Chapter 37 - Call Part 2

[Belien: I, Belien Kae the White Fang, challenge Mersa the Crimson Ice Queen to a duel! I will be waiting at Station Zeta N:12411 on April 30th, year 13255.]

A large-scale communication broadcast was continuously emitted throughout the Kollos' sphere of influence.

[Mistglan: Mersa, this is an obvious provocation...]

[Mersa: Four years. Exactly four years from that day...]

[Mistglan: Mersa.]

[Mersa: I'll go. Four years from that day, I'll avenge you, Vorst.]

The Red Wolf muttered the last sentence absentmindedly.

[Claire: Sigh... We will come with you then.]

[Mersa: Thank you.]

With that, she left.

[Claire: ...]

[Mistglan: Sigh...]

In one year, the Kollos Alliance managed to capture a fifth of the Crimson Empire's bases, and another fifth was rendered completely useless.

It was all thanks to Nova, Celina, and especially Mersa.

The Crimson Ice Queen.

Crimson.

While being only at 12th LCT, she easily took on any Mid Circle Tier and defeated them in direct battle. It wasn’t a simulation; it was a real-life struggle, but that didn’t matter much. While Rankers clashed with each other, a special squad would push past the front lines and destroy the supply lines. Normally, such missions were classified as suicidal because once discovered, their opponents would outnumber them a hundredfold.

It didn’t matter.

Blood would flow.

While the rest of the squad conducted the 'infiltrating' mission, Mersa, accompanied by a hundred Mechs, would directly storm a supply base. She didn’t care about hiding. She would just pick a base without an Upper Circle Tier and completely annihilate every single soldier.

Of course, everything went smoothly thanks to the help of the Red Commander and the Witch Queen, but it was also true that they were safe thanks to the Crimson Ice Queen.

---

Station Zeta N:12411 was one of the places Mersa had already burned down several weeks ago. Thousands of scrapped Mechs still lay around when she arrived.

Her eyes were fixed on the M-Collos standing in the middle of the area.

74 Rankers were accompanying her. The full might of the Kollos Alliance had come together.

78 Rankers from the Crimson Empire were also present. None of them had their M-God summoned.

A duel.

Both sides had agreed not to interfere regardless of the outcome, but who knew if Magnes would keep his word.

A Red M-Collos's feet touched the ground.

[<Mersa>: Belien. Prepare to die.]

Through the speakers, a voice full of hatred was heard.

[<Belien>: Heh, a little girl like you doesn’t know the harshness of this world. I will show you where you truly belong!]

The Crimson Ice Queen didn’t wait for him to finish; she instantly jumped at her opponent.

The two-handed sword in her hands struck down ferociously.

Mersa didn’t display a shred of elegance in her battle abilities like he did.

Every move she made was savage, self-learned, and purely based on her instincts.

The pilot of the white machine was shocked.

He had heard that she was skilled, but he never imagined it was to this extent!

With each of her moves, he had to summon several shields to protect himself from blows that seemed to come from all sides.

He was faster, stronger, and tougher...

But his attacks didn’t reach!

Clash!

The White Fang was thrown back several dozen meters. A large cut mark marred his armor...

[Belien: Damn it, what the hell was that strike?]

Strangely, he hadn’t even noticed that last attack before it landed on him.

[<Magnes>: (Psychic Blade)...]

The Emperor looked at the red machine. A (Psychic Blade) was commonly known as a desperate attack from elves when facing an opponent at close range. However, Mersa used it as a normal attack to surprise her opponent. Indeed, she was the first elf capable of a melee skirmish.

[<Magnes>: She’s dangerous.]

With that, he shifted his gaze towards the Elven Queen. She was openly smiling at him, as if saying, "Don’t even think about laying a hand on her."

The Red Wolf M-Collos raised its hand.

[Mersa: (Psychic Vacuum)]

[Belien: W-wha?]

Feeling an irresistible pull, the white machine was lifted off the ground and flew towards the Crimson 5-meter giant.

Before he could summon enough photons to stop his machine, Mersa had already moved. With lightning-like speed, she arrived next to it and slashed down with her blade, combined with (Psychic Blade).

Again, a wave of sparks erupted from the white machine as it was sent flying away.

[Mersa: (Psychic Spear)]

A psionic bullet hit her opponent before he even touched the ground.

BAM

The M-Collos bounced off the ground several times before finally crashing.

[Belien: Damn it.]

His barrier status was already at 43%, and he hadn’t even managed to put a scratch on his opponent.

If Mersa’s power output were at the same level as his, he would already be dead...

However, this was a time for a comeback!

[<Belien>: A bitch like you should just belong in a whorehouse!]

No reaction. Mersa didn’t care about insults.

He summoned an enormous amount of photons. (Blitz!)

He wasn’t a 12th Upper Circle Tier for nothing!

Because the station had been destroyed several weeks ago, the atmosphere was extremely thin, so although he surpassed the speed of sound several times, there was no sonic boom.

In an instant, he arrived next to her and slashed.

Mersa instantly put up her guard but was still sent flying.

With a somersault, she landed safely, and the sword match began.

In lightning-like speeds, dozens of blows were exchanged in a matter of seconds.

Mersa had already earned the title of Advanced Swordsman!

[Mersa: (Restriction)]

Surprise!

Belien was completely stunned. There was no information that she could use that move! In a second, his movement immediately slowed down.

Slash. Slash. Slash.

A myriad of sparks flew off from his M-Armor.

His barrier was nearly depleted.

He had no way to cope against a spell like this; he didn’t have monster-like instincts like Marc.

[<Belien>: Wait! I surrender! I surrr..]

Mersa didn’t care. She raised her hand and summoned the 2-meter black blade that he had left her.

JAB

In the hands of the 5-meter M-Collos, it looked like a short sword. The black blade was buried to the hilt in the torso of the White Fang.

When she pulled it out, crimson liquid dripped down the black surface.

Silence...

The Elven Queen stepped forward and cast a high-caliber Psychic Barrier around the red machine.

Mersa looked at the enemy Rankers fearlessly.

They were next.

After a while, the Crimson Empire retreated.

It was a perfect opportunity to get rid of her, but he failed. Magnes had no interest in a useless piece like that.

**Mersa**

Occupation: Cadet at Athena's Institute

Focus: Soldier

Power: 2nd MCT (Mid Circle Tier)

Special Characteristics: Psion

Known Abilities: Psychic Barrier, Psychic Telekinesis, Advanced Swordsman

---

[--???--: Marc... Shujin-sama... Marc...]

Although only a few moments had passed inside his soul, outside, five years had already gone by.

A figure moved slowly through the corridors of the floating castle. A green dress, full of lace, perfectly enveloped her snow-like white skin. The dress fit so well that it seemed like a second layer of skin.

[--???--: Finally stabilized. Fufu, what a master, always causing so much trouble. Impulsive and unfaithful, but I can’t help but love him... Marc... Mhm...]

With a gentle push of her delicate hands, the giant black door of the Throne Room was slightly opened as she slipped through.

[--???--: Marc~ Shujin-sama~ Marc~ Love~]

With that, she moved closer, covering the distance that separated her from her beloved in just a few steps.

On all fours, she crawled towards the sleeping boy.

[--???--: Huhu, although he doesn’t look like Marc, that aura is definitely Marc’s... How interesting.]

Completely ignoring the other two, she finally reached him and hugged him tightly from behind.

[--???--: Marc...]

She whispered softly in his ear, her voice full of affection.

[--???--: Marc... Do you wish to wake up? Or do you wish for eternal rest? What is your desire? Huhu~ I know... How unfaithful. That wolf girl visited you every day for the first several hundred days, you know? There were two others too. I know it all, my cheater. I also know your wish... I know it because you are my Shujin-sama... It’s time, my dear...]

With that, the dress fell off her with practiced motions, as if she were shedding skin.

Green eyes with vertically slit pupils charmingly watched the boy in her embrace. From nowhere, a giant serpent arrived and entered the small boy's body. Another was summoned and disappeared inside him. And another… and another…

---

Mersa was sitting in the cafeteria, eating. The food had no taste

. She didn’t care about it either. With mechanical motions, she was just fueling her body. She needed it to fight. It was an early lunch because, at lunchtime, she would visit 'him.'

However, suddenly...

Two girls in front of her became wide-eyed. Seeing their expression, killing intent poured from her body as she immediately turned, ready for battle. But there was nothing behind her. Actually, there were many students of Athena's Institute around her, but nothing out of the ordinary.

[Mersa: What’s wrong?]

She asked as she turned back towards the other two.

[Celina: Mersa-chan, please stay calm...]

[Nova: Mersa-chan... Your hair...]

Confused, she grabbed a handful of strands...

She forgot how to breathe...

The crimson red color was now pinkish and slowly turning brighter...

---

From far away, from a deserted place...

[My Lord...]

[Please hear me out...]

From far away, from a deserted place...