Valerie began to elevate herself, settling on floating just above the roof. Her protomis coursing through her as her rage boiled, she was no longer fighting just based on orders, now, this was personal. Her gaze stayed trained on Arctaius, as she snapped her fingers. Out of thin air, globes of purple light appeared around her. Arctaius’ attention moved between her, and these spheres… It was soon after that her assault began, the spheres began to zip across the sky, firing beams of the same color at the Youth. Arctaius’ eyes narrowed as he took note of this, he sprung into action, attempting to swerve out of the beam’s paths. To very little effect, finding that the attacks struck him across his body. Though they had very little effect, there was no doubt that they were fast, perhaps, even too much for him.

“This one will be a problem… If I use thundering movement now- I likely won’t be faster than her shots, however… It won’t matter if she can’t see me… Getting into close range is a priority right now, I need to get the first strike.”

Now, small sparks began to surround Arctaius, which, a moment after, turned into arcs flowing around him. A few seconds later, he was gone. Leaving nothing but rapidly disappearing bolts in his place. It was only then that Valerie ceased her attacks, taking notice. She began to look around in confusion, trying to discern his new location. Even so, she looked to be the only one there.

“He’s gone… I can’t see or hear him… But I still sense some protomis. I could try an area attack… But if I start firing like that, All i’ll do is exhaust my reserves. And even then, there’s no guarantee I'll hit him, even if I spread the attack area.”

She began to glance around once more.

“Looks like that’s a risk I’ll have to take.”

Elsewhere within the city, the battle between the remnant Kaemerge ground force, and the Yamato military continued. Ryuunosuke and his Musashi flew with the rest of the HAU squad, filled with Musashi’s in tow. nUnlike his, however, being colored in a dark blue rather than his red. Just behind the squad was the Grant Class, casting its shadow over the city below. His gaze began to move across the city, searching for any stragglers. As he did so, he took note of something, to his left, about 3 KM away, he took note of the red-haired woman, as well as the disappearing man. If the fact that the youth disappeared wasn’t enough to tell him, it would be the beams generated seemingly out of nowhere, and the flight… If his past experience was anything to go by, things could get even more dicey around here.

“Well… With that and that stone eagle, it looks like we have proto-humans fighting here as well... Things are likely only going to get worse from here. We can’t let them do all the work, let’s get moving!!!” Ryuunosuke barked.

“YES SIR!!!” the Squad yelled over the comms.

Valerie had not taken notice of Yamato’s forces, as she was significantly more focused on the task at hand. An opponent that she knew would be dangerous if she didn’t take this seriously. She put both of her hands forward, as purple spheres appeared in her hands, just like those earlier. Soon, letting beams fly out at all angles around her, saturating the area around her with the light. The beams continued to spread, and spread, with seemingly no effect. Even so, she continued firing. Unaware of the small sparks that began to approach her, almost seeming to form some sort of path. Until, behind her, wild, rapidly moving bolts began to converge behind her. Something that didn’t go unnoticed, as the crackle filled her ears. No sooner, and there he was. Rip. She stopped generating the beams, and twisted her body, with a leg out, intent on hitting his ribs, it was much too late. The kick was stopped, as Arctaius grabbed her foot with his right, before driving his left fist into her stomach.

She folded over the fist, as the air in her lungs was forced out. Forced out as well, was a shockwave that went on to demolish the buildings around them. Arctaius released his grip on her, letting the redhead be sent bounding away, moving across the city. As she did so, she began to raise her head, to keep her opponent in her sights. A smirk made its way onto her face.

“Making them weaker was a bad idea at first… But now it’ll pay off!!”

As she took note of Arctaius flying toward her, undoubtedly getting ready to launch one of devastating combinations, the ones she heard so much about during their briefings. She thrusted her arms out, and once again, the purple globes appeared around her once more. With the bursts of beam fire coming out afterward. She soon stopped herself, in the air, as she thrust her arms forward once again. And this time, they were larger, significantly so. While the previous ones were the size of his palm, these looked large enough to nearly swallow his entire body. As Arctaius took note, he stopped in his tracks, crossing his arms over his chest and face, an attempt to defend himself. Even so, his body took the brunt of the damage. She was relentless, firing beam after beam, after beam, not willing to let him get any leeway.

Below the battle, in the streets that should have since been empty, that was not the case. Another student of North Shima High walked across the broken, cracked asphalt. Separated from the rest of the convoy was Satomi Tanabe. She was already on edge, given where she was... She could get killed in the crossfire any moment, she couldn’t contact help- With Sigma Particles saturating the area, or she could be cornered by the Kamerge, or whatever they called themselves... Her expression, one that displayed her worry, her fear, was not going anywhere… At the least, until she saw a familiar face, it was then that her eyes turned to surprise. She looked to the sky, and instantly recognized one of the two, the redhead across from him was nobody she personally recognized.

“Corde!!!” She called out

Arctaius glanced over at Tanabe as he heard her call him… And strangely enough, the firing stopped. Something he apparently noticed, but regardless, ignored, keeping his attention on Tanabe. Failing to see the redhead’s eyes widening as she looked closer at him. Apparently, something being triggered by the raven-haired girl’s use of the word.

“Wait...Corde? He does look like him, I don’t know how I didn’t notice it before...No...It can’t be.”

Valerie stayed silent as she stared at him... She found him, and it had to be under circumstances like these?

“To think the one that I've been looking for is the enemy…” She muttered.

Part B

Before the beginning of the third world war, and The Subsequent civil conflicts, Corde and his family lived a peaceful life. At the least, compared to two members, in particular, His father and grandfather. Despite this, however, he tended to be attracted to the tactical, and combat arts, just like those two men, who were involved in the federation military in their youth. With his knowledge, he became popular among others. Until he’d formed a large network of friends, among them were those like Kurt Grant…

And Valerie Wilson.

Roanoke’s Holatha Elementary. A brick building with scant decorations. It was the average school, rather plain, to say the least.. Though it was home to a peculiar child. That being, one Arctaius Corde. Though he was different from most of those there, it was not known by those outside. In the large room that served as the cafeteria, the wall-length windows at the edge of the window let the sunlight in, serving as lighting for the area. Crowds of students sat at the long wooden tables that lined the cafeteria, chattering as one would expect. Though, there was one who sat strangely quiet through all this, Arctaius corde. At first, he sat alone, his focus placed on a thick book, opened in front of him. It depicted sites of battle, tactical formations, passages etcetera. Well-known ones, The battle of Sampot in 1991, Attack on the Lunis Space Colony in 2006. And just beside the book, were hand-written passages. Noting the strategies used by the generals in the midst of these wars. His eyes moved along the pages, blocking out the people around him. Until he felt a hand on his shoulder, making him jump in surprise.

“Yo, Taius!”

He looked over his shoulder at the source of the voice, a young girl with red-hair, tied into a single braid. His previously blank expression was replaced with a smile.

“Valerie, How’s it going?”

“Great!”

Soon, walking up beside Valerie, was a dark-skinned, black haired boy.

“Kurt too, huh?”

Arctaius rose from his seat, putting his hand out, as did Kurt. They smacked their palms together, as they came into a handshake, a common greeting between the two.

“We’re going out to Hawkin’s house to play video games, You coming?” Valerie questioned.

Arctaius nodded,shoving his notes into the book, and closing it.

“Sure, let’s go!”

Soon enough, they began walking off, Arctaius holding his book under his arm.

For both of the two, however, this peaceful life was ripped away… As anti Penzen-violence began in the NAF, The Penzen population rose up as the AR, emboldened by the caristma of one Nolan Frost... Their numbers bolstered by the members of the federation’s many ethnic groups flocking to join them. And with this, was their rapidly expanding territory. Corde’s family and many of his friends died in the fighting, with, to his knowledge, he and his cousin Mars being the only ones close to him to survive. Elsewhere… Wilson had a similar experience.

On the ground, the very same red-haired girl sat on her knees, with tears in her eyes. Even with how hard they’d fought to protect her, they still died nonetheless. The dark-skinned man with black hair to her left, Roy Wilson, the formerly white shirt over his chest stained red. And the woman whose skin was somewhat lighter to her right, her red hair going down to her shoulders, Kelly Wilson.. The streaming tears wet the earth under her…

“Mom...Dad…”

It was after these words, that she was silent. The grief had since overtaken her. It had silenced her. Even so, the ringing of bullets continued on the other end of the city. While she didn’t understand why this had happened. Even she understood that she was in danger if she stayed. She took one last look at her parents before she eventually ran off. However, as she did, she was soon headed off by several troops from the Amerikanisches Reich… But it was not them who would attack, rather, it was a rocket, descending from the sky…

Regardless of who launched it, whether it was deliberate, or it was simply knocked astray, the fact remained, it was here… It was then, and only then, that Valerie began to feel something flow through her, and the dam holding back the cascade of emotion, was broken. A wave of violet light flew from her body, obliterating the troops around her, and prematurely detonating the rocket, keeping her safe. Valerie stood there confused, her gaze moving down to her hands.

“What was that?”

Surviving her encounter, Valerie stayed in the city to check on those she knew. But When the smoke cleared, Arctaius, Kurt, Hawkins, all of their friends, they were nowhere to be found… Given The state the city was in, she deduced that they had been killed in the fighting. Now, with nobody to turn to she wandered throughout the Federation. Until the Kaemerge took her in. She would serve in their forces, and, after years, soon deduced he might have survived. She wasn’t going to give up this time around. And so, she looked, from when she first joined the Kaemerge’s ranks, to when she was introduced to Gihren and Junko, to today.

She came back to the present, her expression neutral. She was one of his oldest friends, but at the very same time. She couldn’t exactly forget what just took place. Now she was left conflicted, saying nothing as she watched the man conversate.

“I’m preoccupied… Get out of the city while you can- the fighting is only going to get worse…”

Tanabe frowned.

“I would have already done that if I could- don’t you think?”

He tsked, she wasn’t exactly wrong.

“Go find alarick or something… He should already be done with the guy he was f-”

Valerie began to block out the conversation, as most of her focus went to creating a solution for the situation at hand.

“...I have to do this. I just found him again. I don’t want to have to kill him?”

“ Corde!”

As she yelled, Arctaius quickly turned all his attention to her. Valerie was silent, debating his next words.

“Why are you working with the tides?”

Arctaius raised an eyebrow.

“How do you know my name? I never told you… Unless the Kaemerge bothered to give you our names.”

… He still didn’t get it?

“You don’t recognize me?? Valerie Wilson…”

Wilson...

Wilson...

Wilson...

Arctaius’ eyes widened as he repeated the words in his head. His body froze as the surprise ran through him… It was now that he took a closer look at her. And though he could somewhat see the features he saw in his old friend, there was something that made him doubt that.

.I don't trust it. They could easily be trying to make me let my guard down. That’s not anything they’re above…There’s only one way for me to confirm her claims.”

It was simple, the kind of information an organization like the Kaemerge wouldn’t bother to keep. He highly doubted an organization like the Kaemerge would need this type of information, after all.

“2nd Grade Teacher.”

“Mrs.Huchin”

He went silent…

“Favorite Mov-”

“Chasing Eternity..” She fired out, cutting him off.

Now, It was more than apparent to him that she was telling the truth...

“Really is you, huh. I thought you were gone…”

Valerie nodded.

“Same to you. But I'm happy to learn you’re alive.” She responded...

But, there was still something she recognized, at this time, they remained on opposite sides. Shee needed to extend the olive branch.

“Taius... Come back with me.”

“Back to Roanoke?”

“No, Back to the Kaemetge. They helped me when I was down, trained me, made me as strong as I am right now. I’m sure they can do the same with you. And we’ll have the time to reconnect..”

She paused, Extending her arm.

“ Come join us in the Kaemerge…”

Arctaius nearly recoiled in disgust, at the simple thought of it. It was only then that his poker face returned... Snapping him out of his stupor, was her last declaration.

“ Join the organization responsible for the death of both of our families? I think not…”

She raised an eyebrow.

“Why would you think that?! If the Kaemerge killed our families, why would they have kept me alive? That was the A.R.”

Arctaius went silent as he heard her response. There… There was no way., Arctaius was silent, as he thought of a response.

“Are you a fool? The Kaemerge had a clear hand in letting Frost and his Cronies get anywhere near powerful enough to get anywhere near achieving their goals!”

Valerie frowned, as her hand returned to her body.. Feeling slighted by the response.

“Refer to what I said before, why would I still be alive and kicking if they did?!”

“Think about this, what stops them from tricking you, given what they’ve done here?”

“I HAVE thought about it, and I know the truth!”

Arctaius said nothing as he heard her words, simply delving into his thoughts... This didn’t bode well. He glanced around, and took note of a certain thing.

“So despite that fact, it looks like nothing has changed... Her beams are still trained on me…. If she won’t listen to reason, then it looks like I’ll have to take another path.”

“Fine then… If you choose to be oblivious, then I'm finished talking.” Arctaius spat.

He opened his palm, as electricity began to coil around it. Soon, expanding to encompass his arm. As he prepared for another attack, Valerie was no less prepared, as she placed her arms out,

ready to let out another attack. Tanabe was quick to begin dashing behind Arctaius, as what was about to take place became clear...

“I didn’t want to do this…” The two mumbled.

Arctaius began to dash forward, as he clenched his fist, the electricity becoming brighter, and the crackling became more intense.

“LEIGONG IMPACT!!”

His speed increased drastically. As her opponent zoomed across the sky, the purple spheres that formerly saturated the area moved near her. Coalescing into one larger sphere, that began to become brighter, and brighter, until it came to the point where it could blind those who looked at it without protection. Then, a beam burst forward, much larger than his entire body. Just like that, Arctaius prepared to jump out of the way… Until he remembered something… Tanabe began to run away, but there was no way she would be quick enough to get away in time.

“If I dodge… She gets hit by that, she’s done… But If I get hit, I won’t get out of that unscathed…”

Bolts surrounded Arctaius once more, creating what looked like a protective field… Before, he pushed his hands forward as well. The beam continued barreling toward him... It wasn’t a situation either liked, even though they both had some aversion to doing so, they continued their battle…More electricity radiated from the Youth’s palms. But, before he knew it... The around his hand began to change its form. As the heat became more intense, he felt the electrical charge disappear.

“That power again… It better work.”

Soon after, Arctaius fired off a burst of golden light that collided with his opponent’s between the two. Followed by both stopping in their tracks. Within moments, both began to disperse… Until they completely disappeared. Valerie watched this with widened eyes.

“WHAT?!”

Arctaius, unrelenting in his assault, resumes his charge, Punching Valerie in her stomach. Her body folding over his fist. She gritted her teeth as she pulled away, launching a kick at his neck. However, she was stopped, with his arm put in her path. Before he balled his fists, beginning to lay into Valerie with a flurry of punches, his fists blurring as they went toward her. The strikes moved across her body.

Valerie, with the man’s strength, was unable to defend, thrown around like a ragdoll. Her frame was shaking with every punch. He stopped, providing some reprieve, before he drove an uppercut into her chin. Sending her flying upward, a forced ascent farther into the air began… She took note of the air around her getting thinner, though she did not know how far they’d gone up. And before she knew it, he was above her, Knocking her down with an axe kick that rapidly sent her back to ground level. A loud boom sounded soon after. She found herself about to hit the ground below. Her approach was apparently too rapid to stop, with how she’d been disoriented… But, about 20 meters up, she found that she stopped. She put her gaze on the one who’d stopped her fall. Arctaius, grasping the collar of her jacket.

“COME TO YOUR SENSES!! They’re manipulating you… The Kaemerge would stop at nothing to gain power.”

Valerie was silent at his statement… She slowly opened her eyes. Even as he spoke, her expression remained unchanged.

“No… You’re wrong--”

“There’s undeniable proof, the Reich using Kaemerge weapons. How those two groups interacted, it tells us the truth… Let me make this clear once again. Former friend or not, I will kill you here if I need to.”

This does not go unnoticed by Tanabe below. Defending himself was one thing, but…

“He’d go that far?”

Valerie, for some time, went silent As she began to think back to her past, the conversations the brass had when the subject of the AR came up… Many of them were much too casual talking about a group they apparently saved her from. Like they were old buddies with some of the organization’s leaders. It was something she didn’t notice, or, rather, chose to ignore...

“Perhaps you're right, but even so- what can you do against the entire Yamato Branch Military? We're not the only mid-tiers, you know.”

“It’s simple, I’m going to take off the head of the snake. I’m going to take out the Yamato Branch high command... But I need you to help me with this. Where are they?”

While she certainly didn’t deny what he said… A feeling of hesitancy went through her. And knowing who could be lurking around didn’t help her in making her choice either… Even so, she parted her lips to speak.

“Just North of here… In Rentei.”

Now, Arctaius began to descend onto the road below. He took note of Valerie stumbling, the effects of the battle getting to her. The youth swiftly moved to keep her steady. Before, she stabilized herself, stepping back. Arctaius released his grasp on the woman’s shirt.

“I guess I'll be taking a trip to Rentei then. I'll handle this myself... ”

Arctaius turned his attention to Tanabe, who, all the while, still stood behind them.

“Tanabe, I suggest you leave.”

“That quick? We aren’t going to talk about what you just s-”

Apparently not, Arctaius bounded off, flying off into the north. Tanabe watched as the streaking blur rapidly disappeared from her sight… Arctaius continued his flyover of the city, as he began to rapidly reach its outskirts, given the density of the buildings decreasing. Finding Rentei would be easy, given the crater that lied in its center. It was nearly impossible to miss.

“You’d better be ready… Kaemerge.”

With him gone, now, both Tanabe and Valerie were left with complete strangers. All things considered, there was nothing for them to talk about. And even with there was, Valerie didn’t seem too approachable. Rubbing the back of her head, as she looked to the sky.

“Uhm… I never really told him who he was specifically. Oh well, he’ll probably be able to tell when he gets there, that guy’s always liked bein’ flashy... That said, I need to re-think stuff. Gonna pick up Miyamoto and get out of here.”

Now, Valerie began bounding off as well. Now, Tanabe was left standing alone. Letting out a sigh, the woman began to walk off.

“Just my luck…” She mumbled.

To Be Continued