"So, what should we do?" Rex asked.

They looked at each other for a few moments.

No one wanted to say anything.

Even Riley didn't know what to decide this time.

They had the same doubts earlier, but Lukas was now even further ahead of them.

It would be an impossible task this time for them to keep up with him.

And it was especially so for Emma, Rex and Harianto, who only had SS Level abilities.

"I suggest we try our best, get as many demonic beast cores as we can get and be at Master Level of Mastery." Harianto said.

He was confident that Lukas would stay with them.

"But... would it be enough? He could easily work for the Leader now." Emma said as she turned her coffee mug aimlessly.

Riley nodded and thought for a moment.

"Harianto, go and offer to help repair his armor.

"Ask him if he would be staying in the team.

"Let him know that if he didn't want to, we would be more than happy for him."

This sounded like a plan and the other team members nodded their heads.

Lukas was supposed to stay with them temporarily until the Pak family was taken care of.

Little did they expect him to improve so much and bring them along on missions they had previously never imagined.

"Then, wait for my good news." Harianto was optimistic and he stood up from his seat.

...

Knock.

Lukas heard someone knocking at the door, and he turned toward it and said, "Who's there?"

"It's me." Harianto replied.

When he heard Harianto's voice, Lukas patted Shiba's head and walked over to the door.

"Figured you would need to repair your armor." Harianto said after Lukas opened the door.

Lukas looked down at his torn and tattered Darkmatter Vault Armor and said, "Definitely."

After Lukas changed out of the Darkmatter Vault Armor and handed it over to Harianto, Harianto wasted no time and got to work.

A white glow engulfed Harianto's hands and it darted into the Darkmatter Vault Armor.

The mechanics and electronics on Harianto's arms then started to travel along his arm and onto the Darkmatter Vault Armor.

These parts then fused into the torn areas of the Darkmatter Vault Armor.

"Done." Harianto wiped his forehead when he saw the last bit of torn areas close.

He handed the Darkmatter Vault Armor back to Lukas and said, "What's your plan for the future? We will be happy for you if you decide to go for something better."

Harianto asked nonchalantly, trying to make it seem like it was nothing unusual.

"Plan for the future?" Lukas frowned and asked.

He shook his head, let out some laughter when he realized why Harianto was asking.

"Tell them, my answer will always be the same." Lukas said pointing to the insignia on the shoulder of the Darkmatter Vault Armor.

He would rather have teammates who weren't as powerful but were loyal to each other than powerful teammates who would backstab you from behind like Lin Fan.

"I knew it! I should've made a bet with them." Harianto pumped his fist into the air and said.

He got excited and dashed toward the door, eager to inform the rest of the good news.

"See you tomorrow." Harianto's voice echoed in the corridor as he got further away.

Lukas shook his head and closed the door.

Shiba tilted its head and looked at Lukas, unaware of what had happened.

"Don't worry. Nothing is going to change." Lukas patted its head and pondered the last words of the Apex demonic beast.

...

Next day.

Lukas woke up and they had a sumptuous breakfast before moving off to the airbase.

Riley and the others behaved as if nothing had happened and they chatted as usual.

Even when Terry and Kevin tried to join in and talk to Lukas, they weren't too worried this time.

Lukas just wasn't enthusiastic about working together with Terry and Kevin.

And when it was time, they left for the airbase.

Arriving at the airbase, Sherry was already there, waiting for them.

She had handed over the recovery of the West Battle Administration Area to the new Governor appointed by the Leader.

After being away for so long, she was also eager to go back to the Leader's Residence.

Commanding and making difficult decisions had made her respect the Leader more.

She used to witness the Leader making difficult decisions consistently and sometimes without all the necessary information.

Back then she wouldn't think so much about it.

But after this mission, she now knew the weight that the Leader had to shoulder for so many years.

...

The journey to the Center Battle Administration Area took only around half a day.

And after they landed, Lukas and the other awakened teams were ushered into armored cars and proceeded to the Leader's Residence directly.

When Lukas saw the familiar modest-looking home painted in the familiar shade of gray, common for most buildings in the Center Battle Administration Area, he was eager to meet the Leader.

Lukas and his team members weren't too anxious as it wasn't the first time they had met the Leader.

Kevin's team was anxious and in awe when they saw the cozy interior with antiques all over the place.

They had always imagined the Leader's Residence to be huge and lavish.

Terry's team had only been able to see the Leader's Residence from afar.

It was the first time for them to enter, and they were also equally surprised.

The Leader, who was sitting on the sofa reading a book, looked up and closed the book.

He stood up, glanced across the living room at each and every one of the awakened.

"Welcome. I've been waiting for the good news for a very long time.

"Thank you everyone for your contributions.

"What you did was a major pivot point in our war against the demonic beasts."

The Leader said and took a slight bow to the awakened.

"You don't have to. We only did what was right."

"I think the success was due to Lukas."

"Yes, without Lukas, we would have perished under the Apex demonic beast."

Riley, Emma, Rex and Harianto began to emphasize the contributions made by Lukas.

Terry and Kevin's team also nodded their heads.

The Leader, after hearing what they said, walked over to Lukas and patted him on his shoulder.

Lukas's mind went blank the next moment.