Public Transportation Center, Post Commander Office.

Sitting on a leather chair, Quinn read reports after reports of Miles’s daily activities. She kept him under watch, a favor to his older brother.

As the post commander of Veteran Aomine Stronghold. She is responsible for each individual under her jurisdiction.

“He’s not weak, you know.” she said over the holographic screen.

“He’s a cripple. That’s what he is.” Merlin said on the other end.

“I know you’re worried deep inside but he’s more capable than what you think he is,” she said her thoughts aloud. “I think he’s taken a strengthening serum based on what I’ve observed during his encounter with Grace-Rank low-tier and middle-tier hunters. Despite you telling me he had failed to awaken, he had handled them on his own. He was strong and fast… Merlin, you should give him some credit.”

Hearing her said that, Merlin leaned against his seat and brought his hand to his mouth, to support his head. He was in deep thought of his little brother.

“Just look after him for me,” he said after a while.

“I will.” Quinn reassured him with a faint smile.

“How’s the expedition by the way?” she then asked.

“You know I can’t tell you anything about that. Confidential Matters” Despite saying it, he looked deeply into her eyes over the screen “But I am going just to say it anyway... We found something. An equipment of some sort. Its origins are still unknown.”

Quinn listened intently.

“But I have to stay here for a few more months.” He added a crestfallen news.

Quinn lowered her head. “If only I had reached Form-Rank earlier, I could’ve joined you,” she said in a low voice “I could only wish.” Then looked at him.

“I could only wish for the same.” he said, staring back into her eyes on the screen.

————

Quinn stared at the view outside from her floor-to-ceiling windows. She remembered a time with Merlin during their military training 2 years ago.

“Alright Folks! This is your last assignment for the academy. This joint mission with the military will test your skills and coordination with your team unit. ” Andrew looked at the senior cadets before him. “You’ll be tasked to secure a portal in this area here.” A red circle on the map was shown on the screen. “I’ve sent you your teams and positions.” Every cadets’ AI received a notification.

Quinn opened the task file sent to them. On the screen, the assigned coordinates and the name list of the party she belonged to were displayed. Seeing a certain person listed along with hers, she knitted her brows.

She turned to look at Merlin, who was also looking back at her. She did not expect to be in the same platoon with him.

“I can’t believe I’m grouped with a weakling like you.” he grunted irritably as he looked down on her.

“Don’t push it Cross. This is a teamwork play. Whether you like it or not, you’re stuck with me. So good luck getting those high remarks.” she sneered at him.

Merlin frowned. He called her weak because of her superpowers. Despite being a strong competitor, Quinn failed to have a breakthrough unlike the rest of them. She was a baggage in his eyes.

“You are not in Unity Walls anymore. Remember that.” Andrew’s voice was heard after a brief moment. “With the rest of the tutors and army personnel, we will be moving from here on out. So be ready.” He scanned his eyes on them. “Good luck!” he said for their success.

With the briefing done, a total of 2 units moved out to their designated areas. One will secure the portal while the other will secure the perimeter.

As they all moved out, a female tutor couldn’t help but ask as she took a glance at two senior cadets following her at the rear. “Andrew, why did you group Anemone and Cross together? You know they don’t get along.”

Andrew took a glance at her. “Whether they get along or not, is up to them. This is a group task, and they’re not graded individually. Sooner or later, they have to swallow what arrogance and pride they have. They have to learn to set their differences aside as they deal with different people. They have to realize that their names mean nothing in the outside world, and that the enemy is not the one who will stand beside their side when the time comes. ”

————

All senior cadets present followed their superiors from behind as they went forth to the location of the portal.

They traveled high and low until they came into a deep and wide ravine. A bridge hanging collapsed at a distance.

A scout scanned the area. “It’s too much of a gap. We can’t cross it.” He turned to ask Andrew and the others, “What should we do?”

Seeing that there’s no way across, Andrew opened the holographic map. “We’ll just have to walk around it. According here…” He pointed to a pathway “if my calculations are correct, it’ll take us at least half a day to reach the portal.” He then looked at everyone. “Prepare to move out!”

Merlin took a stand beside Quinn “Can you keep up?”

She looked at him questioningly. “Question is, can you?” She teased him.

“Don’t cross a Cross when you can't,” He smirked, and the race was on.

Merlin took a glance at her backside and flushed for a moment. His mind lingered of inappropriate thoughts. The momentary daze was only cut off when Quinn went ahead without him.

They traveled a long distance. When they arrived at the site, a huge dark maw came before their eyes. Their faces all turned serious and focused on the mission at hand.

“Team 1. In position!” A captain ordered. His unit deployed their battle formation as they aimed their guns, their powers ready. “This is it boys. Whatever comes out from there… Kill em.”

Meanwhile…

“Team 2, secure the perimeter!” Andrew said as he ordered his platoon to scatter into a 4-man squad, clearing the area as they moved to cover more ground. Each team consisted of at least one person with a psychic AI wrist watch to monitor from the air.

Quinn controlled her AI as it hovered a few meters ahead. She couldn’t help but grit her teeth and knitted her brows as Merlin joined them. She was grouped with him without a choice.

As the AIs flew forward to a certain area, all suddenly stopped and dropped to the ground.

“What happened?” a cadet exclaimed in surprise. “I can’t connect.”

Andrew then shouted through their earpieces. “AIs down! Guns up!” All teams held their weapons and powers ready in their spots, awaiting further instructions.

“Red 2.”

A female tutor nodded as Andrew called out to her. She connected her AI to his wrist watch before controlling it to tread carefully towards the mysterious region. The hologram screen captured a barrier, almost invisible on the screen.

Andrew squinted his eyes. His guts told him something was amiss about the area. But it was only a feeling. He shook it off and commanded all teams. “Proceed with caution.”

They heeded forward on high alert.

As they reached the borders of the barrier, Red 2 and her team studied the thin membrane. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.” Her eyes locked on it.

“We’re ready Ma’am.” A soldier said.

She turned and approached, gearing herself up with a hazmat suit.

Everyone held their breath for a moment as she reached out her arm to test if the barrier was dangerous. Her hand passed through.

She then looked at Andrew. “I’m going in.”

He nodded.

On the other side, she stood agape and bewildered by what came before her eyes.