At that moment, someone knocked on the door so thinking it was Amanda or maybe Nathan, and since the gate was already opened he just told them to come in.

"Hey Amanda, is Nathan here already?" Arnold asked without even looking towards the gate as he was busy tweaking his gears a bit and he also heard someone walking in heels so he was sure it wasn't Nathan... until and unless Nathan had developed a weird personality.

​​

"Who's Amanda?" A familiar feminine voice echoed in his ears. it was a voice he hadn't heard in years.

"Nicole!?" He was both shocked and surprised to see his little sister standing next to him.

"Hello, brother..." Nicole tried to give him a cheerful smile like she always did when she was a teenager, "It's been long hasn't it?"

Before Arnold could react, another voice came from next to Nicole, "Ahm... before you both do something weird, just remember I'm here as well?"

But he paid no attention whatsoever to Nina who was standing behind Nicole and hugged his not so little sister, but after remembering that he was shirtless and drenched in sweat he quickly let go of her before he soiled her attire... which was the Black Family's traditional combat suit, thus it wasn't soiled. Nina was wearing a similar suit herself, both of them looked beautiful yet deadly in those suits.

"It's good to see you too brother... but next time you leave without informing me I'll kill you." Nicole finally gave up on pretending and genuinely smiled but then tears welled up in her eyes, "I thought I'd never see you again..."

"You're not gonna get rid off me that easily..." Arnold laughed and patted her back, "You've grown quite a bit from the last time I saw you!"

"Of course... I have... after all I'm not 15 anymore..."

"You sure? Because you're behaving like one now..." Arnold smiled but then he realised something... why the hell was Nicole wearing a combat suit? He turned towards the person who could've answered him.

"Good to know you're still the same witty as*hole like before." Nina said, waving her hands around as if she had already read what was on his mind, "Do you wanna tell him?"

"Guess I should... I think it'll better if you sit down first, brother." Nicole said as Nina pulled a chair for Arnold to sit.

"What's going on?" Arnold said after Nina forced him to sit down... she didn't have enough strength to do so, but Arnold didn't bother and went with the flow.

"Look... there's something no one has told you about me." Nicole took a deep breath and blurted it out, "I'm a SS ranked warrior..."

"Hhuhuu.... hahaha!" Arnold started laughing hysterically, "Good one guys... good one, I almost fell for it. I think I deserved it for leaving for such a long duration but seriously guys... if you wanna pull something like this off then next time try to tone it down a bit. SS ranked warrior... haha... I'm a SSS ranked warrior by the way... haha."

"Arnold, she isn't joking..." Nina mumbled.

"Sure she isn't." Arnold smirked, but when he saw the seriousness on Nicole's face, the smirk disappeared, "Are you serious?"

"Yes... it'll be better if I show you instead." Nicole whispered and pointed her arm towards a table which immediately turned into sawdust.

"What. The. Actual. F*CK! What kind of power is THAT!?" Arnold jumped up and instinctively assumed a battle stance... that power Nicole just released was a bit much for him to handle.

"That's the part we don't know." Nina grabbed Arnold's shoulder, which pulled him back to reality, "All we know it's that she's the only of her kind."

"Why didn't anyone told me about it!?"

"I made them swear not to... because I wanted to tell you about it in person." Nicole averted her gaze from the sawdust and stared at her brother's face.

After the initial shock of the revelation dissipated, Arnold snapped. He had left his sister under the family's care because he wanted to her to stay safe as she was ill, but instead, the family turned her into a warrior! He didn't know whether he should be thankful to them for making Nicole independent or he should get pissed at them for hiding something about his sister from him... nonetheless he was conflicted over the entire scenario but he didn't want to upset his sister on the day they met after so long, so he swallowed his thoughts up and smiled at Nicole.

"Sorry for overreacting... it's just... It was a bit too much for me to take in but I'm happy for you!" Arnold smiled, "I guess it would be me who'll be getting protected now, and not the other way around?"

"You can count on me for that!" Nicole smiled.

"Since you people are here, I guess Nathan is here as well?" Arnold asked Nina.

"He is. Actually, he's waiting for you in the Brigadier General's office. We should probably get going."

***

While Arnold and Nina were walking side by side, discussing something, Nicole decided to hang back and have a chat of her own.

'So what do you think?' Nicole thought.

'They'd make a good couple that's for sure!' Dona's voice echoed inside Nicole's mind.

'That might be true, but you know that's not what I'm talking about...' Nicole replied.

'Geez, you're no fun! I miss the old, sweet and innocent version of yours. She was much fun to talk to!'

'Dona, don't try to-'

'I know, I know. We share the same mind space so I know what you're thinking.'

'And...'

'You're wrong. Your brother isn't a vassal-'

'I thought he already killed-'

'Will you hear me out first?' Dona squealed, 'He's not a vassal, not yet, but he'll become one soon enough.'

'He got his powers after I got mine so that's expected but still his progress is too slow. Will he be ready in time for-' Nicole wanted to say something but Dona cut her off.

'And that's where you're wrong, love... his progress isn't slow. It's just that his trials are longer and tougher than the ones I give you. Looks like The Immortal one isn't taking any chances on grooming his potential heir, just what I'd expect from him, he's too hard on his paladins. Right now, I'd say, your brother's progress is more than what I expected and the way he's progressing, he'll surpass you and the others in no time, and become the first person to cross even the cosmic boundary and become a true deity.'

'That's not gonna happen. He has already endured enough because of me, now it's my turn to protect him... by the way you haven't given me today's daily quest.'

'Oh my, I forgot! Either way, it's the usual soul reaper one.'

'How many?'

'10 should suffice.'

'Monsters or humans?'

'10 each.'

'You're too demanding, you know?' Nicole smirked.

'I'm demanding? You're the one who wanted to level up and become a B ranked cosmic being.' Dona replied.

'Yeah yeah, I know. Don't worry you'll get your souls.'

"Hey, Nicole! What are you slacking off for? You're the SS ranked warrior, not us!" Nina shouted, "Come on! Move faster you slowpoke!"

"Coming!"