"My lady, all necessary precautions are in place. The Phantom is ready to deploy."
"Well done," Leonora Kaelthorn replied, her voice calm yet charged with the weight of imminent violence. "We will change formation — get all groups behind us. The Royal Knights will take care of this now."
"Yes, my lady. How far is our flank unit?"
"They are still en route. ETA five minutes, my lady."
"We proceed as planned. Bring the ships behind us. It's time to show them who they're facing. Royal Knight unit — ready to deploy."
Her words fell like a ritual command, and the ship trembled as the hangar doors opened
Outside — The Battlefield Over Lasos
"Royal Knights, this is Leonora Kaelthorn speaking." Her voice echoed across every com-line, firm and resonant. "We are about to deploy in front of the enemy. I ask you lend me your power — and show them what the true Knights of the Empire can do. For glory and honor… all units, deploy!"
The twelve orbitons of the Royal Knight Division broke formation and streaked forward like silver comets. Trails of pale light marked their paths as they descended through the nebula's haze — elegant death descending from the heavens.
Royal Knight Unit — Combat Zone
"Checking comms. Knight 1 through 10 — do you copy?"
"[All Knights] Copy."
"Enemy orbitons approaching — forty strong," reported the tactical officer.
Leonora smirked faintly inside her cockpit. "There's no need to worry. They may have the numbers, but our orbitons are blessed with the Emperor's technology — plasma cores built for one purpose: annihilation." Her tone was detached, almost reverent. "All ships, stay back. The Knights will cleanse the field."
Her orbiton — Gray Phantom — surged forward with a flash of plasma energy. The reactor core hummed, its light growing in intensity until it seemed to pierce the void itself. The hull shimmered like liquid mercury as her blade extended — a beam of condensed light sharper than thought.
"General Leonora has entered the fray," whispered a Knight to his wingman.
"Is this your first time seeing her fight?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then remember this moment. They call her the Gray Phantom. You'll soon understand why."
The enemy formation approached — a swarm of orbitons bristling with railguns and energy lances. Their cannons fired, and space lit up in a storm of green plasma bolts. Leonora moved.
The Gray Phantom vanished. One blink — and four enemy orbitons split apart, each cleaved cleanly in two before their targeting systems even registered movement.
"Target units destroyed!"
"What? She just—"
"She used the Phantom Slash," another Knight said with awe. "Her orbiton's frame is half artifact, half machine. It channels energy through the blade faster than light. There's no tracking it — only the aftermath."
"I would not want to be her opponent," murmured one Knight, voice low with reverence and fear.
Leonora's voice crackled through the comms, steady and commanding:
"Thirteen enemy units destroyed. All Knights — form up. Prepare plasma cannons. Target the enemy front lines."
Her tone carried the chill of command — and the thrill of perfection.
Blue light gathered at the orbitons' arms — twelve radiant spheres that pulsed like newborn stars. "Fire."
The void erupted. A single synchronized volley of plasma bolts tore through the rebel front. Dozens of ships were engulfed, their hulls collapsing inward under the force of the blast.
Rebel Command Ship — Lasos Rings
"Sir, the Empire's Royal Knight unit has deployed! All available units, engage!"
"Sir — another orbiton detected. Different signature."
"What? Give me a visual—" His words faltered. The screen showed a sleek silver figure cutting through the mist, a faint violet trail following its movements.
"That's the Gray Phantom! So she's here…"
"Don't lose hope!" shouted the rebel commander, voice strained. "It's just a machine! We have the numbers!"
The battle fielded their desperation — fifty orbitons charged toward her.
But hope dissolved as quickly as their ships.
"She moved—where—?"
"Four destroyed—no, seven—!"
"Sir, we can't track her! She's—"
[Static followed by an explosion.]
"Fall back! Retreat inside the rings!" the commander screamed, his voice trembling. "Call for General Mortis—now!"
But it was too late.
From behind, the second Imperial flank emerged, their plasma fire turning the rings into molten halos.
"Objects approaching rear—"
[Explosion]
"General Mortis is gone! Seventy percent of the fleet destroyed!"
"She's coming toward us— it's the Phantom—!"
A single blinding slash filled the screen, then silence.
Empire — Front Lines
"My lady, thirty-three enemy units destroyed, four ships damaged. The flank is within range."
"Good," Leonora said softly. "Tell them to fire at their rear. I'll handle the front."
"Bravo Unit, target locked. Fire."
A line of plasma cut through the black, igniting the remnants of the rebel fleet.
"She's gone again!"
"What—she's—she just reappeared in front of the enemy ship!"
Seven rebel ships split apart, glowing in the Phantom's wake.
"Remind me never to get on her bad side," murmured one Knight.
"You can't. She's a god unit. Never lost a duel."
"Except once."
"Once? Who could do that?"
"Her husband," came the quiet reply. "He died five years ago."
"I can't believe she was married."
"Maybe that's why she fights like this."
Command Deck
"My lady, the enemy forces have been annihilated."
Leonora's eyes softened. "Well done, everyone. Another victory for the Empire of Terria. May those we lost rest in peace."
"It was an honor, my lady," Tomas replied, his tone thick with respect.
"Thank you, Tomas. And all of you — the Emperor will hear of your valor."
A message came through.
"My lady — your brother is on approach. He says it's urgent."
Leonora's voice dropped, her tone now sharp as the blade she wielded moments ago.
"Dock his ship," she said. "I hope for his sake… this interruption is worth my time."
Her voice was calm — but the battlefield still trembled in its echo.