The sharp, rhythmic blare of the base's morning siren cut through the silence of the dormitory. Leo's eyes snapped open instantly. Before he could even sit up, Nova's voice resonated in his mind, sounding satisfied.
*Welcome back. Your body has successfully integrated the initial tempering. You are now durable enough to survive a lethal strike from a low-rank demon.*
Leo sat up, a small, confident smile playing on his lips. "Well, that's progress," he muttered under his breath.
"Who are you talking to?" a passing soldier barked, stopping by his bunk with a suspicious glare.
Leo looked up, his expression shifting to one of awkward innocence. "Nobody, sir. Just... a habit of talking to myself. Helps with the nerves."
The soldier grunted and moved on. Leo quickly climbed down and spotted Annie in the crowded hallway. "Annabelle!" he called out, pushing through the throng.
Annie turned, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Uhh... How do you know my name?"
Leo winced, realizing he'd used her full name. He quickly closed his mouth, ignoring her question as he fell into step beside her. "Where is everyone going? What's the rush?"
"Didn't you hear the announcement?" Annie asked, her eyes scanning the crowd.
"I was... deep asleep," Leo replied sheepishly.
Annie stared at him for a long second, her gaze lingering on his face. Suddenly, Nova's voice flared with urgency. *Leo, your body is leaking energy! I'm trying to suppress it, but the integration is too volatile. Find somewhere isolated, now!*
Leo's heart hammered against his ribs. "Gotta go! Bye!" he blurted out.
He spun around and bolted, weaving through the crowd and accidentally shouldering a few soldiers. He burst into a nearby restroom and slammed the door shut.
*BOOM.*
A massive, silent shockwave of pure energy erupted from Leo's core. The restroom door was blown off its hinges, and the tiled walls spider-webbed with deep cracks. Dust and debris filled the small space.
As the dust settled, Leo looked up and saw Jane standing in the doorway, her eyes wide with shock. She stared at the wreckage, then at Leo, who was trembling from the sudden release.
"Don't say a word," Jane whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
A few seconds later, the sound of heavy boots approached. Commander Lyla appeared behind Jane, her eyes narrowing as she took in the destroyed restroom. "What happened here?"
Jane quickly stepped forward, her face a mask of feigned embarrassment. "I'm so sorry, Commander! I... I'm still mastering the output of this glove. I didn't mean to let it flare like that."
Lyla looked at Jane, then shifted her gaze to Leo, who was trying to look invisible in the corner. She seemed to weigh Jane's words, then gave a sharp nod. "Fine. No time for games. Get to the assembly hall. Now."
Jane followed Lyla out, casting one last, worried glance back at Leo.
*What the hell was that?* Leo demanded mentally.
*My apologies,* Nova replied, her voice tinged with a rare hint of regret. *Now that your body can handle five percent of my power, my energy is beginning to seep into your physical form. It's creating what humans call an 'aura.' It's a natural byproduct of your evolution.*
Leo leaned against the cracked wall, a mix of fear and excitement swirling in his chest. *This is dangerous. If that was just a leak, what does five percent actually look like?*
*Actually,* Nova corrected him, *that wasn't even two percent of my energy.*
Leo stood frozen for a moment, then began walking back toward the main hall. *Wait, what happened back there with Jane? Why did she take the blame?*
*It appears your friend absorb the energy burst, using the glove* Nova said. *She intentionally drew the Commander's attention away from you to protect your secret.*
Leo felt a surge of gratitude. *Jane...*
He eventually found his way to a massive assembly hall packed with hundreds of people. He managed to weave his way to the front just as the room fell into a hushed silence.
Lyla walked onto the stage, flanked by Annie and Jane. Leo's eyes widened when he saw the sword Jane was carrying—it looked ancient and powerful.
Lyla stepped up to the microphone. "Fellow citizens," her voice rang out, cold and authoritative. "We have developed new technology—armor and weapons designed to give us a fighting chance. But we will not force anyone into the front lines. We are looking for volunteers. We need people with the will to stand beside us."
A woman in the crowd shouted, "What kind of weapons? We need to know what we're signing up for!"
"You will be trained in the use of high-caliber firearms or the katana," Lyla replied. "The choice is yours. Those willing to fight, report to the training grounds immediately. Ask any soldier for directions. That is all."
Leo watched as Jane followed Lyla off the stage. He couldn't believe she had actually joined.
[The Training Grounds]
The training grounds were a sprawling outdoor arena within the base's perimeter. A small but determined group had gathered. Lyla stood in the center, facing Jane.
"So, Jane," Lyla said, her voice echoing. "You said you wanted to join my inner circle."
"Yes, Commander," Jane replied, her voice steady.
"Don't call me that yet," Lyla snapped. "We have no one qualified to train someone with your potential. I am the only one here proficient in both firearms and the blade. So, you'll be facing me."
Lyla held out her hand, and a soldier placed a standard training katana into her palm. "I don't hold back when I have a blade in my hand. Make sure you entertain me." She added with a cold smirk, "And don't worry—this isn't my personal sword. You might actually survive."
The crowd backed away, creating a wide circle. Jane took a deep breath. "I won't hold back either."
"I love that confidence," Lyla said.
Jane drew her sword, the metal singing as it left the scabbard. She dropped into a low, aggressive stance, the blade pointed backward in a reverse grip. Lyla, in contrast, stood perfectly still. She kept her sword sheathed, her hand resting lightly on the hilt, her eyes closed.
Jane charged.
She moved with surprising speed, closing the distance in a heartbeat. Just as she reached Lyla, she flicked her wrist, tossing her sword high into the air. Lyla's eyes snapped open. In a blur of motion, she performed a lightning-fast quick-draw—an *iaido* strike aimed directly at Jane's chest.
But Jane wasn't there. She had leaped into the air, her fingers closing around the hilt of her falling sword. She flipped over Lyla, landing behind her. As she swung the blade in a wide horizontal arc, Lyla spun around, her own sword clashing against Jane's with a shower of sparks.
Lyla pushed back, creating distance. She looked at her sleeve—a small tear had appeared. "I could have killed you three times in that exchange," she said, her voice devoid of emotion.
Jane didn't answer. She noticed a shallow cut on her forearm, but she didn't flinch. She charged again. This time, she drove her sword into the ground, using it as a pivot to launch a powerful kick. Lyla blocked the kick with her forearm, but Jane used the momentum to retrieve her blade and transition into a dual-wielding style, using the scabbard as a second weapon.
The two blurred together in a frantic exchange of steel. Lyla's strikes were precise and lethal, but Jane countered every move with a wild, unpredictable ferocity. Finally, Jane managed to slip past Lyla's guard, pointing her blade at Lyla's throat while her scabbard pressed against the Commander's stomach.
Lyra froze. A slow, genuine smile spread across her face. "How nice."
Leo, who had been watching from the sidelines with his heart in his throat, rushed forward. "Jane! You're bleeding!"
Jane looked at her hands—they were raw and bloodied from the intensity of the fight. She let the sword fall to the ground, her adrenaline finally fading.
Leo turned to Lyla, his eyes flashing with anger. "You crazy woman! How could you push her that hard? She's a civilian!"
Lyra looked at him, her expression unreadable. "Me? I didn't force her."
"He's right, Leo," Jane interrupted, her voice weak but firm. "I joined of my own free will."
"Why?" Leo asked, his voice cracking.
"I wanted to repay you," Jane whispered, looking him in the eye. "And I wanted to be strong enough to protect you."
Leo looked at her bloodied hands, then back at Lyla. "Aren't you going to do something about her injuries?"
Annie stepped forward, gently taking Jane by the arm. "Come on, Jane. Let's get you to the infirmary."
.....
[Back in the Dormitory]
A few hours later, Leo lay on his bunk, staring at the ceiling. The image of Jane's bloodied hands wouldn't leave his mind.
*Leo,* Nova's voice whispered. *I suggest you join the training tomorrow. You need to learn how to emit and control your aura at will, or you will remain a danger to everyone around you.*
Leo sighed. *You're right. It would be cool to actually know what I'm doing. I'll do it.*
*Leo... there is something else,* Nova said, her tone turning grave.
*What is it?*
*The 10th Commander is approaching Earth.*
Leo's eyes widened. *When?*
*Tomorrow. He is a demon—a ruthless one. Even among the Commanders, his power is considered insane.*
*Wait,* Leo asked, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. *How many of these Commanders are there?*
*Ten,* Nova replied.
Leo felt a crushing weight in his chest. He didn't know how much more he could take.
*THUD.*
A massive, heavy footstep vibrated through the floor, followed by another.
*THUD.*
"What was that?" Leo muttered, sitting up. He saw other people in the room already standing, their faces pale with terror. He climbed down and ran into the hallway, where he found Jane, her hands bandaged.
"What's happening?" he asked.
"There's something... above us," Jane replied, her gaze fixed on the ceiling.
*THUD.*
The entire base seemed to groan under the weight of whatever was outside. Annie appeared, grabbing Jane's arm. "Come on, we have to move!"
Leo looked around, his heart racing. *Nova, is that the 10th Commander?*
*No,* Nova replied, her voice sharp with alarm. *That is not a demon or a spiritual being. That... is a Beast.*
To be continued.....