Scarlet Blade: Record of Golden Wings - Chapter 44

SCARLET S BLADE
Record of Golden Wings

Chapter 44 : Broken diamond


* * *

6 days after Terrivia and others approached the moon, they had succeeded in restoring the functions of the lunar mining and production installations at the allowed cost of time, while the materials spent were just within the estimated margin. By that time, they had managed to construct an almost unassailable surface combat force, composed of numerous small automated fire bases that protected larger observation sensor arrays which doubled as solar power stations.

After retaking the mech factories, Beatrice had uploaded her own controls and schematics to produce a better series of automated combat units compared to both latest standards and the standards before the previous world ended. The fighting between the assembled weapons and the husks wasn't ending, but the Arkana had no time to spare in their lunar detour. They must continue Operation: Tribute Feather.

The shuttle facility and the launch ramp were being attacked. Poised for combat, a team of space-grade mechs were positioned around the two to intercept any attacking husks, in order to make sure the launch was successful. Terrivia, Glerenceria and Cherry were the pilots for the shuttle, and as first time shuttle pilots, a certain degree of nervousness was expected.

"Are we good for countdown?" Terrivia asked.

"Countdown to launch, 1 minute." Glerenceria replied, "Flight path was set. All we need after that is to fly safe."

"I sure hope we will!" Cherry shouted, "How many did the Narak left here??"

"I'm sure there aren't too many left. Not after our bots had cut down so many of their numbers." Terrivia answered.

"Sure was a chaotic stay in the moon!" Cherry complained.

"Stop whining. We're returning to our home planet in a jiffy." Glerenceria scolded, "30 seconds to launch."

"Hull status green. Ramp damage.... none." Terrivia reported.

"What about propulsion?" Glerenceria asked.

"Main boosters are in optimal condition. Auxilaries and hyperspeed propulsions are all green. At least that's what it says here." Cherry replied.

"Good enough. Brace for launch." Glerenceria spoke, "In 10, 9, 8, 7....."

The tension could be felt, and the pressure was on. The moment of truth was soon to come.

"...3, 2, 1.... LIFT OFF!" Glerenceria shouted.

Since the launching process was automated in synchronization with the countdown, the boosters of the shuttle started to release blue flames of sudden propulsion, pushing it along the rails of the launch ramp straight out of the hangar of the shuttle facility. Reaching accelerating speed of a thousand kilometres per hour in just a few seconds because of the small shuttle size and light weight, the three of them made it out of harm's way.

All that was left was for the automated lunar force to protect itself while producing enough of a force to stall the descent of the Narak fleet by the time it would come.

"Breaking out of the moon's gravity field...." Terrivia reported as she grasped the flight control sticks, "....Now on the projected flight path. If we cruise it's going to take 3 days, maybe 4. Classic flight length."

"That's why we fitted this shuttle with hyperspeed in mind." Glerenceria replied, "Ready?"

"Ready." Cherry nodded, "Engaging hyperspeed boosting in 3, 2, 1...."

In just a split second, the boosters of the shuttle shot out long and heated flares, indicating that they were being used at full power. Indeed, much of the shuttle's contents were the power generator itself and safety systems, leaving it almost no room to bear cargo. Other than remaining food rations, there was no possible important cargo to take back, and the mobile construction vehicle (turned construction yard) was left there for future operations, in case other Arkana would come to continue where the three of them left off.

The speed of the shuttle increased drastically, shortening the travelling time from 4 days to just 4 hours.

"With hyperspeed, we are effectively being disguised by heat friction as a shooting star. The Shadow Army shouldn't be able to pick us up." Glerenceria spoke.

"Neat plan. I guess I should expect no less from the great commander 2nd class, Graham Winefield, huh?" Cherry deadpanned.

"I'm no longer able to identify myself as Graham anymore." Glerenceria answered, "Maybe I'm an easy transhuman and transsexual."

"Besides, Glare is kinda genetically different from her former self. No one will know if they don't look at her implants." Terrivia added.

"... Well...." Cherry sighed, "I figured I should just express my concerns here while I have the time. May I?"

"Sure. Go ahead." Terrivia replied.

"You two seem to be putting a lot of faith in me for this. Are you sure I won't be just a baggage?" Cherry asked.

"You're asking this now?" Glreenceria asked, "Well, I don't blame you. But while the difference in our abilities is great, our mission is common. We put faith in you because we believe you can help us do the right thing. We can unravel the lies behind Arktana together.... it's what I believe."

"I like to believe I can. Maybe I'm not confident to begin with." Cherry shrugged.

"Believe me. The first day in my Commander job, I wasn't confident how to run things. But you know how it went." Glerenceria replied.

"Your point?" Cherry shot back a look.

"Confidence and determination are mutually exclusive. At times, despite being afraid and when there's no hope, you have to believe in one possibility; If you're the only one left, the best option is to be calm instead of nervous." Glerenceria answered.

"And if you don't want to be the only one left, start increasing the numbers." Terrivia added.

"Oh. OH!" Cherry was hit with an inspiration, "Does that mean we should start gaining people over in the west?"

"It's a start, but it won't be easy. If we play our cards wrong, it's checkmate." Glerenceria nodded.

"Hey, how goes Enocia lately?" Cherry asked.

"Well, the ruined base was rebuilt not too long ago. It's been operating for about 2 weeks. But I am sure that this time, the Elites will not be outgunned should the Shadow Army return for them." Glerenceria answered.

"Because amazing frog people power?" Cherry asked.

"Batrachians, dammit." Terrivia corrected.

After the distance between them and the Earth had come to the crucial point, the hyperspeed was disengaged and it was time to apply the brakes. In space, the only way to reduce kinetic travelling speed was to apply the thrust in the opposite direction. In this case, the reverse thrusters positioned at the front of the shuttle were activated, gradually reducing the speed of the shuttle to approach Earth's gravity range in a manageable angle. Should the speed be too high upon approach, the shuttle would not be able to alter its heading, and upon descent, the shuttle would explode due to excessive friction with air, killing the Arkana instantly.

"Are we going to make it in Marden this way??" Cherry asked.

"We better!" Terrivia reaffirmed with underlying frustration.

"Adjust ship angle to 45, relative to the orbit. Activate heat dispersers." Glerenceria ordered.

"Got it." Terrivia nodded.

With the shuttle entering the gravity field, the atmospheric friction would come soon. Earth is a constantly self rotating entity, and therefore one should not approach friction straightforwardly. The angle of the shuttle was for bracing the friction with the bottom of the fuselage, where it was designed to withstand intense heat, combined with the conduits of heat dispersal system. While the shuttle started to descend faster and faster due to gravity alone, the heat generated by it also reached solar levels.

But the plan wasn't to land with the shuttle intact.

"We're hitting off into some serious speeds here!" Cherry cautioned.

"Keep it that way. Put in 25% power. We need to crash this thing like a shooting star should, but without killing us." Glerenceria replied.

After several minutes, a huge crashing noise was generated on the land below them...

***

Marden was not one of the places where the nukes fell, but like most of the planet's surface, it was flooded with radiation. After a given amount of time, greenery took over once more, and by the time the Arkana came, it was already looking like a land of pastures, with grasses and trees.

The shuttle destroyed a hill on its way down, dragging a huge amount of dirt in a straight line. After setting it to explode on its own, the Arkana ran as fast as they could, carrying their cyberskins and weapons. Just as planned, the rifles were then set to explode in random spots, destroying the cyberskins as well. No evidence was left that could link to them being soldiers, except for one hidden detail: identification codes.

The resulting explosion from the shuttle was ground shaking. The only thing left was for them to locate the Maciel in question and get in contact with her. Without a map, compass and any link to communications.

"I'm starting to think that this is a stupid plan. How are we going to find someone without an address?" Cherry asked.

"Cherry, a plan isn't executed with all of its details jotted down. It's executed with the confidence of reaching the desired conclusion." Terrivia lectured, "I'm not going to bombard you with my past days, but I can feel that this will work out, based on past experiences."

"Now that we're here, it's about time we start pretending." Glerenceria spoke, "Let's use our recent codenames. I am Occulus, and you are Levi. You can stick to your real name, Cherry."

"That's not really the point here." Cherry deflected, "Won't that huge ass self destruct explosion just attract the wrong kind of crowd? How are you going to tell them apart?"

"We don't need to. Which is why we're going to get away before the guards come." Glerenceria replied, and then cleared her throat before switching to her English accent, "Remember. I am Occulus, got it?"

"Geh! E-english??" Cherry was startled.

"She had a British mom." Terrivia answered.

After about half an hour of running away and continuous walking, the rations that they brought with them were all finished. Looking around, the Arkana made comparisons to Enocia, before being stopped by a river. The length and width of the river was like a stop to their path, long, large and overbearing.

"Hmm.... Judging from the speed of the flow, this must be the midsection." Glerenceria spoke out.

"Then we must be in the middle of the land. Between a mountain and the plains." Terrivia added.

"Then we should be preparing ourselves for the worst. What can we do without weapons?" Cherry asked, before finding herself in need of correcting her own statement, "Oh, I forgot. We -can- do things without weapons."

"That's more like it." Terrivia laughed.

Suddenly, from a distance, a woman's voice called out to them.

"HOY! What are you three doing over there??"

The woman's hair was red and kept in a messy and unevently self-scissored fashion. She was wearing a white tunic for her upper body and had blue short leans on her. With her she carried a long carriage case. With Terrivia's eyes, she could tell that this woman was an Arkana, despite standing several metres away at the opposite end of the river.

<Play along with me, ok?> Cherry glanced at Glerenceria and Terrivia while she used telepathic communication.

<Sure. Let's leave this to you.> Glerenceria looked aside.

"Uh, sorry! I was bringing some strays into this region. They needed help and they came fresh from the East. Is this under Nature Preservation? This whole area? We're just about to leave." Cherry acted apologetic and spoke convincingly.

"Wha-? Of course not! Hahaha...." The woman laughed, "I'm just out here for my daily catch until the huge ass explosion happened. Not that it would be audible here normally, but it caught my ears."

"Right. So uh, if you don't mind, can you let us stay for bit? We kinda walked for hours and I think we saw what might be terrorists. Not like the Royals, belieeeeve me." Cherry continued to spoke leisurely.

"Hmm, you lot look like misfits, sure enough. Which unit do you work for, purple head?" The red head asked.

"I work for Rosewood Company, but it's been dissolved. For confidential reasons, I have to say no more than that. Once getting these two to meet with Maciel, my job is done." Cherry answered naturally, "My name is Cherry. Can I have yours, kind fisherwoman?"

"Just call me Diana. Fancy for a swim? Because there are no bridges here, I'm afraid!" Diana replied.

"That won't be necessary!" Terrivia replied, then she grabbed Cherry's hips and hurled themselves up into the air with a jump. As soon as her feet touched the water of the river, she made a jump out of instantly-frozen ice water to make it ashore.

Diana's eyes went a little large from the display, and soon Glerenceria jumped over, by doing a mid-air jump after the first.

"Amazing powers. What's your story for coming here, strangers?" Diana asked.

"We have no love for sharing our pasts with strangers. I prefer that we'll forget this day ever came to be, in due time." Glerenceria spoke in a cold British tone, "But I will give you my name, Occulus. One of the eyes of nature."

"And I am Levi. Disciple of elements." Terrivia introduced herself.

"Sound like some intimidating taglines. Then again you mercenaries need monikers like that to give others a sense of fear, right?" Diana asked.

"I won't say it again. It is not necessary for you to know what we did and why. After we rest up at your abode, we will leave behind only memories." Glerenceria replied.

"Alright alright. Right this way...." Diana turned around and walked away.

Suddenly, a dolphin lept up out of the river and let out a shrieking call. It was mutated and covered in purple scabs, and had 2 pairs of eyes instead of 1.

"What the hell??!" Cherry was startled.

Diana ran up to the mutated dolphin and spoke, "I'm sorry dear, I'm so, so sorry.... Not today, but tomorrow, ok?"

<Huh. So we both have secrets to hide.> Glerenceria thought.

<Wow do you mean?> Cherry looked at Glerenceria.

<Diana said she came for her daily catch, but that dolphin is obviously the elephant in the equation.> Glerenceria thought.

<Plus, what did she mean by 'not today'? And I'm sensing something from that mutant dolphin.> Terrivia added.

<A sense of longing.... accompanied by supressed libido.> Glerenceria added.

<You don't mean....!> Cherry winced.

"Be a good boy! Ok?! Good! Go back! I have guests!" Diana scolded the dolphin.

When Diana came to them, Cherry shrugged, "Daily catch?"

"Sorry. You're not supposed to see that. He's Yune, and he and I like to play fishing competition. I give him what I catch and I get to keep some of what he catches." Diana giggled.

<Let's leave it at that. If we can't let her probe our pasts, we have no room to probe hers.> Glerenceria ordered.

"Thank you for your time then. You can go back to him later, right?" Cherry asked.

"Well, I already said not today, so that's that." Diana forced a smile.

***

After travelling westward, Diana led the three Arkana to her 2 storey log cabin. It was unpainted at first glance as the cabin had uneven colors due to different wood used, but with close inspection, it seemed that it was at least painted in a transparent primer that acted as a gloss.

"Looks pretty. Does it have running electricity?" Cherry asked.

"Of course it does. You really think a girl can just chill here without keeping up to tabs about current goings of the media?" Diana asked with a laugh.

"You know, for a Defender type Arkana you're pretty easygoing here. It's hard to imagine you're not in the service. You don't even feel like an undrafted individual." Cherry pointed out.

"What gives you that impression? The size of my muscles?" Diana asked.

"Just feeling, I guess. You and Levi share the same body type. Almost." Cherry smiled.

"We will be sitting outside. We just need to eat, rest and sit under fresh air." Terrivia, as Levi, spoke out nonchalantly.

"Take your time then." Diana nodded and went to the kitchen after leaving the TV on.

After Glerenceria and Terrivia sat out on the edge of the cabin, Cherry sat down on a sofa and started watching. In reality, she was pretending to watch as Diana headed into the kitchen. As soon as Diana did, she looked around the cabin for anything out of the ordinary.

<Alright Glare. Shall I snoop around?> Cherry asked in her mind.

<No, it's too risky. She's a hardened vet. I can feel it.> Glerenceria refused.

<She may not look like it now, but I can feel a great power coming from her. Don't mess around.> Terrivia added.

But while the trio's suspicions were spot on, Diana herself was not going to let her suspicions become unfounded. By pretending to prepare for meals in the kitchen, she opened up a cupboard above her in a corner, and tweaked on a hidden communications terminal. She slid a small transmitter into her ear and tuned the frequencies to match the one the trio was using.

What Diana could hear was....

<Hey, who do you think Diana really is? Seems a bit fishy that she'd tell us that we're not supposed to see the dolphin> Cherry communicated.

<Probably no one. Probably anyone. I can't think of anything tangible with the dolphin in the picture.> Terrivia shrugged outdoors.

<Which is why my approach is the safest. We don't need to strike a relationship with someone who might be a sleeper hit. Judging from her build she's no doubt in the ranks of the Frees.> Glerenceria cautioned.

<The sooner we get off of the cabin, the sooner we can find this Maciel and get our ID masks made. I wonder if any combat software can here can flat out pick us up as Royals.> Terrivia sighed.

Diana immediately tensed up and pretended to cut some vegetables, though the transmitter was still inside her ear and she closed the cupboard.

<We don't have to worry about that. We're mercenaries here, and if push comes to shove, we'll just say we're defectees, though I would hate to use that last resort so early.> Glerenceria added.

<Can she be a patrol of these parts?> Terrivia asked.

<If she's a patrol she'd be dressed in uniform. I don't see her with one so I guess that's not it.> Cherry answered.

<That aside, we have two problems. One is to find Maciel without directions, and two is to get to that dolphin without Diana noticing it. That dolphin is nothing but bad news. I just can't see how there are any fishes left with that thing around.> Glerenceria deduced.

Enraged, Diana activated a secret compartment by pressing on a button located at the bottom of the kitchen sink. The compartment contained a large sword that only Defenders could use efficiently, and then some other weapons. Just when Glerenceria decided to spy around the inner layout of the cabin through Cherry, she noticed what Diana was doing.

<Cherry, get out of there, NOW!> Glerenceria thought strongly.

Without a word, Cherry sensed the urgency behind the message and quickly jumped from the sofa and barged out of the door. Terrivia and Glerenceria were waiting outside the cabin with bated breath, while Cherry looked confused.

Diana then came out with a black sword in hand, her messy hair turned neat and tidy. It turned out that the messy hairdo was a wig disguise.

"Who are you people? You are obviously using a communication of some kind but you could do it without speaking. But that's not enough. You said you are Royals!" Diana asked angrily.

"We prefer that you wouldn't be this nosy on a very private channel of communications, dolphin fornicator." Terrivia replied.

"Why you!" Diana's eyes were wide with rage.

"So we're right then. You weren't there to play fishing fight with that freak. You're supposed to be there to lure it and then have sex! What are you thinking?!" Terrivia asked.

"It's none of your business!" Diana shouted, "But you, intruding on this land is MY business! I am Diana, formerly the Diamond Suit of the former Ace Quartet. Even if it's not personal, I am obligated to kill any Royal Guard that invades this land!"

"Ace Quartet..... Diamond Suit?!?" Cherry was shocked.

"What's wrong?" Glerenceria asked.

"The Ace Quartet is synonymous to warfare generals! Each of them were said to have killed dozens of Arkana in open combat!" Cherry grimaced.

"So WHAT!!" Terrivia spat, "All that means is that you're good at killing people and not much else! You are not capable of seeing beyond the war between Royals and Frees. Heck, you can't even guess the number of Arkana I spared instead of killed!"

".... Are you provoking me? Because I can make your death arrive fast and painless." Diana held up her black sword, which was about as large as Motonjaro and looked to be of the same craftsmanship.

Suddenly, Glerenceria stood in between Terrivia and Diana and looked at the latter in cold, calm eyes. "I understand why you are getting worked up over our mental conversation and our presence, but to be fair, we both have things to hide. We thought about neutralizing the dolphin without putting your past into consideration, while you thought about stopping us from going anywhere without knowing about why we're here. We're quite even here, don't you say?"

"So the old British accent was just a play all along...." Diana looked straight into Glerenceria's eyes.

"I prefer the most diplomatic approach possible. If you are as what Cherry claimed, then surely you do not intend to seek bloodshed. A one on one duel would be best to settle such things. If you win without killing Levi, who is actually Terrivia, then you are free to turn us in to the appropriate authorities. If she wins, then you will have to turn a blind eye for what happened today. If there should be a tie, then we'll reach a compromise appropriately. I will be the referee." Glerenceria suggested.

"Why should I trust you?" Diana asked and pointed the sword at Glerenceria's face.

"Why didn't the three of us just lynch you before you're even at home?" Glerenceria asked in return, "Let's settle this in open ground. You can keep your transmitter if you want. I do not intend to backseat our fighter's judgement."

"Hmph. There's a flat stretch just behind this cabin. I'll be there...." Diana walked away.

Terrivia watched tensely as Diana left the scene to behind the cabin.

"Of all the people, we had to run into her...." Cherry shuddered.

"What the hell Cherry! How could you forget the look of such a VIP??" Terrivia chided.

"The old Ace Quartet was just a stuff of legends! Nowadays there's a different quartet in charge!" Cherry replied.

"It's not her fault. Let's go." Glerenceria sighed.

"Yeah, about that, why the hell did you decide the fight without my consent??" Terrivia asked angrily.

"There's no other way!" Glerenceria shouted, "Think about it. We're without our usual equipment, we're not in our best form, and we have to look for someone without knowing where she lives! We still carried out the plan even knowing how we would've failed twenty times over!"

"So why?" Cherry asked.

"Because Diana herself is the gamble. Not everything will end if she turns us over. But everything will be for the better if we can convince her." Glerenceria spoke, "And don't blame me for being a cruel drill sarge, but this is the chance to test how well you fight without me."

Terrivia spoke nothing in response, but Glerenceria had one more thing to say.

"But don't fight to win, or to survive. Fight to get the point across. Fight without weapons given to you, or taken from back home. Show her what it means to be an Arkana that knows everything. Don't start with finishing blows or fight while resenting her status. Show her exactly what you have." Glerenceria instructed.

"Well, if you put it that way, then I have to trust you." Terrivia sighed.

"You better." Glerenceria nodded.

"Do you think Terrivia has a chance?" Cherry asked.

"Of course not. Odds are against all of us." Glerenceria replied promptly.

"Huh?! Then why??" Cherry asked.

"You will know why when it happens. Take Terrivia's power into your eyes, as well as that of your so called Diamond Suit." Glerenceria winked.

***

(Dedicated BGM for Terrivia vs Diana : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl1nJ2gqD-I )

Just as Diana said, there was a stretch of flat land located not too far from the cabin. The sun was about to reach the 11 o' clock position, and Terrivia stood determined in front of Diana, 10 metres away. Both Glerenceria and Cherry were at a distance, though Cherry was starting to evacuate, because she did not want to be taken hostage, not matter the chances.

"Needless to say, if either side thinks about playing foul, like going to kill one another, one will face very serious consequences. I may not be able to fight directly, but I have abilities you do not want to know the hard way, first hand." Glerenceria warned.

"Are you serious? Your partner is still unarmed." Diana asked.

"An Arkana is never truly unarmed. Her arsenal is her number of abilities. Now enough talk." Glerenceria backed away from the two of them.

Terrivia got ready and entered a combat stance, while Diana raised her sword, energy coursing through her body.

Terrivia could feel her own self trembling in front her opponent. Diana was no slouch. She was either a retired frontliner, or a powerful recluse. Either way, Terrivia could feel that her own chances of victory were just as what Glerenceria said: low enough that all three of them against her wouldn't have changed anything.

But Terrivia kept one thing in her mind throughout the start: to fight gracefully, and lose graciously.

When Diana charged forth with trembling might and pressure, Terrivia jumped sideways and retreated with wind-assisted movements. Diana quickly followed up with another strike, but Terrivia managed to punch the blade, bare-handed. Stopping it in time with careful manipulation of her own Voidshield module. Terrivia then used eloquent shifts of her own body like expert Chinese martial artists to redirect the force of the sword to make subversive strikes against Diana's body.

But it wasn't working. Diana was simply too powerful, and she soon jumped away and swinged her sword down which sent many blasts of dirt upward, causing Terrivia to cover herself with her arms. This allowed Diana to thrust forth with the pointed tip of the sword first. Terrivia timed her own movements and clapped her own hands on the sword, stopping it in time. She could then feel Diana's Voidshield module was wearing down the potency of her own, and stopped holding the sword. In a split-second gamble, she spun around and gave Diana's face haymaker.

"Nngh... not bad. But how long can you last?" Diana praised, before strengthening her own defense with Chakra of her own building. A pure white protective barrier was raised around her being, forming a solid shell.

"I'll show you what it means to be me. You think it's right for you to hold a sword against a weaponless Arkana, just like how it's right for Arkana of the city to oppress humans who did nothing wrong." Terrivia commented.

"Using lies to mess with my head is rather low." Diana gazed at Terrivia.

"The reports of human rights abuses had to come somewhere!" Terrivia yelled just as she strengthened her own fists while crackling pulses of lightning fortified her own being.

Diana charged forth, intending to deliver a flurry of strikes, but Terrivia wasn't going to counter the sword attacks. Instead, she retaliated for the blast of dirt earlier by using non-potent lightning blasts to obscure Diana, and waited for the right time to jump up and deliver a frozen heeldrop, via freezing her own right foot to a heavy enough icemass.

"Amazing...." Cherry looked astounded, "Diana is obviously more powerful and yet...."

Glerenceria watched the match carefully as the two Defenders clash. Diana blocked against the frozen heeldrop with her shoulder, causing the ice to shatter before swinging the sword to cut Terrivia. But Terrivia wasn't planning to be hit, as she unleashed a blast of flames to mask her escape. When Diana went on the offensive again, Terrivia used floating icicle shards to shoot at Diana, before striking the body of the sword with a powerful straight punch.

"NNnnggh!!" Terrivia grunted as her punch was met with the firm hard steel of Diana's sword.

"Where do you think you're hitting!?" Diana swinged the sword, which hit Terrivia arms, causing them to bleed.

"Gaaaahh!" Terrivia recoiled.

"This isn't some horseplay! I don't know what idea you have about us Free Knights, but you are not entitled to judge us like we're a bunch of seperatists vying for enmity towards humanity!" Diana shouted.

"Oh yeah?! Then tell me how the First Schism really happened! You weren't there were you?!?" Terrivia chided.

"Still acting tough?!" Diana charged up more of her power and swinged her sword horizontally. It created a broad swathe that could tear through armor, while Terrivia managed to sustain herself with her own Voidshield module and skill.

Just as Diana tried to double up her power, Terrivia used all her powers, by mixing the elements. Make fire conduct with electricity, make ice form out of wind and air friction, and make darkness appear by kicking up dirt. Her own Core Power was wearing down fast, but if she could not get to wear out Diana's power, then the whole meaning of the fight was as good as gone. When Terrivia's shadow turned into orbs of darkness, Diana was caught off guard and had to defend herself against them. The orbs exploded into blasts of black energy, allowing Terrivia to concentrate on healing. With slightly recovered hands, she discharged her electric energy upon Diana's sword, causing it to catch fire around the grip, forcing the latter to drop the sword.

"I'm not like you. I don't act like I'm on high ground with a weapon in my hands, but the enemies I faced in my lifetime? Most of them are too low to be talked with in all seriousness. You and I are both Arkana. Face me without a weapon if you dare." Terrivia tensed up.

Diana gritted her teeth as she was confused as to how Terrivia could fight. Terrivia managed to use powers that most Arkana she faced could never use. Then Terrivia held her fists up as Diana lept forward. Diana unleashed punches and kicks that could score more than a hundred hits in one minute, while Terrivia kept on blocking and parrying them, being forced back more and more. The winds around Terrivia brought upon a miniature blizzard which formed shards of ice, but they could not affect Diana's focus.

Eventually, Terrivia got punched at the solar plexis and was sent flying.

Crawling up, exhausted and almost out of power, Terrivia looked at Diana who was walking forward with the sword in her hand once more, after it stopped burning.

"Oh no...." Cherry covered her own mouth.

As Diana slowly raised her sword, Terrivia looked into Diana's eyes with anger and frustration. Tears had started to fall down.

"You really think..... hiding in a wooden house..... hiding what you did..... makes you high and mighty? You make me sick....." Terrivia spoke in a low tone, despite the tears.

"You are an enemy. You don't get to decide what I can do or what I can believe." Diana replied.

But just when Diana appeared to strike Terrivia, a bright yellow beam from the distance shot Diana's fingers which held the sword. It was Glerenceria.

"I told you. If either one of you plan to kill another.... This is what you will get....." Glerenceria walked forth.

"Tch...." Diana looked enraged, "...what now? Two on one?"

"No." Glerenceria walked towards Terrivia, and took out a the crystalled dagger from the pocket for Diana to see.

"What?!?" Diana was shocked.

"She could've used this to kill you. But she didn't, because I didn't order her to kill anyone. The same goes with the three of us. If we were really here to act like your preconceptions of us, the first thing we would've done was to crash that shuttle -at- you, or anyone at all. We were kind enough to avoid anyone on our way down." Glerenceria explained.

"You were on a shuttle.... That explosion was you??" Diana asked.

"Honestly, I thought general types would have more foresight. Instead, I found before me a stumbling buffoon. Who had no idea what she was doing, how long was she intending to hide away from others, and for what reason she had to make love with a mutated maritime animal." Glerenceria lamented, "You believed us to be unarmed because you didn't see that we have weapons at first glance. You believed what they told you about Royal Guards so you maintained that attitude towards us. To put it bluntly, I do not believe you have a mind of your own, though powerful you may be."

"Who are you and what do you want?" Diana asked.

"We're just Royal Guards. We're all the same to you, right?" Terrivia stood up and argued, "I don't know how long you have been living around for, but while you are out here living under the stars, did you get the chance to use a really big telescope and SEE if there are aliens coming here? I'm talking about CODE N. NARAKS are coming back to planet Earth!"

"What....." Diana was shocked, ".... They've come back?! But it's impossible! The former civilization nuked them all here!"

"All?" Glerenceria asked, "All.... according to who?"

Diana's mind was racing through the implications, before Glerenceria spoke, "Look, if it's not too much to ask, we can think of this as a tie. We go our way, and you continue on your hermit routine."

"No. If anything, I lost completely." Diana shook her head, "No matter how you look at it, I'm simply older and had more experience. I'm like a total bully in this duel. But for someone so young to scratch me with so many different uses of Chakra..... it's a real eye opener of the ages. I can give you that."

"Well.... Did I do good?" Terrivia asked.

"You did great." Glerenceria used her hands to give some of her power into Terrivia's hands.

"But I still have no reason to let you off the hook. Assuming what you said about the Narak return is true, what exactly do you hope to achieve by coming here?" Diana asked.

"Well, long story made real short, we'd like to secure a path to diplomacy. After we get our identification codes forged, we're going to make for the city, and start looking for ways to get into contact with leading figures and find out if they're under strings of the Shadow Army." Glerenceria spoke.

"Shadow Army.... It's the name of the supposed organization which you Royals accused of involving with control, corruption and genocide, right?" Diana asked.

"It's not accusation. It's a solid fact. You really think all the living beings on this planet after the nuclear shower were all born of mutations? When was the last time anyone tested their blood?" Terrivia asked.

"But I have an idea. If you want to hear our story, we have a whole night to cover. Plus, staying out here in the open isn't exactly working to our advantage." Glerenceria suggested.

"Well, you didn't exactly run away when I came here. I'll trust you this once." Diana shrugged.

***

The entire sunny part of the day was spent talking about Terrivia's short, 2 year old life and the things she had been through as part of her journey to save the world. Her sortie into Enocia was the beginning of her grand yet painful destiny, gaining new enemies and allies along the way. To prove the point, Terrivia demonstrated what the birthstone could do, and how the crystalled dagger could be used to disrupt an enemy's focus, by using psychic connection.

Then the explanation went into details. From Marie's death to the motivation to not kill another Arkana, despite the casualties in Fort Janus. From the death of Graham to the arrival of Glerenceria. Before long, the part about Asurian Altar was covered.

"....And now, we just came down from the moon. Operation: Tribute Feather is still far from over." Terrivia sighed.

The part about Glerenceria being Graham himself was completely unmentioned however.

"I'm curious though. How is it exactly that you were able to listen in on Commanding Link? It's not supposed to happen without a jammer." Glerenceria asked.

"Simple. No matter how encrypted your line is, if I want to listen in on everything at once over here, it's not impossible, given the communications breaker hidden in my kitchen. Many square kilometres around here together form a communications black zone. This place, as you can put it, is a no-activity zone." Diana answered.

"Yet you have TV." Cherry countered.

"Do I?" Diana used the remote control and switched the view to an interface, "It's a bunch of recordings."

"So we just happened to have our link tapped into because this place is a freaking no-comms zone. I feel silly." Terrivia sighed.

"Don't be. However, as luck would have it, I believe in your reason of coming here. I think it's only fair for me to talk about mine but..... You will not like this story very much, given where you come from." Diana looked saddened.

"If this is about how much Royals you killed over time, then don't worry. You did what you were ordered to do, and we can understand that." Glerenceria reassured.

"That's only half the reason. You see...." Diana took a deep breath, ".... this is about Yune. I named it after the one I loved."

"Ok?" Terrivia listened intently.

"12 years ago, a certain scientist Arkana came to us from the East. Said she had nothing left because she was sacked by the ones that hired her, so we took her in. Her research was various mutations in Earth life, and somehow that greatly displeased her former employers. After coming here illegally, she had her credentials remade so she became a proper citizen of a state that Mother would not approve anytime soon. But she didn't care. She's the type that felt at home whenever she could learn." Diana explained.

"Back then, I guess people would want to cover up the possible deals between mutations and Shadow Army. Wait, how did you come to know her?" Terrivia asked.

"Since there were no major operations going on, I, one of the leading stars of the entire Free Knights' military, was tasked in protecting a research unit plotted by the higher ups. A unit centered around her, the new scientist. Her name was June, and it just so happened that she arrived at the start of June. But that's getting away from the point..... Fast forward to a few months after, I was attracted by her determination. Her passion into research despite many dangerous odds, particularly after near lethal accidents with her lab equipment. For some reason, whenever she tested some of the wildlife's blood extracts with a countering agent, they would all explode." Diana continued.

Glerenceria interrupted, "You were researching an instant mutation reversal agent??"

"Yes. But I didn't know better. I wasn't born a scientist like her, so I didn't probe around. I thought that by following the roles we were tasked to in our lives, we could eventually reach the conclusions we desired. Because why not? Arkana can live for a very long time, more than near-natural post Ark Project humans. We can see it happen. But one day, June, introduced me to that certain mutant dolphin. It wasn't as monstrous looking as it is today. I started to have doubts." Diana followed.

***
Flashback....


"Diana, come look....
...Look at him. He's sick and we can do nothing about it. Not just the land, but the sea is also full of mutated life. John Maynard, our forefather, was right in saying that we would all be born into a world so alien we'd feel like living on another planet entirely. It's been my dream since existence to return Earth to the way it was. I want to start with the water, the source of life. But I just can't do it anymore."

"Why do you say that? You were working fine!" Diana encouraged.

"It's never a personal effort. It's about my colleagues. There's a rift.... "

"How so? Tell me. With my authority, I can help in some way." Diana asked.

"I think it's out of your league. I got this unit in the financial red, and the others are already fed up with having need to try different formulas. But if it's alright, you can help me keep a secret."

"Do tell. There's only me right now." Diana nodded.

"What we are researching isn't a genetic reverser. It's a fool's errand all along. This project is about a safe way of euthanizing mutated beings, so that their remains will not contaminate our world further."

"Is that the reason for all those explosions?" Diana asked.

"That's part of it. The adminstration required us to mix an explosive component within the agent by default, so that it could also be used as a weapon."

"What?!" Diana was shocked.

"...This dolphin is going to die because of my efforts. I don't want that to happen. He's the last test subject available and dolphins are the only marine based mammals we can have. If there are new scientists coming from the East, I want you to protect them. I was used all this time..... I shouldn't have come here."

"Don't say that...." Diana embraced June into her arms, "....If you didn't come here, I wouldn't have come to love you."

"Oh Diana....."

***

"I can agree with the general premise." Glerenceria nodded, "But I disagree with what was planned."

"No surprise there. But, there's one more thing that happened. Royals invaded the lab complex." Diana added.

"What?? Why? How?" Terrivia asked.

"I guess they were after the the agent. But it's an invasion that didn't involve any inside help. It's completely done out of skill and planning. A squad full of Shadow Walkers stormed into the complex and killed some troops that fought back. But things didn't just end there. I had my problems with one of my subordinates before, and one in particular killed June." Diana answered.

"Great. More pieces of the puzzle missing....." Glerenceria frowned.

"Who's the bitch that killed your love?" Terrivia asked.

"She was called Abolia, but by now, she's known as Sword of Abolishment, current Queen of Spades of the Four Queens." Diana answered scornfully, "But before you get any smart ideas, I'm telling you that I didn't ask for your meddling in this matter. I'm not looking for avenging her death. The problem lied within the authorities, and using my failure to defend the whole scientific unit alone, I was sacked and she got the raise. But the worst part is, my comrades, the other 3 former Suits.... they were all assassinated."

"It must've been painful for you." Glerenceria empathized.

"They told ME they were killed by Royals, but I didn't believe it. Because I knew them better than others. They left behind messages saying that they knew people were coming for them. Disgusted by the fact, I retired and lived here ever since. As a former Suit, I have the right to get a small unit of troops to work with. To get me info and news. Stuff like that." Diana followed.

"So you were left alone. Having no means to fight back, you stayed here for other possible scientists and get them to safety rather than to be hired. But your planning needed more work." Glerenceria spoke, "Not only that, but do you realize that making out with Yune could only make things worse for all sides? Yune is a mutant being and you are an Arkana, but you are not a mere animal. An animal like Yune is also an unknown factor, and if its mating instinct kicks in, you will die in one of these days for cheating on it. You were in love with June, not that creep."

"What choice do I have?!?" Diana lashed out.

The whole room was silent for 3 seconds.

"Sorry...." Diana calmed down.

"You do have a choice." Glerenceria replied, "June could not pull the plug, but you still can. The only way to return marine life back to normal is to first sterilize it. The Shadow Army must not be allowed to continue its experimentations and use of them, no matter what the cost. On the genetic level, those beings were grafted with Narak DNA, hostile to this planet. You know the right thing to do after all the things we said."

"You want me to kill Yune...." Diana deduced.

"We want you do end Yune's suffering." Glerenceria corrected, "Killing Yune is not our final intention, because we stand to gain nothing from doing so. But as Earthlings, it is courtesy for us to offer the final mercy upon ailing beings. We may not have the hardware to make Yune's death cleaner, but we have the means the purify Yune's soul."

".... I need some time to think about all of this. But I will give you an advice." Diana sighed, "If you really intend to roam Arktana for a way to end this grand mess, then you will eventually run into Abolia and her three cohorts. No matter what, just run. You are no match for even one, let alone all four. You may have more skills, but me and them have more power because of our age. Skills are important, but without the power to endure, they all fall flat."

"I will keep that in mind." Terrivia frowned.

"Feel free to stay here for the night. Maybe tomorrow, I can take you to Maciel. I know where her unit is located." Diana spoke as she stood up and headed to the kitchen.

"Well, that's one concern down." Glerenceria nodded.

"Varcosta was right. The Free Knights movement isn't as integral as Mother made it out to be." Terrivia added.

"I don't know about you but I think all of this means we can't stay long in Arktana." Cherry spoke out, "And I'm not sure our identities can last long."

"Bullshit. We're not going to walk there as simply Levi and Occulus. We are going there as civilians." Terrivia laughed.

"We'll add further disguises when we need to execute plans that involve fighting. If we have some." Glerenceria pondered.

"Whatever you say, I guess...." Cherry shrugged, "The burden of saving the world falls down upon our frail shoulders...."

"What do you think -we- are doing? We're increasing the number of shoulders." Terrivia replied flatly.

"Yeah, my bad...." Cherry slumped back on the sofa.

***

Arktana...

Oration Tower...


Theodria was sitting on a chair while browsing her desktop computer. Just like most people in the world, she had to use the internet to satisfy her mental needs. But the monotony of her life was too great, so she was starting to frown by herself.

A woman enters the room, but it wasn't Sati. It was an Arkana who had short black hair with dyed red edges, wearing a red business attire matched with black pants. Her black eyes conveyed a sense of seriousness.

"Oh, you're here, Melissa." Theodria greeted.

"Yes I am. Keeping a girl in here in almost all her life is a cruel thing for most others, and to be honest, I think it is unbecoming of us. So I'm here to keep you company." Melissa smiled.

"Can't I get out there in disguise? Right now I'm not the princess everyone knows, am I?" Theodria asked.

"If you get out right now, I'm going to be in serious trouble. At least try and get out by yourself when there's no one involved." Melissa scowled.

Upon looking at Melissa's face, Theodria acted like she gave up on the idea, "On the second thought, living here all safe and sound is too much to let go."

"...Good." Melissa nodded.

"Uh, if you don't mind me asking...." Theodria asked, "...when is my next life extension shot?"

"Yes. About that...." Melissa took a deep breath, "Your life expectancy, from the looks of your blood sample, shouldn't require another shot until later this year. You're good to move around for a while yet."

"Yay~" Theodria raised her arms in joy.

"Do you hate shots that much?" Melissa asked.

"No. I'm just.... trying not to think of myself as some sort of construct...." Theodria shook her head.

"If anything, I think you should leave all the worldly concerns to people who are paid for them. Your time to become a true individual of the society has yet to come. Don't rush it." Melissa spoke.

"Don't worry, I am fine~" Theodria smiled.

After Melissa left the room, Theodria pouted to herself. "Like I have a choice....."

***

Next morning, Diana took her sword with her, and led the way on foot for Terrivia and others to find Maciel's unit.

"Look at that mark on the sword. Those are my knuckle prints...." Terrivia bragged.

"Laugh it up while you can. Unless you can find a way to get some Stardust, you stand no chance in overcoming the Four Queens." Diana rebuked.

"Uh, in case you forgot about what we told you yesterday, we are in our own self-imposed 'No Stardust' policy. Consumption of Stardust will only accelerate the aging of this planet." Terrivia countered.

"You have a point, but still, if you plan to stop this war, then they are your most likely obstacles. They have deep ties to the current Administrata. I never liked it, so I can't imagine how worse it is now." Diana replied.

"You know, our offer still stands. You can come with us to make the job go faster." Glerenceria suggested.

"Later. I have some personal matters to take care of. Think of it as my rehab course after a period of retirement." Diana grinned.

"Gotcha." Terrivia nodded.

After passing through a fence, the four are confronted by a group of armed Free Knights troopers, ready to point their guns as they were guarding a mobile base.

"State your identity and business. No one's supposed to come here, let alone 4 Arkana at once." One of them spoke.

"We have something for your leader." Diana spoke, "Tell her that Diamond Suit is flashing her cards."

"Diamond Suit??" Another one remarked in surprise as the others were at a loss in what to do.

After a while, an Arkana came out, bearing an imposing look. She had long black hair and trailed down to the middle of her back, wearing sunglasses that did little to beautify her scar-laden face. She wore a thin coat covering her body that was adorned in a bustiere and long pants.

"The rumored surviving Suit. What's she doing here in person?" The Arkana spoke out.

"I've brought some people who have an important job for all of you." Diana grinned.

Glerenceria and Terrivia both stood up front, and Glerenceria spoke first.

"A tree covered by roses can be climbed, but one has to bleed while grabbing the rose stems to do so." Glerenceria relayed.

The sunglassed Arkana twitched her eyebrows, "How did you Royals come to know Varcosta?"

"Long story short, she and us are in on a massive gig. How does saving the world sound to you?" Terrivia asked.

The Arkana stepped forward and folded her arms, "I am Maciel. If Varcosta told you to say that to me, then I hope it's for a good reason. It means you come highly recommended."

"You were said to be 'Bullet Face' but all I see are blade scars." Terrivia commented.

"You're right. They -are- blade scars." Maciel replied, "They call me Bullet Face because I look like about to fire my guns. So with that out of the way, first order of business is to tell me what you intend to do."

"I will brief you in accordingly. I am a Commander." Glerenceria nodded.

The rest of the day continued like a big surge of surprises for everyone except for Terrivia and Cherry. After Diana left, the three Arkana were then introduced to Maciel's unit's inner workings.

The inner circle of Birchwood Company.

***

The end of Chapter 44