11:00 AT, Day Sixteen | Fort Uri Liv

  “Ko! Faster, harder, quicker! You can do it! I believe in you!” Ray shouts.

  “I'm trying my best… okay!? This is a lot harder than it looks.” I shout back between rapid breaths.

  “Oh c’mon darling. You can go much faster than that! Show everyone what you're truly made of! The whole universe is watching, don't disappoint them!” Ray shouts.

  “Alright then, super ultra turbo mode engaged. You better be ready, cause here I come!” I shout, as I rapidly move my character behind cover to dodge a bullet.

  I watch Ray get shot by an AI of all things. She grips her controller tightly then smashes it against the floor, breaking it into a million pieces.

  We found a gaming system in the fort. I'm not sure why it was left here, but we decided to play a quick game. Practice for war and such.

  “I suck at this. Why are you so klacking good, darling?” Ray says, as she scooches over to lean her head on my shoulder. Why must my girlfriend be this cute? It's unfair, I have no clue what to do with her.

  “Perhaps it has something to do with my years of NEEThood? I did kinda just sit around and play videogames and troll internet forums all day. It’d be embarrassing if I still sucked at them.” I reply.

  “Hmm, fair enough.” She takes a hold of my hand and starts to idly draw circles over the back of my hand. Perhaps feeling for the muscles that have built up over my years of computer use.

  I grip the controller with my free hand and manage to guide my character to a victory against the AI. Ray just sits and watches me play in silence, seemingly content to just lean up against me.

  If only moments like this could last forever, that would be perfect.

  “Hey, Ko.”

  “Hey, Ray.”

  “Whatcha thinking ‘bout?”

  “Oh, just how much I love you and wish moments like this could go on forever.” I reply, trying to make my voice sound as affectionate as possible.

  “Mhm, that would be perfect. Just the two of us, having fun and doing absolutely nothing, forever. That’d be the life.”

  I set down my controller and grab Ray’s free hand, pressing my palm against hers. “Well, once we win this whole game, I'm sure we can find some comfortable farm house. Then we can just forsake all of our responsibilities and live out the rest of eternity there, together.”

  She laces her fingers into mine, and somehow leans even harder into me. “Yeah, that's exactly what we will do. No one can stop us from achieving our ultimate goal of eternal happiness, right?”

  “Of course not, we are the Moonlight Duo after all. We control the tides of the universe and all.”

  “If the universe doesn't want us to have a nice, peaceful life. Well, then we will just have to change it so that it begs us to do so.” Ray asserts, fully confident in our abilities.

  “Hey Ray. Do you wanna go on a walk through the forest? Just the two of us, we haven't really seen much of the terrain around here.”

  “Sure thing! That sounds wonderful, darling.” Ray says, a large smile spreading across her face. What in the world did I do to luck into having such a super cute girlfriend? Did I solve world hunger in a past life or something? I must've been a saint and this life is my reward.

  We head out of the fort and into the forest. As we walk through the fort, soldiers of all sorts salute us. It's quite strange to be known and recognized by so many people. It's almost scary to think how much faith they have in us.

  Not too scary though. After all, we are the Moonlight Duo, and leading an army isn't that hard. Especially when we leave all of the busy work to Emil and Linda.

  Ray and I walk through the forest, our arms linked together. I tried to separate myself for a moment, but she just wouldn't let me go. It appears I have been captured, and am unable and/or unwilling to escape.

  “Hey Ko, do you remember that time in school when you, uh, made that kid regret his actions?” Ray asks.

  “Which time? I seem to recall many such events.”

  “The one that tried to insult me for studying and working too hard.”

  “You're gonna have to be even more specific than that.”

  “Nah, just wanted you to remember how much you love me, ?.” she says, with a mischievous smirk. That smirk reminds me of many fun times we had back in school.

  “Dont you worry your super duper cute heart, I'm not gonna vanish again.” I say, sensing her need to be reassured.

  “Wait! How do you know how cute my heart is? Have you been secretly scanning me?”

  “Well, I don't actually know how cute it is. But considering how every other part that I've observed is super cute, it'd go to the reason that your heart is the same.”

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  “Hmm, what parts about me are cute, exactly?”

  “I think it'd be easier to say what parts aren't cute. Which is nothing. From your long, silky hair, to your beautiful blue eyes. That very boopable nose, and those wonderful lips that seem to match so well with my own. Every part of you is super cute.” I say, with complete seriousness.

  She immediately lets my arm go and hides behind my back. Trying to hide her face against my back. Her face is so warm, it feels like crackling embers on my back. I try to look at her, only for her to shout, “No! You cannot look at me right now.” in a panicked voice.

  I finally managed to do it. It only took, like, 10 years, but I've managed to seriously fluster her. She holds onto me tightly, making sure I cannot turn around.

  “You do know that I've seen you blush before, right?”

  “Ray.exe has stopped functioning, please come back later.” She says, and then bursts out into a fit of laughter.

  I also burst out into laughter. We fall to the ground and just start rolling around on the floor with laughter.

  After we calm down, we lie on the forest floor, side by side. I hold onto Ray’s hand and she rests her head against my chest. She still has a faint blush on her cheeks, it's super cute. Though, I'm pretty sure my blush is the same, if not worse.

  “Ko, you're a big jerk, you know.” Ray whispers into my ear.

  “Oh really now, what about me is so jerk-ish?”

  “I think it'd be easier to say what about you is not jerk-ish.” she says, letting out a brief giggle. “From your hair, always styled in that style that just makes you so jerk-ish. Or that thing you do with the corner of your mouth when you're thinking. Oh, not to mention your relentless taunting of your poor darling girlfriend.”

  “Well then, I guess I'll just have to work on those aspects of myself then.”

  “I mean, you don't have to do that for me. I’ll love you no matter how you are, I've known that for a long time.”

  “I suppose I've in some way known the same. I just can't seem to escape you, even when we are planets apart, eh?”

  “Well silly, that's ‘cause of how much you love me. No way anything in this universe or any other could prevent us being together.”

  “If anyone or anything tries, we will simply have to convince them otherwise.”

  “Hopefully this convincing can involve explosions from time to time. Explosions are super cool.” Ray says.

  “That they are, that they are indeed.”

  15:00 AT, Day Sixteen | Fort Uri Liv

  After our brief walk in the forest – which ended with a lot of general headrubs, cuddling and many kisses – we started strolling back to the fort. Once again, linked arm in arm.

  Upon our return, we are intercepted by a very scared looking soldier. I believe they are one of the officers in the makeshift intelligence corp that we have formed. He quickly rushes up to us as soon as we come into view.

  “Milords, urgent news has come in from the northern scouts! Your presence is wanted immediately in the command room.” the soldier says, a sense of urgency in his voice.

  My brow furrows into a concerned expression. I turn to look at Ray, and she has a look of concern on her face, mirroring my own. It seems that our happy lovey dovey time has come to an abrupt pause. How unfortunate, the headrubs will have to wait until later, it seems.

  We quickly get to the command room, only to discover a very excited looking Rigar and Yuin standing in front of the war map. Whenever they are excited, it usually means a lot of fighting is in store.

  “Hiya fellas, what seems to be happening this fine afternoon?” Ray asks, trying to lighten some of the lingering tension of other gathered soldiers.

  “General Rayleigh, it appears we have a bit of a situation on our hands. As you can see from the map, we are detecting a large force approaching.” Rigar motions to a large red blob on the map, a few hours north of the fort.

  “Good work people, it does appear that we have a situation on our hands.” I say, slightly nervous at what their response will be to my next question. “How bad is it?”

  The room goes silent, all of the officers with experience seal their lips and don a grim expression. After a few seconds, one of the officers speaks up, “To put it plainly, general. We are very likely about to get klacked up. Even with one of your genius plans, we might barely be able to scrape by, and that's taking in only the best possible outcome.”

  It's never good when one of your top officers tells the genius commander that they are truly in a bad position.

  We spend the next few minutes hurriedly getting a sitrep. It seems the situation is bad, but I don't think it is entirely unsalavageable. But, it's going to be rough, that's for sure. Well, it would be, if we weren't the Moonlight Duo of course.

  Currently within the Fort we have around one thousand actively capable soldiers. As well as a decent amount of armor and heavy weaponry. Unfortunately, we still have not received the convoy of defensive equipment that is set to arrive tomorrow. Most of our supplies are still oriented around besieging a castle. We simply didn't expect the Quartet to counter attack so quickly.

  As for the Quartet’s force, our energy readings show that there are around three thousand troops. With plenty of armor and a few strong readings that must be at least a dozen great-level combatants.

  That's all well and good, but our scouts on the ground managed to send a few reports of calamities before being taken out. From what we can make out, the Quartet has two massive creatures made out of metal with them. Our analysts are trying to get a good energy reading, but they cannot make out anything definitive other than they are some sort of large mech.

  It seems that the brains of Brian and Geo have been put to work. We definitely don't have any such things available for us to produce with the arena system. All the rules seem to indicate that the arena system is equal for everyone. Leaving the only answer being that they somehow managed to engineer some massive engine of war, mid-trial.

  I look over to Ray and smile. She returns the gesture with a grin, her eyes shining with a particular form of excitement often seen in those that are well and truly insane. I am sure a similar light shines in my eyes as well. After all, there is nothing like a good challenge to get the brain firing on all cylinders.

  Plus, this should be a perfect time to test out our super secret project.

  I am sure that no matter what happens, Ray and I shall overcome it. Even if we are knocked back again, then we will simply swing back around and hit even harder. After all, we are the Moonlight Duo. So, bring it on.

  End of Chapter 103

  Next: Chapter 104 | Smoke Plumes

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