CHAPTER III:
The Zaibach Empire: Renaissance

The Zaibach Flying Fortress is one of the rarest technological wonders of the planet Gaea. It represented the epitome of Zaibach Empire greatness. Once more, it towers high above in the sky, like a master surveying his land.

Inside, a solitary figure keeps watch for the results of a temporal and spatial paradox of Zaibach machinations, never faltering in gazing at hundreds of viewscreens.

This had been the kind of routine Folken Fanel was getting accustomed to. Nothing but endless watching and gazing for the past week and a half. Watching and gazing at this husk of a world known only to him as Cephiro.

Folken did not really consider finding Cephiro a failure. It was just a bit of a ... disappointment.

Not much of a big deal, he thought. After all, this was the first venture of the Zaibach Empire in its renaissance, rallying under a powerful new ruler after the demise of Dornkirk.

Personally, Folken was not too elated with this new Zaibach Empire, especially about its new leader. This man had come out of nowhere all so suddenly, month's after Folken's brother Van and the girl from the Mystic Moon broke the Empire's back. This man had hailed himself as a savior, one who would deliver the Empire from the clutches of demented failure. He picked up Zaibach's staggering - and hurting - pieces when there was no one to resurrect it.

Sure enough, the remnants of the once-proud Zaibach Empire had embraced their 'deliverer' with open arms, claiming he heralds the dawn of a new age for the Empire, and for Gaea. Folken had one problem with this, though.

The 'Deliverer' was not Gaean.

There was no way to be sure, what with Folken's current weakened state, but Folken can still feel it. He knows it. The Deliverer had shown such otherworldly power witnessed by the whole Empire. Resistance would surely be futile. So futile.

Folken nearly jumped when a deep voice spoke from the corner of the room.

"What is futile, my dear Folken?"

Folen was not expecting that. he had been so intent on seeing the results of the Empire's handiwork on Cephiro that he did not even notice the presence of the so-called Deliverer.

"Nothing, m'Lord." he shot back.

"So you say. Have you seen it?"

"Seen what?"

"The Caeli Knight and your rogue have already materialised on Cephiro. Soon things will go horribly wrong."

"Yes. Allen Schezar has definitely made it to Cephiro, but we lost his trace somewhere in the woods. Dilandau, on the other hand, had caused severe damage to the Royal Palace, and has found her way to us." Folken reported.

The black-clad figure turned sharply towards the door, then stopped.

"I expect more serious activity soon, Folken. Be ready."

"I will." Folken said, bowing.

As if I have a choice...

2 B CONTINUED!!! sorry for the typos ^__^#