(Crater's outer circumference - Olivia's P.O.V)
It worked!
I was so I glad that I hadn't allowed the fear from before to take total control. With help from the black wolves, I was at least able to do something.
Their aura had a strange effect.
Upon activation, that black energy would easily bend into the shape of anything as long as the user desired it.
Sedem managed to leave those ruins and returned to higher ground thanks to Bordron. His wounds got me really worried but then, I knew some first aid and was able to dress them with a few equipment from my storage cube.
Around that time, we noticed the fleeing ship and I wasn't going to let it get away that easily! Both Eterna and Vanguard, the black wolves' leader helped too!
With Eterna's black field active, the scope of Vanguard's power increased and from there he summoned a black missile and shot it at the enemy.
Hehe, that missile was a request of mine since Vanguard had no idea about a lot of tech stuff.
Of course, I did that while knowing about Seksulfur's infiltration.
The burning debris fell from the sky however, there was a glistening blue-like star that fell along with it. Its glow was harsh as it reflected the dull light of the sun.
Sedem moved away from my arms, struggling to stand on his own, "Goddess...",
"Uh- Right!", I dashed towards the spot where the blue star was likely to fall.
That light must've come from both Seksulfur and the legendary moon sword.
*Boom!*
Parts of the ship made impact first, giving off a final explosion.
Volumes of snow violently launched into the air, forcing me to cover my eyes instinctively.
The others fell right after the explosion.
"Guys...", I muttered, quickly moving towards the dying flames. "Where are they?"
*Cough cough*
I noticed signs of struggle in the corner of my eye. My sight moved to a clear area on my left, noticing a degrading force field around a familiar figure.
"Guys!"
Almost ecstatic, I rushed over to their side. Seksulfur had the moon sword firm in his grip while he shielded Shyza in his arms.
He slowly sat up as Shyza's eyes twitched.
"Ngh, what in the world's going on?", her eyes lazily scanned her surroundings until they landed on me. "Big Sis? Why do you have tears in your eyes?"
"Shyza, I'm so glad you're okay", I smiled, however it barely lasted. "I... I'm so sorry. If only I- If only I was stronger..."
"You managed to stop the ship", Seksulfur stood on both feet, helping Shyza on hers. "And you ignored that fear of yours. You've done more than enough."
He looked away.
Was he embarassed? His voice was devoid of any emotion but I could tell that he was hiding it.
A tingling feeling welt up in my chest. It felt nice to be given a compliment.
"I'm glad you're safe as well Olivia", a voice erupted from the moon sword. "I really couldn't help back then since I was completely out of energy. Sorry about that."
"A- Ah, it's okay really! Aha", my face began to heat up.
I still wasn't kind of used to hearing an ancient sword like that speak though.
Just then, a voice called out from behind, "Oiiii, are you guys alright!?"
It was Sedem and the others!
*zzt*
"huh?", my eyes widened as the hairs on my arm stood on end.
An amazing surge of bloodlust pierced the air as both Vanguard and Eterna stood still.
"Eh!? What's this What's thissss?", Shyza was plunged into the depths of confusion. "Why did the air get tense all of a sudden!?"
Vanguard stepped foward with a burst of aura surrounding him, "You. You're the one who wiped out my entire clan, aren't you!!?"
Seksulfur then walked foward with no change in his emotionless expression.
"Yes, I am."
Everyone's attention was focused on Seksulfur.
Was he really telling the truth?
A sickening feeling crouched into my belly as memories of the freshly mutilated corpses from before flashed in my mind.
"Tch! Bastard! I'll tear you inside out!!", Vanguard's aura flared in a fit of rage as he prepared to attack.
He was however impeded by Sedem who stood in his way, "We had a deal. You help me free my friends and I help you leave the planet! Sek's a friend of mine!"
Vanguard hesitated for only a moment, "Get out of my way! You expect me to let this cannibal slip through my hands!?"
Eterna held his hand, "He may have killed them. However, there's something more to it."
What?
Something more to what Seksulfur did?
Was Eterna on to something?
"Hm", a slight smirk displayed on Seksulfur's face. "Your people were dead before I could even kill them."
... Huh?
"Sekky, that was the dumbest shit I've ever heard", Shyza blankly commented.
Shocked, I exchanged a deadly stare with her. "Shyza! Your words!"
"Ehehe", she pulled out her tongue.
"Are you mocking me!!?", Vamguard was on the edge of losing his sanity.
"You were there when I 'supposedly' killed them. Didn't you notice something strange about them?", Seksulfur's face became stern.
There was quite a long silence as clearly, Vanguard had no answer to his question.
Eterna suddenly broke the silence, "They had strange symbols on the back of their necks."
Symbols?
"Exactly. Even in my rage state, I could make out a strange marking on their necks. Whenever these symbols glowed, blood would slowly seep out of their eye sockets", a voice of complete seriousness came from Seksulfur as he kept a strict eye on the two.
Vanguard's aura dimineshed. It seemed as if he had remembered something. He took a few steps back.
"Whoever set those marks wasn't with the Zephain maidens", Seksulfur closed his eyes. "And this person... took advantage of the ongoing rampages to hid their presence."
.
.
.
(Zephain headquaters - Planet Faunaria)
(Charlotte's P.O.V)
The Zephain company's major headquaters was located in the heart of the densest jungle in the central solar system. An extremely powerful force field protected the sleek neo structure from the deadly aliens that lurked in the jungle.
Most of Zephain's experiments saw their final phases within the white structure.
My eyes casually danced around, staying fixed on the group of aliens that surrounded me. I was currently in the sector of the quaters that dealt with alien species.
The large sector was split into different sections that shapeshifted into various terrains that suited the aliens kept there.
Maeenkarq
That was the name of the species I was tasked to observe. They were creatures half the size of an average female human. Their overall structure resembled that of a velociraptor from the degraded earth's early years.
The differences however, were quite vast. They had three tails with poisonous barbs potent enough to kill an Argrain with the slightest touch.
Their heads were slimy and took a snake-like form while their legs had extremely power claws with a terrifying grip strength.
They had no arms however.
All 500 maaenkarq had taken quite a liking to me as they harmlessly stroked their scaly bodies on my skin to express affection.
My eyes darkened as I muttered to myself, "It's a shame. Most of you won't survive the experiments."
*Kraw!*
A majestic cry resounded within the facility.
"Hmm?", I looked up with no shred of surprise in my eyes. "Night."
Night was my pet zephul. It was a rare variant, having the ability to amplify its strength at will. Another noticeable trait was its pure black colour and crimson red eyes that made it look like an incarnation of the devil himself.
Kraw
The alien bird perched on my shoulder and made itself comfy.
All the maeenkarq that surrounded immediately moved away after they noticed my pet.
Well, it wasn't abnormal. Night did eat up the initial 2,753 maeenkarq anyways.
"Charlotte! Heyyyy!!~"
A feminine voice called from the observatory deck.
My attention was shifted towards the structure several metres above me.
"Lulu?", I spoke under tone.
"The president wants to see you!~", Lulu cheerfully waved at me.
Sheesh, she was a bit too noisy...
.
(Sector 2C - Human experimental chamber)
I stood before the metalloid doors that led to one of the most prohibited rooms in the entire building, the human experimental chamber.
Why did the president call for me? Was it something related to Claudia and Yin Yue?
[Scanning lifeform]
The door suddenly came to life.
"Night, fade into darkness", I sternly commanded.
My pet zephul heeded, silently fading into the shadows as if it never existed.
[Confirmed. Zephain maiden Charlotte]
Mechanical beeping sounded and in that instant, the doors to the chamber were opened.
I walked in, stopping after the doors closed behind me.
Within the chamber were large experimental tubes that spread as far as the eye could see.
There was a visible separation between the tubes as a path went through the middle of the chamber.
"Lady Charlotte", the president's cold voice sounded from the other end of the chamber.
Slightly alarmed, I swiftly moved before him with steps that could barely be heard.
"Sir", my head lowered in respect.
"Your work on planet Hordias was exceptional", he moved towards me and raised my head up.
I felt my heart almost sink at the sight of his alluring eyes as his face was inches close to mine.
"I'll show you something today", he smiled and then took a few steps back to the control panel. "Both Lady Yin Yue and Lady Claudia are dead."
My expression didn't falter
However, my mind was thrown into complete chaos! How did they die!? How was it even possible!
Lady Claudia and Lady Yin Yue couldn't have possibly lost to some terrorists!
"Unfortunately, our enemy's not as weak as we thought", president Lynzel inserted a storage device into the control panel.
[Assimilating... Memory drives in full sync]
"Witness this, lady Charlotte", the president lifted both his hands. "The dawn of human immortality."
The experimental tubes on both his sides began to glow a harsh green light.
[Injecting respective memory data]
Harsh humming sounds could be heard as the tubes drained out all the liquid from within.
[Human reboot complete]
With a silent tone, the tubes slid open and two naked figures slowly walked out of the harsh light.
I took a slight step back.
How did-
Those two...
Claudia and Yin Yue!?
Both of them knelt down, "We failed."
What was going on!?
President Lynzel smirked demonically