13:00 AT, Day Forty Nine | Near Fort Wrath (Middle Desert)

  “Alright people, you know the drill by now.” Ray is smiling as she hovers next to me. Below us, amidst the ever shifting sands of the desert, lies our next conquest, Fort Wrath.

  At the same time, we are simultaneously assaulting the other four frontline forts. Yesterday’s festivities have bolstered morale to an extent we have never seen before. Turns out, the best way to run a military is simply to bribe your soldiers with delicious food.

  Ray wraps her arm around mine. “Shall we deliver them their presents, darling?”

  “Of course, after all, we are nothing if not generous.”

  We split up reluctantly, and I grab one of the grenades on my belt. They are nothing fancy, but explosions don’t have to be. After all, they are inherently cool.

  I gently land in the midst of a convoy that was about to enter the Fort. Eyes turn towards me and I wave at them. “Hello friends, guess what! I brought gifts!” I smile and toss a few fun grenades around the group. Then I ascend right back into the air as the wonderful sound of explosions come from beneath me.

  I would look, but everyone knows that cool people don’t look at explosions.

  Unfortunately, it seems our gift giving has been noticed, and soldiers along the wall start firing at me. No matter, I shall simply have to give gifts to them as well, sharp gifts.

  The shields go down with a bit of our patented spike technology. Though apparently it is no longer just ours, as Luna devised a similar system. Though they used batteries instead of portable fusion reactors, our method earns way more style points.

  I drop onto the battlements and several blades immediately greet me. I dispatch six of them with a single grenade. Though a few do survive so I am forced to poke them to death with my spear, the good old fashioned way.

  On the other side of the fort I can hear explosions that are undoubtedly coming from Ray. I bet she is looking super cute as she causes havoc, I wish I could see it.

  I clear off the battlements and descend into the Fort proper, and am met with several hundred soldiers almost immediately. They manage to get quite a few good hits on me, and I am forced to use some health packs.

  To finish them off, I activate {Dragon Lord’s Breath} and incinerate a large area of the fort. Good thing it will rebuild itself after we capture it. This arena is very nice to not make us worry about construction, I guess the game masters thought it unimportant to whatever they are testing us on.

  I encounter a couple great-levels and they pose a bit of a challenge. But I think it is safe to say that Ray and I are heading into extreme-level at this point. Rigar says we are a pair of prodigies the likes they have never seen before.

  Which does make sense, we are the Moonlight Duo after all. Or so I think as my spear pierces yet another defender that insists on still fighting. The soldier has a look of fear in their eyes before the vessel is destroyed. However, I do not think it is fear of lil ol me.

  I feel arms wrap around me and immediately relax as I recognize Ray’s arms. She whispers against my back, “darling, you are thinking too much, I can see it in your movements.”

  “Understood, I shall stop thinking and continue giving all these gifts out.” I smile as she releases me, and then vanishes again, off to wreck havoc.

  I encounter a rather tough opponent, they seem to be an older human with quite a bit of experience, but not a core member. Guess they just got lucky with a few of their spins.

  My spear clashes against their broadsword and the sound echoes off the nearby walls. I smile, and I can sense that they do too under their mask.

  I jump back and shoot a {Lightning Bolt}. Their arm gets pretty badly scorched, but they just charge right in towards me.

  I duck under their swing and step inside their guard. My spear goes right into their chestplate. However they simply do a backflip and I get thrown several meters away, my spear still embedded into their chest.

  It must hurt like kek’s basement, yet they seem unfazed. Just what did Luna do to her soldiers?

  No matter, I stand back up instantly and pull out my pistol and shoot them. Turns out, guns truly are the best weapon in a sword fight.

  The rest of the fort goes smoothly as Ray and I clear out the entire thing by ourselves. Who needs an army, when you can just send us in? All I must do is promise Ray some extra headrubs and she would likely solo the entire fort and be back for dinner.

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  Ray and I are sitting on top of the battlements and she is laying her head in my lap, looking at me with that cute smirk of hers. “Kooooo, headrub time!”

  “Hmm, I suppose it is that time, isn’t it?” I start gently running my fingers through her hair, which causes her to make many sounds of appreciation. “You were so awesome out there. Truly a performance to go down in the history books.”

  “Jerk.” A rather large blush creeps onto her face, accentuated by the red of the setting sun.

  I poke her cheek. “Should you really be calling the administrator of headrubs a jerk? That seems like a bad idea.”

  “Don’t you dare.” She places her hand on my own and forces me to keep giving her headrubs. She is so klacking cute it is unbelievable.

  “You know I am merely jesting. I am a super awesome boyfriend after all, no way I would restrict your headrubs.”

  “Still, no jokes about headrubs. They are far too important to even jest about.” She moves her hand to grab my free one, tracing small circles that seem to set my nerves on fire.

  “As you wish, my super cute girlfriend. Your headrub wish is my command.”

  She smiles. “Good to know you are aware of your place, darling.”

  We sit on the battlements for a few hours, it seems the others are taking a bit longer in their fort capture. Oh well, just means more cuddling time for Ray and I.

  At last, Emil makes contact. “Milord, we have successfully claimed all five of our target forts in one movement. The Snowflake army is now in shambles and in perfect position for our final presents.”

  I sigh and shake Ray awake, which prompts many complaints as I stand up. “Well then, let us show them the true meaning of fear then, shall we?”

  Ray rubs the sleep from her eyes and then realizes what time it is. She smiles widely.

  21:00 AT, Day Forty Nine | Arce Lunae / Command Room

  “General Kovon, all the gift packages are now ready and prepared to deploy at your command.” A soldier informs me.

  I wrap my arms around Ray who is sitting in my lap, being super cuddly as always. I let out a light laugh. Perhaps this next action is a bit too far, but oh well.

  Going a bit too far is bound to earn more style points, right?

  “Darling, what are you thinking about?” Ray tilts her head town to look me right in the eye.

  “About how famous we are about to become. If we weren’t already known by everyone in the universe, we sure will be soon. The clips are gonna go so viral it might just break the net.”

  Ray smiles and lifts up her hand. “Well, I've got the celebratory booze ready right here. So let's do this!”

  I briefly kiss her, which turns into a several minute delay. I am sure everyone watching won't mind. After all, kissing super cute girlfriends is a matter of utmost importance. I wouldn't want my darling Ray to start rioting if I neglect her too much. She might end up destroying the universe with that cuteness of hers if that should happen.

  “Well then, deploy the present delivery devices.” I command.

  Red warning sirens immediately turn on as a soldier presses a big red button. The wall in front of us fills up with screens looking at six large circular doors as they begin to open.

  After a minute, the doors fully open and a few pointy rockets rise up into position.

  “Project: Snowy Presents is now underway.” The system informs us and displays a large map of the arena. A large red circle is drawn over Forts; Treachery, Gluttony, Blasphemy, Sloth, Geo and Pride. Also known as all the forts currently held by the snowflakes.

  “Launch commencing in 5… 2.. 1. Payloads launched, first impact time in t-1:51 seconds.” The boosters ignite and six missiles launch from their silos and soar into the sky. Of course, they can't actually go too high up, as the ceiling of the arena prevents us from using hyperbolic trajectories.

  I hold Ray tightly as we watch the six dots cross the maps, heading to their destinations. Six camera feeds planted by covert Ops members show us current images of the targeted forts.

  Soldiers are simply milling about, completely unaware of what is about to happen.

  “Hey Ko.”

  “Yes, super cute darling Ray?”

  “You are super cute. Also a bloody klacking genius.”

  I rest my head on her shoulder. “Says the cutest and smartest girl in the universe.”

  “Well it is only natural. After all, it is expected that the cutest jerk and the cutest girl work together to achieve intergalactic peace.”

  I trail my fingers down her arm, sending shivers down her spine. “Hmm, is that really the expectation? Well then, I guess we must deliver on that expectation.” I kiss her cheek. “One kiss at a time.”

  I can feel her skin heat as she blushes, and I bet I am exactly the same. “Don’t forget the headrubs.” She whispers back.

  “Of course, I wouldn’t dare forget such an important activity.”

  A ding sounds in the room as the first missile hits. The camera feed turns white as the fusion nuke detonates.

  I think Luna is really going to enjoy these presents. We have worked hard to prepare them, so she better absolutely love them.

  I kiss Ray as another ding sounds. This really is the life. Sitting back, super cute girlfriend in my arms and watching cool explosions. I could really get used to sitting back with her in my arms while our enemies perish.

  I am sure it will happen much more in the future. After all, we are the Moonlight Duo, and together we can overcome anything.

  So, bring it on.

  End of Chapter 142

  Next: Chapter 143 | Consequences

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  What to Expect:

  - An epic, multi-book space opera with a large found family and multiple POVs.

  - A powerful but emotionally vulnerable protagonist with chaotic powers he struggles to control.

  - Strong, capable, and sometimes morally gray women.

  - High stakes, cosmic threats, and detailed world-building.

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  This story contains mature themes, explicit sexual content, and graphic violence. It is not suitable for readers under the age of 18.

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