Chapter 18

  First or Last Mission?

  Part One

  The alert of the upcoming war brought excitement to the natives. Instead of hiding under a bunker or shielding their homes, they were waiting for angels to invade the planet. The silly king of such messed up kingdom declared the day as a public holiday.

  Adults weren’t worried about their children, but yelling over some past record of drinking competition and how their favourite team won the last year’s games. The one who was worried was a mentally disabled inmate, who kept warning others to surrender or no one would survive the wrath of divinity.

  “And I took a pledge to save them?” Manya said.

  ‘It’s common on the planets where an average age is in the millennium.’

  “One doesn’t appreciate things which come easy. True, even in the world, so advance.” Manya ate a handful of chips. “You were telling about the members assigned to me? How much?”

  ‘A blue rank holder can only recruit from lower ranks and if she/he had to recruit from higher ranks, it will require their approval.’

  “Are you telling I can force lower ones into anything without their consent?”

  ‘Yes Ms.’

  “You serious? What if some other high ranker force them into, you know, that?”

  ‘If from “that” you are implying sexual abuse, then no. Every SL is equipped with several security measures. If one indulged in said activity, even if one witness it, the SL wrapped around her/him and their parents and direct siblings and spouses and kids—will swallow them.’

  A shiver went down her spine. “But what if one force someone into it by using some drug or ties one to see such a sight?”

  ‘Then the one who forced it onto them will be punished. SL inspects several things before commencing with punishment.’

  “That’s unfair.”

  ‘The punishment not only meant for sexual abuse but also for suicide, murder and other severe crimes.’

  “But suicide is one’s own will?”

  ‘The law says. If one can’t take care of their family. They have no right to have a family.’

  “… H-How many of rankers I can order?”

  ‘Ten, Ms.’

  “Why ten? Could have given me one or two? How would I ever repay his such esteemed favour?”

  ‘Ms., I know you are confident in your strength and skill, but it will be good to have support.’

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  Manya couldn’t even smile at Vega’s innocence.

  “And were you sure when you said about me not being an AI?”

  ‘Yes, Ms. No AI may take part in the ranking process. Our sole purpose is to serve the ranker we are assigned to.’

  “What if I am a very advanced kind, secretly created, like no other? And my mamu, is my creator? An AI, which is closest to being a human?”

  ‘It could be a possibility. Then it would make Atharv a God, because your heart is of human and you possess a soul, us AIs can’t even dream of.’

  Her lips curved in a silent snarl. “Ok, I’ll believe you. I am a human.”

  Before Manya could inquire further, a massive disturbance shook the water bed, revealing a wealth of new information about ariots, celeriots and their positioning across the land.

  “I still can’t believe that this entire planet is right above that enormous ball of whatever colour that fire is.”

  ‘It’s called “Sun.”’

  Manya gave her a stern look. “How do you guys sleep? Knowing that one mistake could lead you straight into it?”

  ‘Just like humans, who knew that a single anomaly in the functioning of the solar system could lead to its demise.’

  “We know? Wait—if it’s beneath us. What about that sun?” She pointed to the sky.

  ***

  Manya received information regarding a space opened up in the barrier in the sky. Sooner, a huge beam of light had enveloped her. As her eyes got adjusted to the piercing white light, she found herself unharmed and inside a blue layer around her, formed by Vega.

  Above her gaze, the high-intensity beam of light had pierced the atmosphere. “Don’t show me your face after this, because if I made it out alive, this land will lose their king!”

  Manya stepped to Vega, who wasn’t in the mood to entertain her. “I want your help to complete my first official solo mission,” she giggled, “Which can easily become my last.”

  Her confidence in new scary powers reached its peak, but upon learning about the information of the upgraded celeriots that had entered Sevavann, a wave of worry washed over her for the safety of the natives.

  The war had begun, and Yajvan’s disappearance only added to the chaos and uncertainty. With no other choice, she gave Vega the direct order to ensure that Ira stayed away from the chaos.

  ‘All scans and calculations are telling about your stable mental prowess.’

  She smiled, “She’s my best friend, Vega. And I don’t know why, but I think Ira will never cheat me.” Next moment, the features surrounding Manya started vanishing, like someone was shutting them off. “What’s happening?”

  ‘All the authorities under the name of “Ira Wings” are terminating.’

  “How would I fight them?”

  ‘Considering your circumstances, you will receive a few of blue rank features.’

  “Wait—if Ira won’t have the authority to open the spaces for angels, then that means we can close them?” It cheered her up.

  ‘We already did.’

  “Hey, even the healing power of this SL is back to basic.”

  Manya’s ears perked up at the sudden sharp sound of the wind, and she jumped away. In a split second, she glanced at Vega, grabbing a metallic rope attached to a menacing object that halted just inches away from her chest. The broken barrier shattered her sense of safety.

  An angel emerged from a dense cloud of smog.

  “Even after killing you. The pain you caused never settled, and look how blessed I am to kill you again,” Manya said to Karulsh.

  Beside Karulsh was the white-haired lackey of Darsh, with a mix of anger and excitement on her face.

  Manya moved forward. A sensation hit her pores. Right before punching, Vega stepped before her and blocked the white hair attacks. Manya had no choice but to redirect her force towards the ground beneath her. The impact of her punch created a powerful gust of wind that halted the approaching angels. And gave a start to Vega, who terrorised the angels.

  With precision, Karulsh directed the lackeys into a grand formation, their synchronised movements creating an intimidating presence. He then formed a square barrier around Manya, confining her and restricting her every move.

  Vega moved her hands behind her back.

  “Is she surrendering?” Manya had the urge to sprint and block the attack of white hair, but her intuition and a new piece of information held her back. The punch of white hair passed through Vega’s face, like a ghost.

  In a split second, white hair got pulled out of the barrier and merged with a hooded angel next to Karulsh. With a name floating beside her, “Astrid.”

  Karulsh snickered. “Heard so many tales about the officials of Sevavann, and how attaining a higher rank is formidable, but I think it was all mere hearsay.”