Demonic Po*nstar System Chapter 1109: Commander Taigi

Milo hadn’t even stood up. Dungeon-Born guards saluted the commander as she approached, her saber swinging beside her leg.

Her bronze armor followed her athletic figure, its polished edges framing bare shoulders and strong brown arms. Luminous markings gleamed along her forearms as she reached for the carriage rail.

She was beautiful. Milo could hear his own heartbeat when her dark eyes met his, and the welcoming smile she gave him left him struggling to think of a single word.

"Welcome. I hope you enjoyed the journey."

"We did!" Ben answered before Mrs. Weller could speak.

Lucy gave him an offended look.

"Some of it," their teacher amended from behind them. "Thank you for receiving us."

Ben nudged Milo toward the doorway. He rose and found Taigi waiting at the foot of the steps, offering him her hand.

Her hand closed warmly around his. When he misplaced his foot on the lower step, she took his weight without her arm trembling, giving him time to find the platform while he stared at the glowing marks beneath her skin.

"Thank you," he managed.

"You’re very welcome."

He moved aside for Ben, who accepted the same help with his back unusually straight. The boy who had shouted across the cavern for a monster to collect him could barely mumble his thanks to this smiling woman.

Lucy came next. Taigi helped her down with easy strength, and the girl kept looking at Taigi’s arm even after both feet were on the platform.

"You’re so strong..."

Her cheeks had gone pink. Taigi followed her gaze, then looked back at her with a grin.

"My muscles? They don’t make me look too manly?"

Lucy shook her head at the commander.

"No! You’re... I..."

The girl took a breath, trying again while Mrs. Weller and Celia stepped down behind her.

"I hope I can be as strong as you when I grow up!"

Taigi ruffled her hair, looking delighted by the answer.

"I hope so too."

Lucy smiled up at her before glancing toward the mist beyond the settlement. "Were you scared of the monsters when you came?"

"Terribly. Back on Earth I wasn’t... very brave," Taigi admitted with a smile. "I learned to fight here, with my people. We helped each other."

Mrs. Weller’s hand tightened around the strap of her bag.

"If you choose to make your home here, and that is what you want to learn, I would be glad to help you begin."

Lucy looked down at her own hands, then back at the marks shining beneath Taigi’s skin. She was still frightened of the creatures they had passed, but the woman offering to teach her had once felt that fear too. Growing strong enough to face them suddenly seemed possible.

Ben leaned toward Milo.

"She’s really pretty."

"No shit, Sherlock," Milo whispered back. "Kaiden is surrounded by far too many pretty girls..."

Taigi turned toward them. Milo straightened so quickly that his backpack bounced against his shoulders.

"And what are your names?"

"Ben."

"Milo," he managed. "I saw you. On the broadcast. You were amazing."

The words escaped before he could worry about them. At her pleased smile, his face grew so hot that he was grateful Yuna Park had stayed at the entrance. Having both women here would have killed him.

"Thank you." Taigi indicated the path toward the houses. "Would you come with me?"

Lucy reached for Mrs. Weller’s hand again, this time pulling her toward the commander.

"Come on!"

Milo followed with Ben beside him, while Mrs. Weller and Ms. Harcourt came behind the children. Ahead, Taigi slowed to answer another of Lucy’s questions, her saber swinging against her thigh as she turned.

"I’m going to learn to use one of those," Ben whispered.

Beyond the first houses, the path opened into a broad clearing beneath the trees. Families sat on blankets with their luggage tucked among the roots, while Dungeon-Born carried cups of water and trays of food between the waiting groups.

Milo slowed. There were far more visitors here than he had expected, children eating with their parents and adults talking across the gaps between blankets.

"Did they all come before us?"

"Those groups came through the Japanese entrance. The Japanese government helped expedite the intake process," Taigi explained. "We’re gathering everyone scheduled for the first assessment here."

Taigi led Milo’s little party to an empty place beneath a spreading tree, drawing a glance from Alice as they came off the path. Alice and Aria were among the arrivals, along with the other women who had helped receive the groups from Japan.

Milo and Ben sat beside Lucy with their drinks while Mrs. Weller accepted a cup for the girl and another for herself. Celia remained standing, looking over the families gathered there.

After a few words with Taigi, Kanut raised a hand toward the children.

"Enjoy your visit. I have another group to collect."

"Thank you, Kanut!" Milo called.

"And the Skyfiend!" Ben added.

Their guide grinned as he headed back toward the platform.

A little later, Kaiden came up the same path with his mother, Bastet, and Calypso. Alice hurried to his side and caught his hand, looking pleased when he squeezed hers before greeting the women who had come from Japan.

People began getting to their feet. Milo stood with Ben, his cup forgotten in his hand, watching the family gather near Taigi.

"Everyone for the first assessment is here, my lord," the commander told Kaiden.

"I’m glad you’ve made it here," Kaiden said, smiling at the waiting visitors.

Milo smiled back before he could help himself. Around him, parents drew their children closer, and a man beside the neighboring blanket put his cup down to listen.

Then the dungeon’s awareness brushed across Milo’s mind.

He caught his breath at the vast presence, feeling its attention reach him as clearly as if someone had spoken his name. Across the clearing, conversations faltered as people looked up from their meals and belongings.

Ben caught his sleeve.

"Milo..."

Pale letters appeared in Milo’s vision as the dungeon addressed all of its visitors at once.

[Dungeon-Born eligibility assessment commencing.]