The Herald's Hand and the Rise of Zeruqkchiyion

"Look," Azuroid showed Kyrinna his blue disc on his left hand.

The droid placed the disc on the floor and spun it. The disc weapon whirred on the ground, glowing with cyan color. A life-size hologram of Supreme Herald Fanghui emerged from the center of the rotating gyre.

"Captain Kyrinna Takoizu," Fanghui spoke in Japanese, greeting her with a bow. "It's okay to fail. It's okay to be defeated. We all have been defeated before, myself included. But remember, it's our defeats that challenge us to examine our losses and learn from them."

Kyrinna sniffed as Azuroid combed her deep blue hair.

"I saw your fight with Dr. Isrina Niang. An istiophoroid drone recorded it all for me," Fanghui smiled. "You fought valiantly against her. Yes, you may have lost, but that fight has demonstrated your capabilities as a warrior. Sychrom and I have trained you well, and I will continue to help you advance the next levels of Kung-Fu to help you fight not just Dr. Niang, but the best of the Vultau. Your father would be so proud of you."

Kyrinna made a small smile.

"I promise you will have the vengeance you seek, and I have the utmost confidence that you will accomplish Joltiarre's secret assignment. You and Azuroid have already done so much," Fanghui assured her. "You two have defended and resupplied the Ironclad Eagle with Agent Yakcovic, and now you have had a taste of our enemies' strength. Of course, I will have to discipline General Hernamidos for leaving his post out of impulse."

An explosion rumbled from Fanghui's hologram. Fanghui rolled his eyes.

"Excuse me for a moment, my lovely Countess," He turned around, calmly adjusting his sleeves as Vultau monks charged at him from behind.

Azuroid and Kyrinna watched the large spinning disc portray Fanghui's battle with the monks. With one fist behind his back and one palm out like a fencing sword, he effortlessly repelled the barrage of palms and kicks. Kyrinna watched Fanghui overpower the monks with his signature technique: The Herald's Hand. Fanghui's arm bent like a snake, striking his palm unto a monk's head, fracturing his skull.

Fanghui grabbed another monk by the ear. The monk flailed helplessly until Fanghui ripped his ear off. The Supreme Herald grabbed him by his robe, slamming a Vultau punch onto the helpless monk to wreck his rib cage.

The yellow Jin Feilong zoomed into the hologram scene beside Fanghui, slashing at the monks with her bladed tail and tiger claws. Jin Feilong then opened her glowing red dragon wings, setting the monks ablaze with their golden laser beams.

"Ah, my deepest apologies, Kyrinna! Anyway, please! I insist that you rest!" Fanghui twisted a monk's head with his hands. "Return to the Arcane Phalange when you're ready. I will continue your training once I'm finished with my business in Hualien."

"A… arigato… Supreme Herald," Kyrinna bowed to Fanghui along with Azuroid. "Hail, Fanghui."

"Of course!" Fanghui said in Japanese, bowing back with a smile.

The three made their Kneapexist salutes before the hologram faded.

***

Magnus and Captain Arius clutched their pistols as a massive Federation police car vroomed by. The gray bulky vehicle shaped like a train's head parked beside an empty grocery store of the city with its eight spherical wheels. The huge doors opened, releasing a squadron of crusader droids and slate warriors.

"Fan out!" One of the soldiers said. "They went this way! Report anything suspicious!"

The slate warriors loaded their weapons as the siganus crusaders scouted the area.

"Alrighty," Arius whispered to Magnus. "They haven't found us. Let's go back inside before we get into another unnecessary fight."

Magnus nodded. The two quietly walked back into the store. After their aircraft was destroyed by a chimaera, the group crash-landed into Chicago. For a long while, the four ran about the streets to escape the Federation forces.

"We all should be clear for now, General," Arius told Saitori.

"Good," Saitori sat next to Dorian behind the grocery shelves. "It's going to be a lot tougher to reach Choro Emplexion thanks to that chimaera blasting our chopper down."

"Only if I flew better, I could have-"

"Captain," Saitori softened. "Don't blame yourself. You've never faced a chimaera before. Battling one is a nightmare."

Saitori remembered her argument with Cecilius before Zentroid killed him. Cecilius wanted her to be patient with Dorian, Magnus, and Arius because they never experienced the brutal fights with the Global Federation as Saitori had.

"I guess. But we lost all the equipment Dorian needed to help the players."

"At least Dorian sent that anti-program into the game before that happened, right?" Magnus reminded the group.

"Yes," Dorian checked on her laptop. "I hope my friends are okay…"

"With my crazy brother along with a little Kung-Fu Niang with them, I am certain they have what it takes to beat the three factions. Right?"

"Hopefully, Commander Shuruuko can lead them," Arius scratched his head. "I can't imagine how she must feel with the fate of the players depending on her leadership."

"Well, she's gonna have to get her act together. We did our part. Now the rest is up to her."

"So, what now, General?" Arius asked.

"We wait until those graycoats and crusaders leave. Then we will walk on foot to Choro Emplexion. Last time I checked on the control panel, we're about ten miles away."

"On foot?" Magnus groaned. "Geez, I hope Dr. Niang is doing better than us."

"But the Murhavs and Master Oreic are with her," Arius noted. "She's got a payload of good old friends protecting her and the Shuruukos.

"Hmm? Do you guys hear that?" Dorian asked.

The gang heard a bustling crowd cheering. They walked through the hallway of aisles towards the noise until they reached the large windows. As the four hid behind the fruit shelves, they saw a massive assembly of people in between columns of Federation police cars, slate warriors, and crusader droids. The crowd quieted down as President Forroway stood at the middle of the horizontal podium, clearing his throat before the microphone. There was a huge banner behind Forroway, which contained two large flags between a large screen. One of the United States, and one of the Chinese Kneapexist Party.

Under the US flag sat Vice President Idiyura and other lawmakers. Maika and SANDRA sat under the CKP flag, guarded by two White Death guards. Reaper Squad commandos stood about the podium as President Forroway began to speak.

"Thank you all for coming to this wonderful assembly," Forroway said. "I know it's been stressful with the World Cybertrap and our massive evacuation procedures from the battles with the UICA and SHRIKE. But I am here with a member of the Global Federation of World Justice, who wishes to provide you all well-needed good news. May I present you, Colonel Shiran Maika!"

Saitori clenched her teeth as the crowd cheered.

Forroway walked left of the podium to sit with his other officeholders. SANDRA sat on the right side with two White Death guards as Colonel Maika walked up front to the microphone stand, twirling her rose.

"Thank you, President Forroway," Maika made a charming smile, adjusting her rose-patterned coat. "And again to you fellow people, we thank you all very much for your patience and cooperation with our ambitious evacuation procedures. We sincerely apologize for mass moving you all into different places every day, but your safety is a priority to the Global Federation. None of you deserve to witness the terrorism orchestrated by the vile UICA and SHRIKE."

"Who's that?" Arius asked Saitori.

"Maika," Saitori spat on the floor.

"She's pretty. You sure she's one of the bad guys?" Magnus wondered.

"Don't be fooled. She may look cute, but she's a big fat liar."

"You know her?"

"We were friends until I left the Shin-Kaminari."

"I assure you all," Maika continued with her soothing voice, pulling her hair back. "Our armies are not here to hurt you! We are here to protect you. We will stop the UICA, the ones who trapped your loved ones in Syanic Earth: Year 3225! And we like to provide you all with wonderful news. First, we have killed the man responsible for your suffering, Kainos Cecilius, President of the UICA!"

"Hail, Fanghui!"

Waving their Kneapexist banners, the people cheered with their whistles and applause that made the air rumble.

"Why are they cheering?" Dorian stared at the people. "Cecilius didn't do anything! This isn't right!"

"Dorian," Saitori hugged her.

"But that's not the only good news I bring you, fellow people! Oh no," Maika winked. "Our best researchers have found a cure for your loved ones who are trapped in the virtual world! That's right! We can bring them back here in the real world."

The crowd jumped with excitement, hypnotized by Maika's alluring charisma.

"Pfft," Saitori growled. "Just keep using your sugarcoating voice to manipulate the public. That's how she convinced Europe to turn against us during the Niang Chronicles."

"I proudly present," Colonel Maika walked back, gesturing her hand to the screen. "Project Zeruqkchiyion!"

The screen turned on with vibrating rock music, showing three roaring mechanical dragon heads snaking their long necks in a spiral. One of them had a sharp-toothed blue mouth with red eyes and a crescent-shaped horn on its head. Another had spinning orange cogs as eyes with a minigun tongue in its dark, toothless mouth. The last one had rectangular rocket launchers as eyes and a beaked mouth with a glowing cannon inside as its tongue.

The dragon heads darted to the center of the screen, enveloping themselves into four magenta hexagons in the center as their necks continued to spin. A large sword shaped like a DNA strand appeared in the middle of the hexagons along with the name, Project Zeruqkchiyion.

"Project Zaruchi- what?" Arius blinked.

The people clapped, eager to hear about the new program that would set the players free.

"Big name, I know. But there's a reason it's big! For the plans of this project are very ambitious!" Maika chuckled, snapping her finger to signal the screen to change. "We found out about the virus the UICA implemented, the Eclipser Scramble. It blocks any of us from sending anti-programs into Syanic Earth: Year 3225. But our researchers asked: "If we can't make an anti-program from our world into the Syanic, why don't we do the opposite?"

The screen's charts displayed large, simple bite-sized information and colorful diagrams.

"Since the virus doesn't stop new players from entering, we plan to send top agents into Syanic Earth: Year 3225 as players!" Maika snapped her finger for the screen to change again. "The agents will carry anti-program Project Zeruqkchiyion within their player accounts."

A waving cartoon person labeled as "Agent" carrying a suitcase called "Cure" appeared on the green left side of the screen titled Real-World. The animated person jumped to the red, right side of the screen titled "Syanic Earth." The right side was full of stick figures marked as "Players."

"Like the animation?" Maika beamed a smile. "Now, the agents would venture through the game and find players one by one. They would program Project Zeruqkchiyion into their account, and the anti-program will send their minds back here!"

On the screen, the "Agent" ran to a "Player." He opened the "Cure" suitcase, typing in it. The "Player" darted into the green Real-World left side with a happy face. The "Agent" continued to do the same for each "Player" until all of the stick figures were sent to the green side of the screen.

"And, of course, our agents with Project Zeruqkchiyion in their accounts would be enabled to return to the Real-World as well!" Maika said as the "Agent" typed on the suitcase, letting himself dart back into the left side with the "Players." "We will be sure to send one agent inside first to be certain that this procedure is safe!"

The people clapped their hands, amazed by the new program.

"Now, now! Settle down, fellow people!" Maika waved to the crowd. "We will get started with Project Zeruqkchiyion as soon as possible! But we need you all to submit your entrapped loved ones to our new Reformation Centers. This will help us locate each player in the Syanic Earth with their headgear data."

"Great," Saitori shook her head as the people cheered. "The Federation's making itself look like the hero."

"That's twisted," Magnus replied. "Is Forroway seriously going along with this?"

The group looked at Forroway and his lawmakers. They were clapping along with the people.

"But why?" Saitori questioned.

"Thank you very much, Colonel Maika!" Forroway walked towards Maika with applause. "You have provided us with fantastic news of hope for the players. I truly look forward to seeing Project Zeruqkchiyion in action!"

"Of course, President Forroway!" Maika twirled her rose in her hand. "It's our pleasure! And thank you, for aiding us with the resources we needed for the anti-program! It couldn't have been done without your part for the greater good."

Saitori, Dorian, Arius, and Magnus shuddered as they saw with their own eyes, the American President shaking firm hands with the Federation Colonel.

"No…" Saitori scratched her teal hair in frustration. "This… This can't be happening!"

"O ye faithful! Rejoice, and delight in thy news of salvation! Sing thy psalms to the Supreme Herald, to the blessed new order!" SANDRA stood upfront, placing her hands together to form an electrical purple miasma of angular lightning. "Your loved ones shall no longer be ensnared by the blasphemous hands of the UICA! Hear ye, hear ye! We now proclaim Project Zeruqkchiyion, as the dawn of unshaken solidarity between the United States of America and the Global Federation of World Justice!"

As Forroway and Maika held their hands up together, SANDRA launched orbs of electricity up. It sparked bright fireworks of different shapes and colors. The crowd was in awe of SANDRA's demonstration.

"Hail, Fanghui!" Forroway and Maika shouted.

"Hail, Fanghui!" The people clapped and cheered hysterically, waving their Kneapexist signs up.

"Let's go…" Saitori coldly walked away.

"General?" Arius grabbed her on the shoulder. "What's wrong?"

Saitori was crying.

"Come on…" She wiped her tears. "We need to get moving…"

"Saitori?" Dorian walked to her with Magnus.

"Why did Forroway break his promise?" Saitori punched a pack of coffee beans on a shelf. "He lied to us!"

"What do you mean?" Magnus questioned.

"Forroway gave the UICA refuge here! He protected us for years even before he became the US president. He sent General Covinski to get us out of Europe during the Niang Chronicles," Saitori knelt in frustration. "Forroway promised Cecilius and I that he would never abandon us. That he would defend us with Democracy, free from persecution. But now, he's working with the very people that want to kill us!"

While Magnus and Arius sat with Saitori, Dorian heard her computer vibrate. She opened her laptop.

"Mom?" Dorian immediately clicked on the green phone button. "Finally… Mom! Hello?"

"My sweet sunflower?" A blue-eyed blonde woman on Dorian's screen spoke. "Oh my gosh! Are you safe? I'm so sorry we didn't pick up your messages until now!"

The three stood beside Dorian.

"Watch this!" Dorian smiled, positioning her computer on the floor. "My mom and I made this feature for future laptops!"

She turned on her laptop's camera. Dorian stepped back, letting the camera emit a blue light that portrayed a life-sized hologram of her mother, Thyria Cazeium. Dorian and Thyria reached their hands out, pretending to hold each other's hands.

"Wow," Magnus's jaw dropped.

"Thank goodness you all are alive and well. Dorian, sweetie, I'm so glad the UICA's taking such good care of you. Thank you all!"

"What happened to you?" Dorian asked. "Are you and dad okay?"

"The Reaper Squad was hunting us. They suspected us to be allied with the UICA because you interned with them. But don't worry, the Murhavs saved us!"

"Wait, with Dr. Niang and all?"

"Yes! They drove us in Naphthien's runner to a secret UICA base."

Secret base? Saitori thought. Dr. Niang and the others already arrived at Choro Emplexion? But they were much farther away from the base compared to us that time we contacted them. It doesn't make sense that they could arrive first before us. Unless...

"That's great… but where's dad?" Dorian asked.

"He was hurt in battle. The Murhavs are taking care of him."

"I hope he's okay, but at least Nashura will help him! Mom, when you said that you were at a secret base, do you mean Choro-"

"Dorian. Don't," Saitori stopped her by placing her finger onto Dorian's mouth.

"Why? It's just my mom."

"I need to check," Saitori turned to Thyria. "Mrs. Cazeium, may I ask you a question?"

"I suppose."

"List the people you were with inside Naphthien's runner."

"Dr. Niang and the Murhavs. Why?"

"Nice try, but you're missing a few people," Saitori crossed her arms. "Can you tell me their names?"

"Huh? What people?" Thyria was puzzled. "Dr. Niang and the Murhavs were the only ones with us."

"Wrong. Master Oreic and the Shuruukos were also with them," Saitori said. "Of course, if you didn't know that, then that means you never went into Naphthien's runner, making you a liar. You're not Mrs. Cazeium! You can quit the act, Zentroid Crucifyzoa!"

Dorian screamed, clutching onto Saitori as Thyria's holographic image blinked into a gray silhouette figure. It had big black eyes oozing with black liquid. The dark figure opened its wide, bloody mouth full of deformed fangs, laughing.

"Awwwww, you got me, Lifen! Yay! My sweet sunflower: those were the last three words mommy Cazeium said! Weeeeee!" The figure's head swarmed with nasty clusters of circles and mouths. "Little sunflower misses her mommy! Hehehehehe! I had so much fun with your mommy and daddy! We were playing hide and seek, and when I caught them, I slit their-"

Saitori slammed Dorian's laptop shut, turning off the hologram. Dorian looked at Saitori in terror. Tears rolled out of her eyes. The General hugged her.

"I… I am... so sorry," Saitori cried. "I should never have made that... horrible machine… this is all my fault..."

Dorian clutched onto the General, sobbing onto her chest. Magnus and Arius did their best to comfort them amid all the hopelessness. Project Zeruqkchiyion, the US and Federation alliance, the brainwashed public, Zentroid's carnage, Cecilius' death, the World Cybertrap. It was all too much for them to bear.

But now, their only hope was to get to Choro Emplexion, the mysterious place Cecilius said where they would find a way to defeat the Global Federation.