Chapter 52 - Betrayer

From far away, the air filled with tension as the chaos unfolded in the Empire of Azure Star. EMERALD PHANTOM and Tezcatlipoca stood firm against the onslaught of The Seven Sword Unit, their resolve unwavering despite the destruction surrounding them.

Amidst the chaos, Klaus's voice trembled with disbelief and desperation as he demanded answers. "Why? How could this happen? Isn't the Azure King supposed to be working with the White King? Answer me, Lloyd!"

The urgency in Klaus's voice echoed the gravity of the situation, while the uncertainty lingered in the air like a heavy fog. Lloyd known as the leader of Seven Sword Unit, his voice cut through the chaos, his words heavy with the weight of duty and allegiance. "This is an order from the White King himself," he declared, his tone resolute. "Ashfield, as the new Azure King, poses a threat to the world after killing his own father and seizing power. Our king's orders are absolute."

Lucil's voice filled with anger as he unleashed his fury. "Silence! How dare you!" His words echoed through the chaos as he propelled EMERALD PHANTOM forward, a blur of green energy streaking towards Lloyd's mech with vengeance burning in his heart.

Lloyd remained composed, his movements precise and calculated as he countered Lucil's attack. With a swift motion, his mech sliced through one of EMERALD PHANTOM's arms, sending it hurtling through the air to crash into the nearest building. The impact reverberated through the streets.

Klaus's voice rang out, laced with concern "Lucil!"

Lloyd's voice cut through the tension, his tone unwavering. "Enough, Zarachias. We will spare your life if you tell us where your king is."

Klaus's voice dripped with defiance. "Huh! Like hell I'm gonna tell you after all you've done to this land. Too many innocent people have died!" His resolve was palpable as he braced himself for the impending clash.

Tezcatlipoca poised for action, ready to unleash its formidable power, but Lloyd's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Now, Klaus... Before you decide to attack us, are you sure about that? One against seven?"

The air becoming more tension as Tezcatlipoca unleashed a barrage of missiles, each one met with the precise slashes of the Seven Sword Unit's blades. Explosions erupted around them as the missiles were neutralized, but the Seven Sword Unit wasted no time. With swift and coordinated movements, they closed in on Tezcatlipoca, their swords finding their marks with deadly accuracy.

Klaus struggled to maintain control as Tezcatlipoca plummeted to the ground, its form battered and broken. Lloyd's mech approached slowly, a silent menace as his sword loomed over Tezcatlipoca, poised for the final blow. "Shame, Klaus. I'm disappointed in you. Any last words?"

Klaus's defiant laughter echoed through the chaos. "Haha, we'd rather die, as long as our king is safe from you and yours."

But before Lloyd could deliver the decisive strike, Lucil's desperate plea cut through the tension. "Brother!!! NO!!!"

Suddenly, a voice interrupted the impending clash, commanding attention from all. Lloyd looked up to see the Azure Star descending from the sky, its majestic presence casting a solemn shadow over the battlefield. "I can't hold on much longer. What have you done to my people" The words reverberated with righteous anger as the Azure Star made its ominous descent.

Klaus and Lucil bowed before their king, their voices filled with remorse. "My king, we apologize... we were too weak against them."

But as Ashfield's attention turned to Lloyd, a smirk played on his lips. "I see. That man doesn't trust me. He thinks my youth and lack of experience make me an easy target?"

Mockery laced his words as he continued. "Your king is a coward." The battle raged on between The Azure Star and the Seven Sword Unit.

In the Land of Dogma

At night, Eliza stood on the quiet corridor, her gaze drawn to the sprawling cityscape before her. The soft glow of the city lights cast a serene atmosphere, yet beneath the surface, turmoil brewed within her.

As Asher approached, his presence a comforting familiarity, Eliza turned to acknowledge him with a weary smile.

"You couldn't sleep, could you? Boss," Asher remarked.

Eliza took a drag from her cigarette before replying, "Yeah, and I decided to take in some fresh air."

Asher's concern was palpable as he spoke, his voice laced with genuine care for his boss. "You've smoked a lot today, boss. We apologize if we're stressing you out."

Eliza shook her head slightly. "There's nothing to apologize for, Asher. It's my nature as your boss. I'm also worried about all of you."

As Asher gathered his courage, his heart pounding with anticipation, he began to express his feelings to Eliza. "Boss... you know, it's been a long time now that we've been working under you, and I've started to develop feelings for you."

Eliza, maintaining her stoic demeanor, listened intently to his confession. "Oh? I see. Are you sure about your feelings?"

With a determined nod, Asher continued, his voice tinged with vulnerability. "At first, I thought these feelings were just temporary, maybe fleeting. But as time went on, I couldn't ignore them anymore... And now, I've been waiting for this moment to tell you about my feelings, boss..."

Eliza's gaze remained fixed on the cityscape, her thoughts drifting amidst the twinkling lights. Minutes passed in silence, leaving Asher unsure of what to make of her reaction. Just as he turned to leave, Eliza spoke, her voice soft yet firm. "Asher, you see, there is someone who loves me, and that person is Aiden. If you truly love me, you have to prove yourself."

With a heavy heart, Asher nodded in understanding. "I know, boss. I just needed to express my feelings to you. And now that I have, I feel better. Goodnight, boss." With those words, he turned to depart, leaving Eliza to her thoughts.

As Asher walked away, Eliza's murmured words hung in the air. "Is that the reason why you came here? I know there is something you and Felix are hiding from me..." The weight of uncertainty lingered.

Outside the palace, Jennifer approached William, noticing his solemn expression. "Oh, my... What's with the long face? You wanted to meet me, right? But why the glum look?"

William sighed, his troubled thoughts evident in his response. "I'm sorry, Jennifer. There's something that's been disturbing me."

Concerned, Jennifer gently pressed him to share his worries. "Would you mind sharing them with me?"

William sighed heavily, his troubled expression evident as he searched for the right words. "It's about Stein... He is my precious friends, he's getting deeped involved with the Black Hound. I have tried comfort him, but my word couldn't reach him"

Jennifer's brows furrowed with concern as William opened up about his friend's plight. "Oh, dear... That does sound troubling. It must be hard seeing someone you care about going down that path."

William nodded, the weight of his worry evident in his demeanor. "Yes, it's been weighing on my mind. I fear that i couldn't save him."

Jennifer held William's hand to comfort him. "I understand. We'll find a way to help him, together."

In the bedroom, Joseph voiced his concern to Erina and Scarlett, his brows furrowed with worry. "Why did both of you decide to become mech pilots? It's a dangerous path... I fear for both of you."

Erina reached out to reassure him, her eyes filled with understanding. "Honey, don't be angry. We chose this because we're worried about you too."

Scarlett nodded in agreement. "Yes, and we want to protect you from harm as well."

Joseph sighed, his gaze softening as he looked at them. "But it's also my responsibility to protect both of you, my dearest ones."

Erina gently squeezed his hand. "As long as we can protect each other, everything will be fine."

Scarlett stepped in, offering reassurance to Joseph with a warm smile. "Yes, dear, don't worry. I've been training Erina to become the best mech pilot, just like you and me." Her smile widened as she looked at Erina.

Erina nodded, her eyes shining with determination. "Yeah, at least I can do something to help you, honey."

Joseph couldn't help but smile at their efforts to comfort him. "Fine," he relented, his smile growing. "Anyway, I'm proud of both of you." His words carried a mix of pride and affection as he looked at them, grateful for their support.