side, "Last warning or I will kill you!¡± ¡°That''s..." Hoffman chuckled, wiping the blood from his mouth, "The thing sir, I''m already dead.¡± Jack dry swallowed before his mouth opened, releasing with it a roar that prompted Hoffman to do the same. The two charged one another. One screaming the name of his monarch while the other bellowed his rage against the world. As the two raced towards one another, Jack felt only regret and anger, the two emotions mixing as he moved to kill a man he had once fought beside. Yet, before the two could clash, suddenly Hoffman stumbled, sailing past Jack who on reflex reached out, grabbing the soldier who fell limp in his arms. ¡°Hoffman?¡± Jack said, his tone, one mixed of confusion and shock as he turned his head to gaze upon the man he held upright. Jack''s confusion didn''t last long, instead all he was left with was a hollow feeling as Hoffman''s core ceased to exist to Jack''s eyes. AAS: SEASON 6: CH49: Future ¡°Are you okay sir?¡± Standing aboard the observation deck of the Fuck You Roland, Jack was approached by Jessica, the latter holding an intellipad close to her chest. ¡°Lady Ada is calling.¡± Jack''s eyes shifted from the MECHFrames launching from the hanger of his air carrier to join the battle to his reflection on the transposcreen. ¡°I''m fine, leave the intellipad.¡± ¡°Will you need anything else sir?¡± ¡°No¡­ that will be all lieutenant.¡± On his order Jessica set the tablet on a table left, allowing Jack to be alone as the bulkhead doors sealed behind her. Well, as alone as a man with three personalities inside him could be. ¡°Lilith¡­ was there anything I could have done differently?¡± Jack asked as he hovered near the table, his hand reaching out to touch the tablet only to stop just shy of its black casing. ¡°He was dead the moment he put on the armor,¡± Lilith said, standing beside Jack as Sahaqiel hugged him and tried to provide comfort. ¡°This damn war!¡± Jack hissed through gritted teeth. ¡°THOSE FUCKING BASTARDS!¡± Jack balled his fists and screamed, his rage filled cry vibrating against the soundproof room before he took a moment and managed to collect himself. Despite Lilith''s tampering with his emotions, it did little to dissuade the guilt and anger. On one hand, boiling rage slithered beneath his skin like lava while on the other hand¡­ he didn''t care. The two aspects of himself colliding against one another as indifference fought against difference, ultimately ending with Jack sighing and sliding against the wall to sit on the floor. ¡°Every step we take¡­ the King is ahead¡­¡± Jack muttered, turning his eye over to the black chest plate peeking from the cloth it had been buried beneath. ¡°What if I just turned and ran? Took Ada, took Celeste and just-¡± ¡°You know that¡¯s not an option,¡± Sahaqiel cut Jack off, standing before him with her hands on her hips. ¡°Micheal won¡¯t stop searching for you.¡± ¡°I know¡­¡± Jack smirked, head cocked to the side as he stared at the metal floor, ¡°Perhaps what sucks is that Hoffman wasn''t a bad man¡­ just misled¡­¡± ¡°And there was nothing you could have done. Hoffman made his choice, Jack,¡± Sahaqiel said, sitting beside Jack, ¡°All you''ve gotta do is keep moving forward. No matter what. Keep doing what you need to to ensure your future. You''ll get through this, I promise.¡± ¡°Once the Black King is dead, you''ll finally be safe.¡± ¡°Micheal,¡± Sahaqiel said suddenly. ¡°What?¡± ¡°His name is Michael.¡± ¡°And how is that important right now?¡± Lilith scoffed. ¡°He''s no king. Micheal is¡­ I prefer if we called him by his name. It helps me come to turns with him being alive.¡± ¡°Tch, whatever,¡± Lilith replied before fading away. Ignoring the pair, Jack sat there against the wall, his eyes staring at the ceiling as he collected his thoughts. After a few moments, Jack stood up, reaching over to the intellipad that he turned on and was greeted by an incoming call message. ¡°Hey honey,¡± Jack said, smiling at Ada who was lying in bed propped up with a bowl of crackers balancing on her stomach of which appeared to have mustard smeared on them.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°Hey, how are you? I saw you on the TV. Are you okay?¡± Jack furrowed his brow, ¡°TV?¡± ¡°Yeah, all of the news networks are covering the battle,¡± Ada said whilst munching on her crackers. ¡°What are they saying?¡± ¡°That the fighting is intense, that the city had an airship crash into it and that you were challenged to a duel,¡± Ada explained, her porcelain face marred with heartfelt concern. ¡°Are you safe?¡± ¡°Everything''s fine honey, the battle here is nearly over. Roland''s army is retreating to their capital so once that''s dealt with, I''ll be home,¡± Jack assured with a smile. ¡°Okay¡­ you better hurry. I want to introduce your sister to Ito when he''s born,¡± Ada said as she rubbed her swollen stomach. ¡°Dr. Alencia says it''ll be soon.¡± ¡°I can''t wait,¡± Jack said before hs expression turned grim, ¡°I''ll ask Selfia to increase your guards, maybe have Kam-¡± ¡°Nonono, don''t worry Tanjii, everything''s taken care of,¡± Ada assured as she spun the camera on her tablet around to face Leona and Kamila nearby entertaining Celeste with several action figures. ¡°Everyone''s here keeping me company.¡± ¡°¡±Hi Jack,¡±¡± The room collectively said, waving at Jack''s image as Celeste perked up and began running towards the camera. ¡°Daddy!¡± ¡°Celeste! Celeste! Be careful! Auntie Ada is delicate,¡± Leona said, catching the short-haired little girl attempting to jump onto Ada¡¯s bed. ¡°Hi dad!¡± Celeste shouted, waving enthusiastically at Jack who felt a warmth ignite in his cold chest. ¡°Hey Princess, you behaving?¡± ¡°Yup!¡± Suddenly Celeste ran off, returning a moment later with a piece of paper that had a massive red A stamped on it. ¡°I got a A!¡± ¡°Wow! That''s really good princess!¡± Jack exclaimed, putting on his brightest smile despite so desperately wanting to be there with his family. ¡°Since you''ve been such a good girl, I''ve got a surprise for you when I get home.¡± ¡°Ice cream?!¡± Celeste shouted, her golden eyes widening with excitement as she began to hop up and down. ¡°Maybe,¡± Jack teased, ¡°But only if you''re a good girl. Only good girls get rewards.¡± ¡°Celeste honey, I need to talk with your dad for a moment,¡± Leona said, coaxing the girl away with Ada handing the officer the intellipad. ¡°Okaaay¡­¡± Celeste groaned, putting on a sad puppy-like look before Kamila offered to give her a cookie. The little girl spun, all memory of Jack gone as she ran off with Kamila in search of treats. ¡°What''s up?¡± Jack asked, his jovial expression evaporating the moment his daughter was gone. ¡°I know you''ve got a lot on your plate, but it''s about Celeste-¡± Suddenly Jack stopped breathing, an unconscious move as his subconscious mind prepared him for bad news, ¡°What about her?¡± ¡°She''s¡­ exhibiting,¡± Leona said slowly with Jack narrowing his eyes. ¡°Exhibiting?¡± ¡°Mana.¡± Jack dry swallowed, ¡°I¡­ see.¡± ¡°She doesn''t have a system as far as we can tell, but Alencia has noticed anomalies in her blood cultures and being around her she emits mana.¡± Jack wet his lips with his tongue, his hands clasped together in front of his face as he processed the news. ¡°Is she¡­ is she in any danger?¡± ¡°No, we''re monitoring her closely,¡± Leona said with an assuring expression, ¡°But she does seem to be maturing faster than the other kids in her class. She''s reading at a first grade level at four years old. She''s articulating her words extremely well and is already solving second grade mathematics. Madam Hightower did an IQ test and Celeste scored a hundred and forty. The principal is still doing some tests but she''d like to put her in extra courses.¡± ¡°So¡­ Celeste is a genius?¡± A sense of pride blossoming inside Jack. ¡°She''s gifted, Madam Hightower won''t pull her from her regular courses on account of establishing some normality and having kids she can play with,¡± Leona explained, ¡°So she''s just suggesting additional schooling.¡± Jack rubbed his chin, ¡°I don''t reckon Celeste will be happy.¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Leona let out a laugh, ¡°So?¡± ¡°So what?¡± ¡°Should Celeste attend extra classes?¡± Jack blinked repeatedly, his brow furrowing, ¡°Why are you asking me?¡± ¡°Because you''re her father¡­ duh? You should be the one making the decision.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ right, I know, just¡­ a lot on my mind,¡± Jack sighed, ¡°I want whatever is best for her. If you think she needs extra classes, then yeah. Have her take them.¡± ¡°Okay then,¡± Leona said, her eyes looking over Jack who stared back at her with a facade. ¡°Everything will be fine.¡± ¡°Thank you Leona,¡± Jack said, ¡°For everything.¡± ¡°Please, I only want what''s best for her.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Jack said as the intellipad was handed back to Ada who''s warm smile lifted Jack''s mood. The pair spent an hour talking with the world around Jack fading away as he made plans for the future. Occasionally, his eyes would shift to the black chest plate, the piece of armor just outside of his field of vision that beckoned to him. AAS: SEASON 6: CH50: Phase 1 ¡°So¡­ our little bird has found its mate. I suppose it¡¯s nearly time, Rook, prepare the Khloros while I begin the first phase.¡±- The Black King. **** ¡°Sir, before you enter, please know that the restraints are in place to keep her and the crew safe,¡± Jessica explained, standing in front of the black bulkhead that blocked mana flow. In her hands, she held fatigues, spare clothes for the prisoner within. ¡°I understand,¡± Jack said before taking the clothes and moving Jessica to the side. Suddenly his arm was caught, the woman giving Jack a certain look, ¡°You might not like it, but it''s standard procedure when dealing with awakened.¡± ¡°I said I understand, lieutenant. Leave me. All of you.¡± ¡°Yes sir, understood sir,¡± Jessica said before bowing her head and taking off with the litany of black rose guards that had been lining the hallway of cells. Jack waited until the bulkhead at his back closed, leaving him alone in the gunmetal gray hallway with his thoughts. He inhaled, settling his beating heart before reaching out and tapping the door controls that opened the cell. Within he was greeted to the sight of a naked Colette, the lithe blonde woman suspended by special chains that prevented her from casting any skills. ¡°Colette¡­¡± Jack''s jaw clenched, approaching the woman who responded to his voice with a glare. ¡°The battle is over.¡± Colette¡¯s face twisted, her angry glare replaced with disbelief and heartbreak as the realization that her house had been exterminated dawned on her, ¡°You! NO! NO!¡± Unable to stand the sight of Colette in chains, Jack set the clothes down and approached, grabbing the chains that bound her and broke them. Immediately she lunged, attempting to attack Jack, yet the latter''s strength won out, the awakened knight unable to match Jack''s might. ¡°Colette¡­¡± Jack said, bringing the woman close who, despite the difference in strength still resisted his touch. ¡°You bastard! You BASTARD! You killed them!¡± Colette shrieked, the metal cuffs on her wrists still preventing her from activating her skills. Jack remained motionless, standing there until Colette finally stopped struggling, the only sound in the cell being her sobbing and gentle cussing. ¡°Come with me, I want to show you something,¡± Jack said, releasing the woman and taking off his officer¡¯s jacket that he used to cover her. Colette stood back, hesitant for a moment before taking the blue coat. ¡°I brought you clothes, when you¡¯re dressed, knock on the door and I¡¯ll show you something,¡± Jack said, stepping out into the hallway with his back turned to the woman. He closed the door, allowing Colette privacy as he walked to a nearby intellipad and picked it up. A few moments passed before a dull banging could be heard, prompting Jack to open Colette¡¯s cell. ¡°I¡¯m here, what do you want to show me?¡± Colette demanded, her gaze fierce as she eyed Jack like a predator. ¡°My, you do know how to pick them, she¡¯s still trying to rouse her mana to smite you,¡± Lilith chortled, appearing behind Colette who was none the wiser. ¡°This,¡± Jack said before tapping his intellipad. A moment later, the screens beside each cell lit up, displaying the contents within each prison. ¡°This¡­¡± Colette let out, eyes wide as she stared at the footage of the white-haired men and women contained in each cell. ¡°It was a bit difficult to do, but I managed to get most of them that were lingering about,¡± Jack explained as though he had simply been catching stray animals.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Everyone¡­ every single¡­¡± Colette was at a loss for words, her gaze fixed on a nearby screen. ¡°House Light is being given a stay of execution,¡± Jack said, sitting on a nearby table as he waited for Colette¡¯s reaction. ¡°H-how? The Bell-¡± Colette spun to Jack, ¡°I¡¯m their king, remember?¡± Jack replied, ¡°They might not like it, but consider House Light under my protection. It¡¯ll make a lot of people unhappy, my aunt included, but¡­I¡¯ve got a place they can go, far away from the political reaches of the Empire IF they behave.¡± ¡°You did this for me?¡± Colette whispered, her face one of disbelief as she eyed the man illuminated by the dim prison light. ¡°Not just for you, the truth is¡­ I¡¯ll need them in the coming fight.¡± Colette furrowed her brow, ¡°They won¡¯t turn traitor Jack.¡± ¡°Nor am I asking them. I don¡¯t want them to fight against Roland, in fact, this whole war is just a prelude to something bigger. Something worse,¡± Jack said, ¡°There is something more at stake here than a throne.¡± Jack turned, eyeing the dozens of prison cells, each one holding a B or A class awakened with one S class, the prisoners he¡¯d captured from the battle of Windermere all being forced to listen to his words. ¡°And if they don¡¯t? Will you execute them?¡± ¡°It¡¯s certainly one option,¡± Jack replied coldly, ¡°If my children''s futures require the earth they walk on to be built on corpses, then so be it. I¡¯ll become the best architect in history. Understand this Colette, there are very few things I care about in this world, I¡¯ve done this as both a personal favor to you, and for those I care about. If House Light chooses to stand against me, then I¡¯ll bring the guillotine down myself.¡± Colette remained silent, her eyes downcast as she tried to process every word spoken by Jack. ¡°I¡­ understand,¡± Colette said before Jack signaled Jessica on his intellipad, prompting the woman to enter the brig alongside Captain Helena and her black rose knights. ¡°Good, then help Captain Helena, make it clear to the prisoners the state of their situation,¡± Jack said before rising to his feet. ¡°Jack¡­ I just¡­ I¡¯m sorry,¡± Colette said as Jack walked past, ¡°I-¡± ¡°Submit.¡± Suddenly a chill was felt in the air, Jack''s body locking up for a moment as something seemed to pierce his chest and mind. ¡°What?¡± Jack let out as Helena, Jessica, and Colette fell to the ground alongside several of the black rose knights. An attack?! Jack could feel a sinister energy in the air, his vision abruptly flickering between his angel sight and his normal vision, his body shaking violently. ¡°JACK! GET THEM IN A CELL RIGHT NOW!¡± Sahaqiel shrieked as Jack suddenly felt his body move on its own, his consciousness supplanted by Sahaqiel who immediately began chanting. ¡°What''s going on?!¡± Jack yelled, finding himself suddenly dragged into his inner sea as Colette and the others began to convulse. Sahaqiel didn¡¯t have time to explain, she opened the door of a prison cell and dragged the other bodies in as she continued to fire off strings of mana code with the other black rose knights watching in confusion. Inside his inner sea, a crimson glow caught Jack attention from behind, prompting to spin and spot his core. The golden orb was pulsing red, a flicker of crimson like a flame within that was beating like a second heart. Beside it, Lilith lay unconscious, the specter spasming as Jack picked her up in his arms. ¡°Sara! What the hell is going on?!¡± Jack demanded as Sahaqiel dragged in Helena and ordered the standing knights to shut the prison door. ¡°NOW!¡± Sahaqiel screamed, Jack¡¯s eyes bleeding as boils began to appear along his body. The door was shut, the knights racing off into the corridor as alarms rang across the ship. ¡°Sara, what''s happening?!¡± Jack asked, suddenly in control of his body again but now in a room with multiple unconscious bodies. ¡°Curse¡­ effect. Eyes. I¡­ didn¡¯t¡­ they¡¯re all connected!¡± ¡°What? Sara? SAHAQIEL?!¡± Jack yelled as he felt the angel¡¯s presence dim. ¡°Jack, whatever you do¡­ don¡¯t open the door. At least, until I can finish my spell¡­¡± Sahaqiel said, her voice a quiet whisper as she roused what mana had managed to infiltrate the space. ¡°Sara? Sahaqiel?!¡± Jack cried as a vile sensation welled up within. **** Elsewhere, Imperial Selfian Imperial Capital. Selfia scowled, standing upon the balcony of her palace as screams echoed through the air of the city below her. ¡°What the fuck is going on? Don''t you people know I''m trying to win a war?!¡± Selfia hollered, her sleep deprived eyes glaring at the city in chaos. ¡°My queen!¡± Jin yelled, breaking down the door of Selfia''s office. ¡°Jin?! What the fuck?¡± ¡°It isn''t safe, there''s been an attack,¡± The green-haired man said as he and several other royal guards began fanning out around the room. ¡°Situation update, now,¡± Selfia demanded as she moved to her chair with a dozen arms floating around her. Suddenly her sanctum lit up, the multitude of screens lighting up to display the thousands of cameras she was connected to. ¡°What the shit?¡± Selfia muttered, narrowing her blue eyes. Everywhere she looked people were spasming, citizens of the empire and even feeds in the Hoshido village and Corporate alliance showing the same thing. People were dying. ¡°Great, another thing I need,¡± Selfia sighed before she began issuing orders. AAS: SEASON 6: CH51: Situation RED Standing on the bridge of Fuck You Roland, Jack stood in the room surrounded by what remained of the command staff. Director York was down, so too was Lieutenant Harper and Captain Helena, anyone with red eyes either locked away in the brig or a corpse down in the ship''s cold storage. ¡°It''s worldwide, not completely widespread but at least every major city has been hit, from the Alliance to our lands,¡± The hologram of Selfia said, her words seeming to drop the temperature in the room by several degrees. ¡°Mass reports are still coming in, but from the data it seems only those with red eyes are affected.¡± ¡°What does this mean? Is this some new biological weapon?¡± Admiral Skirita asked. ¡°It means you were all played,¡± Sahaqiel said, suddenly manifesting to the crowd of officers in regale armor of white and gold. Immediately Admiral Skirita spun, handgun raised as a number of officers began moving to detain the sudden intruder. ¡°It''s okay, stand down, she''s friendly,¡± Jack ordered, sighing as he looked down at the holotable displaying various cities in states of panic and despair. ¡°Sahaqiel, explain please.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Sahaqiel said, flapping her wings gently with several guards gawking at her majestic appearance. ¡°What you all have come to know as the purity of the imperial blood, was actually a curse.¡± ¡°A what?¡± Skirita asked, furrowing his brow. ¡°A curse. A spell similar in scope to how the system works but much more subtle and more sinister,¡± Sahaqiel said as she phased through a black rose agent to stand beside Jack. ¡°Every person with red eyes bears a mark on their soul, one commanded by the one you call the Black King.¡± ¡°Windows to the soul¡­¡± Selfia scoffed, ¡°And you''re just now telling us this? Knowing that an entire population is cursed would be something PRETTY important to know.¡± Sahaqiel closed her eyes for a moment, her figure flickering in and out of existence briefly. ¡°I suspected something was off about the people with red eyes, but it''s not like I had an opportunity to examine them and even if I did I probably wouldn''t have detected it until it was too late. Even with Jack''s system, it took me days, weeks to fully understand the complexity of the system curse that willingly makes itself known. This? The red mark, it was never meant to be discovered until it needed to be activated,¡± Sahaqiel explained. ¡°I''ve-¡± ¡°I''m sorry, who are you?¡± Skirita asked. ¡°That¡¯s not important Admiral,¡± Jack cut in, beckoning Sahaqiel to continue. ¡°My apologies, Lord Consort, but I disagree,¡± Skirita said before turning to the hologram of Selfia, ¡°Respectfully, your highness, if my crew and I are to take the opinion of this¡­ woman, I would like to know who we are dealing with.¡± ¡°I am Sahaqiel Riah Ereshikal Vel Lunet Ter Hess Tia Estelle. An awakened from the dawn of mankind''s civilization,¡± Sahaqiel said, her form shifting to glow softly as her wings flapped and her eyes glowed with iridescent power, ¡°The first to fly and touch the sky.¡±This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Skirita merely furrowed his brow. ¡°She¡¯s a goddess with my King Consort as her vessel, do not besmirch the living angel, consider her words akin to my own,¡± Selfia interjected with Skirita doing a double take, ¡°Sahaqiel, what are our options? How do we treat this?¡± Sahaqiel turned to Jack who clenched his jaw, every iota in his body screaming to smash something. ¡°We attack the source of the problem,¡± Jack hissed, pulling up the display of the Roland capital on the holotable. ¡°The Black King.¡± ¡°Are you asking me to launch a full assault on a heavily fortified city? Do you realize the state that our forces are in?¡± Skirita asked, staring at Jack with an angry scowl. ¡°That''s suicide!¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware of the reports Admiral, but these are my orders, I''m sure my wife would agree,¡± ¡°We don''t even know if the HVT is even with Prince Roland.¡± ¡°No, he''s there, I''m sure of it. I can feel him¡­¡± Jack said, turning his eyes on Selfia. ¡°Sahaqiel?¡± Selfia said, her attention on the angel. ¡°Jack is right, we don''t know fully what the Black King is up to but it''s clear his plans are already underway. A mass exodus of souls like this, its a prelude to gathering power, If we don''t stop him, the number dead won''t matter as there''ll be no one left to care,¡± Sahaqiel said, the harsh reality settling down on everyone. The air went still, those present running various scenarios as they tried to assess what was being asked of them while Jack''s thought turned to the fallen angels who had yet to show. ¡°Do whatever needs to be done Jack,¡± Selfia said, breaking the silence, ¡°Admiral Skirita,-¡± ¡°Yes your Majesty?¡± ¡°Prepare your fleet, I''ll send for reinforcements and meet you en route to Roland''s home.¡± ¡°My Queen? You wish to take to the field yourself?¡± ¡°Of course, I can''t let you boys have all the fun, besides¡­¡± Selfia said, her blue eyes shimmering with a predatory glare, ¡°It''s been so long since I''ve last seen my dear brother.¡± **** ¡°How are they?¡± Admiral Skirita said, standing beside Jack who stood in the hallway of the brig with his gaze on the unconscious Colette. ¡°Stable, for now. So long as they remain inside Sahaqiel¡¯s protection spell,¡± Jack replied, his eyes turning to Helena. Although he didn''t like the woman much, he couldn''t allow her to die like he''d done Eleanor. ¡°Do you smoke?¡± Skirita asked, offering Jack a cigar from a metallic black case encrusted with gold hearts. ¡°No, but I''ll try one,¡± Jack said, taking one of the cigars. ¡°I want you to know, I don''t dislike you,¡± Skirita said with Jack''s mind elsewhere. More specifically Hoshido, the new city, was fortunately unaffected by the Black King¡¯s curse. Just outside the range. But what if it were? The question prodded at Jack. Unlike Celeste whom he knew was safe, his home wasn''t. ¡°That''s comforting I guess,¡± Jack said, lighting the cigar with fira before putting it to his mouth. ¡°You really shouldn''t smoke,¡± Lilith hissed, ¡°This isn''t just your body.¡± Jack frowned, snuffing out the cigar. ¡°You have a lot on your plate, I and everyone can see it clearly,¡± Skirita continued, ¡°But, if I''m ordering my men to their death I have to know if you have the mental clarity to handle this crisis.¡± Jack slowly turned to the man, ¡°Are you doubting me?¡± ¡°No, not at all. But I remember you as the kid who stepped up on my landship and saw the sky for the first time.¡± ¡°Well I''m not that kid anymore.¡± ¡°I can see that. A word of advice, from an old man among monsters, two things I''ve learned is that a little patience goes a long way and having friends to rely on is a must. Colonel Potter seemed to think so at the least.¡± ¡°Thanks, but I don''t need advice Admiral,¡± Jack replied, brushing the man off. ¡°Give the order, we have a war to end.¡± Skirita frowned, watching the man go, ¡°Aye, Lord Consort.¡± AAS: SEASON 6: CH52: Railgun ¡°As casualties continue to mount, a state of emergency has been declared across the Corporate Alliance as well as the Empire with the Selfian administration blaming the terrorist organization known as the High Table for this devastating attack. According to the General Surgeon of the Empire, this attack is a biological attack but is in no way infectious or transmissible. However, civilians are being urged to shelter in place while government officials and security forces restore order. In other news, Imperial academy students have been deployed to assist in security efforts.¡±- Korriban News. ***** ¡°Hold the line! The fate of the empire depends on you!¡± Sergeant James Conrad barked, the newly promoted NCO taking cover behind a tree from Selfian soldiers blasting his surroundings into craters with artillery. ¡°Enemy MECHFrames! Get AT now! Where the hell is our armor!?¡± A soldier landed beside Conrad, the man bleeding profusely with Conrad immediately moving to render aid as he recognized the man to be a runner. ¡°Lieutenant Morrison and the fifth armor are being struck by awakened lightning! We''re cut off!¡± the soldier reported with Conrad grinding his teeth as he took gauze from his pouch to pack the wound. ¡°Okay! Hold this in place, we''re gonna get you to a healer!¡± Conrad ordered, reflecting on the choices that led him to being bombed in a trench. ¡°Fucking Selfians!¡± Achmad and Ferdinand were dead, so too was Hoffman. In fact, everyone that had been in his original platoon was gone with Conrad only surviving thanks to an injury that got him a ticket on the last medivac out of Windermere. Healed by an awakened and sent back out with a medal in tow, Conrad was now under orders to slow the enemy advance at all cost. Yet hiding behind the debris of several trees and covered in sweat, dirt, and blood, Conrad could only curse at the futility of his actions. ¡°Damn it¡­¡± Conrad huffed, looking down at the medal pinned to his chest. He took it off, eyeing the once pristine metal emblem now covered in dirt before he tossed it aside. Should he surrender? Defect? No, it was too late for that now, not to mention it would dishonor Hoffman''s valiant stand and memory. No, he had to see this through, bleed as many of the Selfian bastards he could before he died. This is what it meant to be a Roland soldier. This is what it meant to fight for the future. Conrad clenched his teeth, peeking from cover to gawk at the blue armored man standing atop a pure black MECHFrame. ¡°Ah, aren''t I just lucky!¡± Conrad hissed, identifying the man as the Selfian King. A blossoming flame of rage welled up within, the man who murdered the only good officer he''d ever had the honor of serving was in front of him, ten meters, practically spitting distance on the battlefield! Conrad turned to his left, preparing to give orders before realizing why the Selfian''s had stopped shooting in his direction. Everyone was dead, by some stroke of luck only he and he alone was alive. He turned his the right, checking the man beside him who''s head hung limp with his hands still on his bloodied gauze. Conrad''s eyes pulse, his mind going blank as rage propelled his next actions. He reached over, grabbing a bundle of anti-tank grenades off a soldier before rising from his cover and racing towards the man in blue. ¡°DIE SELFIAN DOG! FOR KING AND COUNTRY!!!¡± Conrad roared, pulling the pins of his grenades and throwing himself at the man who turned and- *** Jack lifted his gun blade, pulling the trigger and blasting the charging Roland soldier back who exploded into a red mist from the grenades he held in his hand. ¡°Should have just stayed hidden¡­¡± Jack muttered before ordering the tanks, MECHFrames, and armored soldiers under his command to advance through the shrubbery of the densely packed forest to move upon the outskirts of the Roland capital. ¡°Area clear, anti-armor guns and partisans are down, feel free to advance admiral.¡± Above Jack, the imperial navy cast a shadow on the dank forest, bloating out the sky with the might Selfia had brought to finish off her brother once and for all. ¡°Jack,¡± Selfia said from the bridge of her flagship, the Middle Finger, ¡°Our forces are in position, demonspawn interception teams are in place and the blockade is complete. Remember Jack, we need you to conserve your strength. Ivan reports that the Black King is still within the capital citadel with my brother, so we''re going to go in first. Remember, we want to trap him here so they can¡¯t escape.¡±If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Yeah, got it,¡± Jack said, taking the back seat as he watched airships above begin engaging the Roland aircraft in the distance. ¡°Tangerine, are you okay?¡± Jack asked as he checked the black rochi harness he wore. The MECHFrame pilot took a moment before responding, ¡°I prefer you address me as my callsign, sir.¡± ¡°Damocles, how are you doing in there?¡± Jack said as he scanned the fog of war that lay stretched out before him. It was unnatural, man-made smoke of ash, soot, cordite, and gunpowder that created a grey bleakness that stretched out to near infinity. ¡°I''m green, sir,¡± Tangerine replied, the MECHFrame pilot clearly unhappy being relegated to being Jack''s bodyguard. ¡°I''m not asking if you''re ready, I''m asking how you are,¡± Jack prodded only to be met with silence despite the fact that the pilot was talking to his AI. Despite working together at Hoshido and in the Theocracy, the relationship was still strained. Jack had made several attempts at reaching out, yet every time it was met with scorn with Tangerine¡¯s hatred and angst of a typical teen. A teen that was on the warfront. At the very least, there were no other Kindersoldats, almost all of the youth troops had been disbanded, forced instead to attend schools and academies thanks to Selfia''s new initiative. Still, Tangerine wanted to be here, volunteered in fact, so Jack would give the kid what he wanted so he could at least watch over him. Sara, how''s the battle going? ¡°Jin is leading the charge, without House Light¡¯s awakened supporting them, the Roland army seems to have few awakened remaining,¡± Sahaqiel reported. ¡°Both sides are taking lots of casualties but we have the numbers.¡± Jack frowned, rubbing his chest, he didn¡¯t like sending so many to their deaths, especially if he could do something about it, but he needed to conserve his strength, especially if he was going to fight the Black King. ¡°This waiting is killing me,¡± Jack muttered, clenching his jaw as detonation after detonation rang out, the fighting in the distance escalating as imperial armor traded blows with imperial armor. Jack had to begin manipulating the mana in the air to drown out the constant roar of cannons and screams of pain and death. Jack yawned, turning his gaze upwards to the air carrier above, the vessel Selfia watched the battlefield from. Suddenly an influx of mana, Jack¡¯s head snapping to the battlefield where a conflux of red and black energy clashed. ¡°Selfia, what''s going on over there?¡± Jack asked into his comlink. ¡°The knight of Two and Six have taken to the field,¡± Selfia said, the annoyance in her voice evident. ¡°House Lamperouge?¡± Jack said, recalling the list of Imperial knights that for the most part had remained neutral during the war. That¡¯s Ruby¡¯s family¡­ Jack said to himself, feeling his knight stir inside. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m unsure why they¡¯re fighting for the losing side but I can feel something annoying about to happen,¡± Selfia said. ¡°Can Jin handle them?¡± Jack asked. While his cousin was also a Knight of the Round, he was only ranked eleven, meaning the two he was fighting were ahead of him. ¡°Violet is with him and so is M¡¯ishka.¡± Ruby stirred again, this time more violently as her desire to protect poured into Jack¡¯s consciousness. ¡°M¡¯ishka?¡± Jack blinked, taken aback that the heterochromatic man was on the field, ¡°Is he okay?¡± ¡°Yes, he was a bit haggard, but it seems whatever effects the red eyes only has a diminished effect on those with other bloodline eyes,¡± Selfia said before barking orders to some unseen officer. ¡°I see,¡± Jack said, biting his inner cheek, ¡°I¡¯m sending Ruby out to assist.¡± ¡°I rather you didn¡¯t-¡± ¡°Too late,¡± Jack shot back as the armored shadow known as Ruby took off, ¡°I can spare the mana. Besides, I¡¯m tired of waiting.¡± Jack began to float, rising into the air to survey the battlefield. Casting an anti-army skill would cost too much from him at this juncture, but that didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t help out. Spreading his wings, the silver feathers began to combine together, shifting to form two rods of parallel tightened metal attached to the end of his gunblade. ¡°Jack, what are you doing? You¡¯re supposed to be conserving your strength!¡± Selifa yelled over Jack¡¯s comlink as his vision flickered, targeting the mana source in the distance. ¡°I am,¡± Jack replied, imbuing his feathers with lightning as sparks began to dance between the two rods of silver feathers. One positive, one negative. With his sight and senses, Jack could make out Jin and his party clashing against a group of awakened while mechframes from both parties fought. ¡°Like hell you are! My sensors are detecting a fuck ton of mana!¡± ¡°Huh, is that you consider a fuck ton?¡± Jack replied as a spearhead shaped by his extra feathers touched the two poles. What happened next was a boom, Jack¡¯s shoulder dislocating from the impromptu rail canonn blasting a feather at an awakened. A credit to her strength and reflex, the awakened woman threw up a purple barrier, attempting to block the projectile that pierced through and impaled her into the earth. ¡°W..what?!¡± Her voice could be heard to Jack¡¯s ears, her surprise and shock evident with the single word. ¡°Explode,¡± Jack ordered, the feather spearhead unraveling to detonate inside the purple-eyed woman who could only gasp before she was turned into chunks of viscera. And just like that, one of the strongest knights in the empire had been killed. The battle ceased between the Roland Guard and the Selfian soldiers, both sides turning to Jack whose injuries were already healed. Hovering there, Jack¡¯s features were shadowed by the sun, his shadowing casting the visage of a black-winged beast upon the earth. ¡°HEAR ME MICHEAL! COME OUT YOU BASTARD!¡± Jack shouted, his voice carried by the winds across the battlefield to reach the ears of the smiling man in a white suit sipping on tea upon the balcony overlooking the war. ¡°Ah, seems like the little bird has finally spread his wings,¡± Micheal grinned, his golden eyes shifting with joy towards the man in the distance. AAS: SEASON 6: CH53: Infiltration. In her bed chamber populated by pillows, stuffed animals, and plates of half-eaten food, Ada shook. With eyes settled on the TV screen before her, Ada could only only stare as the news reporter pointed up at the father of her child. ¡°You shouldn''t be watching that, the stress could harm the baby,¡± Leona said, entering the room and turning the TV off as Kamila followed behind, ¡°Jack will be fine.¡± ¡°I know¡­¡± Ada said, rubbing her belly as Kamilla went around to clear the dishes. ¡°How is Celeste doing? I heard it was pretty bad at the academy.¡± ¡°She¡¯s fine, Ho-sook been keeping her company and she''s tucked in for a nap, nothing you need to concern yourself with,¡± Kamila said as she fluffed a pillow for Ada. ¡°How are you? Not exactly the life you were expecting is it?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kamila asked, the little brunette cocking her head to the side. ¡°Well, when I met you you were trying to stab a man and you weren''t very happy that you''d been kidnapped¡­ then there was the whole wanting to murder every Roland soldier and-¡± ¡°Well, Jack is taking care of that for me now isn''t he?¡± Kamila beamed a smile at Ada who could barely hide her horror. ¡°Hey Kami, would you mind checking up on Celeste for me? Make sure she isn''t sneaking her gamescreen under the covers again?¡± ¡°Yeah sure, okay, I''ve got something in the oven I need to check on anyway,¡± Kamila said before leaving the room. Leona waited until Kamila left before sitting on the bed beside Ada. ¡°You and I both¡­¡± Ada muttered, rubbing her stomach. ¡°You know she doesn''t mean to offend,¡± Leona said. ¡°I know¡­ but she doesn''t see what Jack goes through, the weight he carries on his shoulders,¡± Ada sighed, ¡°He doesn''t show it, but he doesn''t like fighting.¡± ¡°Oh? I thought he did.¡± ¡°No! I mean, he enjoys fighting, just not¡­ the killing. Not leading. Not¡­ being responsible for people,¡± Ada explained, her eyes welling with tears, ¡°He''s scared Leona, and I don''t know how to help him.¡± Leona sighed. ¡°Well, you can''t help him stressing over his well-being. Jack''s strong, he''ll pull through. What you need to worry about is taking care of yourself and your baby before you can take care of him.¡± ¡°Do you think he''ll become an awakened? Celeste is displaying symptoms¡­ Maybe he''ll be-¡± ¡°Hush,¡± Leona interrupted, placing her hand over Ada¡¯s mouth before putting a finger over her own lips. It was quiet. The kind of calm before an attack that Ada and Leona both knew too well. Reaching over, Leona grabbed the monitor on the bed table, turning it on where she and Ada went wide-eyed. Figures in black. There were strangers in the palace. Leona stepped from around the bed, moving towards the entrance of the bedroom where she summoned her shotgun from her bracelet. Damn it, where are the guards? She reached down, taking out specialized armyrethium shells that couldn''t go in her storage device and loading it into the shotgun. An awakened killer, the shells and manufacturing were not only illegal, but expensive, at least if you weren''t in the military. Or the personal bodyguard of the royal family. She paused at the door frame, staring at the nearby wall where she could sense something was off. Leona put the barrel of her shotgun to the wall, her eyes narrowing as she readied herself. Click. Leona fired, her shotgun blasting a hole through the sheetrock that caught a black-clad man in his chest. ¡°Watch out!¡± Ada screamed as two men flooded into the room, one smacking Leona¡¯s shotgun to the side while another tackled her. Two more men rushed in, ignoring Leona grappling with her attackers to go after Ada. Ada reached out, her hand aimed at the closet where the Monohoshizao nodachi came swinging out, bisecting one man while the other dove to the ground just in time.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°Get off!¡± Leona spat, stabbing one man in the throat with a blade as the other who had tackled her put the barrel of his pistol into her stomach and fired repeatedly. Leona screamed in pain but she wasn''t out of the fight, she fired a blast of green mana at the man, knocking him off her so she could roll the corpse off her. ¡°Ada! I''m coming!¡± Leona hollered, taking her combat knife from the throat of the corpse and throwing into the back of Ada¡¯s attacker. "Gah!" The assailant let out before being kicked through the opposite wall by Ada''s foot. Leona climbed to her feet despite bleeding profusely from her stomach, moving to face the onslaught of assailants. The red-haired woman began to glow green, grabbing the head of another man attempting to grab Ada and snapping his neck. ¡°Leona look out!¡± Ada yelled, throwing up a mana barrier that shattered from the armyrethium bullets ripped through it that caught Leona and sent her through the window and over the balcony. ¡°LEONA!¡± Ada gripped her two handed nodachi, the sight of the pregnant woman clutching the weapon almost comical to the group of black-clad men and women advancing on her. ¡°Stay back!¡± Ada demanded, rousing her mana as she felt her belly cramp up. ¡°Purple Pawn, subject Alpha secured, moving to deliver,¡± One soldier said, directing the others to move on Ada whose lower half continued to cramp. ¡°STOP! Go away!¡± Ada shouted, swinging her blade only for it to be caught by a man as two others grabbed her legs and began dragging her out of bed. ¡°Sto-¡± *Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.* Suddenly six shots, so quick it took Ada a moment to comprehend that she was covered in blood as a blonde man with a cowboy hat strolled into the room. ¡°Howdy lass, sorry I''m late,¡± The blonde said, reloading his revolver as he stood over a still breathing soldier propped on a wall. ¡°You! Tr-traitor!¡± The soldier spat before being silenced by the gunslinger. ¡°W-who are you?!¡± Ada demanded taking the gun out of the holster of the dead man that lay across her legs and shakingly pointing the weapon at the cowboy. ¡°A friend of a friend, you can call me Ivan,¡± The man introduced before pivoting and firing his revolver into the hallway that took out two assailants. ¡°There isn''t much time, we''ve got to go.¡± Ada turned to the window, worry evident on her face but she didn''t have time to check as the man named Ivan began to help her out of bed. ¡°What about Celeste? My daughter?!¡± Ada asked, carefully rising to her feet as her body continued to spasm and seize. ¡°We have to go save her!¡± ¡°She''ll be fine, right now I need you to move as fast as possible lass,¡± Ivan said, peeking his head into the hallway. ¡°I have to get you out before the Purple Pawn realizes I''m a spy.¡± ¡°Where are the guards?¡± Ada asked as Ivan dragged her along through the hallway. ¡°Preoccupied with the nest agents at the gate no doubt,¡± Ivan said, stopping Ada before they entered the foyer where a squad of black clad soldiers were heading their way. ¡°Okay, be quiet and follow my lead.¡± ¡°Sir! We heard gunfire, are you okay?¡± One soldier asked. ¡°I''m fine, I''ve got the HVT in tow, go and clean up the bodies,¡± Ivan ordered. ¡°Understood sir,¡± The man said, saluting before taking off with his squad. Ada watched them go, finally breathing when they were out of sight as Ivan began pulling her forward through a hallway of windows. ¡°How are there so many soldiers in here?!¡± Ada demanded, clutching her stomach as she felt Ito kick. ¡°Secret tunnels. That''s the problem of being a noble, too many hidden entrances and exits,¡± Ivan said turning the corner as an explosion rocked the manor. Ada spun, eyes wide as she gazed through the window at the other wing of the manor in flame. ¡°Celeste!¡± Ada was off. Ivan let out a swear before chasing after the pregnant woman. Ada rounded the corner, running into the group of soldiers from earlier who immediately raised their rifles. With rage in her eyes, Ada roared and barreled through the soldiers, splattering one into a wall as Ivan followed suite and gun down the survivors. ¡°Ada! Ada stop!¡± Ivan yelled, yet it was too late as the duo came face to face with the purple-haired woman with a pawn tattoo on her forehead. ¡°Oh? What. Do. We. Have. Here?¡± The woman giggled, her forked tongue licking her black lips. At nearly six feet, her porcelain body was covered in tattoos with adornments of spikes and leather draped across her that left little to the imagination. She spun towards Ada and Ivan, her purple high heels clicking against the floor as her lips parted to reveal serrated fangs. ¡°Number three, are you so weak that you can''t contain a pregnant woman?¡± The woman said, dropping the gold armored knight that had been one of the palace''s guards. ¡°Oh my, for a sow your skin is absolutely glowing. Do you like how it feels?¡± ¡°My lady, she merely slipped away,¡± Ivan said, clenching his revolver as he bowed. ¡°I am correcting this issue.¡± Ada paid the two little attention, in fact her eyes were instead focused on Celeste in her bedroom peeking from beneath her bed before Ho-sook covered the girl''s mouth and dragged her back to cover. Within the room, Ada could see Kamila lying on her side beneath a crater in a wall, indicating she''d been attacked. Fortunately she was still breathing, clutching her side but it was evident she was hurting. Outnumbered and outgunned, Ada dry swallowed as her maternal instincts demanded she do something, ANYTHING! Ada took a step forward, already calling out for her nodachi until she was stopped by Ivan. An act that didn''t go unnoticed by the black clad soldiers. ¡°Oh well, now that you''re here you can take these backups,¡± The woman known as Purple Pawn said as she sauntered into the room, flipping the bed with one hand and exposing Celeste with Ho-sook immediately jumping in front of the smaller girl with a kunai in hand. The pawn leaned down, flicking her long tongue out that hovered close to the frightened Ho-sook¡¯s face, ¡°My, aren''t you feisty, I can''t wake to break-¡± ¡°STAY AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER!!!¡± A voice of pure fury roared as Leona came barreling through the nearby wall and tackled the Purple Pawn. Immediately Ivan''s hands came up, gunning down all twelve soldiers as Ada called out for Celeste and Ho-sook. The pair moved, Ho-sook picking up the frightened Celeste and carrying her past Leona punching the purple-haired vixen who giggled in response before opening her mouth and letting out a shrill scream that shattered the windows and sent Leona through the roof. ¡°Ada! Run!¡± Kamila cried, finally rising to her feet and conjuring chains of light to shackle the Purple Pawn. ¡°Let''s go! Now!¡± Ivan barked, pulling Ada away as something wet trickled down her leg. AAS: SEASON 6: CH54: Another Bait n Trap Beneath the palace in the secret garage, Ada cried out as her cramps got worse. ¡°Come on!¡± Ivan spat as he dropped two High Table soldiers inspecting an armored limousine. ¡°I-i¡­¡± Ada let out, her legs wobbling. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Ho-sook asked, the teenager helping Ada up. ¡°Mister! Something is wrong with momma two!¡± Celeste called out as Ivan opened the back door to get Ada loaded. Ivan spun, immediately frowning as he locked eyes with Ada, ¡°Oh you''ve gotta be shitting me. Isn''t this premature?!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Ada screamed through clenched teeth as Ivan rushed over and began helping her to the black limousine. ¡°My oh my¡­¡± The sweetly voice of the Purple Pawn cooed, echoing through the tunnel. In her hands she dragged Leona and Kamila by the necks, dropping them onto the floor as Celeste made to run to Leona but was caught by Ada. ¡°Oh, don''t worry about these two, they''re still alive. They''ll make fine additions to my collection,¡± The Purple Pawn said, brandishing her pointed teeth. ¡°Now, where are you going?¡± ¡°Ya know¡­ places¡­¡± Ivan chuckled nervously as he grabbed Celeste and Ho-sook and pushed them into the car along with Ada. ¡°Places?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Ivan readied his revolvers, ¡°Places.¡± ¡°And that involves shooting our own men?¡± The Purple Pawn drew near, the walls vibrating as Ada let out a pained cry from within the limousine while Ho-sook was busy holding the frantic Celeste. ¡°After everything we did for you? Gave you your revenge, embraced you into our family, brought your lover back to life?¡± The Purple pawn struck a pose, her lips pouting as she cocked her head to the side. ¡°Yeah¡­ well, what can I say? Selfia offered me better dental,¡± Ivan fired two rounds, the armyrethium-tipped bullets ineffective as they slammed against the woman''s face that was quickly shielded by a moving black mass. ¡°Tch, damn nanomachines,¡± Ivan gripped, still trying to figure out his options. He couldn''t throw a grenade or risk collapsing the tunnel, and he couldn''t penetrate her nanotech shield or overpower her with brute force. In layman''s terms, Ivan was backed up against the proverbial wall, not to mention the pregnant woman behind him going into labor was NOT on his vision board.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. If it were just him, he could probably escape.... probably. Ivan fired repeatedly, his weapons doing little against the chief torturer of the Black King. ¡°Well, fuck,¡± Ivan let out before teleporting, firing his guns from different angles as the Purple Pawn giggled. ¡°Ivan, darling, we already did this little song and dance, you should already know your short little toys aren''t gonna work on me,¡± Purple Pawn cooed, suddenly snatching Ivan''s wrist mid-teleport and lowering herself to lick the barrel of his gun. ¡°You need a much bigger barrel if you want to satisfy me, let alone kill me.¡± Ivan smirked, his eyes darting from the melting barrel of his revolver to the crazed eyes of his assailant, ¡°Yeah well, my plan isn''t to kill ya, its to stall ya.¡± ¡°Stall?¡± The pawn raised a brow before her eyes went wide and she spun, catching the two-handed nodachi with her now armored black arm. ¡°YOU?!¡± ¡°ME!¡± Tenno laughed, his muscles bulging before he sent the woman flying into the nearby wall. The Purple Pawn bounced, rebounding off the cracked wall before Tenno¡¯s foot forcefully buried her several feet into the tunnel wall. "HAVE YA MISSED ME PURPLE?!" ¡°You''re late,¡± Ivan hissed, throwing away his ruined revolver. ¡°Had a bit of traffic,¡± Tenno grinned before turning and blasting the Purple Pawn with a deafening mana shot that drowned out her shriek of rage. ¡°Ada! Ho-sook!¡± The voice of Kenichi barked, the blindfolded Hoshido leader racing down the hall with several samurai and palace guards in tow. ¡°Shit,¡± Ivan muttered, covering his face with a hand and turning away before realizing the man he was wanting to avoid was blind. ¡°Over here! She''s going into labor!¡± Ho-sook yelled, guiding Kenichi past Ivan to the car where Ada was crying and bleeding onto the floor of the limousine. ¡°Step back! Make space!!¡± An imperial medic barked, the awakened doctor pushing Kenichi away to get into the back cab. Seeing her opportunity, Celeste finally wrestled free from Ho-sook¡¯s grasp, the little girl tearfully calling out for her mom only to be caught by Ivan. ¡°Shhh. Shh lass, she''ll be fine, she''s ok, the doctors will take care of her,¡± Ivan assured, attempting to soothe the sobbing girl as medics tended to the two injured women and moved to bring them into the limousine. ¡°But mommy!¡± Ivan walked to the car, lowering himself to place the girl within. ¡°It''s ok, just let them do their job, o-¡± Ivan froze, his gaze fixed on the blind man beside him furrowing and unfurrowing his brow repeatedly as his face stared at him. The gunslinger coughed, clearing his throat before raising the bass in his voice. ¡°-just behave, you''re safe,¡± Ivan said before letting the girl go who rushed to the injured red-haired woman. ¡°Do I know you?¡± Kenichi asked, cocking his head to the side as though angling his ear at Ivan. The man''s hand was on the katana at his side, a sense of bloodlust oozing off him as Ivan''s hand rested on his revolver. Does he recognize me? No, I never spoke to him. And he never saw me. I don''t think¡­ ¡°Can¡¯t say we''ve met,¡± Ivan replied, the sound of Tenno¡¯s clash against the Purple Pawn shaking the very foundation of the palace, ¡°Go, Tenno and I will handle the Purple Pawn, just make sure the kid and the girls are safe.¡± Ivan took off, racing into the brutishly carved tunnel before Kenichi could say another word or hopefully recognize him. **** AAS: SEASON 6: CH54.5: At the End of a Rope ¡°Nien! Nien! Nien!¡± The silver-haired man barked, slamming his fists against the table as he stood within the command bunker to direct his troops. Roland was at his wits end, surrounded by his officers all anyone had to give him was bad news. His main army was defeated at Windermere with those that managed to evacuate suffering almost fifty percent casualties before linking up with his reserves. Then there was the fact that all lines of logistics were cut off to Rolanda, effectively isolating and grounding their airships, rendering their Air Force ineffective. And finally, the last nail in the coffin, his city was surrounded, abandoned by the High Table with thousands of what remained of his military dying to a mysterious symptom that only affected those of the pure bloodline. But then why was he spared? Was it because of his noble lineage? Roland didn''t know, all he knew was that the war was lost and the Black King was no longer answering his calls. ¡°Milord¡­¡± Garnet Lamperouge, liaison of House Lamperouge and one of Roland''s longest supporters began, ¡°Should we¡­ surrender?¡± ¡°Surrender?! Have you taken leave of your senses madam?!¡± General Grimm spat, a balding officer newly appointed as Marshall to defend their capital from the Selfian threat. Lamperouge narrowed her purple eyes, the woman tempted to smite the man who dared speak so brazenly to a member of nobility. ¡°Garnet, it''s fine, Grimm has a point,¡± Roland said through gritted teeth, ¡°Selfia would rather torture and hang me on the side of her palace wall than ever let me surrender peacefully.¡± Is what Roland said, but in truth, the thought of Selfia laughing at him while giving him the middle finger irked him to the core. In fact, he''d rather kill himself than ever allow himself to be subject to such humiliation. ¡°Then what are your orders, my fuhrer?¡± Colonel Cazador Hoffman asked, an influential man who had served him well in his previous campaigns against the Cintelli Theocracy. ¡°The fifth reserves and kindersoldat stand willing and waiting. Your excellency need only give the word and we would go gladly to our deaths.¡± ¡°Eager to join your son, Colonel?¡± Lamperouge said, drawing the ire of the non-awakened man. ¡°And would could you mean by that Lady Lamperouge?¡± ¡°Your son ran out to face our enemy, remember? And what did that achieve?¡± ¡°My son died a hero in defense of the fatherland!¡± Hoffman retorted, pointing a gloved finger at the awakened woman, an action which, under normal circumstances would spell the man''s death. Yet these weren''t normal circumstances. ¡°Delaying the enemy which is more than I can say for those pitiful assassins you call mage officers.¡±If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°You have a lot of bravado for an unawakened, perhaps because of the stress your senses have taken leave of you, colonel.¡± Roland closed his eyes, contemplating his choices as his officers began to bicker. Finally, Roland opened his mouth , prepared to cut through the backdrop of arguing. ¡°You will fight to the last,¡± the words echoed through the chamber, freezing the audience of commanders and nobles in place. Yet these words didn''t come from Roland but rather the bald man wearing a white suit and mask that shielded his eyes. He looked different than last Roland saw him, but there was no mistaking that ego and suit. ¡°You!¡± Roland spat, pointing at the smug man grinning without a care in the world, ¡°GUARDS! SEIZE THAT MAN!¡± Cazador Hoffman and the officers moved, drawing their sidearms and weapons yet that was as far as they got before they were frozen in place. ¡°Rude, is that anyway to treat a friend? I dare say you wound me,¡± The Black King said, sauntering across the room and past the frozen guards. Roland unconsciously shrunk back, finding that he couldn''t breath as a crushing pressure fell on his shoulders. ¡°Y-you! Where have you been?!¡± Roland let out, stuck in place as two firm hands planted themselves on his shoulders. ¡°You were supposed to bring me victory! Bring me an empire! Instead you abandoned me as thousands of my men have been ravaged by some Selfian bio weapon and her army comes knocking at my door!¡± The Black King chuckled, casually pushing over the frozen Hoffman who fell to the ground stiff with a thud. ¡°Abandoned? Oh no, I have a purpose for you King Roland,¡± The Black King said, his tone almost sarcastic as he addressed the noble. ¡°A purpose, which is what we all crave don''t we?¡± ¡°Purpose?! Selfia will have me tortured! My purpose was to lead the empire into a new dawn! To be its king! I did everything you asked for Project Khloros, gave you men, and supported your expeditions and this is how you repay me?!¡± Roland snapped, his anger momentarily triumphing over his fear. However, Roland was quickly reminded of the power dynamic as he fell to his knees. ¡°And I delivered no? An empire under your command which I gainsay was more than thy ever deserved,¡± The Black King said, casually taking a seat in the chair meant for Roland across the room, ¡°Every promise I''ve made I kept, it is not thine fault you pissed it away.¡± Roland bit his tongue, pushing his mangled silver hair back and controlling the outburst that would have sentenced him to death. ¡°What¡­ Do you want?¡± Roland asked, barely containing the seething hatred beneath his calm veneer. ¡°Victory,¡± The Black King replied as a black clad figure with green eyes seemed to materialize into the room. ¡°This is thy knight, he will assist you when you take to the field tomorrow to ensure¡­ you perform as needed.¡± ¡°What?¡± Roland''s face twisted with confusion. ¡°You expect me to commit suicide?!¡± The Black King laughed, his face revealing a cruel grin that had been hidden beneath his calm veneer. ¡°That''s the thing my dear King¡­ you''re already dead.¡± Roland''s eyes pulse, the red-eyed prince doubling over as something pulled at his very soul. The tip of well polished boots filled Roland''s vision, the only thing he could see with his head to the ground before his view was lifted up by a finger to stare at the face of Queen Slayer, the man who had murdered his grandmother. ¡°You live because I allow it. You breathe because I say so. If you deviate from my will, what befell your red-eyed brethren will befall you too, after all-¡± The Black King smiled as he moved Roland''s head to face a familiar silver-haired woman with a golden sword at her side. ¡°M-mother?!¡± Roland could scarcely believe it. ¡°-I created this empire for one singular purpose,¡± The Black King said, his golden eyes turning red, ¡°To serve me.¡± AAS: SEASON 6: CH55: Jack, The King, The Lance, And the Ghost ¡°Breathe Ada! Just breathe!¡±- Kenichi ¡°I AM FUCKING BREATHING!!!!¡±- Ada ***** After days of fighting, Jack now floated above the golden palace used by the man who proclaimed himself king. Under the storm of black winds, Jack furrowed his brow, narrowing his eyes as he glared down at the figure in the distance adorn in white and gold who stood before the gates of his castle. Roland Cordelica, the usurper and White Knight of the Black King. ¡°FIRE!!¡± Selfia''s voice screamed through Jack''s ear piece, her voice ordering her airships to open fire at the awakened traitor. The canons of all fifteen airships under Selfia''s banner roared, unleashing round after round at the man who, in Jack''s vision, remained unmoving despite the blanket of shrapnel and gunfire coating the city. In the past, Jack would have been worried about the about the civilian casualties, but now, well, they had been warned in advance and told to flee. Anyone who stayed would die. Cruel? No doubt. The bodies that lay draped across the city painting a haunting image in his mind, but he couldn¡¯t afford to falter. Not when everyone he loved counted on him, instead, Jack shut his mind and closed his heart to the horrors of war. Sara. ¡°Yup I see, he''s wearing nothing but enchanted gear and he''s not alone.¡± Great, so I''m not hallucinating¡­ Jack said to himself as he eyed the distortion beside the white-haired man known as Roland. ¡°Hmm, this is a trap,¡± Jack frowned, switching his view from his angel vision as the smoke and dust dispersed. ¡°God fucking damn it why don''t you just fucking die already?!¡± Selfia could be heard fuming with Jack seeing her in his mind''s eye stomping around furiously on the bridge of her command ship. ¡°Looks like we''re up,¡± Jack said to Selfia. ¡°What? Gonna railgun him?¡± Selfia sent back. ¡°No, if I do that he''ll die and I won''t be able to have a one on one chat,¡± Jack said, descending as Roland opened his mouth and began to give some grandiose speech to his soldiers. ¡°You think you can take him? We still have to contend with the Black King.¡± ¡°I''m sure.¡± ¡°Are you sure sure? Seriously Jack, this is no time-¡± ¡°I''m sure, after all, he flinched,¡± Jack said, referring to the usurper prince flinching under the barrage of Selfia''s warships. Of course Selfia had no idea what Jack was saying instead she moved immediately to bark orders, deploying her troops to prevent enemy retreat. ¡°-Of course my sister sends her patsy to face me instead of fighting me herself!¡± Roland roared, pointing at Jack with a golden blade that he realized was Excalibur. ¡°See the cowardice their BELOVED queen displays as she not only ignores my call for challenge but fires indiscriminately at our city with her navy!¡± Jack''s feet touched the ruined street of concrete and rubble, his back to the Roland soldiers in the bombed-out houses and dug-outs who dared not act against the man who brazenly entered their defensive lines. ¡°Roland, I take it?¡± Jack said, eyeing the man with red eyes, white hair, and handsome features, the model image of a king. On his shoulders, a protective fur cape capable of hardening. His forearms, artifacts that boosted strength and conjured shields. On his feet, boots of speed that allowed him to teleport while his chest plate seemed to have a similar effect as the Savior chestplate he¡¯d taken off of Hoffman. ¡°We haven¡¯t been introduced.¡± ¡°Oh, please, I¡¯m well aware of what you are, don¡¯t act coy, you¡¯re nothing but my traitorous sister¡¯s attack dog,¡± Roland sneered, pointing Excalibur at Jack with the weapon warping the space it sliced through. ¡°Like father, like son, traditions of a bygone era.¡±Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Jack eyed the blade before focusing on the thing out of normal sight that hid behind Roland in his shadow, a specter similar to Ruby yet¡­ not. Through his angel vision, Jack could see it staring back at him, green eyes behind a mask. A relative? Jack didn''t know but it was clear it didn''t want to be seen. Roland glared at Jack, realizing the latter wasn¡¯t paying attention to him but rather preoccupied with something else. ¡°You stand before me, King Roland Cordelica of the Arthurian Empire, the man who will usher in a new age for the empire and the world!¡± Roland boasted, standing with the confidence of a man assured of victory, yet as Jack¡¯s eyes flickered to the self-proclaimed king, he saw not bravery, but fear. The same fear of a man forced to do something. So thats how it is¡­ ¡°I¡¯m only going to ask once,¡± Jack said, tapping his foot and releasing a shockwave of mana that blew away the spectators and forced the traitor guardsmen back. ¡°Where is my sister?¡± ¡°How dare you-¡± ¡°Wrong answer.¡± In the fraction of the time it took to blink, Jack vanished, closing the distance with Roland with his palm outstretched to grab the usurper¡¯s face. Suddenly an attack, the shadow nearby producing dozens of crimson spikes that nicked Jack''s mana barrier and forced him back. Jack narrowed his eyes at the black clad specter, his cheek leaking smoke from the gash from the spike strong enough to break his barrier. Blood technique? ¡°Hm,¡± Jack let out, already feeling the intrusion of foreign mana attempting to wiggle its way inside him. Against lesser awakened, the attack would have left them nothing less than a bloody mess on the floor. It didn''t go far before submitting to Jack''s command. ¡°Coward! To attack me mid sentence? You''re nothing but a trashy curr, and in these darkened times, it befalls to me to take out the trash!¡± Roland yelled, striking a stance, his body radiating with silver light that moved along the blade of gold. Jack found his heart racing, an anger within not of Lilith''s, Ruby''s, or Sahaqiels but his own igniting. The sword brought back bad memories. ¡°You really like hearing the sound of your voice, huh?¡± Jack asked rhetorically, noticing that the soldiers around him were beginning to move in. ¡°Clashing with that sword is going to be a problem,¡± Sahaqiel advised. ¡°One cut could be fatal and it''s not like we have weapons that can block it.¡± Yeah, and judging from his bodyguard I''ll need you or Lilith to purge his attacks, Jack sent back as he readied his gun blades. For once in a long while, there was someone who actually posed a threat to Jack, not the man himself granted, but rather the gear he wore. ¡°Ruby,¡± Jack called out, summoning the knight, ¡°Deal with the fodder.¡± Roland shot off the ground, the Imperial prince roaring his battle cry as Jack took to the sky. From above Jack unleashed his salvo, firing flechette rounds that peppered the man protected by his armor and the shade who took the burnt of the attack. ¡°COW-¡± Roland yelled but not before a proximity HE round from Jack¡¯s gunblade blew him back. Jack reached out, attempting to drain the White Knight¡¯s bodyguard that bounced between the ruins, using them as footholds to rapidly close the distance with Jack. ¡°Seventh! Solomon!¡± The black-clad blood user hissed while smashing Jack through a nearby building. Rolling to his feet, Jack''s wings moved, blocking the punch that smacked against his feathers with a resounding crack. Jack''s feathers shifted, wrapping around the man''s arm who immediately slashed it off, the appendage detonating a second later and sending them both flying through the walls of the ruined building. ¡°SOLOMON!¡± The voice of his assailant roared, moving through the smoke, the stump of his severed appendage oozing blood that shaped into penetrating tendrils. Activating hardened and putting up a barrier, Jack moved to shield himself yet the attack pierced his body cleanly through, locking him in place. [-183 HP] Gone in an instant. Jack felt himself moving, the tendrils poking out of his back forming into hooks to reel him in as the spikes attempted to force his blood to explode. Fortunately Lilith kept that from happening, her mastery of Gehenna turning what would be a death sentence into an annoying injury instead. Still, the man knew what he was doing, every spike in Jack inhibited his movement with the tendrils piercing ligaments, joints, and tendons. The man''s free hand reached out, commanding crimson liquid to form a dagger in his palm that he moved to put in Jack''s eye. Suddenly a black chain wrapped around the man''s wrist, stopping his attack as Jack''s gunblade came up, snapping the head of his attacker back from the force of the fifty caliber round exiting his weapon. The man hit the floor with a thud, the only sound in the stillness that echoed through Jack''s surroundings. But the awakened wasn''t dead. Over his face was a barrier of crystalized blood, stopping the attack. Jack dropped a blast of fire on the man, boiling away the blood spikes chasing him as he made his escape from the building. Barreling through a window, Jack took to the sky, his movements still sluggish as his body worked to expel the foreign mana. ¡°Jack! Fall back! NOW!¡± Selfia''s voice barked. Jack shook his head, alarm bells ringing in his mind as Sahaqiel turned his body to catch the golden spear an inch from his face. ¡°Hi dimmie cur, how''s my son-in-law doing?¡± Lancelot grinned, the gold armored man appearing before Jack with a floating fortress in the sky behind him. ¡°LANCELOT!¡± Jack roared. AAS: SEASON 6: CH56: Anti-army Clash ¡°LANCELOT!¡± Jack roared, releasing an arc repulse that blew apart the rooftops of the nearby buildings and sent the legendary knight flying. Jack spread his wings, the feathers moving to impale the man only to be blocked by the black specter. ¡°Solomon!¡± The shadow spat, its back sporting tendrils of blood that acted as legs to suspend the man mid-air. Jack inhaled, eyes focused not on the black knight that impeded him but on Lancelot smirking as he stood unharmed below with Roland at his side. ¡°GET OUT OF MY WAY!¡± Jack yelled. Supercharging a feathered spear Jack struck the knight down before enchanting his feathers with lightning and unleashing a storm upon his enemy. Lancelot laughed, twirling his spear, which sparked each time it deflected one of Jack''s feathers. Jack activated energize, his body radiating with red lightning as he torpedoed into the earth. ¡°Fancy meeting you here,¡± Lancelot smirked, taking Jack''s attack straight on. The pair clashed, Jack''s gunblade smashing down on Lancelot''s spear. ¡°I''m gonna rip out your intestines with my teeth!¡± Jack roared. Roland and his knight attempted to intervene yet was caught in the explosion of Jack''s arc repulse. ¡°Ha! Now that''s the spirit!¡± Lancelot yelled, using the force of the detonation to launch into the air and perform a flip before landing on a tilted street light. ¡°Come Jack, show me a good time!¡± Lancelot¡¯s body now sported blue scales, his body almost reptilian-like as blue lightning danced around his body. Jack grit his teeth, his heart pounding angrily with the air swirling in response to his will. ¡°Jack! Jack, you need to get out of there! The Solarus is about to fire!¡± Selfia barked, her transmission barely audible to his ears that pounded with his own heartbeat. In the distance the citadel of gold floated, nearing the city as Selfia''s fleet moved to engage. ¡°Damn it,¡± Jack hissed, sensing the swelling of mana. ¡°Jack, that thing is about to fire!¡± Sahaqiel warned, prompting Jack to soar downwards just in time to avoid the torrential flood of mana that smashed through the barrier of Selfia''s command ship. ¡°SELFIA!¡± Jack called out, but he didn''t have time to focus on the burning flagship crashing into the city. Lancelot and Roland were upon him, the two pincering him just as the shadow moved to flank him from behind. Shit! Jack ducked beneath Excalibur, his wings blocking Lancelot''s gungnir while Ruby engaged the shadow. Dodging Roland''s attacks, Jack attempted to go on the offense instead, using his feathers to harass Roland while he dealt with Lancelot. However, this was proving to be a daunting task, although not as quick as his father, Roland''s blade was damaging his feathers each time they made contact, not to mention his teleporting, armor protections, and enchanted gear were proving a nuisance to his skills. Jack opened his mouth, unleashing frost breath at Roland while kicking off the ground to gain distance from Lancelot. With three-to two-odds and Roland soldiers now racing out, Jack decided to retreat, at least for now. To his assailant¡¯s surprise, Jack''s body started to emit smoke, the area around him rapidly blanketed by magical fog that hid his mana signature as he fled. ¡°Learning new tricks are we?!¡± Lancelot shouted, swiping at the space where Jack had been only to be greeted by a flashbang. ¡°Fuck!¡± Taking shelter in a nearby building, Jack used the ruined structure to act as both cover and concealment to hide his presence from the enemy. Jack took a moment, listening in to the combat chatter on his COM-LINK as Admiral Skirita took command of the battle and moved the fleet to engage the Solarus. ¡°Selfia! Come in! Selfia!¡± Jack barked, attempting to raise the Queen on every channel he had. ¡°Oh my God! Stop yelling in my ear, you''re making my headache worse!¡± Selfia snapped, the sound of screams audible in the background. Jack exhaled, satisfied that Selfia was alive at least as he looked down at his arm that was bleeding but not healing. ¡°Problem, Lancelot is here,¡± Jack reported, ducking down to breathe for a moment as soldiers neared. ¡°Then get out of there, while I''m sure you can handle my brother I don''t think you can handle both him and my father. Retreat if you need to, Jin and the others are still fighting their way through Lamperouge soldiers,¡± Selfia reported as Jack winced from the injury on his arm. ¡°I can''t leave just yet,¡± Jack replied, ¡°Not until Roland tells me what I need to know, I''ll try and capture hi-¡± The line cut off, signal interference it seemed. ¡°Fuck,¡± Jack muttered, cursing his own overconfidence while loading his gun blade. Although they were the enemy they weren''t stupid, the Roland soldiers were still Imperial guardsmen at the end of the day. Trained soldiers.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°I told you you needed to be careful about that sword,¡± Sahaqiel chastised. ¡°Yeah well, kinda hard managing three attackers at once,¡± Jack retorted, clamping a hand down on the wound that hurt for once. ¡°Spread out and bring him to me!¡± Roland shouted, ordering his troops to search the building. ¡°Tsk, I need mana,¡± Lilith spat, materializing to tend to Jack''s injury caused by the Excalibur. Guess Roland can scheme too, Jack frowned himself before punching through the nearby sheetrock and pulling a screaming soldier through. The man fired his gun wildly, hitting his comrades before falling to the floor as a dried-out husk. ¡°AMATEUR!¡± Immediately Lancelot was upon Jack, stabbing at the latter with his legendary spear who ducked beneath the weapon limited in its use in such tight quarters. ¡°Did I ever tell you about your father Jack?¡± Lancelot goaded, unleashing a torrent of blue lightning that was met by Jack''s red. An explosion ensued, the positive and negative energies detonating the space between them. ¡°Uninterested,¡± Jack replied as Sahaqiel reported Roland on the move. Jack turned his free hand, cycling his gun blade that blasted the knight through a wall attempting to flank. Through the crumbling debris, Jack could hear the usurper cussing, barely able to take in breaths from the large caliber round that smashed against his armor. ¡°Look at you Jack, four years and you''ve become akin to a war god,¡± Lancelot laughed, retracting his spear and adopting an expression that was almost one of pride. ¡°If you weren''t born to a bastardized race I could almost be proud to call you my son-in-law.¡± Jack responded with a gun blade, the weapon unleashing a round that Lancelot immediately moved to deflect. However, this proved to be a mistake as the moment he did the micro-proximity fuse within activated, unleashing the armythieum flechettes that detonated and pierced Lancelot''s mana shell. ¡°GAH!¡± The golden knight screamed, stumbling before Jack''s roar flooded his ears and he was tackled out of the building and into the rubble-filled street. The knight swung wildly, attempting to counter yet Jack''s feathers clamped down on the man''s wrists and legs, pinning the Knight of One down so Jack could go to work. It started with a punch to the face, one that sent joy and ecstasy echoing through Jack''s body that propelled him to punch again. And again. And again. Each subsequent punch coming out faster and faster with his own mouth screaming obscenities as he beat the strongest Knight of the Empire in front of an army of witnesses. Jack smiled, his face twisting with glee. ¡°You once told me that I couldn''t siphon you! That you had plenty of mana! Well, let''s put THAT TO THE TEST! Lancelot roared with rage, his body igniting with power that became Jack''s as he slapped his palm over the man''s face. ¡°Where is all that power?¡± Jack asked, his trauma transforming into catharsis as he forced the screaming man down into the dirt, pressing him into the earth despite his struggles. This time Lancelot couldn''t escape. Couldn''t overpower him. Couldn''t mock him! Couldn''t taunt him! This time Jack was the one with overwhelming strength. Jack''s hand began to glow, searing Lancelot''s face with fira as the mana mixed with Gehenna permanently scarred the Knight''s face. ¡°How does it feel? How does it feel to be scarred!¡± Jack hissed, his eyes glazed over with madness as the knight¡¯s screams of pain came to a halt. ¡°Jack! Behind you!¡± Jack spun, rolling off his unconscious prey to avoid the blood spear and chains of light aimed at his back. ¡°I''m going to kill you both,¡± Jack said flatly as Selfian soldiers began to appear nearby. ¡°But not before you tell me where my sister is.¡± ¡°Tch,¡± Roland let out, drawing his blade close, the once regal model image of a king coated in debris and dust. Roland charged, slashing at Jack who calmly dodged and kicked the man in the shin, knocking him to the ground. ¡°Why!?¡± Roland screamed, rolling away just as Jack''s foot came down. ¡°Why must you impede me!? Would you deprive a nation of its future?!¡± ¡°You¡¯re goddamn right I will, I¡¯ll kill everyone that gets in my way,¡± Jack replied, firing a blast of mana that Roland deflected using excalibur. ¡°Now tell me, where is the Black King? Where is my sister?!¡± ¡°And why would I tell a mongrel who is about to die that?¡± ¡°The only one who will be dying is you!¡± Jack spat, his anger rising but not enough to blind him to the shadow attempting to attack him that he shot with his gunblade. Roland grit his teeth, rousing his mana. ¡°I have spent twenty years of tenacity and planning! I will not have it all undone by some sniveling mutt who could never grasp that what I fight for is mankind! For the world! For a better empire!¡± Jack paused. ¡°Is this hell your definition of fighting for mankind?! Is kidnapping children, waging war against your own sister and conspiring with evil your definition of just?!¡± Roland¡¯s face scrunched. ¡°I could never expect you to understand!¡± Roland slashed his blade, shaving off a portion of Jack¡¯s hair. ¡°A puppet of the Black King! How dare you raise your arms to me! Arise o will!!¡± Jack backpedaled, detecting a large influx of mana as the man''s core shifted from purple to silver, all indications in the mana in his surroundings displaying the preparation of an anti-army skill. While anti-army skills could cancel each other out, the truth of the matter was that the point-blank activation of such skills didn''t so much as nullify the skill effects but implode them, mushrooming the mana in a condensed space rather than blanketing the field when two skills clashed in the open. Roland was attempting to blast Jack away, perhaps hoping that with Selfian troops nearby Jack would hesitate. He was wrong. ¡°Fine, if you want to throw down anti-army skills then let''s throw down!¡± Jack barked, rousing his core much to Sahaqiel¡¯s shock and reluctance. ¡°I offer thee calamity-¡± ¡°You bastard!¡± Roland seethed, realizing that his gambit had been called, ¡°Shine with Brilliance-!¡± ¡°¡°Erase from my sight and begone,¡±¡± Jack and Sahaqiel¡¯s voice twisted as one, the two reciting the skill as fast as Roland cited his. ¡°-Let all those unworthy know thy glory!¡± ¡°¡°Let my winds carry the will of destruction and bring forth tragedy!¡±¡± ¡°I, the inheritor, I, whose ambition knows no limit!¡± ¡°¡±I, O'' guardian of the Gates, the avatar of freedom-!¡±¡± ¡°I who topple mountains, I who am king! I who cast judgment!¡± ¡°DENY YOU! BEGONE! MANAWRAITH TEMPEST!¡± ¡°EXALTATION! JUDGEMENT SLASH!¡± Roland roared, the mana in the air suffocating to those unaccustomed as both he and Jack called upon the energy of universe to unleash their attacks with the world obliging their bidding. Roland swung the Excalibur, the weapon of gold unleashing a beam of pure radiant energy that pierced the heavens. At the same time, Jack''s skill manifested a hurricane at point-blank range within the city center, the storm conjured ripping away their surroundings. All sound was lost. The light, drained. Every shadow gone as a brilliant explosion ripped the world asunder. AAS: SEASON 6: CH57: End of World Scenario. ¡°Gah¡­¡± Jack let out, clutching his left eye while down on one knee as his blood dripped upon the ruined paved road beneath him. Before Jack, was the shadow knight, standing tall despite almost half his body missing. However, contrary to Jack¡¯s expectations, the knight wasn''t facing him, but rather away, his back turned to Jack to take on the brunt of Excalibur¡¯s unique properties that had melded with Roland''s anti-army skill to cut through Jack¡¯s and Sahaqiel''s hurricane. The knight wrapped in black turned his head slowly, clearly struggling with such a simple movement until his green eyes settled on Jack. ¡°H-h-hey... kiddo,¡± Mike shakily said, Roland¡¯s attack shaving off the helmet he wore that obscured his face, revealing to Jack the specter he had been fighting against all this time was¡­ ¡°M-mike?¡± Jack whispered incredulously, his eyes shaking as his uncle smiled with crimson ichor flowing freely from his lips. ¡°I¡¯m so proud of you,¡± Mike whispered before hitting the ground with a loud thud that seemed to echo in Jack¡¯s mind. ¡°Mike?¡± Jack whimpered, his head cocked to the side, disbelief in his voice as his lips quivered. Away from Jack, almost a yard, Roland faired no better, the man¡¯s enchanted gear ruined as he lay imbedded in the earth. ¡°MIKE?!¡± Jack screamed, falling to the side before rapidly crawling over to the body despite his healing disrupted by Excalibur and his shoulder bleeding profusely. ¡°No! Nonononono!¡± Jack turned the man over, his lifeless eyes gazing out to nowhere as Jack reached down, his first instinct to drain the man to try and- ¡°No,¡± Sahaqiel said, she and Lilith materializing along with Ruby to stop Jack from attempting to take Mike¡¯s soul. ¡°No?¡± Jack whispered, ¡°NO?! Sara! H-h-HE- I-!¡± ¡°Your body can¡¯t handle another ego!¡± Sahaqiel reasoned, the tears flowing from her face reflecting Jacl¡¯s emotions, ¡°Any attempt like this would shatter everything we¡¯ve done to repair your core. It would kill us, worse! It could turn us into a nest! STOP!¡± Jack attempted it anyway, yet despite his hand placed down on Mike¡¯s chest, Gehenna didn¡¯t answer his will. ¡°Did you forget where your power comes from?¡± Lilith shook her head as her hand, Sahaqiel¡¯s hand, and even Ruby¡¯s latching onto Jack¡¯s body to pull him away. ¡°B-b-but-How? Why? WHY?!¡± Jack could only scream, the shock of his uncle''s death to- The vibration of heavy machinery landing nearby took Jack¡¯s attention. It was the Damocles, Tangerine¡¯s mechframe cutting through the Solarius¡¯s valkyrie force to land beside Jack. ¡°It, it is time to go sir,¡± Tangerine said, the black armored mechframe scooping up Jack in its massive metal hands who was too comatose to react. ¡°Packaged secured, egressing to friendly lines.¡± The boosters of the mechframe ignited it, its metal chassis ascending into the air with its CIWs engaging in all directions to repel the Valkyrie pilots attempting to intercept it. However, against his new type of machine, one of pilot melded with AI and metal, the mechframes of old were akin to relics, their machines falling short against the pinnacle of Selfian titan technology. -Sir. Five GEN-3 and Two GEN-4s have us locked on- Damocles reported as Tangerine¡¯s hands danced across the controls of his mechfame. He didn¡¯t actually need the AI¡¯s report, it already told him what the sensors on his mechframe fed him, still, its voice was a comforting reminder that despite being surrounded three-dimensionally, he wasn¡¯t alone. ¡°Deploy chaff,¡± Tangerine ordered, shifting his flight gear to avoid the incendiary hail of bullets tracking his machine. Flare after flare fired from Tangerine¡¯s mech, the strips of metal confusing the missiles that detonated upon reaching proximity. Tangerine¡¯s eyes darted to his HUD, with his hands occupied protecting the King Consort, he was left with only the two Close in defense weapons mounted on his back and the rocket systems attached to his thigh and shoulders. Still, this didn¡¯t mean he was done for, the Damocles was more than enough to handle relics of the past. ¡°Shields to rear and prepare FFBC,¡± Tangerine ordered, the Damocles routing power from its auxiliary obsifitor generators to the Forward Facing Beam Cannon mounted on its chest, a weapon that would momentarily deplete his reserve energy. -Sir, if I may, shouldn¡¯t we use that energy to boost our flightpack speed?- Damocles inquired as Tangerine maneuvered himself in front of the pack of mechframe pilots. ¡°No, the more High Table bastards we eliminate now, the less that will chase us,¡± Tangerine replied, shooting down the AI¡¯s suggestion as his console beeped green while flashing a yellow color to indicate heavy shield damage. Despite being in lesser machines, the Valkyries lived up to their namesake, however, in the face of overwhelming power, they, just like any other soldier on the field, would die. The young pilot reached down, flipping the ignition switch for the beam channels that made his Mechframe glow, the obsifitor particles a byproduct of his machine harnessing mana to supercharge the Cintelli-tech in his chest. -Bogeys locked- Tangerine narrowed his eyes, turning his controls to pivot his machine into a full one-eighty. ¡°Fire.¡± Noticing the influx of energy, Tangerine¡¯s pursuers attempted to break off, a valiant action if not for the fact that despite being called a beam, the FFBC was less like a beam and more of a wave, unleashing a wide-range pulse of energy that simultaneously damaged the mechs and shut down their systems from the EM damage.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. -Tracking. Seven titan class enemies disabled and falling.- Damocles reported as Tangerine pivoted to take the King Consort away to report to Queen Selfia commanding from the ruins of her flagship. ¡°Damocles, what is the state of Angel?¡± Selfia demanded over the sound of disarray. ¡°Injured but stable,¡± Tangerine reported, his eyes down cast at the ruins of the city below. What remained of it at least. ¡°Good, the Solarus is chewing up our fleet, link up with admiral-¡± Selfia began but her voice was lost to Tangerine as his entire world shook. ¡°What?!¡± Tangerine shouted, alarmed as the Transpo-screen of his cockpit flickered. -Contact! Beam rifle three hundred meters bearing forty six degrees- ¡°I see it!¡± Tangerine spat, eyes wide and glaring at the wolf-like MECHFrame soaring through the air that his sensor systems were struggling to lock onto. The young pilot didn''t need his system to register the MECHFrame as a Named, he knew its name, the same machine that had slaughtered his companions. ¡°KHLOROS!¡± Tangerine roared, his heart rate spiking so rapidly his cockpit began to flash with red lights. Immediately the barrels of his weapons spun, the CIWs opening fire with thousands of black-tipped rounds trailing behind the mech whose erratic movements made it hard to track. Tangerine grit his teeth, almost moving the Damocles¡¯s arm to draw its sword. However, his package was in his palms, and judging how the man wasn''t moving, Jack wouldn''t be helpful. -Sir, the Khloros is deploying drones- ¡°I can see that!¡± Tangerine replied, maneuvering his forty-ton machine away from the streams of criss-crossing black beams that coated his surroundings. The cockpit shook, a slight graze. -Shields at 75% -Left bicep, minor damage. A slight graze and it was enough to cut through the barrier that protected his mech. Tangerine clicked his teeth, flipping switches to send all spare energy not used for his shields towards his flight gear. ¡°Split power between shield and boost, calculate a route to allied guns and-!¡± Tangerine ordered, activating the thrusters on his chest to air dash back from the gold plated claws that warped his shields. ¡°Damn it!¡± The Damocles shot upwards, soaring into the sky with the howling Khloros nipping at his heels. As much as Tangerine didn''t want to, he needed to get away, he couldn''t fight the pilot with his hands metaphorically tied behind his back. ¡°How the hell is that thing faster than me?! Divert all power to forward shields!¡± Tangerine spat, cutting his engines and abruptly reversing to put himself behind the black machine. Tangerine reached down, disengaging the lock on off his missile pods and opening fire point blank, allowing the resulting explosion to give him distance. ¡°Thrust! Thrust! Thrust!¡± Tangerine yelled, twisting his machines body to realign his thruster to a- The Damocles lurched, alarms blaring as gold talons reached out and raked its back, sending a shooting pain through Tangerine¡¯s mind. -Warning! Flight System severely damaged. Damocles was tumbling, free falling through the sky with Tangerine screaming with rage as the beastial machine latched on. Tangerine¡¯s eyes pulsed, his skin growing goosebumps as his mind was invaded by emotions not his own. The enemy pilot was just like him, a GEN5 pilot equipped with a Syn system. Jack. The singular name ran through his mind, the word transmitted between the two mechs that filled Tangerine with hateful rage. ¡°Khloros! KHLOROS! KHLOROS!!!¡± Tangerine began screaming, his words laced with madness as he began yelling out the name of his attacker attempting to pry open the Damocles''s hands to get at its prize. Immediately his CIWs moved to open fire, yet the Khloros made short work of them using the serrated teeth of its wolf-like head to tear into the machiary from the Damocles. -Sir! We''re reaching terminal velocity! ¡°ARRRRGH!¡± Tangerine screamed, yanking his MECHFrame controls to the left and activating his hip and leg thrusters to flip the wolf-frame from above him to below him. ¡°CUT SHIELDS! OVERLOAD ALL POWER TO THE FFBC!¡± Damocles hesitated for a moment, the safeguard protocols running the odds of pilot safety. ¡°NOW!¡± The Khloros¡¯s wolf-like head opened again, biting into The Damocles¡¯s shoulder as its chest opened up. Damocles lifted its hands, the groan of metal against metal audible in Tangerine¡¯s cockpit as the enemy attempted to rip his hands off in some fervor that was borderline suicidal. ¡°This is for Diane!!¡± Tangerine spat, slamming his hand down on his console that glowed green. The enemy mech released a sickly scream, shouting as the FFBC opened fire point-blank and separated the two mechs just before they hit the ground. Tangerine gnashed his teeth, his titanium coffin rattling as green inflatable airbags deployed, smacking him from every angle in an attempt to preserve his life. ¡°GAH!¡± Tangerine gasped, vision pulsing, breath heavy, his heart beat so loud he could only hear the singular name echoing in his mind. Khloros. Despite his HUD displaying multiple broken ribs, fractures, and possible concussion, Tangerine quickly took hold of the Damocles'' controls, piloting it to pull itself from the dirt to face his damaged archenemy. -Tangerine! Shields are offline and our main reactor is damaged, I suggest we- Tangerine silenced the AI, instead unleashing a roar of rage as he charged the enemy MECHFrame still struggling to rise from its crater and recover from the EM blast. Noticing the Damocles at full sprint, a multitude of the Khloros¡¯s drones moved to intercept, firing beam after beam at the machine that charged through the barrage. Damocles tackled the Khloros, pinning it to the ground and causing it to roar at the indignation. It moved its arms, talons attempted to rack Tangerine''s mech but Tangerine expected the reaction and managed to grab both arms before placing the Damocles¡¯s foot squarely onto the Khloros¡¯s chest. ¡°DIE!¡± Tangerine yelled, pulling at the Khloros''s arms until they broke free and allowed him to wrap his mech¡¯s hands around the enemy titan''s maw and chest. Then he squeezed his palm, the action causing the Damocles to tear off the metal door of the cockpit to reveal the enemy within. Wasting no time Tangerine hit the cockpit release, opening the hatch of his MECHFrame much to his AI¡¯s dismay. Tangerine fell out of his mech, landing atop the Khloros with an audible yelp of pain before scurrying to face the enemy pilot with gun in hand. Reaching the cockpit, Tangerine could see his prey, a green-haired girl, not even a teenager strapped to a litany of wires, machines, and fleshy tendrils that ran along her convulsing body marred by patterns of black veins. Tangerine recoiled, the innards of the machine more than he''d expected. ¡°Jack!¡± The pilot let out, her face obscured by the mechanical black mask attached to her face. Tangerine raised his sidearm, barrel pointed at the thing that lay writhing in the cockpit akin to a nest¡¯s home. ¡°For my friends,¡± Tangerine spat just as the girl whispered, ¡°Help me.¡± *Bang* ¡°Huh?¡± Suddenly Tangerine was falling to the side, his worldview sideways as his body hit the smooth carapace of the Khloros and slid off the mech. Jack lowered his gun, his eyes wide before scrambling to the Khloros¡¯s cockpit where his sister lay. AAS: SEASON 6: CH58: A New Angel Ascends. ¡°Help me.¡± Fresh off the heels of Mike''s death, Jack had reacted on instinct, the two words uttered by his sister snapping Jack from his stupor. His hand had come up, gunblade firing an armyrethium tipped bullet that ripped through the teenager¡¯s chest. Tangerine fell to the side, his face one of confusion and rage as he moved to fire at Jack yet lost balance and fell. Yet... what was done was done as Jack stood atop the cockpit of the Khloros bleeding from his shoulder, head, and left eye. Despite being wrapped in pulsating flesh and wearing some odd mask fixed to the machine, Jack could tell it was Jill. After so long, he had found his sister. Just not in the way he had hoped. ¡°Jill?¡± Jack whispered, despite bleeding from his injuries yet to heal, he reached down, ignoring Sahaqiel and Lilith warnings. -D#&10(//* HelpNogoaway! StOp! heLp! RUn! Jack recoiled, his mind beset by a flurry of foreign voices that lashed out at his psyche, causing an influx of system glitches to fill his vision. Recovering quickly Jack shook his head, his vision picking up traces of red energy latched onto Jill. The same energy he saw before Colette and the others collapsed. In a frantic rush Jack reached out, his body immediately racked with pain as system notification after notification flooding his senses. He could hear-no, see voices, the data clouding his vision giving him a migraine that threatened to break his skull apart. Still, Jack clenched his jaw and wrapped his hand around the mask on Jill¡¯s face and pulled, attempting to rip away the strange device that tethered the strange energy. ¡°NO!¡± Jill screamed, her voice akin to a banshee¡¯s wail before the Khloros moved, sending Jack flying with a smack of its arm. Jack bounced across the ground of mud and broken debris, the only sound echoing to his ears being the crunch of his broken bones and Jill¡¯s wail. Rising to his feet with his clavicle bleeding profusely Jack gawked, staring at the monstrous MECHFrame suddenly expanding in mass. Black flesh grew from the cockpit, putrid and vile with tentacles sprouting forth to wrap the metal humanoid in muscle. The Khloros shrieked, unleashing malevolent energy that rivaled that of a Nest Heart. Jack recoiled, the corruption in the air so vile his surroundings began to fog up with corruptive smog as the nearby flora wilted. Sara! Sara what the hell is going on?! ¡°I don''t!! I don''t know! Keep your mana barrier up and don''t breathe it in!¡± Sahaqiel warned, the panic in her voice clear. Then Jake began to hear it, echoes of voices, a singular word chanted by the chorus that sung a singular word of Brother. The Khloros screeched, racing towards Jack with its new arms of corpse flesh that reached out with bone-like talons. ¡°Brother¡­BroThEr? bROtheR?brother?brothErbeothe!" ¡°Jill?¡± Jack whispered to the cacophony of hundreds of voicing calling for a brother. Frozen, Jack could only stare as the machine neared, the Khloros casting a shadow over the warrior with tears in his eyes. Then, it stopped, merely a few inches from rending Jack, its metallic fleshy body visibly straining from some unknown force holding it back. ¡°Brother¡­¡± A whisper before the Khloros spun, racing away from Jack as it trailed corruptive smoke towards the Selfian lines. ¡°I¡­¡± Jack reached out, unable to stop his sister. ¡°Jack!¡± Selfia called out. Selfian reinforcements, a dozen MECHFrames flying past Jack with Selfia''s own machine landing beside him. ¡°Jack! Are you okay?!¡± Selfia yelled, piloting a MECHFrame with the name of Jormungand stenciled on its white and gold plated chassis. ¡°No! Selfia! Stop! Call off your soldiers! That''s Jill! That''s my sister in there!¡± Jack snapped, attempting to move yet his injuries just weren''t¡­ healing? Sara... what''s wrong with my eye? ¡°The effect of the Excalibur, it''s dampening your recovery and cut off a bunch of data. Lilith managed to blunt most of the impact but healing your injury will take some time!¡± Sahaqiel reported with Jack gnashing his teeth. Never mind that! Tell me how to save my sister! Jack barked, summoning his feathers, still attempting to get into the fight. ¡°I¡­¡± Selfia went silent for a moment, ¡°I can maybe, maybe figure something out, but it would involve getting close!¡± ¡°Are you insane? Jill is-¡± Lilith began but trailed off. ¡°Then I''ll do that,¡± Jack winced, the vision in his left eye extremely blurry. From within her MECHFrame Selfia furrowed her brow, one good look at Jack and she could tell he was injured and exhausted but just pushing through. ¡°Jack, I need you to retreat from the field,¡± Selfia ordered, blocking Jack''s path as made to intervene with the squadron of Mech''s attacking the Khloros. ¡°Now. We will handle your sister.¡± Despite a one versus eight, Jill was holding her own, the Khloros now morphed into a wolf-like beast equipped with a multitude of tentacles that were tearing the Selfian''s apart.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Handle?¡± Jack muttered as another Selfian MECH lay in the ground destroyed. No. Jill was his sister. He had to be the one to¡­ do something. ¡°Jack? Jack?!¡± Selfia barked as Jack stood firm with fresh resolve. ¡°I need your men to pin her down. Do whatever you can. Just buy me a few minutes to close in,¡± Jack said, gathering his mana. ¡°Jack, we can''t deal with the Solarus, demonspawn, and your sister! If she gets closer to our lines she could infect-¡± ¡°Do it!¡± Jack turned and spat, the mana in the air wrapping around her Mechframe and causing it to groan, ¡°I have done everything you''ve asked, now, now you will do what I need you to do.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Selfia said before issuing orders to her MECHFrame team who began switching from lethal to non-lethal tactics. ¡°I pray you know what you''re doing.¡± ¡°I thought you didn''t believe in a god,¡± Jack retorted, healing his shoulder with healing hands. ¡°I don''t, but if there is one listening I''d hope she won''t fuck me.¡± ¡°Let''s get to work,¡± Jack said, taking off with Selfia at his back. ¡°For now, we can''t have Ruby engaged, this smog is extremely corrosive, more so than the attack on Frelia. We need to be careful and limit our injuries,¡± Sahaqiel advised as Jack drew close to the battlefield around his sister. The Khloros was still spewing vile energy, shrieking in tandem with the girl exposed in its cockpit howling her anguish at the world. Jack grit his teeth, the malevolent energy almost calling out to him. The Khloros suddenly sprouted wings, its wolf-like features metamorphosing into something with scales and spikes. ¡°Pin it down! If that thing gets airborne we''re all fucked!¡± Selfia ordered, the multitude of Mech''s firing cables to capture the Khloros. Two MECHFrames rushed in, the titans raising massive metal shields to slam into the Khloros from both sides while a third one slashed at the mechanical tendons behind the Khloros''s knees. Jill screamed at the indignation, stabbing at her assailants with fleshy tendrils that were caught by several fresh MECHFrames that joined the fray. Selfia¡¯s machine moved in, severing a wing with a pure armythieum black blade that sent the Khloros into a frenzy. ¡°Jack, we''re detecting a massive spike of mana! Whatever you''re gonna do! Sara you''ve gotta do it now!¡± Selfia barked as Jack raced forward, dodging tendrils that arced out to claim his life. Jack moved past the damaged MECHFrames locking the beast in place, using their sacrifice to climb upon the Khloros where Jill convulsed uncontrollably. ¡°Sara! What do you need me to do!¡± Jack asked, hoisting himself up while taking care not to touch the tendrils of flesh. A moment passed as the storm picked up, Jack''s eyes scarcely able to comprehend what he was looking at. Jill''s form was shifting rapidly, afterimages of herself flailing back and forth inside the Khloros''s cockpit. ¡°Sara.¡± Give me a moment! ¡°Sara we don''t have a moment!¡± ¡°I¡­ I don''t¡­ I don''t know,¡± Sahaqiel said much to Jack''s dismay. What? ¡°I said I don''t know! I''m sorry but I don''t! Not if we''re trying to save her! Fuck! I didn''t want to resort to this!¡± Sahaqiel replied, her tone laced with fear, something he hadn''t known from Sahaqiel. ¡°That''s¡­ no! That''s not good enough!¡± Jack said, shaking his head as he reached out to touch Jill¡¯s mask. Like before he was met with pain and a flurry of voices that screamed his name with Jill opening her mouth to release a blast of putrid energy at Jack. [-ERrOr Data corrUption. WaRning! WARNING!] ¡°If corruption was so simple, we''d have solved it back in my day, the truth is, it''s not, it''s complex and-¡± ¡°TRY SOMETHING!!!¡± ¡°I AM!¡± Sahaqiel snapped, ¡°Please, Jack I''m trying everything I can, racking my brain for every code, every data sequence I know and I¡­ I¡­ I need more time.¡± Jack opened his mouth, closing and opening it repeatedly as he felt the corrosive energy eroding his control over the nearby mana that shielded him from the smog. ¡°Jack! The smog is getting worse! Our scrubbers can''t hold under this pressure!¡± Selfia called out, ¡°Squad! Prepare to disengage!¡± ¡°Selfia!¡± Jack snapped, yet he could feel it. The situation was getting worse, too worse, each moment that passed another that ate away at Jack''s protection. ¡°Jack¡­ we¡­ we have to, I''m sorry. Please forgive me-¡± ¡°Sahaqiel¡­¡± Jack whispered, his hands shaking as he drew closer to Jill. She was so close, so very close! Yet as much as he tried he just couldn''t reach her. ¡°There''s gotta be something I can do, Lilith, please! ANYTHING!¡± Jack screamed, pushing against the malevolent energy to reach his sister who looked up at him. ¡°Jack¡­ I can walk,¡± Jill whispered, lighting a spark of hope within Jack that his sister was still there. ¡°Yeah! I can see that! Everything''s going to be okay! I''m here! Your brother is here! I''m gonna, I''m gonna get you home! You''re gonna meet your niece and your nephew and I-¡± ¡°Kill. Me.¡± In that instance, the world froze, the two words uttered by his sister stopping Jack cold. Jill''s mask fell away, revealing her long green hair that obscured her emaciated head. She looked up, staring at Jack with a face divorced of its eyes. ¡°KiLl¡­ mE¡­¡± Jill¡¯s voice quivered, the air around Jack dense with miasma as she suddenly burst free from her MECHFrame captors, dragging Jack along. ¡°Jack!¡± Sahaqiel screamed, ¡°Jill¡¯s going to explode! We have to get-¡± ¡°NO! I can¡¯t leave her! We still have time! Still-!¡± Jack yelled,before screaming out in pain as the corruptive energy began to seep through and burn the tips of his fingers. ¡°Damn it Sahaqiel! Get him under control or we''ll all die!¡± Lilith spat, busy deleting as much invasive corrupted mana code that began seeping into Jack. ¡°She¡¯s corrupting too much mana! If she blows up we won''t be able to escape the blast radius! DO WHAT YOU PLANNED TO DO! DON''T BACK OUT NOW!¡± Despite Sahaqiel not wanting to agree, Lilith was right. Jill was dangerous, a ticking time bomb priming with energy that would wipe out and infect everyone on the battlefield, Jack included. "If only we had more time..." Sahaqiel lamented. Jack and the Khloros was still rising, the monstrous thing hanging above the battlefield with a multitude of Selfian cannons firing on the pair. They wouldn''t survive if Jill finishing priming. Sahaqiel made a choice and enacted Selfia''s plan B. ¡°I''m so sorry,¡± Sahaqiel said through Jack''s mouth, her will piloting Jack''s body. ¡°SARA NO!¡± Jack screamed before Sahaqiel plunged his hand into Jill''s heart. With Lilith''s help, the pair pierced through the veil of corruption, attacking the source of the machine that didn''t fight back. ¡°Ah¡­ was I help..ful?¡± Jill''s final words, her body limp as the Khloros released her, allowing Sahaqiel to grab the woman and fly away from the exploding mech. The resulting explosion sent Jack reeling, his body tumbling through the sky before he lost consciousness. *** A moment, perhaps an eternity passed before Jack woke, his mind a mess, body burning, vision blurry before his working eye fixated on the figure laying amidst the debri. No strength in his broken arms, Jack crawled forward, kicking at the dirt, calling out his sister''s name until he finally reached her. With his arms healed, Jack dragged himself up to hold the body of his sister in his arms. ¡°Please¡­ please¡­¡± Jack kept whispering, his voice the only sound that echoed across the battlefield. ¡°PLEASE!¡± Jack released a cry to the sky, a howl of pain that contained the burdens of his soul. That cry soon turned into a chuckle and then a laugh, a maniac laughter as the mana in the air responded to his madness. The earth shook, the sky wept, the very molecules unseen to the naked eye reacting violently to the laughter of anguish that compelled it to move. Finally, something inside Jack snapped, shifted, his enter morphology now tuned to the fracturing world around him. [Congratulations, On Completing the System Tutorial, Angel.] Brilliant gold and majestic energy of white left Jack''s body, radiating with such purity the Black King could only smile as he stood at a distance watching with glee on his face. ¡°Ah¡­ forty thousand years later and a new angel is finally born,¡± Micheal said as across the globe, old things began to stir, beings of malevolence, and forgotten gods reacting to the presence of a demi-god awakening. AAS: S6: CH59: Mundane Day… Meet Angel… Corporate Alliance Territory Eden City// Cordell Industries Central Territory. Six Months later¡­ ¡°Everything kinda sucks..¡± Underneath the neon lights, a jadded dark-haired man stared blankly into the night sky, watching as drones weaved through the collapsing debris from the endless night above. Or, at least what constituted as a sky for the massive underground city wrapped in flames. The only defense between the humans that lived inside it and the hordes of monstrosities on the surface pouring in to tear them apart. ¡°And everyday is the same,¡± Jack muttered as his one-eyed gaze wandered from the collapsing ceiling to an alleyway where several demonspawn were desecrating the corpses of two tech-junkies. Standing on the rubble of his old apartment, Jack closed his eye and breathed in the memories of the place he hadn¡¯t seen in five years. The late nights with his uncle Mike offering him whiskey and crackers. The bedtime stories with Jill who would interrupt to regale him about her favorite Mecha-man TV show. The hard times when money and taking care of his sister¡¯s medical bills were Jack¡¯s main concerns. Bad times. Jack had often thought, but little did he know those hard times would be his fondest memories. Now, he would do almost anything to go back, to change his fate and never stand upon the roof that faithful night. To never have met Sahaqiel or went along with Mike¡¯s plan to enlist in the Imperial army to evade his pursuers. No, that wasn¡¯t true. He loved Sahaqiel. Loved Ada. Loved his children. This he knew, yet if he could undo the nightmares¡­ the voices that lingered with him. To go back and just be that same struggling teen¡­ However¡­ that was the past, and now Jack stood in the present looking to shape the future for those he loved. Or die trying. ¡°You¡­ can¡¯t.. stop him¡­¡± Cynthia Rockefeller let out as she clutched her bleeding throat, the leader of the Corporate Alliance gagging on her own blood as her killer stood over her. ¡°He''ll always be a step ahead¡­¡± ¡°Maybe. Maybe not, but I sure as hell can kill everyone he knows,¡± Jack said, his foot placed on the woman''s body as she looked up, pleading for mercy to the man adjusting his eye patch as Armageddon unfurled around him. ¡°Mercy? This is my mercy, be lucky I allow you to die so quickly,¡± Jack replied as he pressed his foot down, kicking the still-breathing woman down the slope where the horrors of humanity immediately beset her body. Cynthia¡¯s screams choked the air, but it was a sound Jack had come to know all too well as an angel hounded by monsters daily. Noticing Jack, a few of the horrid abominations turned to him, monsters akin to zombified humans snarling and moving to attempt to satiate their hunger on the immobile man composed of fresh meat. Unfortunately for the monsters, their existences were snuffed from the world the moment they entered within five feet of Jack. With his authority, Jack merely willed it, and it was so, the snarling corrupted nightmares ripped apart at an atomic level to join with the collection under Jack¡¯s control. A feat that was only possible thanks to vast differences in strength.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. [+34MP] The other demonspawn quickly took the hint, returning to their feasting of the rotting corpses as they recognized Jack¡¯s existence as something akin to their own. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Jack whispered, gingerly clutching a red action figure in his hand as an audible flapping of wings caressed his ears. A final gift from his sister. Jack looked down at the rubble beneath his feet he once called home and released the toy in his hand, watching as it slowly fell and hit the ground beneath his feet with an audible clack. ¡°Jack¡­¡± Sahaqiel said, the golden-haired archangel driving the demonspawn into a frenzy as her gold sabatons touched gently against the pile of rubble. At her presence, Jack merely stood immobile, his gaze looking out at the underground metropolis in ruin. A direct consequence of his own actions to draw out and hunt down his prey. ¡°I¡¯ve finally found you,¡± Sahaqiel said, her hand reaching out to caress the man she had watched grow from a teen, a man who knew her soul and desires. A man she loved. Yet¡­ as she reached out, she felt no warmth. No ounce of the tormented man who wanted desperately to live in peace and protect his family. Now, all that was before her was a man who oozed venom. A man whose reflected features in the nearby rubble held no joy. Instead, all she saw was a¡­ void. ¡°You know Ada is worried about you right?¡± Sahaqiel said, attempting to reason with Jack, ¡°Celeste is getting so big, Ito''s already crawling and-¡± ¡°Stop,¡± Jack said, the singular word sending a chill through Sahaqiel in a way that only a being like herself could do. Jack spun, facing the woman, the two golden-eyed angels face to face amidst the chaos of a city under attack. In Jack¡¯s eye she saw a coldness. A darkness that manifested behind his gaze like a shell to mask the pain she knew dwelled within. Sahaqiel clenched her jaw, choosing to stand her ground. ¡°It¡¯s time to come home, Jack. Time to be with your family,¡± Sahaqiel said, furrowing her brow, taking Jack¡¯s hand with the warmth of her soft flesh pressing against his hard callous hand, ¡°Please¡­ Everyone¡¯s worried. You''ve already missed the birth of your daughter and son, you don''t want to miss being in their lives.¡± Jack took his hand back and turned away from the angel, staring at the carnage. ¡°They won''t have a life unless I do what needs to be done,¡± Jack replied, his hand outstretched, pointing towards a massive building in the distance, the crown jewel of Eden City. "Micheal is still out there, just because we lost a few battles doesn''t mean the war is over." Cordell Plaza. Home to Cordell Engineering, an organization under the control of the Black King responsible for engineering parts used in the High-Table projects. Parts used to create the monster Jill had become. Alarmed, Sahaqiel went wide-eyed, her gaze swapping rapidly from Jack and the distant Alliance military fighting off swarms of demonspawn. ¡°Jack, don¡¯t do this! You¡¯ve already killed the Gold Queen!¡± Sahaqiel snapped, realizing what Jack was about to do as Mana warped around him, ¡°You read the report! They¡¯re just engineers! They weren¡¯t privy to what they were doing! Jill wouldn¡¯t want this!¡± At the mention of his sister¡¯s name, Jack¡¯s eye twitched. ¡°Sorry Sara,¡± Jack said coldly, the air vibrating violently with the rubble beneath their feet rising. ¡°But I won¡¯t stop until my family¡¯s safe. That includes tying up all loose ends.¡± ¡°JACK-¡± "Fira." At that, Sahaqiel¡¯s vision warped as a dense beam of black energy left Jack¡¯s palm and carved a path of carnage through the city, a straight line that consumed all in its path and only stopped upon reaching the tower in the distance. A miniature sun manifested around the tower, swallowing Cordell Plaza, the swarms of demonspawn, and the survivors who were instantly atomized. Jack¡¯s feet left the ground, the wind responding to his will as he prepared to leave. ¡°Jack¡­¡± Sahaqiel whispered as the light died down, revealing a perfect spherical crater in the earth, all signs of civilization within the center of the metropolis deleted by his attack. ¡°JACK!¡± Sahaqiel reached out, willing the mana like a form of telekinesis to wrap around Jack to stop him. The effect lasted only for a moment, the mana under her control usurped by Jack who not only dominated it but made it his own. The Archangel fell to her knees, suddenly out of breath as a heavy weight pressed upon her, her own energy easily inverted by Jack thanks to her shared connection with the new-age Angel. Jack paused, turning to face Sahaqiel who looked up at him through teary eyes, ¡°Please¡­ come home.¡± ¡°This is my home,¡± Jack replied, taking off into the night with Sahaqiel unable to follow. AAS: S6: CH60: Quest for Vengeance ¡°Please.¡± Jack¡¯s eyes quivered, his body still despite the cascade of explosions, gunfire, and cries of pain flooding the air coated by bloodlust. ¡°Please¡­¡± He could hear a voice, someone¡­ someone who spoke a word laced with desperation, fear, and disbelief. Raw emotion given form in the way of a single syllable. ¡°Please¡­¡± Denial? Begging? A ringing took hold of Jack¡¯s ears as he sat on his knees amidst the chaos of an ongoing battlefield. Yet despite the flood of bullets, war cries, and the incredible booms of cannons, the only thing Jack¡¯s eyes could focus on was the innards of a black mechframe that revealed to him the body of a mangled thing with green hair. ¡°Please¡­¡± Then, Jack realized whose voice he was hearing. It was his. The only word capable of leaving his mouth as his blood-stained hands cradled the body of a girl named Jill. His sister. His family. The girl-turned teen, now a farcry from the cheerful girl he once knew. Gone was her cheerful smile, gone was her bright eyes, and youthful energy. Instead, what replaced her was a thing in the guise of a human. A being composed of metal, wires, and growths that dotted her body like a cancer. ¡°Jack¡­¡± Jill let out, her eyes unable to see the world being turn apart around her. ¡°I¡¯m right here Jill, your big brothers got you,¡± Jack¡¯s voice quivered, holding the girl close as a tank shell deflected off his mana barrier. ¡°Did you see? Did you see¡­ me?¡± Jill asked, the strength in her body rapidly fading as her skin began to flake and turn to ash. ¡°I was walking¡­ I was¡­ helping¡­¡± ¡°I saw you, I saw you baby girl I saw you,¡± Jack said, rocking back and forth as tears fell from his eyes, and his hands stroked Jill¡¯s hair caked with her blood. ¡°Jack,¡± Sahaqiel said, the angel standing beside her host alongside Ruby and Lilith, the trio unable to do anything for the man whom they owed their existence to. Jill began to twitch, the cancerous growths seeming to spread black lines that snaked across her flaking skin. He could feel it, an ominous energy that only demonspawn gave off. Jill was changing, the machine that she was- Jack woke with a start, sitting up in the ruins of a building he had found on the surface of corporate territory. ¡°About time you''re awake,¡± Lilith said, the black-laced dressed spirit standing over Jack with her arms crossed, red eyes glaring down. ¡°Hm,¡± Jack grunted, sitting up, surveying his surroundings of rubble and filth. ¡°Did you find it?¡± ¡°I did.¡± Lilith said, the spirit vanishing and melding with Jack, her memories merging with her host. Jack narrowed his eye, his mind aflame with images of sterilized white tunnels, winding halls, and pulsating vines of flesh and death. There were hundreds, maybe thousands of demonspawn, but his quarry was here. A man in gold armor waiting for him with a spear. Jack dusted himself off and wasted no time, the mana in the air responding to its master and levitating Jack off the ground until he floated above the ruins.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Breaking free from the decrepit building, Jack saw mounds of corpses around the ruins, men and women in black attire being feasted on by demonspawn as Ruby stood guard. Agents of the High Table, hunters that had been attacking Jack since he''d started his own hunt. ¡°Somehow despite the world going to shit, they still managed to throw these fanatics at me,¡± Jack said, turning his gaze to the blood red sun that hung above. Jack closed his eye, embracing the heat of the star on his skin, his thoughts, one of happier days with Ada, Kamila, and Celeste. Days at the castle, weeks wandering around playing noble and politics, and months smiling. Of course, Selfia wasn''t so bad after awhile, but¡­ Everything had changed when Jill died. When Jack transcended the limit of humanity. With numbers never before seen of demonspawn attacking and new types of monstrocities appearing, victory for humanity seemed all but assured. And while survival wasn''t guaranteed, vengeance at least was. If anyone could reverse the hell that plagued the world, it would be the Black King who had yet to meet Jack face to face. Like an arrow Jack flew, tearing through the sky at unprecedented speeds to his objective. Before long, Jack stood above a fortress blanketed by snow, a castle settled in the middle of a frozen lake. Solarus The Flying Fortress. A Citadel of immense power that housed the former empress of the Arthurian Empire and treasures taken with her during her usurpation by Selfia. But Jack wasn''t here for the treasures. Nor was he here for the Former-Queen but rather the very man who had put a permanent scar on his chest. The very man who had laughed at his grief on that battlefield 6 months ago. Today was a day about settling old debts. Jack''s skin tickled, the energy in the air rising as the citadel¡¯s man cannon came online. Despite being overtaken by rotten tendrils, rust, and decay, the magical machinery of the angels was still operational and intact with the red crystal aimed at Jack. It fired at Jack, a dense magical beam consuming the space he floated in, an attack that could lay waste to entire towns or blow apart capital class airships. Yet it did nothing to Jack, the man merely holding his hand aloft and allowing the energy to supercharge his body. All across Jack patterns lit up, his body alight with sparks crackling around him. When the attack finally stopped, Jack was akin to a star, his body radiating energy. ¡°Jill,¡± Jack said, the trigger word for his spell. Immediately lighting fell from the sky, a glorious bolt of superheated white that struck the citadel crystal and shattered thousands of years of history it with arcs of electricity dancing across the flying fortress. Jack floated down, stepping onto an open ring littered by broken MECHFrames, skeletons, guns, and pulsating mounds of flesh. The remains of the once famed Valkyries, an elite force of MECHFrame pilots whom a dear friend of Jack''s once belonged. Now they were corpses, soldiers loyal to a mad monarch who had abandoned everything including her own people to serve the Black King. Jack stepped past the deceased, entering into the Citadel proper and up a familiar set of massive stairs. Before long, Jack stood before a large golden throne where none other than Selfia waited him. ¡°Took you long enough,¡± The Current Queen said, standing beside the throne kitted out in armor of gold. Next to her, was Sahaqiel, Jin, and an entire complement of blue armored commandos. ¡°How¡¯d you know I''d be here?¡± Jack asked, stepping past the group and the throne to ascend the stairs. ¡°Please,¡± Selfia scoffed, ¡°After your fiasco in New Eden, it wasn''t hard to track where you were going, especially since you''re using MY Intel.¡± ¡°Hm,¡± Jack replied, joined by the others, ¡°And instead of killing your mother you sat on your asses and did nothing?¡± ¡°Hey! I waited for you, ain''t no way in hell I''m putting myself in Excalibur¡¯s line of sight,¡± Selfia protested, ¡°After all only you and blonde here can deal with it.¡± ¡°Right. Ever the pragmatist,¡± Jack said before spinning and flinging a lightning bolt at Selfia. ¡°Rude,¡± Selfia spat, the hologram reforming. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Jack asked, turning to face the hologram and Sahaqiel. ¡°To check up on you Jack,¡± Selfia said, ¡°It''s been 6 months. You don''t call, you don''t write. Don''t you know a married woman gets lonely?¡± ¡°Is that it?¡± Jack said, glaring at Sahaqiel who looked away. ¡°No. I¡­¡± Selfia sighed, ¡°I know what you''re here to do. I know why you''re doing it. But¡­ I need my mother alive.¡± Jack narrowed his eyes. ¡°I know what you''re thinking Jack, but she is a source of numerous imperial secrets, lost arts, and techniques. Please, if you can, once you deal with my father, do me this favor. I promise it''ll be forth it.¡± ¡°I''ll see what I can do,¡± Jack said before turning away and climbing the decrepit stairs of gold. AAS: S6: CH61: Jack VS Lancelot. Entering into a chamber that lay beyond the throne room, Jack paused, his gold eye settling on the deformed man in golden armor. ¡°I must say Jack, bravo¡­ bravo indeed,¡± The sultry voice of the red-eyed blonde man said, brandishing a smirk as he readied his golden spear. ¡°When I threw you off the citadel walls, I truly hoped that you would survive. Now look at you, so rugged. So dashing! You''re a spitting image of your father! And after-¡± ¡°Do you ever shut the fuck up?¡± Jack asked, raising his hand to catch the gold spear that hung a mere inch away from his face. Lancelot grinned, his scarred face twisted in a maddening expression that irked Jack to his core. ¡°My, that''s quite a grip you''ve got there.¡± Jack said nothing, instead deploying his wings, the silver feathers arcing through the air towards the Knight of One. Lancelot backed off, spinning his spear, deflecting Jack''s feathers in a stream of sparks as he laughed. ¡°Yes! Now this is a fight I''ve been wanting! Finally an equal!¡± Lancelot barked, summoning arcs of blue lightning as scales dotted his scarred body. ¡°That''s where you''re wrong Lancelot,¡± Jack said, appearing behind the gold knight and learning to whisper in Lancelot¡¯s ear, ¡°You aren''t my equal.¡± ¡°WHAT?!¡± Lancelot spun, swiping at Jack who caught his wrist and broke his hand. Immediately Lancelot swiped at Jack, only for his nose to be smashed in by Jack headbutting his face. ¡°Fuck!¡± Lancelot spat, kept in place by Jack''s grip, ¡°You mongrel-¡±, ¡°Kneel,¡± Jack ordered, glaring at the man whose eyes couldn''t look away from the golden glare. He could feel something intrude his mind, a jab that¡­ that¡­ ¡°N-no,¡± Lancelot let out, his voice almost a whimper, all bravado lost as he fell to his knees, the knight still attempting to pull away. ¡°What do you see?¡± Jack coaxed, his hands reached up, grabbing the man''s face and forcing the knight to stare into Jack''s eyes. ¡°What do you see?¡± ¡°NO!¡± Lancelot spat, snapping his head away, his body releasing a blast of energy that dissipated when it touched Jack''s skin. ¡°What. Do. You. See?¡± Jack repeated, Lilith¡±s hand reaching out to embrace Lancelot from behind as spectral chains rose from the shadows to bind the man. ¡°I¡­ I see them! Those! Those scum! Those curs! Filthy!¡± Lancelot struggled, still trying to move his eyes away from the gaze that bore into his soul. But it wasn''t Jack''s stare that Lancelot was trying to flee, but the memories flooding his vision. Jack released the man, watching as he stumbled about. ¡°You! What did you do?! WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!¡± Lancelot roared, ¡°Ah! GO away! GO AWAY!¡± Lancelot grabbed at his face, his golden gauntlets digging into his eye sockets to rip out his eyes. ¡°STOP! STOP! STTTTTTOP!!!¡± ¡°How is it? The weight of your sins? The memories of every misdeed you''ve ever done?¡± Jack said, standing over the man ripping his face into a smoldering mess of steam and flesh. ¡°Stop! You filthy fucking dimmies! You scum! SCUM!¡± Lancelot screamed, the knight falling to the floor and writhing in pain. Jack crouched over the man, ¡°Look at their faces.¡± Lancelot began to smash his head against the ground, cracking the floor over and over again with red marks expanding with every hit. Jack stood up, leaving the man to drown under the weight of the souls that clung to him. The data that lingered in every action he took. The hung around all living things only perceivable to those of true strength.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Moving forward, Jack stood before an ornate door covered in moss. From his angel vision, he could see the enchantments, nearly a hundred different defensive elements to safeguard the Queen''s quarters. He raised his hand, placing it on the door as his authority took effect. The enchantments fell away, Lilith''s power consuming the defensive spells until all that stood before Jack was just a regular door. Jack opened the door, side stepping a blast of white energy. ¡°Vargas¡­ you''ve come back to me¡­¡± The velvety voice of Camilla Cordelica called out from the Queen size bed that sat in the center of the massive chamber littered with gold trinkets and illuminated by red sunlight leaking from above. Jack exhaled, deciding to play along with the former tyrant who mistook him for his father. ¡°Yes. Yes I have,¡± Jack replied, crossing the room to stand before the woman who was an older twisted version of Selfia. Red eyes, white hair, pale skin covered in black boils, the former Queen''s face were filled with tears as she clutched the legendary weapon Excalibur with one hand while her other reached out for Jack. ¡°Vargas¡­¡± The woman said, still calling out the name of Jack''s father. The only man she had truly ever loved. ¡°Camilla. Look into my eye,¡± Jack prompted, guiding the former Queen to meet his gaze by way of his hand on her chin. The two made eye contact. ¡°What do you see?¡± Jack asked. The woman giggled, ¡°I see red¡­¡± Jack furrowed his brow, his jaw clenching as he eyed the broken woman. From Jack''s point of view, he could see hands reaching out, the traces of hatred latching onto the woman, remnants of those who died and cursed the woman. Yet, despite the echoes of the victims hanging in the air, the former Queen paid them no mind, the memories Jack brought out of the woman bringing not with it anguish, but comfort. Jack sighed, pulling away from the woman, his back turned to the former Queen. Despite coming here, the strain on his heart felt no better. On the contrary, the sight of two prominent people he once feared now reduced to this state¡­ It was a grim reminder that at every turn the Black King was there. An omnipotent god whose machinations ran so deep, Jack felt as though he were but a puppet on a string. ¡°Vargas?¡± The disheveled woman cried out, falling out of her bed to chase after Jack. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°Someplace you can''t follow,¡± Jack said, watching as Sahaqiel entered the chamber with Selfia¡¯s hologram in tow. ¡°Thank you for sparing her Jack,¡± Selfia said as vibrations wiggled through the air and the telltale sound of an imperial dropship nearby pricked Jack''s senses. ¡°In the state she''s in. You won''t get anything from her,¡± Jack said, looking over to the Excalibur nearby, ¡°I suggest you keep that sword handy, the number of apostles cropping up keeps escalating.¡± ¡°Noted. But we''ll take it from here,¡± Selfia said as dozens of blue-armored soldiers entered the chamber. ¡°Speaking of, we could use your help dealing with one.¡± Selfia¡±s holopad deposited a data chip, offering it to Jack who locked eyes with the woman who was technically his wife before his gaze settled on Sahaqiel. The Angel''s eyes went downcast, guilt and shame hidden behind her irises as Jack took the chip and left. ¡°Are you seriously going to keep acting this way towards her?¡± Lilith asked, floating behind Jack. Jack remained silent, stepping back into the adjoining chamber where a corpse of a man in gold armor now lay. He stood over Lancelot, his glowing hand reaching out to grab hold of the lingering source of powerful mana. Gathered in Jack''s hand was the very essence of the man known as Lancelot, the entirety of the man''s ego and spirit that cried out in pain and confusion as Jack held it. Before long, the spirit would be pulled away, drawn into Infinity where it would be repurposed, recycled, and churned out as an abomination to prey upon humanity. But not if Jack had a say. ¡°I grant you mercy,¡± Jack said, crushing the orb between his fingers, Lancelot¡¯s power becoming Jack''s power with Lancelot¡¯s ego entering Jack''s body where it immediately attempted to wrestle control from its new host. However, Jack''s will won out in the end with Lancelot¡¯s screams fading into oblivion as he became a new source of strength for Jack. This, was the true use of Gehenna. To destroy. Consume. Own. A fragment to mirror the Infinity Machine. A key to save humanity by cleansing it. At least, that was what he''d been told by the Gold Queen before he slit her throat. I wonder what the weight of my sins would be? Jack said to himself, walking out of the Solarus to stand upon its balcony where the Selfian remnants were taking apart the ruined Valkyrie MECHFrames and stripping bodies of weapons. A sad spectacle. But this was the state of the world nearly completely overrun by monsters. The Black King had won, the world was over, and as far as Jack could see, he saw nothing but hopelessness on the horizon. But¡­ as futile as his efforts had been, people still needed him. His son and daughter still needed him. So he would hunt down every threat to ensure his family''s safety. Unfortunately, due to his status, his very presence endangered everyone. Jack looked down at the plastic data chip, thumbing it on to display the image of a headless winged beast holding a spear aloft in one hand while the other held a head. ¡°Athena¡­¡± Jack whispered, trudging up a memory that wasn''t his own. AAS: S6: CH62: Jack vs Athena The Headless. Standing on a beach being bombarded with waves, Jack ran his hands through the sand, his eyes taking in the endless sea of crystal blue water, ruined boats, and destroyed structures that had once been piers, harbors, and docks. Windermere, the southern hub of Roland''s forces. The home of Adolf Hoffman. Or, it had once been before Jack had marched through here with his army. ¡°You can''t keep running Jack,¡± Lilith said, standing behind her host as he dug out a canister from his storage device and buried it in the sand. ¡°This is coming from me of all people.¡± ¡°I''m not running.¡± ¡°Aren''t you? Instead of making up with her you ignore her and run away every time you see her. She only did what she thought was best, saved your life too.¡± ¡°I''m not- I''m not. Okay? I''m doing what needs to be done. What only I can do,¡± Jack rebutted, poking his hand into the sand and digging into the grains with wind. ¡°No. What you''re doing is torturing yourself. Do you not realize that I feel everything you feel? That I am you as much as you are me? You can''t hide your intent from me Jack so stop lying to yourself. It''s pathetic,¡± Lilith spat, the spirit taking flight. Jack exhaled, moving several feet to bury another canister into the sand. ¡°She left me. When I needed her the most¡­¡± Jack''s brow furrowed. ¡°She left me.¡± ¡°Because you couldn''t hack it, the world was falling apart, demonspawn were everywhere and you were-¡± ¡°I KNOW!¡± Jack snarled, ¡°I know what she did was the right thing. I understand that¡­ But I can''t help feeling how I feel. At the end of it all, I thought I would still have her.¡± ¡°You fucking idiot. You DO still have her. You are the only one she loves. The only one she cares about with the exception of your cute brats,¡± Lilith said, sitting beside Jack. Jack turned to the specter. ¡°Hey¡­ you think my kids are cute?¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Jack''s shoulders slumped, ¡°I know you''re right. I do. But I can''t help how I feel about it, especially since I know there''s something she''s been hiding from me.¡± Lilith turned away, knowing full well the plot between Selfia and Sahaqiel but choosing to remain silent. ¡°Then let''s finish what you came to do and leave,¡± Lilith said before fading away. ¡°Besides, she could have left your body at any point after we entered the capital, just know she had a good reason to after.¡± Jack stood up, walking to the edge of the beach where his boots touched the water ever so slightly. ¡°You were right Hoffman¡­ it is beautiful,¡± Jack said as he closed his eye and reached out, his body glowing with power that was akin to a beacon calling out to those sensitive to such fluctuations. Jack''s eye opened, sighing as he gazed over the city devoid of life. ¡°I really wished you could have shown me around,¡± Jack muttered as the sound of beating of wings echoed through the air. It was time. Jack turned, facing the headless woman. Standing at seven feet tall with four black wings adorning her back, the apostle that stood before Jack was a Dullahan-type, one with a tarnished gold shield and a head under one arm whose face was obscured with black plates save for her mouth. Athena. A former angel consumed by the Infinity Machine. Now one of many Apostles of the End that had been summoned by Jack''s awakening.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. And consequently, one of many reasons why Jack couldn''t go home. Not yet. As much as Jack was hunting he too was also being hunted. Tracked down by abominations that were drawn to his presence like a child to candy. Last week it had been Gilgamesh, the week before, Brahma, this week, it was Athena. ¡°You are not Sahaqiel¡­¡± The apostle¡¯s head spoke, its voice echoing with the tormented spirits of a thousand damned. As Jack stood before the being once hailed as a goddess, every hair on his body stood on end as a sickly sensation akin to tar caressed his skin. Telltale signs of corruption. ¡°I am not,¡± Jack replied, his silver wings flapping gently as his golden eye took on a red glow and the wind answered his will. ¡°You¡­ are¡­ us?¡± Athena said, cocking her head to the side, confusion evident in her tone. ¡°No¡­ Deviant.¡± The world around Jack began to stir, the apostle releasing brackish ghostly blue flames that covered the abomination from head to toe. Subsequently, the fires she emitted burned the wind, sapping Jack''s control of the element and robbing him of his most familiar tool. ¡°It''s never easy is it,¡± Jack grunted. This would be a hard battle, but that was why he had chosen this battleground. Humid, with water everywhere and sand he could use against the angel, despite being the cause of its destruction, Windermere would become Jack''s salvation against the fallen goddess poised to take his life. ¡°Well then,¡± Jack sighed and adjusted his eyepatch, ¡°Let''s get this over with.¡± To the human eye, the two vanished, leaving behind craters in the earth from the sheer impact of their movement. The earth split apart, the sand turning into smoldering glass as Jack''s feathered spear struck Athena''s shield. Back and forth the two went, trading a flurry of blows with neither backing down until finally Jack was forced to retreat due to the rising heat. Damn. If this doesn''t work I''ll be dead. Several of Jack''s feathers broke off from his spear, the weapon curving around the Apostle¡¯s shield to strike at the armored specter. Shit. The air exploded, Jack pushed back as the dullahan morphed into a raging blue inferno. Athena raised her head towards Jack, her mouth elongating to glow with spectral power as it leaked with blue magma. Ruby. Keep her contained. Out of Jack¡¯s shadow, the black armored einherjar poured forth, screaming to deflect a blast of scorching hit with her own shield as Jack conjured a stream of wind and slammed it into a hole in the earth. Along the ground, buried in the sand, canisters containing liquid nitrogen lay, courtesy of Selfia. Twelve canisters rushed up through the sandy beach, propelled by Jack''s wind to explode out of the earth alongside a canopy of sand. Immediately the sand began to boil, turning into glass, Jack''s winds guiding the grainy particles into a tornado of molten shards that flew around the Apostle. Athena roared, spreading her leathery black wings, attempting to leap from the ground, yet Jack anticipated this, Lilith already on standby. From the sand, spectral chains emerged, shadow tendrils that latched onto the woman to drag her down as Jack focused on creating a dome of swirling sand and glass. Still, it was getting hard to breathe, but fortunately, what happened next helped to alleviate his problem, albeit, temporarily. The liquid nitrogen containers exploded, dousing the area, creating a chemical reaction of flash vaporization that snuffed out the apostle¡¯s hellfire and exploded, sending Jack careening safely into the water. If it had been mana, the beast known as Athena would have no doubt sensed it and moved, but this attack was neither magical nor otherworldly in nature but rather chemical. A little knowledge Jack picked up to combat the beings of mythology. Using his mana, Jack floated back up to the surface, taking in the aftermath of his trap with his eyes settled on the glass sculpture of the trapped Apostle. Jack wouldn''t have long. Shooting forward, Jack reached out, one hand atop the glass to stabilize himself, Gehenna in full effect as the sculpture began to wiggle and glow. With his angelic vision, Jack could see the being was still very much alive. Still very much angry and gathering mana to unleash a devastating attack. ¡°I give you mercy,¡± Jack hissed, pulling back his free arm to deliver a blow that shattered the hard carapace with his hand punching a hole through the goddess¡¯s chest. Jack''s hand tightened, grabbing ahold of the tendril of energy within as flames spurred forth and immolated his quarry in a cacophony of screams. ¡°Be at rest,¡± Jack said through the flames that licked his skin, his hand crushing the condensed mass of souls with Jack sent tumbling across the beach as the fallen goddess exploded. Covered in burns, ears ringing, with blood in his eyes, Jack coughed, his internal injuries forcing blood up through his trachea and out his mouth. Still, despite his injuries, he was alive, his gaze settling on the mound of glass nearby that was all that remained of the angel hailed by humanity as the Goddess Athena. ¡°Thank you¡­¡± A voice whispered in the wind, a soft voice, one that came from nowhere but simultaneously everywhere. A hallucination? Perhaps, but Jack didn''t know as he laid back down and closed his eye to sleep. AAS: S6:CH63: Nightmare ¡°EAS: This is not a test. This is not a test. This is a nationwide alert for The Empire of Cordellica and all territories. We are under attack. All citizens are ordered to shelter in place while the Imperial Army moves to restore order. Those with Class 2 designation however are ordered to report to their local garrison.¡±- Imperial Emergency Alert System. ***** ¡°Dad, I don''t want to go to school!¡± Celeste cried, the small child struggling as Jack carried the half-dressed pre-schooler under his arm while his other cradled a crying baby boy. Disheveled with black spots under his eyes, and in a wrinkled vomite-covered uniform of an Imperial mage, Jack glided through his messy mansion as he attempted to get his kids ready. ¡°You''ve got to go to school if you want to grow up big and smart, princess,¡± Jack said, setting his daughter on a marble counter and handing her an apple from a nearby basket. ¡°Don''t you want to make friends?¡± ¡°Nope!¡± Celeste said earnestly, shaking her head, ¡°I have you!¡± Jack smiled, ¡°Well, don''t you want to help your mom out? Remember, she''s counting on you.¡± ¡°But she''s not my mom!¡± Celeste yelled, throwing the apple onto the floor. Jack sighed before placing Ito in his crib, his son cooing as Jack activated soothing touch on the boy and ruffled his patch of black hair. ¡°Celeste, we''ve talked about this,¡± Jack said, placing both of his hands on his daughter''s face, ¡°Selfia¡­ is your mother. She''s your mom. Look at me Celeste, Selfia. Is. Your. Mother. Leona is just your aunt. Do you understand? If you tell anyone otherwise you will be in big trouble, ok?¡± Of course that was a lie, the child''s mother was Collette, a knight in service to the enemy. A battle-junkie whose loyalty to her adopted family kept her on the sinking ship known as the Roland Empire. And so, she entrusted her daughter to Selfia and the Selfian Empire, perhaps the only place she knew her child would be safe. ¡°Okaaay,¡± The four year old let out with a sense of guilt bubbling up within Jack. ¡°Celeste, look me in the eye when I''m talking to you,¡± Jack directed in an authoritative tone, attempting to be firm yet kind. ¡°I need you to promise me that you will call Selfia mom.¡± The girl''s golden eyes met Jack¡¯s. ¡°I promisse,¡± Celeste pouted. ¡°Pinky promise?¡± Jack said, holding his finger up. ¡°Okaaay.¡± Celeste said as Leona looked on from the doorway nearby. ¡°Ya know, at this rate we''ll be late for her first day,¡± Leona said, tapping her watch. ¡°Sorry, Ada was tired, so I had to change Ito''s diaper, feed him, and put him in for a nap,¡± Jack replied, helping Celeste off the counter. ¡°Then this one tried to sneak off into a vent again.¡± Celeste stuck out her tongue. ¡°You do know you have servants for this right?¡± Leona said as Celeste rushed from Jack to take her hand. ¡°And miss out on the joys of parenting?¡± Jack replied, giving off a not-too-convincing smile as he rubbed his sleep deprived eyes and reached for his spear uniform dangling on a nearby chair. ¡°I think not.¡± ¡°Riggght. Well, Kamila is always willing to lend a hand. There''s no shame to ask for help.¡± ¡°I know, I just¡­¡± Jack trailed off, his hand stroking Celeste''s hair. ¡°I missed out on a good portion of Celeste¡¯s life, and I don''t want to do the same with Ito,¡± Jack said, setting the baby monitor beside the crib. ¡°I at least want to be here to see him walk.¡± Leona leaned over, planting a kiss on Jack¡¯s cheek. ¡°W-what was that for?¡± Jack asked, caught off guard. ¡°You''re a good man, Jack,¡± Leona said before her watch beeped, followed by Selfia''s voice angrily complaining. ¡°Hey you two! Where the hell are you guys?! You''re going to make me late for my own damn grand opening!¡± Selfia yelled, ¡°Are you two banging?! You better not be having sex or so help me ME I''ll drag-¡±Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Jack reached over, tapping a button on the watch that hung up the call. Celeste looked up, blinking repeatedly before her next words made Jack''s blood run cold. ¡°Daddy, what''s sex?¡± ¡°Nothing you''ll never ever ever need to know or worry about princess,¡± Jack said ruffling his daughter¡¯s hair. ¡°Why did you kill auntie Jill?¡± Jack froze, the entire world coming to a stand still. ¡°What did you say?¡± Jack asked, looking at his daughter. ¡°Why did you kill your sister?¡± Leona asked, both she and Celeste staring at Jack, the pair pointing at him. ¡°¡±Why did you kill Jill?¡±¡± ¡°I-i didn''t-¡± Jack began, taking a step back only to stop as hands reached out, accosting Jack from behind. ¡°Why did you let me die?¡± Eleanor said, the blonde officer covered in blood, her red eyes glaring at Jack who immediately jolted, attempting to flee, yet he couldn''t as something caught his boots. ¡°Why did you kill me?¡± Hoffman said, staring at Jack from below as he latched onto Jack''s boots. ¡°I had no choice!¡± Jack spat, attempting to look away, a sense of dread and helplessness taking him as he screamed and pulled away from the ghosts holding him. ¡°But you did¡­¡± ¡°Stop! This isn''t real!¡± Jack yelled, swiping through the air that made the ghost of Eleanor vanish into smoke. ¡°Why did you get my father killed?¡± Yukino asked, replacing the woman with her father''s severed head in her hands, the man Jack thought of as a father asking him the same thing. ¡°Stop¡­ stop!¡± Jack roared, firing a bolt of lighting that disintegrated the specter into an echo of maniacal laughter. Immediately Jack spun, attempting to flee, yet before him was his daughter and Leona, the pair joined by Tangerine asking why his friends all died. ¡°It wasn''t my fault,¡± Jack spat, backing up only to bump into a green-haired girl covered in blood. ¡°Why are you alive?¡± Jill whispered, her form rapidly twisting, morphing into an abomination sprouting tentacles that reached out for the horrified Jack. **** ¡°IT''S NOT MY FAULT!¡± Jack''s eyes snapped open, his breathing ragged as he sat up in a bed located in a desolated ruin. "You need therapy." ¡°Where the hell am I?¡± Jack asked, scanning his unfamiliar surroundings. ¡°Ruby dragged your ass into the city¡¯s town hall. What''s left of it anyway,¡± Lilith replied, the specter laying down beside Jack on a dusty mattress. ¡°I see¡­¡± Jack said, rubbing his now healed face and sitting up, ¡°What time is it?¡± ¡°Somewhere around five in the afternoon last clock I looked at.¡± ¡°Fuck,¡± Jack said, looking out the window at the mounds of demonspawn corpses that lay dissecated. Ruby''s handiwork as usual, the woman working round the clock to keep Jack safe as his shield. ¡°Who''s next on the list?¡± Jack asked. ¡°Red Rook. Blonde dropped off a list before leaving.¡± Jack spun to face Lilith, ¡°Sara was here?¡± ¡°She showed up, fawned over you, stroked your head, cried, bitched, then left, the usual,¡± Lilith replied as Jack picked up the intellipad nearby to read the dossier. ¡°Red Rook¡­ General Dorian Jazz. Former commission officer of the Empire and¡­ Second Solomon survivor,¡± Jack trailed off. Second Solomon. Jack smiled faintly. Finally, a lead. Sahaqiel had once said that Heaven was located over the continent known as Africa. And here a member of the Black King¡¯s party was amassing soldiers, survivors from the expeditions to board specialized craft known as boats to reach the continent. But why? The Black King had won hadn''t he? Kick started a new apocalypse by summoning the Apostles of the End to wipe out humanity to start over. So why gather soldiers? Why procure supplies? Was it to secure his chosen? To protect the people who would be a new foundation of humanity¡¯s reclamation? According to the King Jack was meant to be a savior, but what Jack became was a beacon that attracted monsters. Jack sighed, he didn''t know. All he did know was that his next target was there. With the Gold Queen dead, the White Knight in chains, the Green Bishop in a basement being experimented on, and the purple pawn¡¯s head mounted in Selfia''s office, this left only two top members of the High Table left. The Rook and the King. There were also the subsidiaries, organizations and businesses that supported the High Table, but those would come later, for now, he had to deal with a high value target while they were still in the midst of preparing. Jack shifted the page on the intellipad, eyeing the list of resources supplied to him to assault a compound with at least a thousand hostiles. Twelve Dropships. Three gunships. Two MECHFrame squads. Sixty commandos. Four tanks. Five awakened. Jack pursed his lips, underwhelmed by the lack of support. But, considering every remaining city across the world including Hoshido was fighting off hordes of demonspawn, Jack didn''t complain. After all, being outnumbered was practically his day job now. ¡°Did Sarah say anything before she left?¡± Jack asked, storing the intellipad onto his storage device. ¡°Only that you should visit your children,¡± Lilith said as Jack looked out the shattered window to gaze upon the ruined city. ¡°It''s important she said. Extremely so and you should be there.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Jack said, I can swing by before I tackle the Rook. AAS: S6: CH64: Jack versus the Son of the All Father A day of flight and Jack began to slow down, his silver wings retracting as he glided through the airways choked with smog to land within the verdant forest below. His boots touched the ground, Jack letting out a yawn as he found a large tree to settle in for the night. Immediately, Ruby came out, the specter preparing for her nightly duties as howls echoed in the distance. From the sound of it, wargs, but nothing Ruby couldn¡¯t deal with. ¡°I really miss having a bed,¡± Lilith griped as Jack laid against a tree and shut his eyes. ¡°You¡¯ll make do,¡± Jack said as his thoughts began to drift. [Spiritron Destroyed!] Suddenly a pain shot through Jack, his system alerting him of Ruby¡¯s destruction just as his entire body lit up with pain. ¡°Look alive Jack!¡± Lilith spat with Jack shifting just in time to avoid the blur that took out the tree he''d been laying on. WHAT THE HELL?! Jack''s eye couldn''t track it, didn''t feel¡­ whatever it was that passed by meaning one of two things. Either it was faster than Jack. Or stronger than Jack. Neither options sat well, meaning- [-87HP] Jack¡¯s head snapped left, the force of the impact releasing a boom as his bones cracked and his neck broke. What? Falling on all fours, Jack went wide-eyed, his injuries regenerating fast enough to allow him to conjure a protective dome of mana just before he was sent flying. Crashing through several trees, Jack finally came to a stop when his body hit a boulder, his eye focusing just enough to see the fist about to slam into his face. REPULSE! Jack''s body exploded with power, knocking back his assailant, the humanoid blur flying back only to disappear as the familiar sensation of an apostle tickled Jack''s skin. ¡°Fuck, can never get any rest,¡± Jack muttered before rising to his feet, his body arcing with electricity as he wiped the blood from his mouth. If Sahaqiel was here he could have probably have detected the apostle, but she wasn''t, leaving Jack to try and figure out what he was up against. Lilith, how''s Ruby? Jack sent, his eyes scanning his surroundings as he maintained his barrier of wind and lightning. ¡°Hurt, but otherwise fine. She''ll be back in commission in a day or two.¡± Lilith reported, the black specter appearing from Jack''s shadow to join him. ¡°What are we dealing with here?¡± Jack asked, delegating Sahaqiel¡¯s old role to Lilith. ¡°Speedster, unsure which,¡± Lilith replied as Jack readied his feathers. ¡°Great,¡± Jack muttered as he reached out, the wind mana in the air growing denser as he dropped his mana barrier and spread his particles. Dealing with speed type enemies was always a pain, besides the obvious outmaneuvering, the only way to directly hurt a speedster was to hit them with an AoE or predict their movements, both of which were hard to do against a being moving at the speed of light. So, Jack did a third option, he dug his heels in and let his enemy strike him. [-35 HP] ¡°Ouuf!¡± Jack let out, blood flowing from his mouth as he was beset by a series of punches. Left hook, right hook, a blow to his stomach forcing Jack to clench his teeth as he awaited the next blow before springing his trap.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The next attack took Jack¡¯s right eye, the ocular organ ripped out of his skull before Jack clenched his fist and spread his feathers. On command, the wind grew denser, a dome of mana solidifying to trap the speedster within a ten-foot circumference around Jack just as his leg was bent backwards. ¡°Fuck!¡± Jack growled, clenching his fist and closing the dome, the air growing so dense with mana the earth cracked and the forest kneeled in response. ¡°There! On your left!¡± Jack spun, coming face to face with the black-armored apostle that was struggling under the weight of Jack¡¯s mana. With the bottom of a mutated deerling, and the upper torso of a black armored man, what ran towards Jack was a hybrid abomination. Something akin to a centaur from Greek mythology if said centaur was covered in writhing tentacles, twisted faces bulging from its body, and black scales covering its flesh. Hermod. Jack recognized the angel from Sahaqiel''s memories. Once known as the son of the All-Father, the being known by humanity as an Asgardian was no more than a mutated monster. And now it was being crushed by Jack''s mana with Lilith¡¯s chains siphoning the creature¡¯s energy. Regenerating his broken leg, Jack stood up and walked over to the creature beginning to vibrate in place. To bad for you that won''t work on me again. Hermod was attempting to displace Jack''s mana, to shake free the shackles that bound him. But Gehenna¡¯s authority was absolute, and after months of being on the run, Jack was no stranger to dealing with speedsters. ¡°Where¡­ is ¡­ Sahaqiel?¡± Hermod asked as Jack placed boths hands around the Apostle''s throat. ¡°Safe,¡± Jack said, increasing his grip. ¡°Good,¡± Hermod closed his eyes before Jack crushed the Apostle¡¯s throat and drained the creature. [+50 Mana Reservoir!] **** Jack sighed, sitting down in the middle of the now destroyed forest and taking a moment before he opened his system as his vision restored itself. Angel System Status Level 10 TITLE: Angel [Regeneration++ Mana Synthesis++] User: Jack Tanjihiro Chae-wong Total Class Level: 20 HP 387/750 CLASS: Key Holder Level 5 CLASS: White Mage Level 5* CLASS: Wind Aesir Level 10* MP 120/350[050/750] [Reservoir] Free Points: 0 AFFINITIES LIGHT[80] WIND[65] FIRE[25] ABYSSAL[15] STATS: STRENGTH: 85 VITALITY: 75 SENSE: 52 AGILITY: 48 ARCANA: 200 POTENTIAL: 10 SOUL STRENGTH: 2 Spiritrons Available: 2(View list) Spiritron Slotted: Ruby Viole Lamprouge(Loyal)/Incapacitated Summon Class: Soulfire Shielder(70MP) [BUFFS]: Partial Rune of Atalanta(Left+Right Leg+10 Agility modifier) Sigil of Gehenna(STR+10),Fractional Blessing of Sahaqiel(+20 Wind Affinity+10 Light Affinity) Skill Siphoning. Pain Tolerance LvL 5. Sense of Bodily Self(Detect bodily belongings) Mental Fortitude LvL 3, Fire Resistance LvL 3, Mana Control LvL 5, Master of the Wind(+15 Wind Affinity) Mana Recovery LvL 5(Passive Recovery+8 MP/s), Elemental Resistance LvL2, Streamline LvL2.(Reduce mana cost of skills), Ride the Lightning, Lightweight+, Aesir constitution. Angelic Constitution. Mana Resistance LvL 2. Blessed(+1 Potential). [DEBUFFS]: [?1h^&a)o3¡±] Soul Binding -20MP, Soul Fracture. [RESISTANCES]: +5 Radiation +175 Anti-Curse, +105 Anti-Corruption. +10 Inertia +25 Fire Resistance +25 Mental resistance, +15 Paralytic Resistance, +10 Freeze Resistance, +15 Poison Resistance, +15 Light resistance, +15 Void Resistance, +15 Wind resistance, +15 Life Resistance. Jack seldom had a use for his system since that day 6 months ago. After the trauma of the battlefield forced his evolution, he found himself capable of doing more than just imitating magic. Rather, he was now a full fledged angel, a being who didn¡¯t require the crutch of Eve¡¯s curse known as The System. Still, it was a handy tool to have, with it, he could eye his status in real time, allowing him to track his strength growths, skills, health, mana, and Ruby¡¯s condition. So it wasn¡¯t totally useless. ¡°You should rest,¡± Lilith said, materializing beside Jack. ¡°If you keep going like this you will burn yourself out.¡± ¡°That''s rich, coming from you,¡± Jack replied. ¡°Tsk, I''m just protecting my investment,¡± Lilith hissed, fading away with a swear. Sitting there, Jack knew the woman¡¯s words to be true. Despite his injuries regenerating at a rapid pace, he was losing HP at an astonishing rate in return. Another fight like this and he¡¯d probably be dead. Or worse¡­ corrupted. Jack eyed his chronogear, Selfia¡¯s raid team was waiting on him and at this rate he''d be late. With a sigh, Jack rose to his feet, he was still a day out from the staging area, another hundred miles give or take. ¡°Thanks for your concern, but I''ll be fine,¡± Jack replied as yet another tingle touched his skin. AAS: CH65: What Im fighting for. Another day, another demi-god from history dead on the ground. Jack wiped his mouth, removing the blood as he picked up his severed arm and reattached it with mend. In the crater below him, was another apostle, this one named Lugh. It was lanky, with a multitude of arms that bore many weapons when it had attacked Jack, ambushing him as he attempted to rest once more. Yet it, just like the other apostles fell to the might of Gehenna. ¡°I hate nagging, but you should see your kids,¡± Lilith said, the violent specter shaking her head at Jack with disapproval. ¡°As much as I enjoy fucking shit up with you, you haven''t eaten in four days, haven''t drinked anything in two, you''re no good to anyone if you''re dead. Selfia''s strike team can wait long enough for you to shower at least.¡± ¡°I rather not lead more apostles to my home.¡± ¡°Whether you want to or not, Sahaqiel¡¯s presence there alone draws them in. If you die, don''t you at least want to see your son at least once? At this rate we''ll be dead and then what?¡± Lilith had a point, the Selfian''s were still setting up at their staging point for their assault, plenty of time for him to visit for a moment before going back to his hunt. But only for a moment¡­ then maybe everyone would stop hounding him to see his kids. ¡°Now Jack,¡± Lilith said with the sternness of a mother rebuking her child, ¡°Holy fuck! When did I become a mother scolding her child?! Fuck, do whatever you-¡± ¡°Yeah yeah, I''ll get to it,¡± Jack replied before summoning a mythical hammer in his hand that he¡¯d kept for such an eventuality. With one palm holding his hammer and the other outstretched, Jack muttered the activation phrase ¡°Bifrost teleport¡± before being whisked away. *** Sitting at her desk that had once been Kenichi¡¯s, Selfia stared blankly as she listened to Lita and Kenichi reading their daily reports. With Lunacrypt capital a cesspool of bodies, demonspawn, abandoned debri, Selfia was forced to move her base of operations far from the clutches of the Apostle invasion which saw the emergence of threats never before seen since the founding of the Imperium. Moving her capital had been a herculean task, more so due to the displacement of millions of imperial citizens and infrastructure that no one city could hold. Fortunately, the floating city of the Theocracy remnant gave her options, gave her housing and protection to the thousands that followed her to the last gasp of the world. Unfortunately with the migration of such large quantities of refugees, so too came the problems. Food, for starters, was scarce as is. Coupled with ammunition shortages, replacement parts, and infighting between nomad, paladin, and imperial survivors, Selfia had her work cut out for her. ¡°The tribal chiefs aren''t happy that their food supply are being cut again to give to the paladins,¡± Kenchi grunted, ¡°The Shi-liyu are threatening to close the fisheries and the Goguryeo aren''t working the mines.¡± ¡°Lumenese, my paladins require that food. As the bulwark to the demonspawn threat, my warriors require sustenance to sustain our fight, especially against the Apostle''s that probe our city defenses,¡± Lita, the defacto leader of the Theocracy interjected. ¡°If my miners and workers don''t get food, they won''t be able to supply your warriors with more ammo and materials,¡± Kenichi frowned, ¡°Remember Paladin, this is our land. We have bled and toiled for the soil beneath our feet. To demand tithes makes you no better than invaders.¡± ¡°Would invaders offer protection? It is only due to Lord Jack¡¯s request that Hoshido remains safe. Without the blessing of Saint Citri offered by our city you would all succumb to the poison that blights our world.¡± Lita had a point, but so too did Kenichi. Although Selfia''s air fleet had brought their own supplies and materials, the constant influx of refugees and attacks were draining their reserves. And while Selfia hadn''t broadcasted their location, rumors quickly circulated of the flying city that kept the hordes at bay. Perhaps from soldiers radioing home? Perhaps from the High Table? Either way Selfia had a better grasp of what Jack had to endure when he led these people. ¡°Kenchi, how many awakened warriors can the tribal leaders spare?¡± Selfia asked as Di''luk and Kamila served them tea and biscuits. ¡°How many do you need?¡± ¡°At least a platoon, maybe we can pull Tenno from guard duty. Lita if we eliminate the Apostle''s probing our defenses can your men do with reduced rations?¡± Selfia said to the Templar Commander. ¡°If we can open up logistics to commandant Victoria¡¯s wall, then yes, lumenese,¡± Lita bowed. ¡°So we just need-¡± Suddenly a tingling sensation blanket the room, a chill in the air that turned everyone to the hammer laying in the corner of the room.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. A bright beam illuminated the chamber with ice cold air dropping the temperature of the space by several degrees as Jin and the rest of the royal guards charged into the office space. ¡°Stand down,¡± Selfia said, blinking repeatedly as Jack stepped out from the sigil of ice that lay painted on the floor. ¡°About time you came around, I take it the headless horseman is dealt with?¡± ¡°Athena is gone,¡± Jack replied, stepping past his uncle to dump a plant out of a vase before drinking the water. ¡°So are Hermod and Lugh.¡± ¡°Three apostles in one day?¡± Lita whispered, almost in awe. ¡°It''s getting worse out there,¡± Jack said as Kamila handed him a biscuit and a bottle of water. ¡°I''d run into one once a week but now it''s several times a week, maybe twice a day.¡± ¡°We''re faring no better. Tenno and your aunt have been busy fending off the swarms but we''re noticing more and more Apostles showing up,¡± Selfia reported. ¡°Intel on the Black King?¡± Jack asked, walking out of the office with Selfia and an entourage trailing his heels. ¡°Python''s been busy, but nothing yet except for what you already know, I take it Sahaqiel already got you the Intel?¡± ¡°Yeah, I''m here to see my son before the opportunity passes,¡± Jack said morbidly as he stepped out of the building used as a city hall to gaze upon the city of Hoshido. Gone were the rural trailers, the hovels on wheels, and log cabins. Instead, what replaced the rustic village he had left behind was a city of stone, mortar, and nomad style buildings of red shingles painted with cherry blossoms. Around the city, Jack could see flags with emblems of angelic wings embroidered on silver tapestries. The de facto symbol of the city state of Hoshido. Stepping from the office space, the nomads going about their business froze up upon noticing Jack. The crowd outside collectively turned, bowing to their leader who remained indifferent to his people. There was work to be done. Every moment he delayed was another moment an apostle locked onto his position. Still covered in his own blood and tattered rags, Jack moved through the city, walking past the crowd who parted ways with respectful bows. Despite the fact Jack hadn''t seen his home, hadn''t been to the village since its reconstruction, he knew the way towards Ada and his children. He could feel them. More specifically Celeste, his senses since evolving keenly attuned to others similar to himself. Others that the apostles would come for if he didn''t hold them at bay. Despite wanting to talk to Jack, Selfia hung back, allowing Jack to ascend the steps of the homely cabin built beside a pond to where his loved ones were. Jack paused, eyeing the tapestry on the outside wall, a colorful hand drawn image of a stick figure with wings battling against monsters. ¡°Pew pew¡­¡± Jack muttered, reading the words drawn around what he assumed were guns in the man''s hands. Suddenly the door opened, revealing Yukino in a floral hoshidan robe who gasped before recomposing herself. ¡°What is it?¡± Ada called out over the sound of a TV blaring. Yukino said nothing, instead standing to the side to allow Jack to enter the home. ¡°Daddy!¡± Celeste yelled, dropping her game controller and zooming across the carpeted floor to tackle Jack''s waist. ¡°T-Tanji!¡± Ada let out, falling from her couch before scrambling across the floor to hug Jack with tears in her eyes despite the blood still coating his body. ¡°Hey¡­ honey,¡± Jack said as Ada pulled away with her hands on his face. ¡°W-what happened to you? Why are you wearing an eye patch? Are you ok? Oh my god!¡± Ada screamed upon touching the scars below his left eye. ¡°It''s okay, Ada. I''m okay, it happened during my battle with Selfia''s brother. I''m okay,¡± Jack assured before he caressed Celeste¡¯s blonde head. She was growing fast, already at four years old and she was up to his waist. Still, despite seeing his daughter for the first time in six months, it brought him no comfort. Instead, he was filled with fear, dread, panic at the prospect that because of his morphology he had endangered his child. But that was why he would fight. Keep fighting until every threat was exterminated. ¡°I''ll let you guys be alone,¡± Yukino said before quietly leaving. **** After an hour of talking and assurances and in a new shirt, Ada and Jack sat alone in the white-tiled kitchen as Celeste lay napping nearby with a half-eaten taco on her chest. ¡°Ada-¡± Jack began. ¡°It''s okay,¡± Ada said, her soft hand reaching over the table to touch his hand. Jack closed his eyes, accepting her warmth, taking in the gentle touch of another being that wasn''t trying to kill him or begging for mercy. ¡°How was the¡­ birth?¡± Jack asked, unsure of how to word it. ¡°Ten pounds!¡± Ada exclaimed, ¡°That''s what I had to squeeze out of me! Do you know what it''s like having to push another human out of you?! Absolutely NOT a fun experience I''ll tell you what!¡± Jack smiled softly, his eyes focused on the woman''s beautiful glow, ¡°Can I see him?¡± ¡°He is your son, I''d hope you would want to,¡± Ada teased before standing up, rising to her feet with her figure almost as slender as she was pre-pregnancy. ¡°Come on.¡± Ada took his hand, guiding him through the hallway of her home until they came to the nursery illuminated by deep blue lights that gave the room a soothing feeling. Inside, ocean sounds, a little speaker beside a camera that pointed at the crib where a sleeping baby lay. Jack clenched his jaw, fixed in place as Ada gingerly reached down into the floral crib as she picked up the now cooing infant. ¡°Your grandma was a lot of help with the set up. Min and Mo Ye did most of the building but the crib is actually Yukino¡¯s,¡± Ada turned, bringing the little baby to Jack. ¡°Ito Chae-wong, meet your papa.¡± Jack hesitated as Ada suddenly handed him the baby whose golden eyes fixated on him. Ito¡¯s tiny hands reached out to Jack who remained frozen, his gaze unable to look away from the being who was so fragile, so weak, and tiny in his arms. His son. Before Jack knew it, tears were streaming down his face, his lips quivering as Ada quickly moved to assure Jack and take their child. ¡°I''m sorry, is it too much?¡± Ada said, her eyes darting from Jack to their child repeatedly as he turned away with Ito, cradling the infant close. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m okay,¡± Jack said, smiling despite the fresh tears flowing from his eye. "I... I''m just..." For the first time in months, the cold vice that had griped Jack''s heart had shifted, and in its place, something warm as Ada hugged him. He couldn''t save Eleanor. Couldn''t save Mai, Itadori, Mike, and so many others. But his son... his daughter. Jack would fight a thousand battles so long as they were safe. From above, Sahaqiel sat atop the red-shingled house, slender legs tucked in as she listened to the man cry, unware of the news she had that would both hurt and help him. AAS: Season 6:CH66: Lies and Deceptions Cradling his infant son, Jack shifted gently back and forth in an oak rocking chair as he stared at the soundless child. ¡°Is he supposed to be that quiet?¡± Jack whispered, turning to Ada for assurance as the woman dressed in the traditional robes of the Hoshido leaned on the nearby door frame observing Jack lovingly. ¡°The doctors say he''s fine, he just doesn''t really cry much,¡± Ada explained before noticing the blonde woman standing in the hallway. ¡°You have a visitor honey.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Jack replied before reluctantly handing Ito off to Ada. ¡°I''ll take Ito and Celeste out to see your grandma so you two can talk,¡± Ada said before flashing a look at Sahaqiel as she took her leave. Jack waited until the front door closed, remaining motionless until the blonde woman retracted her wings to stand before Jack in the dimly lit nursery. ¡°We need to talk,¡± Sahaqiel said as Lilith manifested, boxing Jack in. Jack inhaled, closing his eye for ¡°About what?¡± Jack replied casually, narrowing his gaze at the archangel. ¡°That you abandoned me? That you had a body this entire time and not only did you lie to me, Selfia covered it up? How about the fact you used my hand to kill my sister? Or maybe we can talk about the fact that when my daughter and son awaken they''ll be hounded for the rest of what little life they have?¡± ¡°Wow, just right off the cuff huh?¡± Lilith quipped. Silence permeated the room that became heavy with tension. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jack¡­ you know I''ve only ever done what I''ve thought was best for you. Only ever-¡± ¡°I know,¡± Jack intervened, ¡°Yet since I met you everyone I care about keeps dying or getting hurt. And no matter how strong I get its never enough. I always fail. Eleanor, Mike, Mai, Fujimaru, Itadori, Hoffman, Yun, Tyrah, Jena, Jill¡­ the names keep piling up. How long until I lose you too? How long until I lose Ada, or Leona, Kamila, my children, and my home? How long until I have nothing?¡± Jack pursed his lips and shook his head, ¡°I am filled with such fear, so much hatred, I can see the thing I''m becoming and I just don''t care. I''ve killed thousands, consigned them to fates worse than hell and I''ve reached the point where I''m doing all the things my enemies have done and I¡­¡± A low chuckle escaped Jack''s mouth, ¡°I don''t care...¡± Sahaqiel didn''t need to be one with Jack to understand his emotions. The angel knelt down, taking Jack''s hand into hers, feeling his skin upon her skin that sent a shiver down her spine. Yet she fought the impulse, choosing instead to look the young man in the eye.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°You haven''t lost everything, you won''t lose everything,¡± Sahaqiel promised before turning to Lilith. ¡°It''s time.¡± At Sahaqiel¡¯s command, Lilith suddenly produced an orb, a small flickering sphere of green and red that sent a pain arcing through Jack''s body as his eyes registered the intangible ball. ¡°This, is why I had to leave, to give Lilith time to secure and place her in a coma safely,¡± Sahaqiel said as Jack stared at the sight of the wisp. He didn''t need an explanation to know what it was, he knew because he''d seen one before Lilith had awakened. It was a soul. Not as fractured and distorted as the thing known as Lilith, but a blackened mass with motes of light stuck upon it. Jill''s soul. Jack chuckled, closing his eye for a moment as a maddened smirk settled on his face. Not exactly the reaction Sahaqiel had hoped but she continued on. ¡°Selfia¡­ had been aware of your sister''s whereabouts for a while. At least she had a sneaking suspicion when the Khloros began attacking her troops. It was all but confirmed when your cousin Lydia died to get us the intel. She consulted me the moment we entered the palace. Hence the house arrest. In that time we worked to figure out a plan in case of such an eventually,¡± Sahaqiel explained, ¡°This is what we came up with.¡± Jack hung his head low, his shoulders slumping, ¡°So she lied about Lydis¡¯s whereabouts too huh¡­ the entire journey to the theocracy just a waste of time.¡± ¡°Please, Jack, please believe that if I had told you it would have endangered everything. That-¡± ¡°My pain was necessary? My suffering? Watching Mike die and my sister draw her last breath necessary to save the day?¡± Jack said bitterly. ¡°You two conspired against my back, withheld information that hurt me. Am I supposed to be happy that my sister''s soul was ripped from her chest and occupying the space you once sat? Am I supposed to be happy that the person I trusted the most kept me in the dark?¡± Jack cocked his head sideways at the angel. Instead of anger, hate, or annoyance, all Jack displayed was a silent cold calm. ¡°I did it for you, I knew you couldn¡¯t hurt Jill, and it wasn''t supposed to-¡± Sahaqiel said, her voice breaking as glimmers of liquid pooled in her eyes. Jack turned away, allowing the cold quiet to take the room once more, ¡°Please say something.¡± Jack¡¯s jaw clenched, his brow furrowed as his hand clenched. ¡°I forgive you,¡± Jack sighed, rising to his feet. ¡°I''ve known for the last five months. You aren''t the only ones that can keep a secret.¡± Shocked, Sahaqiel¡¯s mouth hung open, the angel turning to face Lilith who shook her head. ¡°When? H-how?¡± ¡°My fight with Tarhanna. The first apostle I fought knocked me unconscious, forcing Lilith to pilot my body. In that time I noticed a new orb in my core, shards of things that shouldn''t be there because Lilith was reformed. I knew then what had happened, but I turned away. Shutting my mind and doing my best to cement the feeling of my sister gone, to let it fuel the anger and propel me through my grief,¡± Jack said as he stared out of the window, his broad back turned to the angel as his eyes settled on the children playing beyond the wooden fence of his home. ¡°But what does this change? In the end we''re just pawns in the Black King¡¯s palm. Even when we thought we had an upper hand, we still failed. The world is ending and everyone I love is threatened with fates worst than death. At the end of the day, your intent doesn''t matter if we all lose.¡± ¡°We can''t give up!¡± Sahaqiel shouted, rising to her feet to force Jack to face her. Yet the look on his face made her do a double take. ¡°Who said anything about giving up?¡± Jack said, his expression one contorted with such hatred even Lilith seemed to smile. ¡°I will kill Micheal. There is no outcome that ends without him dead. But the question remains how? I''ve been a decoy for six months, Sahaqiel, it''s time to show me what you''ve been doing with the time I bought you and Selfia.¡± AAS: Season 6:CH67: Before the Raid Underneath the running water, Jack sighed as he took in the warm stream. A shower. The first in five months. Jack looked down at the pool of soot, blood, and dirt that swirled into the metal grated drainage below. He took a breath, listening as footsteps drew near. Of course it was Ada, the woman knocking on the door and announcing her presence before Jack beckoned her in. ¡°What the hell is with you, women, and showers?¡± Lilith said, the bystander sitting on the nearby toilet seat as she filed her claw-like nails Ada stood behind the shower curtain, her shadow clearly visible to Jack who paid her no heed. ¡°Can I join you?¡± Ada asked, her voice almost hesitant. ¡°You¡¯re the mother of my son, I don''t see why not,¡± Jack replied with Ada joining him a moment later. Jack remained still, his eye focused on the pink bathroom tile as Ada¡¯s hands gently glided down his back. ¡°H-how?¡± Ada asked, rubbing the scars on Jack''s back. ¡°The apostles,¡± Jack explained, keeping his face away from Ada. ¡°I can heal from their attacks but sometimes it leaves scars. Something to do with corruptive code.¡± ¡°There''s so many¡­¡± Ada whispered before drawing close, hugging Jack from behind with her hands resisting the temptation to go lower. ¡°I''ve missed you.¡± ¡°... I''ve missed you too,¡± Jack said, the pair sitting there under the heat of the running water. ¡°How long can you stay?¡± ¡°Not long. Tonight I go and talk with Selfia and her generals, tomorrow¡­¡± Jack trailed off as Ada¡¯s hand moved to his face to try and get him to look at her. ¡°Let me see,¡± Ada coaxed with Jack finally turning so she could look at him directly without his eye patch. The sclera of Jack''s left eye was black, the iris turned red from its golden hue as thin lines of corruption pulsed from the injury. In a way it was unsettling, almost akin to a demon peering into her soul. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Ada moved her hand, shifting the palm with her thumb rubbing Jack''s skin and drawing closer to his eye. ¡°Is it dangerous?¡± Jack caught her hand, bringing her palms close together as he looked at the woman who held such love for him his heart felt as though it would explode. ¡°Sometimes,¡± Jack answered truthfully, ¡°Corruption twists data flow, often nullifying system abilities and skills. If I catch it early I can expunge the code but this one was too late¡­ am I hideous?¡± ¡°No! No of course not, you''re the most handsome man ever,¡± Ada smiled, drawing close, standing almost on the tips of her toes as her breath intermingled with Jack''s. ¡°Ito and Celeste are with your grandma and Leona. How about I show you just how much I missed you?¡± Skin to skin the pair hung there for a moment, the air heavy with steam and heat from both of their bodies and the shower. Jack smirked, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he grabbed Ada by her slender waist whose eyes danced with lust. ¡°I think I''d like that,¡± Jack said before leaning down and hoisting Ada up. **** *Clack. Clack. Clack. The golden stilettos worn by an archangel vibrating the floor. Sahaqiel. Not Sara. Clack. Clack. Clack. Her full name being spoken by the one closest to her unsettling the angel as she paced back and forth within the tribal councilmen suite that served as Selfia''s office.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Clack. Clack. Clack. Jack never used her full name. The fact of which was eating away at the woman who was getting on Selfia''s nerves. Clack. Clack. Clack. ¡°Your pacing is giving me a headache,¡± Selfia said, the white-haired woman slamming four of her floating prosthetics onto the wide long table littered with battle plans and logistics for the upcoming raid. Sahaqiel began to float. Selfia sighed, closing her eyes that still bore her red contact lenses. ¡°Go! Go away and bring Jack! How is it you and him always find ways to annoy me! Please leave before I throw-¡± Selfia frowned, noticing the angel gone as her adjutant Di¡¯luk and Python entered the office with a stack of reports. **** ¡°¡°Goddess.¡±¡± Ignoring the two paladins Sahaqiel took to the sky, hovering above the lush city of Hoshido surrounded by high rise stone walls and gorgeous country-side scenery. At least, it would normally be gorgeous if not for the red sun casting its hateful rays over everything. A byproduct of the Apostles, the perverted mana in the air warping and distorting the world. In the far distance, she could make out the echoes of battle carried through the wind, faint traces that were unnoticeable to the masses below. But Sahaqiel could see it, could make out the thousands of soldiers fighting the demonspawn hordes moving on them en masse from all directions. Fortunately with the flux of mana back in the air, awakened were empowered, unfortunately this also applied to the monsters as well, whipping the demonspawn into a frenzy. They had maybe two-three months before the artillery cannons fell silent, before the bullets stopped freely flowing and the mechframes were left without charge. Even now the airships that Selfia had brought were being used as massive barricades that drew the defensive line, serving both as bulwark and barracks for the soldiers defending their bastion. Thanks to its geological location, the mountains acted as a natural barrier, and with the old demon heart purged, the build up of demonspawn in the area had been significantly less severe than any other city. However the only thing that truly kept the apostles from ransacking the city was the statue of herself venerated by the Cintelli paladins. Which¡­ drew in a whole slew of issues¡­ Sahaqiel sighed, fluttering in the wind as Awakened like Tenno, Belia, and Jin fought at the front lines. After settling her heart and finding the courage to face him again,the archangel took off, flying down towards the non-descript three bedroom home. She hovered outside, waiting for a moment before flying past the fence and towards the door and knocking on its oak entrance. A moment passed, then another, the angel frowning as she missed her astral form. At least when she was ethereal she didn''t have to worry about things like doors, etiquette, or being ¡°goddess-like¡± in public. Sahaqiel sighed, her wings fluttering in irritation as gazes of nearby pedestrians settled on her. Deciding to flee the eyes of her onlookers, Sahaqiel gave up and entered the home where she was immediately greeted by a familiar scent of sweat bleach mixed with fish. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Sahaqiel let out, realizing immediately what Jack had been doing the last few hours. The angel slumped her shoulders, her feathers almost vibrating as her skin tingled upon spotting a shirtless Jack exiting from Ada¡¯s bedroom. Wide-eyed, she could make out the naked woman splayed out, almost a husk with a smile on her face as the door closed. ¡°I thought the meeting wasn''t until another hour?¡± Jack asked, the towel wearing man refocusing the woman who was at a loss for words for a moment. ¡°Oh, uh, yeah¡­¡± Sahaqiel said, her toes curling as she resented having a body for the first time since she got it back. ¡°Sara. Eyes up here,¡± Jack said, walking past the angel whose hands nearly moved to slap the butt cheeks hidden to her by a thin cloth. ¡°So?¡± ¡°Uhm¡­ Selfia is calling the generals early. Time is of the essence.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Jack said, opening the front door and walking out half-nude much to Sahaqiel''s surprise. Following behind, Sahaqiel attempted to coerce Jack to get dressed but he merely blew her off, walking through the city until he was ascending up the city center stairs with a myriad of eyes following him. ¡°Goddess,¡± the twin paladins in gold armor said as Jack walked by. ¡°Is there something I missed?¡± Jack said as Sahaqiel caught up to him in the hallway. ¡°Well, you know how there''s a statue of me in their flying city?¡± Sahaqiel said, obviously flustered. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Jack said, putting two and two together and connecting the dots. ¡°It''s embarrassing, I mean normally I wouldn''t care, but it hits a bit dif when your at the end of the world.¡± ¡°Hits, a bit diff¡­¡± Jack repeated, eye wide and passing by a shocked Kamila who immediately raced off. ¡°Slang I picked up from Celeste and Ho-sook. They''re basically inventing a new language these days.¡± ¡°Uh huh¡­¡± Jack said as he approached the double door of the couniclmen¡¯s chamber that''s guarded by a team of Black Rose knights. ¡°Sir?¡± The knight let out, putting her arm out to stop Jack. ¡°Forgive me¡­ sir, but perhaps more proper¡­ attire should be worn for this meeting.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± Jack smiled, lifting the woman''s arm out of his way. ¡°How about you go fetch me some clothes. In the meantime, time is of the essence and I''m needed. Consider this an order.¡± Jack brushed past the guard, opening the double doors where dozens of officials from the tribes, Theocracy, Empire, and a group of cyborgs Jack didn''t recognize stood around a massive map. ¡°Ladies, gentlemen, what do you have for me?¡± Jack said as he walked around the crowd to stand beside the flabbergasted Selfia. AAS: Season 6:CH68: K-Class End of World Scenario ¡°Ladies, gentlemen, what do you have for me?¡± Jack said as he stood amidst the crowd of officials taken aback. ¡°Well? I don¡¯t have all day, someone want to speak or am I going to have to torture someone for information?¡± Suddenly a floating prosthetic elbow found Jack¡¯s side, followed by an angry Selfia pulling him to the side. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Selfia hissed. ¡°Where are your clothes?!¡± ¡°Attending a meeting about the great plan I wasn¡¯t privy to,¡± Jack replied, pulling away with a glare of his one good eye as Kamila suddenly appeared and handed him an intellipad, ¡°Are we going to start this?¡± Selfia closed her eyes, taking a moment to compose herself before addressing the crowd of officers and delegates. ¡°Right, now that we are here. I would like to thank everyone for taking the trip to meet under such dire circumstances, I know-¡± ¡°Selfia,¡± Jack interjected, his eye down at the dossier in his hand that seemed to display everything gathered so far on the High Table and the ongoing fight, ¡°Get to the point. Time is of the essence.¡± At his demand, Jack received a glare from Selfia, followed by Python inhaling as he pretended not to notice Jack¡¯s behavior. ¡°-Right,¡± Selfia let out. ¡°I¡¯ll be brief, everyone here has been given a dossier of our situation, so we all know the current state of the world and how fucked everything is. We know who''s responsible, what their goal is, and how to fix our world. But, we don¡¯t know where the leader is-¡± Kamila rolled in a massive white screen, one large enough to capture enough of the briefing for the crowd to see. ¡°-Which we are working on,¡± Selfia continued as one of her many floating arms moved to align the projector nearby, ¡°Combining the intel obtained by our resident Angels here, satellite imagining, and my Black Hearts, we have pinpointed large movements of equipment and personnel into the port city of Zanzibar. Which, given our current situation, wouldn¡¯t be uncommon for an influx and stockpiling of manpower and arms. However, a few months ago we lost contact with the port city of Zanzibar, an oddity considering they had little to no demonspawn traffic and were firmly on the outskirts of Imperial territory. With all this, we¡¯ve managed to identify the chief enforcer of the High Table, Dorian Jazz as the Red Rook.¡± An image of a man with metallic add-ons to his face appeared on screen alongside aerial images of a large city. At five-six with brown hair and red eyes, the man was as ordinary as any other imperial citizen save for his cybernetics and the distinct hollowed look in his eyes that most soldiers tended to have. Jack eyed his dossier, reading up on the man¡¯s information as quickly as it passed. ¡°A former imperial commander under my mother¡¯s regime, Dorian Jazz served in the Seventh Solomon Expeditions which have been uncovered to have been organized search parties for the High Table using our collective nation¡¯s resources,¡± Selfia paused, sweeping her eyes across the crowd, ¡°We believe he is gathering resources and personnel to organize another expedition into the Forgotten Continent now that most of the demonspawn and apostles that inhabited it are flooding our shores. Our objective is to apprehend Dorian Jazz and seize their boats, potentially taking down the Black King as well-yes?¡± One of the cyborgs raised a metallic hand, a brunette woman Jack vaguely recognized with her thick alliance accent familiar, ¡°Why are we taking their ships?¡± ¡°The miasma in the air disrupts our skyships,¡± Mi¡¯shka said, the officer joining the conversation with a set of fresh imperial army fatigues that he handed to Jack in passing. ¡°This is Colonel Mi¡¯shka Domino, a veteran of the Forgotten Continent with well over a dozen combat sorties and recon missions under General Solomon, he will be leading the expedition force,¡± Selfia introduced, stepping to the side as the heterochromatic man stood at the front of the crowd in his freshly ironed colonel¡¯s uniform. ¡°Pardon my crassness,¡± Mi¡¯shka flashed a small smile at Jack as he spoke, ¡°The forgotten continent is a shit-hole land choked with corruption and demonspawn. That means any non-awakened soldier not being constantly supplied with filters will die within seconds and obsifiter generators and anything that feeds on mana will be starved. That means Mechframes will shutdown, airships will stall, awakened will be poisoned with prolonged exposure, and even bots get shorted. The forgotten continent is aptly named because it''s so terrible everyone wants to forget it exists.¡± ¡°Hence the boats,¡± Selfia continued, ¡°Expeditions into the continent are a logistics nightmare, even my satellites can¡¯t image through the smog. To make matters worst the empire doesn¡¯t keep a heavy stock of seafaring craft as there hasn¡¯t been a need considering our landlocked nation. So this operation will be multi-faceted in nature. Seize the city of Zanzibar, interrogate the Red Rook, and capture the boats. The latter of which is essential to our survival.¡± ¡°So what do you require from the alliance?¡± A red-haired cyborg asked, raising his brow. From the look of him, he was no older than Jack which made him an oddity within the crowd of gray-haired officers and aristocrats. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°Supplies.¡± ¡°Due to the crisis, the Empire¡¯s current stockpile of filters and armyrtheium is enough for a division of soldiers to journey into the Forgotten land for an estimated forty minutes without resupply. We can, at best have an airship in the air for an hour before the corruption eats away our shields and stalls our airship. That isn¡¯t enough. Judging from our previous expeditions, the subject of the High Table¡¯s fascination is located beyond the scope of our previous surveys or within the boundaries of our seventh expedition. Which means outside the limits of our supplies.¡± ¡°You want us to give up our stores of armyrtheium?¡± The redheaded man said with Selfia sighing as Jack dropped his towel and began to get dressed despite the crowd now more focused on him. ¡°Nice,¡± Mi¡¯shka smirked. ¡°And convert landships for sea-faring operations,¡± Selfia continued despite the disruption, ¡°Once we¡¯ve interrogated the Red Rook and pinpointed a location, we¡¯ll need everything and more to reach the infinity machine.¡± The brunette cyborg shook her head, ¡°That''s a lot to ask of us on conjecture. You don¡¯t even know where their objective is or if this Machine thing is the answer to our red sun problem. Unlike the empire, there''s nowhere for us to run when our cities get breached.¡± ¡°It is,¡± Sahaqiel butted in, the angel having passively been observing the conversations. ¡°And how do you know this?¡± The red-haired man said, drawing the ire of the paladins in the room. Including Lita. ¡°I get that you¡¯re supposed to be a super-powered ancient angel and all, but how do we know what you say is true?¡± A radiant warmth filled the air, powerful mana that raised the hairs on everyone¡¯s body with Jack¡¯s soul seeming to stir. ¡°Because I was there when the machine was created. The infinity machine taps into all data flow. What you call mana is just data, the molecules of molecules are read by the machine and translated, allowing each and every one of us to be connected,¡± Sahaqiel explained as her body began to shimmer with an almost ethereal glow, ¡°Think of it like a computer, the Infinity machine is one giant server and router that moves data around the world. During the original outbreak, we used the machine to halt the flow of mana in the world and reverse it, pulling in a specific spectrum of data that eliminated those who exhibited mana capability.¡± Jack frowned, a hush falling on the crowd as they processed what the angel had said. Eliminated. ¡°You want us to go and wipe out all awakened in the world?¡± Jack asked, breaking the silence. ¡°No, today''s awakened and the awakened of the past are different. In the past, we used a broad spectrum targeting sequence because we weren¡¯t sure of what we were dealing with and couldn¡¯t risk the rest of humanity succumbing to the disaster. So we had no choice but to rob them of their potential and eliminate those who had the genes to produce more true-awakened.¡± Jack furrowed his brow, there was something more, something else that Sahaqiel wasn¡¯t saying, yet the implication of her words put a heavy strain on Jack¡¯s heart. If angels and demonspawn were going to be wiped out¡­ ¡°So then if you eliminated them how is it they are back? How is it you exist?¡± The brunette cyborg asked, drawing all eyes. ¡°If the infinity machine is a computer, that means it has storage. There¡¯s a limit to how much it can hold and process. As the eons passed, the data it collected began to build up pressure, almost like a cork with it leaking. And like any machine without maintenance, it began to falter, releasing more and more of the corruptive code leading to our current situation,¡± Sahaqiel said, glossing over the woman¡¯s last question and turning to Selfia. ¡°With what I¡¯ve learned from being in a vessel of a multitude of souls, and the research obtained from the High Table, I believe we can not wipe out the demonspawn threat, but also repair the Infinity Machine so such a disaster never occurs again.¡± ¡°But to do that we need to locate where the enemy is going,¡± Selfia said as she took a cookie from Kamila handing them out to the guests. ¡°The Red Rook will have that information.¡± ¡°And if they decide to blow up their boats? Delete their intel? What then?¡± An imperial nobleman asked. ¡°If the Red Rook is brought to me alive he¡¯ll tell us everything we need to know,¡± Jack cut in, leaning on a nearby wall with his arms crossed. ¡°Torture probably isn¡¯t going to work,¡± The red-haired cyborg smirked, almost condescending as if dismissing Jack as some edgelord. ¡°It isn¡¯t torture what I do,¡± Jack replied, causing the trio of alliance delegates to look at one another in amusement. ¡°It¡¯s worst. I grab onto their soul and I read their memories. Sometimes if I don¡¯t like them, I pick out the dark bits and force them into an eternal nightmare that plays on repeat but on fast-forward. A minute to us is a hundred thousand to them, permanently reliving their worst memories until they kill themselves usually.¡± ¡°So, yeah,¡± Selfia added, chopping up the uncomfortable atmosphere, ¡°If we apprehend the Red Rook, we¡¯ll have what we need to intercept the Black King¡¯s plans.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see what we can do,¡± The red-haired cyborg said, ¡°We¡¯re still trying to stabilize things as is, many on the board think we can just wait out the crisis, most aren¡¯t even aware of the massive swarms surface side.¡± ¡°Just give us what you can. Its not like we¡¯re talking about the fate of the world after all,¡± Selfia said sarcastically before clapping her prosthetics together as Kamila rolled in a cart of food alongside Granny Cao and several of the elders of the Hoshido who gave Jack a warm smile upon seeing him, ¡°Okay! Who is hungry, lets eat while we discuss our plans.¡± Selfia turned to beckon Jack to sit beside her yet upon doing so the space he once inhabited was void, the man-turned-angel already gone with Sahaqiel nowhere to be seen as well. ¡°Great¡­ no one has any decorum,¡± Selfia sighed to herself. ¡°That went better than expected,¡± Python said, handing Selfia a plate. ¡°Maybe it would have been better to just tell him.¡± ¡°No, I know I made the right decision, he could never do what needed to be done, not when it involves family,¡± Selfia said, looking down at the steamy white rice and fish on her porcelain plate. ¡°That''s why I wanted to kill his sister before they met. To spare them the suffering.¡± Python remained silent, the dutiful soldier turning away as he eyed the delegates eating lavishly. A telltale sign to all soldiers just how fucked everything was about to become. AAS: Season 6:CH69: Final Goodbyes. AAS: Season 6:CH69: Final Goodbyes. ¡°I wish you could stay longer,¡± Ada said as Jack said goodbye to their baby son within their home crowded by Leona, Yuki, Sahaqiel, and Jack''s children. Carefully, Jack handed the baby to Ada before stepping to the side and ruffling Celeste''s head. ¡°When will I see you again?¡± Celeste asked, her mouth caked with pudding. ¡°Soon, I promise,¡± Jack said, leaning down to hug his daughter. Jack sat there for a while embracing his child who dug her head into his chest. Finally a hand reached down, touching his shoulder. ¡°It''s time Jack,¡± Sahaqiel said. Reluctantly Jack let Celeste go, standing up with a forlorn look in his eye as Leona picked up the little girl. ¡°Be safe,¡± Ada said, ¡°Will you visit Colette before you go? Did you say bye to the others?¡± ¡°No,¡± Jack said, eyeing Celeste who still didn''t know her biological mother, ¡°All of the inflicted are still in a coma so, not really any point. Everyone else is extremely busy, so...¡± Jack had seen Colette once before he ran off, knowing she was alive and being treated was enough for him. ¡°It''s okay, I understand,¡± Ada said, smiling softly at Jack who grabbed his dual blades from a nearby rack and turned towards the exit to leave. Yuki put her arm out, blocking Jack at the entrance of the door. ¡°You know you and I still have an appointment,¡± Yukino said with Jack raising a brow. ¡°Oh?¡± Jack replied, surprised by the woman''s bashfulness. ¡°Yeah, don''t think I''m out of the race yet,¡± Yuki whispered, planting a kiss on Jack''s cheek much to Ada¡¯s irritation. ¡°I''m even in therapy now!¡± ¡°Right¡­ good for you?¡± Jack replied, unsure of how to reply he opened the door, stepping out into his lawn where he was greeted to the sight of dozens of familiar faces. Mo Ye, Jin, Jiang, Min, Kwon, his grandmother with his cousins and Granny Cao, even Kenichi was there to see him off. ¡°You weren''t going to leave without saying anything were you?¡± Jiang asked, holding a baby in his arms. ¡°Well, not anymore I guess,¡± Jack said, taking hold of a bag of food packed by his Elder Cao while his grandmother handed him a heavy box of ammo for his gunblades and a bundle of blades. ¡°You come back soon, ain''t no grandson of mine going to be a deadbeat. Bad enough one son is I don''t need this to be a generational thing,¡± The old woman spat as Jack took the box of specially crafted bullets and blades, storing the spares into his storage bracelet. ¡°I don¡¯t plan to, thank you halmeoni,¡± Jack said, addressing his grandmother in her native tongue before turning to Jiang, ¡°Congratulations. What''s his name?¡±Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Jay,¡± Jiang replied triumphantly, ¡°Name him after you, after all without everything you''ve done we probably wouldn''t be here. Sick eyepatch by the way bud.¡± Jack smirked, eyeing the small human child with a tuft of brown hair and suddenly imagining his son having friends to play with. He turned his head, gazing upon the crowd of people there to see him off. People he was fighting for. ¡°Here,¡± Mo Ye said, the former black smith pushing out a cart that carried on it a suit of silver armor with red accents. ¡°Your friends Victor and Bridget aren''t half bad, they''d be here but the old man can''t get around without his walker these days.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Jack said, lifting the cuirass that felt oddly familiar. ¡°Is this-?¡± ¡°From the black metal you left behind? Yeah, blonde there helped us to purge the bad enchantments,¡± Mo Ye said, pointing a thumb at Sahaqiel, ¡°Should be the best armor you''ve ever worn if I do say so myself.¡± Jack stared at the chest plate rubbing his hands over the armor set designed by the Black King to boost his abilities. It was lightweight, soft, with black fur and armyrethium lining to disperse attacks to the chest. From inside, he could see kevlar interwoven between the chainmail and metal. Reluctantly, Jack put it on, feeling the soft armor synchronize with the tattoos on his arms that began to glow. [Keyholder LvL 3-> 4] Jack inhaled, feeling his mana pathways clear up. It wasn''t a substantial boost to his abilities, at least none that he could see, but now he at least had armor. Expert craftsmanship, paired with the nearby greaves that slipped over his boots, the silk lined metal gauntlets that bore knuckle spikes, and titanium thigh plates, Jack was now adorn in the visage of a crusading silver knight. ¡°Looking good bud,¡± Jiang whistled, ¡°I wish someone would make me armor like that for Christmas, wink-wink.¡± ¡°Shut your trap,¡± Mo Ye spat, ¡°That armor is made out of the same stuff ship hulls are made of, you could build fifty engines for me and you''d still never afford it.¡± Suddenly Bridget appeared, the tan skinned seamstress/blacksmith racing out to hand Jack a velvety red cape with a pattern of wings embroidered on its back. ¡°Oh good! Oh good I got you before you left!¡± Bridget said, out of breath and doubled over. Jack smiled, taking the cape, ¡°Thank you, it seems every time I''m heading out to something important you''re always there to properly equip me.¡± ¡°H-huh?¡± Bridget blushed, the shaking her head repeatedly before stumbling back, ¡°Ah shut up! You still owe the old man and me money for our last commission! So you better survive and come back! AH!¡± Bridget ran away, leaving Jack smiling as he donned his new cape. Jack turned his head towards Kenchi but the latter turned away, trotting off with Di¡¯luk intercepting him and dragging him away. ¡°Thank you, thank you all, I promise that I''ll fix the world,¡± Jack said before gathering his mana, rising into the air with Sahaqiel joining him. Jack and Sahaqiel floated above the city, the pair taking in the gorgeous nomadic style architecture that was so different from other cities they''d been to. From below, the citizens of Hoshido pointed upwards, gawking at the pair of winged folk hovering in the air. For the Paladins on the floating city nearby, the sight inspired them with hope, knowing that their goddess stood watching over the city. For the citizens below, awe and inspiration that their silver angel was heading to war with their banner on his back. ¡°Good luck Jack,¡± Sahaqiel said, words unable to hide her longing, ¡°I''ll stay here to defend the city and help Selfia prepare for the expedition. Whatever happens Jack, know your family is in good hands.¡± ¡°Are they though?¡± Jack replied, his words stabbing the archangel in the heart. ¡°Jack, I-¡± ¡°I forgive you Sahaqiel, but that doesn''t mean I''m just going to forget what happened. What you and Selfia did,¡± Jack said, facing away from the angel with his silver wings spreading. ¡°Even though Jill''s soul resides within me, I''ll never forget the feeling of my hand piercing her heart. Or the trauma I endured, that YOU contributed to.¡± ¡°Jack, I-¡± A sonic boom, Jack gone with a shockwave of sound left in his wake as flew away. ¡°-did it because I love you¡­¡± Sahaqiel whimpered as she closed her eyes and curled into herself. AAS: Season 6:CH70: Stand Off ¡°So. Are we going to talk about that or-?¡± Lilith said, floating alongside Jack who was soaring through the sky at incredible speed. ¡°No. I talked to her, isn''t that what you wanted?¡± Jack said, ¡°Be lucky that you''re stuck with me after being complacent with their scheme.¡± ¡°Tch, don''t get all bitchy with me because you couldn''t off your sister. Remember we did this for you, and it''s not like she''s dead, just-¡± ¡°A shell of her former self locked in an endless dream within her brother as a ghost? Even if we could restore her body and use the Infinity machine to reincarnate her, it doesn''t change the fact that she still died. That she was put through so much suffering and I myself had to be the one to kill her and suffer,¡± Jack replied, pulling out an intellipad to double check where he was going, ¡°You of all people should know what I''m feeling.¡± Lilith went silent, not speaking for a while as Jack gained altitude. ¡°Yeah well¡­ I ain''t a bitch.¡± ¡°Classy,¡± Jack replied, pausing for a moment as he surveyed the topography below teeming with demonspawn. Fortunately, he was just high enough to escape their ire. He took out a periscope, the little metal cylinder sending a signal to the assault team down below who had been waiting for hours for him outside the city limits. ¡°There, to your left by the river bank,¡± Lilith pointed out, directing Jack towards a beacon that sent an infrared signal to his periscope. ¡°Got it,¡± Jack said before descending towards the flowing water cutting through the trees beside a mountain range. Jack passed the high green canopies, landing in a dense floral forest where to the naked eye all that could be seen were bushes, boulders, and trees. But Jack knew better, his angelic eye picking out the souls of all twelve individuals hidden in the bush. ¡°Get me up to speed,¡± Jack ordered, walking forward and beckoning a soldier who was expertly hidden in the yellowing grass within her matching ghillie suit. ¡°Milord,¡± the sergeant said, rising to her feet and kneeling on one knee with her head bowed. ¡°Admiral Skirita is waiting for you at our FOB.¡± ¡°Take me to him sergeant,¡± Jack said, beckoning the NCO forward with the commandos breaking from their hiding spaces. **** Jack paused as he stood before a large opening in the mountain obscured by hanging moss. It was a vast cave, one wide enough to allow the transit of armored cars with its interior hollowed out to reveal a spacious area large enough to land VTOLs from the opening in the ceiling. Stepping into the base proper, Jack eyed the retinue of sixty or so men and women in camouflage fatigues and combat gear preparing for their assault. He could see Mech''s lined up, gen threes and gen fours lined up beside the boxy dropships that made the space cramped with four tanks taking up what little space remained. ¡°Sup,¡± Ivan said, the gunslinger in full western style hopping off an apc to greet Jack. ¡°We aren''t friends. Don''t talk to me unless it''s important,¡± Jack said, shoving the man back who attempted to wrap an arm around his shoulder. ¡°Right, fine, whatever, have a stick up your ass,¡± Ivan shrugged, walking behind Jack towards the large table set up squarely in the center of the cave. ¡°What do you have for me Admiral?¡± Jack asked, joining the gray-haired officer standing over a portable holo table reviewing the layout of Zanzibar city. One of the few imperial officers with experience sailing airborne, land, and sea ships. A man who was vital to their ongoing operation. ¡°No doubt they''re expecting us. So our plan is to hit them when the sun goes down. There''s ten ships docked at the port so our commandos will split into six man teams to seize each ship,¡± Skirita explained, drawing a raised brow from Jack. ¡°Only six soldiers to capture each ship?¡±The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Numbers alone don''t win wars-¡± ¡°No but they sure do help,¡± Ivan scoffed. ¡°-You will land on their port here, preventing their soldiers from rallying to their boats while our commandos take their ships,¡± Skirita continued, ¡°Then our main force will move to breach their city walls and pincer them between you and our tanks.¡± ¡°What''s our headcount?¡± ¡°Two hundred. One-third of which will be working to secure the boats.¡± Jack cocked his head to the parked aircraft. A small force for an entire city, albeit Zanzibar wasn''t as big as Windermere or Lunacrypt, it was still a heavily fortified base housing hundreds of troops. And that was just what they could see on the surface, there were no images of the bunker nor what personnel were onboard the boats themselves. ¡°What about the Red Rook? The rest of the army?¡± Jack asked, stroking his growing stubble. ¡°Listen close, because it''s going to be something you don''t want to hear,¡± Skirita said, staring at Jack with his withered gaze, ¡°Our objective first and foremost is the security of those boats. Without them, this entire operation is a wash. You alone is all that''s needed to protect those boats once they''re secure, the others are there to buy you and the commandos the necessary time to do so.¡± Jack flicked his tongue against the back of his teeth, understanding full well the implications of what the old officer was saying. ¡°Gotcha¡­¡± Jack said, clicking his teeth as he turned his head towards the shadows encroaching the cave entrance from the setting sun. ¡°Alright, let''s get this done.¡± **** Under the cover of darkness, hidden within the vapors of the clouds, Jack surveyed the port, watching the soldiers on duty who seldom looked up. ¡°No one ever tells you how itchy clouds are,¡± Jack groaned, putting his periscope to his eye as he waited for the signal. ¡°So that''s a boat¡­¡± Jack had never seen one before, he had heard about them of course but he expected them to look like airships, or giant landships bristling with weaponry and bays, instead, all he was left with was¡­ disappointment at their dull gray-metal appearance. How the hell are they supposed to fight off attackers? ¡°Hmm,¡± Jack could make out the outlines of the commando teams, the Selfians moving in the water like pyramnas circling their prey. ¡°Looks like it''s started.¡± Jack tuned the comlink in his ear to the commando channel below. ¡°Foxtail in position.¡± ¡°Gamma in position.¡± ¡°Silverfin in position.¡± ¡°Whiskey in position.¡± ¡°All teams synchronize¡­. Synched. Take take take.¡± ¡°See you lads on the other side.¡± Jack continued to watch as the commandos began to climb the sides of the ships like spiders, delicately but effortlessly skirting around the guards on duty and ship crew to sneak aboard. ¡°Great, now all we have to do is wait until the shooting starts,¡± Lilith snickered. ¡°Ya know, your angst was cute at first but you''re starting to get on my nerves.¡± ¡°Oh? Now you know how it feels. If you keep your end of the bargain we won''t be bothering each other much longer.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Jack said as he sighed. ¡°How''s Ruby?¡± ¡°Sleeping. Give it another day and she¡¯ll be usable.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Jack replied, suddenly feeling guilty that he couldn¡¯t let the ghost spend time with her twin while they were at home. Jack continued to watch the city below, eyeing the groups of High Table soldiers transporting supplies and materials, unaware of the Selfian infiltration. Or, perhaps they were aware and didn¡¯t care? Despite the smuggler¡¯s base being twenty miles away, and precautions taken, Jack didn¡¯t put it above the High Table to be expecting them. A few minutes passed, six to be exact with Jack looking down at the chronogear on his wrist that felt as though time was at a stand still. Ten minutes. Twelve. All ten teams of six were being asked to secure ten one-hundred-and-fifty-meter ships in fifteen or less. The ideal time was set to ten minutes, but they had already surpassed that by two. ¡°Silverfin, bridge and crew secured.¡± ¡°Lancer, bridge and crew subdued.¡± Jack let out a breath as the teams began to radio in. Suddenly sirens, one of the ships blaring its horn before an explosion ripped the vessel apart. ¡°Shit,¡± Jack let out, the entire base up in arms as the boat exploded. Immediately Jack¡¯s ear was bombarded by the commandos checking in, each team leader attempting to piece together the sudden break in the midnight quiet. Jack moved, dive-bombing the port as floodlights began to coat the air with the sounds of shouts and screams. Landing on the dock, Jack sent his feathers out, snuffing out the guards moving towards the ships to investigate as the base alarms began to blare. ¡°Well¡­ so much for the quiet way,¡± Jack grumbled, weaving a dome of wind to protect the boats as whistling sounds were heard. Suddenly mortars started to strike the city with artillery barrages sent out to soften the defenses as Skirita¡¯s assault began. ¡°Strike teams report in, what happened?!¡± Jack sent, breaking radio silence to demand an update to why a boat had exploded. ¡°Sir! This is Whiskey-One, we¡¯ve got bombs all across the reactor room!¡± ¡°Foxtail-One here, IEDs located in the bunkbeds. Wires stretching around the ship!¡± Jack frowned, a sinking feeling bubbling up within as he realized this¡­ was a trap. AAS: Season 6:CH71: Check Jack clenched his teeth as another ship exploded in a fireball. This was a trap, a ruse meant to lure the Selfians out. Or, at least he believed so as the commandos aboard the floating coffins raced to disarm the bombs. Spinning to face the oncoming horde of enemies, Jack erected a barrier of swirling wind, blocking the hail of gunfire with gale forces that began to rock the boats. Seeing their bullets be ineffective, several High Table workers rushed Jack, one armed with a wrench and another a knife. Jack shook his head, decapitating one man while the other he grabbed by the face, and held the squirming man aloft as he settled his gaze on the soldiers rushing towards him. ¡°If you don''t want to die,¡± Jack said, crushing the man''s head and coating himself in a fresh veneer of red viscera. ¡°Surrender. This is your only chance.¡± The situation was outside Jack''s control now, all he could do was hope the commandos stopped the bombs and kill everyone that attempted to stop them. Of course the High Table goons didn''t surrender, instead they raced forward, charging Jack who merely sighed and readied his hand to unleash a blade of wind that would kill the angry mob. ¡°Enough.¡± A high pitched squeak cut through the battlefield, a prelude before a singular word from a deep voice ordered the men to stand down. ¡°Welcome to Zanzibar your Majesty, would you refrain from killing my men?¡± Jack narrowed his eye, hand outstretched with a swirl of mana ready to wipe out the crowd before him. He turned his head to the left, focusing on the camera that was focused on him. ¡°And I don''t?¡± Jack raised a brow. ¡°I''ll hit the detonator in my hand and destroy every ship docked in the port. Call off your attack.¡± Jack clicked his teeth, waiting for a moment before reaching up to his ear piece. ¡°Admiral Skirita, halt your attack,¡± Jack said, giving the order as Selfian aircraft appeared in the distance. ¡°What?¡± The officer replied back over the sound of tank tracks. ¡°The boats are rigged to blow, call off your attack!¡± Jack barked as the Selfian gunships drew closer. Silence. For a moment Jack was concerned that the admiral would disregard him but as the Selfian wyvern fighter craft soared overhead without releasing their payload, Jack knew the Admiral had heeded his order. ¡°Now what? What''s the point of this trap?¡± Jack asked, staring at the camera. ¡°To meet you of course,¡± The Red Rook said, stepping from out of the crowd to stand before Jack with an army of his followers at his back. At fix-six, the Rook wasn''t impressively tall, nor was he physically intimidating, instead, to Jack''s eye, he appeared to be just an average man in an officer¡¯s uniform with cybernetics and no mana core. Yet despite his lack of magical talent, he stood before Jack with a detonator in his robotic hand. ¡°Well?¡± Jack asked, locking gazes with the man. ¡°Hm. You look a lot like him,¡± Dorian Jazz said, standing a foot away from Jack, ¡°So, you are the one who killed Cynthia.¡± ¡°The gold queen? Yeah, I killed her,¡± Jack said, watching as the red rook held the detonator with its glowing button out. ¡°Amazing isn''t it? The fate of the world determined by a button and powerful as you are, I, a mortal man hold you captive,¡± Jazz said he turned, exposing his back to Jack, and walked towards a soldier who took the detonator. ¡°What has the Black King promised you? Why do you still fight?¡± Jack asked, his angel eye picking up a mana flare in the distance from Ivan who was watching them through his scope. ¡°What makes you all so loyal to him?¡± ¡°Loyal to him?¡± Jazz turned, taking off his officer¡¯s coat to reveal a muscular physique laced with metal. ¡°That is where you¡¯re wrong, King of the Empire. Every man, every woman, every soldier that you see before you belongs to neither nation nor organization. The people you see are the scorned, the forgotten, the ones abandoned by our nations for profit and greed. We are survivors.¡± Jack eyed the tattoo of a staff and blade on the man¡¯s heart, the symbol of the Solomon expedition. ¡°Who work for a madman,¡± Jack said, narrowing his eye at the man who had an air of authority to him. A man that reminded him of Hoffman.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°Who gave us purpose, opportunity, a chance to build a paradise for soldiers after we were abandoned,¡± Jazz said as a pair of soldiers carried and set down a large crate beside the man. ¡°But of course, we were used¡­lied to just like you were. As monarchs do.¡± Jack could detect the mana within the large box, the type of signature indicative of an enchanted item. ¡°So, what''s the deal here? You set this trap to regale me with a sob story? You being lied to isn''t an excuse for the atrocities committed, the suffering done to the world and the families lost. Look around you, is this hellacape a paradise you?¡± ¡°You are right,¡± Jazz said as one of his subordinates handed him a crowbar that he used to open the crate and reveal a large silver buster blade. ¡°But you kill too when it suits your needs.¡± Jack stared at the man, doing his best to ignore the Admiral in his ear as the crowd produced a table with various melee weapons layed out. ¡°Anyway, enough of that,¡± The Rook said, lifting the massive slab that swirled with energy. On the blade, a visible inscription of a stylized dragon baring its fangs, ¡°Let¡¯s get down to business. I wish to have a duel.¡± ¡°A duel?¡± Jack repeated, brow raised. ¡°Yes, a duel. A fight to the death. You took someone from me, someone extremely precious which, I suppose is fair given all that you''ve lost,¡± Jazz said, ¡°An eye for an eye. So I am slaved to my emotions to fight you. No powers, no mana, just skill.¡± ¡­ ¡°Is he serious?¡± Lilith laughed. ¡°And if I break your rules I assume you''ll destroy the boats?¡± Jack replied, eye turned to the table filled by weapons. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°And what guarantee that I have that you won''t just blow up the boats? That your subordinates won''t do so once I kill you?¡± The Rook smiled, ¡°You have only my word. However, if you do triumph over me, I only ask that you spare the lives of my men as prisoners of war.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Jack said, flexing his hand before approaching the table filled with enchanted weapons. Jack grabbed a short sword, a gladius that was small comparative to the massive sword held by the Rook. From the intricate carvings and runes etched across it, he could tell it was enchanted long before he felt the energy of the weapon. [Broken Gladius of Achilles] -Error. ¡°Well¡­ let''s go,¡± Jack said, shooting off the ground, his blade smacking against the massive enchanted weapon that moved to bear the brunt of his attack. ¡°Tch!¡± Jazz let out, the great sword absorbing the brunt of Jack''s strength. Jazz roared, the grey-haired brunette slashing at Jack with the blade unleashing a wave of kinetic energy that sent Jack back. ¡°This is Gram, the legendary blade said to have been used to exterminate dragons,¡± Jazz said, holding the great sword out, ¡°It empowers and protects its wielder, absorbing kinetic force and either storing it or unleashing it against aggressors. A direct confrontation is ill-advised.¡± Jack eyed the black-edge blade, the legendary artifact dangerous to awakened. ¡°Say the word and I''ll dome him. All ya gotta do is secure the detonator,¡± Ivan said, whispering in Jack''s ear through their shared COM-LINK. Jack''s eye shifted to the man holding the detonator, an easy task if they timed it correctly. But then what of the crew? What of the men and women under the Rook¡¯s command who stared at him. Easy, he''d just have to kill them all. Jack considered it for a moment, how easily he could massacre everyone here. ¡°No,¡± Jack said, pulling the COM-LINK from his ear much to a confused Jazz who raised a brow. ¡°I have a sniper positioned on a hill who''s very keen on taking you out. Dorian Jazz, I, Jack Knight, accept your duel.¡± This put a small smile on the Rook''s face. ¡°I, am Dorian Jazz of the High¡­ of the Lost Battalion. I stand before you, with blade aloft, my heart aflame, to face you, King of the empire.¡± Jack charged forward, slashing at the man with expert aim learned from his hardships, but Jazz was no slouch, the old officer using Gram¡¯s auto defensive features and his cybernetics to keep up with Jack who''s movements began to pick up. The Red Rook activated Gram, sending a shockwave through Jack who merely clenched his jaw and continued his assault, working through the constant feedback of kinetic energy. Between the pair, blurs and sparks, the very air heating up from the two clashing as the Red Rook¡¯s body visibly tore and bled from every orifice. First it was his left arm, the cybernetic tearing from his flesh as he held onto Gram. Then it was his eyes, the strain exploding the blood vessels within. And lastly, the man''s shoulders and waist, the rapid shift in movement tearing away the skin and fastened metal to reveal bleeding flesh and torn muscles. Finally, the pair separated, the Red Rook still standing despite his body falling apart. ¡°Tell me¡­ did Cynthia suffer?¡± The old officer asked. Jack adjusted his blade, his body already regenerating what little damage was done to him by the feedback of gram, ¡°It was over very quickly.¡± Of course this was a lie, he had dragged the Gold Queen screaming through the city after crippling the woman before depositing her on the ruins of his old apartment and feeding her to the demonspawn. But the Rook didn''t know that. Or maybe he did. Either way, it didn''t matter as Jack stood over the man''s bleeding body. ¡°The problem with autonomous weapons is that they only protect you if they can react,¡± Jack said as the Red Rook lay crumpled over with his arm missing and Jack holding the Gram aloft. ¡°Seems I''m too fast now.¡± The Red Rook chuckled, bleeding profusely, a normal man who stood against a demi-god. Jack spun, holding the Gram aloft with both hands as the crowd surprisingly made no attempt to stop the execution. There were looks in the eyes of the gathered soldiers, fear, hesitation, anger. But they made no move to resist as the Rook simply smiled at his soldiers. For a moment, Jack considered the idea of sparing the man, but¡­ he knew what the Rook had been complicit to, what the Rook had done in raising an army in the Archangel Michael''s name. He had to die. ¡°Any last words?¡± Jack said, his new weapon held aloft. ¡°None¡­ only¡­ that you spare my men,¡± Jazz wheezed, turning his head and nodding to his officer who disarmed the detonator. ¡°Do this, and everything you need to know will be on my desk.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Jack said before he brought the blade down. AAS: Season 6:CH72: Introspection Jack exhaled, his eye reflecting the flames of the pyre that lay drifting at sea. ¡°So¡­ that''s the ocean¡­ thought it''d be more¡­¡± Jack muttered, stroking his chin as the soldiers of the Red Rook paid their respects to their fallen leader. Nearby, observing the spectacle, several Selfian soldiers murmuring in disgust with one loudly saying ¡°Bullshit¡± before storming off. ¡°Is there a reason you waste time doing this?¡± Lilith said, arms crossed and watching the display. ¡°That man was your enemy. A monster. Why give him a burial at all?¡± Jack narrowed his eyes, observing the men and woman with a myriad of emotions that belonged to the Solomon expeditions. He was a soldier. A puppet much like Hoffman. In the end his last thought was about his men and the people he led. He may have been my enemy, but he made an honorable request and kept his end of the deal, Jack sent as Admiral Skirita rolled into the town uncontested with his mechanized division. This much, I can do. **** ¡°Eight destroyer-class boats, three cruisers in drydock, and over two thousand in prisoners,¡± Skirita reported, ¡°Commander Houlihan is organizing them but overall not a bad haul with only twelve casualties.¡± Jack sat at the Red Rook¡¯s desk, holding a wooden picture frame of the officer beside a familiar face of a woman Jack had killed. He put the picture down, reaching over the manilla desk to grab the stationary marred by neat lettering. In the letter, a synopsis explaining the Red Rook¡¯s misplaced faith in the Black King and love for his soldiers and the Gold Queen. In it, cited the reasons behind his ideology, his dream to make the world a better place, and his distraught about being abandoned by the crown and powerlessness to save his lover. Some of the same things he noted in Jena¡¯s journal. She was another of this Lost battalion, another citizen failed by their nation and emboldened by the Rook and the Black King and fed dreams of change. Another group failed by those in charge. Oddly, the Rook didn''t blame Jack, rather, he accepted his fate as simply¡­ a bad hand. To Jack, despite clearing the board of every other piece, all he felt was hollow, as though he had achieved a pyrrhic victory. Jack sighed, placing the letter back on the desk, ¡°What are our plans to deal with the prisoners?¡± ¡°My recommendation? Execution, we line them up and be done with them,¡± Skirita said nonchalantly as he eyed the Rook¡¯s liquor collection.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Out of the question.¡± ¡°Right, of course, in the interim, your orders?¡± Jack exhaled, of course he could let Selfia be the one to make the call, but Jack was the one who had said he would spare the Rook''s men, and they had withheld their end of the bargain and disarmed their detonator. But then again, was this another ruse of the Black King? Was the archangel Micheal yet again another step ahead of him with the Rook sacrificed? Jack closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. No. No matter what he couldn''t be paranoid. All he could do was to keep on keeping on. Even if the path led to hell. ¡°Is there any way we can use them? They''re skilled sailors, battle hardened soldiers,-¡± ¡°And also traitors,¡± Skirita said, placing a shot glass on the table from the Rook''s collection and pouring some form of clear liquor for himself and Jack. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t need to tell you that employing them in any capacity is a volatile security risk. Here, drink this, it''ll take the edge off.¡± ¡°Bit early to be drinking admiral. Plus I''m awakened, alcohol doesn''t do much,¡± Jack said, eyeing the clear liquor that had no smell. ¡°At a hundred and ninety-two proof, I''d hope it does,¡± Skirita scoffed, holding the bottle aloft to the light. ¡°Normally you''d use a mixer for this but this¡¯ll give you-¡± Jack downed the shot in one go, drawing a look from the admiral, -right. Guess not, son.¡± Jack sighed, ¡°What''s Selfia''s take on this?¡± ¡°She doesn''t care what happens to them so long as they don''t prove a threat. Until we can vet them, she prefer we keep them away from the boats while we disarm the IEDs aboard them.¡± ¡°Why ask for my opinion if you already have your orders?¡± ¡°I¡¯m under no orders other than to secure the boats and the city. If you wish the prisoners to be spared, then so be it, milord,¡± Skirita said before pocketing a bottle of alcohol as his COM-LINK beeped, ¡°Her Majesty will be here tomorrow, if you have need of me, I¡¯ll be inspecting the ships.¡± Jack nodded, turning his head to the window that overlooked the port and sea as the admiral left. ¡°Lilith,¡± Jack said, drawing the specter out who appeared with her legs crossed where Skirita once sat. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°How sure are you that Jill can be restored?¡± Jack asked. ¡°As sure as I am that you can restore me. If there wasn''t any merit to your proposal I wouldn''t be putting up with your ass. You were the one that suggested it after all. Why? Are you having doubts now?¡± ¡°I''m not. To be honest when I made the offer I was bluffing, grasping at straws,¡± Jack chuckled, drawing a glare from Lilith. ¡°Unbelievable¡­¡± ¡°But you say it''s possible, and Sahaqiel thinks so too, I just want to know that at the end of all this, some good will come.¡± Jack opened the drawer of the Red Rook''s desk and reached in, pulling out a pack of cigars. ¡°Whoa! Hey! Don''t smoke that, don''t you know that''s my body too?!¡± Lilith spat as Jack lit up a cigar. ¡°Why do you care?¡± Jack said, taking a long drag of a cigar that was sweet to the taste. ¡°It''s not like it harms us.¡± ¡°Yeah! But it smells! Put it out!¡± ¡°Go find me some tea and I''ll put it out.¡± Lilith scowled, her head shaking with frustration but ultimately disappearing. Jack continued to stare out the window, observing as the prisoners were marched down the street by Selfian commandos. Outnumbered ten to one, if a revolt happened they could easily overpower the Selfian vanguard. Suddenly, a chill, a sensation Jack knew all too well. An Apostle was near. Jack sighed, rising from his chair to reach over and pick up the massive greatsword that lay propped against the wall. ¡°Well, I guess it''s time we tested you out,¡± Jack said as his system interface lit up, connecting him to the enchanted weapon known as Gram. AAS: Season 6:CH73: Gram ¡°Admiral, I''ll be stepping out for a bit,¡± Jack said as he passed the man speaking to a familiar blonde officer. ¡°Your Majesty,¡± Commander Houlihan bowed, nodding to Jack who continued on his way. ¡°Sir?¡± Skirita said, eyeing the massive blade on Jack''s shoulder. ¡°There''s an Apostle nearby, finish securing the boats, I''ve got to test out a new toy,¡± Jack said before spreading his silver wings and taking flight before the admiral could stop him. Above the port, Jack narrowed his eye, sensing a strong presence east of the city. ¡°Lots of demonspawn, a horde led by agents and an Apostle.¡± ¡°Great,¡± Jack said, drawing mana to himself as he twirled the massive two handed blade before firmly holding the great sword in his hand. [COMPATIBLE HEAVENLY HOST DETECTED!] [GRADE/S: ANCESTRAL ARTIFACT] [Artifact Name: Gram] [PROFICIENCY: ???] [Skill: Guard Charge] [Skill: Empower] [Skill: ???] [Skill: ???] [Skill ???] [DESC]: A prototype blade crafted by the blacksmith Wayland to imitate the legendary Dandelga. When charged with flame affinity, the blade¡¯s core ignites, boosting all fire related abilities and intensifying their use.] [CLAIM OWNERSHIP? >Y/N?] Jack tapped on Y, the weapon¡¯s skills immediately joining with his growing list of abilities as he took off towards the ominous presence. It wasn''t long before Jack spotted the horde, the crowd of swirling black masses spreading across the landscape like a cancerous infestation. ¡°Seems like the swarms are getting worse.¡± There were hundreds, maybe even thousands, however, the sight of which were a common occurrence that Jack was all but familiar with. ¡°Let''s say hello,¡± Jack said, his body radiating with golden energy as arcs of red lightning cackled around him. Jack put his hand out, daybreak at his back, the clouds above began to swirl, twisting to his will as those from Zanzibar looked on with awe at the storm gathering in the distance. Fortunately, he was quite a distance away so his battle shouldn''t affect the port too much. ¡°Answer me, O¡¯ storm,¡± Jack muttered, the gathering air discharging violent electricity that moved at Jack''s direction to shatter the earth. The results were immediate devastation. ¡°ARRRRROH!¡± The howl of a damned beast echoed, drawing Jack''s eye to the headless knight with blue flames billowing from her body. Athena. ¡°Seems like she regenerated faster than I had hoped¡­¡± Jack frowned, realizing he hadn''t purged enough of her code to completely destroy the demonspawn apostle regurgitated by the Infinity Machine. However, it wasn''t that she had reappeared that irked Jack but rather the fact that she wasn''t alone. A winged being covered head to toe im white chitinous material stood beside the black armored knight. His imposing form towering over the sentient dullahan who appeared more like a teenager playing dress up beside the man. It pointed at Jack. ¡°Shit¡­¡± Jack let out, realizing why he hadn''t felt the apostle. It was compressing it¡¯s energy, the mana it let out barely a flicker in the wind but from looks alone, Jack could instinctually feel his aura. ¡°Judgement, be upon thee,¡± A low voice laced with a simmering rage that took Jack by surprise. ¡°Ah fuc-¡± Immediately invisible claws wrapped around Jack''s body, dragging him to the earth in an uncontrolled plummet as hordes of surviving demonspawn pounced onto their quarry. For a moment, Skirita held his breath, the old officer watching from a periscope as his King was buried beneath hordes of monsters. ¡°Houlihan! Spin up the wyvern jets, have our mechs ready to deploy and our soldiers on the up!¡± Skirita barked with the officer racing off and yelling into her radio as Skirita went back to observe the battle. Jack roared, unleashing a blast of electricity that swirled around his sword emolated by fira that disintegrated his assailants into motes of black dust.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Standing there in the smoldering field, Jack rose to his feet, glaring at the monsters that balked upon making eye contact. Hesitation. Fear. Two things believed to be impossible for the primal creatures made of shredded souls. But that was false, the fact that the swarm snarled and skittered around Jack was proof of that. The headless knight known as Athena held her hand upward in its black-clawed hands, her mouth elongating to let out a shrill shriek that spurred the demons forward. Jack lifted Gram, his hands arcing with lightning that imbued the great sword as he swung. Devastation. The front wave eliminated by a slash of electricity shot out in an arc. ¡°Huh¡­ I could get used to this,¡± Jack smirked, admiring the weapon before his focus shifted back to the two apostles. ¡°You. Are not Sahaqiel¡­¡± The apostle in white chitinous armor growled while his friend continued to shriek, no doubt a loss of intellect since her last run in with Jack. ¡°Sorry to disappoint,¡± Jack said, gripping his weapon as he prepared his silver feathers. Suddenly spikes, bone-like material erupting from the ground aimed at Jack that was blocked by his silver wings. He pivoted, taking to the sky, his eye picking up traces of overwhelming mana as the bone knight spoke. ¡°Judgement.¡± Jack was immediately blasted back, thankfully the shield formed around his body from his wings blocked the spikes erupting from the ground. Bouncing away from the stakes of bone, a gout of flames greeted Jack, the blue heat caught by one wing while his other took the burnt of more chitinous spears rising from the earth. ¡°SCREEE!¡± A scream, a nest agent leaping at him from behind. Flapping his wings Jack allowed the two apostle attacks to clash, pushing his way backward into the nest agent that flew over his shoulders. On solid ground, Jack spun, grabbing an oncoming nest guardian¡¯s fist and crushing it before twisting and yanking, pulling the monster close and driving his fist through the bird-faced monster¡¯s beak and out its neck. Jack latched his hand onto the back of the monster¡¯s skull, spinning and using the corpse to take the brunt of the ghastly flames spewed at him by the dullahan. ¡°Lilith, keep the small fry busy!¡± Jack ordered as his left wing broke off, the feathers under Lilith¡¯s control who began harassing Athena so Jack could face the skeletal knight. ¡°Shit!¡± Jack shifted his head, avoiding the bone spear before ducking beneath the apostle¡¯s weapon as it spread its calcified wings. ¡°Damn!¡± Jack hissed, moving Gram, the two-handed weapon blocking the skeletal wings stabbing at him as more nest agents converged on him. In response, Jack activated repulse and energize while imbuing Gram, the weapon¡¯s innate force absorption, causing the blade to visibly hum with power as he blasted his surroundings. Pivoting on his feet, Jack swung upwards, unleashing a wave of electricity as he took flight to escape the skeletal spears rising from the earth. ¡°Do you ever fuck off?!¡± Jack spat, twirling his weapon and bisecting a nest agent in half before slamming the sword into the earth to send a wave of wind that split the column of blue fire aimed at him. Jack let Gram go, grabbing the crawling torso on the ground and draining it before summoning a gunblade from his storage bracelet. Throwing the shriveled corpse away, Jack opened fire repeatedly at the skeletal apostle who caught the first round with its mana barrier before the second one punched through, allowing the first bullet to explode. A small trick, one used to counter awakened by firing a delayed HE round before shattering the mana barrier with an armyretheium-tipped bullet to catch the awakened by surprise. Sadly, Jack wasn¡¯t greeted by an exploded corpse, instead out of the smoke came a hail of bones that broke from the apostle¡¯s wings to chase Jack. Fortunately, Lilith was there, countering the barrage by taking control of Jack¡¯s right wing and sending the feathers to clash against the deadly chitin in a show of sparks as Jack picked up Gram and threw it at Athena. The dullahan effortlessly avoided it, tilting its body and allowing the massive blade to soar past. But Jack wasn¡¯t done, he wrapped the buster blade with telekinetic hold, pulling the sword towards him to smack Athena in her flank as he activated dash and summoned the kaldr hammer he had regulated to an emergency teleport item. Athena¡¯s body immediately ignited, its ghastly face held out to greet Jack who smacked the dullahan¡¯s wrist away and closed the distance. ¡°CALL LIGHTNING!¡± Jack barked, activating the weapon¡¯s skill he struck the apostle squarely in the chest, planting the old-world goddess into the earth with a thunderous crash of lightning. -56 HP Jack¡¯s jaw clenched, his eye wide, the proximity of such a skill charring the side of his face. ¡°WATCH OUT!¡± Jack spun, instinctually lifting the hammer to deflect the chitin spear that pierced his shoulder and sent him rolling backwards. [-14 HP] [WARNING! ERROR! COrru-] Jack dismissed the notification, already feeling the corruption attempting to take root in his dislocated shoulder as his enemies gathered together. ¡°Judgement, be upon thee.¡± Those words, the same pressure, invisible claws that reached up to pull Jack down. Yet this time he was prepared, he swiped, activating Gehenna, the power canceling the enemy skill and allowing Jack to regather his feathers to form a shield against the torrent of flames. ¡°Shit! It¡¯s bad enough fighting one of them!¡± Jack hissed angrily, wishing Ruby was healed or Sahaqiel there to help micromanage this fight. If he had time. A moment of surprise. Maybe he could- ¡°RETREAT! GET OUT OF THERE!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Wide-eyed, Jack backpedaled at the sound of the voice from his COM-LINK, allowing him to dodge as the whir of machine guns and explosions coated the air. Two wyvern aircraft flew overhead, dropping their payload on the swarm as a multitude of IFVs and tanks opened fire at the apostles. With this momentary reprieve, Jack caught his breath, summoning Gram towards himself as the two apostles turned their attention towards the imperial guard. One jet made another pass, opening up with its 30mm machine guns that shredded the mana barriers of the apostles and forcing the chiten-knight to conjure a carapace of bone to protect itself as Athena roared and melted the bullets. In response the apostle clad in bone launched a spear, striking the jet clearly that turned the state-of-the-art aircraft into a plum of trailing fiery debris. I guess this is my chance. Jack said to himself, watching the pilots ejection seat shoot into the sky. ¡°Lilith¡­ come to me,¡± Jack hissed, feeling the woman¡¯s innate rage bubbling up within himself, the spiritron of the fallen spirit rising behind Jack and drawing the apostles¡¯ attention. Made manifest, Lilith¡¯s form attached to Jack¡¯s body, forming murky ink-like tentacles that spread out as she sunk into Jack with their bodies merging. As one, Jack stood with Gram in both hands, his back adorned with six raven and silver wings, his skin alight with runes as the air danced with lightning. ¡°Die.¡± A singular word uttered by Jack, his voice laced with calm rage as his wings flapped and he vanished. The earth below him split, the barrier of sound broken. With energize, dash, gehenna, and his own strength pushing against the earth, Jack slashed, delivering an attack only possible thanks to surprise, distraction, and support by the Imperial guard. AAS: Season 6:CH74: Strength Attracts Strength Athena fell to the ground, the apostle turned into a humanoid porcupine from the silver and black feathers littering her corpse. Jack lifted its writhing head aloft, the pale skin monster still spewing flames that were snuffed by the fingers crushing its skull. ¡°You¡­¡± The chiten-covered knight let out, the apostle cut cleanly in half from shoulder to waist and glaring at Jack calmly despite its grievous wound. ¡°Strength attracts strength¡­ We will come for you, deviant. You have our attention.¡± Jack stood over the apostle, catching the bone spear that suddenly erupted from the ground with his hand. Before Jack was an angel, a being he vaguely recognized from what lingered of Sahaqiel''s memory. Without his bone helmet, he was pale of skin with red eyes and a face that was covered by healed scars. A warrior that spurred in a feeling of regret and loss, lingering emotions from his Archangel guest. Maybe Sahaqiel knew who this man once was. But Jack didn''t. ¡°And how is that working out for you?¡± Jack said before raising his boot and dropping his heel on the monster¡¯s face. ¡°We are immor-¡± And like that another apostle was dead. Reaching out, Jack gathered the ambient data to himself, contesting the call of the Infinity machine with Lilith deleting the information of what remained of the Apostles souls. This time he didn''t half ass it, instead Jack checked and double checked as a circle of a hundred feet around him became gray and clean, completely devoid of life. After a moment Jack''s shoulders slumped, out of breath as he took stock of his destroyed surroundings and his black feathers melted away. ¡°Is there a reason you didn''t help?¡± Jack spat as he tried his attention to the jingle of spurs on boots that belonged to Ivan. ¡°What? You didn''t notice the lack of nest agents attacking you?¡± Ivan chuckled much to Jack''s chagrin. ¡°Losing your grip bud.¡± Jack elected to ignore Ivan. ¡°Sir,¡± Commander Houlihan said, standing beside Jack with a radio receiver held out. ¡°Her Majesty the Queen.¡± Jack blinked, rubbing the sweat from his brow before looking up at the sky where a fleet of airships hung in the distance before taking the phone. ¡°Couldn¡¯t have gotten here quicker?¡± Jack said, sitting down to catch his breath, his heart pounding as his left eye bled beneath his eyepatch. **** Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°We''re on a time table,¡± Sahaqiel said in the mayor office now crowded by Jack, Selfia, Mi¡¯shka, Python, Tenno, and various officers from the Empire, Theocracy, and the Corpo Alliance. ¡°Who Jack fought was Raguil, an overseer who manages other apostles. If he is active that means more apostles will be waking up and they''ll get stronger, sooner or later we''ll be staring down anti-army skills.¡± ¡°But Jack just killed him, deleted its data so we shouldn''t have to worry about him right?¡± Python asked as Sahaqiel shook her head. ¡°It''s not that simple. The infinity machine employs copies of its strongest warriors. Even if you defeat or delete a copy, it will regurgitate a new clone. We found this out the hard way when we imprisoned Ares and severed his connection to the machine.¡± ¡°So what stops the machine from spitting out clones?¡± Selfia asked, the woman already making the room her office space as Di''luke and Kamila brought in her boards and monitors. ¡°Protocols as far as we can tell. We ended up having to deal with two Ares and that became a bloodbath,¡± Sahaqiel sighed. ¡°Then we''ll just beat them as they come,¡± Tenno gave off a hearty laugh, ¡°After all one-eyed over here beat not one but two-¡± ¡°I got lucky and I had support,¡± Jack cut in, dashing the man¡¯s hopeful words. ¡°Athena wasn''t at full strength and Raguil said that they were coming. We are running out of time, which leads me to my next question, how close until we can launch the boats?¡± A question directed at Admiral Skirita. ¡°Seven days we can have them out to sea. Admittedly most of our crewmen and troops aren''t trained for naval warfare or how to operate -¡± ¡°Then use the prisoners,¡± Jack said, drawing a look from several commanders. ¡°I understand it''s not ideal, I know that they present a security risk, but out of how many awakened we have, how many can stand against an apostle? Thirteen? Fourteen? All it takes is one slip up and we''re down a man while the enemy keeps on coming back.¡± ¡°We can''t trust them,¡± Selfia dismissed. ¡°But what if we could? What if I asked for volunteers and ascertained whether or not they could be useful?¡± ¡°And how do you plan on doing that? What makes you think they''d follow you after you killed their beloved general?¡± ¡°For the same reason they aren''t rebelling now, they want purpose,¡± Jack said as he drew odd looks and placed Jena and Jazz¡¯s notebook and letter in front of Selfia, ¡°I believe we can give them that.¡± ¡°Your mind ripping thing?¡± ¡°Something like that,¡± Jack said before turning to Commander Houlihan, ¡°Gather the prisoners, I think it''s time we had a chat. Skirita, I need scouts to survey the field and make sure no apostles interrupt us while we get the boats together. Tenno and Ivan, go with them to defend the walls. Lita, have your paladins on standby with the prisoners. Just in case things don''t plan out, Python, go with Houlihan and have the troops on standby, I want no surprises.¡± Silence. ¡°Well? You heard your King, get to it,¡± Selfia barked, waving the officers off. ¡°Go!¡± ¡°Anything you need us to do?¡± The red-headed cyborg from the Alliance asked. ¡°Sorry, I don''t think we''ve actually been introduced?¡± Jack said, cocking his head towards Selfia. ¡°I''m Ryoma, this is Harley, and Bax,¡± The red-haired man said, extending a robotic hand out to Jack, ¡°We did some odd jobs for the Queen, I believe our fathers were friends.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Jack said, his eye wandering to the brunette cyborg named Harley. Then it clicked, this woman was there in the vault when he last saw his mother! Which meant she was resistance. Guess that''s how Selfia knew so much about the Corpos. ¡°We¡¯re pretty handy, so if you need anything just ask,¡± Ryoma continued. ¡°If you''re handy then help Admiral Skirita with the boats and the IEDs. The sooner we get them sorted the better,¡± Jack said with the man giving him a mock salute before leaving with his cohort. Now Jack was left in the office with Selfia, Sahaqiel and Violet, the bodyguard in the corner of the spacious office staring at Jack while Kamila and Di¡¯luk went to work hooking up Selfia''s office. ¡°Well, let''s see what you have planned, milord,¡± Selfia said as she leaned across her desk with a smirk on her face. AAS: Season 6:CH75: The Con ¡°That''s the worst part, we were lied to. Not once, but twice. When we came home all the laurels, accolades, and praise meant nothing. We had no war, no expedition, no purpose. And in the end we were abandoned by our nations that had brought us together. Then the Black King came, his honey words guiding us and giving us a cause even though he himself was the reason we lost all our support. A fact I had come to learn of too late. But what was I to do? Entrapped by love, held captive by narcissism, and imprisoned by honor¡­ What was I to do?¡±- Excerpt from the Journal of General Dorian Jazz. AAS: Season 6:CH75: The Con Standing before the crowd of a thousand dissidents, Jack inhaled, sweeping his gaze across the men and women of the Lost battalion who waited for what they presumed to be their fate from the man on the hastily crafted podium. Gathered around the prisoners, a contingent of Lita''s paladins with Superbia in heavy armor standing at the forefront. Joining them were several samurai led by Min while imperial soldiers watched from afar. ¡°Soldiers of the Solomon expeditions¡­ you know of me, as I know of you,¡± Jack said, staring at the crowd as the winds carried his voice to the entire city, ¡°So I will keep this brief. You have been labeled as enemies of the world. Traitors of humanity abandoned by your false prophet and led astray by leaders who sought to turn your grief and pain into instruments of chaos. Simply put, you. Were. Deceived.¡± Jack paused, allowing his words to wash over the stirring crowd. ¡°But does this mean you are not capable of redemption? Does this mean you must be put down like dogs?¡± Jack continued, stifling his sudden urge to wipe out the crowd. ¡°No. General Jazz sought to spare your lives, to give you such a chance so you could make a home for yourselves. To give you purpose! A desire I know too well. But what have you done in your dogmatic pursuit of a home? In your quest for recognition? The evidence lies around you. Look at the sky, the sea, the earth, the blight and horrors that roam this land. You. Have caused this. You, have poisoned this world, ruining any hope of our future children to flourish-¡± Jack stepped from the podium, walking between the crowd of prisoners much to the dismay of most gathered as it was an action a noble simply didn''t do. ¡°-any hope of change, but¡­ you have the power to fix that future, make amends for your past. Steer the course of humanity away from damnation IF, you lend us your strength,¡± Jack paused, standing before a common brunette man with brown eyes in overalls who held no mana. Jack removed his eyepatch, brandishing his corrupted blind eye for the gathered men to witness his scar. ¡°If, you become not an instrument of chaos, but of salvation. Will you be that instrument?¡± The soldier dry swallowed, looking away, unable to stare into Jack''s eyes. Then much to every imperial¡¯s shock, Jack did something that flustered the dock worker. He knelt. ¡°I, King of the Empire, beseech your aid.¡± Silence, the workers shaken, imperial and guardsmen alike dumbfounded at the display of a royal bending the knee. But of course Jack didn''t care, this was all a ruse, a ploy to tug at the heartstrings of those he needed in order to accomplish his goals. A con to trick those he needed. ¡°Will you help us save the world?¡± Jack asked, looking up at the man. ¡°Y-yes, your Majesty!¡± The man shouted, his eyes alight with a spark of hope in a hopeless situation. Jack didn''t know if it was because the man genuinely bought his ruse, or if he hoped by doing so Jack would spare his life, either way, Jack didn''t care, he had accomplished what he wanted. ¡°Then,¡± Jack said, rising to his feet as Lilith materialized while Sahaqiel descended from on high to gently land beside him. ¡°In order to trust you, we shall weigh your sins.¡± To the Cintelli prisoners in the mix, a few of them recognized Sahaqiel, some even prostrating themselves as they saw their patron saint clear as day to their eyes. Jack took hold of the man¡¯s hands, locking eyes with the worker as Lilith and Sahaqiel flanked Jack as rehearsed. ¡°Look into my eyes, and you will be judged. You will either stand beside us as a hero, or be cast down as a villain,¡± Jack ordered, the brown-eyed prisoner shaking but ultimately doing so to allow Jack to peer into his soul, to view his data. ¡°You know you play the part well,¡± Lilith commented with Jack ignoring her.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Within seconds Jack saw strife, conflict, turmoil, the man''s hopes, desires, lusts, and fears. Unlike ripping apart his usual victims, Jack instead sought out hints of deceit, traces of evil, and anything that could harm his mission. In the end, all Jack saw was an ordinary man. A human who sought comradery and purpose. A terrified person in the palm of a greater strength. ¡°Adamska Ocelot,¡± Jack said, releasing the man who howled, falling to the ground in tears as Jack released him. ¡°You have been judged.¡± Jack nodded to Sahaqiel, the archangel stepping forward to comfort and heal the man with a radiant smile. ¡°Congratulations, Adamska Ocelot, you are of a tender soul,¡± Sahaqiel said as Lilith relayed the words from Jack to the angel. **** Four Days Later. Jack''s judgments went on for two days with nearly every second spent weeding out the helpful and the useless. In the interim a massive fleet had gathered, a hodgepodge of landships, airships, and caravans seeking anything from desiring to aid the expedition to bartering, with many amidst the newcomers being refugees following the trail of material entering Zanzibar. But with most refugees so too followed demonspawn, with Apostles butchering many before Sahaqiel and Selfia''s teams could intervene. In the span of those last two days, the lands beyond Zanzibar were coated in butchered corpses of demonspawn and humans with the flying Theocratic city hanging high overhead to provide an aerial countermeasure and shield against the never ending terrors. However, it also housed his loved ones, the entirety of the Hoshido aboard the city with many airships converted into shelters and storage for the expedition. Jack pulled Gram from the body of an Apostle, the three-winged creature reaching a withering arm out at Jack who shot it in the face with his gunblade. Another monster leapt at Jack from behind, the creature hissing before it was struck by a blast of lightning. ¡°That¡¯s the last of them for now,¡± Sahaqiel said, descending with her lightning bolt staff held in both hands, the end of which was coated in demon blood. ¡°I have to say, fighting alongside you has-¡± Jack flew off, returning to the city where he was greeted by salutes and bows, the soldiers of the coalition celebrating his return. That''s what they were calling it now, the coalition to free Earth. Aptly named with Selfia hard at work prepping the army''s of the world. What remained of them at least. Jack entered his tent, a brown average patchwork of cloth that mirrored the hundreds of others scattered around the port. ¡°H-hello!¡± Kamila let out, placing Jack''s laundry to the side as he sat down on a stool and she went to work, handing him a cup of tea and helping to unlatch and undo his armor. ¡°Are you hungry?¡± ¡°I''m fine, just sore,¡± Jack groaned, sipping his dandelion tea and shaking his head away from the cookie in Kamila¡¯s hand, ¡°Where''s Leona?¡± ¡°At the school,¡± Kamila said, lifting Jack''s armor and massaging his scarred shoulders with her hands activating soothing touch to try and comfort Jack. ¡°School? They set up a school?¡± Jack said with surprise. Kamila nodded her head, her soft hands gliding across Jack''s touch back as her body tingled. ¡°Madam Hightower doesn''t want to disrupt her lesson plans too much and the parents need someone to watch their kids so Lita agreed to host the Madam¡¯s academy.¡± ¡°I see, how''s Ada and the others?¡± Jack said as Kamila seemed eager to remove his bloody boots. ¡°Busy, she sent an email for you detailing everything going on.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Jack said as Kenichi entered his tent. ¡°Keep them on, I have a feeling I''m going to be walking around soon.¡± ¡°You realize there are buildings for you to sleep in? Or do you enjoy being uncomfortable?¡± The blind man said, avoiding Kamila who left with Jack''s bloody clothes. ¡°I''m fine, the lost battalion are stuck in tents so I''ll be living as they do, at least until they get the cruisers ready,¡± Jack said, looking up at the brunette. ¡°You know¡­ if you want, I could probably fix your eyes.¡± Kenichi paused, the samurai frowning, ¡°I think I''ll pause for now. Besides, with my eyes gone I see more than I ever have¡­ It''s especially good for ferreting out secrets.¡± Jack cocked his head to the side, staring at the man whose core was now a purple. ¡°Oh? The training with Tenno seems to be paying off.¡± The two fell silent for a moment, a thick tension between the pair as they both knew the topic of Ivan was something that needed to be discussed but couldn''t. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Kenchi said before Yukino came charging into the tent, disrupting their stand off and almost tackling Jack who side-stepped the woman. ¡°ow¡­¡± Yukino groaned, sitting up. ¡°So mean!¡± ¡°Something you need?¡± Jack asked, pouring himself another cup of tea from a small stool that held a jade tea set. ¡°Selfia needs you at the clock.¡± ¡°You mean the TOC?¡± ¡°Yup, she''s calling everyone together so that she can begin her speech. Oh! Is that cookies? Gimme! I swear I haven''t eaten in days!¡± Jack handed the pink-haired woman his cookies, exiting the tent with Kenichi in tow until they made it to the command center where an injured Tenno, Jin, and Mi¡¯shka sat being tended to by medics. ¡°What happened to you three?¡± Jack asked. ¡°Another Apostle at the south wall, annoying fucker with six arms,¡± Tenno groaned, perhaps the first time Jack had seen him upset. ¡°Killed a bunch of my boys.¡± ¡°Best get on in there, things are looking grim,¡± Mi''shka said, plucking what appeared to be teeth from his arm. Jack walked into the bustling command tent where Selfia was waiting for him alongside the leaders she had gathered. The first thing he noticed was that it was muggy, hot, the temperature in the room on the rise from the crowd of bodies. ¡°Let''s get to work people,¡± Jack said as he made his way towards a disheveled Selfia kitted out in a tanktop and military fatigues with her red contacts flicking up at the man who stood beside her. AAS: Season 6:CH76:The Grand Speech Upon the docks of the Zanzibar port city, thousands of souls gathered beneath swaying silver and blue banners. Soldiers of the coalition to end the threat of the demonspawn terror that plagued the world. ¡°For thousands of years¡­¡± Selfia began, the woman standing before the crowd in a tank top with grime and blood covering her fatigues, a far cry from the respectable appearance of a monarch to convey they absolute normality of the undertaken being performed. ¡°Humanity has been fighting for our very survival against genocidal monsters whose sole purpose has been our annihilation.¡± Jack stood beside Selfia, his gaze sweeping the crowd before his eye turned to the dozens of aircraft overhead trailing behind a Carrier-class airship. The tip of the spear that would open up the beachhead for the rest of the invasion force. ¡°For years, we held them at bay, developed tools of war, evolved our arsenal to take on the most craven horrors of our world. But now, With the advent of the apostles and the hordes they''ve brought, it is no longer a fight we can continue,¡± Selfia said as pillars of molten energy struck the plains of Zanzibar in the far distance. Satellites. On que Selfia''s orbital array in full swing discharging their accumulated solar energy to unleash hellfire upon the earth. ¡°The enemy stands at our doorstep, knocking on our walls, baying for our blood. As I speak to you bastions of humanity that have stood for eons are now rubble, trampled by the insatiable hordes,¡± Selfia said, pacing the podium, ¡°Lunacrypt, Soldaer, Clausterfiell, monuments of our existence are being wiped out with even the crown jewel of our Imperium the Solarus in ruin. And soon... our very species will be exterminated, cleansed from the world with nothing left to defend unless we end this threat now.¡± Jack adjusted eye patch, his face facing the camera that televised Selfia''s speech on all channels. ¡°Citizens of the empire, members of humanity, what I ask is not an easy thing, but, it is necessary, If we are to see the morrow, to experience peace, to rid the world of this blight to correct our path away from this apocalypse, our only option in this darkest hour is... To attack.¡± Selfia paused, allowing her words to wash over the soldiers standing at attention. ¡°Today we embark on the greatest expedition undertaken since man went to space, today we end the threat of the demonspawn, today we ensure our survival. Today, we shall take the reins of our future and make our destiny!¡± Jack swept his eye over the crowd of cheering soldiers. ¡°So go forth, soldiers of the empire, bulwark of humanity, and end the threat against mankind, once! And! FOR ALL!¡± Applause and celebration, many within the crowd just youth who had no concept or taste of war. But these were desperate times as Jack spotted a familiar mech pilot beside a jet-black MECHFrame. Tangerine scowled at Jack and turned away, melding with the procession of soldiers marching onto the floating metal coffins that would take them to foreign shores. ¡°Jack, with me,¡± Selfia ordered with Jack following in tow. **** Inside the Tactical Operation Center, Jack frowned, eyeing the tactical deployments on the holotable and the list of projected casualties as Kenichi, Lita, Ieyasu, Duchess Bell, and Selfia observed his reactions. ¡°This¡­¡± Jack muttered, his face twisted into a pensive expression. ¡°How many?¡± ¡°Our first wave¡­¡± Selfia began, ¡°Will see about seventy percent casualties, roughly about four thousand dead before we properly secure a foothold to allow our boats to moor on the beach. Anyone not on an airship or on a boat will be left here to buy us time.¡± Jack frowned, turning his gaze to Tenno who had been selected to hold the line here to cover their departure. ¡°Then I should be there to establish the foothold for us,¡± Jack said, turning to leave but stopping as Sahaqiel blocked the door.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Ieyasu turned his head, the strategist of the Hoshido operating the holotable. ¡°You can''t. If you go, your presence alone would draw so many there that we''d never be able to establish the breach. We have to set up the logistics before we can engage the Black King¡¯s forces operating in this area.¡± The holographic blue map shifted, revealing a partially constructed three-D rendition of the base of operations used by the Black King. A last courtesy of the Red Rook. ¡°So you''re telling me thousands will have to die in order for-¡± ¡°Our mission to succeed?¡± Selfia said, nodding to Ieyasu to change the screen. ¡°Yes. We''ll be sacrificing everyone here to buy us time. Sacrificing thousands in the future to open a breach. I suspect many here will die, even I may lose my life.¡± ¡°I know the stakes,¡± Jack said, flicking his gaze towards Selfia. ¡°If this is what it takes, so be it. If thousands need to die in order to save millions, then that''s what needs to happen.¡± Selfia seemed genuinely taken aback by Jack''s response. But he was no longer the empathetic man filled with self-doubt and fear. ¡°Okay. We all understand what''s going on, you''re all dismissed,¡± Selfia said before calling Jack to stay behind with Sahaqiel hovering at the entrance. ¡°What is this?¡± Jack asked, noticing the two women blocking him in. ¡°We want to talk,¡± Selfia said. ¡°Then talk,¡± Jack replied coldly. ¡°Look, Jack¡­ I know, we haven''t seen eye to eye on a lot of things-¡± Jack''s gaze shifted, his eye almost rolling. ¡°-And I know what you think of me. What you think of us, But, before it''s too late, from the bottom of my heart, I want you to know¡­ I''m sorry.¡± Fickle words that did nothing to move Jack. ¡°Is that it?¡± ¡°Jack-¡± ¡°Prove it.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Prove it,¡± Jack said as he held his hand out. Selfia hesitated, the machiavellian woman normally taking a step back as Jack advanced on her. The Queen turned to Sahaqiel, the latter frozen in place as Jack trapped Selfia in the corner of the command room. ¡°Well?¡± Jack said, his hand shaped in an open vice at a low angle for Selfia to kneel and place her neck into. ¡°Y-you can''t be serious.¡± The pair locked gazes, Selfia petrified as Jack''s warm breath caressed her skin. ¡°The plan is already in motion. With the number of advisors and tacticians here, I don''t really need you anymore Selfia. So give me a reason,¡± Jack said, his voice sending a chill down Selfia''s spin. ¡°How will you be useful to me?¡± ¡°What? Do you want me to suck your dick?¡± Selfia asked, chuckling nervously at Jack who didn''t smile. Selfia''s shoulders dipped, her eyes downcast for a moment before slowly, lowering herself with her slender neck firmly between Jack''s fingers. ¡°There,¡± Selfia looked up, ¡°Are you- AH!¡± Jack''s mana shot into the Queen, his mind peering into her soul as the white-haired woman screamed. Despite the Queen in a state of pain, no guard came running. Jack had conjured a barrier, blocking Selfia''s shriek of pain as he delved into her consciousness. In her mind Jack saw anger, doubt, fear, and turmoil with every emotion and experience the white-haired woman had felt in her lifetime pulled to the forefront of her mind. The world around Jack began to warp, his consciousness pulled into a reality that was Selfia¡¯s soul. Jack stepped forward, his feet touching something wet that drew his attention. Blood. The entire floor below Jack oozed with crimson ichor, his consciousness shifting to gaze upon the mountain of corpses that surrounded the sobbing white-haired woman. Covered in blood with her hair stained red, Selfia sat sobbing, the backdrop of her inner sea covered by ruins of buildings and homes that seemed familiar yet unnatural to Jack with every single window filled by eyes. He could see how Selfia saw herself, a lonely chained down woman surrounded by corpses and burdened by the weight of those thousands looking toward her. Selfia gazed up at Jack, her tear stained eyes turning away, unable to face him as she clutched her heart and doubled over. A loud cry of sobbing echoed through the space, Selfia''s hidden emotions on display for Jack as he turned to the memories playing around him. A happy girl who loved the world and finger painting it. A scared child unable to comprehend why she was being punished. An angry child without arms who swore to make the world a better place and uproot the empire. A girl forced to hide her emotions and become something more to accomplish her goals. Never knowing love. Never knowing the comfort of trusting another. Selfia''s intentions. Jack could feel it, her purpose now the same as it had been when she lay upon her bed with bandages covering her amputated wounds. One singular purpose. Freedom. ¡°Satisfied¡­¡± Selfia hissed, the woman doubled over with tears streaming down her face as their surroundings shifted back to the command center. ¡°Yes,¡± Jack grunted before turning his back to the woman. ¡°If I had gotten a different response, I would have killed you here and now.¡± Jack left, exiting the command tent as the flying city overhead began to leave the Zanzibar airspace. AAS: Season 6:CH77: Family Time Beneath the statue of Sahaqiel, Jack smiled to himself, watching as Leona spun Celeste in circles within the garden of a bombed out mansion. One of the few intact mansions left after Jack had waged war in the city now afloat. ¡°Weeeeee!¡± Celeste exclaimed until immediately deflating as Leona set her down. ¡°More! More! More!¡± ¡°Not right now Celeste, I''m a bit tired,¡± Leona said with Celeste immediately pivoting towards Kamila pushing a cart of food. ¡°Okay! Thank you! Love you!¡± Celeste yelled before running up to Kamila and demanding to be picked up. ¡°Hard to believe below us there''s nothing but miles of water,¡± Leona asked, sitting down beside Jack on the garden bench permanently discolored. ¡°In a day, we''ll be off the shores of an unexplored continent. Exciting isn''t it?¡± ¡°Exciting isn''t the word I''d use,¡± Jack grunted, taking out a cigar only to stop as Leona flashed him a look. ¡°Since when do you smoke?¡± ¡°Since the world began to end,¡± Jack replied, leaning back as Kamilla chased his daughter around the garden who refused to give back her stolen cupcakes. ¡°It''s not healthy you know.¡± ¡°I know. Takes the stress away though and if I get cancer I can just purge the cells. Everything is just data after all¡­¡± Jack said, his eye reading the ambient data that hung in the air. ¡°Jack,¡± Leona said, her well manicured hand on his thigh, ¡°You''re supposed to be spending time with your family and you''re distracted. The world could end in a few days and you aren''t even savoring this time. Do you want one of Celeste¡¯s last memories to be you sulking?¡± ¡°I''m not sulking,¡± Jack shot back. ¡°This is me relaxing.¡± ¡°Please, I''ve seen you relax. Normally it involves you shirtless suntanning on a balcony and smiling, this ain''t none of those.¡± ¡°First off, I was only on that balcony because I was on house arrest and secondly, how do you know I was shirtless?¡± Leona fished out a scrap of paper, handing it to Jack who furrowed his brow at the tabloid image of him half-naked on a palace balcony. ¡°So you just carry around a picture of me?¡± ¡°Nooo,¡± Leona said, plucking the paper from Jack and stashing it away in her uniform¡¯s breast pocket, ¡°I confiscated it from a soldier.¡± ¡°And again¡­ now you''re just carrying it around?¡± ¡°As the bodyguard to the royal family I¡¯m just protecting government secrets. Besides, your ass is government property same as the rest of us¡­ however long that is.¡± Jack almost smiled. ¡°Right¡­ thanks for that by the way, I heard what happened during my fight with Roland, what you did while I was away,¡± Jack said as he turned to face Leona. ¡°Thank you for protecting my family. If you ever need anything Leona, I''ll be there for you.¡± Silence between the pair, the mood shifting. ¡°Oh¡­ uh, yeah,¡± Leona blushed, the red-headed looking away quickly from Jack''s face, ¡°Don''t mention it.¡± ¡°I mean it, if you weren''t there-¡± ¡°I said don''t mention it! Ugh!¡± Leona exclaimed, shoving Jack over and running off. ¡°Holy fuck, why do so many bitches find you attractive.¡± ¡°Lilith, behave or I''ll chain you up again,¡± Jack said, picking up his chair and turning instead to Kamilla holding the squirming Celeste who, in a desperate bid not to have her stolen sweets taken, began cramming them into her mouth. ¡°Celeste,¡± Jack said, the little girl immediately shifting her head towards her father. ¡°Come here.¡± In the time it took for Jack to blink, the little blonde girl was already in front of him, jittering up and down from the sugar coursing through her veins.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Yes?yes?yes?yes?yes?¡± Celeste shot out in rapid hyper succession. Jack reached over, ruffling the little girl''s head, ¡°How¡¯s uh¡­ how''s school?¡± ¡°School?!¡± Celeste immediately paled, fleeing to the far side of the garden screaming, ¡°I don''t want to go to school!¡± ¡°Ce-!¡± Jack let out, but it was too late, the little girl scurrying beneath the garden gate and vanishing into the manor. ¡°I''ll go get her,¡± Kamila said, grabbing a jar of cookies from her cart and going in pursuit of the energetic child. ¡°Smooth, even I know not to use the S-word around a child,¡± Lilith chastised, clicking her teeth as she manifested beside Jack with her legs crossed. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Jack sighed, shoulders slumped as Ada opened the garden gate and strolled into the garden with Ito in her arms. ¡°Why was Celeste crying?¡± Ada asked, sitting beside Jack and resting her head on his shoulder as she nursed their baby boy. ¡°Hey! Eye up here.¡± Jack smirked, peeling his gaze from Ada''s swollen breasts. ¡°Ah, right, that''s where your eyes are.¡± Ada rolled her eyes and shook her head, ¡°So what''s wrong with Celeste?¡± ¡°I uh¡­ mentioned the S-word.¡± ¡°Ooooh,¡± Ada shook her head, ¡°Yeah no, never use the S-word around her.¡± ¡°Why? Is she getting bullied?¡± Jack asked, worried that Celeste wasn''t fitting in. ¡°Oh no, she''s extremely popular! Ya know, being the princess and all.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ right right,¡± Jack muttered, confused. ¡°She mainly can''t sit still and falls asleep in class alot, earning her demerits and detention but Leona has been pretty good at managing Celeste. Plus Kamila¡¯s always on standby with cookie bribes. Nothing you need to worry about babe.¡± Jack smiled, his gaze softening, ¡°I see¡­ everyone''s got everything figured out without me around.¡± ¡°That''s¡­ not how it is. We''re just doing our best to support you so you can focus on other things,¡± Ada said, planting a kiss below Jack''s eye patch. ¡°Speaking of, I''ve got a surprise for you at about an hour from now after I drop Ito off with your grandma.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Jack raised a brow, an inkling of what the surprise was. Ada giggled, standing up, ¡°Ya know, when all this is over, we should travel. I''ve always wanted to see the world, explore. Visit new sights.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Jack said, ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± ¡°I don''t know, I just want to travel. Nothing in mind, just you, me-¡± ¡°Our two kids? Bodyguard, cook, and entourage of paparazzi?¡± Jack smirked. Ada smiled, standing up and kissing Jack on his forehead, ¡°You should be kinder to Sara.¡± Jack blinked, looking up at the woman. "Where''s this coming from?" ¡°I''m serious,¡± Ada continued, ¡°Knowing what I know about your relationship, she''s the closest person to you. The one person who cares about you just as much as I do. But unlike her, I''ll never have the relationship you two had. She was¡­ a part of you. Literally. Something like that, you don''t just throw away.¡± ¡°She lied to me Ada, she was the person I trusted the most and she kept me in the dark. Lilith, Selfia, I understand, it''s in their nature to lie-¡± ¡°Rude,¡± Lilith spat. ¡°-But Sara? She knew how important my sister was to me. How much family means to me, and she-¡± ¡°Did it to protect you. If she didn''t, you wouldn''t be here to see your son and I''d have lost you.¡± ¡°But she put me in that position Ada, she didn''t give me a choice!¡± Jack snapped, only to immediately regret it. Ada however, remained unphased. ¡°I understand, honey. I''m sorry for bringing it up.¡± ¡°No,¡± Jack sighed, ¡°You''re right. I hate myself because I know¡­ I couldn''t do it. I was about to sacrifice myself, kill hundreds of others because I was too selfish. I would have left you alone to raise Ito and¡­¡± ¡°But you didn''t. And I''m still here. I''ll always be here for you,¡± Ada said before looking down at Ito fast asleep. ¡°I''ll put Ito down for a nap while you two talk.¡± Ada left, allowing Jack to be alone with Sahaqiel who stood beside a garden pillar wearing a floral white dress, something different than Jack was accustomed to from the angel. ¡°Turning your empathy off and dampening your emotions is a double edged sword,¡± Sahaqiel said as she approached. ¡°What are you saying?¡± ¡°I''m saying that the choice you made wasn''t in your best state of mind.¡± ¡°So what you''re saying is I would have killed my sister?¡± ¡°I''m saying we''ll never know. If you need to hate me, I understand, but¡­ please don''t shut me out.¡± Jack sighed, standing up, his height several inches above the angel who gazed up at Jack. ¡°I don''t hate you, I''d never hate you Sara. Just¡­ I just need time.¡± Sahaqiel¡¯s eyes went downcast, her face twisting, ¡°Well¡­ it''s better than nothing haha.¡± Jack spread his arms out, wrapping them around Sahaqiel who stood shocked for a moment before accepting the embrace and holding tightly to Jack. Jack moved to pull away, but Sahaqiel refused to let him go, instead holding him as tightly as her flesh would allow, her body, so badly wanting to just stand there and be embraced by the sensation of his touch and scent for eternity. ¡°I''ve got things to do,¡± Jack said, finally pulling away from the angel who looked away with her hand raised to block her eyes. ¡°Y-yeah. I''ll uh¡­ see you later,¡± Sahaqiel said before quickly spreading her wings and flying away. Jack stood there for a moment, watching the angel fly, his mind turning to the manor were Ada was waiting. AAS: Season 6:CH78: The Last Day. *EEEEER* *EEEEEER* Jack¡¯s eyes shot open, the claxon horn echoing through the city jolting Jack out of the trio of naked bodies on his king-sized bed. ¡°What the hell is that?¡± Ada asked as Kamila rolled to her feet and Leona stood with a rifle in her hands summoned from her wrist. *All personnel to battle stations! All personnel to battle stations! Second stage pilots, on deck!* Jack rushed to the window, opening the balcony door of his manor to spy the wall of purple miasma in the distance. ¡°Shit¡­¡± Jack whispered as the others joined him, the enormity of the massive cloud of corruptive smog causing pause. ¡°Is that-¡± Ada began. ¡°The lost lands,¡± Leona frowned, despite being miles away, the sight of such a massive wall of miasma sent chills down their collective spines. Jack turned and grabbed the telescope on his bed before stepping out into the balcony with Ada quickly handing him a towel to cover himself as he took flight. Up above the floating city, Jack peered into the magnification device, watching as the boats below ferried troops into the smog from the dozens of airships hovering over the water supplying them. Jack frowned, lowering the telescope and turning to the manor where his loved ones stood. ¡°I was hoping I had more time¡­¡± Jack muttered as a swarm of thousands of black dots began to emerge from the black miasma. ¡°Get to a shelter! Now!¡± Immediately the hordes of demonspawn were met by gunfire, the CIWs of the fleet of boats and airships shredding monstrosities in droves. Jack turned and landed on his balcony, the trio of women already in the midst of getting dressed. ¡°Here,¡± Leona said, handing him clothes as Kamila got his armor from the nearby closet and Ada brought him his duel gunblades. ¡°Thank you. I can take it from here. Now get to where you need to,¡± Jack said as he turned to the armored archangel touching down on his balcony. Covered in a splendid armament, Sahaqiel gripped her thunderbolt staff tightly, sweeping her golden eyes across the room that bore the signs of an intense battle. The angel frowned, sweeping the room with wind that cleaned the stench of sweat, oil, and bleach from the chamber. ¡°That bad?¡± Jack asked, much to Sahaqiel''s irritation. ¡°Yes¡­ get ready, Python and the others are waiting at the airfield,¡± Sahaqiel said, flapping her wings and taking off as Jack summoned Gram to him via the wind. **** Adorn in his silver armor and cape, Jack kneeled, giving Celeste a kiss on her head as she marveled at him and the dozens of aircraft and Mech''s preparing to leave. ¡°You''re a knight!¡± Celeste exclaimed, pointing at Jack''s armor as he adjusted her headphones to muffle the sound of aircraft taking off.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. The little girl suddenly shoved her hands upward, making a sign with her fingers that spelled out Knight. ¡°Yes, yes I am,¡± Jack said, ruffling the girl''s head before signing ¡°Who taught you that?¡± Celeste cocked her head sideways, ¡°uhm. UHM! Huh!¡± The girl balled her fists and crossed her arms over her chest, making the motion for love. Jack smiled, returning the gesture as a hamster poked its furry brown head from her shirt pocket and squeaked. ¡°Are you taking care of Hamtaro?¡± Jack asked, happy to see Yun¡¯s pet keeping his daughter company. Celeste nodded repeatedly as Jack''s grandma approached, the elderly lady shuffling towards Jack with his cousin carrying various satchels and straps. ¡°More bullets. You will need them,¡± The wrinkled woman said, handing Jack the burlaps filled with speed loaders and ammo. And a plastic canister of rice topped with seasoned meat. ¡°Thanks Granny,¡± Jack said, furrowing his brow as he noticed Ada crossing the hanger wearing red Hoshido samurai armor with her nodachi on her shoulder. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Jack asked, stepping in front of Ada and Yukino who were trailed by several Hoshido warriors. ¡°What? You didn''t think I''d sit this fight out did you?¡± Ada asked, her brow raised. ¡°Its-¡± ¡°Too dangerous? Too risky? If any of the next words are those from your mouth, you are about to get a reality check Mr,¡± Ada sasses, standing face to face with Jack, ¡°Because this is a fight for the fate of the world and I''ll be damned if you THINK for a SECOND I''m going to let my man fight alone while I''m sitting in a house raising our kids.¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°Your grandma and cousins are taking care of Celeste and Ito, so, like it or not, I''m coming,¡± Ada said, brushing past Jack with Yuki sticking her tongue out at Jack as they passed. ¡°Love you though!¡± Jack sighed, looking down at his daughter who produced a cookie from somewhere and was munching down. ¡°Behave while I''m away, okay?¡± Jack said with the little girl nodding and being guided by her great-grandma. ¡°That is a good woman,¡± Python said, looking towards Ada as he stood beside Jack with a small box that would filter the air of the Lost lands. ¡°Enough supply for twelve hours.¡± ¡°I have extremely high corruptive resistance-¡± ¡°Take it. Just in case. We don''t know what we''re going to experience inside so no chances lad,¡± Python said, taking a daylily from his uniform and sticking it in his mouth. ¡°Did Selfia manage to secure a large enough supply for this offensive?¡± Jack asked, taking the canister as Sahaqiel landed beside him. ¡°She got what she could, most of the filter producers just so happen to be owned by the High Table, I''ll brief you on the way,¡± Python reported as they began walking to a dropship, ¡°General order for troops on the ground is to scavenge and recover. So as long as the filter remains intact we can rotate them and charge them.¡± ¡°How many soldiers are on the beach?¡± Jack asked, boarding the dented up aircraft. ¡°We landed with an initial force of six thousand.¡± ¡°Casualties?¡± Jack said, his gaze turning to Ada who sat down across from him beside Sahaqiel. Python cleared his throat. ¡°Roughly three thousand and counting, The beachhead came at a cost but the supply lines are fully functioning now,¡± Python yelled over the roar of engines, prompting Jack to create a barrier of air so he could hear the man, ¡°Selfia''s already on the beach establishing the TOC, she''ll give us a better picture once we''re on the ground.¡± ¡°And why isn''t she commanding from the city?¡± Jack asked, scooting over to make room for several soldiers and paladins with the latter obviously nervous to be in Sahaqiel¡¯s presence. ¡°Interference from the miasma. We have to be within the smog if we''re going to call in a fire mission. One of the many Unique qualities of the Lost lands.¡± ¡°Great,¡± Jack muttered as his dropship rumbled. He turned, looking at Ada directly, ¡°Honey, last chance, it will be extremely-¡± ¡°Stop worrying, I''m a warrior, I can take care of myself and I''ll be damned if I let you fight alone,¡± Ada snapped, steeling her resolve as the VTOL closed its iron doors, taking off from the airfield alongside dozens of other transports. Jack turned his head to the viewport nearby, looking down at the impressive line of airships and small hodgepodge of naval vessels scrambled from all corners of the earth. ¡°All or nothing huh¡­¡± Jack said, gripping his blade as he prepared for the worst. AAS: Season 6:CH79: Bloodbath Standing on the sandy shores of a new continent, Ada froze, her quivering gaze taking in the mounds of corpses, flesh, and sinew that stained the sandy ground beneath her feet. Touching her boots gently, were the waves of poisoned water laced with sand and dyed red from the lives that had breathed their last on these foreign shores. ¡°Jack! Look alive! We need to get to the command post!¡± Python snapped, tugging on Jack''s arm as their boat pulled away to bring in fresh reinforcements from the airships delivering them. ¡°Right, Ada, you okay?¡± Jack asked, grabbing the woman''s attention just before she threw up. ¡°Peachy,¡± Ada replied with Yukino helping her forward as Jack shifted the air to alleviate the rancid copper scent permeating the space around them. Jack furrowed his brow, scanning the beach where several tents and structures lay just before the arrangement of dozens of artillery pieces bellowing their contents into the air. Entering the largest tent on the beach, Jack was greeted by Selfia and an arrangement of officers screaming into various radios with thousands of reports flooding in. ¡°I¡¯m here, where do you need me?¡± Jack asked as Selfia quickly approached. ¡°There are three Apostles on the forward frontline, a speedster, knight, and an assassin. Mi¡¯shka and Superbia are engaging them with a squad of awakened but they need help,¡± Selfia barked before pointing at Yuki and Ada, ¡°You two, Captain Jin¡¯s got loads of injured and not enough medics! I need you to move up to the western flank and support their awakened, now!¡± Ada opened her mouth, wanting to respond but closing it and nodding as she glanced at Jack. ¡°Go, fighting an Apostle isn''t something you can help with,¡± Jack said as he took the intellipad and stashed it in his storage bracelet. Ada frowned, suddenly feeling useless but heading out of the tent trailing a paladin who led the way. ¡°Python, I need you back at the ship, tell Admiral Skirita we need salvos on these coordinates for phase two,¡± Selfia said, handing the man a slip of paper. ¡°But I just got here? Why not send a runner?¡± Python frowned. ¡°Because I trust you not to fuck it up and I need someone to make the hard calls in case something happens down here,¡± Selfia said before turning to Jack heading to the exit. ¡°Jack,¡± Selfia said with one of her many arms floating to block his exit, ¡°Seismic activity underground has been spiking for the last hour, whatever the Black King is doing, it''s close. So now matter what happens, we have to stop him. Deal with those apostles while I formulate a plan to handle the larger swarm.¡± ¡°I got it,¡± Jack affirmed before exiting the command center, taking to the sky where Sahaqiel was throwing bolts of lightning into the distance. ¡°What''s the situation?¡± Sahaqiel asked, holding her staff closely. ¡°Three apostles. Mi''shka and Superbia are engaging but they need help,¡± Jack reported with the pair taking off over the sea of debris. Below them, hundreds of wrecks. Some new, some old, remnants of former expeditions with ruined structures littering the landscape that were filled by soldiers moving equipment and wounded. It didn''t take long before Jack and Sahaqiel were at the rear of the forward frontline where dozens of people were being loaded onto mechs and carried away from the swarms of monstrocities attacking the entrenched defenders. Ahead of Jack were thousands of voices, shouts of pain, barking of orders, roaring of gunfire as humanity clashed against¡­ well humanity. ¡°There!¡± Sahaqiel pointed, firing a bolt of lightning at a three-winged monster attacking Mi¡¯shka that blocked the attack with a talon. Jack descended, landing in a massive pool of liquid crimson that was too much in one area to be natural. No, it was a skill, one controlled by Mi¡¯shka who used it to slow down the blur in Jack''s peripheral moving at supersonic speeds. ¡°Mi''shka jump!¡± Jack barked as blackish blue lighting coursed around his hand. The heterochromatic white-haired man did as ordered, shooting into the air as the ground slick with blood conducted the lightning from Jack''s palm. ¡°AKG!¡± The blur screamed, tumbling across the sea of blood before being entombed by red ichor as the winged apostle charged Jack with a metal claws. Jack readied Gram, swinging the massive blade at the Apostle that caught it with one claw as it''s other stretched, unleashing long dagger-like talons at Jack who shifted to avoid the claws that curved to try and pull him in. ¡°Blood Spike!¡± Mi¡¯shka snapped, the pool of crimson creating spikes that shot up, pushing the Apostle back who blocked the attack with its wings. Sahaqiel moved to join the fray, her lightning bolt staff elongating with arcs of electricity before she was smacked by the vibrating speedster. The archangel tumbled, rising to her feet just as she was beset by a flurry of attacks that left her crippled on the ground.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Sara!¡± Jack snapped, before reaching out in a fit of rage, his will cutting through the miasma to wrap around the speedster Apostle that came to an immediate halt before being crushed by overwhelming wind pressure. A snapped decision, a reflex that tracked the impossibly fast Apostle and ended the threat. However, before Jack could process what he had done the winged Apostle was on him, its chest bursting open with corruptive black tentacles that shot out at Jack. ¡°Piss off,¡± Jack hissed, slashing upward and severing several tentacles with Gram as his gunblade came up and he shot the Apostle with an armyrethium tipped bullet. It roared, shielding itself from Jack¡¯s attack with its wings before suddenly being peppered by hundreds of bullets from charging imperial soldiers. ¡°For the King! For mankind! Take its head!¡± A commissar barked through his gasmask, the unawakened man brandishing an armyrethium lined blade at the ten-foot tall fallen god. ¡°Die fiend!¡± The creature raised its talon, its attention turned from Jack to smite the attacking humans. However, Jack wasn''t idle, with his body energized, he was in front of the guardsman, slicing the Apostle''s arm off with Gram before placing the barrel of his gunblade down the being¡¯s throat and pulling the trigger. The fallen angel froze, twitched, its arms flailing wildly before it''s body crumbled and turned into ash. ¡°Sara!¡± Jack called out, racing to the angel who shook her head as she rose to her feet. ¡°Sorry, I''m fine. Just hard to pilot my body sometimes¡­¡± Sahaqiel said, healing her injuries as Mi''shka joined them. ¡°Where''s Superbia?¡± Jack asked, noting the lack of the blue-haired paladin. Mi''shka raised a bloody arm to a crater nearby where the person in question lay breathing in ragged breaths with her half her body gone. ¡°Shit,¡± Jack rushed over, leaning down to heal the woman who had corruptive mana infecting her flesh. ¡°About¡­ time¡­¡± Superbia let out, her eyes already marked with black ooze that were telltale signs of corruption. Around the fallen woman, dead paladins and broken mechs, remnants of the group defending against three Apostles. ¡°Lilith, Sahaqiel, help me,¡± Jack said as he placed his palm of the woman.¡±Superbia, I can save your life but you won''t be able to use your arm.¡± ¡°Whatever, I don''t need it to cast¡­ spells,¡± The woman replied as Jack sliced through her mangled flesh and healed her wounds faster than she could wince. ¡°Mi''shka, get her back to medical and rest,¡± Jack ordered, the man running on fumes against the apostles that were a far cry from the agents and guardians he was use to fighting. ¡°I can-¡± ¡°I''m not asking, I don''t need more people I care bout dying on me, now go.¡± Mi¡¯shka nearly smirked but the detonation of an artillery shell in the distance reminded him of the gravity of the situation. ¡°What about you?¡± Mi''shka asked, picking the groaning woman up. ¡°I''ll lead the tip of the spear,¡± Jack replied, turning to the commissar and his squad of imperials. ¡°Good work soldier, but leave melee to the awakened.¡± ¡°Sir!¡± The commissar kneeled, ¡°As your Majesty wills. I shall relay your order to the rest of the men!¡± ¡°What''s your name Captain?¡± ¡°Kain sir!¡± ¡°Get me up to speed with this sector,¡± Jack ordered over the cascade of artillery explosions ripping apart the demonspawn hordes. ¡°We are willing and ready sir! We''ve sustained heavy casualties but we are still in the fight, the traitors base of operations is several miles north, if we continue our assault we can push the demons back.¡± ¡°Jack!¡± Jack spun at the sudden outburst, noticing Yukino rushing towards him. ¡°What?! What''s wrong?!¡± Jack demanded with his heart dropping as his greatest fear bubbled up. ¡°Selfia is ordering you to retreat!¡± ¡°What?¡± Jack replied, confused before raising his palm and sending a wave of lightning that danced around the battlefield and tore through the swarm of demonspawn. ¡°Now! The left and right sides of the battlefield are pushing up, she wants to¡­¡± Yukino shook her head, catching her breath before making a pinching motion with her hands. ¡°Pincer?¡± ¡°Yeah! That!¡± Yukino said as Jack turned to the commissar. ¡°You heard the woman, get your men back,¡± Jack said, the officer doing as ordered. Rising into the air, Jack summoned the wind, the mana in the air moving like tar to respond to his will. ¡°THIS IS YOUR KING!¡± Jack barked, the wind carrying his voice, ¡°ALL FORCES! RETREAT!¡± At the sound of his voice, the multitude of men and women fighting the demonspawn turned and fled, breaking from trenches and falling back. ¡°Sara, help me cover their retreat,¡± Jack said as he began moving the mana in the air, hoping to capitalize on Selfia''s plan. ¡°Fall back! Fall back!¡± The commissars below Jack ordered, raising battle standards as Jack and Sahaqiel combined their strength to form a tornado of rampaging mana to cover their soldiers. Jack watched his handiwork swallow the creatures and create a gape for the humans below to flee. ¡°Jack! Apostles!¡± Sahaqiel yelled just as Jack''s senses picked them up. Twelve of them, reinforced by agents and guardians beside thousands of fractured souls no doubt drawn by Jack and Sahaqiel''s actions. ¡°Good,¡± Jack said grabbing Sahaqiel¡¯s wrist and dragging the angel away as the apostles drew near, brushing past the tornado. ¡°They''re gaining on us!¡± Sahaqiel exclaimed, firing a bolt of lightning at a horsehead apostle snarling. Suddenly the sky above began to shine, the hammer of science in the form of several satellites opening fire and blasting the apostles and demonspawn hordes. The first salvo, what came next was a choir of whistles, the prelude of thousands of shells raining down on the demonspawn survivors as two King Raven class airships entered the fray. Jack smirked, watching the enemy be incinerated and exploded. However, despite their best efforts, several apostles had survived, the creatures regenerating and continuing their zealous pursuit of the angels in the air. *SNAP* A crisp snap in the air took the head of the lead apostle, followed by the others falling from the cascade of projectiles fired from the railguns held by the contingent of MECHFrames positioned further away. A simple attack that Jack could easily block. IF he knew they were coming. Fortunately the Apostle''s weren''t up to date on modern warfare. ¡°Man¡­ if only we had those we probably wouldn''t have lost the war¡­¡± Sahaqiel muttered, marveling at the technological progress of humanity. However, their joy was short-lived as the air began to vibrate, the earth below them violently shaking as the miasma and mana began to swirl. ¡°What¡­ the hell is that¡­?¡± Jack muttered eye wide as the very earth began to rupture, pulling apart to reveal a massive structure rising from beneath the blood-soaked soil. ¡°Sara, what-¡± ¡°Heaven,¡± Sahaqiel said in dismay, her mouth ajar as a structure bigger than anything Jack had ever witnessed began to float into the air. ¡°We''re too late.¡± AAS: Season 6:CH80: Near the End ¡°Shit,¡± Jack whispered, his eye tracking the rising structure coated with thousands, maybe even millions of demonspawn falling from its edges. Before Jack, the entire landscape had been torn apart, the land ahead replaced instead by a gap in the earth and an ancient bastion rusted and caked by demons and soil. ¡°Sarah, what''s our plan?¡± Jack asked, flying upward to track the vessel whose massive thrusters lifted the hidden fortress that dwarfed even the imperial capital. ¡°We need to stop it! Get onto it and try to stop it from going higher! The more it rises the stronger it''s connection to-¡± Detonations, the sound of hundreds of explosives hitting the structure cutting the archangel off. Yet it wasn''t enough, even the barrage of the satellites in orbit firing again were unable to damage the structure as a magical barrier of intense energy reflected the beams. It was over. The Black King had won. But Jack wasn''t going to lose quietly. He turned, noticing Selfia and dozens of others disembarking from several mechs to appraise the situation. ¡°Sara, what can we do? How do we bring it down?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°Think! You know this thing better than anyone else! So tell-¡± ¡°If you use Gehenna we can breach the barrier! Then Selfia can coordinate her guns to strike the main thrusters on each side of the fortress!¡± Sahaqiel shouted, pointing at one of six massive thrusters lifting the structure. ¡°We knock those out we can stop the link!¡± ¡°Okay! Lilith and I can do that, tell Selfia to get her troops ready!¡± Jack said as Sahaqiel descended, reaching the Imperial Queen wearing a mask over her face as Jack flew upwards. Lilith! Jack sent, analyzing the barrier of mana that hung heavily in the air, almost as if the miasma was responding to the rising citadel. In fact, it was beginning to get hot, too hot with an itchy sensation crawling across his skin that was indicative of corruption. ¡°Lilith!¡± ¡°I''m already working on it, calm the fuck down!¡± Lilith hissed, the spectral reaper attempting to cut her way into the barrier. Then, a small hole, followed by large parts of the barrier fading away as Sahaqiel¡¯s voice carried through the wind shouted ¡°GET AWAY!¡± Jack bolted, soaring away from the citadel with demonspawn in pursuit as the airships opened fire. ¡°We''ve got one engine down, all we need is the other five!¡± Jack sent back, deploying his wings to shred the flying bonebats and mutant slicers pursuing him. Selfia frowned, turning and ordering her MECHFrames into the fray to engage the demonspawn as Jack simultaneously fended off the demons while trying to tear a hole through Heaven¡¯s enchantments. Under the barrage of the airships, the mana propulsion device Jack had exposed finally ceased working, visibly slowing the vessel''s ascent. ¡°Got it! On to the next one!¡± Lilith relayed as Jack fired a dragon''s breath shell at the swarm pursuing him and ignited dozens of demonspawn. ¡°Next engines exposed!¡± Jack called out before racing through the sky until a bolt of condensed water knocked the air from his lungs. Spinning, Jack attempted to reorientate himself, only to be met with a multitude of stinging blasts of water that were only halted by his wings. ¡°Damn it, more apostles!¡± Jack hissed, his skin and body feeling lethargic as he continued to rise with the floating citadel. ¡°The miasma is intensifying! Fly faster and closer!¡± Lilith hissed as a thunderbolt from Sahaqiel blasted several monsters chasing Jack. Jack soared to the side, watching in horror as the airships nearby began to be devoured and breached by the numerous monsters latching onto their hulls. He frowned, watching a jet to take off only for the aircraft to be intercepted and fall to the earth in a plum of flames.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Yet, despite the hopeless situation, the soldiers continued working as Jack tore open another breach to another engine. ¡°It''s not stopping fast enough!¡± Sahaqiel exclaimed as her skin began to turn black, pockets of corruption latching onto the angel. ¡°Sara!¡± Jack yelled in alarm, racing to the angel. ¡°It''s fine! I''m fine! We need to continue! Go! I''ll protect you!¡± Sahaqiel ordered, ushering Jack forward while sending bolts of lightning down at their pursuers. Below, Selfia fell to one knee, the Queen scowling as a swear left her mouth. Her body was fatigued, her arms weren''t responding and she could feel the connection between her magical limbs faltering. ¡°It''s not enough¡­¡± Selfia frowned before turning to the hole in the earth where millions of demonspawn began charging their direction. She turned to her forces, the culmination of her work still moving to meet the enemy head on. However with their numbers¡­ ¡°Keep fighting! It isn''t over yet! The angels need our support!¡± A paladin chaplain ordered, rallying the lethargic defenders with commissars ordering imperials to fix bayonets. Thousands, against millions with what air support they had falling from the sky and the mechs already breaking down. ¡°The miasma is getting worse¡­¡± Selfia frowned, realizing what fate would befall her if they didn''t succeed. ¡°Well¡­ time to die I guess¡­¡± Selfia let out a maniacal laugh as she picked up a bloodstained sword off the ground, nearly slipping if not for Ada and Leona helping her up. *** In the command deck of the King Raven-Class airship, Python unloaded his gun, dropping the empty magazine onto a stack of other spent magazines and bullet shell casings. ¡°Admiral! I''m running out of bullets and mana!¡± Python yelled as Lieutenant Harper stumbled into the passageway and handed him a shotgun before slumping against the bulkhead wall and falling over. ¡°Harper! Harper, stay with me!¡± Python ordered as he racked a shell and fired the buckshot loaded with seeds at several screeching slicers. The bridge officer wheezed weakly, disconnecting her filter and offering it to Python. ¡°Go¡­¡± the blonde officer let out before going limp as corruptive energy began to latch onto her body. The ship shook, an explosion or perhaps an attack? Either way Python didn''t know as he used what little mana he had to turn the seeds embedded into the monsters into a large wall of vines. ¡°Admiral!¡± Python yelled, turning his head as the monsters began to already cut through his barrier. ¡°Admiral!¡± No response. Python snatched the filter off the ground and rushed into the bridge, the old man slumped over his command console with every person within dead or dying. ¡°Damn it, damn it!¡± Python swore, rushing to the admiral only to pause at the sight of Jack and Sahaqiel through the viewscreen being overwhelmed by demonspawn while trying to expose weaknesses in the massive structure. ¡°Time to cut off a leg I guess¡­¡± Python wheezed, feeling incredibly weak. ¡°Sorry old man,¡± Python said, grabbing the decorated officer from his chair and sitting down to take command. On the screen, he could see Skirita had slaved all systems to his command chair as his crew began to pass out, allowing Python executive limited control of the massive air carrier that was filled with enough ordinance to level a city. Seeing the controls before him and the two angels fighting against a dozen of apostles, Python Est made a choice. The air carrier wouldn''t be able to destroy the massive thing in a collision but it would definitely slow it down. ¡°All coalition forces!¡± Python slammed on the intercom, blaring his message on all signals. ¡°This is Colonel Python Est of the Imperial Army! Assuming command of the FYR! All hands prepare for impact!¡± Python''s left eye involuntary twitched, a slight delay in his actions as he moved to disengage the safety parameters of the airship and alter its trajectory to the opening in the shield Jack had made. Warning! Collision! Five thousand feet! Python dry swallowed at the ships safety alert, taking a shallow breath as he took a daylily and placed it into his mouth, smirking while he held an image of himself and a woman named CC beside a drawing of himself and long lost friends. Warning! Collision! Two thousand feet! Python closed his eyes, the screeches of demonspawn drawing closer. Warning! Collision! Nine hundred feet! ¡°Serves me right trying to look to the future,¡± Python smirked, the images of his loved ones falling to the command deck as someone kept calling his name. Warning! Collision! Two hundred feet! Pull up! PULL UP!* *** ¡°Python!¡± Jack yelled as the familiar airship coated by demonspawn soared past and slammed into the floating structure. ¡°PYTHON!!¡± Sahaqiel grabbed Jack, pulling him away from the brilliant explosion of the colliding titanic air carrier detonating against Heaven. The two tumbled, the pair latching onto one another for safety with their wings forming a ball as they fell to the earth. Hitting the ground, Jack quickly recovered, his eye wide as his hands balled into fists. ¡°PYTHON!¡± Heaven began to list. With half of its engines gone and the air carrier ramming it, the entire citadel began to rotate, flipping as it''s propulsion lost control. ¡°It''s falling,¡± Sahaqiel muttered with the angel noticing she could breath just a bit easier. Jack screamed, his voice carrying with it his rage, sorrow, and frustration. ¡°ALL FORCES!¡± Selfia''s voice, boosted by her MECHFrame¡¯s megaphone called out. ¡°The citadel has fallen! All soldiers charge! The fate of humanity is decided here and now! The war is almost won! Citizens of the world! Just one more push!¡± Jack stood there for a moment, clenching and unclenching his jaw as soldiers charged past him. ¡°Jack, we have to go, they''re depending on us,¡± Sahaqiel said as Jack''s body sparked with black lightning. He shut his eye, jaw clenched before he opened his eye with renewed determination, ¡°I won''t waste your sacrifice, Python.¡± AAS: Season 6:CH81: Anti-Army? At the border of Heaven¡¯s outskirts where coalition forces were fighting tooth and nail against demonspawn, Jack landed like a missile, smashing down into a horde of monsters and disintegrating hundreds of nightmarish creatures in a flash of lightning. ¡°MICHEAL!¡± Jack roared, picking up Gram and throwing the weapon that carved a swath of death through the horde. ¡°COME OUT YOU COWARD!¡± Jack yelled, grabbing a leaping nest agent by its head and crushing the monstrocity with his sheer strength before using its body to bludgeon a demonspawn into a bloody pile of gore. ¡°Jack!¡± ¡°RAH!¡± Jack screamed, smashing his boot down onto the corpse before firing his gunblade repeatedly at the demon crowd. Standing upon Heaven, Jack let out another roar, taunting any to dare attack him as he sent a burst of power that blasted back the hordes of feral monstrosities. In response everal apostles emerged from the nearby ruins of marble and stone, drawn out by Jack''s angelic power only to be wiped away by Gehenna as Lilith devoured them. ¡°Out. Of. MY. WAY!¡± Jack spat, swinging his arm with a vast area of the citadel being wiped out by his anger. [Authority of Gehenna Level Up!] He wanted them dead. He wanted Michael dead! He needed him dead! Fueled by his desire for blood Jack''s mana grew, his magical signature flaring and pulling in the miasma and mana that swirled around him. Answering him All across the fallen isle, demonspawn began to stir, reacting to Jack with those asleep for thousands of years waking. Jack could feel an indescribable sensation bubbling up within, a flow of energy from his core that seeped through his body and demanded to be let out. So he did. With a roar, Jack slashed, unleashing an invisible edge of gale force winds that cut through bone, sinew, marble, and enchanted steel to annihilate thousands of demonspawn. But his attack didn''t simply destroy them, but wiped the creatures out at an atomic level, dissolving the monsters entirely with no hope of their regeneration or resurrection. ¡°Jack!¡± Selfia called out to Jack, joining him with her MECHFrame alongside what paladins and coalition forces managed to break through to the city. Above, the airships were faltering, the electronics giving out with even Selfia''s mech letting out a groan. ¡°Refocus! We need to push forward!¡± Selfia spat as Ada ran up and spun Jack to face her. ¡°Tanji! We have to go!¡± Ada yelled with some cognition returning to Jack¡¯s eye as he gazed upon the blood-covered woman. ¡°Sorry,¡± Jack grunted. He spun, calling Gram it to his hand as several apostles came out to face him. ¡°Move or die,¡± Jack said, pointing the greatsword at an apostle with the body of a deerling and the naked torso of a man. Jack was greeted by a hoof stomping down. ¡°You. Are dangerous,¡± It said before shirking away as its body began to disintegrate from Jack activating Gehenna. ¡°Fine,¡± Jack spat, charging through the ancient city with Gram in one hand, his gunblade Jill in the other, and the coalition forces at his back. What followed next was chaos and pandemonium, nonstop running, slashing, cutting, stabbing. Every movement through the rustic city of gold that humanity took was met by enemies who soon became corpses or erased from existence. ¡°We¡¯re almost there! Do not sway from the path!¡± Sahaqiel shouted, unleashing a massive blast of lightning skyward to deal with the aerial attackers. Jack grit his teeth, tossing away another speedloader and firing at various attackers.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Suddenly a thud, a cry from Selfia that reached Jack''s ears. He turned, time seeming to slow up on him spotting her Mech depowered and on the ground. In fact, the amount of soldiers that had followed him had thinned incredibly. Mi''shka was pale, standing with his severed arm in one hand and using it as a weapon while Jin stood back to back with him against their assailants. Nearby, Ada was covered head to toe in blood and panting heavily, her armor broken in various pieces as she used her massive nodachi to cleave through a nest agent. Above her, Yukino was being carried away by a demonspawn, her cybernetic arm down its throat while Jack''s aunt attempted to help her by throwing her axe. Then there was Lita, pinned to the ground beneath her shield against an apostle stepping on her while several soldiers charged with bayonets to assist. They were losing. At this rate he would make it to the grand castle in the distance but he would be alone. Jack needed something. A tool, a prayer, a power unlike any other to save those on the brink of destruction. He couldn''t lose anyone else. Here at the end, they were so close, so very close he could see the entrance of the island center. [Radiant Skill Unlocked!] It clicked. The answer to Jack''s plea. [Anti-Army Class Skill available!] [Please Name-] ¡°Silent Sanctuary.¡± The name uttered by Jack activated his anti-army skill, a culmination of every experience recorded by his system finally granting him the apex of awakened skills. Not a borrowed skill, not something shared, but a culmination of his inner will and experiences, something his heart yearned for with the system granting him the means to fulfill his wish. The flow of mana in the air shifted, an invisible change felt by all beings, demon and human alike. The battle space flickered, day turning into night, Jack''s will reaching out to the miasma and mana until it became his and bore forth the weight of his desires in the form of a soothing sunlight. Jack ordered it and the world answered, shaping his surroundings into a world of light and cherry blossoms. Structures in the nomad style of red shingles and bamboo replace the dilapidated ruins of heaven. Large trees of cherry blossoms and green reeds replaced the withered soil. A hundred meter space around Jack became still. Silent. A perfect paradise for an afternoon day of leisure and a book. A phantom world of Jack''s desires brought into reality and forced upon the world by his will and power. Anti-Army? No. This was simply a classification given by those who didn''t understand mana. The power of will and shaping the world. Jack reached out, taking a sip of tea as his allies sat in bewilderment on soft futons. His enemies however fared worse. Wrapped around various tree trunks and burrowing through the earth were chains. Blacker than night interlocks of dark iron that moved with the viscosity of vipers. Apostles and demonspawn alike who dared to break the peace were immediately skewered by the snake-like guardians of Jack''s sanctuary. Those who fled or attempted to fight had their flesh bit into by steel chains before being dragged screaming into the soil where their screams became but a memory of the past. Was it real? Jack didn''t know as his body moved on instinct with his anger and fear left behind in the face of tranquil peace. Various soldiers looked around in confusion while some simply sat and sobbed as their limbs and injuries were healed at a visible pace. Others, like Selfia however, were already trying to figure out plans to escape and questioning the nature of this anti-army skill that was deployed so rapidly. Jack''s tired face bore a soft smile as he gazed upon Ada, the woman calling out his name as she and others realized what Jack had done. He could stay here forever. But he couldn''t. Jack rose to his feet, his mind clear, his expression one of determination as he gazed upon those at the table who could see each other but couldn''t see him. Jack turned and left, stepping from the distortion in the world to return back to reality where he was greeted by snarls and howls for bloodshed. ¡°Come on then,¡± Jack said, opening his break-action gunblade and reloading the revolver cylinder by hand now that his speedloaders were all spent. He rolled his shoulders, taking a breath as the monsters began to recover, standing between him and his objective, the castle in the distance. His illusion would protect his comrades for as long as he was alive, and it would erase anything that it deemed a threat. All that was left was him to fight his way through and put an end to this madness. ¡°You weren''t really thinking of fighting alone were you?¡± Sahaqiel asked, emerging from the rip in reality. ¡°Of course, you could get out,¡± Jack smirked, realizing the woman was still attuned to him. Try as he might to shut her out or keep her pinned, the angel of freedom could never be trapped against her will. ¡°We started this journey together Jack, we sure as hell are going to finish it together,¡± Sahaqiel said as her thunderbolt staff appeared in her hand in a flash of lightning, followed by dozens of demonspawn incinerated by her attack. ¡°You can¡¯t do this alone.¡± ¡°If you can keep up, then lets go,¡± Jack said, cutting down a nest agent and taking off towards the castle in the distance with Sahaqiel at his back. AAS: Season 6:CH82: The World on Fire Beside the ruins of the gate of Zanzibar, Tenno frowned, the large man taking a seat on a recliner as the world around him burned. His shirt was in tatters, his body, covered with dozens of wounds that were healing slowly thanks to the corruptive properties of the Apostles. ¡°Quite the sight huh?¡± Tenno sighed, reaching down and taking a bottle of beer from the ice chest beside him. ¡°Said the asshole to the blind man,¡± Kenichi said, breathing out a sigh as he gripped his father''s cane sword. ¡°Would you like me to describe the sight then? Maybe put it in braille?¡± Tenno quipped, handing Kenchi a beer. ¡°You know you could have left.¡± ¡°And had I done that you would have been dead twice over,¡± Kenchi grunted, wondering what Di''luk and his sister were up to. ¡°Fair, can''t say you weren''t useful, Kenchi,¡± Tenno said, surprising Kenichi who wasn''t used to receiving compliments from the man who had been training and berating him for close to a year. ¡°... The world really is ending,¡± Kenichi retorted, sagging his shoulders. ¡°How long until the barrier fades?¡± Tenno cocked his head to the side, staring at the thousands of demonspawn led by several apostles circling around his dome of protection. A final countermeasure, not exactly his best work, but it had bought him and Kenichi at least a few moments. ¡°An hour?¡± Tenno replied before the dome of energy protecting them from meeting the same fates as the mounds of corpses flickered, ¡°Maybe less?¡± ¡°Hm,¡± Kenchi grunted, slumping forward. ¡°Do you think-¡± ¡°We wouldn''t have hedged our bets buying them time if we didn''t think otherwise,¡± Tenno cut in, rubbing back his disheveled hair. ¡°By the way¡­ you know that man killed your father right? Surprised you let him go when you could have killed him.¡± Kenchi took a moment to respond. ¡°I beat him. Which is enough for now,¡± Kenchi grumbled, twisting the cap off his beer and taking a cold, brisk sip that seemed to soothe him internally from the hellfire around him. ¡°Well, as long as you''re satisfied,¡± Tenno said, stretching out with a loud and dramatic yawn. ¡°Wake me when the barrier fails.¡± ¡°Sure, will do,¡± Kenchi replied to the man already asleep. ¡°At least one of us can sleep,¡± Kenichi muttered as the sounds of thousands of demonspawn baying angrily for his blood reached through the barrier to touch his sensitive ears. ¡°This better have been worth it Tanjii¡­¡± **** Elsewhere, Aboard the flying city of the paladins, Commandant Victoria, commander of the seventh imperial defense brigade for the city, slumped against the bulkhead door that separated her from the claws scratching at the metal. The monsters were upon the city, attacking in droves with multiple airship escorts offline or under attack from demonspawn boarders. The city fared marginally better. Despite their firepower, preparations, and number of awakened, the sheer numbers of the enemy outpaced the ammo they could fire, resulting in the city under siege and the populace under attack. Fortunately the barrier kept them somewhat at bay but their numbers were becoming untenable with some sites having to evacuate underground to stem the tide of demonspawn via tunnels and kill zones. ¡°Damn it, maybe I should have just stayed behind,¡± Victoria spat, looking down at her wound that was refusing to heal. After catching her breath, she picked herself up from the floor and moved to the radio station nearby blaring out desperate voice traffic. From maydays, last stand, and cries for reinforcements, Victoria heard it all as she opened a tactical map nearby that displayed the hundreds of stranded units still in the fight. Sadly, the rest of the command staff had retreated as the upper sectors became choked with demonspawn, leaving Victoria behind in the chaos as she dealt with demonspawn. ¡°Great,¡± Victoria muttered, looking down at her wound that wasn¡¯t healing and displaying symptoms of corruption. ¡°This is what I get for sticking out my neck I guess¡­¡± Victoria reached over, grabbing a headset. She had never been one for self-sacrifice, hell, she didn''t even like other people save for her servants and direct subordinates. But here at the end, in a bunker overrun with terrors from hell, Victoria could clearly see what needed to be done.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°No time to be a slouch¡­¡± Victoria groaned, flipping a switch to begin broadcasting orders to the stranded and cut off units. ¡°Carmine squad, this is Commandant Light, come in.¡± She was still alive, so there was still hope she''d survive. **** Standing at the entrance of the castle, at the edge of the unknown, Jack exhaled. Covered head to toe in demonic blood, Jack''s eye swept the abyss of the chamber where he was greeted to the sight of multiple red eyes gazing back at him. Demonspawn. But unlike the ones out back, these were more restrained, less rampant. Old. He could feel it. Something was different. A being with six black wings stepped forward from the darkness, a man wrapped by matching armor with a barbed trident in his claws that radiated with power. ¡°Az¡­¡± Sahaqiel whispered in disbelief, recognizing the angel once known as Azrael who gazed dispassionately at her. His usual smirk that Sahaqiel was fond of was gone, his bright blue eyes were darker than black with the power that oozed off his frame being sickening and vile rather than the comfort of an ally Sahaqiel had once known. ¡°What¡­ year is it?¡± Azrael asked coldly, his head cocking to the side inquisitively at the ruined marble and dusty interior before his body shifted into a combat stance. Caught off guard by the man''s question, Sahaqiel hesitated, her mouth opened to reply only for a trident to nearly take her head if not for Jack catching the pole of the weapon with his hand. ¡°Interesting¡­¡± Azrael blinked, his head moving slowly, almost struggling to turn and face Jack. ¡°I don''t recognize you. But you''re strong.¡± ¡°No, but I know you,¡± Jack said before crushing the enchanted weapon into two pieces with his hand, the remaining half being consumed by Lilith. Azrael flapped his wings and retreated, a smirk on his face as his eyes twitched violently. ¡°Ah, so you told him about me Sarah? I''m touched,¡± Azrael said as a choking sound came out of Sahaqiel''s tear streaked face. Suddenly, Jack realized why these surroundings were so familiar. This was a place he had visited in a memory of Sahaqiel, the last time she had seen the archangel who led the angels of death against a being known as Adam. From the shadows, a chorus of clinking of armor, the ancient defenders during the age of angels rising once more to defend their home. Lilith,¡± Jack said, his voice summoning the specter who released a banshee''s wail to destroy the gathering of shadows. Their withered forms flickered and wavered, vanishing into oblivion as Gehenna unraveled them. At least, all but one. Azrael stood intact, the archangel a cut above the rest who only winced at the command. ¡°Interesting¡­ I don''t know what you just did,¡± Azrael laughed, his body twitching, unable to resist the orders given to him. ¡°BUT I''M EAGER TO FIND OUT!¡± He raised his claw-like gauntlet, pointing a summoned blade of blue flames at the sanctum¡¯s intruders. ¡°Azrael¡­¡± Sahaqiel whispered tearfully as Jack stood in front of her and readied Gram. ¡°I''ll handle this, stand behind me,¡± Jack said as his skin tingled. In a flash of power, the two angels moved, Jack versus Azrael, the pair unleashing swift strikes with the weight of their strength and speed releasing thunderous applause. The ground shook, breaking apart the sanctum as the flow of mana warped and became pervase. Corruptive data flowed into Jack, yet as quickly as it touched him, it was wiped away by Lilith. Two swings followed, the clash of Jack and Azrael¡¯s armaments blasting the pair back from their strength mixing into a condensed ball of violent mana that shook the castle. Jack clenched his jaw, rolling his shoulders, his eye hyper-focused on the fallen angel still in one piece. A five second clash. One that devastated the entrance of the ancient castle. ¡°So this is a new angel, I would have loved to have sparred with you!¡± Azrael smirked before racing towards Jack who spun his blade, parrying the Apostle''s sword with Gram before a loud bang echoed through the castle. Azrael looked down, an expression of surprise on his face at the numerous holes peppering his body with dozens of shards protruding from his armor. ¡°Huh?¡± *Bang* Jack unloaded his gunblade, firing repeatedly at the angel who''s senses didn''t react to the non-magical attacks smacking his body. After the second shot, Azrael finally moved, attempting to teleport only for Jack¡¯s eye to track his movement and blast his kneecap out. ¡°What is that?!¡± Azrael exclaimed as the armyrethium-tipped projectile cut through his knee, sending him tumbling across the floor. ¡°It''s called a gun,¡± Jack said with the barrel of his gunblade pointed over the man. ¡°Wait!¡± Sahaqiel cried, stopping Jack just as he went to pull the trigger. The angel stood beside Jack, looking down at Azrael who cocked his head sideways and immediately sent a blast of mana at Sahaqiel that Jack grabbed and crushed. ¡°Sorry,¡± Azrael smirked. ¡°I know,¡± Sahaqiel said sadly before raising her staff, poising it to strike the fallen angel, ¡°We will free you from this nightmare.¡± ¡°Good luck,¡± Azrael chuckled, the archangel visibly shaking as he struggled against the urge to consume and join the pair before him into eternity. ¡°Head. Aim for my head. It''ll buy you the most time...¡± Sahaqiel shook, her hands tightening, eyes welling with tears as she struggled to kill her comrade in arms. Her lightning bolt sparked, the weapon so close to the man who sacrificed himself for her once before. "NOW SARA!" *Bang* ¡°J-Jack!¡± Sahaqiel shouted, stumbling back from the loud roar of the fifty caliber armythreium round blasting the fallen angel away. Jack lowered his gunblade, ¡°We can¡¯t hesitate Sara. More apostles are on the way, we need to move.¡± ¡°R-right¡­ right,¡± The angel replied, wiping away her tears as the body of her friend faded away. AAS: Season 6:CH83: Open The Door Entering the outer sanctum of Heaven, Jack swept his gaze across the ruins of what had at once been a magnificent greeting to those entering the inner sanctum. Standing beside the torn down metal gate, he could almost see the splendor of what it had once been. A haven. A home. A place where the brightest and strongest of humanity once gathered to discuss affairs around the world. Sahaqiel crouched down, picking up a metallic plate and brushing off the dust that obscured the symbol etched on its surface. ¡°We need to push on,¡± Jack coaxed, staring down the entrance they had come from and the lack of sound. Outside of the demonspawn in the sanctum that had come out to greet them, the enemies that had been nipping at their heels were gone, leaving an eerie silence in their wake. Jack pushed forward to the hallway ahead, walking through the remnants of a history unknown to modern mankind. At least, for Jack it was history, for Sahaqiel, it was a memory. The angel paused, standing over the skeletal remains of warriors she once knew. ¡°Sara?¡± Silence. The angel staring at the pair of remains. ¡°Sara, come on,¡± Jack repeated himself. When the angel didn''t move, Jack stood beside her, hand on her shoulder that caused the woman to flinch. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± Sahaqiel whispered with her words seeming to be directed not at Jack, but to the twin bodies of sturdy bones that had withstood the hands of time. The pair continued walking, moving down the hallway of dust and bones with nothing to accompany them but eerie silence and stench of decay. ¡°Did you know them?¡± Jack asked, stepping over an ancient shield. ¡°Epona and Toltecatl, friends who stayed behind so I could go ahead,¡± Sahaqiel replied softly. ¡°I''m sorry Sara,¡± Jack said, coming to a stop and turning to Sahaqiel, ¡°I know I''ve been insensitive, but I am sorry.¡± ¡°It''s¡­ fine. Knowing the world you once knew is gone is one thing but¡­ Actually seeing the remains¡­ I guess it just didn''t register. Almost like it was just a dream.¡± Jack moved, embracing Sahaqiel in a hug with the angel caught off guard for a moment. Her eyes widened, body frozen in time until her expression softened and she accepted Jack¡¯s touch. ¡°Thank you¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m here for you Sara, now and forever. You won¡¯t lose anyone else, I promise,¡± Jack said with such assurance that Sahaqiel could only softly smile. ¡°Yuck, you''re gonna make me puke,¡± Lilith hissed, putting a finger in her mouth and making a gesture for throwing up. ¡°¡°Lilith,¡±¡± Jack and Sahaqiel said in unison. ¡°What?¡± ¡°¡°Shut up.¡±¡± Moving on, Jack activated fira, keeping a ball of light in his palm to pave the way through the near suffocating darkness of the confined hallway. Walking, he could feel the call of the Infinity Machine. It was near. But so too were the lost. Every step Jack took, he could feel whispers, echoes of those lost. Anguish souls crying out in warped confusion with some seeming to be faces he recognized. But it was an illusion, the remnants of souls imitating the trauma and bloodshed that wafted off him. "Tanji..." A specter resembling Ada called out, baring Jack''s way with soulless eyes that bleed fetid blood across puss filled skin. Jack waved his hand, destroying the corrupted data with Gehenna before pushing on. A few more feet, Jack could make out an immense source of mana, a wall that hung ahead of that became almost akin to a blinding light to his angel senses. ¡°This is it,¡± Sahaqiel said as the pair came to the source of the mana, a large sealed stone door with intricate carvings along its otherwise smooth metallic surface. Sahaqiel frowned, her face scrunching as her hand touched against the barrier. ¡°What''s wrong?¡± Jack asked, standing beside the angel. ¡°This barrier¡­ it''s been untouched.¡± ¡°Untouched? Isn''t that a good thing? Doesn''t that mean we got here before-¡± Jack trailed off, realizing that he and Sahaqiel were no longer physically alone. A tingle on Jack''s skin, every hair on his body standing on in as a malicious smile broke out behind him. ¡°No no, don''t stop talking on my account. Finish your senten-¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Jack spun, swinging his blade only for the edge of Gram to be caught by the fedora wearing figure in a white suit. ¡°-ce... Rude, is that how you greet your father?¡± The man known to the world as the Black King said, goading Jack with a face that was eerily akin to his own. Jack hadn''t sensed him, in fact neither had Sahaqiel or Lilith for that matter. To his vision, the man held no core, generated no mana, yet he could clearly see the shimmers in the space that announced his presence. ¡°Bastard!¡± Jack spat, releasing his sword and firing his gunblade as Sahaqiel flung a bolt of lightning at the man. Both attacks proved ineffective. The bolt of lightning was caught and the bullets merely hung in the air as though stopped by time. ¡°Jack, wait!¡± Sahaqiel shouted as Jack took off, yet he didn''t get far. A foot away from the archangel, Jack''s hand, shaped into the visage of an electrified claw, froze in the air as Jack became unable to move. Jack grit his teeth, his entire body shaking from his effort, but try as he might, he simply couldn''t take a step forward to reach the man named Micheal. Then it hit Jack, the reason there were no demonspawn pursuing them. No apostles coming for them despite their battles. The Black King had been following them this entire time! Quietly eliminating each threat. ¡°Quite the zealous young thing aren''t you?¡± Micheal said, a smirk on his face as dozens of silver wings left Jack''s holsters to attack the archangel. Yet much like Jack, they too didn''t get far. Jack attempted to activate Gehenna, but with his body under the control of another, his energy wouldn¡¯t rouse. ¡°Any other tricks you care to indulge me with?¡± The Black King asked, standing before Jack with a nonchalant look upon his face. ¡°No? Is that all? Very disappointing Jack.¡± ¡°Micheal¡­¡± Sahaqiel let out, pointing her lightning bolt at the man. ¡°Let him go.¡± ¡°Or what?¡± The angel asked, forcing Jack to his knees from some unseen power. ¡°What are you going to do? Please, unleash your wraith upon this sinner." Sahaqiel clenched her jaw, her face one of absolute rage as her body cackled with the essence of a storm and her eyes danced with lightning. "Oh please, turn off that little light show. From the looks of things, it seems you aren''t even at full power, let alone accustomed to your own body.¡± An accurate assessment, one Jack also surmised as he suddenly found himself on all fours with his body sweating profusely as he tried to resist the Black King''s control. Lilith! Options?! ¡°Working on it! He¡¯s moving the metal in your blood, constricting movement. I can purge his control over the mana but he''ll know as soon as I do it!¡± Lilith replied, the specter identifying the threat of the Black King. ¡°After all this time... I didn''t want it to be you...¡± Sahaqiel whispered, her eyes meeting Jack''s gaze with the pair coming to an understanding as Lilith manifested behind the Black King mouthing Stall. ¡°What happened to you? The leader I followed would have never done the things you''ve done." Micheal paused. ¡°The leader you followed died when our world ended. But fret not, I will make it anew, better even,¡± Micheal said, standing before Sahaqiel with open arms. ¡°Now... Little bird, I will ask once nicely, out of difference to our shared bond. Would thy kindly open the door.¡± Sahaqiel''s eyes blazed, her body wafting with lightning as the air ionized. She threw her palm out, blasting an electrifying stream of radiant energy that flooded the cramped hallway and hit the Black King directly. For a moment, Jack could feel himself regaining control of his body, but it was only for a moment, a false hope that was squashed by a chuckle. Sahaqiel¡¯s eyes widened as the man calmly waded through her beam of power. ¡°Disappointing,¡± Micheal said, standing before Sahaqiel who could only stare at the man who grabbed her wrist. ¡°I didn''t take you for one dull enough to raise thy arms against me.¡± Micheal dusted his pristine white suit, taking a moment to clean himself before- *Smack.* Sahaqiel fell, the woman on the floor from the force of the Black King backhanding her. Jack''s eye twitched, his rage boiling up within. ¡°Ready?¡± No. Hold on. Jack sent back, his eye hyper-focused on the angel. Despite the anger coursing through his veins, Jack reeled in his temper, deciding to bide his time. ¡°Since you didn''t respond tactifully to my asking, I will now offer you a proposition,¡± Micheal said, raising his hand coated with runes with Jack''s body suddenly rising as mana began to pull at his body. "Open the door, or your boy toy dies," Jack winced, his body being constricted as his armor became a crushing cage. ¡°Now?!¡± Lilith shouted in alarm but Jack shut her down. No! Seeing Jack in pain, Sahaqiel sparked with power only to stop as Jack''s armor crumpled and his bones let out an audible crack. ¡°Now. Little bird, tick tock,¡± Micheal goaded, his face twisted with a gleeful look that unsettled Sahaqiel. ¡°Micheal¡­ Please, there''s still time to undo this. I know you, think about what you¡¯re doing!¡± Sahaqiel pleaded as a firm hand found her throat. ¡°And what is it I¡¯m doing?¡± Micheal replied, hoisting the angel up. ¡°Do you know? Do you have an inkling? An understanding of my scheme? Who are you to presume to know me, shadow?¡± ¡°I''m your sister¡­¡± Sahaqiel whispered, struggling to breathe. ¡°Please.¡± ¡°NOW?! He¡¯s choking her!¡± Lilith hissed, the specter brimming with such rage the archangel turned to face Jack, almost as if he could feel Lilith squirming. No! Wait. We¡¯ll have our moment! Jack replied, his eye locked onto the Smiling Man. ¡°Don¡¯t let your anger get the better of you Jack,¡± Micheal said as Jack¡¯s neck began to twist, his head moving at an awkward angle that would snap his spine. ¡°Sahaqiel, you''re trying my patience.¡± ¡°Please, Micheal¡­¡± ¡°Now,¡± Micheal demanded coldly, ignoring Sahaqiel''s tears as Jack let out a groan of pain upon his arms bending at awkward angles. ¡°If you kill him! You¡¯ll never get it open!¡± Sahaqiel hissed, ¡°And If I die, you¡¯ll always be denied!¡± ¡°But then you¡¯ll doom the world,¡± Micheal pursed his lips, his expression almost playful as he cocked his head to the side, ¡°Would you rather you both die and everyone else you love, or simply do one task for me?¡± Sahaqiel squeezed her eyes shut, the woman¡¯s body tensing momentarily before her shoulders slumped. Then her hand came up, the angel displaying a middle finger to Micheal''s face. ¡°Fuck you,¡± Sahaqiel swore, much to the Black King¡¯s surprise. ¡°Very well,¡± Micheal said, lifting his hand with Jack rising into the air. Shit, I- Then Jack fell, hitting the earth as Sahaqiel¡¯s body also fell, the pair suddenly released from the archangel¡¯s control. Shaking his head, Jack spun, ready to attack but freezing in place as the translucent light that secured the sanctum of the Infinity Machine died down. "It matters not really," Micheal smiled, his face contorted with amusement as the sealed entrance fell away, revealing the pathway to his prize. Beside him, a blonde woman with snow-white wings and gold eyes manifested. A familiar figure that shared the same face of the angel of freedom glaring up in horror. ¡°Fortunately, I brought my own key.¡± AAS: Season 6:CH84: Bait Two Sahaqiels. An impossibility appearing before Jack and Sahaqiel as they lay stunned by the copy of the angel that stood beside the Black King. Or was it a copy? Jack didn¡¯t know. From appearances, she looked like Sahaqiel, felt like her with her essence clear as day to Jack''s eyes. But her eyes bore no life, showed no signs of sentience with her body seeming to be more of a husk than a spirit. ¡°Surprise?¡± Micheal said as invisible chains of mana wrapped around Sahaqiel and Jack¡¯s necks, dragging the pair into the inner sanctum. ¡°I would have thought the failed project I left you in the Theocracy would have sufficed but I suppose not.¡± Within the inner sanctum was a lavish chamber, one of gold opulence and stately pillars, a far cry from the ruins and debris from the hallway outside. Ahead of Jack, a throne, one with skeletal remains at the foot of the chair with a myriad of ancient weapons and armor scattered about the room. ¡°It took me forty millennia to perfect the process,¡± Micheal said, the angel standing before the golden throne in triumph. ¡°But I did it¡­ I finally did it.¡± He rubbed his hand upon the armrest of the chair, gently caressing the dusty furniture as if greeting an old lover. ¡°What is that? What did you do?!¡± Sahaqiel demanded, her eyes dancing between the copy of herself, the archangel, and the skeletons that lingered at the base of the throne. ¡°I saved you,¡± Michael replied as he sat up on his throne and let out a sigh, closing his eyes with his face twisting to one of satisfaction. ¡°When the kill order was given, unlike you lot, I was prepared.¡± The archangel waved his hand, revealing images to the duo of a bygone time. Golden warriors stood within the sanctum, bloodied and injured with weapons at the ready as the enemy beat at the door. Chief among them was Sahaqiel, the woman in regale splendor chanting as her eyes blaze with defiance against a shadowed figure. Adam. The first fallen. From the memory Jack could feel his power, feel the fear emanating from Sahaqiel who''s eyes quivered at the sight. Then, suddenly, a pulse, every living angel falling to the ground from some unknown force with even Sahaqiel dropping. Silence. The last defenders of heaven resting in their tomb that would be forever undisturbed from outside forces. Then, disturbing the quit of armageddon, a figure emerged, a child who stood before Sahaqiel¡¯s body. "No," Sahaqiel whispered, the angel realizing just how the archangel had survived. He transplanted his consciousness. Using a non-awakened child as a host to drag away Sahaqiel¡¯s body from the inner sanctum just as Sahaqiel''s spell activated and sealed the chamber. ¡°I learned much from Eve. About the soul, about runes, about the lengths we would go to correct mistakes,¡± Micheal gloated as the images shifted to the boy pulling energy from Sahaqiel¡¯s body. ¡°But it would take me thousands of years. Hundreds of experiments. Millions of material wasted until my vision could come to pass.¡± Thousands of images began to litter the chamber, hundreds of lifetimes lived through different bodies to continue his mission. In one, Jack saw a girl in the likeness of Sahaqiel, flesh and blood who sang at a coven of nuns as the Black King, dressed in vestments of a priest, looked on. In another, The Black King now in the body of a woman within a manger holding a golden eyed boy.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Dozens of lifetimes, all with the archangel Micheal perpetuating a cycle of Sahaqiel''s rebirth and death. From cloning, to breeding, to creating constructs. Each time breaking pieces of Sahaqiel''s soul to use as material but just enough to keep her soul largely intact. From the stone age to the present, so many lives. So many deaths. That was until he came to Lilith. When he decided to awaken Sahaqiel¡¯s consciousness into a vessel he could control. The final split. The culmination of forty thousand years of testing, experimenting, and dying to produce the final specter that stood now beside him as his key. Horror, Sahaqiel shook, realizing the depth of violation she¡¯d been unknowingly subjected to. Her eyes were completely mesmerized on the lifetimes she knew nothing about with her gaze settling on the final version of herself singing at the top of her lungs as her body turned to stone, preventing the horrors from reaching the people fleeing into the mountains. The Saintess of the Theocracy. Micheal cast his eyes down, the man enjoying the moment to monologue as he called his version of Sahaqiel to wrap around his shoulders like a cape. ¡°And now, here at the end, I have not one, but two angels,¡± Micheal smirked, rising from his throne as an ominous presence tickled Jack¡¯s skin. ¡°My saviors.¡± Micheal waved his glowing hand and the wall behind the throne fell away, the defensive enchantments disabled to reveal a chamber full of pulsating flesh and crystalline figures. A sickness crept into the world, a horrid scar of anguish and pain that seeped from what seemed like an open wound. Amidst the crystals was a shackled figure, a tanned-skin man wearing decrepit trousers who hung suspended above a pit by writhing tentacles and chains. ¡°No, impossible! You wouldn''t!¡± Sahaqiel exclaimed, recognizing the figure. Jack didn''t need the angel¡¯s memories to recognize the man. Instinctually he knew what he was looking at, knew the enormity of the threat before he and Sahaqiel. The man from the memories of the angel, the one known as Adam. If the Black King felt like a void, the man suspended was an abyss. A wretched creature in the guise of a man with crystals adorning his body. ¡°Oh but I will,¡± Micheal¡¯s lips shifted, unveiling his trademark smile. He raised his arm, his hand radiating with sigils of gehenna that spurred his will. Jack roused his mana, attempting to activate his own Gehenna but stopping as Micheal snickered and shook his head at Jack. He wouldn''t be able to activate an attack this way. But at least he still had an ace up his sleeve. Something the Black King didn''t know. ¡°Adam. The first awakened. The first hunter. Able to hunt down the magically gifted from anywhere across the globe. Even in his weakened state, a direct confrontation with him would spell the end of any living being,¡± Micheal said, standing a few feet away from the suspended figure. ¡°Oddly, he only ever pursued us angels¡­ never lessers, almost as if he knows they''re beneath him.¡± Micheal turned to the duo, ¡°Fortunately, you two fit his criteria for his hunt. Beings strong enough to draw his ire while I pursue the salvation of all mankind.¡± ¡°You¡­ monster!¡± Sahaqiel exclaimed, ¡°Why? WHY?! After all our sacrifices?! You want to awaken Adam?! If you free him he''ll kill us all and doom the world!¡± The black king laughed, his golden eyes faded as he looked down at the pair, ¡°My dear little bird, I am not dooming the world, I¡¯m fixing it. After all, were we not once exalted as beings of compassion? Consider your demise the foundation of a new¡­ better world. Try not to die too soon will you?¡± Suddenly the chamber shook, the world around Jack becoming pervasive as tentacles of flesh began to grow around the throne room. Micheal rose to his feet as his throne crumbled away and the entire floor began to rumble. The crystals upon Adam''s body began to crack and shatter, the ancient seals that bound him being undone by Micheal. Below the prisoner, the pit began to shine, bubbling forth brackish black light that drew Jack''s eye. He could see it. Data. Raw magical information rising from the earth, pouring out of the wound in the earth to awaken the slumbering man. But most shocking to Jack was the whirlpool of mana, the information twisting in such a way he recognized it as a teleport ability similar to Ivan''s. ¡°At long last, I will take what should have been mine,¡± Micheal said as he turned away and dropped into the pit, cementing Jack''s theory. ¡°Jack! The infinity machine! If he gets to it it''s all over!¡± Sahaqiel exclaimed with her and Jack still bound by the Black King¡¯s strength. Neither could move, not while the magic of the Black King inhibited their mana flow. At least, that''s what Micheal assumed. ¡°Do you trust me?¡± Jack asked, sharing a look with the angel as the portal ahead began to shrink and Adam began to wake. ¡°Of course. With my heart and soul,¡± Sahaqiel replied, her eyes darting between Jack and the figure slowly raising his head. ¡°Now!¡± Jack spat, giving Lilith the go ahead to dispel Michael¡¯s bindings. He raced forward, grabbing Sahaqiel, picking up the angel in his arms as the being known as Adam made eye contact with Jack, his head snapping to track the nearest source of mana. Time seemed to slow, a moment stretched out into eternity as fear gripped Jack''s heart. ¡°FUCK!¡± Jack screamed, leaping forward, all his magical energy igniting all at once to propel him and Sahaqiel into the portal just as a hand reached out for him. AAS: Season 6:CH85: Proposition of Distraction Tumbling through a vortex of energy, Jack and Sahaqiel screamed as they spun wildly in each other''s arms. ¡°Hold on!¡± Jack exclaimed as his body began to glitter, his form shifting with Sahaqiel faring no better. ¡°What''s your plan?!¡± Sahaqiel asked over the screaming of data streaming past them. ¡°I don''t know!¡± After jumping into the whirlpool, Jack and Sahaqiel''s surroundings had become a stream of data, a tunnel made of mana that pierced the boundary of reality to send the pair hurling through a white void. Sahaqiel moved her wings, wrapping them around Jack with the duo holding each other as close as possible to avoid separating. Then it stopped. The pair hit a field of white that became their new surroundings. ¡°Hm?¡± Micheal turned, eyes wide, the Black King in the midst of moving towards the only source of color in the white void being a massive tree of pulsating red veins emanating from a gunmetal sphere. Jack was up, racing forward, the archangel caught by surprise as the man''s face scrunched with anger and he moved mana to bind the oncoming man. Yet Lilith dispelled the attack, forcing Micheal to back away as Jack''s fist cratered the space he''d been standing. ¡°What?! How?! You shouldn''t be able to activate gehenna!¡± Micheal spat, avoiding an uppercut and firing a blast of energy at Jack who batted it away. ¡°Wouldn''t you like to know?¡± Jack spat as Sahaqiel formed a bow of lighting and began firing a stream of arrows that forced the enemy archangel back. The pair were immediately on Micheal, both angels sparking with lightning as they attacked the man, Jack up close, and Sahaqiel from afar. Still, despite their combined efforts, Micheal was holding out well, batting away magic attacks, parrying Jack''s sword, and avoiding the pair with expert ease. Suddenly lightning spells began to manifest, sigils lighting up around Micheal before firing towards Sahaqiel. ¡°His Sahaqiel is in the fight! He''s not alone!¡± Lilith reported as Jack avoided a stray bolt and charged forward. ¡°You shouldn''t be in here!¡± Micheal hissed, catching Jack by the throat as the space around them shook. ¡°No! NO!¡± Suddenly the chamber around them began to corrode with pockets of flesh, tendrils that invaded the world from holes that seemed to burn into the white canvas around them. ¡°Do you two realize what you''ve done?! Your purpose was to be an offering for it! Not lead it here!¡± Micheal hissed as a shadowed hand gripped the edge of the void above and began forcing its way into the space. The figure from before had chased them, entering the sanctum that held what Jack could only assume was the Infinity machine. Jack opened his mouth, spewing frost as Sahaqiel fired a massive bolt of electrified energy. Micheal moved Jack in the way of the attack, using him as a shield only for the lightning bolt to curve and slam into the archangel¡¯s mana barrier. Lilith activated Gehenna, dispelling Michael¡¯s shield to allow the lightning to strike him and release Jack who swiped with his gunblade. ¡°So you can dispel my barriers, but can you destroy my attacks?¡± Micheal spat, raising a hand that Jack attempted to absorb only to be blown back. Why can''t I absorb it?! Jack sent, clenching his jaw as his took the burnt of the magical beam. ¡°It''s because of his version of Gehenna, its infusing his attacks. We can disrupt it but can''t completely absorb it.¡± Jack rolled his shoulders back as he eyed the sphere in the distance. Wait¡­ Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Realization dawned on Jack, prompting him to give orders to Lilith. ¡°Fools. You''ve doomed yourselves, coming here, you''ve only delayed the inevitable,¡± Micheal said, catching a lightning bolt from Sahaqiel and crushing it in a fist. ¡°Do you think because you''ve momentarily delayed my progress that you''ve achieved some feat? That you''ve accomplished a grandiose goal?!¡± ¡°Yeah well, this story doesn''t have to end with Sahaqiel and I dying,¡± Jack said, glaring at the Black King as he pointed at the shadow entering the space. ¡°We can all lose.¡± Micheal went rigid, standing still for a moment with his eyes closed before they opened with a wide grin upon his face. ¡°You can''t beat me Jack.¡± ¡°No, but he can,¡± Jack said as Michael''s eyes shifted to the metal sphere hovering nearby and then to the figure poking his head into the space. ¡°Try and run for it, go ahead. You might be stronger than me but I sure as hell can slow you long enough for him to get in.¡± Micheal shifted, his facial expression changing rapidly. ¡°That you can¡­ Congratulations are in order young angel, it''s been an age since I''ve felt¡­ annoyed,¡± Micheal said, unaware of the black specter flying past him. Or, perhaps Jack had thought too soon as the archangel began to turn towards Lilith. ¡°Hey!¡± Jack spat, hedging his bets. ¡°You can either help us and maybe survive, or go for the machine and die.¡± At Jack¡¯s proposition, Sahaqiel spun, facing him as the enemy archangel began to laugh. It was a coarse sound, one that was both unnatural and unsettling, like something mimicking a human noise. ¡°You would join hands with the man responsible for so much of your suffering? The man who command''s your father''s body, experimented on your sister, and brought ruin to so many of your loved ones?¡± Micheal bared his teeth, summoning six splendid wings that hung upon his back. Sahaqiel shook, the angel furious. ¡°I''ll do what I have to,¡± Jack replied as the portal above finally expanded, allowing the man known as Adam to descend. Micheal raised his head, a wide smile upon his face, ¡°Blessed are the peacemakers, for they are my sons.¡± **** ¡°What the duck?! What the duck? Holy spit are you for ducking real?!¡± Selfia screamed at the tranquil world around her. ¡°What kind of spell makes you unable to ducking curse?!¡± ¡°The kind Jack would envision,¡± Ada said as she planted her nodachi into the earth saturated by flowers. The crunch of boots against soil captured Selfia''s attention, turning her to the awakened officer. ¡°General Oliva, status report,¡± Selfia demanded while kicking over a garden gnome. ¡°We''ve amassed our forces. Six hundred and eighty-five personnel accounted for and combat effective, your Majesty, the Regalias are waiting for you at the dinner,¡± The General in purple armor said, snapping a salute. ¡°He built a whole darn town,¡± Selfia growled, walking across a redwood bridge that hung over a serene river. ¡°Ugh it''s so ducking quiet.¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you always complaining about everything being too loud?¡± Leona said, trailing behind Selfia with Ada. ¡°Yes but everything is TOO quiet. It''s irritating, and I don''t like being coddled,¡± Selfia hissed. ¡°Now you know how Jack feels,¡± Ada said, drawing a glare from the Queen. The group continued through the peaceful town, passing cherry blossom trees and verdant shrubbery until they came to a large redwood building with white walls and red shingles. ¡°For fudge¡¯s sake why does nomad architecture have to look so similar,¡± Selfia groaned. Outside, a crowd of six hundred souls, all of the people that had been caught up in Jack''s anti-army skill. ¡°What do you have for me?¡± Selfia demanded as they entered the dinner where the leaders of the alliance sat in a fully furnished dinner around what appeared to be a crack in the world. One of many that began to appear around the fake settlement. Anala, Bell, Igwhell, the three highest ranking noblewomen of the imperial beneath Selfia, the last of the great noble houses sat inside joined by a bald headed nomad named Min who was the liaison of the Hoshido and Lita, the leader of the paladins. ¡°We¡¯ve studied the fractures, and we can definitely escape-,¡± Duchess Bell began. ¡°But?¡± Selfia raised a brow. ¡°-but, to do so would require all three of us and exhaust our magical might. This world eats our mana, in fact it destroys anything it perceives as a threat.¡± ¡°There''s also the fact that we can only breach the barrier for a few moments,¡± A short redheaded tanned skinned woman belonging to House Anala said. ¡°I need a time. Tangible numbers.¡± ¡°Three minutes. Then it shuts.¡± ¡°Three minutes to send six hundred back,¡± Selfia surmised, pursing her lips. ¡°We also don''t know what''s out there,¡± Mi¡¯shka added, the man flexing his hand that had been regrown thanks to Jack''s spell. ¡°For all we know we could be walking into a swarm of demonspawn.¡± ¡°It doesn''t matter,¡± Selfia said, ¡°Jack is out there, fighting for the world while we''re in here being ba¡­ huh.¡± Selfia trailed off, realizing the irony of the situation she found herself in. Sidelined and in a position unable to do what she wanted. ¡°Now has it sunk in?¡± Ada said, leaning on her nodachi to poke at Selfia who recovered quickly. ¡°What do you want us to do? The strongest of us won''t be able to fight if we open it,¡± Duchess Bell said. Selfia closed her eyes, mulling the decision for a moment. They still had guns, ammo, and high quality explosives. The keys to success that Selfia always tried to keep on hand. ¡°Get it open, this isn''t a fight I''m going to sit out of. Jin, Mi¡¯shka, get your strongest together, General Olive, muster all the ammo you can find. I have a feeling Jack and Sahaqiel are going to need all the support they can get.¡± AAS: Season 6:CH86: Free For All As the figure known as Adam finally descended, Jack flashed a look towards his allies. A forty thousand year-old woman once hailed as a goddess of the wind. A trained assassin with a giant shield who lived inside him. An invisible spirit of a tortured angry girl hatching a daring plot. And a megalomaniac body snatching man who wore the guise of a person proclaiming to be his father. All of this versus the being known as the first Awakened who even the mighty archangels feared. Eyeing him, Adam looked like an ordinary man, yet to his angel vision, he was a black spot in the shape of a man. An echo in the world, one that sent shivers down Jack''s spine in a way he hadn''t felt in a long time. Fear? Excitement? Jack didn''t recognize the emotion, all he knew was that his survival was in the balance. Micheal was silent, no doubt contemplating on how he would sacrifice Jack and Sahaqiel. With his goal only a few feet away, all he''d have to do is reach the grey metal sphere. Jack narrowed his eyes, feeling the Black King weaving mana around Jack. It wasn''t debilitating, nor did it seem like a prelude to an attack. However, Jack wasn''t taking chances. ¡°Try it,¡± Jack said as he ordered Ruby to be on standby. The archangel''s eyes shifted between Jack and Adam, calculating the odds. ¡°You would do better to focus on Adam rather than me,¡± Micheal smiled before a blur appeared beside Jack. ¡°JACK!¡± Sahaqiel yelled, her warning too late as Jack''s elevation changed. Jack winced, suddenly bouncing off the ground with his body, an unwilling ragdoll that his assailant made into a club to hit the archangel Micheal in the back attempting to run. The pair tumbled, separating as Jack''s boot found Micheal¡¯s chin and sent the archangel away from the grey metal sphere. ¡°Tch!¡± Micheal let out, rolling backwards and spinning to fire a beam of golden energy at the caustic wave of mana unleashed by Adam. Sahaqiel took to the sky, unleashing an electric net at both Micheal and Adam as Jack opened fire with a gunblade. Micheal backpedaled, taking control of Jack''s bullets and arcing them around himself to strike at Adam who ignored the attack and turned his attention upwards to Sahaqiel. He was gone. Replaced instead by a boom with Sahaqiel finding herself planted into the ground. ¡°Sara!¡± Jack yelled as Micheal soared past. Suddenly chains, black iron wielded by Ruby and amplified by Lilith that obstructed the archangel''s path. ¡°Begone shadow,¡± Micheal spat, raising his hand to cut down the specter only for his attack to clang against her shield augmented by gehenna. ¡°Hm?¡± Caught off guard, Micheal retreated, evading and batting away the chains belonging to Lilith that supported Jack''s shielder. Meanwhile Sahaqiel was screaming, pulsating with lightning as she kicked at the man holding her with an indifferent expression. ¡°GET OFF OF HER!¡± Jack snapped, descending from above and slashing with his gunblade only for the blade of the weapon to shatter as Adam lifted his hand. The man turned, black eyes now focused on Jack before a fist imprint appeared on Jack''s chest armor. ¡°UhMP?!¡± Jack let out, flying backwards and into Ruby who caught him with her body. With Jack and Ruby entwined, Micheal seized the opportunity to rush towards the Infinity Machine but Jack, bleeding profusely from his mouth reached out, throwing what few feathers he had at Micheal¡¯s ankles that latched on with a crisp clasp. The archangel looked down then back up at Jack with a brow raised.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Jack hissed as the silver feathers let off loud bursts of light from the flashbangs going off. To make them more effective, Jack empowered the skill, supercharging the flashbangs with as much mana as possible. But Jack didn''t stop there, he charged forward, using Ruby''s shield as a springboard to tackle the archangel while activating mana release. Micheal blinked and frowned, completely undisturbed by the detonations of mana and unmoved by Jack hugging his waist. ¡°And what did you intend-¡± Wide-eyed, the archangel realized too late what Jack was doing. The sudden burst of explosive energy and Jack unleashing a gush of mana besides Micheal was more than enough to take Adam¡¯s attention away from Sahaqiel. Adam was beside them now, using Sahaqiel¡¯s body as a weapon with her throat as his handle. Jack ducked low, avoiding the impact of Sahaqiel hitting Micheal and delivered two jabs into Adam''s face. It didn''t blink. But upon Jack activating Gehenna the man took notice, spinning to face Jack and avoid the palm that reached out for his wrist. Adam released Sahaqiel, instead targeting Jack directly. ¡°Oh fuck-¡± Jack said before a hand entered through his stomach. Jack blinked once...tThen twice as Sahaqiel screamed his name. ¡°What¡­ are you?¡± Adam said, his voice so cold against Jack''s skin as his insides bled from his body. ¡°So much pain. So much suffering¡­ I see you.¡± A storm began to brew, Sahaqiel summoning her bronze lightning bolt to smite the first Awakened. ¡°SAHAQIEL! STOP MICHEAL!¡± Jack roared, halting the Archangel in her tracks as Micheal smacked Ruby away. Jack grabbed hold of Adam''s arm, pulling himself closer as he dug his heels in to pin the man turning his attention towards Sahaqiel who had become the biggest source of mana. At least until she threw her lightning bolt. Micheal spun, catching the grandiose bolt of lightning with his hand and absorbing the energy with his own Gehenna before catching Sahaqiel''s symbol. ¡°Sic em boi,¡± Jack hissed with Adam sliding his arm diagonally through Jack''s body as if cutting a cake and rushing off to attack Michael. [-355 HP] [Warning! Fatal Damage!] Jack fell, his eyes blinking repeatedly as he felt a sickness take root with an overwhelming urge to vomit. Yet instead of bile, blood flowed, red ichor leaking from his wound and mouth from the severe damage of Adam''s arm sliding out of his body. ¡°Jack!!!¡± Sahaqiel screamed, appearing beside Jack now struggling to hold his internal organs into his body. ¡°L-lilith. Lilith''s at the¡­gh buy. Time!¡± Jack let out, struggling to communicate as his injuries refused to heal thanks to the corruption from Adam''s arm eating away at his body. ¡°Jack! Jack! Stay with me!¡± Sahaqiel yelled, her voice seeming to echo in the space around him. Laying in his own blood and staring into the white emptiness around him, Jack could feel the pull of the Infinity Machine. A call like no other that sung to him a sweet melody of peace and harmony. This wasn''t Jack''s first near death experience, but it was the first time he felt the pull of the Infinity Machine so strongly. It whispered to him, a muffled chorus of thousands, no, billions of voices that invited him into the collective. All that he was. All that he experienced. Every action and inaction. Jack could see his entire life passing by like a movie. A movie that was being read by the Infinity Machine. ¡°Breathe! Just breathe Jack!¡± Sahaqiel said, her shaking hands coated in blood as Micheal fought off The Adam. ¡°Sarah¡­ I''m tired¡­¡± Jack whispered, his vision darkening. **** Deep within the object known as the Infinity Machine, Lilith stood frozen, unsure of what to do as Jack lay dying on the floor. He had sent her towards the machine in hopes that she could tamper with it or block the Black King, but she didn''t have a clue what she was doing as intricate lines of code streamed by into a funnel that was the Infinity Machine. Unknown to the naked eye, the little grey machine was connected to¡­ everything. Every action, reaction, change in temperature, airflow, everything, was funneled through the sphere. Lilith hesitated, as close as she was, she could feel it calling to her, pulling at her. Would she survive if she touched it? Was it safe? She didn''t know, but if she didn''t do something soon everything would be over. ¡°Fucking hell.¡± Lilith reached out, her corporeal form lighting up with tattoos as she activated Gehenna. The data stream parted ways, opening like a door to warp the world from a white void to a canvas of symbols. Her consciousness melded with the machine, her soul, completely pulled in alongside the tidal wave of data. Drowning in the sea of existence, Lilith activated Gehenna, her glowing body repelling the information that threatened to devour and consume her. Standing at the root of reincarnation, Lilith couldn''t make sense of the numbers. Until she could. Suddenly the data warping around her began to change, painting images, showing equations, and creating a sort of translucent interface before her. So much power. So much data that could be used to harm or to heal. Her thoughts turned to Jack, resulting in the interface displaying an image of the dying man as Sahaqiel wept. Lilith frowned, her thoughts shifting to Ada which then made the screen display a live feed of the woman along with Selfia and a crowd standing in a depilated throne room. Then it clicked, the machine was reading her thoughts and reacting! Jack and Sahaqiel needed help. That much was certain, so Lilith directed her thoughts into bringing them aid. A fissure opened up, the same tunnel that would draw Selfia''s warriors into the fight. Suicidal? Fruitless? Maybe. But she needed time. Time to understand the Machine. Time to figure out how to use the incredible source of power before her. Fortunately, she knew what to direct it at as the interface showed the image of a wounded Jack. "Lets-" Lilith began before she froze in place as a figure in white abruptly manifested and approached her. AAS: Season 6:CH87: Convergence of Souls ¡°He¡¯s dying!¡± Ada exclaimed, doing her best to try and heal Jack whose body was beginning to seize. ¡°Hold him still! Hold him!¡± Mi''shka ordered, using his blood control to try and stem the flow of Jack''s blood while Ada and Sahaqiel continued to apply healing magic. "Damn gorilla keeps breaking my arms!" Selfia hissed, her multitude of prosthetic limbs failing to pin down the convulsing man. ¡°Sarah, Sarah what do we do?!¡± Ada asked as Jack''s body refused to heal thanks to the corruption turning his flesh necrotic. Behind them, Selfia''s troops and what awakened Lilith had managed to pull into the space were converging on Micheal and Adam, the soldiers paying with blood to delay the enemy hellbent on taking his prize. ¡°I-,¡± Sahaqiel began before Lilith manifested, showing herself to the group trying to keep Jack alive. ¡°Bring him to the sphere! I''ve got a plan!¡± Lilith spat as Micheal cut down Jin and made his move to reach the Infinity Machine. ¡°Go!¡± Sahaqiel shouted, turning to get ready to intercept the Black King. "Sahaqiel, take this," Selfia said, drawing out Excalibur and handing it to the angel who took it and moved to attack the archangel. **** ¡°Jack¡­ Jack. Jack, wake up. Jack? I know you''re -¡± Jack''s eyes shot open, he sat up, taking in his surroundings that were of his old barren apartment of New Eden. ¡°What?¡± Jack muttered, moving his body that was devoid of tattoos, scars, and the usual hum of mana he felt pulsating beneath his skin. An illusion? A dream? No¡­ too real to be a dream. Jack removed the paper thin blankets draped over his body to plant his feet upon the ground as he scanned his surroundings. Lilith? Ruby? Nothing. He roused his mana, attempting to break free from this illusion yet all Jack felt was¡­ Nothing. Jack stood up and walked across his apartment, standing beside the window that overlooked the city untouched by demonspawn. Untouched by his act of vengeance. ¡°Jack.¡± At the call of his name Jack spun, swinging his fist at a woman that caught it. ¡°Eleanor?¡± ¡°Hi Jack,¡± Eleanor said, the red-eyed blonde woman wrapped in the imperial officer uniform flashing a smile. Immediately Jack was on the offensive, throwing a flying knee kick that was blocked followed by several jabs parried and blocked by the red-eyed woman who retreated across the room. ¡°You''ve become quite the fighter,¡± Eleanor said, smiling at Jack who raised his palm, willing energy to attack the woman yet nothing came of it. ¡°What is this? Is this another ploy?¡± Jack hissed. One moment he was dying and the next he was trapped in this¡­ illusion? ¡°No. Not a ploy," The Imperial Mage replied, her expression softening, "You''re dead.¡± Two words that made Jack momentarily pause. ¡°This isn''t exactly what I imagined my afterlife would be like,¡± Jack said, his eyes scanning his surroundings. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Dead? He couldn''t be dead. Not when there was so much to do, so much at stake. No, something else was happening. ¡°No, it wasn''t what I pictured either.¡± There were many things Jack wanted to say to the woman, but he kept quiet, unsure if this was a ruse. ¡°Lilith sent me,¡± Eleanor said, a small smile on her face as she calmly walked towards Jack and stood before him. She looked him up and down, taking in the full image of the man Jack had become from the teenager she once knew. Jack''s brow furrowed, distrust clear on his face. Micheal didn''t know about Lilith. Most didn''t. It was a well kept secret that was his triumph card against the Black King. Was this a ruse? A lie? Maybe a spell where his mind was probed for information and Lilith had been spotted? Jack didn''t know, but he wasn''t taking chances. ¡°How do I know you''re telling the truth?¡± Jack asked. ¡°You don''t,¡± Eleanor replied, raising her hand to touch Jack''s face only to stop as he flinched. ¡°But time is of the essence. You. Are. Dying¡­¡± ¡°Yeah. I know,¡± Jack replied deadpan, turning to the window. ¡°So what''s her plan then?¡± Eleanor sighed, staring at her palms. ¡°To win.¡± ¡°How?¡± Jack said, snapping his head towards the woman beside him. ¡°She¡¯s working on something to give you an opportunity to disable Adam¡­ but you aren''t going to like it.¡± Jack blinked, ¡°And where is Lilith, why isn''t she telling me this?¡± ¡°Because she''s busy managing that and keeping the Black King at bay,¡± Eleanor said, handing Jack an intellipad that displayed Micheal clashing with Adam while attempting to gain access to the Infinity Machine. Jack''s mouth opened as he spotted Selfia beside the Infinity Machine, the woman yelling indiscernible words while Ada and Mi¡¯shka dragged his body to the sphere. ¡°What is Ada doing here?!¡± ¡°Buying time. Your angel friend can''t manage looking after you and dealing with the Black King and Adam,¡± Eleanor reported, her eyes crinkling at the sight of Mi''shka helping to move Jack''s blood into his body and circulate it. They were a small team. Mi''shka, Jin, Leona, Ada, Selfia, and Lita, all of them trying to keep Jack alive while imperial soldiers began entering the space. Paladins and Imperials throwing themselves at the enemy archangel who swatted them away. ¡°What does Lilith need from me?¡± Jack asked as he looked at the former mage whose focus was on the heterochromic white-haired man. Genuine love and longing. Whatever doubts Jack had was dispelled as the woman raised her head and blinked away the tears in her eyes. ¡°She needs your consent.¡± ¡°Consent?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Eleanor said with a frown, her eyes wondering to the sleeping girl curled up on the floor. ¡°Because what your friends are about to do is going to hurt. A lot. And there''s no guarantee of survival.¡± "When does it not hurt?" Jack sighed before locking eyes with his former friend. "Whatever it is, I''m ready." **** Jack gasped, his eyes snapping open to the sound of gunfire, explosions, and his final gasps of life. ¡°Tanji!¡± ¡°¡°Jack!¡±¡± A multitude of voices, people calling his name as he lay bleeding out over a machine with tiny tendrils picking corruptive flesh from his wound. Suddenly Jack spun, pushing away a frantic Ada to call out to the angel doing her best to keep Adam and the Black King. ¡°SAHAQIEL! COME TO ME!¡± Jack roared through the blood gushing from his mouth. At his command, the angel spun, racing towards Jack with her bronze lightning bolt in hand and impaling him through the chest and into the Infinity Machine. Stunned, Mi¡¯shka and Selfia stood wide-eyed at the sight of Sahaqiel killing Jack. ¡°TANJI!¡± Ada shrieked before swiping at the angel only to go flying as a sudden eruption of light blinded all those gathered. A scream sounded, a unified voice of Jack and Sahaqiel crying in pain as intense voltages sparked wildly around the room. Immediately Adam disengaged from the Black King, moving on the source of light with fist raised only for a hand to leave the light and catch the First Awakened by the throat. As the light faded, Sahaqiel was gone. In her stead stood Jack, his eye patch falling away to reveal two burning orbs of gold that glared angrily at the world. Upon his back, six wings. Four of pristine white and two of shadowed black while on his arms were shackles connected to obsidian chains. ¡°T-Tanji?¡± Ada let out as the being known as Adam suddenly dissipated into ash. Jack stepped forward, lightning coursing around his glowing body that pulsed from the runic tattoos that covered him from head to toe. This¡­ feels better. Jack sent as he flexed his hand. ¡°I couldn''t agree more,¡± Sahaqiel replied, manifesting her spiritual form to hug him from behind. Much like their first meeting, Jack and Sahaqiel had merged. However, unlike their first encounter, the conjoining of bodies were that of an Archangel and an angel. Two beings ahead of the fake awakened and humans. He raised a hand, pointing at the Black King while his other manifested a large obsidian shield. ¡°Micheal. I''m going to fuck you up,¡± Jack growled as a portal opened, and chains appeared, snatching Ada and the coalition forces away. ¡°I see,¡± Micheal chuckled, adjusting his white suit and picking up his fedora. He straightened the creases on his torn suit, gold eyes narrowing as he realized that Jack in fact had more tricks to show him. ¡°Come on then, I gainsay you''re in need of an attitude adjustment.¡± AAS: Season 6:CH88: Delay And Deny Micheal and Jack. Two archangel''s staring at one another waiting for the other to make a move. ¡°Ready?¡± Jack whispered to Sahaqiel. Jack pulled Gram to himself, holding it aloft before seizing the initiative to attack. ¡°Ready.¡± He disappeared, slashing, the edge of Gram cutting through the Black King¡¯s mana barrier who reacted with alarm. Micheal leaned back, avoiding the attack and raising his hand. Suddenly Jack could feel the metal of Gram shifting, the Black King attempting to yank the weapon from Jack¡¯s control. But Jack wouldn''t have it. His black feathers segmented, flying out, each one laced with Gehenna and attacking Micheal who furrowed his brow before backpedalling and swiping at the air to erect a mana barrier. It was ineffective. The feathers pierced through, impaling Micheal in various spots along his white suit and drawing a look of shock from the angel as Jack swung Gram. ¡°Ignite, Dandelga.¡± Those two words, uttered before a massive blade of black burst into existence from a flash of fire. In Micheal''s hand was a two-handed slab of flaming metal, a sword that clashed against Jack''s with a resounding clang. Suddenly Gram began to react, heating up, the blade of the weapon engulfed in flames. ¡°A cheap copy wielded by a cheap copy,¡± Micheal taunted, ¡°Irony.¡± ¡°Kill yourself,¡± Jack hissed, spitting into Micheal''s face before unleashing a repulse point-blank. Micheal scowled, wiping the spittle away from his face before raising his palm. ¡°Enough.¡± A beam of gold energy intertwined with corruption poured forth from Micheal''s hand, striking Jack who cast it to the side with Gehenna before rushing forward in a stream of lightning. The pair clashed, releasing flames and sparks with each strike of their metal smashing against one another. Lightning began to manifest around Micheal, the man''s Sahaqiel firing bolts at Jack only for the latter to twist the energy to return and strike Micheal. ¡°What?¡± Micheal muttered before being blasted by a thunderous bolt of lightning that drowned out all sound. Micheal tumbled, hitting the ground and skidding to a halt as his hand dug into the ground. The man twitched, his body spasming slightly before embers spewed from his mouth. Suddenly the man immolated, his body wafting with flames as his wings ignited. ¡°Good. Good! Show me what I''ve made!¡± The archangel shouted as he shot forward in a stream of fire. ¡°RAAAH!¡± Jack roared, answering in kind and racing forward, slashing at the archangel who ducked and delivered a blow into Jack''s stomach before releasing a fireball point blank from his palm at Jack. Covered in flames Jack retreated and sent his feathers forward, his attacks being dodged by Micheal who either expertly evaded his feathers or parried them to close the distance and lift his burning blade. Jack raised Ruby''s shield and blocked Micheal¡¯s sword. The impact making Jack wince as the Black King¡¯s strength lifted him off his feet and sent him a few yards back. ¡°You''re running out of time Jack,¡± Micheal said, directing Jack''s attention to the mass of flesh growing out of a vein from the infinity machine that began to sprout ligaments and bones. ¡°Once Adam reforms we''ll be back to where we already were. And no matter how many times you dispel him, he''ll come back and your little friendship-is-magic-trick, well, you''ve just removed another body from this fight.¡±This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Jack. It''s time.¡± Lilith said. Jack smiled, standing upright, his wings flapping lightly. ¡°Pray tell, what are you so smug about? You''ve only delayed the inevitable. You and Sahaqiel alone still aren''t enough.¡± ¡°Well, it''s a good thing we aren''t alone,¡± Jack replied as the metallic sphere behind them began to pulse. Suddenly the white room flashed black, the tree-like roots of the Infinity Machine pulsing as intense pressure began to build in the space. ¡°What? What did you do?!¡± Micheal snapped as the white room dimmed. ¡°Hello father,¡± Lilith said, smiling as she revealed herself to the man responsible for her creation. ¡°Did you miss me?¡± Realization dawned on Michael, the man''s eyes wide as he momentarily stood in a state of shock at the being with gold Gehenna tattoos covering her body. ¡°You¡­ I see, so you were the blind spot,¡± Micheal hissed, his words lost on Jack. The white room pulsed, the mass of flesh suddenly deflating as a pulse of energy washed over Jack and Micheal. Micheal could feel it, the call of infinity. The same feeling he had felt forty thousand years ago when the kill switch was activated. ¡°So this is what you''ve chosen,¡± Micheal hissed, ¡°All that power at your fingertips and this?! This is what you choose to do with it?! Do you realize all the good you''ve undone? How far you''ve set humanity back?! You were supposed to be the ultimate weapon! The one to stop Adam and you''ve doomed us all!¡± Micheal slashed, sending forth a chaotic wave of flames that Jack cut through with Gram. ¡°It doesn''t matter, it''s not your problem now,¡± Jack glared, his wings glittering away. ¡°You fool, you''ve only temporarily halted armageddon!¡± Micheal spat, his composure broken and vanishing to appear beside Jack with sword in hand. Jack stood motionless, eyes closed, smile on his face as the edge of Michael''s Dandelga neared his neck. Then the two vanished, both archangels ripped from existence as the world rebooted. **** Tenno frowned, waking with a start as he felt a mysterious energy sweep across his skin. He looked to his left, he looked to his right. All signs of the demonspawn hordes gone as Kenichi sat beside him drinking a beer. ¡°Did I miss something?¡± Tenno said, sitting up and flexing his hand that no longer held the strength he was used to. ¡°We aren''t dead?¡± ¡°No¡­ no we are not,¡± Kenichi sighed as he removed his bandages on his face to reveal eyes that could witness the hundreds of people milling about in a confused daze. ¡°I take it we''ve won?¡± ¡°I think so?¡± Kenichi said, attempting to pull up his system that didn''t respond. ¡°I can''t access my system.¡± Tenno had no luck either, in fact, he couldn''t feel the energy in the air or the mana he was so used to flowing through his veins. ¡°Interesting¡­ very interesting,¡± Tenno said as he laid back on his recliner and went back to sleep. Elsewhere Selfia narrowed her eyes as her floating limbs fell upon the sandy beach she''d been deposited at. ¡°Well¡­ that''s disconcerting,¡± Selfia said, unable to feel her mana. ¡°What''s going on? What''s happening,¡± Ada said as she attempted to lift her nodachi from the sand that wouldn''t budge. ¡°Why do I feel so weak?¡± ¡°I take it Jack activated the kill switch.¡± ¡°Kill switch?¡± Ada asked as the flying city in the distance crashed into the sea. ¡°Yup,¡± Selfia said, turning away from the ocean to eye the landscape before her that was now devoid of the purple corruptive smog. The Queen scanned the horizon, eyes sweeping over the massive crowd of people standing around confused. Some faces she recognized, others she didn''t. There were thousands of them, men and women wearing outdated uniforms and armor. ¡°Great¡­ this is going to be a fuck load of paperwork,¡± She looked down, eyeing her arms strewn in the sand, ¡°Mi¡¯shka, can you help me install my limbs?¡± No response. Selfia looked up, eyeing the white-haired officer who was staring at a blonde woman with red eyes wearing a mechframe pilot uniform. ¡°Eleanor?¡± Mi¡¯shka said, the woman turning with wide eyes filled with shock to stare at the man. The two ran to each other, embracing tearfully as Selfia''s eyes settled on a familiar face wearing black armor and sitting in the sand with a confused look. ¡°Ruby?¡± Selfia whispered, the girl''s violet eyes shifting to face her with her skin tone vibrant with life. But perhaps what surprised Selfia more, was the group of officers beside her alongside a narrow-eyed man. ¡°Python?!¡± Python looked around confused, his eyes darting left and right before he chuckled as Ruby shot up and approached Ada. ¡°Where''s Tanji?¡± Ada asked, her eyes almost pleading, fearing the worst. Ruby lowered her head for a moment before taking the woman''s hands and uttering her first words as a living person. ¡°He says to wait for him,¡± Ruby said, delivering Jack''s final message for his loved ones. AAS: Season 6:CH89: Catharsis Deposited in a field of reeds, Jack rolled to his feet before kicking off the ground to deliver a flying knee kick into Micheal''s chin. The man stumbled back, blinking repeatedly before Jack''s fist found his jaw followed by a spinning kick that knocked the archangel onto the ground. ¡°You impudent!¡± Micheal spat, raising his hand at Jack to blast him only for nothing to happen. Jack''s boot found the man''s face, this time breaking Michael''s nose with an audible crunch. The archangel staggered and rose to his feet, his eyes glaring at Jack as Sahaqiel and Lilith flanked him. ¡°What is this?¡± Micheal hissed as Jack began wrapping his hands in what appeared to be tape from a table that had suddenly manifested. ¡°I believe I told you I was going to fuck you up,¡± Jack said, turning to face the depowered archangel. ¡°I didn''t lie.¡± Jack raced forward, throwing a jab, the archangel backpedaling to maneuver Jack''s fist to the side and deliver a throat jab that was greeted by a kick. The two traded blows, attacking one another with a flurry of fists, kicks, and throws. Finally the pair separated as a fist found Micheal''s jaw while his fist struck Jack''s chin. ¡°What''s the point of this catharsis Jack?¡± Micheal spat before Sahaqiel suddenly punched him followed by Lilith striking out with a chain only to be caught by the archangel as he caught and twisted Sahaqiel¡¯s fist. ¡°You''ve doomed humanity into another cycle of mediocrity, another forty thousand years of unenlightenment! Billions will perish again and their blood shall be upon your hands!¡± Micheal kicked Sahaqiel away while pulling in Lilith and headbutting the woman. ¡°Do you understand the good you''ve undone? The thousands of years of cultivation that you''ve wasted? You were supposed to be the ultimate weapon! The one who would destroy Adam and usher in a new age of mankind!¡± Micheal spat, walking towards Jack. ¡°We could have journeyed the stars! I had plans!¡± ¡°Sucks when things don''t work out, doesn''t it?¡± Jack replied. ¡°Don''t work out? You troglodyte! You held the power of the entire world in your palm! The controls to reshape humanity and you use it to build this illusion? This pathetic show of self-serving delusions?! I would have made you glorious! The greatest hero to bring down Adam and end generations of suffering!¡± Micheal spat before his head involuntary twitch. ¡°I saw it! I saw it! I-I! AHGH!¡± Micheal¡¯s face began to contort, his white suit suddenly ripping as his body abruptly stretched then rubber banded. ¡°What?¡± Micheal said before his hands suddenly rose, gripping his head while Jack looked on in confusion. Then the archangel snapped his own neck, the man falling to the ground before putting out a hand to catch himself just shy of falling. ¡°You infantile curr!¡± Micheal hissed, his body glowing. ¡°The archangel coughed, droplets of black ichor visible on his blackening hand he used to wipe away the blood. ¡°The fate of all mankind hangs in the balance! And yo-¡± Jack narrowed his eyes at the monologuing angel who spasmed as two white grotesque wings burst from the back of his suit. ¡°What''s happening to him?¡± Jack asked, turning to Sahaqiel and Lilith. ¡°I''m unsure,¡± Sahaqiel said, standing at the ready. Then, Micheal screamed, a chorus of voices leaving his body that momentarily multiplied before remerging. ¡°GaaaaH!¡± Then the Archangel''s body exploded, a flash of light blinding Jack for a moment only to die down and reveal three bodies. A clone of Sahaqiel, Micheal, and an unknown man with sickly white wings, skinny frame, and golden hair that flowed past his shoulders. The man with wings stood with a scowl, his gold eyes darting between the body in a white suit and then to Jack. ¡°Micheal¡­¡± Sahaqiel said, recognizing the archangel¡¯s new form immediately. ¡°So this is what you are,¡± Jack said, staring at the man who was scrawny and frail, his form a far cry from the large body he had once inhabited. ¡°You''re¡­ small.¡± At the word small Micheal snarled, opening his mouth to berate Jack only for a fist to greet his jaw before he could speak. Then a foot met his stomach, followed by Jack''s heel stomping his cranium before the angel could recover. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Jack asked as the depowered angel began to crawl away. ¡°I know what you''ve done. I know what you are.¡± Jack stood over the crippled figure and reached down, grabbing the archangel by his long blonde hair. ¡°A monster in the guise of a man.¡±You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°Monster?!¡± Micheal spat, his face twisted in an expression of offense before Jack punched him. He reeled, skidding a few feet as Sahaqiel turned away and Lilith grinned. ¡°Monster¡­¡± Micheal repeated, wobbling to his feet with his constitution almost unable to stand as his eyes shook with rage. ¡°What do you know?¡± Jack and Micheal locked eyes, the latter not backing down despite Jack towering over him. ¡°Since the inception of this new world, I, and I alone held the will to see my vision through. Even as heaven split apart beneath my feet! Even as every comrade I outlived faded to memory. Even as I wandered this world for twenty millennium!" Micheal sneered, "Monster? So what? Villain? Who cares? I''d do it all again if it meant saving humanity from this doomed cycle of warfare!¡± ¡°Next you''ll tell me it was all necessary? For a greater good? All the pain? All the suffering?¡± Jack said, kicking the man who fell and curled up into a fetal position. ¡°All my suffering?¡± Micheal attempted to rise, but just as he found his footing, it was greeted by Jack''s boot breaking his jaw. ¡°An angel¡­ can only come from the awakening of a being¡­ with the potential who undergoes an outburst of extreme emotion,¡± Micheal hissed, turning to Sahaqiel who looked away as Jack headbutted the archangel. ¡°I made you. If you had just followed my vision I could have made the world perfect. Fixed it.¡± Jack frowned at the thought of a world envisioned by such a man. ¡°Yes you did make me, and look at what I''ve become,¡± Jack said before lifting the archangel by the throat. ¡°You''re wrong about one thing though, this cycle won''t continue.¡± Suddenly the field of reeds vanished, replaced instead by a space of fleshy tendrils and twitching black masses. A horror show of an Eldritch nightmare of flesh and meat. The collective gunk of corrupted data that had been pulled into the Infinity Machine from across the world. All of the mana in the world, held in one space. Bottled up and threatening to explode. All the power in the world¡­ so close to Micheal and yet so far. At the far end of the space, a familiar figure, the one known as Adam that hung suspended by Lilith¡¯s chains above the core of the Infinity Machine. ¡°What is this?¡± Micheal spat. ¡°The rest of your life,¡± Jack said as Adam raised his head, his eyes glaring with power. **** Hours Earlier. In the illusion of his old apartment, Jack furrowed his brow, listening to the recording of a curly-haired brunette woman in a white toga shown to him by Lilith on his desktop. ¡°I am Eve, the creator of the Infinity Machine and transcribed is the last of my legacy. If you are watching this, you possess incredible tenacity and strength. Which means the seals have failed and the world is doomed¡­¡± The woman trailed off, the message shaking for a moment before stabilizing. ¡°To understand your predicament, I originally created this tool as a means to resuscitate those fallen in the great war. To catalog and guide the lost souls back to us who were victims of petty wars and grandiose schemes-¡± The world around Jack changed, revealing a room where Eve stood with a dagger in hand, surrounded by armored angels led by a figure wearing white armor. Micheal. Albeit a less emaciated one. ¡°-But I was betrayed. What was meant to be a dispassionate tool to return lost loved ones to the world became a weapon. A corrupted object to be used to deem who was worthy and who was not. To sift the souls of those loyal to Micheal and grant them immortality while dooming the others into being recycled.¡± It turned to Eve being pinned down, the woman shouting to not touch the golden sphere. Yet the man with six wings didn''t listen. ¡°He said we needed to be selective. Needed to only allow those who were worthy. But I knew better. I could see it in his eyes.¡± The illusionary world changed again, revealing a shadowed figure who tore through the angels. ¡°Adam¡­ My beloved. The strongest amongst us¡­¡± Eve said, touching the man''s face who didn''t react. ¡°The machine wasn''t complete when Micheal attempted to activate it. Perhaps due to my rage, perhaps due to my sorrow and feelings of loneliness¡­ Adam was called forth from the world of oblivion. But he wasn''t my Adam¡­¡± Jack found himself hovering over Heaven on fire, the city engulfed in flames as angels rallied around Raphael and the other Archangels. ¡°We told a lie. Micheal and I, both complicit in the death of our world. One out of love. The other, power. We spurred thousands to die for us, sacrificed billions in a desperate bid to fix our mistakes¡­¡± An explosion lit up the illusion, panting it entirely white until Jack was back within his apartment room. ¡°And we nearly extinguished humanity because of our hubris.¡± Eve turned to Jack, the woman softly smiling. ¡°Time ran out for my world. I could not finish my life''s work. But. If you are here. And if you possess the strength and intellect, perhaps you could finish what I started,¡± Eve said as her form disappeared to be replaced by Lilith who held a white orb in her palms. ¡°What is that?¡± Jack asked, looking at the swirl of information. ¡°Schematics¡­ everything we need to fix the machine, I think,¡± Lilith said. ¡°Protected with admin privileges but with Sahaqiel¡¯s help, we can override it, find a way to reverse everything.¡± ¡°And Eve?¡± Jack asked with Lilith shaking her head. ¡°The usable soul data stored only goes back about fifty years. Except for those selected with certain strengths, almost every other soul is corrupted or fractured,¡± Lilith said as their surroundings turned to one of numbers and a rotting field. ¡°This message was all I could find.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Jack said, ¡°So¡­ all we need to do is repair the machine right?¡± ¡°In theory? We''d have to purge the corruption and that could take¡­ years? Decades? Our data is saved under the admin tab so we''d be effectively immortal, we''d also have to purge Adam and¡­ If this goes wrong, we could make everything worse. We could rob everyone of magic and only delay this happening again.¡± Jack closed his eyes, taking a moment to process as the fight raged outside the machine. He opened his eyes. ¡°Tell Sahaqiel, it''s time- **** Present: -we cleaned up this mess,¡± Jack hissed as he threw Micheal to the ground. The archangel sprawled, his body glowing with the power of Gehenna. Then it clicked for the archangel. ¡°This could take millenniums!¡± Micheal snapped. ¡°How are we supposed to win against that thing?!¡± ¡°Oh don''t worry,¡± Jack said as Adam vanished, decapitating Micheal only for the angel to reform a moment later. ¡°We''ve got time,¡± Jack said as his body arced with power and golden tattoos caressed his skin. Jack turned to Sahaqiel and Lilith, the pair standing with him with their bodies glowing. Sahaqiel smiled, readying her staff of lightning while Lilith summoned a black scythe wrapped with obsidian chains. Although it would take some time, Jack wouldn''t be alone in this battle as he turned his eyes to the soul of a young girl with green hair gestating in a dream where she could walk. "Let''s get this done," Jack said before summoning Gram to his hand and charging the figure known as the First Awakened. AAS: Season 6:CH90: The Final Chapter 5 Years Later. Listening to the lapping of gentle waves on the sandy shores, Ada, wearing a jumpsuit closed her eyes, taking in a breath before she cast her gaze onto the sapphire waters of the beach before her and the city floating in the distance. The Bastion of the New Frontier. Or, Jacksonville as they called it, Lita and the Hoshido coming together to establish a sovereign country on unexplored land. With much of the debris from the battles and expeditions fought on these shores cleaned up, the sunny shoreline painted a fantastic summer space to wind down and relax. In fact it had become a popular tourist attraction with many families and kids running by and playing on the beaches while old fishermen used the piers to fish. Or, if you were Ada, it was also a good place to wait to meet up for the anniversary of Victory day. The day the world won against the demonspawn. The day humanity lost all their mana. Some called it V-day, some, Resurrection day, others, The Shutdown. But no matter what name it went by it was the same day that Jack had disappeared. A loud vrrm took Ada¡¯s attention from the scenic beach, her head shifting to the convoy of vehicles that pulled up on the nearby paved road. ¡°Lady Nguyen, the Republic¡¯s delegation has arrived,¡± Ruby said, Jack''s former eihngerjir now constituted in flesh and blood that had been her body guard for the last three years. ¡°Thank you Ruby,¡± Ada said, rising and dusting the sand off her jumpsuit laden with ropes, tools, and digging equipment. The door of the largest car opened up, a black armored limousine that revealed a white-haired woman in a red dress flanked by green-haired guards in suits. ¡°Madam President,¡± Ada said, bowing her head slightly to the sleep-deprived Selfia who was flanked by Violent, the woman wearing a black suit instead of her usual black armor. The precession drew eyes, dozens of beach-goers gawking at the sight of the president of the Republic walking among them. ¡°Councilwoman Nguyen, you didn''t have to meet me out here,¡± Selfia said, extending a silver robotic hand as her blue eyes scanned the beach for threats. ¡°Please, aren''t we beyond that?¡± Ada said, pulling the woman in for a hug as Violet stiffened up. ¡°How are things?¡± ¡°Busy¡­ too fucking busy,¡± Selfia sighed, dragging a robotic hand over her face ladden with black spots beneath her eyes. ¡°Being a president is a lot harder than being a queen¡­ maybe I should have just been a dictator.¡± Ada smiled at the notion before turning to the man with sharp eyes. ¡°Python, it''s been a year, how are things with you and CC?¡± ¡°Same ol same ol,¡± Python shrugged, the man sporting a gold wedding ring that complimented the gold stars on his shoulders, a rank and reward for his selfless sacrifice. ¡°Complaining a lot that I''m not home on account of being the Secretary of Defense.¡± ¡°Bandits?¡± Ada frowned. ¡°Still a problem but we''re dealing with it,¡± Python said as the group entered the armored limousine and took off through the street. Ada smiled at the guards of the president¡¯s detail that filled the spacious cabin. Yun, Tyrah, and Jessica who led their entourage past large statues of Jack and Sahaqiel. Every year as part of an agreement between their two nations, Ada and Selfia met at the remains of Heaven. The Republic and the Frontier. After the Shutdown many technological advances were rendered inoperable without mana such as airships, mechs, and power generators. For awhile there was chaos, with Selfia and the others having to manage the hundreds of thousands of people resurrected who began cropping up across the world sometimes in seemingly random places. But¡­ somehow, despite the tensions of various groups arguing on how to run things, they had managed to quell most of the violence and chaos. Although it had come at a cost in the way of two nations on separate continents run by different systems of governments. Selfia and her Republic. Ada and the Frontier, led by the appointed Speaker Lita von Strongarm with Kenichi and the other tribal chiefs as a council. Despite unification of the world governments for the last expedition, it didn''t wash away all the resentment and blood that had been spilled over the years. All the pain, loss, and betrayal. Lita and her paladins weren''t fans of the empire, and Kenichi and many nomads still distrusted the imperials. Without Jack around, the glue that had been holding the coalition together soon fell apart as thousands of resurrected tried to find their way in a world that had moved on. Still, these delegations helped, with Selfia journeying across the world in what may had once taken days now taking weeks between their continents. ¡°Madam President, we''ve arrived,¡± Jessica said, stopping the car at a massive dig site that was teeming with workers dressed similarly to Ada. Heaven. Or at least what remained of it after being transformed. With thousands of newly resurrected needing homes, the once bastion of the demonspawn had become the capital of the Frontier¡¯s government. The forward base for enterprising explorers and thrill seekers looking for lost treasures. Now, wires and electric signs hung on gold walls and marble pillars with old ruins turned into homes and shops. Along with banners of silver wings circling twelve chairs that represented the Frontier¡¯s council, the ruins of Heaven beat with the hum of civilization. Of course it wasn''t easy excavating and tilling the land, especially without mana, but everyday they were expanding the city underdark, and everyday they were exploring uncharted territory of the vast new continent. ¡°Oui, Ada!¡± Mo Ye called out, the lead engineer covered in dust and waving down the entourage as they neared the edge of where construction crews were working as well as the media outlets setting up. ¡°Leona is asking for you. Says it''s an emergency.¡± Ada sighed, ¡°Celeste and Ito again?¡± ¡°Yeah, they''re in sublevel fifteen sector six. Colette ordered the area shutdown and everyone to stop working,¡± Mo Ye replied, calling up the lift. ¡°Alright,¡± Ada said with Selfia noting the lack of alarm on the woman''s face. ¡°A common occurrence?¡± Selfia asked. ¡°Something like that,¡± Ada smiled softly, ¡°It''s a bit harder to reign her in now that she''s older. If you''ll wait here, I''ll deal with it and meet-¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°And miss up a chance to see my daughter?¡± Selfia said, a playful nod to a ruse told so long ago. ¡°I''ll come with.¡± Selfia dismissed her guards save for Violet, ordering Python to handle the press who were already snapping photos. The pair with their guards stepped onto the orange lift, waving at the media crew before descending into the bowls of Heaven. ¡°So, it''s been a year since we''ve last met. No sign from Jack?¡± Selfia asked, attempting to break the ice between the clacks of the gears moving the lift. ¡°Nothing. But I''m sure he''ll turn up,¡± Ada said, smiling casually as they passed by scores of workers working on other levels. ¡°You seem so sure.¡± ¡°Because I am,¡± Ada replied, ¡°He asked me to wait, so that''s what I''ll do.¡± Selfia turned away with an almost wistful look in her eyes. ¡°What about you? I notice there''s no man in your life even after all this time,¡± Ada asked, waving to a group of workers they passed. ¡°Kinda hard to top the savior of the world,¡± Selfia grunted, turning away, ¡°Anyway it''s not like I don''t have people lining up, they''re all just too boring for my taste.¡± Finally the lift stopped, allowing them to be greeted by Leona in ruined overalls covered in soot and Kamila whose flowy dress was simultaneously dirty. ¡°Smoke bomb?¡± Ada asked, stepping past the dejected pair to stand with the narrow hallway. ¡°¡±Smoke bomb,¡±¡± Leona and Kamila groaned in unison with Kamila holding up her empty basket, ¡°She even stole my cookies.¡± ¡°Great¡­ so no bribes,¡± Ada sighed, walking into the cavern with Selfia and the others trailing her. ¡°I''ll deal with her.¡± ¡°Common occurrence huh?¡± Selfia said, eyeing the intricate carvings and tunnels that led into darkened sections. Besides looking pretty, whatever enchantments and magical properties had gone away the day Jack left. Of course Selfia would never admit it, but she also missed him. And also missed having mana. ¡°They both do,¡± Ada sighed, drawing Selfia attention, ¡°Ever since Yukino started training her in martial arts, she''s gotten a lot quicker at disappearing, Ito too. They''re both stronger and faster than us and it also doesn''t help that Ho-sook eggs her on and Colette gives in to everything Celeste asks.¡± ¡°Seems rough, ya know if you would allow my techs to analyze them-¡± Ada¡¯s head snapped towards Selfia with a glare. ¡°-I¡¯m kidding,¡± Selfia said. ¡°You know I¡¯d never harm them.¡± ¡°You wouldn''t, but what about more resentful people looking to regain their powers? Or people too curious?¡± Ada retorted as swift footsteps echoed through the cave. ¡°I rather their powers be kept a secret.¡± ¡°Oh, you''re here! Thank goodness, I''m about to lose my mind!¡± Colette shrieked, racing through the tunnel and grabbing onto Ada for support. Ada paused, eyeing the woman also bearing the tell-tale signs of a Hoshido smoke bomb going off in one''s face. ¡°She got you too huh?¡± Ada giggled. ¡°Don''t laugh! She crawled into a sectioned off area with Ito! We haven''t secured that tunnel, what if it collapses? What if it has demons or asbestos or brain-eating amoebas?!¡± Colette ranted, the woman shaking Ada in a panic. ¡°I''m sure she''s fine,¡± Ada assured, removing the woman''s claws from her jumpsuit. Ada stepped forward, walking towards the small hole beneath a wall that Colette pointed out. She took a breath, composing herself and taking in the cave-like scent of stone and oil. ¡°Are you-?¡± Selfia began. ¡°CELESTE!!!¡± Ada bellowed, her voice sending a vibrating sound wave through the complex that echoed out into the chasm behind her where hundreds of workers tensed up. ¡°IF YOU DON''T COME OUT HERE THIS INSTANT I WILL GROUND YOU UNTIL THE WORLD FREEZES OVER INTO A NEW ARMAGEDDON!¡± A moment of silence, the entire world seeming to come to a standstill. Then, a rustle, the sounds of shifting dirt echoing from the crawlspace before a blonde-haired little head poked out with gold eyes focused on Ada. ¡°Hi!¡± Celeste smiled, her dirt-covered face lit up with joy. Ada narrowed her eyes, ¡°Don¡¯t Hi me missy, you are in trouble!¡± Celeste deflated, her expression souring to replace her false jubilation. ¡°Uuuugh. Party pooper,¡± Celeste grumbled under her breath as she was pulled up by Colette frantically checking her for injuries and rambling about the dangers of exploration. ¡°Party pooper?! I¡¯ll have you know I¡¯m tons of fun!¡± Ada retorted with Celeste rolling her eyes, ¡°Where¡¯s your brother? Do you know how dangerous it is to crawl-¡± ¡°Hi mom!¡± Ito shouted, crawling out from the tunnel and moving so fast he appeared to teleport to hug Ada¡¯s waist and hold up a misbegotten treat. ¡°Cookie?¡± Ada sighed, taking the ill-gotten loot and patting the brunette boy with gold eyes who looked so similar to Jack. ¡°Thank you Ito, you¡¯re such a good boy.¡± Celeste and Ito shared a mischievous look between themselves, one unnoticed by their parents who were too busy worrying over their safety. Selfia leaned forward towards Ada¡¯s ear, ¡°You know they¡¯re playing you right?¡± ¡°Probably,¡± Ada sighed, stroking Ito¡¯s head. ¡°What were you two thinking?¡± Leona demanded, standing before them with her hands on her hips and a stern look. ¡°Do you know how dangerous it is to explore these caves?! Time and time again we tell you not to do so and you keep-¡± ¡°We had to!¡± Celeste exclaimed, interrupting Leona and standing firmly. ¡°Oh really?¡± Ada said, pulling Kamila close and pointing at the woman. ¡°You had to set a smoke bomb off in your auntie''s face?¡± ¡°Yes! Daddy said!¡± Ito chimed in, drawing all eyes to the boy with an uncomfortable silence taking hold of the space. ¡°What?¡± Selfia said as Ada crouched down to bring herself to eye level with her son. ¡°Ito, what do you mean by ¡®daddy said¡¯?¡± Ada asked. ¡°Dad said to get your attention, TV people don''t see!¡± Celeste chimed in with Ada¡¯s eyes quivering as a shadowed silhouette of a person began to form behind the child. Immediately the echoes of guns being drawn from holsters resounded, every able hand pulling out a firearm with Ada placing the children behind her. The shadow began to grow denser, tightening until the shimmer of a humanoid outline became a black mass in the shape of a man. A flash of light. Ada¡¯s skin tingling as a familiar sensation she hadn''t felt in five years touched her skin. Mana. Suddenly her breathing became easier, her body light, energized with her senses expanding in a way that momentarily blinded her. Ada wobbled, her and every adult within the space disorientated as Ito and Celeste looked on unperturbed. ¡°Daddy!¡± Celeste exclaimed excitedly, brushing past Ada to hug the waist of an unknown man. At least, that''s what Ada thought until she focused her eyes and locked onto the face of the man she hadn''t seen in five years. ¡°Tanji?¡± Ada said with disbelief at the figure with six wings on his back. Two silver, two white, and two black. ¡°Hey guys,¡± Jack smirked, standing in front of the group in robes of white that accentuated his golden tattoos. Behind him, Sahaqiel and a little girl with raven-black hair. ¡°Oh God, please don''t tell me you made another one,¡± Selfia said as her prosthetic arms began to react to the mana in the air and light up. ¡°Wait? Lilith?¡± ¡°Yes yes, take a picture, it''ll last longer,¡± The short woman said before her black wings expanded, lifting her into the air as Ada rushed Jack. ¡°Well, see ya, good luck with your lives. I''ma go enjoy having a body.¡± Jack smiled, bidding the woman adieu as he held Ada in his arms and eyed the stunned and shocked looks of those gathered. ¡°What took you so long?¡± Ada asked, looking up at Jack through teary eyes before she noticed the scars that ran along his body. ¡°W-what? What happened?¡± Jack smiled softly as Leona and Kamila closed in, the two medics trying to get a look at his scars that told tales of a hundred battles. Some were jagged, others neat, a few akin to burn marks or healed over skin exposed to radiation. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I''m fine. Just a byproduct of¡­ cleaning up.¡± ¡°So¡­ does that mean you''re here to stay? No more fighting?¡± Ada asked. Jack lifted Ada¡¯s chin with his finger, the woman nearly melting in his arms as she savored his touch. ¡°I''m home Ada,¡± Jack said, hugging the woman tightly as Celeste bounced happily up and down. ¡°And¡­ I want you all to meet my sister.¡± A blue vortex opened up nearby, revealing a small green-haired figure with a white flower obscuring one eye while her other golden eye viewed the world. She took a step forward, shrinking a bit into herself at the multitude of eyes staring at her. ¡°Uh¡­ hi? I''m¡­ Jill,¡± The girl said, stumbling a little but stabilizing using Sahaqiel''s hand, ¡°Ah haha, sorry, walking in the actual world is¡­ weird.¡± ¡°Auntie!¡± Celeste let out almost knocking Jill over. ¡°Actual world? Where have you been?¡± Selfia asked. ''I¡¯ve got something to show you,¡± Jack smirked, ¡°To show all of you.¡± Jack lifted his hand, the ruins around them suddenly glowing gold and reacting to the mana in the air. ¡°Awaken. Angel system,¡± Jack commanded, opening golden translucent interfaces that began to display before all those gathered. ¡°What¡­ what is this?¡± Selfia asked, noticing the similarities to the System and her abilities that were lost five years ago. Jack''s eyes flashed, his body radiating a warmth that gave off comfort. ¡°The future of mankind.¡±