Leon's POV

This whole world seemed…a lot more different ever since I came out of the Planetary Fortress.

Ever since that day, I was afraid my knowledge of the future would become nearly useless and I had to be prepared for anything unexpected to occur. I could no longer follow through with my original plan of laying low and staying behind the scenes, because if I don't…everything I did worked hard for will taken from me. The adjutant could not explain the whole thing since parts of its memories had been locked away by someone long ago. The only way to unlock them is if I find the code that person used to override the adjutant's systems. Which is easier said than done.

Though I was still able to piece together whatever fragments of info were left. It turns out that this world was of interest to all the three major factions in the Koprulu Sector, for reasons I don't know yet. Each race sent forth their own expedition to this place, which is millions of lightyears away from the sector itself. The Dominion, The Daelaam, and The Swarm had set up outposts in orbit around the planet along with bases on its surface, researching something that is still unknown to me. What happened after that remains unclear to me. However I was sure something had happened after I listened tp a corrupted voice recording.

"-tO aNyXXX hXXXing XXIs. wE aXe IX XAnXXr! The pXOToXS hAvX GoNX cXXXXXXXX TXXY arXX't respoXXinX tX AXYthXXG! ThX zXRg haXe GXnE FeRXL! It's taXXng evXryonX. AXX oX uX! It's this XXaXXT that's caXsiXX tXIX tO HaXpEn! plXase! XXXXX CXME GXT US! Xo XXt C-"

Anything after that was all static, but even so, atleast I got a glimpse of the past and although I don't see the full picture, I could already tell something wrong had happened. What 'it' was, it had dealt with the entire expedition, since there hasn't been any signs of them for centuries now. Not even glimpse of the mighty Protoss or formidable Zerg.

Though I did went pale when I heard those words, Feral Zerg. As if this world wasn't dangerous enough. Thankfully the adjutant had saved me from having a heart attack by reminding me that there hasn't been any traces of Zerg activity for the last thousand years. Dread loosened it grip on my heart upon the news but that only made me feel even more confused. If the Zerg had indeed gone feral then where are they? Why aren't there any traces of the Protoss being here? What happened to all the Dominion personnel?

So many questions with no answers danced around in my mind. Questions that I forced to the back of my mind since I wasn't making progress with them. Right now, I have to focus on what I do know and what I have to do.

This is why I am pondering in my room, thinking of the future after the complicated and loud discussion I had with my family. Zola, her corrupted spawns, which I refuse to call my siblings, and my actual sisters had demanded everything I have to be handed over to them through the excuse of donating it to the family.

I tried to be reasonable...but they forced me to lay down my foot.

~Flashback~

"...Tell me, have any of you ever sailed off into the unknown, going through one hellish trial after another, just to desperately find a way out of a situation you couldn't get out of?"

Zola, my step brother and sister, and my actual sister stopped in their seemingly unceasing whining. Watching me from the other side of the table on their comfy seats with curious eyes.

"What are you on about bo-", Zola was cut of when I continued.

"Have any of you ever experience being hunted down by horrifying monsters or chased by blood thirsty pirates while on a tiny boat with nothing but a sword and a rifle?", My head was cast down, my gaze upon the table as memories of moment I would rather forget flashed before my eyes.

"Have you ever felt the sheer amount of fear, desperation, and misery of trying to prove yourself to your family by risking your own life on a fleeting ray of hope?", I raised my head, looking upon them all with blank eyes and broken smile on my face. They flinched back, clearly disturbed while Rutart and Merce seemed frighten and held close to each other.

"If you had...then you would know..."

CRASH!

CRASH!

VROOM!

"That I'm not in my right mind at the moment~"

I didn't know what made them cover in fear more. The moment I let myself slip into insanity for a whole minute or how two of the Vikings smashed Gatling gun barrels through the walls behind me and revved up their guns.

"So please excuse my rash behavior as I decline your demands~"

~Flashback End~

So yeah, I went with the whole unstable mind excuse, scarring the souls out of them with the actions of a boy close to breaking. They haven't bothered me since! Though now I look like the bad guy in this situation. It had to be done. Now, without Zola trying and failing to tie a collar around my neck, I can focus on much bigger and more important matters…even though it broke my heart to have my little brother Colin stare at me with frightened eyes. Gosh that stung!

However, I had to push on, for there sake...even if they don't believe or understand.

After the news of my accomplishments in obtaining numerous lost items and conquering a dungeon started to spread, it had finally reached the royal family of Holford. Then after they realized that I now had enough power to deal devastating damage to the kingdom or even conquer it, they quickly made their move.

Instantly they had already arranged a meeting to take place two days from now. LUXION already informed me of them sending an invitation.

I can already imagine just how much chaos the nobles are in. Generally, if a threat like me appeared they would either try to chain me down and swear loyalty to the kingdom or dispose of me, however when you have a giant battleship the size of the entire royal palace any thoughts of killing me off went out the window.

Thank goodness for that.

Not because I fear for my life but because I fear for their lives when LUXION decides to retaliate.

One of the many things I learned about my new partner is that he is very protective of me. I don't know the full details but I think it has to do with my ancestor caring for LUXION as if it was their child, and me looking like said ancestor.

"If anything were to happen to you, I will cleanse this entire world of life and then terminate myself."

His words, not mine.

But hey! At least I have someone I truly can count on…despite them being an overprotective AI that is capable of planetary annihilation.

Ding!

Huh, speaking of which. LUXION just sent me a report. It turns out that one of the nobles was stupid enough to try and take me out. They had hired an assassin to kill me. Poor unfortunate soul. He couldn't make it halfway the trip before LUXION's mechanical equivalent of a Ghost or Specter killed him…a bit too brutally in my opinion. Another memory to add to my growing collection of trauma.

It kind of made me nervous since I have four of the same humanoid-shaped machines guarding me right now. LUXION calls them Phantoms, a tactical mechanical unit that has psionic abilities. How that is possible, I do not know and frankly, LUXION doesn't want me to know. Oh and they can cloak too.

"Shall I eliminate the noble commander or disable them?"

"Disable, please. I don't want a repeat of what I just saw.", I said while trying to forget the gore-filled scene I had witnessed. Ugh, who knew the phrase "Shoving it so far down it comes out of your ass" could be so brutal when made literal. Note to self, try not to make too many enemies lest they end up like that poor soul.

Little did I know that I had just condemned the unfortunate noble to a fate worse than death…but that's a story for another time.

"Anything else to report?", I ask him and he replies through one of the Phantom units.

"Yes, there is. The schematics you requested have already been processed. The construction on the new mechanical units are now underway. Based on my calculations, the first Raider shall be complete in 2 days, 5 hours, and 20 minutes. Meanwhile, our forces have already begun making progress on Project Bastion, Project Atlas, and Operation Overtake. Our current base of operations has already grown over 29 percent. Barracks, Factories, and Starports have been producing combat platforms non-stop, bringing the total number of our forces to 2,439 android infantry, 1,926 land vehicles/mechs, and 1,260 air units."

"We are making progress, that's good news then.", I sigh in relief before asking the AI about another matter, "What about the island? Is it finished?"

"Fortunately, yes, it has already been completed."

"Oh thank goodness. We need that place as a front to hide our real base. Don't want any nosy nobles trying anything stupid."

"Agreed."

A tired sigh left my lips before I laid back on my bed, the fatigue I had carried for weeks is now bearing down on me, making my eyelids feel heavier.

"Man, it's been…quite a day. I returned home, shocked my family with my discovery, and showed Zola who was boss. I really should rest up. I got a big day ahead of me and an even bigger one on the day after."

I turn my head to the window and stare at the stars outside through its glass. Making me wonder just how different things could have been if I did get that overpowered ship instead.

I snicker. I would have probably stayed as a mob and kept to the side, laying low in the background while trying and failing to get a wife to obtain a quiet peaceful life.

Yet as fate would have it, I will be going down an entirely different path, hopefully, it won't cause me too many migraines.

~Time Skip~

~Two Days Later~

Me and my big mouth…

"I'm sorry but could you repeat that? I think my brain is having a hard time processing what you just said.", I ask the King and Queen of the kingdom who are sitting in front of me.

"I know it is an unorthodox request but rest assured that we are serious.", Queen Mylene said, "As stated, we are offering you the title of Duke once you have graduated from the academy, since giving it to you now will cause an uproar and give you unwanted attention, as you requested. We also agree with all of your demands regarding trade, territory and your right to be judge, jury and executioner for any nobles threatening or have wronged you. In return, you shall protect the country, defend it against all those who try to destroy it, vow to never betray nor plot its destruction, and most important of all, watching over my son and his friends."

"...I can understand your son but his friends as well?"

King Roland then spoke next, "He is very fond of them and their families have strong connections as well as influence. If something were to happen to them, our alliance may very well fall apart."

I blink…before rubbing my temple, trying to ease my already growing headache, "I mean no offense, your highness, but are you sure you are asking the right person? You barely know me."

"Indeed we do, but I trust your father and I trust that he has raised a strong, caring, and noble son.", Roland replies with a fake smile.

'You just want me to waste my time keeping an eye on them in case they do something stupid, don't you? Keeping me too busy to even think of starting a rebellion. ', I sigh mentally at the King's intentions and that the Queen had gone along with it, despite showing her displeasure.

Fine then, if you want to play it that way, I'm going to add my own rules.

"What if it is they who are the ones endangering themselves because of an irrational decision they made? What am I supposed to do then?"

"Then I permit you to be able to correct their mistakes without any fear pf being punished yourself, as long as you don't plan on abusing them, so says I, King Roland!", The man says with a proud voice, not noticing the disappointed stare his wife is giving him.

Even I an glaring passively at him, not being able to believe that he is the king of this kingdom with how carefree he spoke his words.

But hey, at least this means I won't become some kind of lap dog that is helpless against its owners.

That and I can get some payback on those five spoiled brats for causing me so much stress.

"Very well, it seems that we are all in an agreement.", I stood up dramatically and placed my hand on my chest, "Shall we make the contract official then?"

Roland lifts himself off his chair with a smile on his face while Mylene lets out a sigh before doing the same. The two entered the same pose and at the same time, a magic circle appeared on each of our chests.

"By fearless blood and enduring spirit, by courageous heart and unyielding souls, I stake thy name upon our words that may we never forsake our promises. From now on and onto death, ancestors bear witness to our honor until our last breath!"

A flash of light blinds us for a moment until everything returns to normal, but I still felt the effects of the magic lingering on me before it faded from my senses.

The Vow. A spell that our past adventuring ancestors had made to solidify pacts, agreements, and contracts. Two parties cast this spell upon reaching an agreement and the both side must fulfill their end of the bargain and stay truthful to it. If one tries to break it, a terrible curse will be cast down upon them, leaving them magicless, powerless, and close to death.

This spell is quite convenient in specific situations, if not for the fact that only those with a large amount of magical energy can use it since it uses so much of it.

Despite its costs, I will surely make use of this spell on future occasions.

After I make sure to expand my reserves of course. I'm absolutely exhausted. I feel like I've been running a marathon non-stop for 5 hours straight. It took me quite the effort not to just show my fatigue to the King and Queen. I can't show any signs of weakness right now.

"Hmm, interesting.", King Roland rubs his chin as he stares at me with small bits of admiration, "To be able to cast The Vow at such a young age without tiring yourself is quite a feat Sir Bartfort."

"Thank you for your praise, your highness. It's nice to know that all my training during my adventure is being acknowledged.", I say with a forced smile.

"I will be looking forward to your growth, young Baron. Until we meet again.", Roland proclaims before he and the Queen leave the room and be escorted by their guards back to their airship. Only when their footsteps had faded away did I allow me to collapse onto my knees.

"Jeez… that took…a lot… out of me…The Vow is no joke…", I say to myself through every breath.

"It is strange to see that the world has developed such a interesting supernatural phenomenon, this...magic. It has similarities with psionics but operates differently in both source, process and product."

LUXION commented through the Phantom on my right. It then disables its cloak and then hands me a glass of ice tea.

I nodded thankfully at the android before I took a sip of my drink, "It may have something to do with what happened centuries ago. Though we can't be sure of this until we bypass the lock on the adjutant. Any luck on that?"

"Negative. Any attempt at forcefully breaking the lock will damage the vital intel. The only safe way is to find the code."

Sighing, I set down the empty glass on the table, "Then we don't have much of a choice. Keep up the search LUXION but make sure to remain undetected. We need to stay inconspicuous."

"Affirmative, Commander."

The Phantom then reactivated its cloak, disappearing as I am once again, left to my thoughts.

"Welp, guess I'll be stuck on babysitting duty for most of my school life...", Sighing, I let my mind wander, "I suppose I can go make sure that the protagonist is doing well. The last thing I need is her triggering a bad end…but then again, I have Terran Ingenuity on my side. I'm sure there isn't anything I can't handle."

But that's for the future. I still have a few years left before the events of the game start.

What do I do until then? Hmmm…

My gaze drifts over to my right arm...or where it used to be, before it was replaced with a realistic prosthetic.

Ah~ The wonders of advanced technology.

Despite it functioning like a regular arm and having several special functions…I still miss the original…which reminds me.

A grin slowly begins to form on my lips as I remember the faces of the people responsible for my loss. Those who sailed under the black flag, the ones who captured me, tortured me…

"LUXION!"

"Yes, commander?"

"Ready The Dutchman.", I watch as my mechanical hand begins to shift into a metal hook. My grin turns wicked while my eyes burn with rage.

"It's time for a little bit of revenge on a couple of sky pirates."

"Already on it Commander."

LUXION's voice spoke with glee. Eager to punish the ones who dared to harm me.

~One Week Later~

~Random Pirate's POV~

Today was meant to be a day of celebration with drinks, food, and pleasure after a successful raid on a merchant ship.

But then…IT arrived.

We thought it was going to be easy prey…oh how wrong we were. All of us were so blinded by the spoils of our victory that we did not see what that thing actually was…until it was too late.

Cries of pride soon became screams of terror as IT brought down our ships, one by one in storm of fire, red light and explosions. It savored each kill, forcing us to watch helplessly as our crew and comrades were blown from the sky and sank into the sea below.

We tried everything...but we could not even scratch IT or the flock of flying death machines that gunned us down.

When my ship was the only one left standing. IT decided to savor its meal some more. That nightmare launched its minions of steel and death at us. They descended onto the deck and began to massacre my men. We did all that we could do but…we couldn't do anything to them. We didn't even kill one.

They butchered every single one of us. I helplessly watched as they killed my crew, one by one, one gruesome death after another.

I saw a man being pulling in different directions by four of those thing before his body was torn to pieces. Limbs and blood flew everywhere.

Another was clobbered into a literal ball, bending and smashing them into a round shape. The worst part about this is that they were still alive, still screaming...but the most horrifying of all...my right-hand man, my brother…I was forced to watch as he was thrown into a pit of hungry maggots. I could still hear his pained screams even now.

It went on like this for hours on end...until I was the only one left. Forced to my knees by two silver soldiers of the devil itself, I waited for my demise without any hope of escaping.

Then at last, after waiting so much in fear…I heard him coming.

STOMP!

STOMP!

STOMP!

STOMP!

Each step of his heavy boots made me quiver in terror and my heart dropped to my stomach as those metallic boots stopped in front of me.

I could not look up even if I wanted to. Even with those things holding me done, I was too paralyzed by fear. Fear of death, fear of pain, fear...of him.

"Tell me, pirate scum…",A metal hook is stabbed into my chin and pierces into the top part of my mouth. I would have screamed, if I my jaw wasn't forced shut.

The owner of the hook then made me to look up at him and what I saw...would haunt me forever, in even death. Shadows cover his face, a deep shade of black than no amount of light could eliminate and the only thing I could see are two silver glowing eyes that stared into my soul.

"Do you fear death?"

The haunting echoing tone of voice asked, before I felt him begin to pull...and jaw came undone.

CRACK

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"