mode'!
Now that the Heavensword had entered into a much more favorable medium-energy environment, Ketis suspected it could do way more with its endless variety of powers
than before!
What if the old blade decided to make good use of its partially rejuvenated state and take matters into its own hands?
There was nothing Ketis, Saint Commander Casella or any of the other strong combatants in the Viola Magnifica System could do to resist the grand work's actions!
Ketis started to understand why Ves felt so aggrieved whenever he interacted with the likes of the Evolution Witch.
Their 'patrons' likely harbored goodwill towards them, but that did not mean their meddling was necessarily welcome!
Both the Evolution Witch and the Heavensword were so powerful that they could ignore.
a lot of pushback. They were not confined by any normal rules and could do anything so long as they did not cross any bottom lines.
With the help of Sharpie's relations with the Heavensword, Ketis roughly estimated that the powerful self-controlled weapon would probably arrive in another week, maybe longer if it got distracted along the way.
"I wonder how the Heavensworders back in the Majestic Teal Star Sector are feeling"
Ketis mused.
The Heavensword Association were probably devastated at the loss of the sword that symbolized the second-rate state.
Fortunately, there were so many swordmasters over there that they should easily be able
to keep their traditions alive.
Ketis even guessed that the departure of the Heavensword may actually lift a burden off the state and allow its swordmasters to flourish without an overbearing presence at the
top.
The fact that the Heavensword may actually come and shift the burden onto herself and her subordinates was not a good development.
The woman kept her concerns even as she wrapped up her work related to the
Stormblade Samurai Mark II Project and proceeded to move back to her grand stateroom deep inside the Spirit of Bentheim.
Many Larkinsons greeted or saluted her with respect along the way. Ketis always made sure to take the brief amount of time to nod in acknowledgement, though she did not go further and chat with the clansmen.
Now that she had assumed the burden of leadership, Ketis became a lot more attentive
on how she presented herself and spoke to her fellow Larkinsons. She briefly paused in front of a reflective surface.
Compared to how she looked when she was young, Ketis looked so much more mature
and weathered.
Her body remained as athletic as ever. She never let up on her exercise and sword
training.
Her unnatural green hair had made way for a relatively short cut of more natural-looking
red hair.
Her slightly ornate Larkinson uniform may lack rank insignia, but still conveyed an undeniable sense of authority.
Part of this was due to a combination of Ketis' intelligent demeanor. Another part of it
was due to Sharpie's willpower. Both factors caused her demeanor to become less aggressive but no less dangerous.
As the mech designer and swordmaster continued to study her appearance, she liked
how she had managed to progress her demeanor. She shed many of the follies of her youth and managed to exude an undeniably mature and reliable temperament. This was a quality that not even Ves was able to match!
As brilliant as he had proven himself to be, there was always something about Ves that
made people think that he had become incorrigible. There was always a rebellious bone inside him that continually pushed him into making unconventional decisions.
Ketis spent a lot of years with Ves, so she certainly understood why he ended up this
way.
She could not bring herself to imitate her former mentor that closely. The more responsibilities she assumed, the more she felt the need to remain steady and avoid excessive risks.
Of course, she did not go as far as to deny her own nature.
She still grasped her Bloodsinger in her hands and boldly chose to accompany boarding
parties into disabled but not destroyed enemy warships every now and then!
Only by letting her greatsword shed actual blood would she be able to progress as a
swordmaster!
Ketis still had aspirations to become a sword saint and eventually a sword god, so she
insisted on participating in these boarding actions despite the vehement objections of her husband and almost every other Larkinson!
Every native alien species presented difficult challenges in boarding combat.
The orvens liked to rely on excessive firepower and traps to hinder boarders from taking
over their homeships.
The nunsers were the most fun to fight against as they disdained tricks and usually liked
to fight their enemies head-on, though often taking advantage of their superior mass and numbers!
The zzamayels were the most awful species that Ketis had the 'pleasure' to fight against.
The less said about the disgusting slime-like race and their horrendously sticky organic warships, the better.
While Ketis certainly appeared to grow a lot younger and wilder whenever she indulged
in her need to fight with her Bloodsinger, she otherwise made a conscious effort to keep herself restrained.
There was one decisive reason why she made an effort to grow up and become more
responsible.
"Mommy!" "You're back, mommy!"
Ketis smiled with genuine joy as she bent down to embrace Kirian and Mayra.
As a mother, she wanted nothing more than to raise her children and see them grow up
in front of her eyes. "I am home."