Osram Time: 04:14, February 24, 2295

  10,213 miles above Mare Imbrium, Near Side, Osram

  The StarWhale shuttle cut through the darkness of space, leaving a faint trail of blue light in its wake. Diego expertly maneuvered the craft towards their destination while Xin and Lorna sat nearby.

  "Carajo," Diego muttered as he adjusted the controls, his eyes fixed on the radar display. "These Sky Shredders are getting bolder. Back in Mexico, we had similar problems with deep-sea creatures mutating near the coastal reactors. The fishermen learned to spot their patterns before they struck."

  Xin leaned forward, intrigued. "And you're applying those same techniques here?"

  "Exactamente. Mutated marlins, space-faring monsters, you name it. Predators follow similar hunting patterns." Diego's fingers danced across the controls. "My abuelo taught me that before he lost his fishing boat to the Radi-Mons. Now I hunt different kinds of beasts."

  Xin's gaze was drawn to the viewport where more mutated creatures resembling eyeless bats swarmed. Some made futile attempts to scratch or bump against the shuttle, causing vibrations to reverberate throughout the cabin.

  "I heard the Radi-Mons on Osram are fiercer than the ones back on Earth," Xin said with a shiver before he donned his new beige-colored ballistic weave puffer jacket and navy blue pants, courtesy of SIMU.

  "Some are. Sky Shredders are minor nuisances, though. They growl more than they bite," Lorna slipped into her beige trench coat as she hooked a small, silver device onto her left ear. The oval-shaped gadget hummed to life with a resonant vibration. A faint blue light pulsed from its core, casting a soft glow against her golden hair as she whispered to it. "Lunae Arcanum Custos."

  "Some sort of amplifier?" Xin lifted an eyebrow. The hum of the device was barely audible over the shuttle’s engine.

  "It’s a Psi Shield Device. You’ll see how it works soon enough," Lorna replied with a cryptic grin.

  Through a transparent glass panel on the floor, Xin spotted a snow-white rover attached to the belly of the shuttle, held securely by thick cables. He looked back up, at Lorna’s snowy countenance.

  "Your scar is gone," He remarked.

  Lorna smiled warmly. "Had a good night's sleep. Must have done the trick."

  Soft, indirect lighting illuminated the curved walls while accentuating her form-fitting navy-blue turtleneck suit, while the silver Pendant of Mánagrát resting on her collar shimmered under the soft glow just as she zipped up.

  "órale, we're nearing our destination." In the cockpit, Diego spoke in an even tone. "Osram was terraformed over two centuries ago, gracias a Dios, so the air should be similar to Earth's. Mind the low gravity though."

  "Understood," Xin replied, his fingers tightening around the grip of his 10mm Magnum. He raised his left hand, the Quantum Watch on his wrist pulsing green as he spoke to it. "Wake up, Pawan."

  A melodic chirp echoed through the cabin, and Pawan, his Omni-drone companion, activated and emerged from his puffer jacket’s pocket, floating up to shoulder height beside him.

  He took a deep breath, stealing a glance at Lorna. Her fingers deftly tied her blonde hair into a half-up ponytail before reaching for a small bottle of lavender perfume. She spritzed some behind each ear and dabbed a little on her wrists, rubbing them together.

  "What? Never seen a girl wear perfume before?" Lorna teased as she caught his eyes, snapping him from his reverie.

  "I might have," Xin admitted with a slight blush creeping up his cheeks. "But not before a mission like this."

  Lorna locked her intense blue gaze on his. "Close your eyes," she said, and he obeyed without question.

  And then, the scent of her perfume enveloped him as he felt her warm hands on the back of his ears.

  When Xin opened his eyes, he found Lorna with an oddly clinical expression, her palm coated in the perfume as she rubbed it onto his ears.

  A deep crimson flushed under his olive complexion. "Uh, feels strange for a guy to wear perfume?"

  "Masks your scent," Lorna explained matter-of-factly. "Radi-Mons have advanced olfactory systems. They track by smell when sight fails. Different odor patterns confuse them."

  Xin pulled back slightly, embarrassed that he'd momentarily misread the situation. Of course this was tactical—he was still new to field operations. "That makes sense."

  "Don't worry about it," she replied, her expression softening into something more professional than friendly. "In time, you'll get used to field protocols, and understand your teammates' tactics."

  He nodded, mentally chiding himself for the brief fantasy that had flashed through his mind. The mission. Focus on the mission.

  As the moon's surface came closer outside the window, Lorna reached into her coat's pocket and produced another Psi Shield Device. The small, transparent package that held it revealed the device nestled within — a sleek, silver oval, similar in shape to the one Lorna wore, but its core was a soft emerald green. The package crinkled softly as she tore it open, the material gleaming for a moment before dissipating on its own.

  "Standard issue," she said, all business now. "Green was the only color left in inventory." She held the unpacked Psi Shield Device and affixed its hook to Xin's left ear with mechanical efficiency, her touch impersonal as she recited, "Lunae Arcanum Custos."

  The moment the device clicked into place, it came to life with a jarring vibration that reverberated through Xin. The sensation wasn't painful, but deeply unsettling—like someone opening a door in his mind that should have remained closed. He winced as he felt a foreign presence brush against his consciousness, a subtle mental link forming between him and Lorna.

  "You okay?" Lorna asked, noticing his discomfort.

  "It's... strange," Xin managed, resisting the urge to tear the device from his ear. "Like you're in my head."

  "That's normal," Lorna explained, her tone clinical. "The devices establish a low-level psionic connection for coordination purposes. You'll get used to it."

  "I'd rather not," Xin muttered under his breath.

  "I'll use my Aether to maintain both our Psi Shields," she continued, ignoring his discomfort. "If you need to interface with them for any reason – the password is 's-c-h-w-z-K-U-K-21'."

  "Okay. I've memo-ed it down," Xin typed onto his Quantum Watch, trying to focus on the technical aspects rather than the uncomfortable intrusion in his mind. Then, he furrowed his brow as worry gnawed. "But it'll burden you, won't it? The extra Aether upkeep?"

  "That's my job," Lorna stated flatly. "Your job is to learn and become an effective part of the team."

  Xin nodded stiffly, uncertain how to navigate this new dynamic. The mental connection felt too intimate, too invasive, yet apparently standard procedure. He'd have to adapt, regardless of his reservations.

  The StarWhale touched down on the desolate gray surface of Osram. As the side door slid open with a pneumatic hiss, Xin strode forward, his eyes widening at the vast lunar expanse below.

  "Quite the drop from here!" he remarked, noting the dizzying height between the shuttle floor and the moon's surface.

  "Falling on Osram wouldn't hurt much," Lorna interrupted, her expression unreadable. She positioned herself behind him, her presence suddenly making him tense. "— if at all."

  Before Xin could process her meaning, he felt a sharp, forceful push of her boot at the center of his back. There was no playfulness in it—just cold efficiency as she shoved him out of the shuttle.

  "What—!" he tumbled into empty space, arms flailing. Panic seized his chest as the ground rushed toward him. Was this some kind of test? Or worse, had he misread something about their connection?

  The Psi Shield hummed against his ear, a reminder of the tenuous connection between them.

  His landing was gentler than expected, but the force remained. He scrambled to his feet, whirling to face Lorna as she landed gracefully several meters away.

  "A little warning next time?" he snapped, unable to keep the hurt from his voice. "Or is pushing teammates part of standard Alliance protocol?"

  "You hesitated," she replied coolly. "In the field, hesitation kills. Better to learn that now than when Radi-Mons are swarming."

  The logical part of Xin's brain understood the lesson—trust needed to be earned, not assumed, especially when one's life was on the line.

  "Well, this is still fun, isn't it?" he muttered sarcastically, his pulse still racing.

  But the levity of the moment was abruptly shattered when a sharp, animalistic howl pierced through the thin, crisp air of Osram. Xin’s head snapped toward the sound.

  "Good old Bone Fiends," Lorna murmured as she landed, her tone darkening as her body shifted. Her hand moved to her side, drawing the Psytum Sword. The quantum blue blade sprang to life with a soft hum, glowing ominously as it extended to its full length.

  Xin landed awkwardly on the powdery surface of the Moon, his boots kicking up clouds of fine moon dust that swirled. He turned toward the horizon, where fiendish creatures began to unburrow from the regolith.

  Lorna moved first, her trench coat flaring out as she sprinted toward the creatures, her Psytum Sword gleaming in her grip. She spoke over her shoulder, her voice calm but urgent. "Alright! You know what to do."

  "I do!" Xin tightened his grip on the handle of his 10mm Magnum as he drew it, the weight of the green pistol grounding him in the chaos.

  "Come on, doggy," Lorna said in a husky voice as she ducked beneath the claws of a Bone Fiend, her Psytum Sword cutting through the air with a hiss. The quantum blade sliced cleanly through the creature’s neck, its head drifting in the air as blue energy crackled along the wound.

  Moon dust formed beneath Xin like a gray storm as he leapt, the low gravity of Osram lending him agility.

  The first Bone Fiend lunged at him, its glowing eyes locking onto his. Xin squeezed the trigger, the kick of the Magnum sending a jolt up his arm as the bullet tore through the creature’s skull, splattering dark ichor into the air.

  A few more Bone Fiends unburrowed from the lunar surface, their numbers swelling. Lorna’s Psytum Sword moved in fluid arcs, cutting down anything that came within range.

  She twirled as she eyed a Skuggr beneath them. "Passus Transitus!"

  Xin’s AI-assisted 10mm Magnum hummed as it locked onto its targets. While each calculation took time and made his attacks slower, every shot was more exact than what average humans were capable of. Bone Fiends dropped, their grotesque forms twitching and spasming midair.

  "Was it you or your AI targeting?" Lorna called out, her voice sharp with criticism rather than admiration. She soared through the air at a distance from him, clearly avoiding his combat zone.

  "A bit of both," Xin replied, momentarily distracted by her question. "See, I've calibrated it to—"

  "Focus on the fight, not the tech specs!" she cut him off, redirecting her attention to three Bone Fiends approaching from her flank.

  "You're right!" Xin bristled at her tone but swallowed his retort. A Skuggr took aim at him, its twisted visage contorting with malevolent intent as it fired a stream of acidic bile. The energy field generated by his Psi Shield Device crackled to life, neutralizing the deadly projectile into green mist—but the shield flickered momentarily, the connection with Lorna's Aether wavering.

  "Shield's unstable," Lorna shouted. "You're too far from my range! Stay within twenty meters!"

  "Understood!" Xin responded, adjusting his position with frustration. He raised his 10mm and retaliated by firing five shots at the mutated cockroach's hyena-like head, but three missed, his concentration broken by the tension between them.

  "Buddha's balls," he hissed.

  "This isn't a simulation, Xin!" Lorna's voice held no patience as she dispatched another Bone Fiend with brutal efficiency.

  Around them, nearly a dozen more Bone Fiends unburrowed, surrounding them in a tightening circle. Their sunken, glowing eyes locked onto Xin and Lorna, brimming with predatory hunger.

  "Stop waiting for AI calculations and just shoot!" Lorna shouted, her eyes fixed on a cluster of Radi-Mons advancing towards them.

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  Frustration surged through him—he wished she'd understand his methods, his strengths more. But as a Bone Fiend lunged at Lorna's back while she focused on the ones before her, Xin saw the opening. Without allowing the AI targeting to complete, he fired instinctively.

  The bullet struck true, dropping the creature mid-leap.

  Lorna spun around, eyes widening briefly before narrowing with grudging approval. "Not bad."

  Nodding, Xin tapped his Quantum Watch as Pawan floated to his side. The drone's spider-like appendages extended, its glowing green dome scanning the battlefield.

  "Got an idea," Xin said, his voice steadier now. "Pawan can amplify your Aether output temporarily. Might strengthen your attacks."

  "It'd destabilize our shields and make you vulnerable."

  "Briefly, yeah. But the monsters would be no more."

  Lorna hesitated, clearly wary. "And if it fails?"

  "Then we're no worse off than now," Xin replied. "Trust me—just this once."

  After a moment's consideration, she gave a curt nod. "Do it."

  "Pawan," Xin murmured, directing the drone toward Lorna. "Psionic feed, ZenFusion type seven."

  The drone chirped in acknowledgment, positioning itself between them as a relay node. A subtle green light pulsed from its core, connecting to both their Psi Shield Devices. Immediately, Xin felt the mental link strengthen, the uncomfortable sensation now replaced with a stable connection.

  Lorna's eyes blinked. "That's...better," she admitted, turning to face the remaining Radi-Mons. With newfound coordination, she unleashed her spell, the air crackling with energy. "Fulmen Argentum!"

  The blue lightning struck with unprecedented precision, bouncing between multiple targets and decimating the Bone Fiends before they could lunge. This time, none escaped the devastating chain of energy.

  For a brief moment, their eyes met across the battlefield—not quite friendship, but a flicker of respect. A beginning, Xin liked to think.

  In the next moment, the ground rumbled as Alliance forces entered the battlefield, their presence announced by the whirring of white-blue fusion-powered exosuits. Xin's eyes caught sight of towering figures moving with precision and intent.

  "Vanguard marines," Lorna said, her voice carrying over the chaos. "Brain isn’t their strong suit. But they’re good people."

  The Vanguards were a sight to behold — figures clad in sleek white armor that shimmered under Osram's pale light. Their Gauss Rifles’s barrels glowed faintly as they discharged round after round of high-velocity shots, each a burst of blue energy, slicing through the few Fiends that came forward with precision.

  As more Radi-Mons closed in, the ground trembled beneath the hulking forms of another type of infantry storming into the scene. These juggernauts, clad in gleaming white power armor, towered over the rest of the units. Their faces were obscured by the gas masks they wore, tubes on each side of their head. Each step made by their bulky forms thudded heavily against Osram's regolith surface.

  Xin could feel the heat radiating from their weapons, the massive nozzles of the flamethrowers in their gauntleted hands spitting streams of scorching fire into the advancing hordes.

  Lorna’s voice cut through the din. "Ironbears. Tough, plates on plates, with flamethrowers for close-quarters." She gave Xin a glance. "Many were criminals before resocialization. Get behind them whenever you need someone to soak the damage."

  "Die, Radi-Mon fuckface!" One Ironbear turned, raising his massive arm, and unleashed a torrent of flames upon a group of advancing Bone Fiends. The creatures shrieked and writhed as their bodies ignited, their forms crumbling into charred husks within seconds.

  Sensing their defeat, what little remained of the Radi-Mons retreated, disappearing into the horizon.

  Xin's gaze shifted towards the massive vault door that was carved into one side of the hill. The hill itself was gargantuan, and so was the door. As he studied it through his black-rimmed glasses, a green text ‘estimated height: 10 meters’ appeared on the surface. The circular stone structure was covered in ancient hieroglyphs near its center.

  As they stepped on the lunar surface, Lorna deactivated her sword and strode towards the group of soldiers, her face glistening with perspiration, her hair tousled from the fight.

  "Glad to see you in one piece!" From among the Vanguards emerged Thomas Mendoza, his bionic arms reflecting the distant sunlight as he stepped forward, a folded Gauss Rifle fastened on his back. "Manny’s away with the junior Psi Lynxes from the Armed Forces, scouting the other vault doors."

  "The other doors? Why?" Lorna demanded as she approached him, her voice husky from exertion.

  "It’s that data Xin gave us. This is just one entrance leading into that Vault of — prime something, right?" Thomas replied, pointing towards a towering hexagonal door etched into the side of a nearby hill. "Director Otis said there're several more like it on the Near Side. Might need them if this one doesn’t work out."

  Xin eyed the imposing structure. "Have you seen the glyphs on the door? Ones that match the data’s description?"

  "Yep," Thomas replied. "I understand you have the sequence we need to unlock it."

  "It's on my watch. Shouldn’t take long," Xin said, raising his left arm to reveal a Quantum Watch on his wrist.

  "Alright, let's get it done." Lorna nodded as she put the hilt of her sword into her coat.

  They embarked towards the vault door, Thomas leanding their fellow Alliance forces: Vanguards clad in sleek white armor, Ironbears with their hulking frames and powerful flamethrowers.

  "If you can watch my back," Xin murmured, his gaze flicking between Lorna and the others as he kept his Quantum Watch engaged. "I can decipher the vault door in a few minutes —"

  "Aguas!" Diego's Novian voice crackled through the comm system, urgency lacing his tone. "Imperium troops have landed in Mare Imbrium. They've brought a significant force."

  "How many are we talking here, Diego?" Lorna turned towards the StarWhale shuttle parked in the distance, her expression filled with concern as she pressed a finger into her right ear.

  "Based on satellite images? Madre santísima — enough to flatten a small town on the moon," Diego's voice struggled to remain composed. "Director Otis has been notified. We're contacting the Pentagon. Hold the ground until further notice."

  The sun hung low on the Moon's horizon, slivers of light casting stark shadows across the barren lunar landscape. Xin stood with the Alliance soldiers, his gaze locked on the approaching Imperium forces, their crimson armor glistening like blood in the dim light.

  "Emmanuel, óyeme bien — abort your scouting mission and return to Descent Point Charlie immediately," Diego's voice chimed in on the comm once again.

  "Roger that. On our way," Emmanuel’s reply came.

  Xin watched the enemy emerge from the dust and debris, an unstoppable tide of red-clad Bloodtroopers marching in perfect formation. As the enemies charged forward, Xin felt a surge of adrenaline course through his veins, steeling himself for the inevitable clash.

  "Stand firm!" Thomas barked out orders, his authoritative voice cutting through the chaos. "Ironbears, meet them head-on! Vanguards, provide cover fire!"

  With a roar, the Ironbears surged forward, their white, bulky frames a striking contrast to the advancing Bloodtroopers. Flamethrowers roared to life, spewing forth torrents of fire that lit up the battlefield. Behind them, Vanguard marines raised their Gauss Rifles, unleashing a hail of bullets into the fray.

  The two sides collided with a resounding crash. Thermal Battleaxes met the Ironbears' flamethrowers in brutal combat, each side driven by fierce determination.

  "I’ll have Pawan provide healing when needed," Xin muttered under his breath, keenly aware of Lorna’s presence at his side. "We'll get through this."

  Her response was a curt nod, her eyes never leaving the enemy. The scent of lavender clung to Xin's nostrils, a reminder of what he was really fighting to guard.

  As the clash between the Ironbears and Bloodtroopers raged on, Xin allowed himself a fleeting glance towards the StarWhale shuttle and the Space Rover attached to its belly, the vehicles’ forms almost lost amidst the swirling dust and debris.

  "Xin, watch out!" Lorna's desperate cry cut through the din, jolting him back to reality just in time to see a warhead hurtling towards somewhere miles behind them. He barely had time to register its lethal approach before it exploded in a hellish burst of light and heat. Blood and body parts rained down upon them as several of the Vanguards standing near the vault door were decimated by the blast.

  "Buddha’s balls!" he choked out, his throat tight with horror. The world around him seemed to slow, each horrific detail etched into his mind. As the smoldering remains of the marines littered the ground and drifted in the low gravity, he turned to see kinetic arrows landing on the struggling Ironbears who fought valiantly to hold their ground.

  "Ironbears, hold the line!" Thomas's voice boomed through the comm, a beacon of authority amidst the chaos. "Vanguards, split off and engage the Amber-Eyes!"

  Lorna leaped into action, her angelic form slicing through the air with impressive agility, her Psytum Sword flashing as she struck down enemy after enemy. Xin marveled at her ferocity despite the mounting casualties on their side.

  "Okay, stay focused," he whispered to himself, gritting his teeth. As arrows whistled towards him, his Psi Shield Device flared to life, effortlessly deflecting each deadly projectile and turning them to dust before they had a chance to do any damage.

  "Die, Imperial scumbags!" Lorna shouted, her voice laced with equal parts determination and wrath.

  "Pawan, shadow Lorna!" Xin called out, drawing his 10mm Magnum to fire arcing bullets soaring towards the enemy archers. The metallic tang of blood and the acrid scent of scorched earth filled his nostrils.

  Then, from the swirling smoke of combat, an approaching figure materialized — tall, deliberate, and unhurried.

  Xin’s pulse quickened as the figure came closer. His long crimson coat, embroidered with ornate golden designs, seemed untouched by the grime and chaos surrounding him. The dark folds of the fabric swept around his legs with each step. Sharp, angular features came into focus next, with eyes that gleamed like steel. His raven-black hair, swept back in a polished yet effortless style, framed his pale, smooth complexion. There was something about his cold poise that made Xin’s stomach twist.

  And then it hit him. Joon-Seok Pak.

  The name sent a jolt through Xin’s veins, a recognition igniting a storm of emotions. He had never seen Joon-Seok in person, but most native Imperials knew the name. A man of opulence, his family the driving force behind the unification of the two Koreas in the Digital Age and the purge of many rebellions across Imperium territories. Seeing him now was like tearing the scab off an old scar.

  "Who the hell is that?" Lorna asked, her voice low and sharp as she shifted her stance.

  "Prince Joon-Seok," Xin muttered, his voice laced with bitterness. "A living symbol of privilege."

  Lorna’s lips parted, and her eyes narrowed. "He’s skilled," she murmured as her boots touched the ground. "I can tell from his posture."

  Joon-Seok stopped just a few paces away from them, his eyes flicking between Lorna and Xin, though his gaze lingered longer on Lorna. He gave a slight, almost mocking nod of acknowledgment, then casually ignited his Psytum Sword. The blood-red energy blade sprang to life with a low hiss, glowing like molten metal. He easily decapitated an Ironbear that tried to block his path with a graceful twirl, the soldier's white helm drifting away alongside his lifeless body.

  "And so the famed Lorna Weiss has graced the bleak soil of Osram," Joon-Seok tilted his head in amusement as he kept his gaze with Lorna. "I've ordered my men to refrain from attacking you. Let us negotiate."

  "Don’t think we have anything to talk about," Lorna retorted. Her grip on her Psytum Sword tightened, the energy blade vibrating as if sensing the threat.

  "We’re both here for the Moondust Crystal. If you command your troops to stand down, I'll spare your life as you retreat," Joon-Seok continued, undeterred. "Though I am surprised to see you wearing a Psi Shield Device. Swordsmen of our stature should not need such trivial tools."

  "That's none of your concern, scum," Xin interjected, stepping forward to stand beside Lorna.

  "If I wanted to address you, worm, you would know," Joon-Seok replied with a haughty expression before narrowing his eyes. "Have we met before?"

  "Wu Zhi-Xin. Does that name mean anything to you?" Xin spat out as he trained his 10mm Magnum on the man. He did not care if Joon-Seok could slash him down in the next instant. A message needed to be sent.

  "The engineer who brought the Crystal’s data to the Alliance," Joon-Seok's sword remained ignited as he grinned at Xin.

  "Lorna, let me handle him," Xin growled, stepping forward, his anger boiling over.

  "No, Xin," Lorna’s voice cut through his rising fury, sharp and firm. "This fight is mine."

  "Touching," In an instant, Joon-Seok’s amused smirk twisted into something darker, and without warning, he lunged forward.

  The fight between Lorna and Joon-Seok began in a blur of motion, their Psytum Swords clashing violently, sparks flying with each collision. At first, they seemed evenly matched, both moving with speed and precision, the two fighters locked in a dance of azure and crimson psionic energies.

  Blades streaked through the air, and the ground trembled with each of their impacts. Xin could barely register who was attacking and who was defending. He saw Lorna pivot, blocking a vicious slash, her footwork seemingly impeccable, her Psi Shield glowing faintly from the strain.

  But slowly, Joon-Seok began to gain the upper hand. His strikes came with increasing ferocity, his crimson blade singing through the air with a brutal elegance. Lorna's movements were becoming more reactive, her defense tightening as Joon-Seok pressed forward with more aggression.

  "Go help the others, Xin!" Lorna's voice echoed, her eyes never leaving Joon-Seok’s form. "I’ll take care of him."

  In one fluid motion, Joon-Seok lunged, his Psytum Sword arcing through the air like a crimson streak of lightning. Lorna met him head-on, her blade clashing with his in a burst of sparks, the force of their impact sending a shockwave through the ground.

  But despite his respect for Lorna, Xin could not obey this order of hers. He knew what he had to do.

  "Go, Pawan!" Xin commanded, his voice firm despite the fear that clawed at his throat. The small Omni-drone sprung to life at his command, its reflective green and black alloy chassis gleaming as it darted towards Joon-Seok, its spider-like appendages extending in a challenge.

  "Honorless vermin!" Joon-Seok snarled, momentarily distracted by the drone's sudden charge. In that instant, Lorna deftly sidestepped his attack, her sword slicing through the air as Pawan now hovered by her side, a stream of green light emitting from the drone’s dome gently enveloping her, boosting her strength.

  Suddenly, another pulse of crimson energy, more resplendent but less focused, burst through the air, missing Xin by inches and crashing into the ground with a thunderous explosion. The impact sent dust and debris flying, separating Xin and Lorna, forcing them apart.

  "Look out!" Xin shouted. He raised his arm as the falling debris was scattered to dust by his Psi Shield, the wind from the explosion whipping against his jacket.

  From the settling dust emerged a figure, her raven-black hair swaying in the aftermath of her assault. Dilinur Altai’s silver Psi Fan shimmered, its intricate carvings catching the glow of her psionic energy.

  "You remain human, Lorna Weiss. I am most disappointed." the Unblooded Prefect spoke. Her eyes glinted with amusement as she took a step forward, her presence commanding.

  "Yeah, that's right! Because Alliance doctors are better at curing viruses than harvesting organs." Lorna taunted from her position.

  "Very funny." Dilinur’s voice was sharp. The fan in her hand twirled, glowing with crimson psionic energy. "Step aside, Xin, or be squashed like the insect you are."

  "Die, Imperial!" Lorna darted forward. Her Psytum Sword clashed with Joon-Seok’s in a brilliant shower of sparks. The force of their collision echoed through the battlefield.

  "I’m sorry, Dinu. I wish there was another way," he whispered hoarsely as he stood firmly. Aiming his 10mm Magnum at Dilinur's heart, he fired three shots in quick succession.

  But before the AI-assisted calculations could even finish, Dilinur had already raised her Psi Fan to protect her chest. The bullets fired shattered against the silvery surface, disintegrating into dust like glass against stone.

  "Did you think that engineer's toy could scratch me?" Dilinur sneered as she twirled her fan once more, pointing it directly at Xin.

  Amidst the chaos, Xin eyed Pawan, the drone's metallic frame humming with an eerie resonance as it hovered beside Lorna, flickering dome indicating low power reserve. Their odds of survival dwindled with each passing moment.

  At that moment, a warning buzzed through Xin's ear – his Psi Shield Device was faltering. The device had been protecting him from harm, but now, with Lorna using her Aether to sustain their shields simultaneously, it was reaching its limit.

  He barely had time to register the incoming danger: a pair of kinetic arrows hurtling toward him, one embedding itself in his stomach while the other pierced his shoulder. The impact sent a shockwave of blinding agony through his body, rivulets of blood seeping into his beige puffer jacket.

  "Fuck!" Lorna cried out, desperation etched in her ivory features as Joon-Seok seized the opportunity to land a powerful blow, sending her sprawling to the ground even as she parried it.

  "Lo...Lorna…" Xin stammered, struggling to maintain consciousness as his vision blurred at the edges. His limbs betrayed him, weighed down by the numbing pain.

  He tried to shout, to tell her that he would fight to his last breath, but all that left his lips was a choked gasp as the world around him began to fade.

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