Behind her stood Arelll, flanked by several soldiers. At his side were Mari and Ulice, standing stiff, eyes forward.
"So," Empress Jezrell said calmly, "It's happening again and the parasite have made their way into Dragon Hive."
Arell nodded. "Yes, Commander Marza has chosen to leave the matter to the honor students. She'll be delivering the mission to them today."
Jezrell's fingers tightened slightly at her side.
"Is it right," she asked, "to use college students against military-grade enemies? Imust consult her on the matter"
"With all due respect, Empress," Arell said, "the honor students are the strongest on the island. And we mustn't forget, once the war is won, they'll be humanity's spearhead beyond the wall."
Jezrell exhaled slowly.
"Fine," she said. "Marza is a powerful woman. Her Amazonian roots give her a deeper understanding of war than I could ever claim."
Mari leaned toward Ulice, whispering, "Who are the honor students?"
"They're elite fighter in the Dragon Hive school," Ulice murmured back. "They're even stronger than the entire army."
Mari's eyes widened. "Wow... they must be really strong."
Jezrell turned toward the soldiers.
"How may I be of assistance?"
Arell stepped closer, lowering his voice, quiet enough that the others couldn't hear, but clear enough for her alone.
"You'll need to keep the people in the right spirits. One thousand plus people missing, it's hard to convince citizens they'll be safe."
Jezrell returned to the window.
She summoned her Philo Book.
Light spilled from its pages, soft and warm.
"I understand."
The Dragon Hive track field buzzed with tension.
Standing in formation were the honor students.
Commander Marza stood before them, arms folded.
"All right," she said. "This mission comes directly from the Empress."
Their attention sharpened.
"Two nights ago, a parasite breached Dragon Hive during a skirmish at the Iron Wall. As you know, parasites multiply rapidly. We've already received reports of civilian casualties."
Plum's expression tightened.
"We're avoiding public panic," Marza continued, "but surveillance confirms the parasites have moved into Shibuya Territory. Your task is simple, find them and eliminate them."
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Roxer cracked his neck. "Oh, I'm so ready."
Jaja grinned. "Looks like our moment to shine has come, big bro."
"Parasites in Shibuya..." Einstera muttered. "I hope the casualties are low."
Xiu slammed her fist into her palm. "Finally. I've been dying to use my Amazon strength, maybe Roxer will notice me."
Plum hesitated.
"I've never fought a parasite before. How strong are they?"
"On average," Marza said, "ten to forty thousand Abi."
Yusuke raised an eyebrow. "That's high, an intermidiate trained abi user is aound the 1000 - 2000 range ."
"Are people actually that weak." Plum said quietly.
Marza nodded.
"Abi numbers don't matter if you're fighting something that can reshape its body at will. Stay alert. And if I hear that one of you died."
She smirked.
"I'll drag myself into the afterlife and make you do a million push-ups.
Groans all around.
oh and another thing, you're training to be black-opps so killing parasites is a top secret mission, make sure none of the other stduents at Dragon Hive know.."
They rsponded in unison "Yes Commander."
After they split form the commander Roxer and Jaja wasted no time.
Something moved unseen.
A parasite slipped through the city, its form blurred, invisible to the naked eye.
It prowled.
Roxer and Jaja walked side by side through a quiet suburban street.
Roxer "Hey little bro?"
Jaja "Yeah whats up."
Roxer wrapped his arm around his should "You realize this is our chance to show off infont of the honors ladies. If we kill al the parasites before they do, they'll have no choice but to kneel to us."
Jaja "I think you mean recognition, but im fired up."
Jaja pausses "Wait how exaclty are we suppsoe to find these little boogers."
"I've got an idea," Roxer continued. "Use your wind."
Jaja blinked. "That's... very Herculean of you."
Roxer "Bring in a light windstorm."
Jaja frowned. "Why would I."
Then it clicked.
"Ohhh. I see," he said, eyes lighting up. "If I spread my Abi through the air, I can feel every structure, every human presence it touches. And if something feels... wrong."
"that's the parasite," Roxer finished.
Jaja grinned wide.
"Big bro. You're a genius."
He summoned his wind sword.
A controlled gust swept through Dragon Drive, gentle, but vast. Ten miles of moving air.
Hanging on the side of a building in an alleyway.
The wind brushed against it.
Footsteps.
The creature turned.
Grinning.
"Found you," Jaja said.
Roxer "Good."
His hammer materialized, in his grip. His armor changed his form.
The parasite roared and lunged, slithered from out of the alley onto the streets growing in size.
BOOM.
The hammer fell.
The creature shattered into pulp.
Silence returned to the street.
Jaja exhaled.
"...Yeah. This mission's gonna be over before it even started."
Above them, Dragon Hive continued to smile, unaware of what was already crawling through its veins.