Chapter 9: A Higher Threat

“I lost. It’s my defeat.”

Carlos had gone under a mountain of training before being appointed a captain of a squad. He knew his limits very well. Due to being hit in the liver, he would barely be able to walk, let alone fight.

“Heavens, I need a smoke.” Ava felt a weight fall off her heart, her breathing becoming easier.

’If Michael got seriously hurt because of my own incompetence, I would have never been able to forgive myself.’

“Captain!”

Immediately a few members of Carlos’s squad approached him, giving him a shoulder to lean on.

“I apologize for this unsightly display.” He chuckled dryly, surprised by the worry on his subordinates’ faces.

“Please don’t talk right now! We should take you to a doctor right this instant!”

Not wanting to prolong their visit, especially with their captain hurt, Carlos’s squad quickly left the area.

Despite his beaten state, Carlos used his communication device to make a call.

“Carlos, to have called so soon. I hope that my request has been fulfilled.”

The man gritted his teeth before answering. “I am sorry, Sir Oliver, I have failed to cause trouble for Cadet Michael.”

“…”

Oliver was silent for a few seconds before exploding.

“USELESS!”

Back at Michael’s group.

“That was some impressive speed, new guy!” Leo laughed wholeheartedly.

“It’s not a rare occurrence for teams of other bases to seek trouble for the smallest inconvenience. I am surprised to see you handle yourself this well!”

While Michael did appreciate the acknowledgment, he was in a sour mood.

’I have been wondering how Triton fell so easily. If the relationships with the other bases have been so bad, then it’s no surprise…’

With the threat clear, they resumed their dinner shortly after.

The squad quickly surrounded Michael, asking him all kinds of questions.

“Tell me how you get so strong?”

“Has your family given you some kind of overpowered technique?”

All he could do was shake his head awkwardly. He couldn’t exactly tell them that he had come from the future and that he had reached the pinnacle of power in his past life. Even if he did, no one would believe him anyway.

With a cigar in hand, Ava watched Michael silently. The more she looked at the young man, the weirder her heart felt.

’Forget it, I shouldn’t think about things like this… I don’t have that right anyway.’

They were about to go back to the base to restock until her communication device lit up.

A hologram projection of Bryce appeared before her.

“General, I was just about to inform you of our mission success. We were thinking of coming back to restock.”

“Good work, Captain Ava.” The old man spoke, his usual friendly demeanor gone.

“Is something the matter?” Ava immediately picked up on that change.

“Truthfully, yes, General Victoria has encountered a Higher tier portal. Due to that, there are numerous Higher tier aliens slowly setting foot on our lands. We need all nearby squads to assist her immediately!”

Ava frowned. “With all due respect, General, we are exhausted. Due to the incompetence of the reinforcements, we were forced to deal with the threat alone. I fear that my team won’t be able to survive another encounter.”

To the untrained eye it may have looked like conquering the portal had been easy. But Ava could see the exhausted faces of her subordinates. It would be a bad idea to push them further. Especially if the threat was Higher tier.

“Sadly, we don’t have much of a choice.” Bryce spoke soberly. “If the Higher tier portal is not dealt with in a timely manner, the first place the aliens would hit would be Base #85… If we don’t deal with them right now, there won’t be a place to return and restock.”

Before Ava could speak further, Bryce cut the connection.

This wasn’t a request but an order.

“FUCK!” She cursed, pounding a nearby rock, reducing it to rubble.

“What are the orders, Daredevil?” Leo long guessed that there was a tougher mission ahead.

“We are to support General Victoria in her goal to destroy a Higher tier portal.”

The lively chat immediately silenced, and for a good reason.

A Lower tier portal wasn’t much of a threat since only aliens of the Lower tier could use it. But when it came to the Higher tier things became more dire. Aliens that had reached the Higher tier were much more cunning and powerful.

For reference, one Higher tier alien was on the same level as a captain of a squad.

And a Higher portal meant that hundreds, if not thousands, of such foes would eventually come out.

The only one that remained in a calm mood was Michael. He was not just calm but grateful.

’If we are able to take care of the Higher portal now, we would be able to focus on the alien ships in about 6 days when they invade.’

“Our General needs us.” Ava said, elevating their spirits. “Think about it, how many could brag that they have played a role in sealing a Higher portal?”

“The devil is right! Let’s massacre them!”

“We sealed one portal already! What is one more?”

“Think of the fat paycheck we will receive at the end!”

Ava observed Michael silently. Unlike the rest, he didn’t shout to elevate the mood of the group. He looked in a daze, staring at empty space.

In truth he was surprised by the window that had appeared before him.

[Quest: Save General Victoria]

[Difficulty: Hard]

[Task: Surrounded by Higher tier beings, Victoria is soon going to be overwhelmed. Save her before her inevitable demise!]

[Reward: Epic cybernetic, 100 Skill Points]

’An Epic cybernetic?’ Michael gulped audibly. He suspected that the system would only give him techniques that synergized with one another. The Dash technique that he earned recently worked great with Berserker despite being only of the Rare tier. He could only imagine how powerful he would get with an Epic tier cybernetic.

“Cadet Michael, you have done more than enough for our squad.”

While the team had sprung into action, Ava approached him and spoke with care.

“A cadet like you has no business fighting against such overwhelming force. It’s normal to be scared. Don’t worry, I will send you to the base. Even if I receive a punishment for doing so, the lives of my team are a priority in my eyes.”

She had begun to grow fond of the young man. That was why she didn’t want him to die a pointless death. The chances of her surviving were minimal, much less for a cadet like him.

’She really is a great captain. I don’t remember hearing her name after the Triton invasion. I guess that she originally died… most likely trying to save the lives of her subordinates.’

A regret began to form in his heart. If he had been stronger in his prior life, she wouldn’t have died. A woman with resolve like her would undoubtedly have reached the top of the human military and played a crucial role in the fight against the aliens.

’I will not allow anyone with such a promising future to die on my watch.’

“There is no need to worry about me, Captain.” Michael chuckled, yet his eyes lacked their usual innocence.

“No one is going to die today.”

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