Nightfall - Haneda Airbase, Tokyo
Kenthelion stepped out of the study, followed closely by Yuriko Takagi. Her long hair was still damp, glistening under the soft corridor lights with a fresh scent of soap lingering in the air. The slight blush on her cheeks only made her look even more radiant-especially under the warm glow of the hallway.
As they entered the lounge, their eyes were immediately drawn to a familiar figure slumped on the couch.
Saya Takagi sat in silence, her gaze distant, lost somewhere between deep thought... and restrained fury.
"Takagi Saya? Still awake?" Kenthelion asked casually, his voice calm and steady as always.
"Ah-y-yeah! I was just heading to bed," she replied quickly, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment. Her tone was rushed, almost panicked, as if she'd been caught doing something she shouldn't.
Inside, however, her thoughts were screaming.
Bastard. Six freaking hours...! From the moment you went in until now-six whole hours! If I hadn't been scared of being caught, I'd have passed out long ago. And the sounds-god, even the soundproof door couldn't hide Yuriko's moans!
Pouting without realizing it, Saya hastily turned her face away.
Kenthelion, noticing her strange behavior, simply sat down on the couch and glanced at Yuriko. "What's with your daughter?"
Yuriko joined him, sitting down with a slight, knowing smile on her lips. She clearly understood what was going on-but chose mischief over explanation.
"Hmm... maybe she stole a few machine guns from the armory," she said teasingly. "Or perhaps a sword... like yours."
Kenthelion shrugged, face unreadable. "If it's just weapons, I don't mind sharing."
Yuriko stretched with a soft sigh, standing up slowly. Her curves shifted beneath her thin pajamas, every movement deliberate yet effortlessly graceful.
"Ugh, I still feel sticky... I'll go take another shower. Don't wait up-it's already late," she said with a wink, then walked off toward the bathroom, her hips swaying slightly with each step.
Kenthelion's eyes followed her as she left. His breath caught for just a second-and he swallowed hard, unconsciously.
Kenthelion's gaze lingered on Yuriko's retreating figure, the curve of her back, the sway of her hips wrapped in those clinging pajamas-his breath caught in his throat. He swallowed, almost involuntarily.
"I'll head out, too... Everything's already prepared," he murmured under his breath, almost as if to himself.
Without another word, he rose silently and followed after her-quiet, composed.
That night... fate had already made its choice.
------
Kenthelion strolled leisurely along the shoreline, searching for Saeko Busujima, who usually trained with her sword every morning. But today, she was nowhere to be seen. She seemed exhausted... probably still asleep.
He sighed deeply. He hadn't slept well either. Last night, he'd taken multiple showers-from midnight until dawn. But when he tried to sleep in the main room, Yuriko Takagi had kicked him out with a casual remark:
"I'm sleeping with my daughter tonight."
With no other choice, Kenthelion had ended up sleeping next to Saeko. But now, it seemed she was still out cold.
He continued walking along the beach. The morning breeze was refreshing.
Suddenly... something caught his eye and stopped him in his tracks.
Not far away, a massive group of women was training vigorously. Kenthelion froze.
"Wait... since when did we have this many female soldiers?"
He stepped closer to the training ground. As he approached, his breath caught.
Before him stood nearly ten thousand female warriors-dressed in tight combat pants and sleeveless tank tops, sweating and full of energy... and yes, every single one of them seemed to have, well... very noticeable physical assets.
They were all beautiful. Curvy. Sexy. Their ages ranged from thirteen to thirty-each in peak physical condition, as if they'd just stepped out of a military lingerie ad.
Kenthelion almost fainted on the spot.
"Oh my god... is this a military training or a magazine shoot?!"
He quickly looked away, but it was already too late. The effect was too strong. If he kept staring, his lower body would stay on full alert indefinitely.
Kenthelion remembered-these were the women they had once rescued from a local military camp in the world of High School of the Dead. Back then, they were weak and scared.
"They've grown up way too fast... literally," he muttered awkwardly.
He didn't dare look any longer. It was too dangerous. If the fanatical and ultra-pious Adepta Sororitas saw Kenthelion enjoying this view, they'd probably misunderstand... and start copying these women's outfits.
Besides, Kenthelion really didn't want to hear any reports like:
"In the name of the Emperor, we declare this design sacred."
Flushing with panic, Kenthelion turned on his heel and hurried back toward the command center. He needed to calm both his mind-and his body.
Kenthelion arrived at the command center and took his seat at the main chair. His gaze was vacant, his mind still haunted by the breathtaking view of the beach he had just witnessed. Such a sight was truly rare-even in the Imperium Caelestis. If he were still on Terra Aeterna, he would have been greeted only by a mountain of documents waiting for his approval.
No wonder the kings and emperors of old enjoyed their reigns so much. Their lives were luxurious. Beautiful.
So what about him?
"My job is just slaughtering aliens, wiping out enemy planets, signing administrative papers, and then going back to the palace to sleep," he sighed softly. "And there are plenty of beautiful women-from Resident Evil to Lin Cage-at the palace. But I'm just too tired..."
Just as he was about to lean back, an officer entered and bowed respectfully.
"Your Majesty, Emperor, we have received a report from the Takagi family residence."
Kenthelion raised an eyebrow. "What happened? Don't tell me... Soichiro Takagi is dead?"
"That is correct, Your Majesty."
"Damn... so he really is dead?"
"Yes. The entire Takagi residence complex was reduced to rubble in a massive fire. All that remains are ruins and... zombies."
Kenthelion fell silent for a moment.
"Wait. Didn't we send three containers full of modern weapons-discarded by the local military and useless to us-to that place? I even recall those weapons were delivered by Takagi Saya, Yuriko Takagi's daughter. How could they still lose?"
"We don't know, Your Majesty. Astra Militarum reported passing through the area, and all buildings were completely burned down. Almost no bodies of women or children were found... so we began searching the surrounding areas. It turns out, we found the women and children locked inside containers. They are now being relocated to Haneda Airport."
"Hmm... do not inform Yuriko Takagi and Takagi Saya just yet."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
As soon as the officer left, Kenthelion pressed a small button on his wristwatch. A hologram flickered to life-a little girl with fiery red hair and sharp, mischievous eyes appeared: the Red Queen.
"Hey, you pervy big brother," Red Queen teased with a sly smile. "When are you going to find me a body? You promised, remember!"
Kenthelion rubbed his temple, clearly annoyed. "Red Queen... I think you need to be punished. In human culture, naughty kids usually get a spanking."
"Oh? Your Majesty the Emperor wants to spank me? But I'm just a smart AI program in the form of a little girl. In human terms, that makes you a lolicon."
Kenthelion choked on his breath. "No! That's not what I meant!"
He furrowed his brows. The elegant and refined Red Queen from Terra Aeterna was now acting like a cheeky brat straight out of some shady internet forum.
"...Wait, where did you learn that phrase?"
Red Queen answered innocently, "I read it on this world's internet."
Kenthelion almost cursed. "Damn, the internet..."
"Don't go reading useless stuff on the internet."
"Why? Am I wrong? Isn't that what people say online about a mother and daughter being together?"
Red Queen, who had been a good AI until now, started to provoke him. She twisted her circuits, filtering info, then suddenly said, "I saw you spent the whole night locked in a room with Yuriko Takagi, and Takagi Saya listened from outside until morning."
Kenthelion let out a long sigh, feeling a headache coming on.
"Stop thinking about nonsense. When I get to the right universe, I'll make you queen and give you whatever body you want."
"You better promise, okay, big brother? Just look at those pervy Adeptus Mechanicus guys who keep spying on me in Terra Aeterna. Their faces are like real creeps!"
Feeling bored, Kenthelion decided to take a walk and drive his sports car. It had been his dream in his previous life: owning and driving a sleek sports car.
---
Meanwhile, there was another dream just as big. In the first space movie he ever watched-Starship Troopers-Kenthelion dreamed of piloting a spaceship himself. Although now he owned a much larger and more advanced warship, if he ever reached the Starship Troopers universe, he was determined to hijack a fighter and experience it firsthand.
---
Back in the Wandering Earth world, he couldn't bring his sports car due to the need to maintain dignity in front of many people. But now, in this new world, he glanced at his car with a nostalgic look.
In the distance, he spotted Rika Minami training with a group of female soldiers.
Kenthelion was cruising around in his sports car when, in the distance, he spotted Rika Minami training with a group of female soldiers. He pulled over next to her and got out before boarding a Thunderhawk dropship.
"Hey, Rika. Where are you headed?" Kenthelion asked.
"Lord Kenthelion," Rika Minami approached with a respectful salute.
"We're training to hunt zombies so these women get used to handling their weapons. Some of them are also being recruited into the Adepta Senoritas."
"Alright, be careful. When you're done, come home if you have time-your friend Shizuka Marikawa has started missing you," Kenthelion said before leaving.
Rika Minami watched Kenthelion's departure for nearly ten minutes, then climbed aboard the Thunderhawk.
Unbeknownst to him, Kenthelion returned to the training ground, where the women were now practicing their shooting.
At that moment, four figures noticed the parked car and hurried over, having received word that His Majesty the Emperor had arrived.
Canoness Veridyan, Saint Celestine, Kerrigan, and Nova approached Kenthelion.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," they said in unison, showing their respect as members of the Imperium Caelestis.
"Hello to all four of you. What brings you here? Are these women requesting training?" Kenthelion asked.
"That's correct, Your Majesty," they replied.
"We are conducting selection trials for these women to join the Adepta Senoritas alongside Saint Celestine and Canoness Veridyan," they explained.
"As for us two, Kerrigan and Nova, we're recruiting candidates for the Ghost program," they added.
"What training standards do they follow?"
"Your Majesty, we have been training them according to the Astra Militarum (PDF) protocols, as the initial qualification requirement," Nova explained to Kenthelion.
"Have they completed the training according to Astra Militarum protocols?" Kenthelion asked.
"Absolutely, Your Majesty," replied Canoness Veridyan. "If they meet the requirements, the four of us have agreed that those who qualify will be sent for advanced training-either to Adepta Sororitas or the Ghost program. Those who choose to remain on this planet will continue serving within the Astra Militarum (PDF) forces."
"They've only trained for two days, but their progress is very promising. They're on the right path," Kerrigan added.
The four women nodded in agreement.
"Your Majesty, may we invite you to address the recruits?" Saint Celestine respectfully asked.
"Of course," Kenthelion answered.
Saint Celestine promptly ordered the instructor to blow the whistle, signaling that the Emperor wished to speak. Under the instructor's command, the women quickly lined up in neat formation, standing at attention.
"Everyone, salute the Emperor!"
In unison, the recruits performed the military salute typical of the Imperium. Kenthelion nodded in return, his eyes scanning the young women before him-still dripping with sweat after the intense training session. Their uniforms clung tightly to their bodies, highlighting every curve-their ample chests, enticing hips, and raw energy yet to be molded by military discipline.
Despite the sultry details, the formation remained impeccably disciplined, all eyes locked on their Emperor. It was time for Kenthelion to speak.
"This is His Majesty, the Emperor of the Imperium Caelestis. At your request, His Majesty will now speak," declared Saint Celestine, her voice carrying across the training ground as she introduced Kenthelion to the assembly.
"All of you-salute His Majesty the Emperor!" she commanded.
Kenthelion stood tall before the young women, who had just fallen into formation at the sound of the whistle. Their training uniforms clung to sweat-drenched bodies-bodies that had grown stronger, more disciplined. Yet, the shadows of old scars still lingered in their eyes-faint, but not forgotten.
Saint Celestine stepped forward once again, voice resonating with solemnity.
"This is His Majesty, the Emperor of the Imperium Caelestis. At your request, he will deliver his message today."
They saluted in perfect unison.
Kenthelion returned the gesture with a slow, deliberate nod. He took a deep breath, then spoke:
Cough...
The air stilled. Silence fell.
"I know... everything. I know what you've endured-horrors that defy description. Sexual abuse. Torture. Humiliation. I know that the soldiers in your world... they aren't human in the truest sense. And I know that in your reality, there is no such thing as human rights, no law, no justice. Only power. Only the strong... get to live with dignity."
He began walking slowly, gaze sharp and unwavering as he scanned the rows.
"I will raise you. I will forge you into warriors of the Imperium Caelestis. Some of you may already suspect the truth-we are not from this world. We come not from another country, not from another planet, not even from another dimension... but from an entirely different universe, one far beyond your comprehension."
His voice grew firmer, as if reshaping their understanding of reality with each word.
"If you choose to fight-if you seek the strength to never be broken again-I will support you with everything I have. You will be trained. Educated. Transformed. You will become more than victims. You will become the standard-bearers of human strength."
He paused. Letting the weight of his words settle.
"But if you choose not to fight... I will still stand by you. You may join support units-Astra Militarum (PDF), Ghost, Adepta Sororitas. Or if you simply wish for a peaceful life on this planet-to start over, to build a home, to raise a family-I will protect that choice too."
"In the Imperium Caelestis... fear ends. Here, your pain has meaning. And from this moment forward-none shall ever harm you again."
"Tell me-do you still wish to continue your training?"
Kenthelion's voice cut through the air, cold and direct. He was no comforting leader-only a man who dealt in facts, in truths laid bare without ornament.
"YES, YOUR MAJESTY, THE EMPEROR! WE STILL WISH TO TRAIN!"
The response came in unison-loud, fierce, unwavering. The women met Kenthelion's gaze without flinching. They wanted to be strong. They wanted to make sure the tragedies of their past would never be repeated.
Kenthelion gave a slow nod.
"This training is hard. And you've only just begun. It will get far worse from here. What lies ahead are no longer weak, shambling zombies. But the true enemies of mankind-aliens, demons from other dimensions, entities who dare call themselves gods... and worse."
He walked along the line, his steps calm yet heavy with power, his eyes scanning each of them.
"Is there anyone among you who wishes to quit? There is no shame in it. As I said-do not be afraid. If you wish to live a normal life, to build a family, to find peace-I will honor that wish. And I will protect you, always."
He paused to let the silence speak, to give them room to choose.
"But if you choose to fight... if you choose to become a soldier of the Imperium Caelestis-answer me now. Do you still want to walk this path?"
"YES, YOUR MAJESTY, THE EMPEROR!!!"
Their voices thundered through the field-burning with resolve, no longer bound by fear or uncertainty. Their eyes held no doubt now. Only fire.
Kenthelion allowed himself a faint, sharp smile.
"Good. I hope each of you will become the mightiest warrior women in the entire universe."
He turned and pointed to the four legendary figures standing at the edge of the field.
"There-two Legions await your choice. The Adepta Sororitas and the Ghost Corps. You are free to choose the path that suits your will. Both are led by the most elite veterans of the Imperium Caelestis."
He handed over command to the four towering women: Canoness Veridyan, Saint Celestine, Kerrigan, and Nova.
And without another word, Kenthelion turned and walked away-leaving them at the threshold of a new destiny, a journey toward power, purpose, and freedom.