34th of Baratus, 3000
3730 days to The Cataclysm

"I'll burn down this world, and from its ashes, shall rise another."

These words echoed in Tadashi's head as he stared at the blank computer screen, unable to suppress his memories at the mere mention of Zark's existence.

Pain, or anger? The young man couldn't completely grasp the emotions instigated by his memories. The memories of blood, the memories of failure, the memories of despair, but more importantly, the memories of guilt. Though a decade has passed since the incident and he rose in rank to become the Vice-Admiral of the navy, every time he is left alone with his thoughts, he finds himself back in the past, his nightmarish past. His mother's soothing voice and soft touch were fresh in his memory, unfortunately, though, the most vivid memory of them was of their gradual disappearance.

This recurring cycle of guilty retrospect was interrupted by the sound of an opening door. Tadashi shook his head, cleared his thoughts, and stood up to face the visitor.

"Fucking knock befo- Oh sir what brings you here?" said Tadashi, with a sudden change of his tone as he stood perfectly straight with his hands raised in salutation for the visitor.

The visitor was a six and a half feet tall brown man, with dark blue eyes dressed in a long gold-trimmed blue robe. His close-cropped black hair paired with the serious expression of his face gave the inkling that he may be a high ranking individual. A person judging this man's rank just by his looks wouldn't be wrong to do so, after all, he was Zinedine Martinez Westbrook, the Admiral of the navy.

"Take a seat, Shirozou," said Zinedine, signaling towards his chair as he sat down opposite to Tadashi.

He stared disapprovingly at Tadashi's informal black tank top and trousers but chose to bother himself no further about it.

"What do you feel about all this?" he continued.

"I really don't know sir. Every time I think about it, my past pops into my head instead."

"It's alright. Not many 15-year-old kids can dive knee-deep into the bloody waters of battle and come out that clean. Just look at yourself, you're the youngest Vice-Admiral in history.

Tadashi responded with a forced smile.

"Okay but let's get to business. The Commander has been missing ever since the broadcast so we'll meet up with the Army and Air force at the palace."

"And what about the borders, sir?"

"What about them? We'll leave the whole navy here along with the barrier, nobody can get through."

"It's not like anybody has reason to attack," said Tadashi with a shrug.

"Yeah remember how I said you're the youngest Vice-admiral ever but said nothing about becoming the youngest Admiral? It because of how naïve you are."

"What do you mean, sir?" replied Tadashi, confused

"There is always a reason to shed blood, this world will never be devoid of its bloodlust, no matter how falsely peaceful it may seem"

"I guess I should know that more than anyone else, right, sir?"

"Absolutely," said Zinedine, getting up from his seat.

"Meet me at the jet station in 15, be on time."

Zinedine walked out of the door and shut it with a soft thud behind him.

"Back to the city, eh?" thought Tadashi to himself, spinning in his chair.

"I might even be able to meet Elric after all this time. It's been a couple of months, hasn't it?"

Tadashi got up and reached for his skotono but was startled by Zinedine barging through the door.

"What happened, sir?" asked Tadashi.

"Yeah I forgot one thing, if I see you in that informal tank top shit you have on you, you're fired."

Immediately Zinedine left the room, this time closing the door with a loud bang, leaving Tadashi speechless.

Tadashi chuckled quietly and changed into a black T-shirt instead, over which he draped himself in a long blue robe that had 'SHIROZOU' written vertically downwards at the back.

Tadashi then grabbed his skotono and proceeded towards the jet station. As he walked up to the stairs that led to the surface of the navy HQ, he whipped out his phone to check his messages.

He noticed a messaged labeled 'Freshman Recruits'.

He tapped the message and scrolled through the list of names along with their biodata, searching for the one that may interest him.

Just before he gave up, two names with disclaimers grabbed his attention. The disclaimers read;

"As an exception this year, we have decided to recruit these two soldiers with the full knowledge that they are 15 and skipped the three year prep school.

SHIROZOU ELRIC

KUROKAMI GERARD"

Tadashi gritted his teeth and thought to himself;

"Is this what he really wants? Goddammit, why didn't anybody ask me about this?"

Tadashi angrily put his phone back into his pocket and walked out of the exit to the surface of the Navy HQ which was a towering cylindrical building floating in the Eirinian ocean with 15 floors underwater and 2 floors above.

He saw Zinedine boarding the jet and followed him inside. He sat down on the seat in front of Zinedine and fastened his seatbelt. The entrance to the jet was sealed off, and it silently lifted off the ground. With a soft buzz, the jet took off at a tremendous pace.

"Sir," said Tadashi is an uncertain voice.

Zinedine looked at Tadashi, signaling him to continue talking.

"Do you know about the recruitment of my little brother and his friend, Gerard? "

"Oh yeah, the Commander was talking about it."

"THE COMMANDER HIMSELF!?" exclaimed Tadashi.

"Yeah, apparently they both showed exceptional skill. The Xenocyte kid showed determination in becoming a soldier while we imagined that your brother would just go along with the flow. He isn't really that ambitious, after all."

"I get that Gerard wants to be a soldier, can't argue with that. Elric is different though he never really wanted to fight, and you know his past is irrelevant here."

"The Commander himself recruited these two. You've got to ask him about this."

"I thought Chief Saxton takes care of unique situations like he did for me? "

"That's usually the case, but the Commander ordered the chief to recruit those two," replied Zinedine, visibly annoyed at Tadashi's questionnaire.

"But sir, it's-"

"ENOUGH!" commanded Zinedine.

"Questioning the direct orders of the Commander is no less than treason. What's the problem anyway, you joined the army when you were 13, why can't your brother join now, eh?"

"Sir, it's just the-"

Tadashi was interrupted by the announcement of their arrival.

"Look Shirozou, if you have a problem with any of what's going on," said Zinedine as he unfastened his seat belt and got up

"You take it up with the commander."

Tadashi nodded and followed Zinedine to the exit. Before they exited the jet, each of them equipped a gauntlet. Once the jet took off, they turned around and were greeted by the massive Eirini Palace.

It was a giant smooth black cube with no obvious point of entry, suspended in the air and emanated a purple glow. Zinedine and Tadashi unfurled their wings and flew up close to the palace.

A doorway formed on one of the sides, and both of them entered the palace.

A few hours later, Zinedine and Tadashi flew out of one of the sides in haste.

"How did they breach the goddamn border," said Zinedine

"You go tend to the citizens, I'll go and check on the border" he continued.

Tadashi nodded and flew towards the citizens while Zinedine flew towards the border at a rapid pace.

In a quick survey, Tadashi determined that the army troops have the situation under control.

He suddenly remembered Elric and flew towards the south city.

As he came in the vicinity of the city, he was horrified to see it's flaming ruins.

"Oh, god no, please no," thought Tadashi to himself.

It wasn't long before he saw Elric lying on the ground with Gerard standing right next to him. He increased his pace, but Odysseus caught his attention with a giant fire blast that he shot right at Gerard.

"Godammit I was so preoccupied with Elric I didn't notice the enemy," thought Tadashi to himself, disgusted with his recklessness.

He raised a wall of diamond to block the attack and landed in front of Gerard.

"T-Tadashi? Is that you?" said Gerard

"Yeah it's me, how is Elric doing."

"He's alive, but injured. That big guy there got him with a giant fireball."

"What!" exclaimed Tadashi

"Uhh, I mean yeah, take him and leave," he continued.

Gerard nodded, picked up Elric, and flew off.

He retracted the diamond wall and looked Odysseus right in the eye.

"Well Well, if it isn't the Rouge Zilevan Marshall Odysseus," said Tadashi, firmly gripping his skotono.

"Vice-admiral Tadashi, eh? Like that dumbass barrier wasn't enough, jeez. How much more do I have to do?" said Odysseus

"What brings you here?"

"Eirini's greatest weapon," said Odysseus

Tadashi's expression suddenly changed, and he took a battle position, ready to strike at any given moment.

"How do you know about that?" growled Tadashi

"Woah! I'm not even supposed to mention that or what? I guess not many people know about the En-"

Odysseus was cut short by Tadashi charging towards him at full speed.

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Hope you're enjoying my story
Don't forget to vote and comment your thoughts. Until next time, shirozou signing out