Galactic Star Calendar 3033, December 10th
This was a day that would be written into the annals of both the Starlight Empire and the Holy Radiance Empire.
In an obscure, unheard-of coordinate zone, a duel for the ages was about to erupt.
This was a true contest of interstellar legions — and, in the fairest of forms, a settling of which of two interstellar legions was the victor!
Sacred Angel Legion · flagship bridge
"Report — all interstellar warships fully readied; awaiting Lady Saint Cana's instruction!" the adjutant, standing behind Commander Saint Cana, reported.
Saint Cana fixed her eyes on the interstellar fleet across the star-space opposite — above all on that huge interstellar warship.
"My lady… my lady?" The adjutant, getting no reply for a long moment, knew his Commander must be staring off at that interstellar battleship again.
In this bare day and more, his Commander had gone blank-eyed at that battleship several times over!
"Ah…" Saint Cana came back to herself, and cast a glance at that silver-white T4 interstellar battleship opposite.
For some reason, every time she looked at this interstellar battleship, it gave her a strange, unaccountable feeling.
"Understood. Get in touch with Zhao Chen opposite now, and settle the specifics of the duel!" Saint Cana said.
"Yes!" The adjutant at once went to see to it.
Saint Cana drew a deep breath, laid a hand over her own chest — one could see, beneath the sheer white gauze at her breast, light-patches flickering on and off across her skin.
It had been a very long while since her feelings had rippled so greatly.
What was the matter?
The Sacred War Duel hadn't even begun — why should she feel so ill at ease?
Relax; don't overthink it.
My Sacred Angel Legion will surely win this Sacred War Duel!
Saint Cana calmed and settled her feelings on her own.
Concerning this Sacred War Duel, she'd already reported to the Imperial Senate.
The Imperial Senate was astonished that this fabled Owl Dragon Legion should make so arrogant a move — but for them, it was a matter of the greatest advantage, and they'd no reason to refuse.
And so they'd agreed to Saint Cana's Sacred War Duel; by now the Imperial Senate was, by all estimates, already preparing a victory banquet, to celebrate the Holy Radiance Empire's expansion of frontier and territory — winning not only five brand-new resource star regions, but two star regions of the Starlight Empire besides!
Now they awaited only Saint Cana's dispatch of triumph; for the Imperial Senate, it was merely a matter of time.
Very soon, the two sides made contact.
Two shuttle-craft set out from their respective flagships and docked at a certain point.
When the hatch at the docking-point opened, Zhao Chen laid eyes for the first time on the so-called Sacred-Spirit race.
Skin white and flawless as jade, light-patches surfacing now and again, hair all white, a trace of gold in the pupils of their eyes, garments almost wholly in a keynote of white.
Zhao Chen guessed this pack must all be neat-freaks!
The upside, though, was that at night one wouldn't need lighting — for these people were human-shaped 'light bulbs.'
"Hello, honored Sir Zhao Chen; it is my privilege to meet you here." Saint Cana, at the far end of her own shuttle-craft, made a Holy Radiance Empire courtesy toward Zhao Chen's side.
Looking closely, one would find that at the docking-point between the two shuttle-craft — though the hatch stood open — there was a transparent curtain of light across the gap.
A two-way energy shield.
Zhao Chen returned the courtesy and spoke: "It's my privilege as well, to witness here with Miss Saint Cana a dazzling Sacred War Duel."
"In truth, I have no wish to see needless casualties come to pass." Saint Cana looked at Zhao Chen, the meaning in her lovely eyes plain enough.
"I too have no wish to see needless casualties." Zhao Chen wore a look of helpless grief.
"It seems Sir Zhao Chen truly won't give up." Seeing Zhao Chen unmoved, Saint Cana let out a sigh.
Zhao Chen shrugged, and said with a posture of great compassion: "If, in the course of this Sacred War Duel, Miss Saint Cana feels at any moment that something is amiss, she may end the battle at any time."
The corner of Saint Cana's mouth twitched faintly.
She truly couldn't fathom where this fellow got the nerve to say such a thing.
She said, feigning mildness: "That line, I'll give back to Sir Zhao Chen as well."
"Now, next — let's settle the specifics of the decisive contest." Saint Cana's adjutant stepped forth, lifted his head, and said: "The first round is a duel between one interstellar battleship from each side. Our side sends out the T4 Retribution-Angel-class Heavy Interstellar Battleship."
Secretary Lilith, who likewise knew the whole flow of the Sacred War Duel, said in turn: "Our side sends out the T4 Blue-Eyes White Dragon-class Heavy Interstellar Battleship."
Blue-Eyes White Dragon?
Hearing the name, Saint Cana was, for an instant, lost in a trance — the name truly fit.
That silver-white interstellar battleship did indeed look like a silver-white giant dragon galloping through the river of stars!
"Then let us draw the ship-classes for the second round," the adjutant said.
"Go ahead."
The adjutant raised a hand and sent over an electronic program: "This is the draw-system we've prepared for the second round of the Sacred War Duel; if you have any doubts, you may verify it."
Lilith looked back toward the Commander.
Zhao Chen waved a hand: "No need; I trust Miss Saint Cana." The other side already looked down thoroughly on him; and besides, the Sacred-Spirit race was a proud people — they'd never stoop to some sleight of hand in a place like this, the more so when it was a thing that could be checked at a glance.
Thereupon Lilith and this adjutant began to draw.
Before each of them appeared two rings of light, which then grew transparent, revealing the ship-models within.
On Lilith's side: interstellar frigate and interstellar destroyer.
At the sight, Lilith's face went dark; wronged, she looked back at the Commander.
This luck was too poor — of all things, to have drawn these two ship-classes.
Then look at the adjutant opposite.
Before him: interstellar cruiser and interstellar battlecruiser.
In ship-class advantage alone, it stood a full tier above Zhao Chen's side.
Saint Cana too let show a look of surprise — she'd never expected her luck to be this good.
Looked at this way, this second round was hers for the taking.
"It's fine; it makes no difference." Seeing Lilith's guilty look, Zhao Chen laid a hand on her head to comfort her.
The third round, since it was a legion-fleet contest, had no requirement as to ship-class — only the stipulation that the count of interstellar warships not exceed 3,000.
The last step was to divide the decisive-battle zones.
For these three battles of the Sacred War Duel began at the same time!
Very soon, the three battle-zones were marked off, and both Zhao Chen and Saint Cana signaled no objection.
"Then let both sides' interstellar warships take their positions. One hour from now, the Sacred War Duel begins." Zhao Chen looked at Saint Cana with a smile.
Saint Cana nodded.
The two relayed their orders at the same instant.
The two sides' interstellar warships began to set out, each toward its battle-zone.
Most striking of all were those two interstellar battleships.
The Owl Dragon Legion's T4 Blue-Eyes White Dragon-class Heavy Interstellar Armored Battleship, ship one!
The Sacred Angel Legion's T4 Retribution-Angel-class Heavy Interstellar Battleship, ship T03!