Timeless Assassin

(Juxta Military Base, Entrail and Streak's POV)

Once Entrail and Streak felt Charles's Monarch Sense lock onto them as they neared the central base, the two of them exchanged the briefest of glances, and without a word, unleashed their arrival strike.

[Heaven Sundering Arc]

[Silent Void Rend]

*BOOOOM*

*CRASHHH*

Entrail's blade carved a crescent of blinding silver that split the clouds apart, while Streak's near invisible slash tore through the very fabric of the air, the two attacks converging like twin storms upon the lone figure standing guard below.

*THRUMMM*

*CLANGGG*

Charles lifted his naked palm in defence, his aura flaring violently as he intercepted the combined strike, using the skill [Absolute Block].

*BOOM*

The impact shook the earth, cracking the reinforced concrete floor underneath him, and even though he held firm, the sheer force drove him back several dozen meters, his boots tearing deep grooves through the ground before he came to a stop.

"Well, well, well… I had heard a lot about your greatness as a Monarch. Some say you might be the strongest Monarch in the universe, that you're as close to Demi-God as one gets.

But watching you block my move, and still be pushed back so many feet… I must say… I'm not impressed."

Entrail teased, his gentleman's smile curling wider as smoke drifted around him.

"Hmph."

Charles snorted, his posture relaxed again as though the clash had been nothing more than a passing breeze, his eyes narrowing with the faintest glimmer of contempt.

"Agh, how impolite of myself to start talking without introducing myself first. I apologize for the misconduct. I am Commander Entrail, and this is my colleague Commander Streak, and together, we will be killing you today."

Entrail continued smoothly, his blade raised in a mocking salute.

However, Charles did not seem impressed at all.

"Son… if you think you can kill me… you're way over your head."

Charles mocked, his voice deep and steady, as his hand shifted once more to the hilt of his sword, his aura beginning to pulse with restrained ferocity, as he slowly unsheathed it.

*WHISHHH*

At that instant Streak struck again, his [Silent Void Rend] unleashed without warning, so swift and subtle it bent the air around it without making a sound, yet Charles pivoted lightly, sidestepping as if he had seen it coming all along.

"That was a good attack… it seems I need to take you more seriously than this clown here."

Charles remarked coldly, pointing directly at Streak, his tone dripping with disdain.

"You bastard… I'm gonna enjoy defeating you today."

Entrail said with a sadistic joy, as his face twisted into an evil grin, that betrayed his usual mask of civility.

*THRUMM*

He charged, blade humming with lethal intent, as Charles exhaled once, finally bending his knees, as he lowered into his battle stance.

As at that moment, the real fight began.

—------------------

(Meanwhile, on Planet Nemo)

The air on Planet Nemo still carried the tang of Cult victory.

Only twenty hours had passed since the Dragon Army had stormed the planet, and though the fires of conquest still smoldered in a few outlying villages, within the capital dome a sense of celebration had already begun to spread.

*Clang*

*Thrum*

Engines hummed and cranes groaned as Cult engineers worked tirelessly through the night, hauling weapon crates from landing pads, bolting down defensive turrets, and rewiring shattered Su installations into the skeleton of a new Cult stronghold.

Black banners fluttered above the makeshift fortifications, and soldiers lounged on street corners with laughter in their voices, relief flooding them now that the planet had so swiftly bent the knee.

For once, it seemed, the Dragon Army had been gifted a victory without attached cost.

"Not bad, Cuz. This place is starting to look more like a proper fortress with every passing hour."

Veyr said, his grin wide as he leaned back in his chair, a steaming cup of coffee cradling his hands.

Leo sat across from him, his own cup untouched, steam curling lazily between them as his eyes lingered on a map of the planet spread across the table.

"We stabilize here, set up the planetary shield, and within a week this world is ours for good. From there, the next step is choosing which Su planet we hit next," Leo muttered, his voice low and calm, as he already began to plan the next assault.

But before either of them could take another sip, the sound of panicked boots pounding tore through the room.

"My lords… my lords!"

A soldier burst through the doors, his chest heaving, his uniform slick with sweat as he stumbled forward and fell face first on the floor.

*Thud*

"Juxta is under assault… Commander Charles just sent out an SOS… he says they are under attack!"

The soldier relayed, as his message slammed into the room like a blade of ice.

"WHAT!"

Veyr exploded, slamming his cup against the table so hard that hot liquid splashed across the maps.

His eyes were wide, the previous grin now gone, as in its place were eyes full of horror.

"How the hell did that happen?"

He asked, as Leo shot up to his feet as well, his expression calm but his mind racing, as he began calculating every future scenario.

"Even if we leave immediately, we will not reach Juxta for another two days," Leo said, his tone even though his fists clenched at his sides.

"By then, the military bases will already be gone. The only hope is if Charles pulls back into the cities, buys time, and forces the enemy to delay. Then perhaps, perhaps, we could still arrive before the military is wiped out."

His voice carried no panic, only analysis, as though trying to figure out the best course of action given current circumstances.

However, before he or Veyr could weigh in anymore on the subject, the doors burst open once again.

"My lords! My lords!"

Another soldier came barreling in, his face pale and streaked with soot as he too stumbled and fell face first before them.

*THUD*

"The Yu Clan ships…" the soldier wheezed, his words spilling out in broken pieces, "they are fast approaching Planet Nemo. We… we have under four hours to prepare for their arrival."

He relayed, as the silence that followed his news was deafening, the celebratory atmosphere from a moment ago collapsing into nothing.