Axel, embodying confidence but feeling a hint of nervousness, held his gaze steady on the nun. He was unable to think of a suitable conversation starter, so he took a deep breath and looked Fairy 001 dead in the eyes.

  “Thank you, Fairy 001, for your unwavering service to humanity. I must confess, you possess an elegance that truly captivates. The beauty you carry is nothing short of remarkable.” he said, showering her with praise.

  The nun, briefly taken aback by his unexpected compliment, felt a warm flutter at his words.

  “Oh, you’re too kind, Comet 01(Axel). Do you really think I’m beautiful? After three hundred seventy years, it’s easy to forget what that means amidst the chaos of battle. But I suppose there’s still a hint of charm left in me. Just remember, in our line of work, it’s not our appearances that define us but what we do for others.” She replied with a playful smile.

  “Perhaps after this mission, we can share a drink sometime. Even a nun deserves a little time to unwind,” she added with a flirtatious glint in her eye. Pausing for a moment, she then turned her gaze to Phoenix, adopting an authoritative stance.

  “Young lady, if you want to be bred like a mule by those lizards, then go outside, vent your frustrations, and let the whole city hear your indignation. Waste your parents’ legacy if that’s truly what you wish to do.”

  “I’m sorry,” Phoenix whispered, tears welling in her eyes as she looked down, not accustomed to such ridicule.

  “Your apology won’t bring the dead back to life,” the nun replied with firmness. “You want to blame me for not saving them, don’t you? What if I told you I have tried over five thousand times in countless scenarios and still failed? Would you label me weak, incompetent, and uncaring? The burden of humanity rests on our shoulders. We have not merely tried. We have done our utmost to save them. You think those big red and orange lizards are the worst? Think again. There are horrors out there capable of swallowing suns and creatures that could unleash incurable plagues that mutate the flesh every passing second, making a cure impossible. Do not drag us down like this. Those hands and feet that once helped you stand as a child should also be used to rise and fight back. Use them to take down those challenges and strike at the heart of the enemy… Join us and make a stand!”

  "I won't just stand by and be a mule," Phoenix declares, her voice firm. A deep breath fills her lungs, and as she looks up at the nun, her eyes light up with determination.

  "I'll use my hands and feet to fight back. I'll make a difference."

  After the passionate dialogue between Fairy 001 and Phoenix, they made their way down to an underground passage filled with caches of gear ready to be used. New, unfamiliar types of weapons hung on the walls, and the soldiers, eager for new equipment, couldn’t help but marvel at the additions. However, their daydreams were interrupted by the voice of Fairy 001.

  "Those are not yours, but if you can wield Arcane, then feel free to pick one. We do have standard gear available in the armory cache on the right. Just leave your old weapon behind and choose a new one. By the way, you can carry two Pisions with you, but make sure not to lose them."

  The soldiers began to collect the undamaged gear, replacing their worn-out equipment with fresh replacements. They couldn't help but wonder why they needed to leave their old gear in the cache, but they kept their questions to themselves. After all, challenging a battle-hardened veteran like Fairy 001 could invite a stern reprimand. Meanwhile, Axel took the lead in reporting to Mission Control, ensuring that all progress and intelligence were meticulously documented.

  “Mission Control, this is Comet 01(Axel). We have successfully secured the weapons. All Cloak and Bulwark systems operational at 100% integrity. Ammunition status on a thousand rounds for the Winston and two Pisions with a total of 14 rounds. Requesting clarification on the prohibition against retaining the old weapons as reserves in our inventory. Over.”

  “Comet 01(Axel), this is Mission Control, the cache is a Personal Device used by Fairy 001, its main function is to recycle the materials and make newer ones, I cannot disclose all its full operation as this might violate her privacy. Over.”

  Axel stood in disbelief, grappling with the notion that operatives had their own sensibilities around privacy in a world where every move had once been scrutinized. To him, it felt almost absurd! Soldiers didn’t usually concern themselves with confidentiality. The very idea of a ‘Personal Device’ being off-limits was a foreign concept, one that clashed with the rigid military doctrines he had lived by. He couldn't help but wonder how such modern practices fit into the battlefield mentality he had always known.

  "Comet 01(Axel), there's no need to be surprised. Maintaining privacy in operations like this is standard practice, as it provides us with a strategic advantage against hostile forces. Furthermore, we only recruit individuals of genuine integrity who are dedicated to safeguarding our existence. Trust is a fundamental principle we extend to everyone, including you and her. As a reminder, you'll need to construct the device yourself or enlist a weaponsmith to create it for you. Once it’s complete, you can have it registered with a tag, and then you’ll be all set. Just so you know, she built hers entirely on her own."

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  Upon hearing this, Axel felt a renewed sense of confidence in humanity's progress. It was clear that they had entered an era marked not only by remarkable advancements but also by individuals whose integrity and commitment exemplified the best of their species. This was a time when freedom transcended mere ideals, becoming a tangible reality grounded in trust, skill, and a shared purpose to protect what truly matters.

  With their weapons in hand, Fairy 001 motioned for three children and Phoenix to join her for a demonstration of the weapons they could use alongside their powers. Axel, intrigued, asked if he and the other soldiers could observe. Fairy 001 consented, recognizing that this could serve as an eye-opening experience for them. As the men gathered at the side, eager to learn, Fairy 001 began the session with an introduction to Arcane.

  "Alright, everyone! Let’s talk about something really fascinating called the Arcane, which is all about how atoms move. Think of it like this, atoms can come together to form molecules, break apart, and scatter all around us. For instance, look at this cup of water in my hand." The nun wields the cup, transforming the water inside into vapor, then into snow, and finally into a stunning blue ice sword. The audience gasps in amazement at the display of artfully controlled science.

  "See that? It's science that we can manipulate with just mere thoughts, this is caused by an organ in our bodies, a product of our evolution that we called the Human Core which was once located as visceral fats in our stomach, that is why arcanist doesn’t get ugly and obese. The human core acts as an energy source for our brains to affect these atoms similar to a magnet. Some can even change their appearance or alter their biological structure. However, these people are far too few to count, I’m still in the process of learning that so I can’t show you that yet. Now, watch this." She slices a medieval shield in half with the navy-blue sword, demonstrating how durable the material could be using such powers.

  "There are different types of ways to form atoms into molecules and vice versa, you’ll need to study chemistry, mathematics and physics in order to do so, which we will tackle in the later days. The energy to move, put back and assemble the atoms all comes from our bodies, so eating well is a crucial need to wield the Arcane, if you don’t, the human core will take the energy from the remaining parts of your body including your flesh, blood and other organs leaving you as a dried-up corpse in the worst-case scenario. On the other hand, proper sleep is an equally important matter, it will allow you to fully control the arcane, think about it as embroidering, a nun who didn’t had an ounce of sleep could only finish a handkerchief at most while a nun who had at least eight hours of sleep can make at least ten, combine that with a good meal then you have a nun that can make twenty handkerchiefs.“ Fairy 001 described.

  The blue ice sword, now for everyone to see, was inspected by the men and the children, even Phoenix’s curiosity was piqued. Wong did not join as he seemed to ponder something, Axel gave him a glance, then paid no mind to his mutterings as he imagined if he had such an organ too.

  "So, big sister, when the atoms break apart, they go 'boom' and scatter everywhere, right? But when they come together again, we need another 'boom' to put them back together, right?" said the curious little lass while she waves her hands around in exaggerated motion trying to do her best to describe her understanding as best as she could.

  She was dumbfounded at the explanation of the little girl, she stopped herself from laughing by taking a deep breath, then she continued.

  "While that's technically true, all these weapons before you are my creations. This doesn't account for the time-consuming process of gathering the atoms. By casting your arcane instantly, congratulations! You can now bypass those cumbersome incantations that make you sound like a devil worshipper." She then added, “finally there is the types of casting,” she then took the pistol shaped weapon, then one of her team members who was also in nun attire put a dummy in front of the crowd.

  “First, there’s Fast Casting,” she explained. “This means I can fire an almost unlimited number of shots as long as my human core capacity is sufficient.” With that, she pressed a button on the pistol, and a rapid 'ratatatatat' filled the air as it unleashed a barrage of bullets, transforming the iron-plated dummy into a sieve. The men gawked at the sight, astonished to learn just how useful magic could be in combat, the fire rate was comparable to that of a submachine gun. Phoenix, who only understood that she needed to be emotionally agitated to access her powers, was taken aback. She couldn't help but ask a question.

  “Could... could... could my mom and dad really do this?” she asked while stuttering.

  She longed for answers about what could possibly kill her parents. The turmoil in her heart needed resolution, she knew they were strong, but not to this extent.

  "They are not only capable of this." The mischievous Fairy 001 couldn't help but smirk at her, then she proceeded to her demonstration.

  Four more guns floated into the air and formed a circle that fired simultaneously at five different targets. The soldiers, captivated by the quick-scoping prowess of such arcane power, almost reached for pen and paper to take notes. Axel then noticed Wong shedding tears and approached him, sensing something was amiss.

  “Comet 07(Wong), is your mental state stable?” asked Axel.

  “Sniff… Sniff… Captain… Captain…. Could… could a flying sword be more than just a dream now? I, Wong, shall defy the heavens and banish these invaders with my sword in a single sword strike! Captain, I have always dreamed of becoming a cultivator, this might be the secrets my ancestors have long been yearning for!” Wong said, his pleading eyes brimming with hope.

  Axel couldn’t reprimand the man because he could clearly see the sincerity in his gaze.

  "Comet 07(Wong), I won’t stop you from learning but know this. In the future, you might discover that there is more to cultivation than you think. Who knows?" Fairy 001 shrugged and looked at Wong teasingly.

  "I will take you on as my master," Wong exclaimed. "I will swim in a sea of fire, climb a mountain of swords, and swear my eternal allegiance to you. Please accept me as your disciple!" Wong proceeded to kowtow as if pounding garlic. Seeing a brawny man like Wong take such actions, Phoenix and the children realized that this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity they couldn’t afford to miss. This realization, in turn, made things easier for Fairy 001.