Her suit's reactor roared like a miniature engine.
Red Aether crackled along the halberd.
Clare gritted her teeth.
"...damn it."
She charged.
"FLARE MODE!"
Her sword ignited again.
Clare swung with everything she had.
The captain blocked effortlessly.
CLANG.
Then the halberd struck Clare's side.
BOOM.
Clare crashed into the sand twenty meters away.
Ryū exhaled smoke.
"It appears that she's severally outclassing your ass Clare."
Clare coughed.
"...Not the time!"
The captain tilted her head.
"You haven't the faintest clue of how to properly wield your Knight Frame."
Clare forced herself back to her feet.
"...God! Is everyone just gonna keep telling me shit I already know?!"
The captain raised her weapon.
"Then die & relish in the silence."
She vanished again.
Clare closed her eyes.
For the briefest moment...
She ignored the suit.
The boosters.
The HUD.
Instead she felt the wind.
The desert.
The Aether moving through the air.
The attack came.
Clare moved.
Not with the suit.
With her body.
She slid past the halberd's strike.
The blade cut across the captain's armor.
CLANG.
A shallow hit.
But a hit.
Ryū leaned forward.
"...Well what do you know."
The captain stepped back slightly.
"...Your skill advanced to a higher rank momentarily.. what an interesting development."
Clare breathed heavily.
"I did it again."
Ryū nodded.
"Good job dodging kiddo."
The captain lifted her halberd again.
"However, this change will not save you."
Red Aether exploded around her armor.
The reactor screamed as the suit reached maximum output.
The halberd glowed like lightning.
Clare's visor flashed warnings.
CRITICAL ENERGY LEVEL
"...uh oh."
The captain raised the weapon above her head.
"This will end it."
Clare raised her sword desperately.
She knew she couldn't block this.
The halberd descended.
The sand exploded.
A shockwave ripped across the desert.
But the weapon never reached Clare.
The captain's eyes widened.
Ryū stood in front of Clare.
His hand casually gripping the halberd blade.
No weapon.
No transformation.
Just his bare hand.
The halberd stopped like it had struck a mountain.
Ryū looked bored.
"...Alright, guess it's my turn now."
The captain tried to pull the weapon back.
It didn't budge.
Ryū sighed.
"You soldiers really do love your toys."
He flicked the halberd away.
The captain was thrown backward across the sand.
She crashed hard but managed to land on her feet.
The two strike soldiers froze.
Ryū walked forward slowly.
His presence alone made the air heavier.
The soldiers stepped back instinctively.
Ryū scratched the back of his neck.
"You three came all this way..."
He glanced at their armor.
"...with those expensive suits..."
Then he smiled.
"And your backing away?"
The captain tightened her grip on the halberd.
Her voice was colder now.
"...you're a monster."
Ryū shrugged.
"Not the first time I heard that & it probably won't be the last."
He turned and walked back toward Clare.
The soldiers didn't move.
Not one step.
Clare stared at him.
"...you didn't even draw your sword."
Ryū yawned.
"I didn't need it."
The captain lowered her weapon slowly.
Her eyes never left Ryū.
"...this isn't over, you'll be hunted by the human empire from now on."
Ryū waved lazily.
"I've been hunted by nations for 300 years, I'll be fine."
The Strike Division retreated into the desert.
Clare sat down in the sand.
"...wow."
Ryū looked down at her.
"She was gonna kill your ass."
Clare groaned.
"...thanks, it's not like I couldn't tell from the other side of her blade!"
Ryū smirked.
"But you moved without the suit, so I'll give you your props."
Clare blinked.
"...thanks."
Ryū lit another blunt.
"Don't celebrate to soon, you've still got a lot more to learn."
He started walking back toward Dusthaven.
Clare stood and followed.
"Where are we going now?"
Ryū looked toward the distant ocean.
"...to find your sister."
Clare's eyes widened.
"...you still haven't told me which one?"
Ryū smiled slightly.
"Zoey."
END OF CHAPTER 6