Hey guys! :D This is just to make this clear...

In my main fiction... there are two types of infantry:

Humanoid: In which it has two types: The normal infantry (height of 5 feet 6 inches and armed with disruptor rifles. Core is either in head or chest.) and the Eight-Footer (height of 8 feet and shoots lasers from all red spots. Core is always at the chest by heavily guarded by arms).

Walker: In which it usually takes on tanks and infantry the same. They're more powerful than the humanoid infantry. They're usually described as the four-legged spider shaped land-based neuroi. They can also be classified as land anti-personnel neuroi.


Me: (sigh) Thank God I'm uploading again. Don't ya agree?

Wilma: Yup!

Me: See? At least she agrees! Last time I checked... I'm applying for an online freelance job. It's not too hard if I read before answering some of the application's tests.

Wilma: Think you don't know some things? When I signed up... I'm actually supposed to handle a sniper rifle, and I don't even have the slightest expertise since I wasn't much of a user of it.

Me: Didn't you get your first shot by taking out that missile neuroi once?

Wilma: At least like Lynette, I could shoot with Ballistic Stabilization.

Me: Unfortunately, you got less defenses.

Wilma: I don't care! I wanna watch my sister grow for myself!

Me: (laughs) Stubborn nut?

Laura: You don't know half of it.

Me: WAAAAAAHHH! (jumps up in extreme surprise then hits the ceiling)

Wilma: LAURA! (groans before leaving)

Laura: What?

And I had to hit the ceiling? Seriously... let's just get to Chapter 6... Boohoo... :/


*Cave…*

The old hermit was seated looking at the fire… and with his perk of seeing something foreseeable in the fire from time to time like a vision, he knows that plans are put into motion for something related to the world he lives in. And so, he focused. He knew that the prophecy of those who would save this world would be put into effect.

He then noticed the fire move and narrow horizontally. It was already a sign that something is indeed happening. "What is this?" Then his eyes turned white as he saw a vision.

Images of the neuroi came rushing in… and then there were images of the earth itself… It was normal at first, but then red and violet roots started to grow within the soil, and it was exhibiting some sort of signal for creation. On the land, there were portals sometimes made… and the ones emerging from the portals are the neuroi. People scream when they see the neuroi… but there are those who would protect the innocents from the neuroi… and they were the witches… still existing to protect.

The vision ended and he was breathing hard at this. 'Was that… the far future? But… it was peaceful and…' Then he gasped and immediately analyzed his own vision. "The neuroi must be stopped from conquering this world. Unfortunately… their influence cannot be fully purged." He sighed. "That's the real point. The neuroi cannot simply disappear. But I wonder how the neuroi would stay? Unless someone plants the influence of the neuroi into the earth, it would be possible, but only for a certain time." He then stood up. 'I must find her. She's the psychic of the group. Perhaps with help, I can uncover this mystery.'

"You don't need to ask." A teenage girl's voice came from behind the old hermit and he turned around to see a uniformed Suomus witch. Eila was resting her shoulder on the wall near the entrance of the cave and she decided to approach him. "I'm not exactly a psychic… but you're right about how I see the future for a while. It's not accurate, however."

"Who are you?" The hermit stood up. "And how did you know what was in my mind?"

"For a while… I saw a vision about you… being the wise man, or something."

The hermit chuckled, still with the girl's statement of him being wise. "You don't know shit, girl."

"I know enough shit, I guess." She said. "The name's Eila."

The hermit grunted. "Ivanov."

"An Orussian?"

"At least… that you don't know." The hermit chuckled and shook his head. "This is turning to be a fateful meeting."

"Do you know half of it?"

"I know half and you know your half. First off… what is your story?"

"I can tell you first that my vision was related to a goddess."

Ivanov's eyes widened. 'Well. Things are starting to go well.' "Perhaps Amaterasu?"

"Exactly."

*Inside a Messerschmitt Me 323 E-2 Gigant… En route to West Gallia… 0625 hours…*

Minna was making her way back to the 501st base together with Erica Hartmann, Flying Officer. She never knew the Lutwaffe heavy transport was still used at least for Aerial Sitrep operations for the ground attacking forces. Thanks to the big size of the aircraft, it was enough to store half tracks, tanks, and striker launchers in case witches need to defend the plane itself.

Currently, the plane is carrying some half track anti-air vehicles and its crews to serve as defensives for the 501st. Recently, some aerial recon neuroi units were spotted near the base, and only if they're very near will it be shot down… usually by Sanya herself, who usually goes on night patrols in longer distances. To prevent worries from rising, at least get half tracks to defend the base's airspace.

Minna and Erica weren't the only ones important to be transported besides the half track anti-air vehicles. The commander herself was walking to the rear section of the plane where there was a person seated there, reading a book… preferably a bible. It was Tyler… who's actually a catholic in fact. He had his eyes on the bible for a while, and she thought that he's a strong believer in the Roman Catholic faith…

He then looked at Minna after some time. "Commander?" He said before closing the bible. "How long were you there?"

"Hm…" Minna shrugged. "I just got here. So… a bible, huh?"

"Yup. Just needed some reading after a while. I don't give two-shits what happens before dying. What I'd want to know is what happens next. Would my soul be joining God in the afterlife?"

"What do YOU believe?"

"Eternal life needs to be reached as long as I follow the values of Christ himself. Just live well… be myself… and be the best in what I do… or be the best I could be no matter what."

"You've answered your question."

"Unfortunately, I sway from God because I always think there's a way to forgive sins, but there isn't a way to forgive a mortal sin." Tyler sighed and stood up. "Enough about that." He then approached her. "So what are you up to?"

"Just sending a message to Sakamoto. I already contacted someone who knows Morse Code from here… and he's telling the 501st that I'm heading there with Erica, plus one guest."

"Told them about Barkhorn?"

"Only Mio. I'm gonna tell the others myself about that." Minna then turned to go back to the front section while she spoke in the distance. "Nobody told me it's easy."

Tyler's arms crossed. 'Except it isn't.'

*501st base… same time… runway…*

Yoshika had her eyes closed for a while. It was a feeling of being focused, and she knew she must be… especially when she's in contact with Amaterasu… again.

In the world of her mind… she was running on an empty road, leading to an unlimited stretch of road through a fog. It was her ordinary body she had while she ran. 'There's no limits to this road! What am I getting to?!' Her question was answered when something emerged from the fog, in which its black hide with red spots appeared. She stopped running and her eyes widened in shock, revealing from the fog that it was a neuroi assault air unit in front of her. 'No!'

The red spot on its front glowed and was about to fire, and Yoshika deployed her shield before the beam hit her. However… several seconds passed before the first crack on her shield was made. 'What?! It's too strong?! How could this be?!' The beam shattered the shield, but it stopped once the shield was gone, and Yoshika was pushed back. She looked at the neuroi and knew she can't turn back. 'This road brought me all the way here… but why is it blocked by this?!' Her fear began to creep in her. 'This… is something I can't handle…' She saw the red spot then glowed, and Yoshika had a feeling it would hurt not do anything… except for one other way. 'Stand my ground.' She clenched her fists and the once plan of running away… left her. 'No… I'm gonna stand my ground! If it's my last… and I have no other choice… then I must face it!'

Soon, the beam comes to extend until it reached Yoshika. However, as it impacted on Yoshika, she only slid back, and only an ounce of pain came to her… but she wasn't getting hurt. She looked at the neuroi, while feeling the beam hitting her… some of its energy made her attack stronger for a reason… and she knew the reason. At the time that the beam hit her… she was using magic… but for what? She first had blue glow surrounding her body… but now it had a red glow. It was signifying that instead of getting hurt, by using magic, she's absorbing the beam's energy.

As soon as the beam halted, she saw her own body glow red. "This is… surreal!"

"It isn't."

An woman's voice echoed from afar, and Yoshika knows it is Amaterasu.

"This… is your new ability: Energy Adaptation. Use it well… and you can move mountains with your power."

"You said my magic won't leave me?"

"It's because I've seen your wisdom. Balance your way of being a human and a witch… and your power won't leave you. It will follow even after a normal witch in this war would lose theirs as they exert effort in fighting for freedom. You… are special."

"What about Sakamoto?"

"She's given a second chance, but unlike you, her powers will diminish once she exerts to a certain age. She can use her magic until the age of 30. It is enough as she told me she's satisfied to live as she is. I'm giving you your freedom as yours will not leave you."

"Isn't that unfair?"

"It isn't. I also told her something else. You have a larger purpose after the war is finished. What it is… will be revealed once you see the signs."

Yoshika frowned a little. 'The major's given a second chance as a witch… but Amaterasu wants my magic to stay.' But then she smiled. 'Then I'll make sure whatever is laid for me will be done! It's not just for myself or for Amaterasu… but for my friends!' Then she looked at the neuroi and was determined. 'If that's the case… I'll finish this and start moving!'

"Thank you, for understanding. You may seem to see this as easy… but trials will test you."

"And it's what molds anyone! I will go through it!"

"Finish the neuroi in front of you… and take your destiny."

Her familiar ears and tail came out. She noticed she was still glowing red… and she knew the neuroi's energy was still in her. 'Of course! I can either take it or release it! Well I choose…' Then her right hand glowed bright before she raised her arm at the neuroi. '…to let it out!' She shot a beam over to the red spot that shot the beam and it broke to reveal the core. "There!" Soon… more red spots appear on the front and it released beams. She ran towards the neuroi and she avoided the beams with her enhanced agility. 'I can dodge the lasers even when I run!' As she was nearing the neuroi, she knew the red glow on her body was fading. 'Then I'm using the last amount of energy for one more move!' She clenched her fist before she jumped and attempted to punch the neuroi's core. "SUCK IT!" Her fist hits the core together with the released energy on her attack and she shatters it. She deployed her shield before she saw the neuroi ship glow white and split into pieces. 'I did it!'

Soon… she opened her eyes to find herself on the runway again, facing the edge. She then heard footsteps running behind her. Yoshika narrowed her eyes as she braced herself before she heard someone's feet off the ground and a battlecry go at her. When the weapon used against her was about 5 inches from her head, she unsheathed her Katana Taiyōfūta and parried Reppumaru, Mio's Katana. Yoshika looked at Mio's eyes… full of focus as she pushed her opponent away, then putting herself in stance. "Major." She said with a smile.

Mio was impressed with the reflex action Yoshika has seen, and she was in her stance together with the major herself. "Impressive. You didn't need to dare me just to parry that strike." Mio said, while seeing Yoshika in her new form: now taller at 5 feet and 5 inches. Her brown hair extended to her upper chest… and it was rather straight. Her bust size also grew a little larger from the last time Mio once saw Yoshika… way before the flash of light that night… "I'm sure you've already noticed that you have greater power in you."

Yoshika sighed at it. "Major… it's just… different." She said with quite an older voice and looked at Sakamoto with humility. "If there's truly real power… the only way I could find out what else there is, would be testing everything I know until now."

"That's why we're training." Mio said, gripping Reppumaru tightly. "Both of us are given a chance not just to battle against neuroi… but to make a difference. The Great Goddess told me herself… and I know she told you too."

Yoshika nodded. "At least we're in level, Major. Are you ready?"

"Who's saying we're stopping?"

The younger Fuso girl raised an eyebrow and ran. "Then let's go!" She said before she attempted to strike at Mio.

Lucchini wasn't that far… and it's unusual for her to be awake at this time. She raised her eyebrow, seeing that Mio is sparring dangerously with Yoshika using swords. 'It's unusual the major's sparring with swords.' "Tsk… it's a dangerous game, huh?"

"But we're in a dangerous world anyway" said Shirley who just joined the young Romagnan. She was beside while she watched the dangerous sparring happen. "Wow… it's been a while that Yoshika's been training with a Katana… and now they're actually making progress? Sweet."

"I wonder why Fuso has specialty in swords though?"

"Maybe it's because their culture is about honor… and swords are tied to their honor?"

"Cool!"

"I've read a little of Fusoan history. They're real tight… and they got Samurai from before. Trust me: A witch and an expert Katana handler like Mio can likely teach a lot to Yoshika about her style. And here's the good thing about it: Yoshika comes from the same land as the major. With their cultures tied… it would be easier on Yoshika, and much more especially if tradition comes with it. Often times as a sword handler in a war, they have to honor the gods in their Shinto religion… as well as their ancestors who have either died in blood, or died naturally, with spirits living on. Mio wanted to try getting in level with those spirits… which is what is channeled through her everytime she fights, or trains. I know this because she told me it's important to her, as a female soldier of Fuso."

"Nice." Lucchini said with a smile at the Liberian. "You know… you should teach me in this a little."

The Liberian raised and waved her hands. "Hey! I'm not a teacher, even a historian!" Then she started to walk away when she felt a pair of hands… groping her breasts again. 'Oh, here we go again!'

"These are good assets, I tell you!" Lucchini said with an evil grin while giggling. "At least you're armed!"

Shirley giggled while her face was red. 'Same old Fran…'

*Messerschmitt Me 323 E-2 Gigant, Gallian airspace… 0702 hours…*

Minna was looking at the contents of Gertrude's notebook that she took from her jacket after she died. It contained notes related to rules and regulations while being a Karlslander officer, being a soldier… and some notes related to what she once wrote from interrogations, like the one she had with Tyler Fray. She noticed that the former Captain wrote also wrote some small notes about the ones interrogated, and she sometimes saw the words "cute", "annoying" and "gullible to promises." Minna giggled a little at this and it made her laugh a little later. 'Oh, Gertrude… I'm feeling better already.' Minna's smile maintained until she heard the voice of a radar operator.

"Neuroi Präsenz erkannt! (Neuroi presence detected) Check your six… NOW!" The radar operator said before the plane shook.

The shaking almost got Minna off her feet, then she wondered what it is. "What's going on?!"

"Commander, we've got neuroi that attacked us from behind. Don't worry… shield is up and holding."

"Shields?" Minna knew it was new to her. 'Wait… this plane has shields? How?'

Fray cleared his throat and she turned to him "Deep Science Division is not taking any chances for major transport planes to be shot down… so we started fitting transport planes and heavy bombers with shielding tech. Still, we'll need witches to cover us. Any more very serious hits… and our shields will buckle… leaving us vulnerable."

"I see. There are two witches escorting this plane. However… if the enemy's number is more than how many escorts we've got, we need backup."

The radar man was scanning the radar and he's shocked. "Damn! More enemy neuroi approaching from the north!"

Minna cursed and knew that the plane needed cover. "Damn… looks like we're going to need backup after all"

"The 501st JFW."

Minna nodded and turned to the radar operator. "Tell the radioman to call up the West Gallian 501st base! And get them to act on a raid alarm. We need assistance!"

"Ya Vol!" The radar man immediately contacted the radio and Minna's command is underway.

Erica then ran to Minna and Tyler. "What's happening?" She asked and Minna answered.

"You better get your striker ready, Erica. There are neuroi contacts firing on this place."

Erica saluted Minna. "I won't let you down!" She put her hand down and immediately ran to her striker launcher.

*501st base…*

The whole base's air raid siren rang throughout and all the witches were alerted. Sakamoto and Yoshika were together and ran to the hangar, then were joined by Charlotte, Francesca, Eila, Lynette, Perrine, Wilma and Laura. Mio made sure that everyone is assembled. But then, Sanya who was in her striker units, hovered to all of them and was somehow a little disappointed, as she's tired. Eila gave her a cup of coffee to start with, just making sure to get Sanya up and running, just temporarily before falling in to listen to Mio's words.

"Listen up! Commander Minna and her party are currently under attack. They're on their way back here, but multiple neuroi threats are attacking the Me-323 they're in. The plane is holding with little defense, with the multiple gun emplacements on the plane and its shields installed by the Deep Science Division, but it won't be long until the shield buckles… so we must assist them on getting rid of the neuroi. Let's grab our weapons, and mount your strikers! We'll be giving them hell!"

"Roger!" The witches said as Sanya nodded at Eila before she took off. Soon, the other witches mounted their strikers and armed their weapons.

Mio then got in her striker… and joined by the engines of the strikers from the 501st, she made sure hers is running. "We're taking off!" Mio said before she raised the RPM's on her striker and increased speed before coming out of the hangar and down the runway. She pulled up and made sure she's airborne… followed by her squadron.

Wilma was left in the hangar but had a communicator with her to contact Laura.

Laura, Lynette… you two be careful.

Lynette replied. [Of course!]

Then Laura. [Same here, Wilma. Don't worry! If we find a piece of their hide, we'll show it to you once.]

Wilma then laughed. [Whatever, Laura.]

Then Amelie ran in the hangar just to find it empty and only Wilma was there. "Wilma?! Where are the others?!"

Wilma turned to Amelie and raised her eyebrow. "Are you supposed to go?"

"Uh… no." She said while she frowned and her head was down. "I thought I could join them by asking Major Sakamoto. Guess I'm late..."

"Hey, one time, you're going with them! Besides… you can use your abilities to defend the base. Remember that you can still fight on the ground, you know!"

Amelie smiled. "You always seemed to cheer me up! Thanks." Amelie approached Wilma. "So what now?"

"Operate on the radar. I'll keep watch of the whole base. Traps?"

"I'm setting them up then!"

"Count me in to help you!" Wilma said before they both ran to start setting up traps for any intruders…

*Gallian airspace… 3 km to target…*

Mio lifted her patch and looked with her magic eye… and she saw from afar that neuroi were indeed attacking the Me-323. 'There they are!' "I have a visual on the Me-323!"

Then Bishop looked through her sniper scope. "Damn… the plane's got shields, at least! And the gunners have engaged the neuroi!"

Perrine made her say. "It's not gonna be good without extra protection! Major… we need to keep the neuroi away from the plane!"

"Way ahead of you!" Mio replied.

[Everyone… this is Erica Hartmann! I'm the only one protecting the plane! I need assistance now!]

Perrine then knew that she should have at least Barkhorn or the commander to help the blonde out. 'Strange… I thought they could deploy strikers from out that model?' "Major… why isn't the commander assisting…? Or the Captain?"

Mio looked back at Perrine. 'Damn… she doesn't know.' "Lieutenant… as of now there are complications. I can hint you that the commander lost her strikers during her escape from Berlin. However… the commander couldn't give me any details regarding Barkhorn." Mio said before turning back forward.

Perrine was shocked. There was a look on the commander's face… of uncertainty. 'She's lying to me?' Then she decided to brush it off. 'Fine… I'll talk to her later.'

"Approaching target! Bishop! Try sniping from here! All witches form on my six! Standby!" Mio said while Bishop stayed behind to start sniping from where she is, moving from time to time and out of exposure from the neuroi.

Finally, the close contact got Mio to make her command. "All witches, split and engage!"

"Roger!" All witches said and they've split up to take out any neuroi attacking the Me-323.

Shirley and Lucchini are together and spotted several recon units coming at them. Then Lucchini winked, and it was a plan. Charlotte then flew away from the site and tried to get distance while Francesca firing on some recon units herself. 'Yeah… I get to see it again!'

After getting distance, Charlotte turned around and started to accelerate at a fast rate. 'Here we go!' "SUPERSONIC!" And so her magic helped her get to the speed of sound… over 1,200 kilometers an hour. She spotted the recon unit group and kept going until the group wasn't aware she passed them. Because of the force of the wave of wind that followed Charlotte, the group split and ran out of control. Lucchini took this opportunity to take them out with her Breda-SAFAT MG.

[Nice team-up, Shirley!]

Likewise. Shirley replied and turned back to the battle.

Mio and Yoshika are together as they both handle their Type-99's in taking out some assault neuroi when another small unit, as they noticed, just gone suicidal to hit the shield of the plane before splitting into white pieces. Mio knew this kind of tactic. "The Kamikaze?!" She then looked at Yoshika. "Miyafuji! You need to prevent any Kamikaze stunts done on the plane, or it'll do greater damage! If the shields go down… it's doomed already!"

"Roger!" Yoshika shouted out and went straight for the plane. Then she saw a high-speed suicider unit. 'There!' She fired at it with her Type-99 and eventually destroyed it before it was able to pass her. "That's one!" Then she saw another one coming in from the south. 'That's another one!' She thought before she aimed, loosed rounds, and hit the neuroi core before it burst in defeat. Then, she contacted the pilot.

This is Yoshika Miyafuji from the 501st Joint Fighter Wing! I want you to bank left to head south! It's too hot on this position!

[Roger! Banking left!] And soon, the plane was already banking left and making its turn on the same direction. [Now heading southbound. We need to get back on course.]

Understood… will guide you to get off enemy presence first!

When Mio saw that Miyafuji was trying to guide the plane away, she smiled. 'Good thinking!'

Sanya fired with her Fliegrhammer and destroyed an assault neuroi unit and a recon unit. "Two down!" Then, her magic antannae activated, immediately glowing red. 'What? Neuroi!' She turned her head south and sensed something distant… A frequency on her antannae let her eyes widen as the patterns she heard were too familiar. 'No… no, no!'

Lynette… Miyafuji! The plane is heading south! There's an oncoming missile neuroi from that direction! Sanya warned both of them because Lynette can snipe the missile herself. Then, the Britannian responded.

[This is Lynette! Thanks, Sanya! I'm intercepting now!] Bishop responded before she started to intercept.

Yoshika was guiding the plane when she heard about the missile neuroi.

Pilot… bank right…

[No, don't!] Lynette said on the radio. [Pilot, stay on course! If that thing turns… I'll lose range… Yoshika, help me aim!]

Roger! Miyafuji immediately flew with Bishop to get in front of the plane. They noticed they were about to leave land and head into the ocean.

Eventually, the two of them were moving in front of the transport plane. Yoshika moved between Lynette's legs, and kept thrust forward. "This is fine! I can aim." Lynette said.

"But we're moving!"

"It's okay!" Lynette said as she looked through her scope. 'Wind is most likely southwest. I'm not adjusting and I'll directly aim the missile neuroi.' She then took a deep breath and almost every sound around her. Once she saw the missile and her crosshairs have it… 'Let's do it!' She fired a a round and knew that the bullet should get to the neuroi's front end. However… it never hit the front, but just the surface of the bullet touched its hide. Lynette's eyes widened. 'No!' She cocked it again and fired another round, missing the missile again.

Yoshika noticed this. 'She's getting agitated!' "GET OFF ME!" She forced her Britannian off her shoulders and immediately sped for the missile.

Lynette was left and Yoshika was about to risk herself. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

Yoshika has to attempt something she never attempted before. She unsheathed her Katana Taiyōfūta and immediately stopped just distant from the missile. She saw the missile drop its casing and it headed towards the plane, but Yoshika didn't move. 'Not a chance.' She raised her Katana up. "Let the sun forge your spirit, Taiyōfūta!" Soon, a heavy ray of sunlight got to the sword, and the blade reacted as it glowed yellow. Her body glowed blue and she let energy flow to the sword. 'This isn't my first.'

*FLASHBACK…*

Yoshika, after having transformed with her new form, was then taught by Mio about the deal of swordsmanship… and what Mio knows about forging. Hard days followed when Yoshika got what it meant… and how her magic was incorporated in it. Mio had done the same thing with Reppumaru, and she had done it with Taiyōfūta as well.

She tried it when she was training and saw a tree was sliced to half vertically. It was her first… but Mio trained her to balancing the usage of magic and physical might. Eventually, Yoshika finally got to do it… and it was fast learning thanks to her mature form. But still… her some traits of her personality before she transformed, remained, still making her the most unique person to be.

*End of Flashback…*

Yoshika was focused and her grip was tight as she raised her Katana and held it up with both hands. 'But this can't wait! Now or never!' "SOLAR STRIKE!" She swung her Katana down before seeing the neuroi very close to her. Soon, the blade sliced through the hide, its core, then the rest of its body… right in the middle. After swinging it downwards, it left a trail of yellow energy to her sword. She then heard the missile neuroi burst into white pieces and the plane behind her. She immediately went out of the way and saw the plane still heading south.

Pilot… bank right and get back to your flight pattern.

[Roger! Resuming flight pattern!] The pilot then banked the aircraft right, and it slowly turned right.

Then Mio's voice was heard over the radio. [Good work! We've taken out the remainder of them and at least they'll be no trouble for a while! Girls, we're escorting the plane back to base!]

[Roger!] The other witches have replied, except for Yoshika and Lynette. Then the young Fusoan looked at Lynette, with disappointment in her face. The Brit hovered near Yoshika to speak up. "You could have gotten killed by that stunt you pulled."

"But Lynette…"

"Yoshika!" Lynette interrupted Yoshika. "You know… it could have killed you."

Yoshika was surprised that Lynette had snapped at her. 'Is she upset? Or maybe she's worrying of me?' Her feeling of surprise faded. "Lynne… I'm sorry if I worried you."

The Britannian knew well that Yoshika did what she had to do. Suddenly she hovered closer and eventually put her arms tight on her friend in relief. "Don't… please. Don't put your neck out like that." Yoshika only put her arms around Lynette in response and whispered some words… relating to Yoshika being in a new form. She will, however, try not to be reckless.

*501st base… Yoshika and Lynette's room… 0914 hours…*

Yoshika was alone in the room and Taiyōfūta was placed on the bed. She actually knew that handling her own Katana… is like handling an extention of herself. 'So it really worked…' She thought while she recalled how the sliced the neuroi in half. It was a clean cut… and she knew very well it was a good kill. That's what worries her. She knows how to do a clean and good kill, that she may forget to try not being angry and overestimate the neuroi. It would be something catastrophic.

Somehow, the matter made her frown. 'That's the first time I've ever used the Solar Strike in real battle. And… Lynne was worried about me.' She kneeled on the floor then looking at the sword she calls her own. 'I was only aided by Major Sakamoto in forging the sword together, and she gave it to me. She's kind… but I wish I could have done it on my own…' Yoshika thought of this as though she was blaming herself that her own power was in a completely different place… because she was given this power. She didn't inherit it. And now, she's looking at the fact that she wanted her own sword… so she wasn't sure whether...

"Yoshika." Mio called from behind to stop the young Fusoan's thoughts and Yoshika turned around.

"Uh… Major?" Yoshika said before she stood up and attempted to salute.

"At ease." Mio gestured for the other to put her hand down. "I… actually had a feeling I'd find you here."

"Major, it's…" Yoshika looked down in what she feels as shame. "I could have tried to train more… but everything's going fast for me. I know I feel the power in my veins… but I know I have to understand it as well."

Mio nodded. "The reason we went through that is because you needed to find the easier steps. You wanted to learn a technique… and I taught it to you. However… the rest you must try to accomplish by keeping your head on mine for a while. The rest of our training will depend on how much spiritual progress you've made."

"Spiritual?"

"It's built from both your training… and medidating, in which I sometimes do. You must channel that energy within you to see what signs of life you could sense, even from afar. You can feel the energy coursing through this earth… and everyone else. In this case… your spirituality will depend if you're one with the universe. Magic is one thing to only connect you there… but you must have an understanding of this for you to unlock something bigger. Only by learning and seeing the wisdom to what you've learned can you realize that your own knowledge was both worth it, and helpful to yourself and everyone else. That's how try seeking to power yourself. Examine your spirituality and start meditating." Mio explained.

Yoshika nodded. "I-I'll try."

Mio had done her signature laugh. "Not only will you try… but I'll teach how the basics are. The rest, you need to learn for yourself to try adapting to increase your spirituality. This happens before and after physical training. Remember that." The young Fusoan nodded after she heard Mio's request and both of them seemed to feel okay… especially Yoshika.

*Commander Minna's Office…*

Minna was on her seat behind her desk while she looked at a photo of herself and Gertrude together. She's recently been thinking of what the girls asked her of where Barkhorn is… and she figured that telling them herself in a meeting concerning Barkhorn would be best… like it's important. However, with knowledge that Gertrude is gone, Minna could only wonder what the team would feel after she mentioned the news herself. She only told Mio about it and made sure she didn't tell anyone else. She trusted Gertrude and Mio more when it comes to keep some information secret for a certain time period.

Just in cue, Mio came in and closed the door behind her before she approached Minna's desk. The Karlslander knew that related to Gertrude, Mio has a concern. "It would be best someone tell them about Barkhorn, Commander. You know about how the others react when they hear from another person of the info."

Minna sighed. "It's true… but what I'm worrying about is what they would feel. Erica swore that she would never tell anyone. For that, I'm starting to worry."

"What do you think is the solution to let it all out?"

"I'm holding a meeting at 1500 hours in the lounge. We're gonna make sure each of us understands that we're still strong, even without Barkhorn, but telling them and making them understand this will be difficult for the first time."

"Then should I…?"

"No. It's fine. It's about good time everybody must know." Minna said. "Even if I don't blame myself now… it's what happens next. What would we change? I'm curious at this and I wanna see how this goes."

"I see." Mio said before she saluted. "Then I trust you have the right words, Commander."

Minna nodded and smiled. "Thank you for that."

After Mio left… she crumpled that picture she held. 'There are so many memories, Gertrude. And I wish I could make it out of my own sadness in peace.' Then she stood up from her seat letting go of the picture as it fell to the floor. 'But I'd rather act on that wish… starting now.'