Inner Kraut : So, an update, eh? How long this time?

Outer Kraut : …

Inner Kraut : Can't answer that, eh? Let me tell you the answer, IT'S FREAKING 7 WEEKS!

Outer Kraut : …..I am sorry.

Inner Kraut : Sorry? Oh, alright. I can forgive you if it's not FREAKING 7 WEEKS!

Outer Kraut : Sorry.

Inner Kraut : "Sorry" doesn't cut it, mister. What the hell did you do for a FREAKING 7 WEEKS?!

Outer Kraut : (whimpers) sorry.

Inner Kraut : You're hopeless. Now, introduce the new update.

Outer Kraut : wipes tears this is the new chapter of "Contra Mundi". Please enjoy!

Inner Kraut : You forget something.

Outer Kraut : (remembers) Like usual, both Freezing and Monster Hunter series are not mine.

But still, please enjoy this new chapter!

Contra Mundi

Chapter 3

The Red Maiden.

"Good bye, son." A motherly woman wept while she hugged her boy tightly. "Though you are not born from my womb, you are still our Wisnu, our dear son."

"Be sure to call us whenever you feel lonely." A strong grip rested on the boy's shoulder and it started to press the muscle comfortably; it was an invisible saying of 'everything's gonna be alright.' He truly needed it.

"Thanks dad and you too, mom." The boy replied with the mix of happiness and sadness in his voice. He could barely contain the overflowing emotion as his eyes became teary. "I promise. I will make you proud."

"You already are, my son."

"Be sure to come home once in a while." The mother said as she released her son from her embrace.

"I will, mom."

"Sasha, you are not going to say anything to your brother?" The father said to the down faced teenage girl who stood frozen behind the group.

"I hate you, big bro."

"Huh?" The teenage boy was baffled, and so were his parents.

"Sasha!" The woman scolded.

"I don't care!" The girl shouted while stamping her right foot on the ground. "Big bro is stupid! I hate you big bro!"

Trickling tears on her cheek and the sound of a runny nose were noticed by the brother and the parents. He quickly detached himself from his mother and his father, and rushed to the side of the crying teenager.

"I will come back." The teenager said while he hugged the weeping girl tightly. Her face was buried deep in her brother's shoulder. "I promise."

"I do not want you to go!" She wept. "Who will protect me when you are away? I don't want you to go, big bro!"

The burden of leaving his family and his dear sister was weighing his heart down like an anchor. He did not wish these things to happen; leaving his home and his family behind and into the wilderness of the world that he knew so little about. He was more than unwilling to leave, but he knew nothing good would came out from it. His family's safety will be threatened.

"I will come back for you." He lied. "I will rescue you again and again, no matter the distance that separates us."

"Promise?" Sasha's clutch on him got tighter.

"Promise!"

The teenage girl offered her hand, with her little finger jutting out. Noticing it, her brother quickly hooked his little finger around hers. Her weeping was stopped.

"Promise me, you will come back."

"Pinky promise."

"I am going to miss you, big bro."

"So will I, Sasha."

The airport announcement for the imminent departure of JAL-1337 for Tokyo echoed throughout the corridors and halls of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Reluctantly, he parted with his sister and began to walk away from his family to the departure room. He looked back to waving hands and bittersweet smiles on his parent's and his sister's faces.

He forced himself to swallow the searing pain in his heart while putting a smile. He waved back to them.

"Be a great hero, bro!" The teenage girl shouted.

This time, he had a genuine smile.

He was truly fortunate to have this family as his.

"Sir." A soft voice awakened him from his dream of loving family and warm house. "We are approaching Tokyo and will be landing shortly. Please straighten your chair and buckle you seat belt."

"Sure, thank you for reminding me." Wisnu answered while he brushed the sleepy dust in the corner of his eyes.

"You're welcome, sir." The stewardess politely replied, while bowing her head.

As he performed all of the things that the stewardess had asked to do, He set his eyes on the view outside the airplane window. It was breaking dawn and the sun chased away the darkness of the earth below, revealing a mighty city of machines and marbles. It was truly a sight to behold, as beautiful ebony and ivory skylines, and sleek overpasses with swift monorails darting to and fro adorned the city.

"I have always dreamt of coming to Japan." A childish glee was heard from behind. "Especially with you guys! Thanks, mom! Thanks, dad!" The kid's words were followed by the chuckling of his parents.

"I too have the same dream." Wisnu pondered on the words that he had listened. "But not like this."

He chuckled at his ill luck. He had always dream of coming to Japan, not only to satiate his desires for video games, mangas and animes, but also to know deeply its culture and history; especially on the subjects of samurais and ninjas. The journey to the land of the rising sun should be a journey for leisure and joy for him.

However, it was not a possibility for him anymore.

He let his mind to trail off, while the captain announced the imminent arrival; He let himself to be immersed to the nostalgia of what had happened in the past 7 years.

He recollected the changes in his life that had happened after the day of his "Transformation". It was a terrifying experience for him if not for his sister. He was closely to lose his sanity if his sister had not intervened.

"You are not a monster, big bro." Her kindly voice echoed in his head, calming the insane beast within. "You are a hero."

Thankfully, the dreaded "Transformation" did not last long. He managed to revert back to his human form, even though his clothing was pretty much destroyed, leaving him only in tattered shorts. Unfortunately, the "Transformation"had left some "marks" on him as a sign that he was not a human being. The marks included crimson miniscule scales near the corner of his eyes, and vertical slit pupils in the center of irises. The birthmark on the back of his right hand, the coiling serpent with jutting spikes on the back which previously was blurry like a mark of a light burn wound, now was clear with the outline of dark red; making the impression that He had a crimson tribal serpent tattoo on the back of his right hand. Still, those changes were quite minor and easily overlooked. Still, the worst was yet come.

The teenager's mind kept on trailing off in remembrance of the past events as he finished having his passport checked and getting his luggage, which was only a wheelie suitcase, from the baggage claim area in Haneda Airport.

He managed to run away from the ruins of the school with his sister, eluding patrols of soldiers and cops. Luckily, there devastation wreaked by the already dead Titan had created a surplus of evacuees, who were also in miserable manner; two children with one in tattered pants made no difference. In short time, they arrived to the evacuation center not far from their school, where they met their parents. After many hysterical and joyous cry, and after the state of emergency had been lifted off, the happy but still shaken family returned home.

The journey back after 3 hours in shelter was a silent one. The bus and monorail that they took were all filled with haggard looking people. They were indeed the lucky ones as the public transportation that they took passed through the handiworks of the monster. Indeed, it was nothing glorious since what's left were mostly craters and the damage was not so extensive since it only happened in certain part of the city. However, the appearance of the monster for the second time and its deed had certainly burnt the image of terror into everyone's mind. It was clear that they could not believe what had happened recently. All of their sense of security was flushed as their early detection system had helped nothing to mitigate the damage that was caused by the monster. The bane of men, that once had brought hell upon their city, suddenly appeared out of nowhere to avenge its fallen comrades and to finish their work on the city and its denizens. The chaos that had happened in the past would certainly return to the city if not for the intervention of the unknown savior. Still, although the threat was no longer living, the feeling of uncertainty was dawned in everyone's face. Most of them were uncertain how long their lifespan would be since the monster could literally spawned at any place and at any time to unleashed hell at its own leisure. Yet for Wisnu and his sister, what haunted in their mind was the uncertainty of their future.

Thanks to the police officers and the soldiers, the orderly mob was able to return safe and sound to their respective abodes, including the Ardharis, even though it took hours. As they arrived, normalcy seemed to follow as the parents of the teenage boy and his sister returned to tend to their own chores since it was past the dinner time. Even though the teenager was exhausted and famished like the rest of the family members, his torment did not end. Wisnu's mind was raging with confusion and uncertainty; thousand questions assaulted him within and painfully yearned to break free from his mouth. Unfortunately, he had no courage to do so. He felt pathetic and began to wallow and suffer in his mind. Then out of the blue, Sasha spoke.

"Mm…om, dad." She spoke stutteringly. "Is big bro really my brother?"

The illusion of peace was shattered in the Ardharis household.

After breakfast at the food junction located within the airport, Wisnu queued for a cab in the Taxi stand. He managed to find one that knew the destination that he described in sufficiently fluent Japanese. Thanks to the language lessons that he had during his 7-years long "education" in a certain classified location in Indonesia, Wisnu was proficient enough in Japanese language to communicate verbally and in written like any Japanese. As the cab drove through the wide highways, He let himself be immersed in awe as he witnessed how the capital of Japan had transformed and leaped hundredfold from what he had read in the books or saw in the televised news. The city itself was a harmony of futuristic buildings and natural vegetation. Although some old and outdated parts of the city still remained like small time offices and shops, the beauty of the city did not diminish. The spirits of order, discipline and cleanliness were reflected on the city's ambience. Wisnu could not help but to be lost in amazement, while his mind travelled further in the memory lane.

His parents' eyes were widened when they heard the question coming out from the mouth of the little girl. Both father and mother were shocked; their body language indicated that such thing that should not be made known, especially to children like Sasha and Wisnu. Still, they tried to divert their attention from such matter, or at least try to buy some time before telling them the truth.

It failed horribly.

Sasha interjected furiously at her parents' excuses and denials, testifying on how she survived the attack of the Nova when her friends and teachers were disintegrated into ashes, and how her 'brother' changed into something unearthly to do battle with the monster. Wisnu tried to hold her down, only to be pulled by her into pointing the truth out. She even pointed out the residue of the physical change that her brother had withstood; the teenage hesitantly showed the physical changes on him. In the end, he reluctantly asked the damnable question to his terrified and mortified parents.

"Mom, dad, am I really your son?"

Time seemed to be suspended for a while. No voice came out from anyone and no sound was made. Utter silence reigned absolute until the teenager's mother broke into tears and rushed to his side, embracing him like there was no tomorrow.

"You are still our son." The motherly voice reverberated in his mind. "No matter whose womb you are born from."

Telling "you are adopted" was never an easy matter, for both the parents and the children. Wisnu's world of happiness was shattered in after hours of explanation and lots of bawling, leaving dinner that consisted of instant noodles and boiled eggs to the cold. What he had thought for his life as a happy family live, was only an illusion made by lies.

Yet, what he feared never come to pass.

He had thought the truth would have a terrible impact on him; the image of him being casted out from his false family was hanging terrifyingly in his mind from the moment he transformed back into human until the very present moment of the confession and revelation. Yet, instead of rejection and exclusion, he found love and acceptance. Even though the feeling of fear and uncertainty was shown in their eyes, his parents' love never faltered. The warm and loving embrace that surrounded him diminished the cold anxiety in his mind greatly.

"So," the boy in the embrace asked. "What will happen to me now?"

"Nothing will happen to you, Wisnu." His father said while enfolding him tightly in his arms. "I promise you, nothing will happen to you."

"But you all have heard what Sasha had said!" Wisnu retorted while pushing himself away from his parents' hug. "You know that I am not normal! You have seen my eyes!" He pointed his reptilian pupils.

His parents couldn't deny the obvious fact that their "son" was not a normal human being. Even though they had not seen for themselves the truth as what had been said by the youngest of the Ardharis, both Abraham and his wife knew in their heart something was not normal with their boy, whether or not the reptilian eyes that the boy possessed had given away such clue. Still, the feeling of love and kinship that they had nurtured to their children, especially to their son was stronger than any doubts and fear.

"Wisnu, we will sort this out, alright?" Abraham assured him; his right hand grasped his son's shoulder. His eyes gazed deeply to his son's teary abnormal ones. "Do you remember uncle Kresna?"

"The weird scientist guy that we met last Christmas?"

Abraham chuckled. "Yes, that's the one. He is a good friend of mine, despite of his eccentricity." He rubbed his hand on the boy's shoulder affectionately. "He will definitely help us."

"Will uncle Kresna really help big bro?" Little Sasha squeaked while she held her mother's hand.

"Everything will be alright, Sasha." The loving mother reassured her daughter. "Uncle Kresna will make sure that your brother is okay."

"Everything will be okay….."

"Jakarta is beautiful city, but still couldn't hold the candle of Tokyo!" Wisnu thought to himself while he kept enjoying the scenery. He kept on being enthralled by magnificent scenery of advance and elegance that were melded into one mighty city that housed more than twenty million citizens. His mind was no longer being held by the memories of old, for he found tranquility in amazement. Some people might find the scenery of lush forest and pristine beach to be soothing, but as for Wisnu, it was the sight of slumbering city in the dark, brightened only by the street lights, and then slowly came into life as the sun rose and the darkness broke away. The sight of the city under the rising sun was breathtaking, as he saw it through the window of speeding cab high on the highway. Little did he know that he was going closer and closer to his destination.

The scenery of the great city was left behind as the cab passed the highway and entered the great bridge that connected to an island. The island itself was a massive settlement and an advanced training facility, as the result of the joint project between the chevalier and the Japanese government, along with some other countries. The project itself was designed to find, recruit and train every young candidates with the potential to be the defenders of humanity that are the pandoras and the limiters. In the form of a military academy, the name of the project is west genetics, and it was his destination.

"Wisnu," A man with untidy hair of grey called out to him. The fifty years old had gold frame spectacles on his eyes, and he was clothed in standard white garb of a scientist, except for the ugly pink tie with motives of Japanese cats around his neck. "Please come in. And have a seat, too."

"What's the matter, uncle Kresna?" the teen asked as he entered the man's office and took a seat on one of the chairs in front of his uncle's office desk.

The old man clasped his hands together and his fingers were entwined. "I have talked to your parents, and we have decided on something for you."

The teen felt his stomach convulsing and his heart pounding. Something was certainly not going to be alright, knowing his "special" condition. "And what is it, uncle?"

"We agree that we are going to send you to a special school."

"WHAT?! But I am not mentally incapable or handicapped!"

"Calm down." Kresna assured him. "The special school I am talking about is not for the mentally infirm or physically defects." He explained. "It is a place where you can further develop your gifts."

"And, where is that school?"

The scientist smiled. "I think you will like it. It is in Japan."

The cab slowed down and stopped right beside the massive iron grate. After Wisnu paid the fee for the ride and took out his simple baggage that consisted of a backpack and a wheeled luggage from the trunk, he saw the military academy for the first time through the iron grates of the front gate. He was impressed by the sight of a tall Victorian style church-like building, adorned with modern structure on its left and right. Huge grassy field filled with healthy green trees that Wisnu knew not stood between the buildings and the red walls that covered the academy massive surroundings. On the right brick red wall near the iron gate was a beautiful rectangular silver plaque with embossed silvery stylized words that said:

MILITARY ACADEMY

WEST JAPAN GENETICS

Below the sign was a symbol of the world-wide organization, Genetics with the same color with the plaque. It was quite an odd symbol in Wisnu's opinion for it did not resemble anything that could generate the idea of genetic in people's mind. It was more like an image of a strange satay or oden, or even kebab in his opinion.

He could also see the people in dark magenta and light coffee-colored uniforms in the distant walking toward the buildings. "Probably students." Wisnu thought as he approached the security details that guarded the gate. After explaining his intention and showing the required papers to the guards, he was let in by them to the academy grounds and directed to go the main building, which is the church like structure. As he walked through the field, he fixed his rectangular black frame glasses and sighed slightly.

"Let's do this."

"Why do I have to go to this school, uncle? Why can't I just stay here and train even harder?" Wisnu questioned.

"Well, I and my colleagues want to do so if we have the resources for it." Kresna replied. "But knowing that you overcame everything we had thrown at you without even breaking a sweat for 5 years, we had to find another alternative to help you in evolving your gifts even further. And right now, West Genetics is the best facility in the world that could provide you with improvements. "

"But I am already 20!" Wisnu replied hotly. "How could you expect me to go to school and study with people younger than me?"

"You are 20 only legally, boy." The scientist explained. "Thanks to your gifts, you possessed a highly unusual metabolism that made you age slower than any human beings in this planet. Biologically, you are still 15."

Wisnu pondered on the scientist's explanation. It was true that he was already 20, but his physique was a lot younger than any normal 20 years old male. His appearance could be seen younger than his own sister. His height was his only saving grace that made him like a proper older brother. Outwardly, he could passed as a mightily tall 15-year old boy. But, knowing how growth hormone could be very fickle and how active a boy of his age could be, his height would not raise any suspicion on his age.

"With the help of my connection, you are now a 15-years old Wisnu Putra Ardha, the youngest of the Ardharis and the little brother of Sasha Putri Ardha.

"Wait, What?!" Wisnu was greatly disturbed and startled by the revelation.

"It was done so you can enter the school as a common teenage candidate with potential just like the others in that school." Kresna explained further. "Although for your case, you are truly one of a kind."

"But-"

"But nothing!" the scientist interjected sternly. "You will go to this school, and learn everything you need to improve yourselves. You parents were already agreed to this matter as well."

Wisnu hung his head down with both of his hands covering his face. Confusion was raging in his mind. Even though he knew that his parents meant well for him, he was aggravated on how his parents could just agree to send him away to a foreign country without telling him first about it. Was he too much of a freak that his parents immediately sent him away just like that?

"Don't feel so down, boy. Your parents loved you like their own flesh and blood." The scientist said while he rose from his seat and walked toward the boy. "It was my idea to send you away and God! It was truly a nightmare to persuade your parents to agree on that." Kresna said while feeling a slight shivering cold in his spine.

"Really?" Wisnu tilted his head up to look the scientist straight in the eyes.

"Oh boy, you weren't there when your mother literally chewed my head when I suggested to them the idea about sending you to that school." Kresna continued while he put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I never knew a married woman could be even fiercer than the unmarried one."

Wisnu chuckled. That was truly his mother.

"The point is we want you to go to that school, not only to improve your gifts, boy." Kresna said as he managed to soften the tension of the conversation with the extremely powerful teenager before him. "We also want you to develop your social skill like any other people in your age, biologically speaking of course. You don't want to spend your glorious youth in this facility with old coots, do you?"

Wisnu smilingly nodded, which resulted in his uncle messing the boy's hair in amusement.

"Beside, correct me if I am wrong, but it seems it's high time that the world know your gifts, right?"

On hearing that, Wisnu put widest grin on his face.

As he passed the field, he noticed something strange around. The oddity was not only with the lack of male students and the surplus of magenta uniformed female students in the vicinity, but also with those female students brandishing melee weapons of all kind: axes, swords, lances, maces, etc. Those weapons were not for decoration for the clanging sound of the metal against metal was echoing loud throughout the academy ground. One thing popped out in his mind as he watched the battle between armed female students from afar: Practice. Still, it was not really an odd thing, realizing that this was a military academy after all.

"One-san!"

"Huh?!"

Wisnu turned his sight to the source of the voice, and lo, it was a sight that he never thought could happen in a broad daylight: A dark short haired teenage boy in light brown blazer leaning on the top of a grounded long blonde haired girl in distinct crimson colored attire. The boy's face was resting between the girl's bountiful breasts, while his body was leaning on between her open legs. The position of the boy, even though was accidental, suggested different meaning in the mind of the onlookers.

The image of a certain alien expert with odd standing hairdo, doing his signature hand gesture with the word "Japan" between his hands, flashed in Wisnu's mind.

"You are wide open!"

Another girl appeared into Wisnu's view. A wine red haired girl with twin pigtails leaped toward the downed blonde. The new girl had her pigtail tips curled and the top of them tied with blue ribbons. Like most of the armed females, she was donned in the same magenta colored outfit; and like those females, she was armed as well. The weapon, or in her case, 'weapons' that she possessed were four spear tipped chains that materialized from her back. All of the pointed ends of the chains were aimed at the knocked girl, as she was approaching fast toward her prey like a pouncing tiger.

"Today is the day!" The leaping girl exclaimed smugly. "That I make you taste the humiliation of defeat!"

It was clear for Wisnu that not only the girl had intention to seriously harm the fallen girl, but also had no regards on the life of the unarmed boy that was probably got caught in the wrong time and the wrong place. The harming of the innocent lives never stood well with him, and he would go to the distance to prevent such thing to happen. Unfortunately, it would definitely take the might of a god to prevent the nigh inevitable incidence to happen.

The might of a god…especially the might of the god of speed.

In a hushed voice, he whispered.

"KALI YUGA ARTS: NAFAS VAYU"

("KALI YUGA ARTS: VAYU'S BREATH")

Ganessa Roland was estatic. Her opponent to the first rank was finally on her knees, or to be precise about her current predicament, on her buttock. She was laughing inwardly on the humiliating position her opponent was; it was a truly well deserved mortification for her, especially when she audaciously carried the title of "The Untouchable Queen", and acted all high and mighty around the academy. She also considered her opponent's lineage to be a bonus. Finally, the heiress of the Roland family would be the first to take down the daughter of the great Howard L. Bridget from the throne that was rightfully hers, and became the true queen of this carnival. Thanks to the unknown boy, she was going to be the top among second year pandoras, and nothing will stop the angel of confinement from getting such title, not even the boy that was instrumental in her inevitable victory himself. She launched her chains of binding toward her prey; they were seconds away from digging into the flesh of "The Untouchable Queen", when suddenly….

THUD

"KYAAAAA!"

The sound of a blunt object hitting a fleshy matter was heard and following it, the scream of a wounded angel as she was thrown sideways. The spear pointed chains was pulled as their master fell, and dropped awkwardly to the ground without even hurting the intended target.

"Damn!" Ganessa hissed, as she pushed herself up from the ground. She felt pain on her side of her back. The force that had thrown her sideways was very strong even though it did not cause severe damage to her body. She was thankful that she found no broken bones. However, she found herself to be in a very compromising position after the fall: her buttock was shown to the onlookers behind her. The crowd could clearly see the white striped blue panties that she wore.

"Who the bloody hell dares to interrupt my fight?!" She shouted furiously while looking to the crowds behind her with the killing intention so intense in her eyes. "I will personally kill you when I found out who you ar-"

Her sentence was cut as she felt an enormous killing intent from behind her. A towering shadow pulled her from the light and she suddenly felt a cold shiver ran though her spine for a second. Cursing her ill luck, she slowly turned her head around.

Behind her was the already standing untouchable queen, with her right hand clasped tightly around the handle of her massive unique blade. Her stance was extremely intimidating with her face showing no emotion and her eyes hiding in the shade of her hair. Somehow, Ganessa and all other female students knew that the Pandora in red was staring deeply and balefully toward her now unfortunate ex-attacker that was Ganessa herself. She then raised her weapon high above her head, signifying her readiness to deliver the finishing blow.

"Grrrr, damn you, Satellizer." Ganessa barked angrily, a last act of defiance in the face of imminent doom. "Damn you, you Bridget bi-"

The untouchable queen, giving her prey no satisfaction in finishing her curse, swung her blade in one swift and deadly slash, and thus turning the lights off for the angel of confinement.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" Wisnu cursed inwardly while he hurriedly walking toward the church-like building. "Why do you always have to interfere, eh Wisnu? Why do you always need to play hero?"

He was truly regretful after having rescued the blonde in red. He thought that he had averted the needless bloodshed by utilizing one of the techniques he had learnt during his 7-years long "education". And here he was now, wrong on all accounts. He regretted his action did not averted bloodshed at all, as he recalled what happened after his interference to the fight.

Kali Yuga arts were series of combat techniques created exclusively for Wisnu and developed extensively for him during his 7-years long "education" after knowing his gift that made him a much more different being than pandoras and limiters. In his interference of the fight, Wisnu employed one of the Kali Yuga arts to enhance his speed into a nigh godlike power. With his inborn unnatural gift, such feat could be done with diverting his power to mightily boost his swiftness and sense of time. As he finished uttering the mantra, time itself seemed to slow down and stop, along with everything else except him. In one fluid motion that lasted barely a second, Wisnu grabbed a nearby pebble and launched it with great force that could certainly take down an adult African elephant, toward the frozen-on-the-air pouncing girl. As the little stone found its mark, time regained its proper momentum and everything returned to normal. The attacking girl was fallen and the bloodshed of the innocent was averted. Everything was going to be as what he had thought would be. Then suddenly, everything turned downhill.

The girl in red regained her composure and stood menacingly before her ex-attacker, who was now under the mercy of her would-be victim. Wisnu was startled when he looked the blonde girl raised her massive blade high on her head. He had a bad feeling about what would come to pass, and would not risk it to happen. Unfortunately, before he could enter his state of god-like speed again, the blade swung downward and its metal bit deep into the flesh of the red head's chest. Blood sprayed out and a shriek of horror rang.

"Hope no one saw throwing the stone." Wisnu hoped. He managed to get himself out from the vicinity where the battle took place stealthily after his failure to stop the bloody violence. Although he was utilizing the power that enable him to move in nigh superhuman speed, there was no telling that no one ever saw him throwing the rock. He could only hope that such thing never happened, since he would pay dearly with his life if the red head knew what he had done; but that was if she survived the finishing blow from the blonde.

"You're a rate one dumbass, Wisnu." The youth's inner conscience continued cursing. Now not only he had failed to stop the bloodshed, but also he had failed to prevent the harm on the innocent boy, although such harm was not in physical term. Thanks to him, the unknown boy that caught between the fight would probably be emotionally scarred for life, especially after witnessing the brutailty caused by the woman in red before him. All in all, he had caused the very damage that he wished to stop.

He kept on self-berating inwardly while he entered the main building in the academy grounds. Unknown to him, a person was standing beside the door, waiting for his arrival.

"Mister Wisnu Putra Ardha?"

The feminine voice calling his name broke his reverie. As he turned his face to the source of voice, he saw a very attractive fair-skinned young woman with short brown hair and dark brown eyes. She was slightly taller than him, with her buxom figure clothed almost tightly in white long-sleeved shirt and knee-long skirt. Small blue tie was tied around the collar of her shirt, and her legs were covered in long black stockings. Her feet were fitted in a pair of beautiful black high heeled shoes. Her arms were crossed and her face was unsmilingly neutral.

"Yeah, it is me." Wisnu replied while offering his right hand, a friendly gesture for introduction.

"You're late." The woman said sternly as she turned her back to the boy and walked away. "Follow me! Quick!"

"Well, that was polite." Wisnu chided softly.

"What was that?!" The woman replied icily, while staring to the man not so far from her back.

"No, nothing ma'am."

"Good." She turned her eyes away and resumed walking. "C'mon, the principal got no whole day to wait for you."

Wisnu groaned silently as she followed the woman. This was clearly not his day.

The short trip to the principal's office was silent as a grave. The woman was somehow aggravated by the boy's tardiness, and because of that, Wisnu was given a complete silent treatment for the rest of the journey.

"That lady does really uphold discipline strict to the bones." Wisnu thought to himself. He did not like to make bad impression to probably one of the faculty members on the first day of school, especially when that school was a military academy for fighters against outworldly monsters. And the top of that, the one that held the bad impression on him was an extremely attractive young woman whose age probably the same as his.

"Look, I am very sorry that I was late." Wisnu spoke to break the ice as both of them walk through the spacious corridor of the main building.

"Took you long enough to apologize, Mr. Ardha." The woman replied amusedly without stopping her pace. "I am Yu-Mi Kim, in case you are curious."

At last, a name! Now, he needed to further improve his relationship with the woman. The next step must be carried out with utter was the most

"So, what do-"

"We already arrived." The woman stated neutrally as she stopped and turned to face the boy. "Well, go on inside and introduce yourselves to the principal." She continued while pointing at the big wooden double doors on her left side.

"Oh, okay." Wisnu replied, feeling a little bit dejected. "I hope to see you around, miss Yu-Mi."

"It's Instructor Kim for you, rookie." The woman rebuked him while leaning toward the boy and stabbing her forefinger to his chest. "And for your sake, I hope not."

After finishing her admonishment to the young boy, she left, leaving a flabbergasted Chinese-born Indonesian behind. While cursing his luck inwardly, Wisnu knocked on the decorated wooden door. He entered into the office right after an invitation to enter was heard.

He entered a quite spacious room, lit bright by the rays of sun that entered through the giants windows at the far side wall of the room. The room itself had light red carpet as its floor. There were shelves filled with books on left and right side of the room, while the walls were decorated with some paintings. Wisnu noticed a long desk at the end of the room, and with it he noticed also two persons nearby; one was sitting behind the desk while the other was standing beside it. The sitting one was garbed in white clothing of a nun's habit with purple colored pattern running in the middle. Her face although healthy, had shown the signs of old age. Still, the flame of passion, compassion and wisdom had not been extinguished from her eyes.

The other person was certainly a female student since she was dressed in the same outfit that other female students wore, with the exception for the blonde girl that he saw previously. Although she was as pretty as every girl that he had seen in the academy grounds, the girl possessed unique and distinct physical features that made her even more attractive. She had blonde shoulder-long hair with two tied up bangs that covered her cheeks and two forehead bangs that split in the middle. Her eyes were closed, yet somehow Wisnu could tell that she was looking intently at him.

"Why do I feel that she was gazing at me while her eyes were closed?" Wisnu wondered while looking back to the girl. The girl in question responded with a warm smile toward him, making him blush slightly.

"Please, come closer." The nun said warmly with a smile that rivaled the girl's.

Wisnu walked closer to the desk. He was about to introduce himself when the nun raised her hand, a gesture that expected him to halt anything that he planned to do.

"Could you please wait a moment?" The nun kindly asked. "We are expecting another new cadet just like you."

"Uh, sure."

"He should be here any minute now."

True to her words, a knocking was heard, and after a call to enter was given, a person entered the room. Wisnu took a glance on the person and he was surprised that such person was a male just like him! And not like just any male, for he was actually the boy that got tangled into the fight between the two girls the Wisnu had dumbly interfered.

The dark short haired boy was slightly shorter than Wisnu in heights, and he was physically leaner than the Indonesian. He wore light coffee-colored blazer over a white long sleeved shirt and blue trousers; blue tie was hung from the collar of his shirt. Although he was not as tall or as muscular as the Chinese-born Indonesian, he had upon himself the aura of tidiness and decorum.

"I should have changed into the uniform before I enter the academy." Wisnu regretfully thought as he realized that he had the same outfit as the boy's in his luggage. He looked upon himself in comparison. The fact that he was a tad bit taller and muscular than the boy did not change the fact that he was underdressed for the occasion. Wisnu wore a blue denim jacket over white t-shirt and blue jeans. He also wore a dark brown boots on his feet. The clothes fitted perfectly on his tall, lean and slightly muscular body. With black frame rectangular spectacles that he wore on his eyes and his sufficiently combed to neatness short dark hair, he looked like a nerdy junior athlete. Still, compared to the newcomer, he looked like a village bumpkin.

"Ah, our second newest cadet! Please, come closer."

The boy obeyed. He came closer to the desk and nodded slightly to Wisnu as he stood beside him. He too had a kindly smile that Wisnu responded in the same fashion.

"Now, please introduce yourselves, gentlemen." The nun cheerfully said. "Starting with you, young man." she opened her right palm and pointed it toward the boy in the blazer.

"Ah, okay." The boy said nervously. "My name is Kazuya Aoi, and I was just admitted into the Genetics limiter training program starting today."

"And my name is Wisnu Ardha Putra." Wisnu introduced himself after Kazuya concluded his introduction. "I was also admitted into the Genetics limiter training program starting today."

"I welcome you both, Kazuya-kun and Wisnu-kun to West Genetics." The nun said warmly. "I am the principal of this academy, Sister Margaret."

"You are Kazuha Aoi's little brother, aren't you?" Sister Margaret continued while she rose from her seat to her feet. Her eyes were fixed to Kazuya. "She was our highly esteemed champion and we welcome you, her brother, with open arms."

"Th-thank you!" Kazuya stuttered happily.

"And you are "the wonder kid" that Professor Kresna spoke highly about, aren't you?" Sister Margaret spoke to the Indonesian. "He was one of our greatest allies, and knowing that he wouldn't lie on matter like this, we also welcome you, Wisnu-kun."

"Thank you, ma'am." Wisnu replied with a smile.

"I am sure that both of you know this already." The principal walked toward the boys. "This academy was built to turn kids and teens with special potential into soldiers to combat the Nova, extra-dimensional beings that threatened the lives of mankind."

"Girls who can use volt textures, weapons developed to fight off the Nova, are called pandoras." The speech continued. "As limiters, you support the pandoras by mastering abilities which can restrict the movement of the novas."

"If only you knew the power I possess." Wisnu's thought responded to the principal's speech.

"I hope that both of you will make great limiters and fine partners for the pandoras."

"We will." Both boys replied.

The principal smiled after hearing such positive response from the youths. "At this academy, the choice of who become whose Pandora and limiter is left entirely up to the students." The principal added. "Do the best that you can, Kazuya-kun, Wisnu-kun!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

Kazuya then turned to the Indonesian and offered his hand. "Let's us achieve our goals together, Wisnu-san!" The Japanese said friendlily.

Wisnu gave him a smile and grabbed the offered hand firmly yet warmly with his own right hand. "Yes, Let us work together!" He said while shaking Kazuya's hand.

"Now, the student body President Fairchild will give you a brief tour." The principal said while gesturing the girl with closed eyes to step forward.

"Hello you two, my name is Chiffon Fairchild, and I am the student body President!" The short-haired blonde cheerfully said while bowing her head lightly. "Nice to meet you two, Aoi-kun, Wisnu-kun!"

"Nice to meet you, too Chiffon-sempai!" The Japanese said blusihingly.

"Likewise, Chiffon-sempai." Wisnu followed suit while bowing his head to the senior.

"Now if you two please follow me!" Chiffon said, as she led the boys to the door. Yet, before they could reach the exit, the principal called out the Indonesian's name.

"Yes, principal?"

"You may put your belongings here. I will have someone to take them to your room." The kindly principal said. "You don't want to drag your luggage all the way during the tour, do you?"

"Thank you, principal." Wisnu said while putting down his wheeled luggage and his back pack beside one of the bookshelves.

"One more thing, Wisnu-kun." The principal called, halting him once again from getting out from the office.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"I will overlook your first rule-breaking." The principal kindly said. "But, please be more attentive next time that students are to wear their uniforms during the school days within the academy grounds."

"Yes, ma'am." Wisnu replied with his head bowed in embarrassment. This was clearly not his day.

The tour lasted for nearly a day, with the student body President showing every parts of the academy. From sports ground to the simulation facility, and from education center to dorms, the group travelled with Chiffon giving every explanation on each structure. She also explained about the carnival, the annual semi-gladitorial event between pandoras that Wisnu had misunderstood as outdoor practice session. She explained further about carnival that the contestants were pitted against each other of the same year, so no fights were allowed between the senior years and the junior years during the carnival. The group had lunch in a very extravagant cafeteria that provided many kinds of delicious cuisines from all over the world. President Fairchild explained that since the students of the Genetics carried the future of all mankind on their shoulders, it was only fair that they received the most special treatment. Both Kazuya and Chiffon had Japanese cuisines as lunch, while Wisnu had simple Padang food for his meal. After finishing their lunch, the group continued the tour.

As the day ended with the setting of the sun, so did the tour on the academy grounds. Light posts began to flicker and turn to life, illuminating the dark academy grounds with silvery light. The group returned to the grassy field in front of the male dormitory.

"So that concludes our little tour." The President cheerfully said, making Wisnu wondered how did she find the energy to kept on smiling the whole day long. "The class will start on 8 in the morning. It's best that you boys prepare yourselves for tomorrow, okay?"

"Yes, Chiffon-sempai." The boys answered unisonly.

"So, any questions?"

Wisnu felt his jet lag started to dance its dance. All he wanted right now is a nice warm bed, so he opted not to raise any question.

"Actually, Chiffon-sempai." Kazuya asked, earning a mute groan from Wisnu. "Do you know a female student with long blonde hair in red uniform?"

"You mean Satellizer L. Bridget?" The student body President answered with a hint of trembling in her voice. "Why do you ask?"

"I kind of have caused some trouble for her." Kazuya said apologetically. "I really should apologize to-"

"What?!" The president quickly grabbed the Japanese teen's arms, terror was dawned in her face. "What did you do to her?"

"W-well, I hugged her."

"WHAT?!" The fear-stricken President yelled. "And you are still alive?!"

"Why? What's wrong with her, Chiffon-sempai?" Wisnu inquired.

"Are you listening? Let me tell you what we call Satellizer-san at this academy." Chiffon Fairchild said panickly with the fairness of her face fade into sickly pale. "She is "The Untouchable Queen", whom no one is to lay a finger upon."

"Surely that name is a little too far-fetched." The Indonesian said dismissively.

"You don't understand!" Chiffon interjected furiously. "She is the strongest of all the second year students in Genetics, attaining a double S rank by being undefeated in battle. Amongst her classmates, she proudly bears the nickname 'The Heartless Witch'."

Okay, that reputation was pretty impressive.

"She also was a troublemaker who transferred here from East Genetics." The fearful President continued. "There is a legend that says "The Untouchable Queen" has killed over 20 pandoras and limiters who have dared to lay a single finger on her! Scary, don't you agree?! "

Now that's pretty badass…..and quite scary too. Wisnu bore in his mind that he definitely wouldn't want to test the wrath of "The untouchable Queen".

"And now, not only that you have touched her, but also have hugged her to the top of that!" Chiffon said while shaking the Japanese boy to and fro, making him to have spinning eyes. Kazuya himself was feeling rather uneasy and unwell after learning the truth or rather, 'rumors' regarding the second-year blonde. He never thought such beauty was that kind of a person.

"Let me give you some advice as your sempai, Aoi-kun." President Fairchild spoke with seriousness in her tone and with her face beamed directly to the Japanese's. "Go back to the school that you came from!"

…

..

.

A moment of awkward silence lingered, as the brain of the Japanese teen processed the 'advice' given by the panicking student body President.

"But….I just got transferred here…" Kazuya confusedly replied, ending the silence.

"Your life is more important, isn't it?" Chiffon Fairchild swiftly answered.

Then, out of nowhere…..

Wisnu shuddered for a second as he felt a sharp coldness ran through his spine. The coldness seemed to be contagious as Kazuya were shuddering as well. As he looked to the student body President, Wisnu found out that Chiffon Fairchild had a deathly pale face, as if blood had been completely drained from her body.

"Sa..sa.. ." The president stuttered while looking on something behind the back of the Japanese.

"What's wrong, Chiffon-sem-" Wisnu asked while turning his sight to whatever the senior student was looking. His words were never finished as he looked upon the source of the senior's terror. The Japanese followed suit and soon he was sharing the paleness that the both Wisnu and Chiffon were having.

What they looked was no other than "The Untouchable Queen" herself. Dressed in her distinct bright red colored customized uniform that shown a big portion of her cleavage, Satellizer L. Bridget stood like a deranged serial killer under the illumination of the light post. Her face was hidden in the shadow of her long blonde hair. The tail of her long hair and her long red skirt were billowing with the night breeze, enhancing the already eerie atmosphere.

"Which one of you two is Aoi Kazuya?" Her beautiful yet cold voice flowed to the ears of the three.

"Oh crud." Wisnu voiced his thought out loud.

This was definitely not his day.

This chapter is dedicated to its readers, and also Iain Ballamy, the lord of saxophonists. I love you guys so much.