I followed Kuromi around the city and looked around. There were barely any residents of the city anywhere. The city seemed like a lost cause, the only regular life forms one could find in the city were wild bucks and other animal life. I looked at Kuromi and noticed how sad she looked.
"There's... honestly nothing here to show other than the Valkyrie Villa Plaza where all the shops have been hastily rebuilt for the only remaining Seraphs and Angeluses that reside here. I work many jobs here to pay the money needed so we can get help needed to rebuild our Academy from the Angel Lords and Archangels. It sucks.." Kuromi said.
"Does normal money from Earth help any?" I asked.
"I mean yeah, but after the recent years the value of an Earthly Dollar has decreased. Here we use a currency called RC, Record Credits. Since paper money is damn there useless now we have these little platinum angelic cards we use to store our credits. Once you get registered you'll acquire a card which gives you 10000 RC each month." Kuromi said.
I watched her walk forward and noticed her pointing to each shop that she worked at. We then got to the weapon shop and entered.
"Here we have the Weapon Shop. The main weapons us Seraphs use are firearms, but some Seraphs don't opt for firearms which is why all weapon shops are required to sell melee and close range weapons as well. You have your choice between every firearm the Humans left us or weapons like swords, lances, and combat bracers." Kuromi said.
"W-W-Welc-c-come!" The robotic weapon shop owner said.
"Robots?" I asked.
"Yeah, up here in Seraph City we are vastly more advanced than Earth ever could be. Anyway, I guess I should buy you a starter weapon for protection." Kuromi said and walked toward the front counter.
"Protection for up here?" I asked.
"Well yeah, you think we only fight Demons and Fallen Angels up here? No...After our President of Seraph City died during the war, our harmonious city has been going through a downward spiral. You see our division wasn't this bad until some bitch of an angel from our rival academy came and wreaked havoc. Till this day...we have never forgiven them." Kuromi said as she bought a simple handgun.
"Anyway here." Kuromi said and handed me a handgun with a holster.
[Obtained: Glock 17.]
I held them in my hands and looked at it. I put on my holster and holstered my handgun. "Thanks."
"Yeah whatever. It's not like I did that because I was worried about you, it's only customary for all citizens to have a weapon ready on them just in case. Good luck out there human." Kuromi said as she walked off, heading to work.
I watched her walk off then sighed a bit. I walked off as well to explore the desertificated city.
_____________________
After exploring around for a while, I returned to the academy and walked into the student council room. Ayane looked at me then smiled. She took off her glasses then gestured for me to come over to her desk.
"Did you have a good look around?" Ayane asked.
"I mean I took in as much as I could. Kuromi told me what happened around here and it just seems depressing for right now, but I'm sure we'll find a way to get everything back in order." I said and smiled at Ayane.
[Ayane liked your answer.]
[Tutorial (Bond/Affection): Each Seraph has a Bond Level of 1 to 51. Raising these Bond/Affection Levels will not only grant you a special relationship with them, but will also make each Seraph stronger as their Angel Souls are also Erogelic meaning they feed off the Love, Happiness, and Purity of Sexuality.]
[Ayane's Bond Increased.]
'This damn voice in my head...'
"Well I'm glad you see the brighter side in our seemingly hopeless situation as that is what we need. A high morale person. You know...I hear humans are sometimes emotionally stronger than any being to exist solely for the fact their Hearts hold so much Endless Determination and Willpower. I think we disregard the value of a human too frequently, but I think you're gonna be what it takes to restore our beloved world and universe.." Ayane said and smiled at me.
Ayane's smile was probably one of the most beautiful sights to ever be seen with my own two eyes. Her happiness and her sweet spirit just warms my heart.
"Let's get you registered yeah?~" Ayane said.
"Right." I said then sat down in the seat.
[Seraph Zephiel is being registered...]
[Unit S.E.R.A. truly activating...]
I noticed an AI woman with short sky blue and violet hair with bangs covering her left eye, a white headband with a large bow, and braids tied to her right side. She had bright blue eyes and has heterochromia, with the right eye being blue and the left being violet. She wore the classic sailor uniform which was rather cute.
"Unit Sera is activated and ready for duty!~" Sera said and smiled at me.
"Hm? It would seem that the higher ups have even granted you a system. Strange you're the only one in all of Seraph City with a system." Ayane said.
"Who is this chick?" I asked.
"My name is S.E.R.A! My name stands for Super Exceptional Reality Android!~ I am actually designed after Old Earth's HDS Units. I have every program known to man from my old Program Unit, D.E.A.R.I.E! I can do anything for you as my owner and your guide for Seraph City and more." Sera said.
"I see..." I nodded slowly.
"You're registration is also complete and here's your RC Card. RC stands for Record Credits if you didn't know and you got a monthly pay of 10000 RC. Now I recommend you to go to the Training Area where Sunakami will most likely be. She's the battle expert out of all of us. She'll help you become battle ready." Ayane said.
"Gotcha.." I said then stood up. "And thank you again."
"Any time!~ If you need me for anything, I'll be here in the Student Council room until 3:30 PM!~" Ayane said.
I nodded and left the room, closing the door. Sera followed me by hovering. I looked at Sera and wanted to know more about her and this city.
"So what all can you do?" I asked.
"Anything you want me to do, I am able to fight, defend, support, hack, scout, and with this body and having an OS similar to that of Dearie's System, I am able to sexually support you whenever you need it!~ Oh I can also do things that you've seen before meeting me, scan the data of any Seraph and send it to you. Only you can see the interfaces and when I'm invisible, only you can see me." Sera said.
"I see...and this City. It's roughly the size of North America correct? How is that possible and who built it?" I asked.
"Seraph City has always been here. It isn't on the maps because Seraph City...is in the sky." Sera said.
I stopped walking and looked at Sera. "Seriously? We're in the sky?"
"Yeah." Sera said then held her hands behind her back. "You see, we are above the clouds right now. People down on Earth's ground level can't even see our city. Seraph City is closer to Heaven than any other aerial city."
"I see...what exactly happened to Old Earth?" I asked.
"After the events of Leo Reigns being killed, the Nexus group had taken over. Alpha and Omega didn't like it so they used their powers to create an alternate timeline...a timeline where Leo never died as he was extremely important, but that had fatal consequences. In this reality, Dearie Corps loses the war...all heroes are dead other than two Mihr and Esther who current are trying to create balance within Seraph City. Basically all Angels associated with Alpha, Omega, and Nexus are alive. Seraph City is the unification of the three Angelic Factions." Sera explained.
I crossed my arms and leaned by back against the wall. "The Nexus sound evil.."
"Well True Nexus Followers are not the ones causing trouble. The ones who follow Suxen are the enemy." Sera said.
"Suxen?" I asked and looked at Sera.
Sera showed a holographic imagine of Suxen. "He's different from the other dimension's Suxen...but still remains unknown to the public of who he is. He's designed off Wonderland's Chaos Unit or better yet...he wears Wonderland's Chaos Unit."
I looked at the image of him then Sera made it disappear.
"You shouldn't worry about him as he's a Rank X Enemy. Not even Mihr, Jabril, or Nexa can face him. He's the one who destroyed the Garden of Beginnings...We are all facing the consequences of the actions of the Desperate Goddess and the Hopeless God." Sera said.
I couldn't wrap my head around the information, but I just took it with a grain of salt. "I understand. I don't truly get it, but I get the idea. I know my limits however so you don't have worry about me doing anything dumb."
"Great, now let's go take a visit to Sunakami!" Sera said with a smile.
____________________
We made it to the Training Area which was outside the academy. I noticed Sunakami training by herself, swinging her katana and releasing cutting waves and moving at high speeds. I noticed Blair outside watching as well.
I walked out onto the training grounds and Blair noticed me. She waved at me and I waved back. Sunakami noticed Blair wave then looked back to see me.
"Zephiel." Sunakami said then lowered her katana.
"Hey, Ayane told me to come here since you were the battle expert." I said to Sunakami.
"I am, but I feel like a better starting point would be to study up at the library. I can see where you stand in the rankings though if that's what she wants. You are registered aren't you?" Sunakami asked.
"I am." I said.
"Turn around and raise your shirt." Sunakami said.
"What?" I asked in confusion.
"Turn around and raise your shirt." Sunakami said in the same calm, monotone voice.
"Why?" I asked.
"Turn around and raise your shirt." Sunakami said for a third time, sounding like a broken record but not caring about how many times she had to repeat herself.
I sighed and turned around, raising my shirt. Sunakami looked at my back and noticed a single star on the middle of my back. She nodded and took mental notes.
"You're only One Seraph Star meaning you're a Rank D, however I will still have one sparring match with you." Sunakami said.
"No Angel Mode allowed, Suna." Blair said.
"I know." Sunakami said.
I looked at Sera and she nodded at me then turned invisible. I looked at Sunakami. "Are weapons allowed?"
"If you need them." Sunakami said.
I nodded. "Alright, I'm ready."
Sunakami nodded then took a step forward then moved at high speeds behind me.
[Duck!]
I grunted and ducked under her chop. Sunakami seemed a bit surprised then dodged my punch, grabbing my arm then spun herself around my body then got me onto the ground into a submission hold. I grunted as her physical strength was beyond anything I could believe.
"You're the first Male Seraph I've seen ever...meaning the Higher Ups have a soft spot for you. That means you're connected to one of the Old Heroes of Old Earth if you're able to become a Seraph without being denied access to our Systems." Sunakami said.
"I...can't tell if you're mad or just saying that..." I said and grunted as I stood up. "But don't underestimate me just yet..!"
"Hm..?" Sunakami asked.
I began to get up then turned my body, getting Sunakami on the ground, escaping her hold. I stood up and got some distance from her. Sunakami got up then noticed me fire bullets at her. She dodged my bullets then dashed toward me.
[Defend when I say so!]
I braced myself then dodged Sunakami's first strike then pushed her second strike out the way. I went for a counter, but she blocked it and pushed me back. She stepped forward and I stepped back. She swept my legs from under me then grabbed my shirt and got me on the ground. I grunted and panted softly.
"You have combat experience..." Sunakami said.
"Not really...I used to just train under an old Grand Master back on my time on Earth." I said and sat up quickly, headbutting Sunakami.
She grunted and held her forehead, falling backwards. Sunakami looked at me then smiled a bit. "Hmm..."
Blair noticed Sunakami's smile and seemed a bit surprised. 'Sunakami rarely smiles...but I have to admit, Zephiel is impressive..'
[Sunakami's Bond increased.]
'Thanks...Sera..' I thought to myself before laying on the ground.
"No problem, Master Zephiel!~"
I stared at the blue sky and smiled a bit. "You're strong as hell, Sunakami...that headbutt hurt me more than it did to you."
"You shouldn't have done that then." Sunakami said.
"I know..." I said and chuckled a bit.