chapter 5: the first mission

Three Months Later

The Quantum Layer's training arena echoed with the clash of energized katanas and the crackle of Phoenix fire. Joshua pivoted, his Eye blazing gold as Teniola's jet boots scorched the air behind him.

"Too slow,!" she taunted, slamming her fist into his shield. "Mama shut up jor*!" he shot back, melting her thrusters with a controlled flare.

Faruq's voice boomed from the speakers: "Simulation complete. Team efficiency: 92%. Teniola—stop showboating."

The Secret Seven collapsed onto holographic grass, sweat gleaming on their nanosuits. Joshua grinned. They were ready.

Kira's avatar—a woman with constellations for hair—materialized above the war table. "Priority alert. Planet Eunus. Unauthorized extraction of the Amulet of Solstice."

A hologram flared: a lush jungle world dotted with pyramidal temples, its people tall and iridescent-skinned.

"Unbeam," Joshua said, pulling up a snarling Minotaur-like figure. "Three meters tall. Electric axe. Intel says he's after the amulet."

Michael squinted. "Why? Eunusians don't even use it."

"They call it *'Oluwa's Breath'*," Wisdom read from her wrist display. " they Believe it's too sacred to wield."

Barakat twirled a dagger. "So we're saving a necklace from a glorified cow? Easy."

"No." Kira zoomed in on the amulet—a pulsing teardrop gem. "Its energy signature is very radioactive in the wrong hands this could lead to planet level treath "

Joshua stood. "Weapons check. Move out in ten."

Lucis shuddered as it pierced Eunus's atmosphere, the sky bleeding from black to emerald. Faruq manned the controls, his headset syncing to the ship.

"Gravity's 1.3x Earth's," he warned. "Don't faceplant."

Teniola snorted. "Says the guy who coded Kira to roast plantain in here."

The AI chimed: "Nutritional optimization is critical for—"

"—for winning," Joshua cut in, strapping on his katana. "Touchdown in 3…2…"

The ship landed silently, cloaked by Faruq's distortion field. Ahead loomed the Temple of Solstice, its obsidian walls humming with ancient energy.

The amulet glowed atop a stone pedestal, guarded by trembling Eunusian priests.

"Stay back," Joshua ordered them in eurusine. "We handle this."

A roar split the air. Unbeam emerged, his axe carving trenches into the crystal like earth. "so the corps sent children after me!"

"that's more than enough for a soon to be roasted pig!" Favor launched herself at him, dodging a lightning strike.

-Chisom hacked Unbeam's armor joints with iron blades using swift acrobatics.

- Wisdom's lavender vines ensnared his legs, conducting shocks into the soil.

- Michael tanked axe blows, his shield fracturing but holding.

- Barakat taunted, "come on is that all u got" drawing his rage into Chisom's traps.

Joshua's Phoenix Eye flared. "Teniola! Now!"

She rocket-punched Unbeam's chest, cracking his armor. Joshua's katana blazed white-hot, as they entered a heated battle Unbeam cleverly dodging Joshua's attacks as Joshua using his speed advantage to cover for the difference in physical strength, while chisom backs him up by parrying Unbeam's electrifying attacks with Favor creating smoke a screen for Barakat to land a hit "argh!....." Unbeam cried in agony "you pest i will end you" Unbeam threatened as he staggered back with orangeish blood leaking from his abdomen, but as Unbeam focused on Barakat Joshua swiftly slipped in to his blind spot severing the axe's haft and into his chest. Unbeam collapsed, snarling.

A hidden device on his wrist beeped once. Static.

Unbeam grinned, bloodied tusks glinting."he....."Then still.

After ensuring the safety of the Eunusian peopĺe they went back to Lucis.

Back aboard Lucis, Joshua went to meet Barakat "what's up why do you look down? we won " Joshua said while shoving her on the shoulder "i know but , i just realised that we will be killing people"

"Will you like to hear my honest thought?" Joshua said as he stood up to take a bottle of soda "yes" Barakat replied

"Ok for me the reality is i think that if you are a problem to me i use whatever means to get rid of you even if it means killing you, sure i know killing is wrong but i can't risk losing something i love over my naivety, but yes i know it just my way to justify my actions but it works for me" he paused to take a sip of soda "but that is me i think you should find your truth and stick with it, so for now don't worry i can make the hard decisions "

"Wow that's deep" Barakat replied "thanks i guess i will rely on you for now".

"Joshua i have sent details of the mission to the tribunal" kira said appearing in front of Joshua

"Tribunal?" Favor asked, icing her bruised shoulder.

Kira projected a galaxy map. "The Tribunal governs millions of Galactic Corps—hero alliances per galaxy. Earth's Corp was dormant. Until now."

Joshua's Eye pulsed. "We're Earth's Corp?"

"Yes. Your family's legacy," Kira said. "But joining means facing threats beyond Unbeam. The Tribunal's enemies… they make warlords look like children."

Teniola cracked her knuckles. "Bring them."

"I have always wondered how the Galactic Corp came to exsit" Faruq said while working on the nano suits "from the evidence i have seen in my research on this ship, our is very vast and near infinite in size" "actually according to the documents from the tribunal it us infinite in size" kira replied "that is why there are that much Galactic Corps", "so they exist in all galaxies?" Faruq asked "no but they grow continually, the current number is up to 8 billion".

"Wow that much" Faruq exclaimed.

"Enough with all this history lesson" Michael interjected "Kira play some music let's enjoy the ride".

Later, Joshua stood in Lucis's observation deck. The Eye's voice bubbled up,

"You did good today.."

" when you turn to serious person?," Joshua laughed.

A pause. "The Tribunal… they'll test you. Worse than Unbeam."

"We'll handle it."

The Eye's glow softened. "Well if you can't i will always save your ass."

The team gathered around the amulet, now secured in Lucis's vault.

"What's next?" Michael asked.

Chisom pulled up a star map. "We will be carrying the amulet to ryok the Galactic Corp."

Faruq interjected as he collected the amulet from Chisom. " can i have some time with it i want to check somethings."

"Sure just don't do anything stupid" Joshua answered

"Sure thing ".