"how are we going to kill it commander? Its a titled one! Its not your average invaders we usually encounter with!"
I looked at them before nodding in agreement. She is right, this invader, the one who's sleeping inside this tiny yet perfect conceal cave, is not your average joe.
The angels of the commander who defeated this thing is capable of killing my angels due to lack of experience and mastery with their second mode.
"But precisely because of that, we have a chance of attacking it now that its weakened."
"But can we really kill this thing commander?"
Aliya, with a skeptical look plastered on her face, voice out her opinion. She wasn't doubting my actions nor decisions, she was skeptical it could put me in danger or possibly kill me.
That is what she was worried about the most. Not only her, I could also see the same expression written on lia, ria, and seona.
Since joining my platoon, the three of them realized something altogether. Their commander shouldn't die. I didn't know this but it seems like that's the conclusion they come up with.
I sighed and smile helplessly.
"I know its risky, but trust me. It will not only benefit seona, but also you three from this expedition."
Locking in on my decision, they reluctantly nodded in agreement and just obediently follow me.
"Let's go inside. We might never know, it still hibernating from its loss."
...
Once inside, we were greeted by massive amount of heat as it slammed right into our faces. Yet strangely enough, it was not hot.
The heat, the fire we are currently touching, they were not flames but some kind of healing ability that the dragon robot invader possessed.
We have to deal with this thing before it could caus havoc in the near future.
In the game, having to recruit seona late and couldn't reset, the dragon invader were able to fully recovered from its past defeat before it could land a devastating blow to humanity.
The damage it dealt? Half of the humanity's troops on the frontline. It was able to bring such massive loss to the humanity that push them into the brink defeat if not for me, the player, stepping in.
But what if we were able to deal with it while it's recovering? The power we have might not have a guaranteed win, as long as we have a chance, that's all that matters.
Plus, it was two years ago anyway.
Compare to the original seven years of sleep, right now it only has two years recovery. Meaning, it might not be as strong as it is five years from now.
"Woah..."
Lia's amazement snap me back as we ended up in a very huge enclosure. It has the same design as your average cave yet the erie atmosphere it gave tips us off guard.
The echo from her amusement and awe can be heard anonymously as it echoes back to us.
Not only her, I could tell ria, aliya, and seona were on the same page as their mouth hanging in the air. In shock of how simple yet erie the place is.
"In terms of design from such being, it lacks. Yet you could feel the weight from such simpleness."
I spoke, flinching the four of them. They didn't expect me to mutter such words, like praising it while mocking it at the same time.
"What? Don't look at me like that."
I sighed exasperatedly as I focus back.
"Speaking of which, where is it commander?"
Snapping back to business, aliya asked as she scanned her surrounding. She couldn't see that big huge golden robotic dragon depsite its size.
I smirked before pointing down. They stop, slowly moving their heads down as they saw the culprit itself.
There, below, the said invader is currently sleeping peacefully. Leisuring around like it didn't even get almost kiled from its last battle with that commander.
"Um... How did you find it commander?"
Them, being angels, couldn't even sense its presence yet I found it first, a normal human being.
"I mean, there's no other way to look right? The ceiling is closed, there's nothing in front nor either sides. So the only possible answer is—"
"—below! As expected of big brother!"
Ria finishes my explanation as she cling to my left arm. That move made the other three flinch in jealousy as they stared at her.
I giggle before gently patting her head in recognition.
"I see."
Not hiding her jealousy, aliya nodded in agreement with my common sense as she step towards the huge pit in front of us.
"So, how do we do this commander?"
She asked, seriousness flashes through those two beautiful ruby eyes as she activated her second mode.
[Hell Fire]
Itching for fight, that sharp golden red armor manifest from her head to toe as she turn back. Red wings spread wide open in the air as if ready to fly.
Now, in fully second mode, she looked at me with a intent to kill the invader.
"Heh. Of course you're raring to go, aliya."
[Tool Editor]
Lia spoke as her body glows in blue white as her shining golden blue as her sky blue wings spread out to protest the none existant winds.
Lia is now on her second mode.
"Mou!... Include me as well!"
[Tool Eraser]
Ria, jealous they're showing off in front of me, herbig brother, she naturally couldn't qait anymore and also transform to her second mode.
Her body glows beside me as that unique golden velvet armor appeared on her body one by one. Her violet wings fluttered before opening them in full form, raring to go and fly.
Since seona couldn't transform yet, she watch the three angels transform. A little bit jealous while also disappointed as she couldn't do that yet.
...
I'm jealous... I wish I could be like them and service commander.
Having accepted the man in front of me as my commander, I wanted to be useful for him.
Yet I couldn't even use my second mode yet as I didn't have enough experience for it.
I don't know why we have to go here first and defeat the invader inhabiting this cave, but since commander said I needed to come with them as well, of course I will go. After all, I still wanted to be useful in other ways I can.
Not knowing why we are here, I only followed what commander said. Hence why I am here despite only having my first mode against a titled invader.
"Good. It seems like you all are ready to go."
"Mhm!"
The three nodded in unison as they took a step closer to the pit and peek their heads out. Having confirm the invader is still sleeping, commander started the plan he cook on the way here.
No, the plan that he must have already have before we even got here.
"Now, this is what we need to do. First..."
...
Lia, floating above the pit, smirked.
"Waky waky massive shit!"
She shouted as she dropped five bolders with the size of a two story house that using her editing power.
Once it hit the dragon invader, it slowly open its eyes as it just received five 'houses'. Its eyes slit in annoyance as it look up.
It saw lia smirking above it and let out a massive roar that made the cave tremble.
"GRAAAAAAAGHHHH!!!!!!"
It slowly open it's mouth as fire formed patiently on top of its tounge. Strange energy can be read as it pprepared its own attack towards lia.
"No you don't!"
Not letting the invader finish its attack, ria immediately appeared right in front of it as she erases the strange energy it wanted to produce. Making it's eyes widden on such unexpected turn.
Trying to recover from its shock, its tail mobe on its own as she strike ria down.
But ria is much faster, she got a hold of it and immediately toss the huge invader into the ceiling, towards lia.
Lia, smirking as she watch the invader slowly getting closer, she aim hee hologram pencil on to the ceiling as she edited it into huge sharp spikes that could definitely pierced the dragon.
Yet it didn't let itself be thrown around by them as its ten feet long wings expanded and dodged mid air.
"Tch."
Lia grumbled as she flew back away from it. She watches the dragon as its wings flap in frustration.
Its own two eyes fell heavy on the angel floating in front of it. The eyes was full of anger and frustration due to her rudely awakening it.
After a few seconds of silent, it produces another loud screeching noise.
SCREEEEEEEEEEEEECHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
The scream was so loud it shook the very foundation of the cave they were in. Ria, holding on to the edge of the pit, stumble on her back as she look up.
Lia float wobbly on he air as she looses her focus.
"Watch out!"
Ria warned her twin sister as she saw the dragon launched itself towards her, full of intent to kill whatever its in front of it.
Having just recover, she didn't have enough time to conjure up a shield as she crossed her arm to block a massive claw coming from above.
"Arhkk!!—"
She was smacked to the ground as her body embedded on it. That attack was no joke, it could have easily killed an angel like her if it wasn't for her second mode.
"Damn it..."
Lia slowly climb on her own pit that she was embedded too before looking up. Her armor weren't damaged but her own body sure did.
Since she didn't quite mastered her second mode yet, the transfer of damage from her own body to the armor weren't usable.
Because, for veteran angels who has a lot of experience with their own second modes, the damage they could get would be transferred to their own armor. Hence why they are so annoying to deal with.
But lia didn't have the kind of luxurious yet as her body suffer from that one attack.
"Despite that shit recovering, its own attack didn't changed..."
Ria, having just arrived beside her, muttered in low and concerning tone as she voice out her observation.
"Right. And we have to kill this thing..."
Before the two could continue their conversation, aliya interrupted them.
"If you have enough time chit-chatting. Then you have enough time to kill this thing."
A massive amount of fire floated above her head as she throws it towards the floating dragon.
It was one of her ultimate skill within her second mode hell fire. This skill allows one to disintegrate anything that touches it, hence why she immediately throw it.
Sensing the danger of that attack, the monster flap its wings to the side. Trying to dodge such dangerous attack, yet it was futile.
The attack was not a normal attack,but a homing one. That's right, aliya intended it to be a homing attack due to it being slow.
And the dragon seems to sense it as it tried to out flew it.
"Where do you think your going!?"
Lia, now fully recovered, edited the ceiling in front of it with two massive doors. Trying to block its path while the invader is running.
The massive attack it throwed at her earlier relly hurt her so now she's out for revenge.
"I'm notletting you escape."
Ria join in as it aim her eraser hologram towards the monster's wings, trying to erase them.
Yet it seems like the dragon knows it as it dodged ria's attack. Seeing the barricade in front of it, the dragon let out a massive fire breath that melt the two rock doors and flew threw it.
"Tch..."
"How slippery."
Both lia and ria commented in annoyance as their attacks didn't face the dragon.
Having destroyed their attacks, the dragon look back and felt relieved seeing the three not chasing it.
But that relief were short as another angel appeared in front of it. It was seona, armed and prepared.
She was carrying a massive sniper barrel that was equipped with the best modifiers it could get.
She aimed at the right wing before pulling the trigger.
"?!"
The attack was unexpected as it's own right wing exploded. Having caught off guard, the chasing huge ball of fire was able to catch up and engolf the invader.
"Its done."
Seona reported through the walkie talkie she bought with her before getting a reply
"Its not yet done."
Seemingly on timing, the dragon burst through the massive sphere of fire as it flew straight towards her.
"?"
Seona didn't expect this outcome. She thought it was done yet her commander muttered something she didn't believe.
Not yet? That invade rgot hit by aliya senpai's ultimate attack, and I also exploded one of its wing. You're telling me it lived?
And her commander was right, a massive shadow appeared above her as the dragon's massive claw struck down.
"Got you."
Aliya arrived in time as she sweep seona up before she could be squashed. Since she only has her first mode, that attack would actually kill her.
SCREEEEEECHHH!!!!
Seona covered her eras as she close her eyes. The screech was so loud she couldn't handle it with just her first mode.
Aliya on the other hand was unaffected. With everyhing enchanced, she wouldn't be flustered by this much.
"Hm?"
Her eyes notice something while the dragon was screaming. It was purple ice. She watch the purple ice slowly engolf her fingers then slowly reach towards her palm.
"I see. Is this your power?"
Her eyes then landed at the now damaged invader floating in front of her. With her and seona's attack, the dragon now looked haggard compare to earlier.
If it could talk, it would probably be cursing at them now.
"The twins made you distracted while me and seona finishes you off. That was the original plan, yet it seems like it didn't work. As expected of a titled invader."
The dragon screech in response as two massive purple ice formed at both side. It slowly form into a massive spike as its edge were deadly sharp.
"You're going all out now? Then—"
In response, aliya conjure five massive spear made out of hot blue fire and pointed it at the dragon. Each spear was twenty meters long design to pierce and burn it.
Seeing such display of power, the dragon flinched. It didn't expect she could produce such quality attack yet it made sense. After all, she was the one who made that huge ball of fire that chases it.
"—I'll also go all out."
The two pull the trigger as two attacks are about to collide. A fire so hot it could melt you just by standing near it while the other is so cold it could freeze you with just one graze.
Neither attacks waver as they collided.
Such attacks from both powerful beings naturally created a massive explosion that thrown all of them and landed harshly on the ground.
Thick smock cover where the attack met but aliya didn't expect another ice spike to come out from it.
"?"
Sensing the danger ahead, she conjure up a massive fire shield to block the unexpected attack heading towards them while seona watch everything.
Not yet unlocking her second mode, she was amazed at how aliya control her second mode despite unlocking it few days ago.
Before they left, seona asked if aliya and the other unlock their second mode since it was the main topic at that time.
The three of them nodded and said they unlocked it few days ago, yet what she seeing right now is not mere days of mastery.
Massive output with massive amount of it. That's not how an angel who just activated her second mode should be capable of no matter how genius or capable they are.
Yet, she's witnessing such miracle in front of her.
...
Uh.... This is...
Scratching my head, a bead of sweat slowly drop down my right cheek.
"I know she's strong and all... But this is a [Titled] Invader!... She should be struggling right now!..."
I grumbled quietly to not alert the others. At this point in time, aliya should be THIS capable.
Mastery is everything for their second mode. The more mastery you have, the stronger you get. That means the older they unlocked their second mode the more experience they are.
For example, my aliya here shouldn't be much stronger than an average second mode angels.
"Yet, what am I seeing then?..."
If she is this strong, then what about few more years?
To understand my perspective as to why I am shock, the dragon invader she is fighting is not normal.
Like I explained, this invader is capable of destroying half of the [Domain] where every commanders and angels are.
Killing multiple platoons at once is not even warm up for it. Platoons with second mode angels by the way.
"It was only killed when general step up... If not for him, I fear the domain is destroyed."
Due to some unfortunate circumstances at the frontline, the general was unable to arrive on time. Allowing this invader to destroy half of the place and killed multiple platoons that could have been sent on the frontline and help the humanity win.
"That's why I named this the [First Catastrophe]."
I muttered as I locked my eyes on struggling invader floating in the air. It looked beaten up as aliya relentlessly throw her massive attacks like there's no tomrrow.
"Big brother..."
Ria, having just recover from her earlier frontal assault, called me. She landed smoothly beside me as she saw the on going battle ahead of us.
"This is..."
Even lia, who also landed on the other side, watched with her mouth wide open. She couldn't believe this is her senior.
"Are we sure this is a titled invader?"
Right...
"Didn't aliya just got her second mode few days ago? No, scratch that! She said it was only about 1 and half week ago! How is she already this capable?"
Lia complained as she clenched her fist. She was about to fight someone like this when she first met them? Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous.
There's no way she could win even with her second mode right now, let alone first mode.
...
This is just... Unfair...
The disparity between my strength and her is huge. So wide that you couldn't even see how far it is.
I know I'm not a combat type angel... But it pains me that I couldn't be like that...
When I handle that invader earlier, I was struggling. The cocky smirked I showed was for a show in order to hide my embarrassment about my mastery of my second mode.
Yes, I was the first one to attack it, yet didn't you noticed? One it landed, it only anger it. Not because it was hurt but because I disturbed it.
Even with ria, we couldn't produce something like this.
That's the reality.
I clenched my first before unclenching them.
So what. You might be the strongest but that doesn't mean you're the best.
Then, I lift my head high and reached out towards her.
I promise you...
I will be as awesome as you.
Mark my words.
...
I tilted my head as I watch my twin sister reach out towards the battle going on in front of us. Her eyes were full of determination as she clenched her first tightly.
What's up with her?
Ignoring my weird twin sister, I focuses back on the battle ahead of us. As for why we are not helping, it is useless.
The fight earlier told us so. My second mode couldn't erase that thing and lia couldn't edit it either.
Yes, we could manipulate our surroundings but where are we? Everything here is useless. Full of rocks from top to bottom with no end.
If there's at least some ores we could do something about it. But there's none. The cave was polished clean with nothing but stones and rocks that couldn't even damaged that abomination.
We could help slowing it down but aliya already got that cover. Plus, we are only going to be on her way if we helped.
So with nothing else to do, we watched on edge as to who will win.
I don't doubt aliya's strength but she only got her second mode a week ago right? How is she already this strong?
For an angel, master and experience is important past your first mode. So aliya shouldn't have that yet.
But that's not what I am seeing right now.
Despite both of us being a combat angels, the vast difference between out strength is not even fair.
But I only just unlock my second mode few days ago so there's nothing to be sad about it.
Because I know for sure that I—
I lifted my head and smiled.
—will be able to surpassed my limits.
...
The battle rages on as another set of attacks collided in the air, creating another massive amount of smokes that covers the entire battlefield.
It blinded both of them as they recover from the collision of their own attacks.
But it seems like aliya was faster as she launched herself at the monster. The monster, expectating her to do something like that, sneered and brought down its two claws. Heading straight for her uncovered head.
Yet what it didn't expect was for seona to blocked the claws. Since she was still being carried, she quickly swap to her sword and blocked the incoming attack.
"You're finished."
Aliya coldly muttered as she brought her fist on the invader's chest. A massive beam of fire shoot out from her fist as it created a massive hole from its chest.
You could see the invaders shock from its widden eyes before blood gushing out from its mouth.
It tried to go for another loud roar but seona slashed its exposed neck. Snapping them into two.
The head of the monster slowly slid off as it dropped on the ground. Then, the body follows as the loud thud could be heard when it fell down on the ground.
The battlefield felt deathly silent before zero celebrated.
...
"Good job everyone!"
I shouted on top of my lungs as I clenched my fist in pure excitement and happiness. One material down, two more to go.
I gently jump on top of the dragon's dead body and asked lia to edit something.
"Lia, can you edit me a massive sharp knife? Thanks."
I smiled as I told my request at her. I saw her blushed before nodding.
"A-alright..."
Her pencil move as she aimed it at a pillar made out of rocks. She made it extend until it reaches on top of the body before editing the edge.
She made sure it was sharp enough as you could see the shinning it was producing.
"Done."
She said as I nodded.
"Now, I want you to carefully cut this middle part of its chest. About this much size."
I said, creating a small circle in the air to indicate how much size she needed to cut it. She nodded again before bringing the massive sharp spike down and cut the middle chest I pointed at her.
The rest of my angel watch in tense as this is one of the important materials we needed and also the reason why we risk our life in the first place.
One wrong move and it would be over.
A unrecoverable mistake to be more specific.
Realizing this fact, lia took it more serious as bead of sweat slowly started dripping on her forehead.
This was much more nerve-wracking than the fight she almost died with earlier.
"Alright..."
She breath a sigh of relief after she finishes before pulling out the sharp spike away from the body. Just in case some unexpected accidents happened.
"Alright... Great job."
I stretch my arms and fingers as a satisfying popping could be heard. I flexed my fingers before pulling out the skin.
"Are you sure you wanted to do this commander?"
Aliya, having just landed right beside us, asked. Full of concern and anxiety about what I am about to do.
"Yes. If I can't even do something as simple as this, then I do not deserve to be a commander."
I didn't noticed it, but it seems like my words shocked every angel of mine. Lia, ria, aliya, and seona.
Its true.
You don't deserve your angel if you cannot work for them.
You don't deserve your angel if you do not improve them.
You don't deserve your angel if you do not make any effort at all.
Plus, I'm not fighting anyway. At the least part, this is what I'm contributing for except some strategies or plans that anyone could think of.
I gently pulled back my sleeves as I immediately bought down my hand on that well made circle lia made.
Then, gently exploring its insides until I found what I wanted, I explored everything before grasping them.
"Heavy ho!"
Aggressively pulling my hand out, a gushing sound before blood spilling everywhere. Even on my uniform, which flinched aliya.
"Don't worry. I'm okay."
I muttered as I made her stop worrying about me before putting what I wanted in front of my eyes.
"This is..."
Ria gulped, unable to believe what she is seeing.
"Yes. I know this is ridiculous but..."
Turning my head towards seona, I pulled it towards her.
"Eat it."
"Eh?..."
She widden her eyes as she stared at the abomination in front of her.
There, a heart, made out of unrecognisable clump of flesh, beating endlessly despite not having any body attached on it, were laid in front of her eyes.
"Commander... Are you telling me to... Eat this?"
She pointed at it, confuse as to why SHE has to eat such discusting plump of flesh.
"Sadly yes. Without eating this, you won't be able to unlock your second mode."
"What?..."
That's a lie. She could unlock her second mode nonetheless by using the other two different materials we have to get.
But, by adding this, the blood that was injected to her, the blood that would activate her second mode will have a massive upgrade.
I only know this when that [Mad Scientist], maddy inspected every angels I have including her.
I cannot explain the reason as I don't get the logic behind it, but what I know for sure is that maddy said seona could have been upgraded if she ate a titled invader's heart straight from the source.
Hence why I also specifically ordered everyone to avoid the chest where the heart is because she seona needed to eat it.
"I know its disgusting. But please bare with me seona. Its also for your own sake."
"B-but..."
"I'll treat you to your favorite restaurant? How about that?"
Since staying with them, I noticed seona specifically like eating on the restaurant in front of our building.
The promise instantly made her grab the heart and ate it in one swallow.
Who in the right mind would it that kind of disgusting flesh slowly and savour them? Unless you insane, no one will do that.
"Thank you."
I smiled as I patted her head. The disgust was still written all over her face but I could tell she got better after I patted her.
"Now, let's burn the body. Aliya, please."
"Understood, commander."
We all step back as aliya set the dead body on fire and watch it slowly turn into dust.
__________
To be continued
____________________