An elegant lady with blonde flowing hair, in her casual civilian clothes, stood arms crossed in front of a round table in a dimly lit room.
She was in her mid-forties, yet she looked surprisingly young.
Lady Harukaze. Co-founder of the Warriors Military Legion.
Yet, she was a loving mother first and a warrior second.
Just to her left stood Morgan Thorne in her military uniform.
Shoulder-length red hair with uneven bangs and longer on one side.
Commanding Officer of the Northeast Island, Warriors Military Legion, Archipelago.
Surrounding the table stood the live holographic projections of the Chief of Defense of Japan, Russia, China, the USA, Spain, and the UK.
No one spoke, waiting. Then, the representative of Japan glanced at Morgan.
"Commander Thorne. Shouldn't Protocol be here by now?"
Morgan remained composed.
"He's not under my watch at the moment."
The representatives exchanged glances.
"Then who is currently in charge of him?"
The system chimed. Someone had joined the call.
Commander Stelle's live holographic projection popped up.
"My sincere apologies for the delay, ladies and gentlemen."
A holographic nameplate popped up in front of her.
"Commanding Officer Stelle Amarinth, Nexus Pentagon Eastern Island."
Protocol stepped up beside her, fully masked and hooded by a silver gear tracksuit.
His voice was filtered, making it slightly mechanical and distorted to protect his identity.
"Let me guess. This is about Exo?"
Everyone stayed silent.
Then the Japanese representative cleared her throat.
"That is correct."
"We believe it's time to revisit an old discussion regarding the Aerial Titan-Class Siege Machine, Exo, now that you've had time to... grow over the past few years."
Everyone's eyes locked onto her.
She pulled up a document on her tablet.
"The Legion cannot plan around an asset it cannot independently command."
"While it does follow our orders through shared access, the fact that a single command from you can override its systems completely makes it unreliable," she said. "The command priority should not be unilateral."
Protocol took a small step forward.
"True, that I can override everything, but why would I interfere unless there were a better solution?"
"Is my judgment not trustworthy? My track record says otherwise."
"That is beside the point," said the USA.
"We believe no single person should have unrestricted authority over a titan."
Protocol crossed his arms.
"It's not like I'm intentionally hogging its authority."
"The biological attachment of Exo to me is similar to that of every Vanguard unit."
"They prioritize my commands by nature, and there's nothing I can do to change it."
"Which is why we come here with a solution," the representative said.
"We can modify its core to remove its attachment to you."
Protocol raised an eyebrow.
"Last time they tried something like that with Excalibur, it went… horribly to say the least."
"Yes. And that incident has taught us valuable lessons. I can assure you it's safe," Spain reassured.
"I don't trust it. Last time, the threat was manageable. Are you really willing to take that chance with a titan?" Protocol replied.
China groaned. He looked at Protocol.
"I'll be direct about this."
"If by any chance you were against us, we wouldn't want to be on the other side of our most technologically advanced asset."
"I think it's best if you give up your access to the Legion."
"The Legion has invested significant resources in its development and maintenance, and so it reserves the right to modify it according to its will," Russia stated.
Protocol tilted his head, amused.
"I believe a dragon won't be your biggest concern if I go rogue."
"The Legion does reserve the right to modify it as they please. But only if it's proven safe."
"And the solution you all propose is proven anything but safe."
Britain stepped forward.
"Protocol, you are being unreasonable and undermining the chain of command."
Protocol's eyes swept over every representative, then closed.
"Am I being unreasonable?"
"Every time a new power source is discovered, the first thing you all do—"
His eyes snapped open, flaring blue and red, his monstrous voice echoing through the room.
"—is turn it into a weapon in the name of peace."
Every representative took a step back.
Lady Harukaze, Morgan, and Stelle remained unfazed.
"After what happened last time, I have lost my faith," he said.
"And don't forget, my contract doesn't bind me to follow every order of the Legion."
"I don't play by your rulebook. Therefore, I don't care about the chain of command when lives are at stake."
He turned to leave, then paused and glanced back.
"Just a reminder. If you try anything behind my back, we black designation operatives don't like to negotiate."
"Should've thought twice before making weapons out of my blood." He walked away, murmuring.
Stelle watched him walk by, then looked back at everyone else one more time, noticing the lingering tension before adjusting her hat with an amused smile and disconnecting from the call.
No one spoke for a moment.
The British representative finally exhaled.
"The current framework is incapable of containing Protocol properly."
"I suggest a rework."
"It's no use," said Japan.
"We haven't been able to develop any effective contingencies against him for over half a decade."
Lady Harukaze smiled.
"The Legion saw him as nothing but a weapon."
"So, they got a weapon, just with free will."
"A weapon that hasn't betrayed the Legion in nearly a decade of its service," Morgan added. "There's a reason why he has autonomy."
Cassie sat down on her bed, smiling, having just finished dinner.
"Erica's cooking never disappoints."
Viara appeared at the doorway.
"By the way, the brackets are out. Tournament starts in two days."
Viara sat down beside her on the bed and showed her phone.
"Oh, they are out? Let me see."
Cassie took the phone and began scrolling through the table.
"They picked twenty-five students from the first and second year for the lower and upper brackets."
Viara nodded.
"A total of fifty students divided into groups of five for the group stages."
"Top two from each group will advance to tournament brackets."
Cassie's eyes scanned the group tables.
"Looks like a lot of our friends made it."
"Julianna and Madoka are expected. Finn and Alex made it among the ten non-elementals picked across both years."
"Oh, and of course, Kyoya made it."
She frowned slightly.
"I can't find my name, though."
Viara pointed to Cassie's name on the screen.
"Here. Your first fight is in three days against a guy from section four, Kyle."
"He's just two ranks below you."
Cassie glanced at Viara with an amused smile.
"Really? Must be a capable fighter."
"If meeting Zen has taught me anything, it is that never underestimate your opponent."
"So, every fight… I'll give it my all."
Then she suddenly had a hiccup, almost burping, but quickly covered her mouth to suppress it.
"Whoops."
Viara burst out laughing.
"Way to end a monologue."
Cassie rolled her eyes, chuckling.
"Jeez, give me a break."
The day of the tournament opening was bright.
Clear blue sky, cold air, and warm sunlight.
Stelle sat at her desk, working on her laptop.
Footsteps stopped at her office door, and a knock followed.
"Enter," she said.
The door swung open. Werner entered.
He stopped in front of the desk and gave Stelle a polite bow.
"Good morning, Director Amarinth."
"I am Werner Voss, personal attaché to Master Kyoya Aquila von Solheim."
Stelle closed the lid of her laptop for now.
"How may I help you, Mr. Voss?"
"That is a conversation best held in private," Werner replied.
Stelle leaned forward.
"Mr. Voss, I can assure you my office provides absolute privacy."
"…Very well,"
Werner said.
"I come regarding an investigation recently conducted by the academy."
Stelle's expression didn't shift.
"Elaborate."
He took out his phone with the investigation report open and put it on the table.
She took only one glance at the report.
"That case is closed."
Werner raised an eyebrow.
"I find it rather hard to believe."
"Why so?"
"The report suggests there's no bigger picture behind forty-two mercenaries executing a coordinated attack," Werner said.
"But anyone with enough combat experience would know that it's not so simple to lead such a large group."
Stelle remained silent for a second.
"Get to the point, Mr. Voss."
Werner cleared his throat.
"The academy and the Solheim family share a common enemy, Director Amarinth."
"We want to know who is behind this," he said. "So, I propose an alliance."
"We don't intend to interfere with the academy's investigation but only seek cooperation."
"In return, as one of the head servants of the family, I'm willing to provide resources under my disposal."
Stelle leaned back in her chair.
"And, what if the academy doesn't cooperate?"
"Then I'll have to be a humble servant and report this incident to the family head as I am supposed to."
Stelle considered, then exhaled and gestured towards the chair across the desk.
"Let's have some tea, Mr. Voss."
People all around walked towards one of the three arenas to watch their preferred match.
Zen and Finn walked side by side towards Arena Two.
Zen glanced around, noticing civilians, military personnel, and students in different uniforms.
"I'm seeing a lot of people from engineering, research, and other divisions."
Finn nodded.
"Yeah, everyone at the academy is allowed to spectate matches. Not just the warrior division."
That's when a familiar face caught Zen's eye.
Saya was walking towards them, waving, wearing the academy's warrior division uniform.
Many students around her who recognized her were staring in awe.
"Is that Sofia Aleksandrovna Krylova?"
"No way! Is that really her?!"
"Isn't she the protégée of the father of modern combat gear himself?!"
"Why is she in our academy?"
Zen palmed his face.
"You're kidding me…"
Finn was quietly laughing beside him.
Saya stopped in front of them, smiling.
"What? Not happy to see me?"
Zen sighed, his voice low.
"I was serious when I said you should head back."
Saya pouted, hands on her hips.
"And I was serious when I said I'm not leaving."
"Besides, the academy could use my technical skills."
"Plus, the tournament is starting, and there's no way I'm missing out on the chance to collect lots of combat data."
She suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, right! Your gear's fixed. Come pick it up whenever."
Zen raised an eyebrow.
"Aren't you a little seven days behind schedule on the delivery?"
Saya crossed her arms.
"I said it would take a week minimum, not that it will be done in a week."
Behind them, footsteps approached.
Cassie and Viara arrived.
Viara called, waving.
"Hey! Zen! It's been a while. Where have you been?"
Her eyes landed on Saya standing with them.
"Huh?"
Realization hit. She gasped.
"Wait! I know you!"
"You're Sofia Aleksandrovna Krylova! The Russian prodigy!"
Saya smiled, giving a peace hand gesture.
"Yep. That's me."
Cassie crossed her arms, glancing at Saya and Zen.
"I wouldn't be surprised if you said you two are friends."
Finn stepped forward.
"Allow me to introduce you all to each other."
He gestured at Cassie and Viara one after another.
"They are our friends, Cassie, and Viara."
Viara smiled.
"We're cousins."
Finn then turned to Saya.
"And… you two already seem to know her name."
Saya chuckled.
"Pleasure to meet you both."
"Friends of Zen are friends of mine, so feel free to call me Saya."
Cassie nodded.
"Pleasure to meet you as well."
"I heard you're a lightning elemental. Why did you choose to be an aerial combat pilot instead of a speedster?" Viara asked.
"I prefer flying over sprinting," Saya replied.
"Not every lightning elemental has to be a speedster, just like not every water or nature elemental has to be a healer."
Finn pointed towards the arena.
"Let's head in. We can chat on the way."
He led the way. Everyone followed.
While walking through the lobby, Viara stopped, looking around.
Everyone stopped.
Cassie glanced behind.
"Expecting someone?"
"Miss President texted me to wait for her," Viara said.
"I don't see her anywhere, though."
"I'm right here," a familiar voice said from behind.
Viara turned around.
Julianna arrived with Madoka and Edric.
"You guys sure took your time," Madoka said.
"First match starts in four minutes."
Julianna looked at Saya.
"I hope you're having a great time checking out the campus."
Saya smiled.
"You guys have met before?" Cassie asked.
"I introduced her to them," Madoka replied.
"We met this morning," Edric replied.
"It was the student council's duty to give her a quick tour of the campus and the dorms."
Julianna looked at Zen and Edric.
"And I believe you two are the only ones here who haven't met yet."
She gestured at Edric and Zen, respectively.
"This is the Student Council Vice President. Edric Nathaniel Havelock."
"And Edric, this is Zen Fuyukawa. Madoka's brother."
Edric extended his hand.
"Nice to meet you."
Zen accepted, shaking his hand.
But he didn't reply. He didn't get to.
The moment their hands met, he felt something trying to invade his mind.
But he let it, though on his own terms.
Edric's voice echoed in his mind.
"So, you really are something else beneath your rank."
Zen tilted his head.
"An Infused Null...."
"You know about me, too, then?"
Edric smirked.
"I had my suspicions ever since you and Princess Lysandra had the duel."
"Confirmed now, though, since I can communicate just fine, but I can't access anything else in your mind."
Zen smirked back.
"Trust me. You wouldn't like what's inside. But I can read everything just fine, though."
"Canadian. A-rank. Favorite weapon - Great Axe. That explains the tall and muscular physique."
"Earth elemental... The most stable element combined with the most unstable energy."
"Anyway, I respect your privacy. Only peeked at your basic information."
Edric smiled, adjusting his glasses.
"You have my respect, too, Captain."
Meanwhile, everyone watched the two staring into each other's eyes as if daring each other to blink first.
Cassie leaned closer to the others, whispering.
"Are they… fighting? Without moving?"
"I have no clue," Saya whispered back.
They finally let go of each other's hands.
"Nice to meet you, too."
Julianna cleared her throat.
"Shall we all head in? The match will start soon."
"I've got executive suite permits for all of us."
She winked at Cassie and Viara.
"And you two don't have to worry about paparazzi."
Both of them smiled.
"Nice!"
Alex waited in the preparation room of Arena Two, already changed into her gear track suit.
"They didn't tell you your score? That's weird."
Max leaned against the wall, hands behind his head.
"I know, right? She said I'll find out later."
"Well, whatever it was, must've been higher than seventy-five to enter the tournament."
"Not bad."
"I guess you're right."
Max straightened up.
"Enough about me. Who are you fighting today?"
"Sarah."
"Wait, you mean THE Sarah? From section three?"
"Yes."
"The one who unlocked her resonance with her elemental spirit animal before anyone else?"
"Yes. Sarah Collins from section three, the nature elemental, who is said to be very talented."
"Why am I explaining this to you? Did you even read all the group tables or what?"
Max blinked.
"Umm… no?"
Alex shook her head in resignation.
"Hey, that's beside the point," Max said.
"How is this matchup fair? She's a high A-rank elemental. You're not."
"Well, my research on her shows that she's not the best fighter, even though she's agile, and she uses standard gear just like me. So, I might have a chance."
Alex deployed her gear. Purple nanoparticles covered her entire tracksuit, forming armor, shoulder plates, arm guards, etc.
A standard gear with light personal modifications.
An announcement came through the system.
"Attention: three minutes until the first match begins. Combatants, please enter the arena."
Alex stretched her arms.
"That's my call."
Alex turned towards the hallway to the arena field.
"Hey," Max called. "Good luck out there."
Alex looked back.
"Thanks."
They did a quick fist bump before Alex made her way through the hallway.
She passed the gate and stepped into the field.
Her opponent, Sarah, entered from the other side.
Both stopped at a moderate distance.
The cheerful female announcer's voice echoed throughout the arena.
"Hello! Hello!"
"Welcome, everyone, to the opening match of the Rank Reassessment Tournament group stage!"
"Today, on one hand, we have Sarah Collins, the well-respected A-rank number eight from the first-year section three."
"And, on the other side, her opponent, Alex Silva, A-rank number twenty-four from the first-year section one."
"An elemental versus a non-elemental. Oh, this will be an interesting fight!"
Alex deployed her weapon, a black-and-purple Claymore.
Sarah deployed hers, a pair of sharp sickles.
From behind the observation glass of the executive suite, Cassie observed. "A heavy claymore against an agile dagger variant. She's at a big disadvantage."
"But she has more reach and firepower compared to Sarah," Edric chimed in.
Zen leaned back in his seat, arms crossed. "If she can maintain sync rate and defend herself for just long enough, she might get an opening."
"What's sync rate?" Viara asked.
"A stat that shows how well your gear is responding to you," Zen replied.
"For elementals, it's a background gear stat since their elemental energy maintains a stable sync rate by itself."
"For non-elementals, however, it's something you have to manage manually as an active stat."
Back at the field, both combatants took their stance. Their gear shields activated.
Around the field's perimeter, an invisible barrier formed like a dome as a safety measure.
A countdown began on the mega screen. The crowd joined in.
"Five… Four… Three… Two… One… Fight!"
Sarah dashed forward.
Alex did too.
Distance closed.
Alex swung at Sarah's head.
Sarah ducked—her sickle bit into Alex's waist as she slid by.
Shield sparked.
First blood!
Sarah followed with a sweep kick.
Alex responded with a spinning jump kick.
Her foot flew over Sarah's head.
Both had evaded each other's attack.
Sarah immediately went for another sweep with her sickle.
Alex blocked with the belly of her claymore.
"Heh. Nice try."
The sickle dragged across the metal, sparks flying.
Alex spun and swung again.
Sarah tried to block with her sickles, but the force was too much.
It threw her back.
She lunged her sickles into the ground to stop.
Her shield took a heavy hit.
She checked.
"SHIELD INTEGRITY: 84%"
Sarah straightened up.
"Alright, my turn."
She spun her sickles, took her stance, and channeled with a groan.
A green aura formed around her, growing intense every second.
A burst of elemental energy followed, converging into a four-legged animal.
A predator.
A tiger.
It growled, then roared so loud that the air around it shimmered.
"IT'S A TIGER!" the commentators screamed with excitement.
The arena burst out in cheers.
Viara felt a chill run down.
"I would not like to deal with that."
"That… is pretty scary," Finn muttered.
Julianna chuckled.
Madoka smirked, relaxed.
Saya was recording and analyzing.
"Now we're getting somewhere."
Zen gave her a side eye.
Alex stared straight into the eye of the beast, gripping her weapon tighter.
The tiger slowly walked forward.
Alex stepped back.
Then Sarah signaled.
The tiger jumped at her.
Alex quickly rolled sideways, got up, and blocked a slash from Sarah.
The tiger circled back, roared at her, and charged with its paw.
She dodged the first attack, then two more of Sarah's rapid slashes before wheel kicking her back.
The second paw strike grazed her shield.
"SHIELD INTEGRITY: 78%"
"SYNC RATE: 65%"
"Damn it," Alex murmured.
Sarah struck her foot on the ground.
Six green vines tore through the surface and charged at Alex.
Alex's eyes narrowed.
She evaded a vine, then swung and began slicing them down one after another.
Max's jaw tightened as he watched from the field perimeter.
Alex sliced down four vines.
The tiger lunged with more paw strikes.
Sarah followed up with chained slashes.
Alex struggled to defend.
With only a sixty-five percent sync rate, her gear felt heavier to operate and responded to her intent late.
But just fifteen seconds in, both Sarah and the tiger were slowing down.
The two vines had died.
Zen smirked. "The one problem with having an animal companion fight with you is that you'll lose energy faster. And if you haven't learned to sustain it…"
Sarah was visibly exhausted already.
Alex was sustaining her stamina.
Sarah paused for two seconds to catch her breath and then charged at Alex with a cry.
The tiger did too.
Alex stood still and raised her weapon, waiting for just the right moment.
The beast jumped at her.
Alex gritted her teeth.
"NOW!"
Adrenaline kicked in!
Her foot pressed harder against the ground!
Sync rate shot up!
"74%"
"89%"
"96%"
"100%"
"You're done for! Haaaaaaa!"
She drove her blade through the tiger with full force.
It dissolved into green energy shards and leaves.
Sarah's eyes widened mid charge.
Alex turned and slammed a kick into her abdomen.
Sarah staggered back, clutching her stomach.
Another one followed, straight to her head—then a punch to the stomach.
Alex gripped her weapon fast.
One final spin, channeling all her force into it.
A direct hit.
Sarah went flying and crashed into the perimeter wall.
"SHIELD INTEGRITY: 36%"
Her shield wasn't out yet, but her vision blurred.
She struggled to stay awake and gave in to the exhaustion.
Incapacitated.
"And the WINNER of our first match is Alex Silva!"
"What a match for a tournament opener!"
The arena's cheers could be heard all over the academy.
Max jumped, punching the air.
"Haha! Yes!"
Medics rushed in to pick Sarah up.
Alex stood there, catching her breath.
"That was… a tough start."
She retracted her weapon and returned at her own pace.
Max gave her a high five.
"GG!"
Edric smiled, watching her go.
"She's stronger than she looks."
Finn laughed.
"Remind me not to underestimate her."
Cheers erupted from Arena Three.
The combatant's knees hit the ground.
Kyoya stood in his fiery red custom combat gear, Cinder Crown, still aiming his pistol at the opponent, smoke coming off the barrel.
He lowered his gun.
The crowd around chanted his name.
But he just turned and walked away.
Justin was watching from within the crowd, arms crossed.
His eyes narrowed dangerously as he watched Kyoya leave.
Kyoya entered the hallway to the preparation room.
Werner waited patiently on the way.
"Congratulations on your victory, Master Aquila."
Kyoya strode past him.
"These fights are nothing, Werner."
"More importantly, tell me how it went on your end."
Werner followed behind him.
"The academy has agreed to cooperate. Our goals are aligned."
"We also now have the permission to station private guards around the academy and dorms."
"Good. I want those guards active by tomorrow," Kyoya said.
"What about that mysterious warrior who saved Viara? Anything about them?"
Werner shook his head.
"Director Amarinth said she has no information regarding them."
Kyoya deactivated his gear and stretched his arms.
"Guess we'll have to find out by ourselves."
"Get to work."
Werner nodded.
"As you wish, Master Aquila."