Angel Squad, accompanied by Alaric Vayne and Malrik Crowne, as well as the crew, boarded Vayne's personal spacecraft. The ship had an absurdly elegant look to it, polished floors reflecting the warm lights above, silver lining running along the walls beside long crimson tapestries that looked like they belonged in some ancient palace instead of a warship.
"Vayne, your style is always so boring…" Crowne muttered as he looked around. "What are these? Twenty-seventh century tapestries?"
Vayne walked ahead of them calmly, his cane tapping neatly against the floor with every step.
"You simply lack the elegance to appreciate such fine art."
Crowne smirked. "I simply don't waste my money on garbage like this. Weapons of mass destruction look way better on my walls."
Vayne sighed softly. "And Crowne… tell me again why we aren't taking your personal ship?"
Crowne immediately gritted his teeth.
"…Exactly."
Vayne smirked slightly.
"If we pulled up in that abomination of yours, Saturn would shoot us down a lightyear away."
Crowne scoffed loudly, visibly annoyed.
Behind them, Kai, Markus, Aika, and Arnik followed through the massive hallways of the ship. The atmosphere between them was quieter than usual, heavier.
But Arnik…
Arnik walked differently now.
Confident.
Focused.
Determined.
Something had changed inside him.
Markus noticed it immediately, his eyes narrowing slightly as he observed him from the side.
Aika noticed too.
Her eyes had looked nearly lifeless ever since Rose died, distant and hollow like she was barely present anymore, but as she looked at Arnik now… seeing that confidence in him again… seeing him walk forward without hesitation…
…it reminded her of something.
Something she hadn't seen in him since the fall of their home.
And somehow…
that lit something inside her.
Small.
Very small.
But it was there.
…Arnik…
Her hand lifted slightly toward him for just a second—
Before slowly falling back to her side.
Kai sped up slightly until he was walking beside Arnik, pulling a small hollow projector from his pocket. With a flick of his thumb, a blue hologram of Saturn slowly spun above his hand.
"I spent the last twenty-four hours gathering information on Saturn."
Arnik looked over with a bright grin, walking confidently beside him. "Awesome. So what's actually up with Saturn? I know it's where all the richest people in the galaxy live, but I honestly don't know much else."
Kai visibly looked irritated by how cheerful Arnik sounded.
"…Ugh. Well, originally it was the biggest supplier of helium," Kai said flatly. "But frankly, that's basically useless now considering nobody has been able to trade between planets since the war started."
The hologram shifted, zooming closer toward Saturn's massive ring system.
"But Saturn's real value…" Kai adjusted his glasses slightly. "…and the reason they're known for having the strongest military in existence… is because Saturn is full of Manaburgs."
"Mana… burgs?" Arnik tilted his head, clearly not understanding.
Kai sighed.
"How did someone like you end up leading us…" he muttered in a half-joking tone.
Arnik laughed awkwardly. "Hey, I'm trying here."
Kai pointed toward the hologram. "Saturn is a gas giant. Naturally, it should be one of the worst places imaginable to build a civilization." He paused. "But rich people somehow make anything livable if there's profit involved."
The hologram zoomed inward, showing glowing crystal formations beneath the artificial structures.
"Manaburgs are crystallized magic fragments naturally found inside Saturn. They're one of the only naturally occurring mana sources ever discovered."
Arnik's expression shifted slightly.
"…I think I'm starting to understand."
"They harvest them," Kai said.
Arnik snapped his fingers. "Okay, now I get it."
Kai nodded once. "Thanks to those crystals, Saturn developed technology and military infrastructure beyond anything the other planets could keep up with. Their ship production alone is absurd."
The hologram expanded outward—
Hundreds upon hundreds of warships appeared around Saturn.
"Over one thousand active warships under their command…" Kai said quietly. "…and that's probably a low estimate."
Arnik slowed slightly.
Then stopped walking altogether.
Everyone looked back at him.
His fist slowly clenched.
"Then…" he said quietly.
Electricity sparked faintly around his hand.
"…how are we even losing to Lionel?"
The hallway grew quieter.
"If Saturn wanted to…" Arnik looked up toward the hologram. "…they could take Earth back in days."
Vayne spoke calmly from ahead of them.
"Exactly."
His cane tapped lightly against the floor as he continued walking.
"This is precisely why we are traveling there."
Vayne's expression darkened slightly.
"The moment Lionel was declared Demon Sovereign of Earth, Mercury and Mars immediately requested large-scale military support. Our original plan was simple—combine the fleets of Mercury and Mars and reclaim Earth before Lionel could fully establish control."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…we underestimated him."
The hologram shifted again, now displaying Earth surrounded by dark warships.
"We didn't understand the scale of his forces… nor how quickly Earth would fall under his control."
Kai's eyes lowered slightly.
"Earth's defensive systems were second only to Saturn's," he muttered.
Vayne nodded once.
"And yet Lionel overtook it almost immediately."
The tapping of his cane echoed softly through the ship.
"When we requested aid…"
His expression hardened.
"Saturn cut communications completely."
Aika looked up slightly at that.
"No response?" she asked quietly.
"None," Vayne answered. "Only an automated AI transmission acknowledging our request."
Crowne stepped in with a scoff.
"And trust me—we tried everything."
He shoved his hands into his coat pockets.
"But Lionel's forces were too unpredictable. Too ruthless. We couldn't exactly spare resources to investigate Saturn while Mercury and Mars were collapsing."
His grin faded slightly.
"…Eventually, after Mars had already fallen, we finally sent a reconnaissance vessel."
The atmosphere shifted immediately.
Crowne continued.
"One warship. Some of Mercury's best diplomats… and several high-ranking mutants."
The grin disappeared completely.
"The ship successfully made contact with Saturn."
A pause.
"…and was never heard from again."
Silence.
Markus finally spoke, his brows furrowed tightly.
"Saturn has a population of over four hundred billion people…" he said slowly. "How do we not have a single successful communication attempt?"
Kai's expression tightened slightly.
"…Actually."
He looked up.
"That's not entirely true."
Everyone's attention shifted toward him.
Kai adjusted his glasses.
"The Sovereign of Saturn finally agreed to meet with us."
The group went still.
"This…" Kai said quietly, looking at the hologram of Saturn spinning above his hand. "…is why we're on our way there now."
His expression darkened slightly.
"Because at this point…"
"…Saturn is humanity's best chance against Lionel."
They entered the bridge, the massive viewing glass ahead of them showing the stars stretching endlessly beyond the ship as crew members moved quickly between stations, preparing the vessel for departure.
Vayne stepped forward calmly, his cane tapping once against the polished floor before he spoke.
"Prepare for departure. We will be leaving in thirty minutes."
The crew immediately began responding, holograms lighting up across the bridge as engines slowly started humming deeper within the ship.
Vayne then turned his attention toward Angel Squad.
"This ship has limited room," he said simply. "Some of you will have to bunk together."
Crowne immediately smirked.
"Oh, this should be entertaining."
Vayne ignored him completely.
"Kai. Markus. You two will take the aft room."
Markus nodded once. "Works for me."
Kai adjusted his glasses slightly. "That is suitable."
Vayne continued.
"Arnik and Aika… you two will take the bedroom at the bow."
Arnik nearly choked.
"W-WHAT?!"
He immediately straightened himself out, flustered.
"A man and a woman shouldn't share a room! That's indecent!"
Crowne grinned wider instantly.
"Oooh? Can't resist your animalistic desires?"
"T-That's not what I'm saying!" Arnik snapped back immediately. "Aika, help me out here—"
He stopped.
Aika barely reacted.
She just stood there quietly, her eyes distant, exhausted, like she genuinely didn't care where she slept… or if she slept at all.
The energy left Arnik's face almost immediately.
"…Aika…"
Something clicked in his head then.
Rose was gone.
And now…
He was the only person left who could really reach her the way she needed.
The only one she still leaned toward without realizing it.
Arnik's shoulders lowered slightly.
"…Okay…"
Crowne blinked once, disappointed the teasing died so quickly.
"Well that got depressing fast."
Vayne sighed quietly as he walked past them, taking position beside the pilots while overlooking the bridge.
Later that night…
Markus and Kai sat alone inside their room, the dim lights overhead casting soft shadows across the metallic walls as the ship quietly traveled through space.
Markus sat on the edge of his bed, leaning slightly forward, his wolf tail slowly swishing back and forth behind him as he stared at Kai from across the room.
Kai sat quietly on the opposite bed.
Still.
Almost unnaturally still.
His eyes looked lifeless now.
Mechanical.
Markus finally spoke.
"You chose to… abandon your humanity."
Kai didn't react much.
No anger.
No irritation.
Just a quiet response.
"Yes…"
Markus looked down slightly, his hands slowly gripping together tighter.
"I get what you went through, Kai…" he muttered quietly. "More than you know…"
His eyes lifted back toward him.
"But this…"
A pause.
"…don't you think it was a little much?"
Kai looked down at himself silently.
At his hands.
At the faint mechanical seams hidden beneath parts of his skin.
"I was weak…" he answered quietly.
His voice sounded distant.
Flat.
"I never had the magic talent…"
His fingers slowly clenched.
"I was weak…"
A faint mechanical sound came from inside his arm.
"This body allows me to draw out one hundred and seventy percent of my potential at minimum."
The room went quiet again.
Markus' tail slowed slightly.
"…Kai."
Kai looked toward him.
"How long…" Markus asked quietly. "…do you have in that body?"
Kai looked down at himself again.
"…This technology is new…" he answered.
A pause.
"…but advanced."
His expression didn't change.
"…I would be lucky to live the next three years…"
Silence filled the room.
Markus slowly leaned back slightly, gripping his hands together tightly as his eyes lowered.
…I guess we both have nothing to lose…
In the next room, Aika and Arnik sat side by side in silence, the quiet humming of the ship filling the space between them.
Arnik sat stiffly near the edge of the bed, visibly nervous, his posture awkward as he tried not to look directly at her for too long.
Normally…
Sharing a room with Aika would've driven him insane.
His mind would've been racing.
His face probably bright red.
But that was before.
Before Rose died.
Before everything changed.
Now…
The girl sitting beside him barely even looked alive.
Her eyes were hollow.
Distant.
Like she wasn't really there anymore.
She wasn't thinking about sharing a room with him.
She wasn't thinking about anything.
She was just trying to survive another day.
…This isn't the time to get nervous…
Arnik slowly looked down at his hands.
…Nothing is going to happen in this room…
But…
His eyes slowly shifted toward Aika.
…it tears me apart… seeing her like this…
Arnik turned slightly toward her before finally speaking.
"…Aika…"
No response.
She just sat there quietly.
Arnik looked down slightly.
"I understand… how you feel," he said quietly. "Losing someone…"
His expression tightened slightly.
"…especially Rose…"
Aika's fingers twitched slightly.
"So if you wanna talk…" Arnik continued softly. "…it doesn't even have to be with words…"
He looked at her carefully.
"…Keeping it bottled up…"
A pause.
"It…will just hurt worse."
Aika's eyes trembled slightly.
Just a little.
Then slowly…
She laid down quietly on the bed, turning away slightly without saying a word.
Arnik watched her silently for a moment before slowly standing up.
"I'll let you rest…" Arnik said quietly as he turned slightly, preparing to head toward the other bed.
Then—
A small tug stopped him.
Arnik froze.
He slowly looked down.
Aika's hand lightly gripped the back of his shirt.
Her head stayed lowered.
"…Stay…"
Her voice was quiet.
Weak.
"…I can't be alone any longer…"
Arnik's face instantly turned red.
His entire body stiffened as he swallowed hard, his mind completely short-circuiting for a second.
"O-Okay…"
He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly before forcing a bright smile onto his face.
"Yeah! Of course!"
Aika slowly looked at him.
And for just a moment…
Seeing that smile again—
That same stupidly bright smile Arnik always had—
It pulled her back to happier days.
Back before the war.
Back before Rose died.
Back when things still felt normal.
Later that night…
The two of them lay in the same bed quietly, facing away from each other beneath the dim lighting of the room.
Arnik stayed completely stiff the entire time.
He didn't try anything.
Didn't even move much.
He simply stayed beside her because she asked him to.
And honestly…
If this was what he could do to comfort her…
Then he would happily do it.
His eyes slowly started closing as exhaustion began catching up to him.
…I wish I could do more for her…
Arnik let out a quiet breath.
…but…
…I guess this is the best I can do…
His expression softened slightly.
…I'll gladly keep doing it…
Ruffle…
Ruffle…
A soft sound came from behind him.
Like clothing shifting against the sheets.
Then he heard another sound from behind him, the soft sound of clothing slowly slipping against the floor before landing quietly beside the bed.
Arnik froze instantly beneath the blanket, his entire body locking up as his eyes widened slightly in panic.
…Wait…?
His face immediately started turning red as his thoughts began spiraling over each other faster and faster.
…W-What is going on…? Is Aika changing…?
He swallowed hard, staring straight ahead at the wall while trying desperately not to turn around.
…Well maybe she got sweaty from another nightmare…
His heart continued pounding violently inside his chest as he immediately shut his eyes tighter.
…Be respectful and ignore it…
Then—
"Arnik…"
His name was called softly from behind him, her voice quiet and fragile enough to make his heart nearly stop inside his chest.
Slowly, nervously, Arnik turned around toward her—
And froze completely.
Aika stood there beside the bed beneath the dim golden lights of the room, her long black hair falling over the front of her body just enough to barely cover her small chest as her trembling eyes looked toward him uncertainly, her entire posture weak and vulnerable like she didn't even know if what she was doing was right anymore.
Arnik immediately shut his eyes tightly and turned his head away, his entire face burning red as panic completely took over his thoughts.
"A-Aika what are you doing?!" he nearly shouted, his voice cracking from pure nervousness as he tried desperately not to look at her.
"…Look at me…"
Her voice was weak.
Quiet.
Before Arnik could even respond, Aika slowly moved closer toward him until her knees touched the edge of the bed. Then gently—
She pushed him backward.
Arnik's eyes widened slightly as his body hit the mattress beneath him, his heart slamming violently against his chest while Aika climbed on top of him, sitting over his waist.
She was small-framed.
Petite.
Her long black hair flowed down over the front of her body, barely covering her chest as she looked down at him with trembling eyes.
Then—
She touched him gently.
Arnik immediately looked away again.
"Aika stop…"
His voice came out strained now.
Nervous.
Panicked.
Aika slowly leaned closer toward him, her face inching toward his as she went in for a kiss—
But Arnik's hand immediately moved, stopping her gently as he cupped over her mouth before their lips could meet.
"This isn't right…" Arnik said quietly, finally forcing himself to look at her. "Aika… what's happening?"
Aika sat there quietly on top of him, her body fully exposed except for the long strands of black hair covering parts of her chest as her trembling eyes slowly lowered.
"…I wanna feel…" she whispered weakly. "…I wanna know what Kai and Rose felt…"
Arnik's chest tightened painfully.
"Aika this isn't right…"
"…Why…?" she asked sadly, her voice trembling slightly as she looked down at him. "Ever since… Rose and Kai did it…"
Her hands slowly tightened against his shirt.
"…I noticed her…"
Aika's eyes shook slightly.
"She was happy… more happy than ever…"
Her voice weakened more and more the longer she spoke.
"And when I saw her with her child…"
A painful look crossed her face.
"…it made me envious… of how happy she was…"
Arnik stayed completely still beneath her.
Aika slowly leaned closer again until her face was only inches away from his.
"I wanna feel happy like that…" she whispered shakily. "I wanna feel it so badly…"
Her lips trembled.
"Maybe it will fill this horrible void in my heart…"
Arnik's expression tightened painfully as he looked up at her.
Then—
Aika finally said it.
"…That's why…"
Her trembling eyes locked onto his.
"…I want you to impregnate me."