[Base 105 - Command Briefing Room]
"So, what's the play?" Annie asked, her voice tight with a mixture of awe and anxiety. "We have a literal god on our side now. Do we just... point him at the enemy?"
Lyla leaned against the wall, her arms crossed. The demonic energy from the battle had receded, but her eyes still held a lingering, haunted sharpness. "It's not that simple, Annie. We know next to nothing about how these species operate. Having a 'god' on our side is only useful if we don't accidentally trigger a planetary extinction event just by waking him up. We have to be careful."
Caspian, the Commander of Base 111, paced the small room. "When I saw that... thing... on the surface, I was terrified. I've seen a lot in my years, but that was something else entirely. It saved your lives, and I understand the fear you all feel, but we can't ignore the tactical advantage. He's our ultimate trump card." He paused, glancing at Lyla. "I heard you turned into a demon, by the way."
Lyla's gaze snapped to him. "Who told you that? Not that it matters. It was a temporary resonance."
"Her body has reverted now that she's rested," Annie added quickly, trying to smooth over the tension. She looked at the two commanders, an idea forming. "Okay, look. We can't fight this thing—Nova, or whatever it is. So let's gain as much information as we can. After that, we leave them be. We'll ask Leo if he wants the entity removed, but until then..."
"Why would we leave it in him?" Lyla interrupted, her voice rising. "It's a ticking time bomb!"
"Because it hasn't done any damage to his body," Annie countered. "In fact, his cellular regeneration is off the charts. His body is adapting to the power in ways we didn't think were biologically possible. For now, he's the safest container we have."
Lyla turned to Caspian. "What do you think?"
Caspian rubbed his chin. "I think Annie's right. Our main goal is intelligence. We need to know what we're up against before we take any more... dramatic steps. Let's give him another thirty minutes to recover, then we start the interrogation."
.....
[Medical Wing - The Containment Tank]
Leo floated in the oxygenated fluid, his eyes fixed on Jane. He was still reeling from the disappointment of her silence earlier. Jane walked up to the glass, her expression soft and apologetic.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"For what?" Leo's voice was muffled but clear through the tank's speakers.
"For not being strong enough to protect you," Jane said, her gaze dropping to the floor.
Leo let out a frustrated bubble. "Look, Jane, I don't need your apologies for the fight. I'm angry because you didn't even try to defend me when they were talking about me like I was a lab rat. You just stood there while they plotted how to kill me."
Jane looked up, a strange, defiant spark in her eyes. "Wait... you're angry because of that?" She stepped closer to the glass. "Oh, if I could get inside that tank right now, I'd beat some sense into you."
Leo blinked, taken aback. "Is it not worth being angry about?"
"Come on, Leo," Jane said, her voice firm. "They can never kill you. I know the being inside you would never let go of such a precious vessel. You're the safest person in this base." She leaned her forehead against the glass. "Nova... take care of him. I don't have a say in what the commanders are plotting, so just try to avoid starting any trouble." She looked back at Leo, a playful but dangerous glint in her eyes. "I'll be waiting for you to get out of that tank. And I promise you, I will find a cane and give you the beating you deserve for being so dramatic."
Leo couldn't help it; a small smile tugged at his lips. "Oh no you don't. The second I'm out, I'm running." He folded his arms, the anger he thought he felt evaporating instantly. *I can't stay mad at her,* he realized. *It's impossible.*
Jane sat on the floor beside the tank, leaning her back against the reinforced base. "Damn, Leo. Our lives have gotten weird lately."
"Pretty weird," Leo agreed. "I didn't even get to finish the semester. And my mom..."
"Don't worry," Jane said softly. "Your mom is tough. She's agile and she knows how to handle herself. I'm sure she's okay." She looked up at him. "Don't you miss your dad? And your little brother?"
Jane's gaze drifted to the far wall. "I really miss my little brother. My dad... I'm not so sure. But every night, I just wish the world could be peaceful for once. I just want to see my family again."
Leo looked down at her, his expression softening. "Don't worry, Jane. I promise to make it happen. I'll make sure you see them again."
Jane smiled, a genuine, hopeful expression. "I've been breaking a lot of promises to you lately, Leo. But I'm going to make a real one now, and I won't break it. I'll get you through this."
She stood up suddenly, her posture sharpening. "They're coming."
She moved back to her original position, standing at attention as the heavy doors hissed open. Leo watched her, amazed. *How did she know?*
*I've been watching her,* Nova's voice echoed in his mind. *She has an incredibly sharp sense of hearing. Her instincts are becoming... refined.*
"That's my girl," Leo muttered.
A few seconds later, Lyla, Annie, and Caspian walked in. Lyla didn't waste any time. "We're here. Do what you promised, Leo."
"I didn't promise anything," Leo corrected, "but I'll do it anyway. For Jane."
Leo closed his eyes, allowing the familiar, cold rush of Nova's presence to take over. This time, he didn't lose consciousness; he remained a silent observer in the back of his own mind. *Don't do anything crazy, Nova,* he whispered.
*No problem, host,* Nova replied.
The transformation was seamless. Leo's features shifted, his hair lengthening into shimmering blue silk. Nova suppressed her aura, keeping the pressure manageable for the humans in the room. Even so, the commanders were visibly shaken by the sheer beauty and deific presence of the Origin.
"My host tells me you have questions," Nova said, her voice layered with ancient authority.
Lyla stepped forward, clearing her throat. "Let's make this quick. Who—or what—are you?"
Nova offered a faint, enigmatic smile. "We are beings beyond the scope of human understanding. We are the architects of the void."
"Right," Lyla said, unfazed. "I need tactical data. How do we defeat your kind? How many Harbingers are on this planet? Give us everything."
Nova nodded slowly. "Let us start with the hierarchy. There are four primary species in the King's vanguard."
"First: **The Beasts.** They possess overwhelming physical strength and durability. The Low and Medium ranks lack specialized powers and can be defeated with conventional weapons, though their regeneration makes them difficult to put down permanently. The one Jane fought—Wilder—was a High-Rank. High-Ranks possess unique abilities and can cause massive destruction, especially in their true forms. Their only real weakness is a single, overwhelming strike that vaporizes them before they can regenerate. Only Harbingers and Origins can typically achieve this in one blow."
Nova paused, her glowing eyes scanning the room. "Any questions regarding the Beasts?"
"None," Lyla, Annie, and Caspian replied in unison.
"Second: **The Demons.** They possess a balance of physical power and incredible durability, though a Beast's raw strength is often superior. However, Demons possess dark energy—a corruptive force that can directly affect spiritual beings. Their power is difficult to scale, but a warning: if you encounter a Demon wielding a dual-blade katana, run. I will elaborate on that later."
"Third: **The Spiritual Beings.** Not all of us are warriors; it depends on our rank. Our primary weapon is the single katana." Nova looked toward Jane. "If Jane had mastered the art of the single blade to perfection, she could have ended that Beast with a single strike without even drawing her sword. But such mastery takes centuries. We emit what you call 'Aura,' which can be shaped into lethal slashes that kill instantly without us even moving. Only the top three Harbingers and the Origins can reach this level of mastery."
Annie raised her hand, her voice trembling slightly. "I have a question. Between a Demon with dual katanas and a Spiritual Being who has mastered the single blade... who is stronger?"
Nova's expression turned serious. "The Demon with the dual blades has not yet reached his full potential. No one truly knows the limits of that weapon. Even I, an Origin, would struggle against a master of the dual blades. In all of history, no one has ever unlocked its full power. Currently, there is only one Demon wielding such a weapon—he is one of the ten Harbingers, ranked in the top two."
Annie looked terrified. "I... I see. Please continue."
"The last are **The Angels.**" Nova's voice dropped, becoming somber. "They were the most dangerous of all. The King wiped them out centuries ago because he feared their light. Only one is said to have escaped, though how is a mystery. Since they are extinct, there is no need to discuss them further."
Annie spoke up one last time. "One more thing. If you... an Origin... were to clash with an Origin-rank Angel... who would win?"
Lyla sighed. "Annie, stop asking who's more powerful."
Nova looked directly at Annie, her eyes glowing with a cold, honest light.
"The Angel," she said.
To be continued...