Demonic Po*nstar System Chapter 1103: True Warriors

He loosened his arm, allowing her to step forward. She faced the assembled guild with her hands folded before her, the morning breeze stirring the loose ends of her hair.

"I believe I speak for every person in Japan when I say..."

Her voice caught, and she took a breath before continuing.

"Thank you."

Yunohana bowed deeply to Eclipse’s fighters.

The front rows went still. Farther back, conversations stopped as people saw the High Shrine Maiden remain bent before them, thanking them for what they had done for her country.

Vanessa Sloan’s mouth softened into a smile. Beside her, a young fighter drew himself straighter, looking overwhelmed by the honor.

They had arrived desperate to be useful. Japan had let them fight, fed them afterward, and sent its own people into danger alongside them. Now the woman who had welcomed their guild was bowing to them before those same comrades.

Smiles spread through the ranks. Someone near the back called that they would gladly do it again, and voices rose around him in agreement.

Kaiden stepped beside Yunohana and gave her back an affectionate rub. As she straightened, he left his hand between her shoulders for a moment, smiling down at her before returning his attention to the guild.

"Look at you lot."

His gaze travelled along the rows.

"I hardly recognize the people I brought here."

Scarlet’s grin widened.

"Except you, Scarlet. You’re the same old hag I remember."

The Flame Monarch raised her middle finger toward him. A little flame sprang to life at its tip.

Laughter broke across the yard, spreading fast enough that even the fighters trying to maintain their formation began leaning against one another. Scarlet held her finger up until Kaiden had thoroughly admired it, then blew the flame out with a kiss in his direction.

"Love you too, brat."

He chuckled.

Brittany and Trisha stood together, the two former Ashbound fighters wearing Eclipse’s colors with an ease that pleased him. Nearby, Vaelira met his eyes, immediately looked away, then forced herself to look back with her chin held high.

His attention found Yuna Park among the front ranks.

"Some of you had barely been allowed to test yourselves when you joined us. Others had plenty of experience and a whole new team to learn. When we left America, half of you were still working out your own squadmates’ names."

He remembered how furious that had made him, watching inspections consume days his people should have spent fighting beside each other.

"Now I can send you into a gate knowing you’ll look after one another. Our rookies have become proper warriors, haven’t they?"

"YES!"

The answer hit the command hall hard enough to send birds scattering from its roof.

"Yes!" Yuna cheered again, rising onto her toes with both fists tucked beneath her chin.

She couldn’t help it. Kaiden was looking right at her, and the pride in his face made her want to throw her arms around somebody.

Three years at Skyline had left her at level thirty, an S-tier assassin endlessly preparing for opportunities her employer never intended to give her. Here, she had fought, struggled, and watched one level after another arrive as she learned what her class could actually do.

She had gained so much strength that checking her status could still leave her sitting there smiling at it. More than that, people trusted her to use it. Her squad depended on her, and the man standing above them had given her the chance to become somebody worthy of that trust.

Joining Eclipse was the best decision she had ever made.

Luna caught her eye from beside the steps and raised a fist toward her. Yuna answered with an enthusiastic little wave before remembering she was supposed to be standing like a professional.

It was very difficult today.

Kaiden waited until he could make himself heard over his people again.

"Scarlet once told us she was a hopeless addict."

"Must you bring up my healthy fondness for liquor like that?" the Flame Monarch sighed.

"Your alcoholism may be dire, Scarlet, but I meant another addiction."

Kaiden’s words made the redhead pause in confusion.

"The Flame Monarch once said to me," Kaiden explained, "that gaining a level still did something to her every time. First one, hundredth one, it never stopped feeling good."

He looked across the faces watching him.

"I think quite a few of you understand her now."

"Boss, I checked mine six times last night!" someone called.

"Only six?" Scarlet asked, eyes dancing now that she knew what he meant. "Those are rookie numbers, rookie."

The young man covered his face while his squadmates laughed at him. Kaiden gave him a sympathetic smile.

"I’m afraid there’s no rehabilitation. Once you’ve had a taste, you’ll keep wanting more. Fortunately, we’ve got plenty left to do together."

Near the front, Eugene Wexler had turned his head.

Following the barrier specialist’s attention brought Kaiden to the spectators gathered beyond the formations. Japanese colleagues stood among friends and lovers who had come to see Eclipse off, several holding little gifts they had yet to pass over.

Eugene’s girlfriend waited near the railing in an elaborate blue-and-white anime costume, a pointed magician’s hat perched above her glasses. The enormous jewel on her imitation staff glittered whenever she shifted it to dab at her eyes with a handkerchief.

She caught Eugene looking and tried to smile. He smiled back so helplessly that Kaiden found himself doing the same.

Well. The man had found his audience.

"And before any of you start looking quite so miserable, you’ll be happy to hear that we have a rather convenient route back."

Eugene turned toward the steps at once.

"As some of you already know by now, my dungeon connects to both America and Japan as of the past week. You can enter from one country and leave through the other. Visiting our friends here won’t require a long flight."

At the railing, the young woman lowered her handkerchief. Eugene was already nodding toward her with such force that his glasses began sliding down his nose.

"You can come back?" she called.

"Of course I can! If the boss says so!"

Her smile spread until she had to press the handkerchief over it. Around her, other couples were exchanging looks, the prospect of their next meeting suddenly much closer than it had been a moment ago.

Kaiden grinned at Eugene.

"I’m glad to see some of you have found a few reasons of your own to like it here, just like I have."

He glanced at Yunohana as he said it. She met his eyes with a soft smile, and the roar that followed carried well beyond Eclipse’s formations.

Scarlet whistled through her fingers. From somewhere behind Eugene came a demand that he introduce her properly, followed by the barrier specialist’s indignant declaration that all men were to stay away from his queen.

Kaiden gave them a moment, enjoying the noise while Yunohana slipped her hand into his.

He was proud of them. Proud of the work they had done, the people they had helped, and the happiness they had managed to find while doing it.

When the cheers eased, he addressed them again.

"First up on our agenda, warriors of Eclipse, are the guests coming to the dungeon. People hoping to build a new life with us. Shall we go welcome our new friends?"