"I... holy crap... Team Leader, you've been promoted to Commander, so how do you still have this much free time...?"
The Sapphire Star muttered to herself, feeling that her grand escape had been doomed from the start.
The Field Team Leader's declaration was like a bucket of water freshly hauled from an icy sea, drenching the Sapphire Star from head to toe and chilling her to the core. She turned stiffly, her hand beneath her cloak unconsciously tightening around her pack's strap until her knuckles went white.
Looking at his face, its features still sharp in the shadow of the cargo crates and practically spelling out "strictly business" and "you're not getting away," she felt a fierce mixture of outrage and disbelief rush straight to her head.
So annoying! Why did this guy have to chase me here? Didn't he have work to do? Wasn't he the Commander now? How did he still have so much time on his hands?
The Sapphire Star screamed silently inside, her delicate features nearly scrunching into a ball.
"Then tell me why the Admiral gets to go out and have fun whenever he wants! I want to have fun too! I finally get out for once, and you stalk me? You creep!!"
The image of that man who looked like a Rajang made human instantly surfaced before her eyes-the legendary leader of the First Fleet, a legend in his own right.
The old man not only looked like a Rajang, but had enough energy to rival one, spending his days roaming the New World, the Old World, and even uncharted frontiers, exploring, hunting, and recording his findings. He lived so freely and easily that he might as well have had "freedom" stamped on his forehead.
"Look at him, running around like some giant golden... trophy! And the one time I want to go back to the Old World, you catch me! Is there no law anymore? No justice? Isn't this just picking on an honest person?"
The contrast was downright brutal! Why did he get to roam the whole world, while she got cornered on her own ship just for trying to sneak home and see her friends?
Comparing hunters was enough to drive a hunter mad.
What made her feel even worse was the heavy load of "worldly possessions" on her back. Inside were rare materials she had amassed by clawing her way back from death's door countless times, high-grade potions she couldn't bear to use, and notebooks recording countless secrets of the New World...
Of course, the most, most important thing was her lifeblood-the Fatalis Demolisher, forged from the forbidden Fatalis's materials and imbued with the power of destruction. At that moment, it lay quietly in its custom sheath, its cold touch reaching her through the pack.
For this "low-profile trip home," she had gone to extraordinary lengths, specifically seeking out the old craftsman at the smithy and using precious Velkhana materials and layered weapon techniques to disguise it as a crystal-clear Velkhana longsword that radiated icy cold.
"My darling Fatalis Demolisher, boohoo... I finally wanted to go home and have some fun cutting up Jaggi..."
The Sapphire Star could have cried, if only the tears would come.
She had dreamed of returning to the Old World, finding a familiar training ground, and using this perfectly harmless Fatalis blade to casually slice up some Jaggi and beat up a few Great Jagras, reliving the "simple joys" of her rookie days. She could call it a vacation, a chance to heal the body and mind those Elder Dragons had battered.
Just imagining that scene was soothing!
But now?
Now I'd probably have to go back to the New World again. A cup of tea, a packet of noodles, and a whole day grinding "Day of Ruin," hacking away at Teostra until I wanted to puke. Ugh!!!
The certainty in the Field Team Leader's eyes, and the unspoken message that he "held the keys," seared her mind like red-hot branding irons.
The familiar air of the New World, mingling sulfur, gunsmoke, and the oppressive presence of Elder Dragons, already seemed to be blowing into her face.
Teostra's explosive dust, its scorching breath, and that seemingly inexhaustible stamina...
Just thinking about it made every bone in the Sapphire Star's body ache faintly. An immense weariness called "resignation" swept over her like a rising tide.
"I don't wanna go back to the New World! Let me go home, boohoo~"
Her shoulders slumped, all the agility and fighting spirit she had shown while sneaking around vanishing, leaving only a profound sense that she had nothing left to live for.
She couldn't be bothered to hide anymore. She yanked off her hood, letting the salty sea breeze tousle the wisps of hair over her forehead, and glared at the Field Team Leader with near-despair in her eyes.
The Field Team Leader seemed long accustomed to the Sapphire Star's exaggerated reactions. The "just as I expected" smile on his face never budged.
With his arms folded, he took a step forward, emerging fully from the shadows.
Sunlight illuminated the Fifth Fleet emblem on his uniform, as well as the unwavering resolve in his eyes.
"Lady Sapphire Star, what are you talking about? Astera and Seliana will always be your home!"
His voice remained steady, but now carried an unquestionable force.
"Besides, the Admiral's travels are meant to explore the unknown and bring back vital intelligence for the Research Commission. You, on the other hand!"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the Sapphire Star's weak, pitiful, helpless expression-though she could kill Fatalis.
"You are the symbol of the Fifth Fleet, the Sapphire Star that shows us the way! Your light must remain in the New World, illuminating the path ahead and uniting our hearts. The entire Research Commission relies on your strength."
It all sounded so grand and noble, but the Sapphire Star only wanted to roll her eyes.
Symbol, light, reliance... Each word sounded so lovely on its own. Why did putting them together make them sound like such bullshit?
"Relies on me? Relies on me to hack up those big brutes that breathe fire, spew poison, and threaten to destroy everything at the drop of a hat?"
The Sapphire Star grumbled irritably, her voice quiet but loud enough for him to hear.
"My Fatalis blade's practically getting chipped from all that hacking! Do you think I'm rich or something? The Research Commission won't even reimburse me!" As she spoke, she made to draw the Fatalis Demolisher.
Even though a couple of passes with a whetstone would fix it right up.
The instant her fingers touched the hilt, a low, eerie hum rose without warning from deep inside her pack.
It was as though the slumbering soul of Fatalis had been disturbed by some distant, savage presence steeped in sulfur.
Immediately afterward, the Scoutfly cage at the Sapphire Star's waist erupted with a blinding red light. The Scoutflies went berserk, frantically slamming against its walls!
The sudden change stunned them both. The Field Team Leader's expression changed drastically. He knew all too well what that red light meant-the highest-level alert! And it was terrifyingly close!
The smile froze on the Sapphire Star's face.
She could even faintly sense a trace of something spreading through the air... the savage aura of an ancient presence.
The Field Team Leader instantly drew the signal flare launcher at his waist, moving with incredible speed.
He looked at the Sapphire Star, his gaze filled with complicated emotions: shock, worry, but above all...
A sense of inevitability that said, See? Didn't I tell you? You just had to run away, and now look what's happened!
The Sapphire Star watched the agitated Scoutflies and felt the familiar yet shudder-inducing pulse of the Fatalis blade behind her. The corner of her mouth twitched, and in the end, she only managed to squeeze out one sentence:
"Team Leader... after we finish this fight... can you let me go back to the Old World?"
"Absolutely not! If you can kill me, you might have a chance!"
Fine. Looks like there's no escaping today.
Amid her despair, a spark of the flame that belonged to the "Sapphire Star" seemed to be forced alight once more.