Astran trains aboard The Ark, her sword slicing through large thick metal cubes as she hones her swordsmanship. Astran dispenses an enormous cube of metal from the control board and slashes at it with her long blade, cutting through it with little effort using JōKai Amplification. "Astraeus Disturbance!"
Astran's shoulders slump in disappointment at the current metal she's training with. "This metal is getting too easy. Maybe I should choose a more durable metal to increase the skills of my blade and maybe even gather back the use of my JōKai."
Astran returns to the training room control board, dispensing Metchester Duramax Steel, a metal renowned for its strength and hardness throughout the universe. "This should be plenty," Astran's face beams with a confident grin as she walks back to the cutting area.
Astran slashes her blade at the Metchester Steel, a loud clang sounding throughout the training room as she's repelled into the white-tiled wall. The force of the impact makes her back ache, and her eyes flutter. "That hurt."
Astran massages the sore spot on her back, helping to ease the pain. "Let's try again, this time with a more precise technique."
Astran recovers and takes another swing at the Metchester steel, feeling the power of the JōKai Amplification course through her veins. "Astraeus Disturbance!" The same result happens again, her sword meeting the nigh-indestructible and sending her careering against the wall.
Astran scowls, her fists balled as she expresses her vexation with an angered grunt. "Dammit, I'm about to get mad."
Astran tries once more, slashing her blade against the steel and getting sent stammering backward. "Argh! Dammit!" Astran throws her sword against the wall, a loud thud ringing through the room as a fracture appears in the blade.
"Why in the hell am I so weak?" Astran falls to the floor and envisions herself in a prison cell chained, battered, and bruised years ago.
"Such trash like her shouldn't even live among us," says a voice.
"She'll pay for what she's done," says another.
"The sins she committed are unforgivable!" says another
"What the hell am I becoming? Am I still that same weakling that languished within those horrid dungeons?"
Astran walks over to her shattered sword, her gaze somberly reflecting her image in the blade. "Even when I came here to make a new beginning for myself, I still failed by losing in the entry exams and becoming a fugitive. Maybe I made a mistake coming here. Why was I born to be such a failure?" Astran sheds a tear, the sound of the tear hitting the blade breaking the silence, along with Astran's strained whimpers.
Suddenly, a sharp beep echoes throughout the training room, startling Astran. "Come to the meeting room. I need to talk to you," says Bushiyon.
"Yes, sir, I'll be there in a flash," Astran slides her sword into her sheath with a clink and makes her way to the meeting room.
Astran steps into the room and takes a seat in a plush red cushioned chair across from Bushiyon, who's sitting behind a black wooden table. "What do you want me in here for?"
"499 and I had a discussion about you, and we decided that we'd let you get deployed in the battle, and if you prove yourself, you'll be an entry like your comrades."
Astran's cheeks flush with a glowing, radiant smile. "Really!?"
"Yes, we figured since you assisted the other entries in the Molorx infiltration, you'll be a useful asset for them to have."
"Wow, thanks. I promise I won't let you down!" Astran jumps from her seat, her heart racing as she heads toward the doorway.
Astran stops in the doorframe and turns to Bushiyon, the corners of her mouth twitching into a confident grin. "Thanks again for another chance," Astran walks through The Ark's Hallway back to her training room to resume her training.
"I have another shot at making a better name for myself here. Messing up now is not an option! I'll prove all of you wrong!"
We now enter the POV of an Ozania soldier in a tattered uniform sprinting throughout The Ark's Hallways, the sound of his boots echoing off the walls.
The soldier barrels into Rai's room, causing him to jump at the unexpected sight. "My lord!" The soldier bends over, coughing and wheezing as he fights to draw breath into his lungs.
Rai stands from his seat and approaches the soldier, slumped in exhaustion. "Woah, now, catch your breath. What's wrong?"
"There was a robbery on Planet Ishix, sir! I was on the defense team and the lone survivor."
"Robbery? What was stolen?"
"My lord…. an apocalyptic weapon was stolen."
"I see. Well, that means we have to change our plans drastically. I'll summon the leaders to plan for the battle. Thanks for relaying the information to me, soldier."
"You're welcome, my lord," the soldier bows and exits the room.
We now go into the POV of Overlord looking out from his frigate, the hum of engines filling the air as an armada of neon green spaceships stretch across the sky. "All ships and legions, prepare the blockade. Ozania is sure to make their move," said Overlord over a pager.
"Yes, sir!" Multiple spaceships and transports, their neon green lights blaring, encircle Molorx in a defensive position.