To his disappointment, Igaris found no one in the houses he passed. Each one stood silent, dust settling over abandoned furniture and scattered belongings. Most of them were likely left vacant due to the invasion alarms.
With no other option, he kept walking. The road was cracked and uneven, swallowed by creeping roots and wild grass.
Here and there, he spotted strange ground vehicles, looking like bulky machines half-sunk into the earth. None of them were functional.
In addition, he lacked the technical knowledge to even attempt fixing them.
Above him, several mechanical devices cruised through the sky, moving in sharp arcs as they scanned the area. Drones, maybe. Patrol bots.
He wasn’t sure if they saw him or simply chose to ignore him.
Still, he kept his act. Just a country boy. Frightened by the war. No threat to anyone.
It wasn’t a perfect disguise, but in war-torn lands, few stopped to question a harmless drifter.
After walking for another hour under the dimming sky, he heard the dull, heavy thud of steel slamming into soil.
A blue Mecha, towering over 7 meters, had landed ahead of him with perfect balance. Its build was elegant yet deadly, shaped for frontline combat. A massive sword was locked on its back, while its left arm bore a wide silver shield still faintly humming with power.
Its mechanical eyes glowed bright cyan. Cold. Calculating.
They locked onto his face with unnatural precision.
Igaris stopped in place. The disguise of a harmless traveler wouldn’t fool this one.
The Mecha’s voice echoed in monotone, each word falling like a gavel’s strike:
"Face Detected in Database!"
"Citizen Name: Igor Zar’el Calamity."
"Affiliation: House Calamity, Oracle City, District 6. Authority level inefficient for getting full information."
His predecessor’s name Igor Zar’el Calamity, his full inherited identity echoed louder in his mind than in the air.
It made him more tense, as it might bring the problem from which Roxanne was running away for years.
Before he could react, a smooth, confident voice followed:
"Ohh... Someone from House Calamity? Interesting..."
The cockpit of the blue Mecha hissed open, releasing steam as it parted from the chest. A figure rose from within. The pilot stepped forward, only his upper body visible though.
He was clean, composed, and refined. He wore a glossy black uniform trimmed in silver, a badge gleaming over his chest with the Crest of the Azure Guard.
The man looked no older than twenty-five. His skin was fair, unmarred by scars. His jet-black hair was combed neatly to one side, and his clear amber eyes had a calm, curious sharpness.
He looked exactly like someone who had lived in comfort and safety, sheltered behind walls and security layers for years.
He stood tall before Igaris and asked, "What’s someone from the famous Calamity House doing here? And where’s your Mech? I heard everyone from the Calamity House owns a Lightning Mech from a young age."
Igaris quickly scanned the surroundings with his eyes, searching for any traps or hidden weapons. Finding nothing suspicious, he replied calmly, "Good afternoon, respected soldier. May I ask your name before we continue this conversation?"
The man raised an eyebrow, thinking, Trying to get my name so he can report me to his family? Smart move.
He smirked. "Boy, my name is Benjamin Wilson. As an elite soldier of the Azure Guard, I have full authority to question anyone suspicious within a warzone. It’s our duty to keep those monsters from invading our territory—lest they taint our blood from within."
His voice was menacing and firm.
"But don’t worry. We’ve already pulled your records from the database, though the information seems outdated by several years." he added, flashing a smile.
He leaned forward slightly, expression curious. "Now then, can you explain what you’re doing in the Coastal Region? Haven’t you heard the warning for immediate evacuation?"
Igaris replied calmly,
"I have, Mr. Wilson. But as you can see, my Mech is lost. It suddenly malfunctioned and flew off on its own..."
"What? A Lightning Mech gone rogue?" Wilson asked, his tone tinged with disbelief.
"Yes, probably. And I have no other means of travel," Igaris replied, looking slightly annoyed.
Wilson nodded thoughtfully.
"I see... Should I call for assistance? Oracle City is over a thousand kilometers from here," he said sincerely, his eyes scanning Igaris with concern.
Igaris paused, then answered,
"No need, Mr. Wilson. But if you’re willing to give me a ride to any nearby settlement, I would be very grateful. I don’t trust others easily, but you seem like a good man."
"Haha... You’re praising me too early, boy. Anyway, there’s a military barracks nearby. Want to go there? Who knows, you might run into someone familiar from your House."
"No... that would only cause trouble for you brave men. All I ask is that you take me to the nearest town or settlement where I can get transportation to Oracle City."
"Oho... You’re very considerate. A little too considerate, even. But whatever, I’ll take you there."
Afterward, Igaris followed Wilson into the cockpit.
The space inside was narrow, but just roomy enough for a second person to sit comfortably.
As soon as Igaris stepped in, the Mech roared to life automatically. The Soul-Link system must have already synced with Wilson.
Wilson’s eyes dulled, his expression going blank, as if his senses had shifted outside, like the Mech had become his true body.
In that moment, he seemed vulnerable.
Igaris could kill him now and steal the Mech.
It would go against his conscience. Harming a benefactor was, in his eyes, the lowest of the low. His ego would never allow it.
The blue Mech’s thrusters ignited with a low, powerful hum, lifting them off the ground. Wilson’s voice rang out through the cockpit:
"You seem nervous for a Lightning Mech user, boy. Just sit tight. I wouldn’t dare harm someone from House Calamity without a good reason," he joked lightly.
Igaris remained silent. His expression was calm, but his special eyes scanned every inch of the Blue Mech’s interior. The mechanisms, the layout, the integration of soul-link systems—everything fascinated him. The technology was on another level, far beyond what he had seen back in ORCA