(POV - 3RD)

When the Punishing Virus rose from the confines of a laboratory designed to advance the technologies of mankind, no one would have ever anticipated the very thing that was made to help humanity to turn on them instead.

As it broke the containment, the virus quickly spread and wrecked havoc onto the cities, leaving the most technologically advanced cities decimated into eroded ruins.

Nothing was spared in the wake of the Punishing Virus.

Machines and artificial intelligence turned on its masters, blood was shed as the tools created by man soon became mindless, corrupted killing machines instead.

Human, animals and plants, nothing was spared in its madden rampage.

Countermeasures were made one by one but only to fail one by one, leaving many of humanity dead or dying, survivors were ushered into communities and separated from others. 

Rifts and tension began to grow as humanity began to turn on each other, seeing nothing but their own kind as scapegoats for their sufferings, blood spilled and chaos descended.

The Punishing Virus had indirectly tore a hole in the once dominant species of mankind.

Now, with the remaining civilians and life on the planet, humanity launched one last salvation plan for their survival, a safe haven free from the reaches of the virus and outside dangers.

The space station that was soon launched into the orbit that would become the greatest invention and pinnacle of humanity's creation; a Garden of Eden for the survivors.

Babylonia, the City Amongst the Stars.

The entire colony houses what's left of humanity along with surviving citizens, it became a second home to what is left of the government systems as well as several military factions.

However, Babylonia was only the beginning of a new mission for humanity, for they must retake the Earth, their home from the Punishing Virus and the Corrupted.

Gathering what's left of the world's most brightest and smartest scientists and researchers, good or bad, mankind combined their knowledge to combat the virus and its mechanical army.

Ordinary machines and robots would simply fall to the influence of the virus, corrupted by its vicious properties, hence the namesake of "Corrupted".

The scientists needed to find an alternative, another solution to combat the virus.

Thus, for the sake of humanity and their salvation, they sacrificed any willing volunteers to their newly developed system that would soon bring forth the creation of "Constructs".

To ensure their success, the Constructs were required to be led by a human Commandant that will mentally connect to their assigned team and fight together against the Corrupted.

...

...

...

This is entirely speaking in layman's terms of what is going on in this forsaken world.

A book snapped shut as a dark gloved hand with claws set it down on a table, its owner belonging to that of a young man donned in a dark uniform laced with neon blue lines of lights.

With the same midnight blue pair of pants worn underneath, it ended with a pair of dark knee high combat boots which also glowed with neon blue lights.

Next to the book on the table was a black helmet with a slit visor and more tracing lines that glowed, unlike ordinary helmets, it's completely covered by a mask that is made to prevent anything from hitting into the wearer's face.

Kiryu Madoka took one last look at the manual book given to him before he glanced out the window where the desolate sight of the once blue planet floated in space.

Even in its ruined state, the Earth still looked breath-taking from his sight, the sun remained unchanged as its light shone onto the planet like before, as if nothing's changed.

If only that was the reality.

Kiryu sighed before checking his watch, seeing there's still time before he goes to the briefing directed by the pseudo-leader of Babylonia along with the head scientist.

There's also his father... who he hadn't talked to ever since he attended F.O.S. Academy.

To say there's a rift growing between them won't be wrong... but both father and son have their own responsibilities and tasks to do, even if it means cutting off family bonds.

The young man sighed again before he took out a neatly folded paper within a small envelope, on it were words scribbled in familiar fonts that he recognized easily unlike others.

Kiryu smiled slightly.

The origins of these letters started when Kiryu was still in the academy studying to become a fully fledged Commandant, and it was also the first time where he met the sender of the letter.

Originally, the letters were sent out only because the said sender was bored so she decided to deliver several letters to random people at the academy, but sadly. It turns out he was the only one decided to answer back her letters whereas the others ignored it.

Gradually and eventually, he and the girl became pen pals, exchanging letters and giving each other words of advice and comfort in their darkest days, those were the peaceful times.

Many times, they've set up a date to meet up for real but as if fate was mocking them, they each had things to do on the said date which caused them to always cancel the meet up.

However, it didn't stop them from sending letters to each other.

Days turned into weeks and into months before it turned into years, their relationships got closer and closer as they stopped using pseudonyms for their names.

Eventually, when Kiryu had to focus more on his studies at F.O.S. Academy, his clustered schedule prevented him from sending letters more frequently than he used to, only sending a small notice of apology since he's too busy.

Similarly, Selena as she had introduced herself, would also find her schedule filled but mostly due to the declaration that she will become a Construct, something she told Kiryu at one point and who the latter supported whatever decisions she makes.

Therefore, lonely months passed once more, leaving the absences of letters.

It wasn't until the day of his graduation from the academy that Kiryu would hear from Selena again, this time as a Construct but nevertheless still the same girl he loved sending letters to. There, he also made another friend out an artistic Construct named Ayla.

Thus the three enjoyed whatever time they have left before being sent off to their stations on Babylonia, but not before promising to see each other again.

Which brings everything to the present for Kiryu, who gazed at the first letter sent from Selena to him which he pocketed gently back into his uniform.

Now's not the time to dwell on the past for there is a future to carve.

Kiryu got up before picking up the helmet and donning it, allowing the visor to light up as the new Commandant secured his gloves and uniform and then walked out the door.

He still has a ceremony to attend.

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"On this day and onwards, all of you are now humanity's sole hopes into reclaiming the Earth!"

A voice boomed through the microphone where many uniformed young men and women stood in lines listening, on the stage where the voice came stood a tall man in a long trenchcoat with an eyepatch next to a woman wearing a dark beret and in a similarly dark uniform.

"As the president of the Babylonia Council and leader, I shall help you all in assigning a team of Constructs worthy of your command!" Hassen declared.

"And so, I wish all good luck in your oncoming missions! Remember what you're all fighting for, remember and utilize everything you have learned!"

"Once you walk out that door, walk out high and proud, Commandants!"

As Hassen announced the final words of the ceremony, all the young men and women in response saluted and shouted back with loud and clear voices.

"YES SIR!"

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After the ceremony, Kiryu and the other Commandants awaited their assigned team and very first mission, while the others were busy discussing their own findings and reports, the former stood quietly around a corner and fumbled around with his helmet.

"Madoka." A voice said near his side as Kiryu immediately equipped his helmet.

"Sir." The young Commandant saluted as Hassen walked into his view along with the woman who held a single file in her hand.

"I'll assume you know why we're here, correct?" Hassen asked.

"Is this regarding my request?" Kiryu replied.

"Indeed, while there wasn't any problems about your request, it's just that I feel the need to remind you that new Commandants generally require a team of at least three Constructs."

"Sir, I am well aware, but my choice is clear." Kiryu stated firmly yet not too forcefully.

"Normally I wouldn't grant such request, but... you are the top graduate of F.O.S. Academy, so I'll let this slide for once. Celica?" Hassen said as the woman nodded.

"Alright, Commandant Madoka, as President Hassen had mentioned earlier, you would normally be assigned to a team of three Construct." Began Celica, opening the file as Hassen left.

"But due to your request, instead of us assigning you a team, you alone have selected one of your own choice... which is the Gray Raven squad." 

"...Which is certainly a choice I was not expecting from the 'top dog' of the academy." Celica remarked with a tone of mischief as soon as the President is out of sight.

"...Please don't tell me you're going to call me that from now on..." Kiryu sighed, formality dropping as he talked with a familiar face.

"I'm kidding, don't worry. Anyway, the Gray Raven was just recently re-established and only has one member right now, so are you sure?" Celica questioned.

"I am." Stated the Commandant.

"If you don't mind me asking, why this squad specifically?" 

"...You can say it's just an intuition of mine... besides, I know she has potential." Kiryu answered.

"And I know how it feels to be alone..." He added silently as he looked at the file of the lone Construct of the squad.

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[Designation Code - Lotus]

[Name - Lucia]

[Construct Type - Attacker]

[Vital Fluid Type - A]

[Date of Activation - June 15th]

[Height - 1.55m]

[Weight - 44kg]

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"If that's the case, then there's no use trying to changing your mind now, I'll notify them." Said Celica as she walked away.

"Gray Raven... let's hope my intuition isn't wrong." Kiryu commented quietly as he also walked away from the area and to another room.

Within the room stood several targets and practice dummies near the walls and centre, there were an assortments of weapons varying from handguns to large rocket launchers.

There was also another rack that held a range of melee weapons such as swords, spears, bows and arrows, axes and even giant scythes and greatswords. 

However, Kiryu simply walked past them all before reaching inside his uniform to take out a small object decorated with gold and silver coloration and wing-like appendages at the top. 

Kiryu gripped the handle of the object before he swiped it downwards, allowing the appendages to snap open with light beginning to swirl out of it as it quickly formed into a pristine blade, transforming into the Sparklence Blade.

Feeling the cool grip of the weapon given to him by his father, Kiryu began refamiliarizing himself with the sword, swinging it across the air and around. This mysterious weapon was simply sent to him in a parcel, its origins never explained.

Other than a note attached to it saying it was a "family heirloom". 

Kiryu dismissed the thought before he continued practicing with the blade, swinging the sword with movements akin to an expert who've performed the actions many, many times before.

Each slashes he makes leaves a small gust of wind at the end, and with each moment his arm picked up speed within the swings, the wind seemingly grew stronger and stronger.

As he continued swinging the sword, Kiryu allowed his own senses to be detached from every single thing around him, focusing only and only on the blade.

It can be said as an exaggeration that Kiryu had devoted himself to swordsmanship along with mastering every other different forms of weapons, melee or ranged alike.

If it's to be perfectly honest, Kiryu simply had too much free time and hardly any difficult tasks to keep himself occupied during his attendance at F.O.S. Academy, the units he studied weren't by all means easy but it still wasn't too hard to keep him under pressure.

Which is why he turned his free time into training sessions.

So without much things to hold him down, Kiryu relentlessly trained himself as Commandants were not expected to physically go into battles, he borrowed books from libraries and requested instructions and lessons from teachers personally.

It was also a means to control his... abnormally inhumane strength and senses.

However mocked or ridiculed he is, Kiryu just ignored it all and continued honing whatever skills he has which soon landed him onto the top rankings of the academy, but the reputation that came afterwards weren't always a good thing.

Now... that is a thing of the past, for now, he should focus on the present.

Kiryu then retracted the blade back into the Sparklence before he took a handgun from one of the racks on the wall, he dialled up the settings into the shooting range and then began aiming.

Dozens of gunshots resonated through the room as the Commandant accurately landed the shots onto its targets, allowing it to withdraw and bring out new targets for him.

The shots continued on for several more minutes until someone walked into the room.

"So this is where you were." Hassen's voice said behind as Kiryu lowered the gun and turned around, saluting as he saw a girl behind the President.

"Ahem... Lucia of Gray Raven, this is Kiryu Madoka, your Commandant."

"Madoka, this is Lucia, your assigned Construct and leader of the Gray Raven."

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This chapter came out way later than I hoped for so forgive me.