After agreeing to cooperate with Captain Wright, Raphael was also forced to accept all the conditions he set up to ensure that Raphael wouldn't cross any lines.
"That will secure things for us," said Captain Wright, watching as Raphael's neck was locked with a restraining collar, binding him to stay within at least 15 miles of Captain Wright.
If Raphael were to attempt running further away to escape, the collar would explode with a minute countdown, decapitating him instantly if he failed to remain within the boundaries.
Standing beside the Captain, Bernadette felt a bit uncomfortable watching Raphael being treated this way. "Don't you think this is a bit... humiliating?"
"Him humiliated? I doubt a man who cast aside his pride to protect a damned woman can be humiliated," Captain Wright bitterly scoffed. He wasn't pleased with this situation either, but he had no other options.
"Still..." Bernadette was at a loss for words as Raphael approached them with a salute.
"The installation of the restraining collar is complete," he reported.
"Very well, be on stand by with the others at the departure area." The Captain ordered.
Platoon I and III are about to return to the battlefield that day to swap place with Platoon II and IV once more. The war at the eastern coast still rages on, though the tides of battle seem to fall in favor of E.D.L. in this time around.
Raphael then marches off leaving Captain Wright and 3rd platoon commander Bernadette alone.
"...it's very difficult to look him in the eye." She says.
"Then just don't. Even if you find the situation hard to face, you have no choice but to accept the way things will be from now on." That was all Captain Wright can tell her.
Raphael Novick was not only restrained, but also stripped off of his title as platoon commander and any privilages that was once bestowed on him. Now the temporary standing commander of the 1st platoon is Felix, the 1st platoon vice commader and 5th strongest fighter of the troop.
When he arrived at the departing area, other soldiers were giving him strange glances. Some started to ridicule him as they were holding a grudge on their former platoon commander.
Rank number 21 along with a few others nearby shamelessly talks about him. "Heh, look at him. The captain finally put him in his rightful place."
"Why is he still here though? Shouldn't they punish him with the traitor he was protecting?"
"Tch. So they still show favor to that bastard."
Raphael can clearly hear all of them, but he paid no attention and had one thing on his mind: a plan to rescue Claire. Although he has no idea where to start.
Suddenly, Felix told off the group that was talking bad about Raphael. "Hey! Stop acting like assholes and talk elsewhere!"
"Y-Yes, commander!" They got all startled by his presence and left immediately. Felix then goes near to Raphael and greeted him casually. "Sir Novick."
Raphael kinda felt awkward to be around his former vice commander, still he nods his head at him respectfully. "Commander Felix. Congratulations on getting promoted." He says.
"Tch, this is nothing more than a temporary position. And I hate that the supposed commander of this platoon has been reduced to this!..." Felix referred to him, making Raphael feel bad.
"Oh..." he then recalls the time he fought some of the high ranking members of his platoon which included Felix. "...about last time, I want to apologize for—"
"Don't bother." He suddenly got cut off. "I don't want an apology from someone as pitiful as you." Felix walks away, leaving Raphael all alone.
The lot still had to wait for a few more hours until the transportation vehicles were ready to take them to their destination. Then upon arrival, Raphael follows Captain Wright from behind as they meet up with Devian Rivlin.
"Captain!!" Devian had difficulty walking on his own with a broken right leg, and had to be assisted by a subordinate to walk. When he draw close to the Captain, he notices Raphael from behind and was shocked by the restraining collar on his neck.
"R-Raph!?... Captain, what happened!?" Raphael had to look away from Devian's surprised gaze.
"It's quite a long story, but I know you'll get the gist from the looks of it."
"...no way!" Like Captain Wright just said, Devian can quickly tell what happened right away. He didn't have much to say but he sure feel disappointed in Raphael to fall from grace.
Then both Captain Wright and Raphael proceeds to the battlefield, their subordinates giving way for them to the front lines. "Keep in mind that you can't stray too far away if you don't want to die." The Captain reminded.
"I will." Raphael got on stance, his shifter weapon slowly transforming into the most destructive weapon he ever developed: shifter atomic cannon.
"That thing!" Wright was caught surprise after recognizing the weapon.
"Raphael, that thing's dangerous!! That'll drain the life out of you!" However, it was too late to stop the Raphael, his weapon already preparing to blast at an enemy's naval ship.
"HAAAAHH!!" The weapon's energy surged, a brilliant and blinding light that engulfed everything in its path. It was a cathartic explosion of his pent-up rage and anger.
The ground trembled beneath him as the shockwave expanded, obliterating enemy soldiers and machinery alike. His attack created a moment of silence and had all their enemies outraged with their huge loss.
His stunt put the people around him into a shock, including Captain Wright. This have showed and proved why Raphael's known as one of the strongest fighters to ever set foot on the battlefield, and why he's one of the most significant fighters of E.D.L.
As he got up from the ground, he wipes off the blood that trickled from his nose before turning his head to Captain Wright. "I'll end this battle as soon as I can." And marches further into the chaotic field.