Chains Of Pride

"L-Lady Nefiera, we're 99% sure that we found the location where the Amachi sisters are located. At your word we can prepare a full scale attack in 72 hours," An officer saluted with his fist to his c.h.e.s.t as he made his report.

In an office at the Association's HQ, an officer was making a report to a relatively young looking woman.

The officer's entire body was trembling in fear as he made his report to the woman before him.

A stark contrast to the officer's fear, however, was the woman who smiled with a playful demeanour. Her face was like that of an angel if there existed such a thing, her figure was striking and even her sitting pose would awake the the most primal d.e.s.i.r.e in most men.

"Thank you, I will inform the Director, you may go now." Her smooth velvet-like voice was pleasing to the ears, but the poor officer trembled all the more.

This was the same woman that had accompanied Yaver Venko to save Machyal when he had been cornered by the sisters a year ago. Surprisingly, she held an even higher position than Venko himself.

Her name, D'vintu Nefiera was known throughout the Association, and was well known for her cruel and sadistic nature. No one knew what could set her off, which was why the officer trembled before her so.

It was no secret that he was the 7th replacement in the last 7 months. The other reporting officers that she had were all, well, not that much alive anymore.

She watched as the officer bowed, saluted and walked away, legs still trembling.

'Sighs.'

"Where's Venko anyway? Hmph he's probably kissing up to the Director again." Nefiera may be sadistic and cruel, but there were few people she didn't extend this behaviour towards.

As expected, the director was one of them and oddly enough, a person below her station, Venko was one of them.

She took leave of her office and started to head towards the director's office. The Association's Headquarters was the culmination of mechanised and advanced tech in this, the golden age of technology.

Looking around there was nothing but proof of this. The armour on the trembling guards that greeted and bowed to her as she went along her way were able to block up to 81% of the blow from a half awakened Talium.

Nefiera soon arrived in front of a triple scan encryption door. If one did not do all three, they could only wait until the person on the other side let them in.

Whish!

Being right below the Director granted her certain privileges that few others enjoyed.

A hoarse voice sounded the minute the door opened, "Nefiera?"

"Venko! I've been looking for you!" Nefiera's joyful voice escaped from her lips as she stared at Venko. She took long slow strides towards him and the man he was showing deference to.

She entered the office of the Director, though calling it an office is a bit of a stretch. Have you ever seen a throne room? Probably not, or you'd be dead by now. With the old english style-esque vibes etched into every single detail here, it was like something from the castles of old.

The only thing that seemed to be from this century was the desk meticulously placed in front of the 'throne' and the man who sat upon it.

"This vixen can't even walk like a normal person," Venko thought as he stared at her indifferently.

"Venko, can we not go get little Machy, it's been months. I can only imagine the horrors he's been under with those two sisters keeping him imprisoned," she said with an expression of feigned sadness.

"If you ever cared for anyone but yourself, I would come to appreciate smart asses, which I don't," Venko replied.

"Quiet you two," A sagely voice broke their barely started banter. "Nefiera, why are you here, I explicitly told you to never find me simply to pass your time."

The black-haired man stared at her, waiting for her answer. His eyes were like two unmoving wells, deep and mysterious.

"But sir, you're practically the life of the party. I mean look at those dead eyes, got me all hot and bothered over here," she started to fan herself as she spoke with a playful sarcastic tone.

Venko simply shook his head in distress, this woman was too unfettered.

The stately man stared at Nefiera with not a change in his expression. Nefiera felt her body shudder as she looked towards the man, and decided to stop playing around.

"Uh, I-I received a report that the location of the sisters have been fully unencrypted. Can we stop pretending and go after them now? Even the whole Association knows at this point" Nefiera asked.

The director assumed the steeple position with his hands as he thought about it, "It's about time I suppose. The Taliums they captured should be stronger now. Send a small team to scope them out."

"Director?" This time it was Venko who spoke. How can he only send a small contingent to the base of those two monsters?

"I'm not underestimating them," As if reading Venko's mind, the Director began to explain. "Why do you think I told you to take 99% of our satellites offline?"

"That...I...don't know sir." Venko confessed.

"Ask the lady beside you, it was her idea," the Director replied.

Venko stared at the woman beside him in shock, "Nefiera?"

"Ah c'mon Venko, don't tell me you haven't figured it out? Those girls are obviously able to tap into something deep, much deeper than our technology could ever reach, or rip out of the Taliums by force." Shrugging as if it was no big deal.

Smiling at him, she continued,"So I asked the Director to take all but one of our satellites offline, and just like the bait it was, our little fishes took it. If this goes well, we get significantly stronger Taliums and two sisters who have moved beyond them."

His brows furrowed as he thought about it, and suddenly realisation dawned. "T-Then we were never-"

"We were never truly in the dark..." the Director finished it for him.

Simply put, what the Director did was to make the sisters, or to be correct, Numani, think that they had blinded HQ.

Apart from the first base attack, they were always keeping tabs on them by sending out drones to all the bases they attacked. Some of them were lucky enough to witness the attack, and the Director saw through his monitor the devastating power Rikona had let loose with her Taliums.

He had to admit, this was some 'power level over 9,000' shit going on, but he had his methods. These girls didn't know just how far our acc.u.mulation ran.

It was just...why could he only see one sister? Did something happen to one of his Prime Taliums? This was the name he had for the two sisters. The Director's thoughts were whirling in his mind like a storm, giving him no rest. He sent his two 'intruders' away after passing down his orders.

Which included turning on the other satellites that the enemy knew nothing about. He couldn't help but smile when he thought of how he would have them in his hands soon.

After all, just how much more powerful could these girls get? Not to mention that one sister alone needed so much time to get this strong, surely the others won't be that much of a threat.