"What are you guys doing there?" asked Valkery.
"After the war, Vanguard recruited many strong spirit users to help fight against the alien invasion," said Kenzo.
"Coincidentally, we became some of the few people who caught Vanguard's interest," added Riko.
"Oh... So, Riko, your spirit is a humanoid slime, and Kenzo's is a mystical white ape?" asked Valkery.
They both nodded.
"Why don't you use them? It could help increase synchronization."
"Our spirits don't look human, so I rarely use mine," Riko explained.
"My spirit is a white ape. If I use it now, it would be hard to flirt with women on the street," Kenzo replied.
"Huh? So you don't use your spirit just because you want to flirt with women?" Valkery asked in disbelief.
"Of course! Look at Riko; he's the same, just hiding it behind another excuse," Kenzo teased.
"You... Can't you be a bit less blunt? What if we meet a beautiful woman at Vanguard?" Riko muttered.
"But haven't we already found one?" Kenzo said while pointing at Valkery.
"Hey, Kenzo! Your mind is twisted!" Riko retorted, making Valkery blush.
"Not really. Just imagine, the guy who marries Rai would get both an angel and a Valkery. Besides, the next spirit awakening usually follows the same type," Kenzo replied.
"Stop talking nonsense! But what do you mean by 'same type' spirit?" Valkery asked, curious.
"Oh, you started working right away, so you didn't attend school first. Here's the thing: if a spirit user awakens a dragon-type spirit first, the next one will also be a dragon type. If it's a lion, the next one will also be a lion—just like how my first spirit is a white ape, so my second spirit will probably be another type of ape," Kenzo explained.
"So, my first spirit is a celestial human type. Does that mean it will always stay that way?" Valkery questioned.
"No, you're misunderstanding. What I mean is that the spirit's appearance will be similar. For example, since I awakened a mystical white ape, the next might be a demonic ape or another type of ape as long as it follows the initial form," Kenzo clarified.
"What about Riko? His spirit is a slime," Valkery asked.
"Well, slimes have many forms—like dragon slimes or tentacle slimes. Unfortunately, the slime's unique trait is its elastic, boneless body. So, if unlucky, I might end up with an amoeba spirit," Riko said, a bit embarrassed.
"What about me?" Valkery asked again.
"Your spirit's defining trait is being a beautiful woman, so your third spirit will likely also be a beautiful woman," Kenzo answered confidently.
"Huh? I was hoping for a strong man or a dragon," Valkery said disappointedly.
"That's possible, but it's a slim chance. You need to study more to get a different type of spirit," Kenzo advised.
"By the way, have you guys visited the planets connected to your spirits?"
"Yeah, after the war, many people went to Vanguard to get weapons and then traveled to their spirit-linked planets—including us. Unfortunately, we didn't get weapons because they thought we were already strong enough," Riko replied.
"Oh, what were the planets you visited like?" Valkery asked, since she planned to go to Jupiter and wanted to hear about other planets too.
"The planet I went to was a vast ocean with many large grasses forming floating islands. There were tons of sea monsters and giant insects there," Riko explained.
"My planet had towering mountains and interconnected islands. There were many alien sects, but luckily, I found a monkey sect where I could fit in and socialize," Kenzo added.
"Wow, that sounds fun. Unfortunately, I'm heading to Jupiter. I just hope there's solid ground to step on," Valkery replied.
"Huh? Your spirit must be really strong if you're already used to Jupiter's conditions," Riko remarked.
Not long after, they arrived at a Vanguard branch office. To reach the main headquarters, they needed to take a car.
After many buildings were destroyed, Vanguard set up branches almost everywhere around the world, as the alien invasion had become a top priority for world leaders.
Vanguard also seemed busier than ever due to the influx of people joining. Now, anyone who had awakened a spirit tried to register with Vanguard to become Earth's protectors.
In the past, Vanguard had to recruit people individually and assess their spirit abilities. Now, spirit users were flocking there to sign up. This positive shift was a result of the Martian bat attack.
The three of them entered the Vanguard building since they were already members.
"Hello! Do you want to go to the simulation room or check out the latest weapons?" greeted a beautiful woman who welcomed them.
"I want to make a cool outfit for the Mystical White Ape!" Kenzo replied enthusiastically.
"I want to go to the simulation room. Is it available?" Riko asked.
"I'd like to visit the monitoring room," said Valkery.
Since their destinations were different, they parted ways. Valkery then entered the monitoring room and met some acquaintances there.
"Hello!" Valkery greeted cheerfully.
"Oh, Rai, you're using your second spirit now!"
"Wow, your second spirit is also beautiful, although it looks more muscular."
"Do you want to see Jupiter?" one of them asked.
"Yes, I'm planning to go there, so I was hoping you could monitor it," Valkery replied.
"Well, it's going to be tougher than Mars this time. Jupiter is farther, much larger, and has a thick atmosphere, so it will be hard to spot you at first."
"Communication devices still can't transmit from Jupiter to Earth. You might try to figure out where you land, but don't get your hopes up," they warned.
When Valkery arrived at Jupiter's upper atmosphere, the first thing she saw was a scene completely different from Earth.
The sky around her was dominated by shades of orange, brown, and red, with thick, fast-spinning clouds forming giant storms. One of the most striking phenomena was the Great Red Spot, a massive storm larger than Earth that had been raging for centuries. The surrounding clouds swirled like a gigantic vortex.
Below, the atmosphere appeared layered, with the upper layers made up of fast-moving clouds of hydrogen and helium gas. Occasionally, flashes of lightning lit up the dark clouds, giving the impression that violent storms were constantly occurring everywhere.
A powerful wind battered her body, carrying tiny ice particles and atmospheric dust. Although visibility was limited due to fog and thick clouds, she could feel the atmospheric pressure increasing as she descended.
The roar of the wind and the deafening sound of thunder created an atmosphere that was both intimidating and awe-inspiring. Valkery realized that Jupiter was truly a wild and inhospitable planet for ordinary humans.
The plasma wings behind her not only helped her hover but also kept her from being swallowed by the powerful storm.