Arthur looked up, narrowing his eyes. A Chimerian fighter jet had locked onto him, its sleek, curved design cutting through the sky like a predator hunting its prey.

A split second later, it fired.

Arthur barely had time to react as a barrage of plasma missiles streaked toward him. He activated his thrusters, propelling himself off the ground just as the impact sent a shockwave through the terrain. Rocks and debris exploded outward as flames engulfed the area he had just occupied.

The fighter banked sharply, circling around for another pass. Arthur twisted midair, adjusting his trajectory, but the jet was much faster. It swooped down, unleashing a rapid burst of energy rounds that seared through the air.

Arthur dodged, weaving through the barrage. Several shots clipped his shoulder plate and his back, sending sparks flying, though still unable to penetrate his armor. He grimaced but didn’t slow down.

‘I can’t outrun it like this…’

He glanced at the terrain below. Jagged cliffs, towering rock formations, perfect for an ambush.

Arthur dove toward the ground, using his thrusters to weave between the rocky spires. The fighter followed, its engines roaring as it pursued him through the treacherous terrain. Plasma bolts rained down, carving through stone, sending boulders tumbling.

Arthur twisted between narrow gaps, forcing the pilot to follow him through tighter and tighter spaces. He needed to push the fighter into a position where its speed would become a weakness.

The jet banked hard, barely avoiding a rock wall. 

Then, he made his move.

Arthur abruptly changed direction, using his thrusters to propel himself straight up. The fighter, unable to react in time, shot past below him. Arthur flipped in midair, extending his arm.

His sword ignited.

With a single slash, he raked his blade across the jet’s energy shield. Sparks flew, the barrier flickering under the strain. The pilot desperately pulled away, but Arthur wasn’t done, he used technopathy to mess with the pilot’s control and weaken the energy shield.

Using his thrusters, he launched himself forward, landing atop the unstable jet’s hull.

The Chimerian pilot inside panicked, jerking the controls wildly to shake him off. The jet spun, twisted, nearly inverted itself in a desperate attempt to dislodge its unwanted passenger. Arthur dug his armored fingers into the metal, holding on as the wind howled around him.

With a grunt, he drove his plasma blade into the jet’s hull.

The sword pierced through, slicing into vital components. Warning lights flickered inside the cockpit as systems began to fail. The pilot screamed something in Chimerian, frantically trying to regain control.

Arthur didn’t give him the chance.

He ripped his sword free and plunged his fist into the exposed wiring. Sparks erupted as he tore through circuits and conduits, causing a violent chain reaction inside the craft. The jet’s engines sputtered, then exploded.

Arthur pushed off at the last second, his thrusters firing as he propelled himself away.

The fighter spun out of control, flames trailing behind it before it smashed into the rocky cliffs below, detonating in a massive fireball.

Arthur landed on a nearby rock formation, watching the wreckage burn.

“Now that’s more like it.” With adrenaline coursing through his veins.

He could have used his technopathy to finish the fight much more easily. But there could be eyes everywhere on this planet, if he used technopathy too much some people might find it suspicious and there’s one more thing, he felt exhilarated when fighting such close battles. 

He thought he might be becoming a battle junkie.’Meh…whatever.’ He then continued to go towards the direction of the base.

…

Somewhere in the Milky Way Galaxy – UFE High Command Meeting

The dimly lit conference room hummed with quiet conversation, the air thick with tension. Holographic screens flickered across the expansive table, displaying various battle footage from the ongoing war against the Chimerians. 

One screen in particular drew everyone’s attention, the real-time satellite recording of Arthur demolishing enemy soldiers with terrifying efficiency. His movement speed, strength, and his armor, practically indestructible was not something a normal soldier was capable of.

A tall, broad-shouldered man with graying hair and sharp, calculating eyes leaned forward, tapping a finger against the table. General Garreth Morales, the commanding officer overseeing several divisions of the UFE’s elite forces, spoke with authority.

He was the general that Admiral Kane works for, Kane had asked for his favour for the idea of the modified ECHO armor to be presented before the top brass of UFE. 

“You’ve all seen it for yourselves.” His voice carried a steady rhythm. “The durability of the armor is beyond anything we’ve deployed in the field before. Yes, the alloy is costly to produce, but considering its performance…” He gestured to the screen as Arthur withstood a direct plasma blast from a Chimerian fighter without a dent in his plating. “I’d say it’s worth every credit we spend.”

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room, but before the discussion could move forward, a voice cut through.

“With all that said…” A sharp-eyed general leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. His uniform bore the insignia of a Fleet General, marking him as one of Garreth’s long-standing rivals. “The last report I read on this… Arthur indicated that he was nowhere near this powerful. Was Dr. Carstairs able to uncover anything about this… sudden change?”

Garreth’s expression tightened. He knew exactly where this was going.

“That matter is already being handled,” he said, his tone measured. “We’re here to discuss the armor, are we not?”

The other general scoffed. He gestured to a secondary screen, pulling up a classified report. “I also recall that the ECHO unit recently explored a ruin belonging to a higher civilization. I find it curious, don’t you? A soldier goes in to explore the ruins, then after a few days not only he creates an alloy that even our best scientists haven’t managed to develop, but also displays… extraordinary capabilities.”

Garreth narrowed his eyes. “What exactly are you trying to imply?”

The general gave a slow, knowing smile. “Isn’t it obvious? What if this soldier found something in those ruins? Something beyond what was reported? And instead of turning it over to the UFE, he kept it for himself.”

A heavy silence filled the room. A few of the gathered officials exchanged wary glances, others frowned, clearly considering the possibility.

Garreth’s patience snapped. His fist slammed against the table, rattling data tablets and coffee cups. “You’ve seen him in the field! He stayed behind to protect his squad. He fights like a man willing to die for this cause, and yet you expect me to believe he would hoard information for his own benefit!?” His glare bore into his rival. “And tell me, what exactly does he gain by doing so?”

The other general met his gaze coolly. “Human greed is a dangerous thing, Morales. Even the most noble of soldiers can succumb to it. I’m not saying he has…” he spread his hands in mock innocence, “…but I find it hard to believe he came up with something this revolutionary all on his own. And you should know this Arthur appeared out of nowhere one day, It’s really difficult to trust someone like that.”

Garreth clenched his jaw. He could argue in Arthur’s defense all day, but without concrete proof, it wouldn’t change anything. His rival had backed him into a corner, implying that Garreth himself might be complicit in some cover-up. If he defended Arthur too strongly, he could be seen as biased.

Exhaling sharply, he said, “Fine. What do you suggest?”

The opposing general’s smile widened slightly. “A simple test.” He leaned forward. “If this Arthur truly developed this alloy, then he must have a considerable understanding of metallurgy, physics, and material science. Let’s assess his intelligence.”

Garreth nodded stiffly. That much was reasonable. But the other general wasn’t finished.

“Additionally,” he continued, “I believe he should be detained and subjected to a thorough investigation. His personal logs, his equipment, his findings from the ruins, everything should be scrutinized.” His voice lowered slightly. “And if it turns out he did hide something…” He let the sentence trail off, leaving the implications hanging in the air.

A few officials shifted uncomfortably. Others looked intrigued.

Garreth’s fists tightened under the table. ‘You conniving bastard’. He was trying to plant doubt in everyone’s minds, turning Arthur from a rising hero into a potential threat.

Before he could respond, another voice spoke up.

“I object.”

All eyes turned to an older general seated near the center of the table. His uniform bore the markings of High Command, signifying his rank above both Garreth and his rival. He steepled his fingers, gazing at the room with an air of quiet authority.

“A warrior of Arthur’s caliber should not be subjected to such treatment. You’ve all seen the footage. He’s an asset the UFE cannot afford to lose, this is a delicate matter and should be handled with care.” the general said evenly.

Another official chimed in, nodding. “The Chimerians are pushing harder than ever. If we antagonize him, we might drive him away. A soldier like him? He could become a very dangerous enemy if he no longer trusts the UFE.”

The room fell into debate, some agreeing with the general while others remained suspicious.

Finally, a composed middle aged woman from the Intelligence Division spoke. “Enough. There’s no need for baseless paranoia, but there is merit in verifying his knowledge.” She turned to the assembled officials. “Let’s put it to a vote. How we proceed with Arthur will be decided according to it.”

A hush settled over the room as the votes were cast.

Minutes later, they came to a conclusion.

Arthur would not be detained, nor would he be subjected to invasive investigation. However, he would be formally questioned regarding his time in the ruins and tested on his knowledge. If he had truly developed the alloy, he would have no trouble proving it.

At the same time, the council also approved an experimental batch of modified ECHO armor based on Arthur’s design, which would undergo further battlefield testing.

Garreth exhaled, forcing himself to remain composed. The outcome wasn’t perfect, but it was far better than what his rival had pushed for. And if the armor was as powerful as it was described in the blueprints and the reports, then it would become a huge merit for him.

As the meeting adjourned, he shot a cold glance at his opponent. The other general simply smirked, as if to say, This isn’t over.

Garreth turned away, leaving the room.

***

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