Arc 2: The Tower of Power
45th Floor – A Distant Future? Part 2
"Wake up."
"Just ten more minutes... Not even the rooster has crowed yet..."
"What's gotten into you today? Get up already!" Helena yanked Nora's blanket with all her strength, revealing her bare body. Even then, Nora didn't budge.
"Get uuuuup already!!"
"Alright, alright! Sheesh..." Nora finally woke up, slowly sitting up and rubbing her eyes. She glanced around the red canvas tent, and at last remembered—this was the day she would march onto the battlefield.
"The sun's not even up yet. Don't you have any pity for me?" she complained while her sister helped her get dressed.
"You're older than me, remember? Shouldn't it be the other way around?" Helena replied while helping Nora into her black overcoat—the official uniform of Organization Zero. As she helped her sister, Helena thought back on the sacrifices they had made to reach this moment in time.
"Sis..." Nora murmured, her eyes distant. Helena continued, voice serious and pained:
"I don't have the strength to defeat Asura alone… But maybe—just maybe—together, we can stop her. Maybe even bring her back from the darkness."
Nora turned to see her sister with her head lowered, her confidence shattered. Her ocean-blue eyes had lost their luster, and for the first time, Nora saw Helena's joyful spirit replaced by deep despair.
"What are you talking about? My memories are a mess… What did she do?"
"We're at war, remember? It's been months. We've united the scattered branches of our clan, and this might be our final battle. But before that, we must break through our father's last line of defense—Asura's army."
After fully dressing, Nora stood up from her hammock and looked at Helena, a touch of fear in her expression.
"I still don't understand why any of this is happening… Even if we defeat Asura, who's going to take down our father?"
"We've got the kings of Aden and Goodard on our side, fighting the remaining generals. So, the one who'll likely face him directly is..."
Just then, a knight clad in heavy armor and carrying a longsword burst into the tent.
"Forgive my intrusion, my ladies—but I've been ordered to escort you to the command center. Katarina Sui wishes to speak with you."
Though caught off guard by the sudden interruption, they quickly complied.
"Come on. The sun's about to rise," said Helena, grabbing Nora's hand and pulling her toward the intelligence tent.
As they briskly made their way there, Nora observed the chaotic movement of troops preparing for the "final" battle. Foot soldiers, heavy infantry, archers, and cavalry hurried about, transporting weapons, food, and lumber.
"This battle's going to be brutal," Nora remarked.
"Of course it will be. We've been stuck in this endless war for months. But today… today it feels like it ends."
All the tents were red, but the command tent stood out—larger than the rest, with arcane symbols embroidered across the velvet fabric. The guard halted in front of the entrance.
"I'll remain outside. Call me if you need anything."
The tent looked large from the outside, but inside it felt even more imposing—warm and welcoming, with cushioned chairs and torches casting a soft glow. A large rectangular table at the center displayed a full regional map of Unandir and its surroundings. Small figurines marked troop positions across the battlefield.
"You're late," said Katarina Sui, leaning over the map with both arms resting on the table, her emerald eyes scanning for possible strategies.
[Katarina Sui: Age 22. Supreme General of the Kingdom of Aden (located in eastern Gracya). Sister of King Endo Sui.
Member of Organization Zero – Guardian Class. Wielder of Light-type mana and Ice-elemental powers.]
She wore armor forged from lunar iron—metal extracted from meteorites—dyed a deep navy blue. But more than her power, Katarina stood out for her beauty: golden hair tied in a high bun, emerald green eyes. Those features marked her heritage—the bloodline of Clan Sui.
"Forgive me… but I still don't understand my role here," Nora said.
Katarina raised her head and stared seriously.
"After everything we've been through, have you forgotten our final goal?"
"I-it's just… my head's been a little foggy lately."
"We finally broke the blood pact. Now we fight to reclaim what's rightfully ours."
"And what exactly is that?" Nora asked.
"Freedom. I won't deny it—we Sui are mixed-bloods, not pure Shisui like your family. But that doesn't mean we should be subjugated. Must we live as slaves to your father's will—just because of bloodline? We're cousins. We're all human. That's why we're at war. And have you forgotten? You were the one who freed us from the sorcery that enslaved us for centuries."
That part... Nora didn't remember. Her memories were scrambled, like a star flung into the gravity of a supernova.
"Your mission? You and I will kill Asura. She's the only barrier standing between us and the Kingdom of Unandir," Katarina declared.
Helena lowered her head. Her eyes nearly closed as she thought about the reasons behind the war—reasons she believed could have been resolved peacefully. Then she spoke softly:
"I won't kill Asura..."
Nora's heart trembled at those words. Despite being only eight days older, she always saw Helena as her precious little sister. Gathering the strength in her lungs, she made a decision. Looking into Helena's eyes, she said:
"You're staying here."
"W-what?"
"I can't fight while trying to protect you. You're staying behind. That's final."
"You don't get to decide that."
Sensing the fight about to break out, Katarina stepped in:
"Your sister's right, Helena. Nora is stronger than you. You'd only be a hindrance. Go with my commander and defend the eastern tower. Leave Asura to us."
In that moment, Helena felt powerless. Rage filled her heart. The agony of being unable to save her sister from a terrible fate overwhelmed her. Tears streamed down her face—not of weakness, but of helpless fury. Her aura darkened, seeping from her skin like sweat after a long run.
"I'm going—whether you like it or not!" she shouted, pointing at Katarina, then at Nora. "Neither of you can stop me!"
Her brilliant blue eyes burned with raw determination. But as Nora knew, determination alone doesn't move mountains.
"We're on completely different levels, Helena. I'm not saying you're weak. I'm saying… you need more 'power.'" Nora gently grasped her sister's hand. Realizing Helena wouldn't back down, she chose a final option.
She struck Helena's neck with a swift blow, rendering her unconscious.
"Guard!!" Nora called out.
A heavily armored soldier entered within seconds.
"Take my sister back to our tent. If we lose to Asura and the war turns against us, escape with her to Vernumbra. Find someone named Keilor—he's a trusted friend. Tell him I'm dead."
"Yes, my lady," the guard replied, carrying Helena away.
As soon as the guard left, Nora turned to Katarina. Her eyes sharpened. Her presence changed.
She had become someone else—the feared "Célere," as her father's troops had called her three years ago.
"I won't kill Asura..." she said.
"W-what did you say?" Katarina asked, stunned. "Did you not hear me?"
"I will not kill my sister."
Hatred flooded her heart, transforming her from a beautiful girl with sapphire-blue eyes and short hair into something else entirely. Thick darkness oozed from her body like tar, engulfing her form. Her eyes turned blood red.
Her rage had consumed her. The air grew heavy—unbreathable. A murderous aura filled the tent, suffocating everything in its path.
"I will bring her back, don't worry."
'I'll bring her back even if I have to tear off arms and legs to do'
continued...