---
### **\[Main POV]**
*This… this must be what it feels like to face someone on the same role as a Tier Captain. Like an endless, fight.*
Suddenly, someone appeared before us.
From what I could see, it was a man—taller than both of us, wearing a helmet, and with striking white hair. Then, without warning, something slammed into my gut. Hard.
Everything went dark and I started losing my consciousness.
---
### **\[Sam's POV]**
I looked to my comrades.
Ava stood frozen in silence.
Aster—he had no clue who they were. But even he could feel it: a terrifying presence no one wanted to face.
**The Overelites.**
A squad from the far side of the room. But… why were they even here?
I didn't know their names—only their roles and fearsome reputation.
The long-haired guy in a mask was their captain.
And the one wearing a helmet was the vice.
As far as I knew, their squad was ranked third overall—just below *Heavy Metal*.
---
A masked guy stepped toward the scene.
"Did you really put them to sleep?"
The overelites Captain sighed.
"Oh well, guess I'll just wait for him to wake up."
"I can't hold to long to stay in this kind of place, I need to go." Overelites vice says
His voice, low and ragged, barely rose above the wind.
"he's angry?" the Overelites captain observed, his gaze sharp.
"It's because he didn't want to be here in the first place. You forced him into this," another man in a full body black suit replied with calm, flat finality.
---
"So that was the Overelites' Tier Captain… That tier isn't something Im expecting." Sam.
"One of their members actually treated us a meal—and even apologized for the trouble."
"What happened to the other squad?" nyx asked.
"They're on penalty now. Their rank got dropped because of it." Sam answered
Just then, Ava appeared.
"Ava? Where did you come from?" Nyx asked.
"It's none of your business," Ava snapped.
Before we could respond, the Overelites member who'd treated us walked up. Covered in fully black suit.
"Thanks for the food," we said.
"Enjoy," he replied casually.
He acted completely normal; unlike at the center, we couldn't sense his presence. He seemed different from the other members of the overelites.
Ava right, you really just like him, did you two had a nice conversation?"
Ava froze, as the sudden approach of the overelites member on her.
The man glanced at a device on his wrist. That had been alarming
"Oh, I need to go. Enjoy your meal!"
The overelites tier member said before he left in a rush.
---
Sean woke up in an unknown room.
"You're finally awake," a voice rasped. The voice came from a masked guy, his sharp eyes, long eyelashes, and long, messy black hair the only features visible from beneath the mask, as the unknown guy sat in a chair.
"What happened? Who are you?" Sean demanded.
"You hit your head. We found you unconscious," the masked guy replied, his tone unconvincing.
"That's a complete lie."
"Who are you? I remember... a guy in a helmet. Who hit me. Still hurts like hell."
"Where's my squad?
"Don't worry, they're fine,"
the mask guy said smoothly.
"It's your first day on the job, and you're already in trouble," the man continued, a hint of mockery in his voice. "Though, I suppose 'day' is a relative term... out here in space." He chuckled, a dry, unsettling sound.
A masked hand held out some kind of drug.
"Here, this will ease the pain."
"Why am I here?"
" Let's don't rush things, let's take it one question at a time."
Suddenly, the voice faltered.
A raspy gasp cut through the air.
"Gasp… gasp…"
"Sir? Are you okay?"
The masked man removed his mask. Beneath, a face flushed crimson revealed itself; a feminine voice, catching its breath, filled the silence. It was a woman.
I stared, speechless. "I... I thought this guy was a man."
She picked up a different mask from a nearby table and slipped it on. Her breathing steadied.
"It's okay. I'm fine. Just… my daily routine."
"What's with the shocked expression?"
"No, nothing. I just... mistook you as a man."
" Maybe your talking about my voice.. it's because of the mask. As you see I'm I have trouble breathing."
She answered
"Perhaps you're referring to my voice? It's the mask. As you can see, I have trouble breathing," she explained.
"I'm not here to discuss that," she said, changing the subject. "I'm Sarah Williams, Tier Captain of Overelites. I've been decided to place your squad under our protection. This means we can intervene if necessary, even without authorization from higher command."
"Why did you want to do that? Sean asked."
" it's because I owe a debt. A man once saved my life—and my squad's. I never got the chance to repay him… because he vanished. But when I learned that man had a son—I saw my chance."
"I know it's not the only thing. Is there anything else you want from me?"
"I stated the reason, but you're right, there's another matter. It's not particularly my need but A member of my squad needs your services for a particular assignment," she answered.
" Now I know,
So that's the reason why I couldn't pick a task at the center."
"Why not just pick another Tier?"
"It would be best to ask her that yourself," Sarah said.
---
---
**"It's a kid."**
Sean blinked at the small girl in the room.
"Watch your mouth, young man," the girl snapped.
"Nikki, I need a refill," Sarah said, chuckling as she placed her mask down.
"Don't be fooled by her size," Sarah whispered to Sean.
"She's just an old woman in a young shell."
A wrench clattered across the floor next to her.
"Okay, okay! I'm just kidding," Sarah laughed. "I'm heading out. Show respect to your captain."
Nikki said nothing—just raised her middle finger.
---
"So, you're Sean, right? I'm **Nikki**."
"I hope she didn't bother you too much," she added.
"Being in trouble is just… part of me."
"Alright, let's get straight to it. You know why you're here, right?"
"I need you to retrieve some resources for me—from **Area 345**, from the **Clearing Group**. Think you can handle it? I know you can."
"Don't worry—I pay well. Just deliver what I need, safely."
She talks too much. Staying quiet is easier.
"Why aren't you saying anything? It's like I'm talking to a wall!"
Sean eyed the machine she was working on—it looked strangely familiar. He remembered seeing it in a book.
"Is that the device the squadron uses?" he asked.
---
*(Squadrons are composed of fighter mechas controlled by elite male pilots from two authorized companies.)*
"Yes and no," Nikki replied.
"This is like the standard model, but it's been enhanced. I call it **Asphalt**. And I made the upgrades myself." she stated confidently.
"Only authorized personnel can access those mechs. Is their some squadron requesting for personal upgrades?" Sean asked.
"No. This Asphalt is mine. I'm its host."
"But protocol says only males can use that kind of tech…"
"Well, let's just say I'm special," Nikki smirked.
"This treasure is the **only tank** of the Overelites."
"My fighting style doesn't fit the normal squadron framework. And in case you're wondering why *I*, a girl, get to pilot this kind of jewel—my father's company owns the mech project."
"So, he agreed let me in."