Yuwei's aura becomes murderous as she saw what is happening to the palace. When she suddenly closes her eyes and takes a huge breath in and out, the murderous aura dissipated and her eyes become cold, she lifts her hand up high, firing out flames in a different colour when suddenly the soldiers in the wall start to cheer and fight harder. She summons forth hundreds of firebirds and sends them flying, before saying:

"I can't believe the monsters are actually besieging the palace... Where did their numbers come from? It was not this much when they suddenly emerge..." Yuwei whispers slowly before looking at me saying, "So are you okay now, Sova?"

"Yes, I'm feeling better but why aren't we entering the palace now? Sis Fei might be in trouble!" I reply while I open my helmet.

She folds her arms and closes her eyes saying:

"Sova, you are right but I don't think Fei would die in flames, she's my sister remember? She won't fall down so easily, have faith in her. Right now we have a good view of their rear, if we can find their leaders, we can deploy a lightning strike from their flanks or rear. Decapitate their leaders, break the siege and route them immediately before wiping them out as we scour and hunt them down, or maybe just obliterate them from afar. Even when the palace is burning it still has time before it starts collapsing... Probably a few days. But I wonder how did they get access to our flames?"

"Huh, our flames?" I ask her in curiosity.

"I'm pretty sure I told you already back then, try to remember it," she looks at me coldly.

"Uuuh... But then what about the guards in the walls won't they grow tired?"

"Sova, I think you're underestimating my Honour Guard and capital garrisons. The Honor Guards have been trained to fight attrition battle, single combats and last stands for decades even centuries on end fighting before they start to yield, each Honor Guards are master class Traditional Martial Artist."

She clenched her hand until it shake, saying:

"Because of that, one death will take a long time to heal and restore," before relaxing her hand saying, "Though the garrison and Gate Guards will probably only last for months, since this is the capital garrison they will last for years. So why not help me look at the field and find their commanders or rest and gather strength in this small gap of peace. We'll attack them and reinforce the walls as soon as I find all their commanders."

"R-right..." I reply in reflex before I ask what's in my mind, "Sis Yuwei when did you become like this? You feel like a different person altogether, I mean you're still quite the same back in the diner but now..."

"It kinda hurts me when you say that Sova... When you begin your training, I too begin "training" in my own way, though it's more bloody than yours," smiling sadly as she says that.

Saya appears beside me and pulls me back saying:

"As she said, lets just rest for now okay?"

"O-okay," I nod and look at the hordes as I steady my breath.

Yuwei smile at me saying:

"Still I'm impressed, looks like you finally conquered your fear Sova, I'm proud of you."

"Huh?" When I suddenly remember, I look down at my feet to realize they are now shaking uncontrollably and I back away, letting Saya pull me to the center.

Yuwei walks to me with a worried face, she looks at me with one eye closed saying:

"I guess, I shouldn't have reminded you. Sorry."

"N-no, this is my own mistake and faults... I'll overcome it one day, Just a few days ago I would quickly collapse in a mere sight of going up but now not anymore," I can't help but smile while saying that.

Yuwei shows a surprised look before smiling pleasantly saying:

"Really? Then Keep it up Sova and you can tell me about yourself when we finish this and have our dinner or breakfast according to the time."

When Yuwei leaves and continues looking below, Saya sits next to me asking:

"Are you still feeling hot?"

"Not really, I'm just worried that with my family now missing, I really wanted to help Yuwei to not suffer the same fate as me..." I reply while I look around still feeling uneasy.

"Sova, calm down! Even the Honor Guards are resting. Let's try talking about something else to get your nerves calm."

"Y-you're right..." I look around to think of a topic.

When I lay down on the ground, I grab my weapon retracting it back to its small size and drag myself beside Yuwei and look at the amethyst palace. I realize that there is something missing I look at Yuwei asking:

"Say, why aren't there any Hunters? I mean just a few days ago when I went to register with May and Sis Rubeca. There are Hunters abundant in the streets now I don't even see one guarding the gates... Wait, I guess you can call the Gate Guards Hunters but what about the other ones?

Yuwei sits down beside me with her eyes closed, she pets me saying, "You see Sova there is something called regulations, prohibitions and peoples point of view. Thanks to sheer size alone of this city, each faction has a part they govern which by law are called Segmentum, and I am the Ruler of more than fifteen Segementum in this Purple Phoenix sector. I guess you can call me the Segmentum lord but that doesn't roll well with the tongue, so we just say Sec Lords or Sector Lord... I got off topic there, Segmentums are divided into sectors, which has a lord that governs them. A sub-sector has a lord too, each sub-sector has a district where a lord also governs them and divide again each district has a road that is governed by another lord... Do you still follow?"

"Uh, Yes?"

Yuwei nodded saying, "Okay... At least do you know who these lords are?"

"Of course, they are the one wearing the red sash, the nobles... But, why does that have to do with hunters?"

Saya suddenly squeezes between me and Yuwei saying, "Can I answer this one. You're busy searching right? I'll help answer Sova's question."

Yuwei smile and pet saya saying:

"Thanks Sarah."

Saya shakes her head while brushing Yuwei's hand off saying:

"Don't pet me, I'm not a kid!"

"Huh? So only kids get a pet in the head?" I ask back.

"Of course, it makes me wonder why you let so people pet you easily. It's D.I.S.G.U.S.T.I.N.G"

I cough at her sudden statement saying:

"Well, I'm sorry. It's just that it actually helps me calms my nerve when someone pets me. Because when I get pet it means I did something good."

Saya looks at me with a malicious smile asking:

"Well, isn't that cute?"

"It is," Yuwei answer back while petting me again.

As my face feel hot I shake my head, brushing Yuwei's hand. I ask back saying:

"So are you, gonna tell me or not?"

"Of course I will, Sova," Saya pets me in the head before she pets me with two hands saying, "W-what's with this hair! How did you get it like this? Well, I never get my hair smooth until recently, it's so smooth and silky... No wonder it' so comfortable."

I lower my head and look away asking:

"So about the hunter?"

Saya still pets me eagerly saying:

"Right, right, say Sova when you think of Royal Palace and courts who do you think will be there?"

"Well, there are lords like Sis Yuwei, heroes like sis... I think (Since Rana said she's one of the Heroes of the Confederation), nobles with red sashes, important people... Ah!"

Saya nods her head from my reply saying:

"It seems you understood."

"So only important people are allowed in here? I mean the inner district."

"Of course, more like how did you not know this? Did a long time being in the presence of royals make you forgot your own class?"

"O-of course not!"

"Yes, yes and by the way, when you think of Hunters who do you think would likely join them?"

"Commoners..." I reply softly.

Saya nods again from my answer saying:

"Hunters are jobs for Commoners like us to gain fame and money if we can't do anything social, commerce or political work. So basically nobles view them as misfits, uncultured and barbaric. So they are not allowed to even step into the inner district, let alone the royal ones... Except for those gate guards who are usually specially promoted hunters since they are the fifth, sixth or more sons of the nobles. As a matter of fact, if a noble joins the hunter guild, it means that their parents are indirectly saying go die somewhere quietly... Do you get how the noble view them now?"

"I guess, I really am special," Yuwei nods at my statement.

"Of course you are, a special one in ten or hundred million special, usual commoners wouldn't even get a chance to see Yuwei in person you know, only her picture at best and her voice during emergency evacuation probably or if they are lucky they could sneak in during a parade in the inner or royal district and see her from the sewers..." she stops petting me and looks down when she says that.

"I really don't know what to say..." I look at her feeling troubled.

When suddenly Yuwei and pet both of us saying:

"First you can say thank you. Then you can start preparing we will move out soon."

She walks to the middle of the roof when all the guards follow and form a circle. Saya and me follow and make way inside the circle when Yuwei takes out her metal rods and summon her weapon saying:

"I have found the location of their commanders with my firebirds," when her blades touch the ground and flames start to appear forming into some kind of map with lots of small candles moving as she speaks.

"As you can see the swarm is all focused on the wall," she points at a line filled with a huge fire, then she points at the back with little small fire at the back saying, "Leaving behind their rear and flanks expose for an attack. First, Sova, Sarah?"

"Y-yes," I reply quickly.

"Hmm?" Saya look at Yuwei.

"You two and two guards will follow me inside the palace and secure it. Yeye Gaozu and Yeye Xijue will follow me inside did you got it?"

"Yes Maam," the two guards reply.

"The other will form into a group of two and strike into the enemy that is in the rear giving the command. There are currently twenty commanders that I found and each of them is not even guarded. This will all be your specialty to take out single individuals like you train for, since there are only twenty that I found, the other three groups that are free will be a supporting the other in the air while helping with the assassination if possible and kill any hidden commanders, their location is the candles burning in this makeshift map, some of them are inside the buildings so I grant you permission for collateral damage-"

As Yuwei design the group and tell the others their places. I look at the besieged palace. Saya walks beside me asking:

"What's wrong? Not going to listen to her briefing?"

As my feet and hands start to shake, I clench my fist to stop it from shaking and look at her back saying:

"Nah, I'm to follow and capture the palace with Sis Yuwei right? It's just that..." I hold my weapon ready saying, "I wonder if I can follow them?"

"Sova, even I'm not sure about my abilities among this Masters but I'm still going to do my best because I don't want to die here."

(More like why did she even bring me here), Saya whispers softly before saying:

"You are here to protect your home no? Then you better make sure you believe you will succeed."

"Just the other day, I was just trying to join the hunters and know what happen to my parents. Now apparently, I'm fighting some kind of war with monsters suddenly," extending and producing a qi blade at my spear.

Saya looks at me with a disappointed face and punches me in the arm which doesn't hurt at all. She looks agitated saying:

"Hey, just the other day I was a starving homeless girl working in the boons to scrap for money. But, now I'm wearing the most beautiful dress I've ever seen, get my hair smooth and silky before I've finally had a full belly first time in my life. And let's not forget how I was dragged into this too. Stop talking like this is only you. You sound more like a girl than I am!"

My eyes widened before I knew it I started laughing. I smile at her with confidence saying:

"Yeah, you're right. I feel much better now," I took a huge breath in and out saying, "I'll win this, and I'll do my best and fix everything. Let's do this Senior Saya," smiling as I say that.

When Yuwei appears beside me smiling, light envelopes her arms and head, turning into her gauntlets and helmet. She looks at the palace saying:

"Man, I have seen and let many horrible acts done when my father left this world. When my own family members tried to usurp the empty throne left by my father's legacy. I was a child then and I don't know what is right and wrong, as I grew up I see the horrors my families made as they destroy what my father has sought to build his entire life. But last year is when I draw the line if the palace fall so shall the spirits and dreams of our people.

If they think they can just emerge out of nowhere, invade us and expect us to roll over and die! Then they can just stay in their wretched wonderland! This is where I will fight, cut my hands and I will beat them with my stumps! I expect nothing but a peerless victory! Let the fury guide your blade! Let the spirits of the old be with you! We will end winning or we will die trying! You are the finest, handpicked by the Sec Lord from the whole armies and populace!

Phoenix Honour Guards! You are the Emperor's First Legion! You are the Phoenix Honour Guards! I expect nothing but a new victory! For our Legacy!"

She raises her weapon screaming, "CHARGE!"

"Raiz aut Nix!!!" The guards scream before sprouting their six black wings and group into two, flying off into their told location.

Two guards stand beside us, Saya immediately jump at my back saying:

"Well, I'm gonna keep sticking with you. So guard me well."

I hold my polearm with two hands and wear my helmet again saying:

"Alright, you can count on me."

Yuwei sprout out six purple wings and the guards beside us follow suit sprouting their black wings. She looks at me as she gives me a hand saying:

"Hold on to me."

She holds my right hand with her left hand and took off to the night sky. The great hordes are gathering down below while the flying units are all chasing after the guards who went ahead, thanks to that we're now undisturbed. The night wind blows, and the image of the burning palace was etched on to my memories, the guards beside me help to fire at the monster below while Yuwei swings her blade creating a huge qi wave blast at the pile of bodies and scattering them to the ground. The soldiers and guards fighting in the walls cheer ever louder as Yuwei gets closer.

Yuwei flies faster when the view gets blurry and we quickly went past the wall and into the huge garden. Yuwei throws me to the ground as we get close. Landing on my feet and Saya quickly jumps off me. Multiple soldiers surround us as we arrive. They all suddenly speak without order making it sound like complete chaos when Yuwei raises her hand and they all fall silent.

She walks ahead passing through the endless arrays of catapults and ballistas lining up on the garden as they fire, we follow suit when she starts asking, "Where is the Grand Master of the Honour Guards? Isn't he suppose to be defending here?"

One of the older soldiers wearing a fancy looking phoenix design full plate armour replies:

"That's it, Mistress! When the Phoenix Honour Guard arrive in the garden, the Grand Master quickly dispatched the troops to aid the walls and was supposed to bring three companies inside the palace..." when his voice got lower and lower until he stops saying a single word.

"What's wrong? Why are you silent?" Yuwei asks as she looks at him.

"When the Grand Master enters, only two companies were able to follow. When the third company was about to enter, the gates suddenly close and won't open again. Not even the Grand Master's key work from the inside."

"Excuse me? DId I heard you right, his key doesn't work?"

"Yes, that's why we can't reinforce the palace and was forced to await your return here while using the other for the walls and reserve. I know this is rude but It could be your-"

"I don't want to hear it, Danhuang. Bring some of your reserves with me. I can't believe I'm saying this but, we will storm the palace and secure it."

"Yes, Maam!" The General clasp his hand as he salutes when he turns around screaming, "You heard the Mistress, get the reserve to the gates, double time you damnable double bitch!" and separate from us.

"What does that even mean?" I ask in reflex.

"You don't need to know Sova, just get yourself ready."

"O-okay..."

Saya snickers softly when I look at her asking:

"What's so funny?"

"Oh, it's just that his curse word, actually rolls well in the tongue," Saya reply as she looks at the garden.

"I'm surprised you're still lax in this situation," I reply back as I look at where she is looking.

As I observe the garden, I remember the first time I visit the Amethyst Palace with Sis, May, and Aunt when we first entered the Confederation... The Garden was so beautiful like it was another different world itself compare to the industrial complex I live in. It was like paradise, filled to the brim with lush green roads that looked like four-leaved grass and purple flowers, a vast array of herbs and trees, giant bushes shape like walls decorated with a vast array of exotic flowers of a different kind, and some statues made of bushes. With a giant fountain on the middle making a grandiose display of water works with a small bench to look at its full beauty. The atmosphere was relaxing when you lay down on the tree and you could hear the bird singing in the crystal clear skies and I only heard from May that you can see the insignia of the sector when you view it on the huge window from the third floor. That was like more than six years ago.

Now, it's gone. The flowers trampled and the roads burn, charred with black dust. It's huge bush statues are now half missing or gone. The herbs and trees wither and fade while the fountain stops producing it's water and grows mold instead...

I look back at Yuwei who is walking silently with us by her side. Her eyes are still cold, as her hand grips her blades tightly whispering:

"It, it can't be her but who..."

"Sis, what's wrong?" I ask in worry.

"It's nothing..." Yuwei replies when we finally arrive at the gates.

The gate is gigantic from up close, so huge that if those extinct giants from the tales would to enter they wouldn't have a problem entering it. With large pillars erected at its side spanning across the palace walls, carved with symbols and markings, on the pillars beside the gate is a beautifully carved phoenix that looks like it's shielding the gate with its wings on both doors. The gates burn in huge purple flames when Yuwei easily direct the flames from the door and send it to the horde far away.

Hundreds of soldiers with a downgraded version of the Honour Guards arrive, some groups use the sword and shield while some use a spear and shield. Another group behind them uses crossbows and shields or guns with knives and shield attached to it, they all stand at our side when the General clasp his hand saying, "I've brought the reserve as you ordered my Mistress what do you need of me now?"

"I want you to keep the monster at bay until they start to move back. I've already sent half a company of my Honour Guards to kill their commanders. Be ready when they start to rout."

"Yes, Maam!" He salutes and went back to his post.

"She looks at the soldiers at our side saying:

"We will now commence a rescue and restore operation. Since there are two routes as we enter the lobby, I want half of you to follow my two Honour Guards to the left and secure the left wing while the rest follow me to the right and secure the right wing. Do you understand!?"

"Yes Maam!" they all answer together.

"Good."

When one the Honour guard raise his hand saying:

"My Mistress, I'm sorry for speaking out of line but at least let one of us follow before we continue the duty you told us. We're your Honour Guard."

"Very well, Yeye Gaozu you will follow me to the right."

"Yes, Maam!"

She grabs the handle that has a feather-like design and the gates shine brightly before Yuwei easily pulls the gates open. Yet the inside is surprisingly clean and there are no burn marks at all. It's a huge hallway, so big that it could fit us all even when we walk in a wide formation. Its furniture is still in place while the large paintings in the wall are still there not even budging. It's a large hallway with ancient looking art crafts vases on its side filled with blooming flowers... There is no chaos which makes it look surreal and unbelievable.

We walk on the large purple carpets with huge purple curtains above us. I look above seeing the ceiling are filled with more beautiful painting as it looks like it's telling a story as we go when we finally reach a fork. As Yuwei said, half of the soldier form a formation and march to the left following one Honour Guard and the other half makes a formation and follow behind Yuwei, the Honour Guard, me and Saya... Wait why is Saya and I being followed? I think that as I look back at the soldiers marching in silence as the sound of their synchronized marching and clamouring armour wring through the hallways not making any of the vase or the wheels with candles in the ceiling shake somehow.

The place was still sparkling, clean and tidy like the scene outside never even happen. When we enter some huge lobby with two branching ways and multiple floors and one huge door leading ahead. Yuwei suddenly walk ahead with Gaozu by her side and she stops in the middle saying:

"All right Yeye Gaozu, you will take a quarter and head to the left and secure the medical bay on the second floor and the first floor. I will take a quarter and head to the living quarters and look for survivors. Sova, Sarah you will follow me. The rest are to reinforce this key position and make sure nothing pass, do you hear me!?"

"Yes, Maam!"

When Gaozu clasps his hand saying, "I will return as soon as possible. Though I hope you don't tell Xijie about this."

She smiles saying, "Of course, that's why I brought you with me."

Gaozu leaves and his group enter the left gate from above and below, I look at the huge gate ahead saying:

"I got a really bad feeling about this..." I say as I look around us.

"You can say that again. My whiskers are tingling with danger noodles the moment we enter."

"Danger noodles?" I ask confused while Yuwei makes a pff sound.

"It's my way of saying bad omen so shut up! Say, did you glue the furniture or something?"

"It's simply because each thing you see here is simply heavy. Like really heavy to prevent someone or something to steal it. You need at least the same strength as a level eight magnitude earthquake-"

When suddenly the room shook and the furniture starts to shake. The soldiers that are moving starts to halt their steps to look at where it's coming from.

Yuwei looks at the left gate saying:

"Touch some wood, don't worry and keep moving!"

The soldiers that halt their steps, march on while the other that stay become warry. Yuwei looks at them screaming:

"What are you waiting for! Make your formations fortify this checkpoint, and you call yourself one of the finest!"

As they start fortifying the position, the quakes grow closer and you could hear the sound of hovering steps that made the ground shook, coming from the huge gate ahead. The soldiers with crossbows and guns march upstairs and aim at the huge gate ahead. The soldiers with spears make a half circle surrounding the gate, with the swordsman at their backs. Yuwei walks ahead of the shield wall and stands in the middle of the encirclement as she takes a stance. Saya took the stairs and follow the range unit and I stand on the rear of the spearman.

While hearing the charging sound getting closer suddenly a women scream ring through shouting:

"Help me!"

"Nanny!" Yuwei screams as she jumps and slices the gate in pieces, as she enters the darkness a woman in her twenties, wearing a similar garb to Yuwei ran past her before falling down. I could see her barefoot burn and black. Her clothes are torn and ragged.

With Yuwei standing in the middle looking like a small candle in the huge darkness of the abyss ahead. A flicker of purple will o wisp shows just for a mere second. Yuwei prepares her stance as all the soldiers steel their resolve.

Yuwei looks back saying, "A few men take her to the garden and treat her!"

I walk past the guards and get close to nanny saying, "Nanny Yunyun, it's okay now you're safe," I carry her in my arm as I say that.

She looks at me holding my face that is still covered by the helmet saying:

"Sova is that you? Heh, for once I actually miss you," she laughs weakly before she collapses.

"I need help here!" I scream when some soldiers in the rear help me carry her out.

I stay behind as I could see something's coming from the darkness bringing forth multiple purple flames. Yuwei readies her blade and grips it harder when suddenly a huge curved blade slash down aiming at her head, only for her to easily grab it between her hook swords and the floor beneath her shatter and the earth crack. The shadowy beast suddenly pushes its strength harder as Yuwei is being pushed back and down at the same time before long the shadowy monster lifts the blade lifting Yuwei in the process and punch her with its skeletal arm that is burning with purple flames. Yuwei quickly turn her weapon back into rods, not stopping she turns the rods to weapon again as her weapon release the giant curve blade. She barely manages to cross her blades and blocking it.

Yuwei flings far and crashes onto the wall before falling down on her knees and blood spills from her helmet. Her blood catches on fire before disappearing. The monster skeletal hands with barely any flesh grab the wall beside the door and before it could reveal itself, Yuwei immediately shouts:

"Fire everything you got!"

Ordering the crossbowman and rifleman to fire and not let it pass. Arrows rain and bullets roar on the beast as it was push back when the monster screams a disturbing female voice.

It laughs maniacally before crying then laughing again saying:

"That's so cruel my daughter. Even though I love you so much!"

Yuwei's face gets bitter and disgusted when it finally shows itself to the light. It's lower half looks like it belongs to a horse's lower half, with its frontal leg barely resembling a human leg and its back leg looks like a mismatch of legs mix up together. Its upper body is a female wearing the same clothes as Yuwei, she looks like the older version of Yuwei but instead of a more curly hair like Yuwei, she has straight hair. With two more eyes in her forehead and one eye on her nose that looks like it's placed between the split open nose, her hair is that of a mix of purple, dark green, and orange is burning on purple flames as it floats. With a very long arm that barely has any flesh and it's wrist burning in purple flame and her back that is protruding spikes while it's front are buried in the volleys of arrows. Carrying a huge curve blade with almost the same design as Yuwei but different writing, with one arm.

The monster cries tears of blood as it pulls the arrows stuck in the body while bullets pour out of the hole it enters. The monster looks at Yuwei saying:

"We meet again after my grave my darling angel~ How long has it been? Sixteen years?"

She opens her mouth wide and rips open by itself to show thin tentacles and suddenly emerging from her gaping mouth is another huge eyeball hiding under her now long tongue. In total six bloodshot eyes... Her neck rips open till her chest to show a gigantic mouth with uncanny numberless tooth and inside I could see a person's hand and feet poking out of it.

Yuwei stands up as blood drip from her helmet before it burns. She holds her blades as it burns in purple flames, her qi surging to no end while the atmosphere becomes heavy, she looks at the beast with an aura that sends a shiver down my spine similar to Rana's. Yuwei's whole body catches on fire and burning with a heat stronger than before and her helmet's eye socket glows a deep red.

She dashes ahead at the new centaur-like monster screaming:

"YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER!!!"