BZZZZ!

Phase Step!

A rift opened in reality and from that rift, General Murphy stepped out.

The moment Murphy appeared, Ren Nora finally let go of General Sylvari, letting him collapse on the ground like discarded trash as he raised his head and stared at the new familiar face.

General Murphy looked just like the last time that Ren Nora saw him; tall, and towering. This time, he was wearing a multi-colored suit; his auburn hair stood out in the dim lighting of the morning.

Like usual, there was a mischievous gleam in his gray eyes.

Looking down at Sylvari who was yet to even notice his presence, Ren Nora noticed something in the General’s eyes that looked like... disappointment?

’Disappointment?’ His eyes darkened. ’Is he disappointed because the fight he’s been secretly enjoying did not end in a history-making kill?’

’This mischievous bastard!’ He almost snarled.

But in reality, Ren Nora kept an impassive look on his face as he looked at the weirdly excited Federation General who also looked back at him.

"Murphy," he called calmly.

"General Ren Nora," Murphy responded, suppressing an almost smile on his face. "Or should I call you the ’Glitch’? Ah, nevermind, but what a beat-down... ahem!" He coughed.

Unlike what a lot of the onlookers expected with the emergence of a 2nd General of the Omnicore Federation, there was no tension. There was no single tense moment or build-up to another C Rank battle.

It was almost like 2 weirdly harmonious strangers meeting in the wild and not 2 of the strongest men in the world meeting.

Murphy scratched the back of his head, then he said. "Um, the Director directed me to take Sylvari home". 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

He looked at Ren Nora and his eyes gleamed. "Do you object?"

The look on his face was so fervent that if Ren Nora didn’t know better, he would felt like the General was begging him to object so they could fight. Well, he actually was and that was the weird thing about him.

A century ago, Ren Nora would have been confused by this, but not now.

By now, he already knew the kind of man that Murphy was.

He considered his words carefully, then he said. "As you can see, out of nowhere, despite knowing that he’s affiliated to me, Sylvari ambushed and almost killed one of my closest friends unprovoked".

"This goes against the Law of Engagement that was set by the Director-Prime himself more than 100 years ago".

Murphy was amused as he looked at Ren Nora, waiting for him to continue.

Ren Nora continued. "The word of the Director-Prime is Sovereign, especially in Omnicore territory, so I ask to be compensated!" He stated loudly in an overbearing tone.

And now, it was Murphy’s turn to be speechless. The look on his face was priceless as he looked down at Sylvari who was still heavily injured and too weak to move, then he looked at Ren Nora again. "Huh?"

Ren Nora’s face darkened. "Is that a refusal? Are you going against the laws of the Director-Prime?" He asked coldly.

"But your friend attacked and killed one of ours first".

"Do you have evidence?" Ren Nora asked coldly.

General Murphy froze.

He opened his mouth to answer, but then he paused and tilted his head to the side like he was listening to something.

When he looked at Ren Nora again, his face was complicated.

"We accept your terms, the Federation shall compensate you for your loss and all damages to your friend appropriately".

"Good," Ren Nora nodded. "This is my full list of compensation".

He tapped at the air in front of him and instantly a holographic projection came to life, showing a long list of materials that Ren Nora demanded for compensation.

Seeing this, General Murphy’s lips twitched. ’Since when has he been planning for this? Cunning bastard!’

In the end, with Epsilon keeping him on track remotely, General Murphy did not destroy the script and follow his own whims as he signed the compensation agreement that Ren Nora prepared.

He had a look of regret on his face though as he sighed it.

After that, he finally leaned down to pick Sylvari up.

But the moment he touched Sylvari, Sylvari grabbed his hand tightly and looked at him with grayish-black eyes that were deep and eerie.

Murphy frowned but Sylvari didn’t care as like a rapid dog, amid stuttering breaths, he asked. "M-Murphy, t-t-tell me the truth..." he stuttered.

"Am I... am I really weak...?"

Murphy frowned.

Sylvari grabbed him even tighter, desperation evident in his eyes. "Tell me the truth Murphy!" He screamed with his remaining strength. "Was I... was I really abandoned by the Director-Prime?"

"Am I... really not important?"

General Murphy’s frown turned even deeper as he threw a brief glance at Ren Nora, then he shrugged off Sylvari’s grasp and grabbed him by the damaged collar of his military uniform with which he dragged him away.

Gold and white ADE flared around him, then...

Phase Step!

BZZZZ!

Both Generals disappeared in a whirlwind of swirling golden light.

And just like that, the battle that spanned dozens of kilometers across this wasteland, lasting over 30 minutes finally came to an end.

The confrontation of C Rank Ascended finally came to an end and somehow, there were no casualties.

Feeling something, Ren Nora turned towards the distant spot where a certain assassin stood since and where he watched the entire battle, but now the assassin was no longer there. He was gone like a ghost.

Without paying attention to it, he inclined his head and finally pierced the distant battalions of the Federation Army with a glare.

Ren Nora didn’t have to say a single word, entire battalions of the Federation Army retreated with a single stare from him after witnessing the unforgettable visage of what he accomplished today.

Due to the incredible PR of the Omnicore Federation, all footage of what happened today was already purged and destroyed.

Nobody beyond the people that are here today would ever know of the great battle that happened beyond the walls of Neo Solace, but to those who witnessed it, it was forever engraved in their minds.

This was a day that they would never forget.

A day that they got to watch he ’Glitch’ fight, and a day that one of the Generals of the Omnicore Federation fell.

As the battalions of the Federation Army retreated, Ren Nora finally turned his gaze towards where a sole Doom Rover v0.2 stood, accompanying his heavily injured friend.

Ghost-in-the-Machine!

BZZZ!

He disappeared.