Federal Military Academy, Dean’s Office.

Miles Sherman and his group, dressed in their academy uniforms, stood in a straight line before the walnut desk.

Behind the desk stood Director Quinn, his fingers pressed against the tabletop. "The friendly competition between the Federation and the Empire is drawing near. I’ve called you here today to announce a special training program just for the four of you."

"The First Military Academy has personally invited the four of you to a training base they’ve custom-built for you." Director Quinn chuckled at this point. "It doesn’t sound like a pleasant place, especially since it’s designed to target your spiritual powers."

"But I accepted," Jasper Quinn said in a deep voice. "The First Military Academy’s hostility toward you is only slightly less than the Empire’s. The fact that they’ve gone to the trouble of setting up something specifically for you... I think it will be an excellent trial."

Adrian Chapman had told Jasper Quinn everything about them.

Jasper Quinn now understood perfectly why they had chosen Siren Star.

They had enough training against Xenobeasts, but not enough direct training against other people. The First Military Academy just happened to extend an olive branch, so Jasper Quinn simply accepted.

He could tell that the First Military Academy wanted to put Nathan Lockwood and the others in their place.

Jasper Quinn also felt the boys had gotten a bit too audacious. Going there to have their tempers tempered would be a good thing.

Miles Sherman and the others were no strangers to this kind of arrangement. As S-Class Alphas, they had participated in all sorts of special training programs since they were children. It was perfectly normal to have one tailored for them now.

But...

"What about Zoe Pierce?" Miles Sherman asked. "There should be special training for her, too, right?"

Zoe Pierce had completely changed the way Omegas fought. He didn’t believe Jasper Quinn hadn’t considered this.

As expected, Jasper Quinn replied, "There is a special program for her, but she won’t be with you. You won’t see each other during your field training, but you’ll be together the rest of the time."

’As long as we can bring Zoe along, it’s fine.’

The group breathed a collective sigh of relief.

If this program were only for the four of them, they would inevitably worry about Zoe Pierce. But knowing she was coming with them, their minds were instantly put at ease.

’It’s just the field training we’ll be apart for. We can see her the rest of the time.’

"You lot should worry about yourselves first." Their unity was a good thing, but Director Quinn still felt they had grown a bit lax. "We haven’t been notified of the specific training the First Military Academy has designed for you yet."

"I’m giving you one week to prepare. After that, the academy will dispatch a ship to take you."

The planet the First Military Academy had arranged for this was not the Capital Star, but their own training planet, Praxium.

"This time, you’ll probably run into some familiar faces." Jasper Quinn was referring to Victor Vance and his group from the First Military Academy. While Zoe Pierce and her friends had been improving, others hadn’t slowed their pace either. Everyone was desperately sprinting forward.

"Regarding Zoe Pierce, I know you’ve all been busy with something recently. Handle it quickly." Jasper Quinn only had a vague idea of what was happening with the Pierce Family; he’d only heard rumors.

But as a teacher, he couldn’t interfere at a time like this.

It was a good thing Zoe Pierce trusted Miles Sherman and the others, who could take care of the matter at hand.

The group nodded at his words. In truth, the Pierce Family matter was almost completely handled, but there was no need to explain this to Jasper Quinn right now.

However, Nathan Lockwood remained skeptical of Jasper Quinn’s claim that he didn’t know what training the First Military Academy had planned for them.

’A man with Jasper Quinn’s personality would never leave everything in the hands of the First Military Academy. I bet Director Quinn and his people had a hand in designing a good deal of the training, adding their own special touches.’

’It doesn’t matter, though. It makes no real difference.’

Nathan Lockwood wasn’t even particularly worried about Zoe Pierce’s training. No one understood her current skill level better than he did.

Even without using her spiritual power, her abilities were nothing to worry about.

In his eyes, this trip seemed more like an opportunity to relax and unwind.

*

Evening came. The sky had already darkened, veiled by a thin layer of clouds.

A heavy motorcycle sped silently down the road. A flash of silver glinted off the pitch-black bike under a streetlight.

The man on the motorcycle wore a helmet, his broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist. He leaned forward slightly, quickly rounding a corner at the intersection ahead.

Leaving the main road, the street grew wider and more tranquil.

He soon reached the security gate of a villa complex. The identity scan was swift; after linking to the motorcycle’s information, the gate opened smoothly without him needing to stop.

The man stopped in front of one of the villas, took off his helmet, and sent a message on his Intelligent Brain.

The reply was an "OK" gesture. Chase Shaw smiled silently, running a hand through his short hair. He sat on his motorcycle, his gray eyes fixed on the front gate.

A few minutes later, the closed gate swung open.

Zoe Pierce, dressed in form-fitting training clothes, stepped out. She had expected an interstellar hovercar to be waiting for her, but was surprised to see Chase Shaw leaning against a motorcycle, shrouded in the night.

The man wore an outfit similar to a racer’s suit, which perfectly accentuated his broad shoulders and long legs.

The lamp by her door cast a dim, yellow light on the corner, making him and the motorcycle seem as if they were one.

Wild and imposing.

Both the bike and the man exuded a powerful, commanding presence.

Zoe Pierce stared, stunned for a moment, before walking over. "Chase Shaw?" she called out, a bit uncertainly.

Chase Shaw stood up from beside the bike and took a helmet and a set of clothes he had prepared for Zoe Pierce out of his Space Button.

"Arms up," he said succinctly.

Zoe Pierce instinctively raised her arms and watched as he slipped a suit over her clothes. It was similar to his, but clearly tailored for a woman’s figure.

"Didn’t you say we were going to calibrate my Mecha?"

Chase Shaw had come by earlier today with Miles Sherman and the others, but they had left right after talking about the training at the First Military Academy. Zoe Pierce had thought that was it for the day, but two hours later, she received a message from Chase.

It was about calibrating her Mecha.

Naturally, she wasn’t going to refuse.

So she had been waiting for him, but she never imagined he would appear before her like this.

After zipping her up, Chase Shaw picked up the helmet and linked their Intelligent Brains. "Yeah. I’m taking you there."

Zoe Pierce looked at the advanced, interstellar version of a motorcycle. Even if she wasn’t an expert, she could tell it was incredibly expensive.

He placed the helmet on her head, then put on his own.

"Never ridden one before?" His voice, low, magnetic, and raspy as if scraped by gravel, came through the helmet’s internal communicator.

Zoe Pierce’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. "No," she replied, a little astonished.

’At least, not since she lost her memory.’

Chase Shaw swung his leg easily over the motorcycle and shifted forward. "Get on. Hold on tight."