Her Abilities

[Zero Squad, proceed to command center and be ready to sortie.]

Everybody was confused. When they entered the command center the strange girl from three days ago was in there. She was standing behind the colonel with a nonchalant expression.

"The enemy is a water-based rook-rank warden. In an hour it will reach Tabogon harbor. I will send you to deal with it."

"But sir," called Cam. "Other than three days ago, we don't really have that much experience in dealing with wardens and besides, a water-based? We're not equipped to deal with one either. No one in our team has the relic to do that."

"Cam is right Colonel Ashtein." Percy said. "Detecting the warden underwater is already difficult how much more in fighting against it? Only Cam and Neri have long-distance weapons, and maybe Lisa can use Lux at a distance as well, but most of us have relics and new-types that are for close combat. And regular weapons don't really work on rook-ranks."

"I am also against in sending the Zero Squad." piped up Doctor Cabigas. Her brown hair reflected the sunlight that seeped through the glass windows of the room. "Especially Percy. Ever since three days ago, his vitals have been off the charts, especially his synchronization with his relic, his energy output and Akeras' behavior. I bet it has something to do with that girl behind you."

"Me?" Althea pointed to herself. "How is that my fault? 'He' called me out and I helped him deal with that knight-rank!"

"Okay everybody calm down." Daniel said with a steeled voice. "I suppose close-combatants are useless this time, but Zero Squad is still needed. They're the ones with experience in dealing with a rook-rank."

"I can go out there and kill it for you guys. Problem solved." Althea offered.

""You?""

"It's just a knight-rank. And besides, I made a deal with Colonel Ashtein. I'll deal with the incoming warden and in exchange, I'll have the chance to talk to Percy. Privately."

With a smirk, she emphasized the last word.

"No more questions? I'll go now."

With a snap of her finger, she vanished.

"Whoa!" Kitty exclaimed. "What kind of relic does she have? I mean, she can teleport? Last time, when she fought with a warden, wasn't she using ice and lightning? She can also fly!"

Doctor Cabigas' eyes went wide, as well as Adonis'. Who wouldn't? There was a possibility that the mysterious girl could wield more than one relic!

[Reporting!] Tierra's voice rang inside the room. [Althea Naiadgel is in the warden's proximity.]

"Pull up the satellites for view."

Images popped up in the main screen. It showed Althea's flying figure just above the water. She suddenly raised her hands and water shot up to the surface. The warden that was previously lurking under the water was carried by the same water she summoned from the depths of the sea. She did another motion and the water turned to ice which trapped the warden. It had the shape of a crab. A really big crab.

Just then, smaller crabs, about the size of humans, emerged from the water and started attacking her. But since she was flying, they couldn't get a hold of her.

The rook-rank warden let out a low shriek and tried escaping from the ice pillars that imprisoned it.

"Oh no you don't."

Althea raised her hands and a big shard of ice formed mid-air. It was big and sharp, and then it was drove into the warden's core.

With one last shriek, the warden lost its red color. The pawn-ranks also started scrambling around.

Big water bubbles, each with a pawn-rank warden inside, floated above the water. Smaller shards of ice then formed above each water bubble and pierced the wardens.

"Let's see. The metals should be a good gift." she muttered.

Althea snapped her fingers and warden-metals started floating from underwater. She flew away and the materials followed her, like some sort of force was carrying it for her. She landed in the port and put the metals in a big pile.

Zero squad, stood agape. It wasn't just them. Everyone who saw what just happened was very shocked.

[Warden-metal detected to approximately weigh one ton.]

If eyes could widen even more, the people who heard Tierra's announcement would've done so. They watched the live feed as Althea brought down the black metals that floated with her from the sea. She snapped her fingers and popped up to her previous spot.

"Now then, I get to talk to Percy in private right?" she inquired.

"Well…"

"Colonel, you promised me!" Althea exclaimed. Her tone had a tinge of annoyance in it.

Daniel swallowed whatever lump was on his throat, especially when he noticed Althea's eyes starting to flicker from green to gold. If his hypothesis was right, the golden-eyed Althea Niadgel was bad news.

"Fine." he said.

"Colonel!" exclaimed Dr. Cabigas, not happy about his decision. "If there's anything, she has to be seized and studied!"

"Dr. Cabigas," Daniel called. "I'm telling you this for your own safety, but right now, we don't really have a choice. If you haven't really noticed yet, Althea can destroy Tabogon Base if she desires to do so. A private talk with my younger brother will bring us no harm."

The chief of Cebu Research Center only huffed and rolled her eyes. She held such an esteemed rank, yet she was powerless against the authority of Tabogon Base's commander. The girl seemed like a really good research subject. She had to give the governor-general a call soon.

***

Percy was a little nervous, which wasn't like him. He was a leader with a very calm mindset. He can face any adversaries with a stoic face and it won't even change. He even survived a horror movie marathon with Zero Squad and he did not feel fear nor his expressions changed. And yet, he felt uneasy with the silver-haired girl's presence.

"What's wrong?" asked Althea once she noticed the male who looked quite uneasy on his seat.

"Nothing. So, why did you want to talk to me privately?" he asked, trying to look calm and collected.

"Wait a moment."

Percy's eyes widened when he saw an orb with a golden glow emerge from her hand. It slowly expanded until it consumed the two of them. He then marveled when he suddenly could not hear anything from the outside.

"What is this?" he asked.

"It's a barrier so our conversation will remain private. It will keep out noise from the outside and whatever noise we make inside won't be heard by those outside." she smiled. "Somehow, there's a powerful entity residing in this base that can monitor everyone and everything. It can even convey its voice to others. Such a powerful entity. This barrier is one of my most powerful barriers to keep out such entity."

"Are you talking about Tierra?" he asked again.

"Ooh yes. Colonel Daniel also called the entity Tierra."

"Okay, now that the barrier is up, tell me. Why did you want to talk to me?"

Percy intercepted her gaze which bore unto him quite strongly.

"You were the one that called out to me."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Well, it wasn't you entirely, there was also Akeras, but she only served as a conduit so you can reach me."

"What are you talking about?"

"Didn't you call for me?"

Percy's thoughts drifted to that time when his hand got stuck in the ore in the basement.

"You asked if I was the owner of Akeras, why?" he questioned.

"Because only Akeras has the power to reach that void where my consciousness was trapped." she answered.

"Then why-"

"Shh. We'll take turns in asking questions. This time, it's my turn. Do you really not remember anything about being a candidate?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"I'll accept that as a confirmation. Your turn then."

"What did you mean when you said the wardens were also looking for Akeras?"

Althea just stared at Percy which made the latter quite uncomfortable.

"Because Akeras holds the key to break the seal on their king. Well at least one of the keys."

"What do you mean?"

Althea suddenly stood up and leaned closer to him. She held his face with her two hands and stared at him.

"The warden king is the strongest warden. Back in Siela it swallowed our sun thus ending all life in the world." she let his face go and sat back down. "So far, this world is only at the early stages of warden invasion. Although, it doesn't seem to be the first."

Of course, Percy did not really understand what she was trying to say since she was saying it in a very vague and confusing way.

"Do you have any idea why they're attacking your world?" asked Althea again.

"We were told because their world is dying and they want our resources."

"Not quite. Their warden king is sealed in your world. They're looking for the place where he is sealed as well as the keys to unlock his prison. At least that's what I know."

"And my relic, Akeras, is one of those keys?"

"Yes. Ah, we need to confirm who is the relic king as well."

"Excuse me, the relic king?"

"Yes. A being blessed to rule over all relics. That person can also create relics when he wants to."

"And what's that got to do with me?" Percy asked.

"You're a candidate to be the relic king and there are only five of them in the world."

Although she did not make much sense, Percy couldn't help but get a foreboding feeling. The silver-haired girl in front of her appeared the day wardens started attacking their world again. There had to be some sort of connection, right?