[The Peak of Silence – Yoru's Castle]
The Northern Star touched down on the frozen plateau with a soft, pressurized hiss. As the airlock cycled open, the freezing wind of the mountain peak rushed in, but Captain Carod stepped out unfazed. Once the sidekicks and Techyon were clear of the ramp, Carod pressed a sequence on his wrist-watch. In a flicker of blue light, the massive silver vessel vanished into thin air.
Techyon spun around, his eyes wide. "Where did it go? Did you send it back to space?"
Carod adjusted his collar, looking amused. "I just switched on the stealth mode, Techyon."
"Oh," Techyon blinked. "And what exactly is that?"
"Simply put," Carod replied with a shrug, "I made it invisible. It's still right there, so don't go walking into it."
Before Techyon could ask how an invisible ship worked, a woman in a prim maid's uniform approached them, her boots crunching on the permafrost. She bowed deeply toward the Commander. "Master Carod, you've arrived. You didn't send a message ahead of time. You're... quite sudden today. And who is this kid you've brought along?"
Techyon bristled slightly, standing tall in his cyan coat. "Who are you calling a kid? I'm Techyon!"
"I was just about to introduce her to you," Carod interrupted, gesturing toward the horizon. "Leave that for a moment and just look. Look at Yoru's castle."
Techyon turned, and his jaw dropped. Carved directly into the side of the obsidian peak was a fortress of white stone and gold trim that seemed to touch the stars. It was a masterpiece of architecture that defied the harsh environment. "Why is it so big?" Techyon whispered. "It's massive!"
Carod let out a dry laugh. "You call this big? It's actually quite modest considering the average salary of a Z-Elite. We deal in sums that would buy whole cities, Techyon."
Techyon's eyes turned into gold coin symbols for a second. "What?! How many gold coins do you guys actually get paid?"
"Leave that," Carod said, walking toward the gate. "Money is just numbers when you're at the top."
The maid led them through the massive arched gateway. As they entered the main courtyard, Techyon stopped. Instead of soldiers or robots, he saw hundreds of adventurers in training gear, their movements synchronized as they struck the air. The sound of their breathing and the snap of their uniforms was like a heartbeat.
"They're doing martial arts?" Techyon asked, his eyes following a group performing a high-kick sequence.
"You didn't know?" Carod said, watching a young trainee. "In her free time, Yoru teaches everyone martial arts. She believes that no matter how much mana you have, you are nothing without discipline."
Techyon watched a group practicing a form that looked strangely like the stance Yoru had used during their training. "Woah... she is even more amazing than I thought."
They were led into a grand hall where the walls were lined with ancient weapons and tapestries. The maid gestured for them to sit on a plush, velvet-covered couch that was softer than anything Techyon had ever felt. "Please, make yourselves comfortable. I will inform Lady Yoru of your arrival."
Moments later, another maid arrived, carrying a tray of steaming herbal tea and a variety of colorful Netland snacks. "Please, enjoy your meal while you wait."
Techyon reached for a snack, but his mind was racing. He was inside the heart of the North, sitting in a Z-Elite's castle, and the woman he considered a mentor was about to walk through those doors.
[The Great Hall – Yoru's Castle]
The massive double doors at the end of the hall, carved from white marble and inlaid with gold, swung open with a silent, heavy grace. Yoru stepped into the room, and the atmosphere shifted instantly. Gone was the battle-hardened warrior Techyon remembered from the dust of the battlefield.
She was dressed in a breathtaking traditional Netland gown. The base was a deep, midnight black silk that seemed to absorb the light, contrasted by vibrant orange-gold sashes that wrapped around her waist and trailed behind her like flickers of flame. The high collar of the dress was secured by a heavy gold medallion, and her long blonde hair was pinned back with jade needles, leaving a few stray strands to frame her sharp green eyes. She looked less like a soldier and more like a queen of the mountains.
"So, you are here, Captain," Yoru said, her voice smooth but carrying a playful edge. She didn't even look at Carod as she walked toward the tea table. "I heard you tried to challenge Cynthia again. Tell me... how many milliseconds did it take for her to take you down this time? Or did you actually manage to break a whole second?"
Carod's sidekicks jumped to their feet, faces red with indignation. "You can't say things like that about our Captain! He is the best in the Northern Galaxy!"
Techyon, however, wasn't listening to the argument. He was staring at Yoru with his jaw hanging open, his tea cooling in his hand.
Yoru noticed his gaze and tilted her head, a small smirk playing on her lips. "What happened, Techyon? Why are you looking at me like I've grown a second head?"
"I... I can't believe it's actually you," Techyon stammered.
"But why?" Yoru asked, gracefully sitting on the cushion opposite him.
"Because I've only ever seen you in battle gear, covered in dust and mana," Techyon explained, gesturing to her elegant gown. "I never saw you in a traditional outfit. You look... different."
"Isn't it obvious?" Yoru chuckled, pouring herself a cup of tea. "The first and last times we met, we were in the middle of a literal war against Gudmaro. You don't wear silk to a death match."
Carod let out a loud, booming laugh from the other side of the couch. "You were just weak, Yoru! You actually lost to that Gudmaro freak."
Yoru's green eyes flashed with a dangerous light. "If you had fought him, Carod, you would know how strong he truly was. He defeated Cynthia—the Goddess of Flame—easily. And we all know what she does to you on a weekly basis."
"That was a match-up issue!" Carod argued, slamming a gauntlet on the table. "Cynthia is a Fire-type. Gudmaro was a Cosmic-type. Cosmic energy is a natural counter to Fire; it suppresses the oxygen the flames need to breathe! That's why she lost. If it were a neutral match, she would have literally one-shot him."
"That was not the point," Yoru sighed, dismissing the excuse with a wave of her hand.
"Yoru," Techyon interrupted, his voice suddenly serious. The room went quiet as he looked between the two Z-Elites. "Who is the STRONGEST in the Z-Elite Four?"
The question hung in the air like a heavy mist. Carod stopped laughing. Yoru stopped pouring her tea. Both of them went into a deep, silent thought, their expressions turning uncharacteristically solemn.
"Obviously our Captain is the strongest!" the sidekicks shouted in unison, breaking the silence. "He has the best tech and the most experience!"
But neither Carod nor Yoru answered immediately. They knew the truth was far more complicated than just gear or experience.