---
**Sean**: *"Ready?"*
*He held up a flickering holographic message, the glow casting a faint blue hue over his face.*
**Nyx**: *"I'm always ready... just not excited."*
*They both stared at the hologram as it fully activated.*
> **\[INCOMING TRANSMISSION]**
> Welcome, Warrior.
> Assigned Tier: **1432**
> War Shuttle Model: **192-494-292**
> Status: *Approved*
**Sean** (with a half-hearted sigh): *"Tier 1432… huh."*
*He looked almost disappointed, his eyes narrowing at the message.*
**Nyx**: *"So we still look like rookies to them."*
**Sean**: *"Yeah. Still too far from the top."*
*He paused, staring at the war shuttle hologram spinning slowly above his palm.*
*"But... at least we finally have this thing in our hands."*
**Sean** (critically eyeing the model): *"This shuttle model's not the worst, but definitely not impressive either."*
**Nyx**: *"They never prioritize the lower tiers. Not until you prove you're worth the investment."*
**Sean**: *"Exactly. Only once you've *earned* your place do they start giving you the real tools."*
*He clenched his fist slightly.*
*"Feels like an insult, honestly."*
**Nyx**: *"Can't really blame them. We haven't done anything yet."*
**Sean** (nods slowly): *"True… but it's still better than nothing."*
---
**Vanessa** "After the submission and confirmation of documents by higher position that's the time before you become an verified warrior."
**Vanessa** "by the way, there's someone who volunteered to guide you in your next phase, it's someone your familiar with."
**Sean** "who is it."
**Vanessa** " you will found out soon."
---
******
---
## **Chapter: The New Team**
"We're finally here," Sean said, staring at the towering war shuttle.
"Congratulations on becoming Warrior Captain," Nyx grinned, giving him a light pat on the shoulder.
"You too," Sean replied with a half-hearted smile.
As they approached the shuttle, they noticed someone already waiting. A young woman leaned against the shuttle, arms crossed, expression sharp.
"So this is the captain they were talking about," she muttered.
She stepped forward briskly.
"Nice to meet you, Captain. I'm Ava Vergil. I'll serve you to the best of my ability."
Her tone was formal, but the edge in her eyes suggested reluctance more than respect.
Before Sean could respond, a deep voice cut through the tension.
"You're late for your first duty, Captain," said a tall, muscular man standing beside her, arms folded.
The youngest among them gave an audible *tsk*, refusing to make eye contact.
Sean exhaled quietly.
"This is worse than I expected."
Nyx let out a short laugh, then caught the spark in Ava's eyes—a flash of pride or maybe defiance—and something shifted in his demeanor.
"Actually... not that bad after all." He took a step toward her, offering a charming smile.
"Hi, I'm Nyx. At your service."
Ava raised a single eyebrow. Her expression didn't change.
"I hope I don't regret joining this team," she said coldly, walking past him.
Nyx blinked.
"Did she just ignore me?"
Sean leaned in with a whisper.
"That's Ava Vergil. Miss Vanessa was right—short temper, no patience."
A third figure approached with calm, sturdy steps. His presence felt grounded, like stone.
"Captain, nice to meet you," he said, placing a hand over his chest. "Most trainees call me **Tortoise**, but my name is **Aster Vance**. At your service."
He turned to Nyx.
"Vice-Captain, an honor to meet you as well."
His tone was unwavering—earnest, almost solemn.
"I accepted the proposal to be your shield in war. I stand ready to protect humanity… even if it costs me my life."
Sean couldn't help but murmur,
"So it's true… he's built different. A man as hard as stone."
"It's nice to have you," Sean said sincerely.
Nyx raised his hand in greeting.
"Oh, thanks! That's music to my ears. Nice to meet you too. I'm Nyx."
Aster's eyes widened in surprise.
"Wait, are you real? **Nyx**, the *Lightyear Sniper*? The one who sees farther than an eagle? I didn't expect to end up on the same team as you."
Nyx rubbed the back of his head, trying to play it cool.
"Well, yeah. That's me. Glad to have a fan."
---
******
---
***"Sean's pov"***
## **Chapter: Heavy Metal**
"This is it," I said, gripping the war shuttle's controller as its systems began to stir. The darkness inside faded, replaced by a soft blue glow as the dashboard lit up.
> **System: Online**
> **Diagnostics: Running…**
> **Sequence: Initializing…**
A holographic interface materialized in front of me. Suddenly, a masked figure flickered onto the screen.
> "Captain, verify identity."
I inserted my ID chip.
"Captain Sean."
> "Nice to meet you, Captain Sean. Model 293 Phoenix at your command."
A low hum pulsed through the walls of the shuttle as its core powered up. The cold interior, once still, now felt alive.
---
We had barely completed the final adjustments when the ground trembled beneath our feet.
A deafening *whrrr* followed by a quake shook the entire bay.
From above, a shadow descended—massive and armored like a beast of war. The very air warped under its weight. With a metallic *clang*, it landed nearby, shaking the soil loose from the ground.
We stepped out of our shuttle, greeted by the sight of a towering black warship. Smoke hissed from its vents as the entrance ramp lowered with a hiss. A thick cloud of vapor rolled out across the landing zone.
And then I felt it—an unmistakable presence.
Familiar.
Five silhouettes emerged from the smoke, their outlines sharp and unwavering. Their armor glinted with advanced tech, beyond anything our squad had touched. This was no ordinary team—this was a **Tier Elite Unit**.
The first to appear had a mechanical right arm that caught the light. He walked with a confidence born not from arrogance, but experience.
It was **Felix Gains**—my uncle.
The last time I saw him was at a training facility when I was seventeen. Back then, he had been more reserved, perhaps even uncertain. Now, he radiated command.
"Long time no see, kid," Felix said, his voice deeper, lined with something heavier than nostalgia. "You became a captain after all."
Aster Vance's eyes widened in amazement.
"Is that Felix? Wow… he's even bigger than I imagined! He's real!"
"Is he really that popular?" I asked, watching Felix's squad stand behind him like titans.
Aster nodded.
"In our training facility, his tier was always the talk of the mess halls. They were the ones thrown into the worst battle zones… and still walked out."
Felix approached.
"So, you're our guide?" I asked, unable to hide the awkwardness in my voice.
"I just wanted to be the first to welcome you," he replied. But there was something else beneath those words… a weight, or maybe a warning. "You don't look that happy to see me."
I paused, then offered him a fist bump.
"No… I'm obviously glad you're the one here."
Felix bumped his mechanical fist against mine, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Can I give you a ride to the location? Can't say no. It's our job as your guide," he said.
Nyx leaned in slightly, pointing to the massive shuttle.
"That's the **Heavy Metal's** ship, right? So that means… you're the actual Heavy Metal?"
Felix didn't answer. He just gave a smirk that said more than words.
I glanced at Nyx, then back at Felix.
"You guys really know more than I do," I muttered.
Felix looked back at his team—each one standing like a wall, silent but alert.
"Time to show you what real warzones look like."
---