Back on the cargo plane, the Sixth and Seventh Battalions were still being pursued by Militia aircraft.
The sky was a hollow black, torn apart by relentless gunfire. Tracer rounds streaked past, slamming into the cargo plane's reinforced hull and ricocheting harmlessly away.
Levi stepped out of the control room and headed straight for the cargo door.
Hiro (whispering, uneasy): "What's the captain doing…?"
Levi pressed the release.
The door blew open.
A violent rush of wind tore through the cabin, pressure dragging at everything like a vacuum. Alarms blared. Cloaks snapped violently. Levi stood at the edge, unmoving, framed by darkness and rushing air.
The Militia aircraft didn't hesitate.
They opened fire.
Levi didn't look at them.
He didn't need to.
He swung his arm—
Destruction.
The bullets vanished mid-flight—erased—followed by the aircraft themselves. Metal folded inward. Engines imploded. Fire bloomed across the sky as one craft after another tore apart, debris spiraling into the night. Every Militia pilot died before they could even scream.
Silence followed.
Levi turned and walked back inside.
The cargo door sealed shut behind him.
The cabin stayed quiet.
When Levi had first been named Seventh Blade, most of them hadn't known what to think. A foreigner. A wildcard. Too dangerous. Too unpredictable. Some had been uneasy. Others afraid.
Now, no one questioned it.
They had watched him move through the mission without hesitation—making calls when plans broke, fighting beside them instead of above them, and staying behind when escape demanded it.
That was enough.
The looks on their faces wasn't of fear anymore.
They were steady. Certain.
Levi wasn't just powerful.
He was their captain.
Back at the Militia base, soldiers snapped out of the lingering grip of Sleep Paralysis. Panic lasted only a second—training took over. Orders barked. Engines roared.
Aircraft were scrambled immediately. Coastal units mobilized. Patrol boats prepared to launch.
Then—
Guard 1: "Hey—one boat's missing!"
Guard 2: "What the hell…?"
They froze as smoke rose from the small island off the coast. A mountain had been erased. Fire crawled across the land, ash spiraling into the sky. For a moment, no one spoke—staring in stunned silence at destruction on an inhuman scale.
Guard 2 (uneasy): "Commander War… is he still fighting out there?"
Guard 3 (grim): "We're about to find out."
(He turned and shouted)
"Send sea support to the island! Now!"
The base erupted back into motion. Boats launched. Weapons primed. Whatever was happening out there, they couldn't let the Demons escape.
Out on the burning island, cynical laughter cut through the crackle of flames.
A patrol boat approached the shore.
From the fire and smoke, a figure stepped forward—cloak torn, eyes gleaming.
Nero (smirking): "Huh… faster than I expected."
Sawada's voice came sharp.
Sawada: "Sir, we need to move. More support is already inbound."
Nero didn't hesitate. He leapt onto the boat in a single fluid motion.
As they pulled away into the night, the flames swallowed the shoreline behind them.
Left behind was the shattered island—
and the broken spirit of a giant.
War lay unmoving, consciousness fading, trapped between pain and disbelief—haunted not by defeat, but by failure.
For the first time in years…
he had not been strong enough.
It was almost dawn.
Miles from the Militia base, the harbor was already sealed tight. Ships sat idle in the water. Jets circled overhead. Floodlights cut long scars across the waves.
Lieutenant Fox moved through the command line, barking orders without slowing.
Lieutenant Fox: "You're certain this is their rendezvous?"
Soldier: "Yes, sir. Intercepted comms. The enemy instructed his crew to regroup at the harbor at dawn before extraction."
Fox's jaw tightened.
Lieutenant Fox: "Then tighten the net. I want eyes within a ten-mile radius—sea, air, land. Nothing moves without clearance."
Soldier: "Roger that, sir!"
Fox paused, scanning the dark water.
Lieutenant Fox: "Deploy Guardians as well. And see if command can spare a Seraphim… Tier A, if possible."
The order hung heavy.
Dawn crept in slowly. As the sun rose, tension sharpened instead of easing.
Lieutenant Fox (over comms): "Any movement?"
Soldier: "Negative, sir. Nothing on radar. Nothing visual."
Silence.
No engines. No waves disturbed. No shadows approaching.
Minutes passed. Then an hour.
The sun climbed higher, and confusion spread through the ranks. Murmurs rippled across the harbor.
Fox clenched his fist.
Lieutenant Fox: "…Damn it. They played us."
Cargo Plane — Control Room (Hours Before Extraction)
The hum of the engines filled the control room. Blue holo-maps hovered between them, patrol routes and response zones layered like veins across the coastline.
Levi stared at the display, jaw tight.
Levi: "…Something's off."
Shiba glanced over from her console.
Shiba: "Off how?"
Levi folded his arms.
Levi:"The escape. This part doesn't sit right with me. They won't let us walk out so easily."
Kayo stepped closer, studying the map.
Kayo:"We shake them, lose pursuit, regroup at the harbor. Standard extraction."
Levi shook his head slightly.
Levi:"Too standard."
Nero lounged in a chair behind them, fingers interlaced, watching with an amused half-smile.
Levi:"The harbor's only a few miles from the base. Close enough for full coverage. They'll lock it down the second we're gone."
Kayo nodded once.
Kayo:"Exactly. Which is why they won't expect us to go there."
(He tapped the map)
"The militia knows it's obvious. They'll assume we're smarter than that and divert resources elsewhere—secondary routes, deep water exits, long-range air corridors. That hesitation is our opening."
Shiba hesitated.
Shiba:"It's risky, but… that logic tracks."
Levi didn't look convinced.
Levi:"That works when the enemy's calm."
(He turned to face them)
"They won't be."
(Silence settled)
"They just lost a sector. Their Seraphim's compromised. Command's embarrassed. This isn't a thinking enemy anymore—it's a panicking one."
Kayo frowned.
Kayo:"You're saying they won't hesitate."
Levi:"I'm saying they'll flood the obvious route. No second-guessing. No restraint. They'll turn the harbor into a net and wait for us to walk into it."
Nero's smile widened slightly.
Nero: "So what's your alternative, Seventh Blade?"
Levi exhaled.
Levi: "We don't avoid the obvious."
(Everyone looked at him)
"We feed it to them."
Shiba blinked.
Shiba: "You mean… leak it?"
Levi: "Yeah. Just enough. Make it sound real. Make it sloppy. As if we're passing info to each other."
Kayo's eyes narrowed.
Kayo: "And then we don't go."
Levi nodded.
Levi: "We change the destination entirely. South Side District Four. Crusher's old hideout."
Shiba pulled up the location.
Shiba: "That's farther. It would put us behind schedule."
Levi: "But outside their immediate response bubble. And once they commit to the harbor, they won't redeploy fast enough."
Nero chuckled softly.
Nero:"You're letting them trap a ghost."
Kayo studied Levi for a long moment. Then—
Kayo:"…It's dangerous."
Levi:"So is fighting War."
Another beat.
Kayo finally nodded.
Kayo: "Alright. We sell the harbor.."
Shiba exhaled and started typing.
Shiba:"I'll make sure they can intercept it. One of us just has to say it at the right time. "
Nero leaned back, satisfied.
Nero:"Looks like we've got ourselves an escape."
Present Time — Fourth District, South Side
The plane touched down on barren terrain near The Crusher's old hideout, its camouflage field rippling as it settled into silence. They waited.
Hours passed.
When Nero and Sawada finally arrived at the rendezvous point, the cargo plane lifted off without delay—slipping back into the sky and setting course for Red Moon headquarters.
Inside the cargo plane's control room, the atmosphere was subdued. Holo-screens glowed softly as Shiba and Kayo compiled mission reports. Nearby, Sawada worked in silence, tending to Nero's injuries—burns, fractures, blood that hadn't fully dried.
Levi stepped forward. Calm. Serious.
Levi: "Did you kill him?"
Nero, seated, looked up to meet his gaze. A pause. Then a low chuckle.
Nero: "I don't kill his type."
(He smiled faintly.)
"I break them. Let them live the rest of their lives trying to put themselves back together."
Levi didn't respond. He didn't react at all. He simply stared down at Nero—eyes flat, unreadable.
Nero sighed, the humor draining from his expression.
Nero: "Listen… there was nothing you could've done against him."
(His tone sharpened.)
"Sixty-six percent. You felt it, didn't you? Physically, he outclassed you—outclassed me too. If I hadn't torn him apart, I'd be the one burning on that island."
A beat
Levi held his gaze for a moment longer—then turned away.
He took a few steps, stopped, and looked back over his shoulder.
For an instant, his hazel eyes flared crimson.
Levi: "Next time, stay out of my way."
(Quiet. Absolute.)
"When I say I'll handle it—I mean it."
He exited the control room.
The door slid shut.
No one spoke. Shiba and Kayo exchanged brief, uncertain looks. Sawada paused, then resumed her work.
Nero watched the door for a second longer.
Then he smirked.
Sixteen Hours Later — Red Moon Headquarters
The cargo plane descended onto the colossal landing platform, its engines roaring low as the doors opened. One by one, the Sixth and Seventh Battalions stepped out, cloaks rippling in the cold night air.
The mission was complete.
In less than two days, the artifact had been retrieved. There were complications—but none that compromised the extraction. Once again, the Red Moon Clan proved why it was a Demon faction feared across territories.
Beneath the towering monastery spires, Nero, Kayo, and Shiba walked together.
Nero: "I'll be meeting with the Shogun and the council shortly. You can submit the mission report to Sawada. She'll take care of it."
Shiba wordlessly handed the data slate to Sawada. Kayo nodded, then turned back.
Kayo: "Levi and I should come with you. The other Blades will be present."
(He turned to call out)
"Levi, we shoul—"
He stopped.
Levi was already halfway up the mountain stairs, heading toward the peak—toward his training grounds—without looking back.
Kayo stared after him.
Kayo:"…Is he serious?"
Nero followed Levi with his eyes, then smirked faintly.
Nero:"Dedicated, isn't he? Don't worry. I was the one assigned to this mission. You two can miss the tea party."
Kayo hesitated, then exhaled.
Kayo: "…Right."
After a moment, he turned and followed Levi up the mountain path.
The remaining battalions dispersed into the monastery, finally permitted to rest.
The Shogun's Chamber
The council hall was dimly lit, wax candles flickering as cold wind slipped through the open windows. Moonlight spilled across the chamber, illuminating the figures of the Six Blades standing before the elders.
Sawada finished her report and stepped back.
An elder's voice broke the silence.
Elder One: "Now that you have worked alongside him directly… Tell us, Sixth Blade."
All eyes turned to Nero.
"What is your assessment of the foreigner?"
The room went still.
No one spoke.
Then—Nero smiled.
Nero: "Well… as most of you observed during the election—he's reckless."
A subtle shift passed through the elders. Anticipation.
Nero paused deliberately.
Then—
Nero:"But he's also an outstanding Demon."
The temperature in the chamber seemed to drop.
"He showed natural leadership. He adapted to our unit faster than most veterans would have—and under pressure, he made the right calls. When the mission demanded a sacrifice… he didn't hesitate."
(A brief pause.)
"He may not be the sharpest blade… but his instincts are disturbingly accurate."
(His smile thinned)
"…And though I despise admitting it—Nury made the correct decision."
Several elders stiffened.
"I would not want him as an enemy," (Nero continued calmly) "And I do not say that lightly."
(His eyes sharpened)
"He's one of the rare ones. He possesses it"
Silence.
No one asked what it was.
They already knew.
The disappointment among the elders was palpable.
At last, the Shogun spoke.
The Shogun:"Very well. An excellent operation by the Sixth and Seventh Battalions."
(He turned his gaze to Nero)
"I appreciate your honesty, Sixth Blade."
Nero bowed and stepped back into line.
The Shogun: "Fifth Blade."
Nury stepped forward.
The Shogun:"Now that all required items have been secured—when will the First and Fifth Battalions be prepared to depart for Nitchtron?"
Nury: "We will be ready in a week's time, my lord."
(She paused)
"I request that the Seventh Battalion accompany us instead."
The chamber erupted into murmurs.
Elder Five: "Let us not be hasty. A successful retrieval does not guarantee performance on a mission of this scale—especially from a foreigner."
Nury remained bowed, unmoving.
After a moment, the Shogun turned.
The Shogun: "First Blade. Do you object?"
The First Blade smiled easily.
First: "Not at all. I'd love the free time."
Several elders bristled.
The Shogun: "So be it."
(He struck his staff against the stone floor)
"The Fifth and Seventh Battalions will depart for Nitchtron in a week's time."
The Blades vanished in a blink.
The council was concluded.
And a far more dangerous mission awaited.
Back in Breedom—
News screens across the city flared to life, flooded with urgent headlines.
Another Militia Base assaulted.
Seated at the center of the studio was News Anchor Rebecca Ross, her voice steady—but strained beneath the weight of the report.
Rebecca: "Good morning, Breedom. I am Rebecca Ross and I'm coming to you, with breaking news. Just hours ago, we received confirmation of an assault on the Sector Four Militia Base. Authorities have verified that the attack was carried out by the infamous Demon faction known as the Red Moon."
Footage rolled behind her—
shattered structures and scorched coastline.
"During the attack, the Red Moon successfully stole an illegal and highly dangerous alien artifact. But this was not the only loss suffered by the Militia."
The screen shifted.
War.
His massive frame lay restrained, unconscious—machines humming around him. Then, the island near the base burned in looping aerial shots, reduced to ash and fractured stone.
"One of our strongest Seraphim Fighters has been incapacitated. While he remains alive and is currently receiving treatment, officials confirm his mental state is critical. Experts warn recovery may take a very long time."
Across homes, cafés, and streets, people watched in silence—faces tight with fear, confusion, and dread.
Rebecca continued.
"With this incident, Breedom has now suffered four major Demon assaults within a single month. The Red Moon's destruction and abduction of Rumbler in Sector Nine. The Crushers' attack on the Third District General Bank, resulting in the loss of three low-end Seraphim. The infiltration of the Seventh District Gala. And now—this."
(She paused, just long enough for the weight to sink in)
"These events may be signs of a much larger uprising. For now, all we can do is stand firm and fight back against these Demon forces. Let us hope it will be enough."
(She straightened)
"I'm Rebecca Ross. We'll now move to international news, where the European Demon faction—Casa Nostra—"
Click.
The screen went dark.
Reflected faintly in the glass was Commander-in-Chief Benson.
He remained seated, gazing out the window. Three small birds cut across the sky beyond the tower—one faltering mid-flight, steadied by the other two as they disappeared into the blinding sun.
Without turning—
Benson: "We're losing ground."
(A quiet breath)
"We're falling behind. And I can't allow this to continue."
(He clenched his jaw)
"The Red Moon is planning something bigger. And if we don't uncover what it is soon… we won't be ready."
Behind him, Lieutenant Charles stood at attention.
Lieutenant Charles: "Sir… should we involve Hope?"
Benson didn't answer right away.
He watched the sky a moment longer—then finally turned, age and resolve etched deep into his eyes.
Benson: "I thought moving the artifact was the right call. Seems age is finally catching up to me."
(A pause)
"Hope is already stretched thin protecting Earth."
(His gaze dropped to the ring on his hand)
"Deploy the BSO."
Lieutenant Charles stiffened.
Lieutenant Charles: "Sir… are you certain?"
Benson didn't hesitate.
Benson: "Yes."
(His eyes hardened)
"I want Mahone."
Charles snapped a sharp salute.
Lieutenant Charles: "Understood, sir."
The door hissed shut behind him.
Benson remained where he was—
still facing forward,
still watching the empty sky—
uncertain of the future rushing toward them all.