Chap 171: Breaking Point

Matt Daman—an old man—tall, austere, and immaculate in a black suit that looked sharper than most uniforms. His eyes, cold and precise, could cut deeper than any blade. Even through the flickering hologram, his presence pressed into the room like gravity.

He offered a thin, surgical smile.

“Thank you for the introduction,” he said—not as courtesy, but as confirmation that the room now belonged to him.

His gaze slid over them, then stopped. On Tee.

Even though it wasn’t in person, she felt it like a knife point.

“That girl,” he said smoothly. “With the white hair. You’ve been here before. You caused that commotion in District Mercene. You had people believing there were evil Vergants.”

The others turned to her, shock etched across their faces.

Zod’s jaw dropped. “Wait. That was you?”

The silence stretched. Tee didn’t move. Didn’t deny.

Finally, she spoke, her voice flat. “You’re right. That was me. I’ve been here before.”

Kie stepped forward, his voice sharp. “Look, we’re not here for introductions. The Harbingers—a dangerous group—are here to steal whatever fragment is hidden on this base.”

Matt Daman’s hologram flickered, his expression unreadable. “I know why you’re here. This base has teleportation shield blocks—normally, intrusion would be impossible. Yet here you are. The fragment we’ve been guarding… its Sealed Bond has somehow reactivated. It was never fully deactivated. Its mythical prowess interfered with the blocks, allowing both you and the Harbingers to teleport in.”

The mention of the Harbingers immediately put the five Sentinels on edge. Tee’s mind flashed to her last encounter with Lilith—burned, battered, and barely escaping. Was she alive? There was only one way to know.

“Where are the Harbingers?” Tee demanded. “Send us there.”

“Of course,” Matt Daman said calmly, almost mockingly. “Our soldiers are being slaughtered as we speak. Perhaps you five teenagers would fare better.”

A white teleportation vortex materialized in the dimness. Without hesitation, the Sentinels leapt through.

They emerged in the grand room just as a red teleportation vortex began to shimmer in the opposite corner. Legion, Lilith, and Sade stood there, Sade clutching the fragment. The floor was littered with scorched, torn uniforms. Pools of blood glistened under harsh lighting. Some Vergants in colorful hoods lay motionless, others twitched weakly—survivors of the carnage.

Lilith’s once-black hair had turned salt white, immediately drawing the Sentinel’s attention.

Miko’s instincts kicked in immediately. She knew better than to repeat herpast action. Trying to snatch the fragment before the Harbingers had fully committed to leaving could be disastrous a second attempt. 

Lilith’s gaze met Tee’s, a smirk curving her burnt lips. Half her face was scorched, her left eye cracked, and the white hair—undeniable proof of their previous encounter.Then she vanished, leaving only the echo of her presence.

The five Sentinels exchanged tense looks. They didn’t want to destroy the room, so they held back. The Harbingers escaped with the fragment.

The hologram of Matt Daman reappeared. “Teleportation blocks are restored. The relic is no longer in our possession.”

Saeda’s voice was flat but heavy with disappointment. “This mission… was a failure. Wow.”

Zod frowned. “How do you even know about the fragment of the Alpha Seal?”

The metal doors at the back of the room slid open, revealing the real Matt Daman, flanked by soldiers and men in black suits. He stepped forward, calm and authoritative.

“This fragment dates back long before my time... Vergants discovered it by accident, believing they had defeated the Seal’s defenses. Today proved otherwise. Recent tampering allowed it to be sensed once more through the Verge.”

Zod crossed his arms, his tone half-joking, half-serious. “I get that MG offs are only for Xenosapian stuff, and Priman handles the rest—robberies, investigations, all that. But I always wondered what you were really doing up here. Now I know.”

“Does the Commander know about this?” Saeda asked, eyes narrowing.

Matt Daman’s mouth curved into a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “We do more than most people think. And we know more about the Alpha Seal than you imagine. When all fragments are joined, the relic doesn’t just restore itself—it can channel ultimate power into a single vessel. That is, when fused with the Omega Stone… lost to humanity long ago. Or so the story goes.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Kie snapped, folding his arms.

Matt’s gaze lingered on him. “My… you bear a striking resemblance to one of our top soldiers.”

“Yeah, I get that a lot,” Kie shot back. “Now answer my question.”

Matt chuckled low. “Things are never exactly as you hear, cadet.” His sharp eyes scanned all five of them. “I’ve never seen abilities like yours before. I’ve been briefed about your… link to the forces of this world, and your so-called duty to prevent its downfall. It’s quite an honor to finally meet you.”

A guard in black stepped forward, handing each of them a sleek black Priman card.

“If the chance ever comes,” Matt said smoothly, “we could use soldiers like you.”

The five teens exchanged quick glances, the bitter memory of Primus’s fake Mid-Guard letter still fresh. Still, they took the cards.

Saeda stiffened, thinking it wise to end things formally. She clicked her heels together, straightening her back into an army-perfect salute. “Sir. Thank you. Our mission is complete. We’ll take our leave.”

Brows raised at her formality.

The teens raised their telecoms, ready to teleport out, when Matt’s voice cut through.

“Before you go, deliver a message for me. Tell Commander Linn… the old fool said hi.”

They froze mid-motion.

“Linn… Is that the Commander’s real name?” Tee asked. 

Zod stifled a laugh, disguising it as a short cough instead. Linn was a girl’s name, he thought. 

An evil smirk curved Tee’s lips. She loved collecting ammunition against people—and she’d just found some for the Commander.

“…Consider your message delivered, sir,” Saeda said, though her voice betrayed her uncertainty.

The next blink, Primus’s white-glowing floors unfolded beneath their feet. Then common sense kicked in, and they remembered the message they were meant to deliver.

Zod stuck a finger in his ear. “Wait. Did I just hear that right?”

“Forget Linn. Old fool?’” Tee smirked. “I need to start calling him that.”

The Commander was waiting. The moment Alpha team appeared, he flicked away the holographic tabs hovering in front of him and strode forward.

“You’re back early,” he said, hands clasped behind his back.

The teens exchanged looks, struggling not to laugh. All eyes landed on Saeda.

“Commander, sir,” she barked, standing stiff as a board. “Permission to deliver a message.”

The Commander blinked at her sudden military tone. “…Granted.”

“From Matt Daman. The old fool says hi.”

The room went dead silent. The Commander froze. In an instant, memories he’d buried ripped to the surface—his years at Priman, his old squad, The Lieutenant beside him, the moment he broke away to join Primus. And that incident… the one that made him spit those same words—old fool—through a loudspeaker, aimed squarely at Matt Daman. His jaw tightened.

He glanced at Kie, his expression unreadable. “Thank you, Saeda. Now… decide on your new team leader. He or she will report to me for the next mission briefing.”

The five teens didn’t last long once they cleared the room. By the time they hit the archway, they were laughing under their breath, shoulders shaking.

“So,” Zod asked, “who’s signing up for Priman once this is all over?”

“You mean if it’s ever over,” Saeda muttered. “I can’t believe Lilith’s still alive.”

Zod sighed.

“The Mid-Guard’s for me, not Priman,” Kie said flatly.

“Priman is weird,” Tee added in the same tone.

Saeda cut in. “So. Who's the team leader?”

The Commander’s words echoed in the silence.

They voted between Zod, Miko, and Saeda. The choice fell to Miko.

Zod clapped her shoulder. “Miko, I’d take orders from you any day.”

Miko’s face went pale. She started shaking—then blacked out.

When she woke in the infirmary, Zod was slouched in a bed beside her.

“You fainted,” he said gently.

“I had a nightmare,” she muttered. “That you all made me team leader.”

“Yeah… that happened. Which is why we kinda made Kie leader again.”

“Huh?”

“Part-leader,” Zod explained. “Meaning he can boss us around… but we don’t have to listen. His word isn’t exactly law.”

“…Where is he?”

Kie sat alone in the Commander’s office.

“I take it they’ve chosen you as their leader again,” the Commander said.

“Part leader,” Kie corrected with a dry laugh. “If that’s even a thing.”

“A mission command leader,” the Commander said, sighing. “It seems I wasn’t clear enough with my instructions.” He leaned back in his chair, studying Kie with sharp, weary eyes. “I take it the mission was a failure. Well, how is progress on the Balance Seal?”

Kie’s jaw tightened, irritation flashing across his face.

It was dead in the night. The living complex was silent, shadows pooled in the corners, and the faint hum of the vents was the only sound.

Kie wasn’t surprised to find Tee in the kitchen, a steaming mug of coffee clutched in both hands. Her pale hair glinted in the dim light as though it had absorbed the moon. She didn’t acknowledge him, just stared into her cup as if it held secrets.

“The Seal,” he said flatly, leaning against the counter.

She lowered the mug just enough for her smirk to show. “I was serious about another steamy session, Cooper.” Her voice lilted with mockery. “Yes, no, maybe so?”

“As leader, I’m ordering you to get that Seal.” His tone was sharp across the center table.

She tilted her head, eyes narrowing. “You’re half-leader.”

“Command mission leader,” he corrected, jaw tight.

“What?” She laughed softly, shaking her head. “Whatever. I don’t have to listen to you. And we’re not on a mission, so that’s even worse.”

He gritted his teeth, wondering how many ridiculous things she had scrawled on that damn list of hers.

Tee set her mug down and walked past him, her shoulder brushing his. She paused at the doorway, her eyes glinting with something unreadable.

“I’m ready to give the modern world another try,” she said quietly, almost to herself. Then her voice dropped into a whisper sharp enough to cut. “I’ve got a death list to complete.”

She disappeared into the hallway shadows.

Annoyance clawed at his chest. He couldn’t shake the thought—if he’d given in before, would she have finally claimed the Balance Seal? Or was it all just a game she’d invented to torment him? 

He couldn’t understand how she could demand intimacy from someone with no feelings for her. She already made it clear she did not like him. She reminded him too much of the Mid-Guard whores, merciless and hollow-eyed.

And yet… regret coiled in his gut. Why couldn’t she have not been a Xeno-victim. Things could have been perfect. 

He sighed.

Fine. Another outing, then.

The second outing together wasn’t supposed to feel like a battlefield, but Tee could already sense the tension waiting for her before they even stepped beyond the walls of Primus. Her white hair and pale eyes had always been a curse. People stared. They always stared.

Still, she tied her hair into a sharp ponytail—mission neat, though she let a few strands fall at the sides of her face. She wanted it visible, unmistakable, a challenge in itself. 

Around her neck hung the crest, gleaming against her throat like an accusation. If they were going out again, she wasn’t going to shrink into the shadows or pretend. Better they all looked. Better she showed them she wasn’t hiding.

Kie stood at her side, silent but steady. His presence, oddly, made the whole ordeal easier. The first time they’d ventured out, she’d felt stripped raw beneath every pair of eyes, but that day was different. If only, she thought, if only Kie had worn his Mid-Guard uniform. Then maybe the stares would soften, maybe the whispers wouldn’t slice quite so deep.

The local square was crowded, noisy with the ebb and flow of merchants, families, and the constant patrol of MG troopers. Troopers everywhere—on the ground, lingering in corners, stationed on rooftops. Their job was to watch, to look for signs of mutation, to track the branded victims like Tee with their crests, and, when necessary, to alert the real officials. They moved like flocks of crows, eyes gleaming, waiting for an excuse.

And every one of them seemed to have their gaze fixed on her.

It felt like needles digging into her skin. Her super senses sharpened the discomfort. She could feel when someone walked too close, hear the shift in their weight, sense the faint displacement of air as bodies leaned toward hers. 

Several times people tried to “accidentally” bump shoulders with her as they passed, probably thinking her blindness meant she wouldn’t see it coming. 

But she always moved. Just before impact, she stepped aside, her reflexes too sharp, her perception too keen. They didn’t like that.

“Blind, my ass,” one muttered after nearly colliding with nothing but air.

Tee ignored it, though her lips curled in a bitter smile. If they wanted to play games, she could play too.

High above, one of the rooftop troopers spat something—phlegm, gum, she didn’t care—but her senses flared, and she tilted her head just enough to let it miss. She could have retaliated, could have tossed a pebble with perfect precision into his smug face, but she didn’t. Not yet. The temptation burned, though, a wicked itch in her palms.

Still, the harassment wore her down. Every eye, every whisper, every “accidental” shoulder that never touched—it all pressed into her. And she hated how weak the crest made her feel, how vulnerable it left her.

The breaking point came when a young female trooper, laughing with her friends, didn’t swerve aside but barreled straight into Tee’s shoulder. The impact jolted her, and her small handbag slipped from her fingers, falling to the ground with a thud.