The two In-Births kept running through the streets, all the while keeping a close eye out for other In-Births or Voids that might hinder their progress. Eventually, Orie's intel led them to a giant park area. "It seems we're roughly 20 meters away from reaching their headquarters," said Orie. She put her cell phone away and took a look in the direction of the HQ. "Now if only there was a clear way of getting in without being seen. Seems unfortunate that a large park doesn't grant us much cover to work with apart from a few trees."
"Bah, you're wasting your time trying to find an easy way in," said Carmine. "Amnesia's got shitloads of punks surrounding the area. You either go through the front door, the back door, or a window."
"I'll think of something." The two of them started to creep up towards the mansion, finding anything they could hide behind without looking suspicious or obvious. They ducked behind a tree and concentrated on the area. "Alright, here's the plan," began Orie as she analyzed the sight for good infiltration spots. "I will take the lead, you-" She turned to find her ally nowhere near her. Suddenly she heard lots of men screaming along with some maniacal laughter.
Orie peeked out from behind the tree to see Carmine beating up five different In-Births from Amnesia near the front gate. As he laid the fifth one out, he looked up at her and smirked. He waved her over as to say "come on already." Orie sighed. "I guess his bloodlust does have its benefits after all," she muttered under her breath.
The two of them made it past the front gate and took a look around. Orie was looking for a different way around, but Carmine insisted they go through the front door. "Don't even bother," he said. "This is the easiest way in."
Orie put her hand to her face and shook her head. "You don't seem to understand the idea of "stealth," do you?" she quipped. "We're trying NOT to make it obvious that we're coming to Amnesia's headquarters! Or at least, I'm not! Besides, didn't you say we were splitting up as soon as we got here?"
Carmine crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. "Alright, if you can think of a better way in, I'm all ears."
The Licht Kreis Executor was about to suggest something, but she bit back her tongue seeing as how no other entryway was practical enough not to raise eyebrows more than they already are. Carmine, as bloodthirsty and violent as he was, also had a point. Given they would have already been spotted coming into the territory, paired with Carmine already beating up five members of Amnesia, they didn't have many places to go that wouldn't give them people to fight.
She sighed and walked up to the door. She summoned Thanatos and broke the door down. The two made their way inside and looked at each other again. "Thanks again for your assistance," said Orie. "Your help was a valuable asset to our mission."
"Yeah whatever," snarled Carmine. "Just go do whatever it is you're doing. I've got a bone to pick with that Paradox skank."
The two split up. Orie made her way to some staircases and began to ascend to the higher levels in hopes that she could find some documents or eavesdrop on conversations. As she ascended, she could hear men shouting at each other as well as Carmine's insane laughter. 'Not the first choice I would have in a partner,' she thought. 'But the diversion certainly helps keep Amnesia busy.'
After clearing the first couple of floors but coming up short on anything, Orie went up a couple more floors. 'There has to be something around here,' she thought in irritation. She was running out of floors to search, how could there not be anything to use? She also noticed the considerable lack of opposition she was faced with. Sure, Carmine's insane and strong, but is it really possible that he's taking everyone on at once? And if he is, how is he surviving for this long?
She ascended to the top floor. This is it. There has to be something here she can use. She scanned the area for anything she could use, until she felt an intense amount of EXS radiating from a part of the level. It was a lead she could start with, and likely what she was looking for. Orie started to hide behind walls and bookcases, anything she could find, in hopes of not getting spotted. No way this wouldn't be protected, even with a madman fighting everyone downstairs.
She headed closer to a door that radiated massive amounts of EXS from it. As she stood there, discovering what it was that had the EXS she discovered, she realized it was the Abyss and this must have been the Altar Of Light And Dark. "Damn," she muttered. "With this much EXS floating around and the Abyss staring me in the face, could Paradox plan on becoming a Re-Birth?"
"My, perceptive one aren't you? Little lady of the Licht Kreis?" a voice that belonged to a woman's said. A chill went down Orie's spine. She was discovered before she had a chance to return to headquarters. A woman with long, blonde hair and dressed in a black and white dress stepped out from the shadows. "You know, it's impolite to enter other people's homes without permission," she teased. "Would you be so kind as to let us know you're visiting ahead of time?"
Orie bit her lip. This situation just got a lot more complicated. She stood her ground and put on a strong face. "Y-you are Paradox, leader of Amnesia, correct?" she stammered.
The woman nodded. "I would prefer going by the name Hilda, but I see my reputation seems to have spread more than I thought, even to your ilk. Now would you mind telling me what the Licht Kreis is doing, barging into my home without an invitation?"
The Executor drew her rapier. "My name is Orie Ballardiae, Fifth Executor of the Licht Kreis!" she said proudly. "I demand to know why the Abyss is here and why you are trying to replace order with chaos during the Hollow Night!"
Hilda smiled. "The Abyss is here because I strive to achieve the status of a Re-Birth. As for replacing order with chaos….well, that's because us in Amnesia are tired of restraining ourselves on the Nights. We're going to freely use our powers however we see fit, and no one, not even the Licht Kreis, is going to stop us."
Hilda looked over Orie a couple of times, which made the latter unnerved to say the least. "Orie…..Ballardiae was it? Fifth? I can't say that I have ever heard of you." Paradox casually waved her hand. "The only ones in Licht Kreis that I care about in the slightest are Adelheit, Zenith and Wagner. Especially Wagner; she's been giving us a hard time, seeing as how she murdered one of our closest comrades months ago. Nevertheless, I have no time for someone like you tonight."
Orie narrowed her eyes. "So you do not consider me a threat?" she asked. "True, I may not stand a chance against someone who strives to become a Re-Birth, but I will see to it that the hammer of justice shall fall upon you, even if it means my death!"
"You plan on fighting me?" laughed Hilda. "I suppose I can play with you a bit. Though I'm loathe to say that I need to keep you alive so that you can send a message back to your superiors. Imagine Adelheit's reaction when she sees her Fifth Executor battered and bruised from Amnesia!"
"That's enough out of you, Paradox!" shouted Orie. She drew her rapier. "Seeing as how my original mission of infiltration had changed, I shall see to it that you are punished for your deeds by the hand of the Licht Kreis, even if it means my death!"
The EXS around the two In-Births began to rapidly increase. Hilda began to float into the air, a dark aura surrounding her body along with black and white daggers materialized from her EXS. "If it means your death, does it?" mocked Hilda. "I figured sending you running back to headquarters in tatters would prove to be a sufficient enough message, but seeing as how you're that determined to stop me, I feel like killing off one of the Licht Kreis's executors would be more than enough of a warning."
The daggers around Hilda's body began to spin faster and faster. "Prepare yourself, Orie Ballardiae. Your time on this earth is coming to an end." She shot every single dagger she had materialized at Orie. "Die!" yelled Hilda in glee. Orie steadied herself as she braced for impact and closed her eyes.
The sound of daggers made an impact that sounded like iron clashing against crystal. Orie never felt herself get pierced by the daggers. She slowly opened her eyes to find a wall of red crystal in front of her with the daggers cracking it. Red crystal that resembled….blood? "Wh-what happened?" Hilda demanded. "How did you do such a thing?"
The daggers dematerialized and the crystal wall of blood returned to liquid. "Forget about the cannon fodder already, will ya?" a familiar-sounding voice said.
