Blue Deathster: STARFALL NEXUS

Commander Lorkin slammed his fist onto the table, the sound echoing through the command room.

"I told you two to leave without being noticed!" he barked. "The orb would've stayed dormant!"

Hanada stood with his arms crossed, frustration written all over his face.

"What the hell was that thing?" he demanded. "It somehow saw us even when we were quiet as an ant."

Lorkin's tone shifted, quieter now, but grim.

"The Void… it has existed since prehistoric times. A force that's always tried to swallow the world and return it to nothingness. It tears apart reality, distorts the laws of nature, and repeats this cycle until it succeeds. It usually remains in one place, dormant… but it appears that orb was generating its soldiers—the golem, the dragon. And now that it's vanished..."

He trailed off, the weight of uncertainty hanging heavy in the room.

"We don't know where it is now… or what havoc it will bring."

Sora took a breath and bowed his head.

"We're sorry, Commander."

Lorkin looked at the two pilots, his voice softening.

"No… no, it's fine. I should've added more details during the briefing. I just didn't expect it to appear there of all places."

He waved them off.

"Dismissed."

"Roger!" both Sora and Hanada responded in unison, then turned to walk down the corridor of the base.

Hanada let out a sigh as they walked side by side.

"Damn… what now?"

"We wait for new orders?" Sora replied, uncertain.

"Yeah, but who knows how long it'll take before the Void makes its next move..."

"Guys!" a familiar voice called out.

The two turned to see Sabine running toward them, worry etched on her face.

"Sabine!" Sora said.

"Are you alright?" she asked, eyes darting between the two.

"Yeah. We're fine," Hanada assured her.

"I was worried about what would happen… thank goodness you killed that dragon. But the orb… the Void…"

Sora's expression turned serious.

"Yeah. It went somewhere. Disappeared after that blast."

Before they could speak further, a sharp voice echoed from across the hallway.

"This is why I sometimes question our leader's decisions when it comes to recruitment."

They all turned. A woman approached—tall, poised, with long blue hair that shimmered beneath the corridor lights. She wore the sleek uniform of a Blue Deathster pilot.

Sabine straightened up immediately.

"Captain Ruri Turning!" she said, saluting.

Ruri's piercing gaze locked onto Sora and Hanada.

"As impressive as your records are," she said coldly, "you two are arrogant and clumsy."

Hanada frowned. "What?"

"You saved the day, sure. You eliminated the threat. But not without leaving a trail of destruction in your wake. If you want to remain with Blue Deathster, you'd better learn how to finish a mission without endangering everything around you."

Without another word, she walked past them, her footsteps echoing down the corridor.

The three stood there in silence, watching her go. The weight of her words settled over them like a cloud.

Sora's thoughts drifted as he stared after her, deep in thought.

Captain Ruri Turning… pilot of the Blue Deathster's "Eahalten Vogel." Over 200 missions completed solo. She's the strongest pilot in Blue Deathster.

This is the first time we've shared the same air.

No one knows the true identity of Blue Deathster's leader… but rumor has it—Captain Ruri is the only one who does.

Even Commander Lorkin doesn't know who's pulling the strings.

I need to keep an eye on her.