Sepharos narrowed his eyes, reading the glowing options in his HUD with a warrior's calm. The flickering outlines of each weapon hovered before his vision, pulsing with heat and potential.
[SELECTED: Gladius Ignis – Power Sword of Purifying Flame]
A chime echoed in his mind. The weapon dissolved into shimmering digital fragments and was absorbed into his system.
[Inventory Updated]
Gladius Ignis: A fire-forged power sword blessed by forge-chaplains of the Ultramarines. Wreathed in sacred flame, it sears with every swing. Ideal for close combat and immolating the impure.
Weapon Slot: Available for Summon
Sepharos dismissed the prompt and turned back to the group.
March gestured enthusiastically. "Mr. Yang, this is Stelle our unexpected MVP and that is Sepharos. He basically turned the Doomsday Beast into scrap metal."
Welt studied the towering figure clad in cobalt-blue armor. "You're... not from around here."
Sepharos nodded, his voice deep and controlled. "I serve the will of the Emperor, wherever His light may guide. Even to this realm."
Himeko tilted her head, half-smiling. "Another mystery to unravel."
March looked over her shoulder. "Let's go check on Asta. She's probably juggling eight crises by now."
The group made their way through damaged corridors and flickering lights. The station still held, but the scars of battle were fresh.
As they turned a corner nearing the command center, a petite figure appeared ahead arms crossed, lavender eyes narrowed with critical disinterest.
She looked up at Sepharos, and her gaze widened only slightly, before snapping back into a bored expression.
"Oh," she muttered. "You." Her tone fell somewhere between surprise and irritation. "Guess someone finally defrosted my armor statue."
Sepharos's optics flickered slightly. "You know me?"
Herta stepped forward, sizing him up with a scowl of analytical curiosity. "Found you frozen in my trophy room. Thought you were a decorative relic well, minus the part where my scanners couldn't break through your armor."
March blinked. "Wait, you found Sepharos?"
Herta rolled her eyes. "Yeah. I was bored. His armor looked cool, but he was buried under twice the ice March was. Took one look and said, 'Meh, too much effort,' and moved on."
Stelle frowned. "Wait who are you?"
Herta placed a hand on her hip, her beret tilting just enough to show off the flower pinned to it. "Seriously? I'm Herta. Member #83 of the Genius Society. The owner of this entire station, and probably the reason the roof hasn't caved in yet."
Sepharos tilted his head. "You abandoned me in a vault. With a hidden Stellaron."
Herta blinked innocently. "Well, yeah. That thing was annoying to store, and I needed space. You were big and not moving, so… guess you kept it company."
March stifled a laugh. "She's not even sorry."
Stelle leaned toward Sepharos, whispering, "She's… the real Herta?"
Herta gave her a flat look. "I can hear you. Also yes. I modeled this puppet after my child self. Seventy percent accurate, which is more than enough for someone of my caliber."
Sepharos crossed his arms. "So this is the genius who deemed recovering a super-soldier 'too much effort'?"
"Yep," Herta replied casually. "And I stand by it. You thawed out eventually, didn't you?"
Sepharos turned to Asta, who had just emerged from the command room. "Asta… who is this sassy, unsupervised child, and where are her parents?"
Asta blinked, then burst into laughter. "Oh, that's just Herta. She is the parent. Of this entire place."
Sepharos stared at Herta for a moment longer. Then gave a single nod. "Understood. Rogue AI. Minimal threat. Ignore unless provoked."
Herta rolled her eyes. "Oh please. You're not the first walking armory I've seen."
Stelle and March were barely holding it together as they entered the control room.
Asta waved, relieved. "You're all back! And in one piece! I can't thank you enough."
Stelle smiled. "Barely in one piece. Sepharos was a beast out there."
Asta turned to him with wide eyes. "You really took on the Doomsday Beast?"
Sepharos merely inclined his head. "I endured."
Herta, leaning in just behind Asta, smirked. "Yeah, yeah. Now move along, Hero Man. I've got a hidden Stellaron to relocate."