A group of sharply dressed individuals stepped into the Knight's Association conference room, their presence cutting through the sterile quiet like blades through silk. Tailored suits, polished shoes, composed expressions. Power wrapped in protocol.
At the center of the group stood a white-haired man, his stride measured, deliberate. As the doors slid shut behind them, an autumnal breeze swept through the room—artificial, recycled through the vents, but carrying a chill all the same. The air caught the edges of the man's hair, brushing it gently across the cold surface of his visor.
The visor itself was sleek, cast in reflective iron with five narrow, horizontal slits resembling a vent. Behind them, slivers of orange light pulsed—glasswork glowing faintly like dormant embers. His breath misted slightly as he exhaled, the temperature having dropped a few degrees at their arrival. His arms, exposed from the elbow down, gleamed with mechanical precision—bionic limbs of hardened alloy with subtle etchings, signs of age and wear. Around one of the metal fingers, a wedding ring was fused into the design, seamless and permanent.
Faint scars traced his jaw, disappearing beneath the edge of the visor. His bionic eyes glowed a dim, watchful orange—not sharp, not wide, but observant, like dying stars still capable of seeing everything.
He never bothered hiding the arms. The history in them was loud enough.
His name was Erementaru Hayate.
Veteran Knight. Commander. Survivor. Enforcer of the old oaths. And today, he had business.
He sat down his arms crossed the metal work composed of high end material glowing orange accents and light fixtures showing there operational status he sat at the fourth seat on the right of the table, facing Arete and Sung directly sung standing behind the seated Arete.
A cloaked silver haired male with oriental features gazed back at them his eyes glew an unnatural shade of yellow his title,
Commander Atlas.
He wore a full black suit beneath the cloak, no tie, shirt buttoned to the neck. Silent. Observing. Dangerous.
A secretary stepped forward, her movement practiced. She placed a set of files on the table, activating the table's interface. Holograms flared to life above the center console—data charts, team evaluations, applicant overviews.
The current agenda: Squad Assignments for Teams 3 through 5.
Squads One and Two had already been finalized—most of the upper nobles had jumped at first selection.
At the head of the opposite end of the table sat a tall, dark-skinned man with neatly combed hair and the relaxed smile of someone who'd already won the game.
Allan Muhongo.
His eyes glowed a calm shade of gold. Overseer of Squad One—exclusively composed of Royal Class cadets. Knights from the oldest and wealthiest noble bloodlines. Untouchable.
The room hummed with tension under the weight of political balances, hidden agendas, and carefully masked animosity.
The real game was about to begin.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Overseer: Allan Muhongo
Prospects:
1.Ethan Azeroth Augment: Azeroth Esper type A.
2.Steven Castiel Augment: Divine Protection.
3.Aurora Leonhart Augment: Singularity.
4.James Shift Augment: Dawnhoard.
5.Yuzuki Hanamori (花守 優月) Augment: "Shinrin Seirei no Tansei" (森林精霊の誕生) "Birth of the Forest Spirit".
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They looked at Allan with slight reverence and envy no one was surprised by his selection, all cadets he had previous experience handling after all he was trusted by the high level nobles including the empress herself. all the nobles with first rate augments under his tutelage the cream of the crop their empire had to offer, it was infuriating really, but that was the way of their world, the strong trained the strong. Atlas whose real name was Ramon Azeroth had approved the assignment.
Next up was Erementaru's wife Jane who went by the code name Artemis dressed in a well fitted white suit with green accessories and jewelry modest in its display with a formal elegance as she looked a her fellow overseers she had pulled up the information on squad 2.
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Overseer: Jane Hayate (Artemis)
Prospects:
1.Rayln Azeroth Augment: Azeroth Esper Type B.
2.Hana Kodai Augment: Ferrutius Armament.
3.Ivyonne Psychoris Azeroth: Illusionary Esper.
4.Malcom A. Fission Augment: transmission surge.
5.Kuro Gekisōdan (激走弾)Augment: Torque relay +Pinion Surge
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Jane's selection was more balanced and balanced with the squads abilities mostly composed of near s-rate abilities ranking slightly lower compared to squad 1. Rayln Azeroth as the top pick considering her background she worked well with her cousin and Hana, Malcom and Kuro were also included due to their complementary abilities, Malcom, augment allowing him to alter the speed of inanimate objects exponentially while Kuro's augment was essentially particle acceleration. once again approved this combination.