JUDE

“Descend Edge Lancers!” I commanded the lancers, and they all jumped from the Windjammer Hover that was carrying us into the war.

I give command over to Genus 1 Lancers. Soldiers that are still evolving to their fullest potential, their body has been modified, yet they still can't evolve to the extent and can't unleash their natural Culverin. So they just rely on Culverin Guns for now. May this war awaken their evolution!

These are loyal soldiers of our race, the enhanced humans, the Edge Race the only one left with a sense of justice and peace. They jumped one by one, to the enemies on land!

A thought came over me as I stood in the open door of the hoover, that why is it I’m commanding them? Not that I don’t like it, but I wanted to command over the Genus 2 Lancers, they are easy to command and easy to utilize their battle power, and easy to win the war. Why did father let my twin brother James give the command over them? He doesn’t have a firm justice, his attitude is complex, but I know he’s strong like me. Wait, does it mean that my father acknowledges my twin brother stronger and capable than me in leading the Genus 2 Lancers?

I gotta show to father that I’m the best, otherwise we’ll lose a lot of great soldiers under my brother’s commands.

“P-prince Jude, jump now, or I’ll get caught in one of those explosions in this forsaken battlefield!” Cried the pilot to me with a dead face.

It snapped me, alright, why am I thinking such things in the middle of a war? “I’m sorry Mister Gus, once I jump, you can flee higher and wait for instruction for us to pick up,” I said. Then I leap into the air.

I scanned the area with my modified eye. And I can see from above that the war is on. I see so the Jurassic did join us today in this war, they haven’t learned their lesson, did they? There’s no point in eating us, there is only a few fleshes left in our body, but only steels. Besides, once they eat our lancers, they self-destruct, so it’s their defeat. Yet they never learn, these mindless untamed beasts are indeed fools.

I search the other side of the field, some Jurassic are devouring the barbarians. On the far east of the field, some cursed wizards are being devoured as well. Oh, I see, so the beasts did learn, after all, they have ignored our lancers and went after those meaty filthy races.

It’s their doom, those barbarians, the Draconian race. Though they are powerful in their own mutation, and they are able to unleash some deadly prowess. Yet they want world domination like the old men, they have barbaric minds. They need to be wiped out in this world to maintain peace and justice.

As for the cunning wizards, the Warlock Race in their generational divination, though they are only humans, yet their body has been sacrificed to their deity just to get cursed and gain some magic tricks. They are indeed tricky and powerful, but they don't have the right mentality. They want their race to be the one to the top of the world. We can’t let that happen, I can’t imagine if they ruled the world, they could curse whoever they want as they are an uncivilized and sophisticated race.

Those two races are indeed food for the beasts. And the Jurassic is their weakness, because magic tricks don't work on them, and mutant prowess as well doesn’t hurt them. But only a natural weapon and physical strength like blades, guns, and explosions. Though those beasts have long evolved among themselves, our weapons are starting to affect them. Yet they are still afraid of us edge lancers, and they are always flee once they taste our weaponry.

The Jurassic race is actually a mistake of human science, that originated from Edge City, it is us to be blamed. Back in the Geriatric Age around the year 2050, when humanity revived those Jurassic only for fun. Just to create a park for amusement. As there was always the dream of humanity in the movies in the past centuries. I’ve read from the old chronicles, that they existed way way a trillion years ago when this world was created. And then one day, those Jurassic went wild and destroyed their cages and started devouring the people in the amusement park. And they were untamed and almost dominated the world. Thanks to the birth of the first Edge Lancers who drove them off. We are their mortal enemies, their weakness is us.

As I descended like a shooting star on the land, and made sure that I landed on surprise on these scumbag Warlock race. As I set foot like dashing wind, I took a fist on the ground as I activated the Bomb Fist. The area exploded, fire expanded fiercely wiping them out! A lot of barbarians were caught in the explosion and fire. And I don’t have to worry about getting caught as well, as I am immune to fire and explosion as I am a Genus 3 Edge Lancer, the fullest evolution in our race. I am Jude the weaponry Body Edge Lancer. And nothing could stand in my way! The impact of my landing left a deep crater, with electricity sparking on the ground can be seen and fire burning all over. I am indeed a hella strong, I hope my twin brother could see this.

I look around and all I can see are wiped out bodies of the barbarian scattered on the ground. Poor foolish race who want to rule the world but don’t even have the might to do it. I’m done here, I gotta find some enemies to destroy.

I activated the booster in my back and legs and palm, and it blew some fiery wind, pushing me up from the ground. And I gestured to fly, and I moved in mid hair with these boosters, It’s all-out war all over the place. Seems like my team arrived first, even though they are just Genus 1 lancers, I can see that they are handing the war with the plan I have commanded them: to keep in a group of 7, and blast the enemy combining all your culverin guns. The more the powerful. And they are executing it. I squinted in the war zone as I flew in mid-air 15 feet from the ground. I saw a group of lancers that are being pushed back by a Jurassic, this one is oddly huge. They kept on blasting it, it’s being hit yet it’s still advancing towards them, and by any time the beast could reach them and close its fangs on them. I can’t afford to lose some lancers. So I sped up towards the beast and gestured my left foot to transform into a sharp blade. And I gave the beast a rotation kick. I hit the leg with my sharp kick.

I’m amazed, this one has tough skin, my kick didn’t pierce through its skin. But the force was devastating even for him that the beast got blasted away. It rolled on the ground pathetically with its huge body. It budged and got up, but it smelled my vicious prowess and fled.

“T-thanks prince Jude,” said the poor lancers.

“Alright, don’t force your way in lancers. If you see a slight thing that you can’t beat an enemy, call for backup, and have the formation of 14 culverin combination firepower. It’s more powerful,” I exclaimed to them.

“Y-yes, sir,” they responded with a salute placing their culverin on their chest.

I took a flight to find some enemies to fight with, and I detected some dying life brio of lancers. When I arrived, there’s a lot of fallen lancers, I search for a possible threat. There’s a battle taking place in a distance and I can see it through my Zoomed Vision, edge lancers are being wiped out by some cursed wizards. I blasted with such speed to join them. And I was shocked that even with such a speed and I’m still far. I saw the wizard eyed me, this is a zoomed sight, I’m still far away, how can he see me and meet my gaze? He’s still eyeing me with his yellow eyes. As if he’s waiting for my arrival. He has a serious face, this wizard is creepy. With the looks in his eyes, is it magic that’s allowing him to see with such distance?

He blinks a few times and turns to his enemies before him, my lancers. I gotta assault him with a powerful one! I can’t let this wizard live, I gotta take him down in this war, now! I need to think of a powerful weapon in my sleeve. And I’ve perceived the strategy. I sent a message to the lancers who were fighting him to step back to a distance. Because I’m going to use 10% of my body weaponry explosion. It’s like being self-destructive, but I’m able to control the percentage to keep myself alive. I only do this attack when I’m desperate to take down an enemy. And this wizard has the guts to make me do it!

I sped up and prepared my 10% self-destruct weapon! Alright, the lancers have retreated, and they won’t be caught in the massive explosion. But the wizard didn’t go after them, in war it’s the best thing to do, to attack the fleeing enemies as they are defenseless. Did he notice my plan? This wizard is creepy, but this is your last day! I smash him with my head with great speed in my flight. And as soon I hit him, I activated my body, and I exploded. My body was caught with 10% self-destruction. And all I can see now is the light shining and expanding. With great force, wave, and fire. It created a mushroom up. And not only the wizard that I targeted was caught by the deadly explosion, but also the other wizards that he was leading. A lot of them.

I only rarely do this technique. I can see from inside the explosion as I am in the middle, the source of energy. I could still see the surroundings, but it’s so bright that even my modified eyes can't see clearly but only a little. I can see that the wizards are getting blown away. Tearing their body and burning their vestments, a cape-like cloak with a big collar, their wizard vestment.

The light depleted and the explosion ceased, and I was standing in the middle of beat-up wizards shattered on the ground. I didn’t feel that I lost 10% of my life energy. I still feel powerful. Smoke and heat released from all my body and the sound of a machine cooling down can be heard within me. I’m really a machine with the humanity's heart.

“That was powerful magic,” uttered a man, from behind me.

I spun, and it was the wizard, my eyes narrowed on him, I know I shouldn't be surprised if anything happens like this, these guys are tricksters. That is what they are known for.

“That’s no magic, you filthy wizard, how did you survive that attack?” I ask him, as I calm myself and show some confidence in my gesture.

“That was strong though, and even after seeing me survive that, you weren’t even shocked and maintained such an appearance,” he said. “I thought robots panic when they are about to get destroyed? That’s what I saw from other scraps like you.”

“Don’t compare me to them, I am one of the highest evolution of our race, I am prince Jude, son of the Preeminent of Edge race.”

“Oh, I see, no wonder why you’re no small fry.”

“Surrender, or you will have a burning death.”

“Such confidence, I’m amazed and honored to meet a lordling like you, but you lack the insight of why we have a Perennial War.”

“It’s you, the sophisticated race who only want to rule with trickery and with cursed magic who lack the knowledge. I bet you never go to grade school in your lives.”

“Spoiled boy, without a manner, the last time I read a chronicle, it says that royals have such graceful attitudes towards strangers that they meet.”

“I have manners wizard, but I won’t show it to a cursed race like you.”

“Oh, the language of a prince boy.”

I have enough of his trickery words, I must beat him before he even fools me with his magic tricks! So I point both my arms towards him. And surprise him with a laser beam. It went straight to him! That will leave a hole in your body wizard!

The wizard exploded . . . but he was still standing . . . unharmed. And my eyes caught a yellow image enveloping him, it was shining like a sun, it got wings. Is this an illusion? A trick in my eyes? It flapped its wings and it blew the wind against me and I felt it. So a magic barrier then, and this is what protected him from the explosion earlier as well.

“That’s a nice magic if only you can you use it to serve humanity---”

“Boy, it’s your race that destroyed and divided humanity,” he cuts me off, “what do you think of us? Animals? It’s all of you the robot minded people who even tagged us with a name as cursed wizards. We never call ourselves that.”

What is he spouting? I can detect a rage and emotions, I never speak with a wizard before, because I always beat them before they could speak. But what did he say? It troubled me . . .

“So wizards can trick with words, enough with your pretense, I will blow you to bits in a moment.”

“A fool lordling that doesn’t know how to listen, I thought the chronicle teaches that you should listen to what people have to say and look at their perspective?”

What did he say? Is this really a trick again? How does he know so much about what’s written in the educational chronicles? I thought these wizards don't even know how to read, but he quoted it correctly. Nah, this is a trick

“What’s your name wizard?”

“Genesis is my name dear lordling.”

I had enough! I stretched back my arms and made a booster behind my muscles. And dashed towards him, and gave a series of blaster punches! I can see it, the barrier is getting pressed! If I keep on I could destroy it. His feet moved back without stepping back as if he was forced to move. I knew it, he’s being pressured by my punches.

I need something sharp to pierce through,

Aha! I transformed my fist into a sharp blade, and suddenly I remembered General Mathew, this is his technique but lemme borrow it for now. I thrust it, and it went through, straight to his face, but he ducked, and I overextended myself. And swing it back to him, my blade fist. He stopped my arm by holding my muscle at my back as I turned. I knew it! He’s now relying on his physical body now that the magic barrier is gone. I whirled with a surprise kick from the back, and he let go of my hand and I just hit the air as he distances himself.

This wizard is good with hand-to-hand combat. But the reason why he’s avoiding my attacks is that he’s fully aware that I’m stronger than him as an Edge human.

I took a stance, I’m going to have him taste my martial arts skills, I forward into him, I punch, and he ducked again, the same move huh’ you won’t get away this time. I jump and flip in the air right above him, and go at his head with a punch while I’m above.

He caught my punch!

My eyes widened! How could he!? A wizard human barely caught my punch with a bare hand!? He leans back, he’s going for a kick, so I blasted him with a laser in my palm and moved away from him . . .

I knew it, whenever I use an attack from energy, his barrier activates, but it’s weak against a physical attack. But what he did earlier . . .

“Don’t be surprised lordling, you’re right, we’re just flesh and blood. We are weak compared to you, without my enchantment wrapping my skin, your punch would’ve broken my bones the moment I caught it.”

So I see, it was a magic trick then. I took a stance, clutched my hand and grounded my feet, I’m ready for another attack . . . then I saw a lightning blast behind me, about above my head, that some thread of my hair burn. I duck to avoid getting caught from that attack. Who was it? I wanted to turn but my attention was locked on the wizard when he evaded the massive explosion. I dashed to the left. Why did he dodge? I thought he could protect himself from any harm with his magic?

“All your theories about your enemy are wrong brother.”

I gasped when I heard the voice, I kept my cool and visage, and I stood from ducking to the ground, and turned. “You should be minding your own business. I’m only taking my time in fighting him, he’s giving me intriguing information,” I said to the man who was standing on an elevated ground behind me. Who’s image just looks like me, and every time I stand before this man, I’m always forced to fake my feelings and attitude. I am always being turned to be nice and honorable even with a single word that I utter. This man is with the same image that I have, same red hair, but his is longer that reaches his back. Same blue eyes, but he is clad with a purple cloak up to his neck that is girded with red steel. We got the same look, but our battle power had a huge gap. This is my twin brother, James.

“Have you forgotten it brother?” He asks.

I narrowed my eyes, what does he mean, “Forgotten what?”

“We are supposed to close our ears to the scum of this world, more especially with wizards, you know how---”

“I wasn’t listening to him at all,” I cut him off.

“Don’t worry brother, I’ll make sure he won’t utter a word from now.”

What does he mean? And he pushed back his cloak, and it bellowed back and the dust around blasted away, something big was coming from him. He lifts his dark iron arms, and energy gathered in his palms, that turns into a shining ball. He lowered his hand, and the ball was left floating. And from that energy flashes of laser beams shooting to the wizard.

The wizard was a bit alarmed. He had a measured look, and he dodged every laser going after him, he moved in zigzag, jerking left and right just to evade every single one of them.

“You see that brother?” He asks me with a cool tone. “All your theories about attacks from energy are not working on him, and only physical attacks can attack him. I saw from a distance, you were experimenting on him, I even saw you mimic the general’s moves. There’s no theory in a battle of might, Everything can be incinerated with stronger firepower. Don’t do that brother, I know you’re stronger than that, or maybe you’re just playing around in the middle of a war. Well, I could understand that. I do that as well when I’m bored.”

This guy, how did he perceive all those by only looking in instant? I just keep my cool and look at him normally.

“You said it yourself James, I’m merely playing around.”

“Maybe, but don’t overdo it, father is watching us.”

The energy was out of juice and it stopped shooting the wizard, and it evaporated into the sun’s rays. But the wizard was unharmed as he dodged all of those.

“Oh, another lordling showed up, but rather a onerous one. Nice meeting you lordling twins, I’ll be taking my leave,” the wizard said, and he gestured his fingers in the air, I know he’s going to perform some magic trick to escape.

I took a stance, I’m going to go after him to stop him from fleeing.

“Don’t, brother, let the coward escape, the weak and scum race must escape, it will leave a horror in his life next time he sees us,” James said. I calm myself from going after him.

His body body began to scatters into butterflies, and he was gone.

I detected an incoming threat, it’s moving towards us! James pulled his right arm again and it alchemized into a hole of a cannon. He detected it too, and he had prepared without telling me a strategy! This guy is way ahead of me! Damn it!

“Brother, let’s do it together,” he uttered. While looking to the left where an enemy will be showing up. I was moved by that, he intends to fight alongside me with harmony. I felt warm for a second, but I brushed it away, this guy will steal away the spotlight, I won’t let that happen.

“As you say, James,” I replied as I alchemized my shoulders and legs into boosters with blasters in my palm.

I was looking from James’ back, and began to think that, how long has it been that we fight alongside each other? The last time I remember . . . we were kids being trained by father himself. We were in the faraway jungle hunting some Jurassic, the T-rex kind. I was always ahead of James, I was stronger, he always relied on me and kept calling me brother, whenever he needed for help. He was weak when we're little, but now . . . I can’t grasp the strength that he possesses. The moment we turned 17 and joined the Genus squad and got separated in teams, and when we met after that annihilation mission four years ago, he was this strong already, and his armament got turned cosmic. What training did he go through that he gained this power?

“Brother, there are two enemies approaching, and both of them possess an ultra heavy battle power, we need back up,” he said. What did he say? Two? How could he detect that? I can only sense 1 enemy? And back up? What is he saying? Is he afraid or something? For me this is even, it will be two against two. But why need a back up? Is James chickening out? Is he showing his true color in a real battle?

“That’s fine, we’ll handle them, James.”

“Don’t underestimate these enemies brother. I’ve faced great enemies, but these 2 are out of our league, it's the Draconian race, but it’s their General, and their very Preeminent.”

What!? How did he discover that? I don’t even see their faces and identities yet, no matter how I scan the area from afar with these advanced eyes, I can’t see them!

I kept my cool and said, “James, don’t you think this will be a great opportunity? If we take them down, their race could end, this was never done before, even father couldn't do this. This chance has been brought before us, we should at least give it a try. If we can do this, the world will be a better place.”

He gave me a deep look, did I convince him? “Alright brother, let’s see, it’s good to be fighting alongside you once again, just like when we were kids. I trust your power.” It made a space in my mouth on what he said. Maybe I was wrong all this time, I may have taken him with a wrong idea, damn it, I’m sorry James. I was insecure about your strength, but you never change after all, you’re still my dearest twin brother.

I step towards him on his side, and we face the same direction and wait for the coming enemies.