Durandal surveyed the South M1 freeway leading from the main shipping yards to Coral. It was eight lanes across, most of it a suspended bridge a hundred metres above ocean and small island. It should have been the height of summer. The air was chill, breath foggy and craggy chunks of ice bobbing in the water below. Rita walked up behind the Captain of the Immortal Blades and waited patiently.
"Report."
"The Immortal Blades have established a control perimeter around all major traffic access points, Durandal-sama. We have our battleship orbiting the island, fighters deployed to keep the skies outside the city free of Honkai beasts. Civilians are being directed to repurposed freighter ships. Once they reach capacity, we will escort them out to sea. They can be picked up by sea-based battleship and cruiser for resettlement at a later date."
The Valkyrja nodded once.
"And our orders?"
It was only a moment's hesitation. Durandal knew Rita well enough to be surprised. Her second-in-command never lost her composure. She turned her head enough to look at Rita from the corner of her eye.
"The Overseer's orders remain, Durandal-sama. We will keep the Honkai contained within Coral. Once the agents of World Serpent arrive we remain on standby and hold the perimeter. The agents have free reign to do what is necessary within the city to contain the Herrscher."
"Good."
Durandal fingered the White Lily divine key.
"Any word from Ana?"
"Nothing, Durandal-sama."
The Valkyrja allowed herself a brief sigh. It seemed that her worst fears had been realised. The Valkyrja would have moved out the moment they detected danger. Ana was… had been a competent fighter. But she would have stood no chance against a Herrscher. Snow Lotus was now just another memorial amongst many on the floating islands of Schicksal HQ.
"Anything else?"
Rita's face was composed and controlled. Durandal could sense just how unhappy she was with the situation.
"The Overseer has ordered that once the agents arrive, Coral is in lockdown. No further civilians are permitted to leave the city, Durandal-sama. Any that do arrive at our control points are to be separated and held in a secure location."
"The extended exposure to Honkai and Herrscher energy make them living time bombs. They could rapidly mutate into an Evolved Undead or in worst case scenario another Herrscher.
"Exposure to such high doses do make it possible for such unexpected results. Liquidation of hundreds or thousands would seem overly cautious however."
"Those are our orders."
"Understood, Durandal-sama."
"Captain! Vice-Captain!"
Both women turned to voice. A member of the Immortal Blades, sniper rifle slung over her shoulder, came running up the breezy freeway. She skidded to a halt and snapped out a quick salute.
"The agents have arrived," the Valkyrja reported.
Durandal's eyes flicked upward. A twisting shadow hovered high above. The blot of darkness fell to ground, stopping an instant before it struck the bitumen. Their black boots touched the ground. The agent wore form-fitting black armour with faint blue highlights around collar, wrist and boots. Their face was hidden behind a plain white mask. Even their eyes were obscured by shadow. The figure's curves were decidedly feminine. Beyond that Durandal had little to read of the woman. Clutched in her hand was a soulium spear.
"Hello pet, it's been a while."
Rita turned and fixed Raven with a look colder than the current environment. The World Serpent agent had hopped up from the railing of the bridge. Durandal guessed the woman had arrived by aircraft earlier and then ran along the underside of the bridge. It was not hard to read the acrimony between the pair. They began to exchange frigid barbs. Leaving them be, Durandal offered a hand to the stranger.
"Durandal of the Immortal Blades."
"Magpie of World Serpent."
The woman's voice was younger than she expected. But there was a lilt to it, an edge of pain and restrained danger that had the seasoned soldier sizing up the agent a second time. The way she gripped her hand as they shook. The set of her shoulders. The spear held carefully to one side. It wouldn't get in the way. Or it could be used to drive her back in several different ways if Durandal proved suddenly aggressive.
The no 1 Valkyrja of Schicksal was curious. When had World Serpent recruited someone capable of defeating a true Herrscher?
Tatiana pulled Miles in close. They pressed themselves against the low brick wall and held their breath. Mei and Amarant crouched at the edge of the park. Eyes scanned the terrain limned in grey mist and dotted with frosty shrubs. Mei made an approaching motion. The pair scuttled up. The grass beneath their feet crunched, crushed into icy fragments. Tatiana was thankful for the scabbard she held close to her chest. Somehow it kept the air around the two warm and dry.
"What's your thoughts?" Amarant asked.
"I can pick out several Honkai beasts out there. I'd prefer to avoid them. The less attention the better."
"Agreed. Schicksal have arrived so their scanners are up and running."
"I'd prefer not to ring the dinner gong," Mei admitted with a cold smile. "Killing a squad or two would be satisfying. But not tactically sound in the long run. I need them alive to help with the Honkai when we I stop the argument once and for all."
A faint shout carried through the misty air. The hazy gloom parted long enough to reveal a middle-aged man sprinting as fast as possible. A Chariot level Honkai beast thundered behind him. Tatiana turned to shield Miles eyes and cover his ears. What followed was the repeat of a scene she had seen innumerable times over.
"Thank you," Tatiana said out of nowhere.
Mei turned and raised an eyebrow.
"That wasn't what I expected," she admitted.
"You have your reasons for wanting to avoid fighting. I'm not one to criticise you. Schicksal isn't here. I know what they can do. You don't marry a Schicksal career orientated man without learning things. And none of what they are capable of… it's like they've abandoned the city. So, thank you. I know you didn't want to get involved and still you saved my son."
The look on Mei's face morphed from surprise to knowing smirk.
"I owe you an apology. I had you picked for some bleeding heart that would whinge. Every. Single. Time. I chose not to save someone. You've got a feel for the facts. Oh and I didn't just save your son's life. You're part of the package."
Tatiana nodded once.
"It is strange that Schicksal are holding back," Mei admitted as she turned to survey the street again.
"Once you two have finished your mandatory female bonding moment I think I've found a way," Amarant announced.
Amarant sandwiched her briefcase under one arm. A small holographic map appeared in her hands. She spun it around, using the earlier paths that Tatiana had recommended.
"We go through this shopping mall, take the rear fire escape, rush through the loading docks and drop down that emergency access ladder. Should take us down to a minor freight road and from there it's freedom."
"Schicksal?"
A ping to the drones revealed the good news. Schicksal were still focussed on primary thoroughfares. Freeways, major dock, primary transportation lines, airports etc. Places where civilians would congregate. These smaller access points would eventually be locked down. Lucky right now they had more important locations to control.
"Left the backdoor open," Amarant cheered quietly.
Amarant fed the information to their AR and took the lead. The woman could veil her presence where necessary. The four moved down the sidewalk that ran parallel to the park. All did their best to mask footsteps. More than once Amarant would raise a hand. They stopped and crouched down. A flock of Radical level Honkai beasts swept through the sky. In another instance a vast Honkai beasts, much of its form lost in the mists high above, lumbered between buildings. To Tatiana's eyes the creature was like some enormous knight, shield and lance at the ready. Fortunately, the puny humans beneath it did not warrant any attention.
The four eventually reached the front of the shopping mall. A broad area with small gardens and tables for outdoor dining. A large fountain dominated the area. The pond had frozen over, the fountain now a solid flare of white like a sunburst.
She was lying on her back. Tatiana's shoulders ached where she had hit the ground and skidded backward. Blood oozed from where skin had scraped away. Mei stood a pace ahead of Miles, the hand that had thrown Tatiana back now hovering over him in a defensive gesture. Opposite her was a woman in form-fitting black armour. A plain white mask obscured her face. Where Tatiana had once stood a spear pierced the concrete. Mei pushed Miles.
"Get beside your mother."
The young boy dashed over to Tatiana. Rather than crouching her stood firm. Ready to strike if anybody harmed her.
"Fancy meeting you here, Mei," a woman's voice drawled.
Another figure appeared, this one in black and crimson, the cowl of their cloak pulled low. A scarlet gauntlet with wicked looking talons flexed.
"How's the hand?" Mei asked nonchalantly. "I'd hate to think you couldn't help any of your male members of World Serpent."
"Hand's fine. I might use your blood as lubricant."
"Raven. Please." Mei gestured over her shoulder. "We have minors present. Save your Hematolagnia for elsewhere. You've got twelve orphans all to yourself."
To Tatiana it appeared that they were in trouble. The one in the white mask stood before the fountain, blocking their path to the shopping mall. This 'Raven' woman had flanked from the right. Amarant had moved to place herself between Raven and the two civilians. She slid her briefcase over to Tatiana, the woman taking the hint and picking it up. Mei took a step back and sized up her opponent.
"Raiden. Withdraw!" Amarant shouted.
The cry shocked Tatiana into action. She was on her feet and ready to run. One look toward Amarant revealed everything. The woman appeared fearful. Even in the cold small beads of sweat dropped from her face.
"Hokushin-Itto-ryu only!" Amarant added.
"The blue-haired one is mine, Magpie. Leave the civilians to Owl. Do try to take Mei alive."
"Understood," was the light toned response.
Magpie was on Mei. Quick thrusts with the spear barely being knocked aside. Mei was on the defensive. The spear was twirled, Magpie pirouetting on the spot and aiming to sweep the legs. Mei leapt overhead, landing on one hand behind the woman and kicking backward. Mapgie withdraw a step and sweeping again. Mei used the centrifugal force of the kick to side-flip over the sweep. She used her other leg to launch a secondary kick. Magpie kicked up her spear and blocked the strike before using enough force to throw Mei away. The woman spun through the air before landing on hand and foot, digging Raikiri into the ground to decelerate.
A twinkle of light was all the warning Mei had. She threw out a hand as a bolt of liquid lightning struck where Tatiana and Miles stood. The pair shielded their eyes. The after flash took what felt like forever to fade. Blinking away the pain, Tatiana checked Miles over. The boy was gaping. The scabbard Tatiana clutched to her chest crackled with crimson lightning. A sphere two metres in diameter surrounded the pair, crackles of crimson electricity scatting over its invisible surface. Miles didn't tell his mother what he had seen. How Mei's eyes had turned crimson just before the beam of lightning hit them. He thought it was something she just wouldn't understand.
Magpie was behind Mei. The woman had no chance to properly retreat. The spear winged her ribs, grating painfully against bone. Normally Mei would have reinforced her body. But Amarant's unusual and explicit orders stilled her Herrscher hand. Instead she turned and changed to a one-handed grip, deflecting the next stab away and stepping in to stab at Magpie's blind spot. The woman read the attack and was ready to catch the strike with an open hand. She dropped her spear and went in for close quarters combat. Mei did the same, the two exchanging rapidly blows. Conservative punches and kicks. Elbow jabs and leg sweeps. The two were an evenly matched pair.
Amarant was faring little better. Raven was doing little more than playing with her prey. Amarant had her dual pistols drawn and used several gun kata to try keep the World Serpent agent back. Raven was clearly in control. Every shot the woman anticipated and stepped around, under and rolled beneath. She would close the distance and quickly attack. Each slash only managed to inflict the most minor of wounds. But it was adding up. Amarant was constantly on the defensive.
"The Herrscher was able to protect those two the first time. But will she have the time to do so again?" Raven taunted. "It looks like Magpie is firmly in control."
Another slash with vorpal talons sent Amarant reeling. The injury was serious. Blood welled up along the scarlet tracks tracing up her forearm. Amarant risked another glance over her shoulder. Their situation wasn't looking good. Magpie caught one of Mei's arms, grabbed the collar of her jacket and pulled Mei into a brutal headbutt. The blow sent Mei reeling.
Amarant's previously fearful expression sloughed off.
"Out of my, girl."
Gun kata changed. Twin blaze destroyers changed target. One Blaze destroyer pistol snapped onto Raven. A flurry of fire sent the woman on the defensive, her metamaterial cloak brought up to shield her from the merciless flames. This was secondary. The majority of Amarant's attention was fixed on the battle between Magpie and Mei. She watched them for five seconds. That was all she needed. Eyes and hands tracing the right path, she fired off several shots in quick succession. Each bolt of plasma moved through the gap Mei provided and struck at Magpie. Each defensive action Magpie undertook had been anticipated, the next attack passing through another gap between Mei and Magpie. Shot after shot anticipated what the two would do next. Magpie was driven back rapidly.
No time was wasted. Mei snatched up her katana and sprinted toward Tatiana. Amarant stowed away her pistols and snapped out her cuffs. Two miniature percussion grenades fell into hand. One was a gift for Magpie. It wasn't a hard guess the other was for Raven. The explosives detonated. Light, sound and concussive pressure washed over the two. When they regained their senses the four unexpected visitors had disappeared.
"Damn that girl," Raven muttered.
Magpie gave little away. She picked up her spear and made to go after them.
"Don't bother," a bored voice called from the mists.
Owl sauntered up. His perpetually disinterested expression hadn't shifted in the slightest. He cradled a sniper rifle in his arms awkwardly. Raven had begrudgingly lent him the 3rd Divine Key. Full authority hadn't been unlocked however.
"The Sovereign wants Raiden Mei," Raven growled.
"Yup. But he wants the 5th Herrscher now. Magpie is here to collect her. I'm here to get you two there. Anything else. That's just a bother."
"She could be after the Herrscher herself. We know AE want to kill the Herrschers."
Owl tapped a lip thoughtfully.
"Think the two of you can fight two Herrscher at once?"
Raven glanced over to Magpie. The woman was as reticent as usual. You had a better chance of getting a conversation out of Hare.
"Taking back both Herrscher would assist our cause greatly," Magpie finally admitted.
"It's too much hard work," Owl sighed.
"Listen here you—"
"—Let's get Schicksal to do it for us."
The statement gave Raven pause. She chewed it over. It was maliciously delightful. She still owed Rita for everything in Arc City.
"I leave everything in your hands, Owl."
An encrypted channel opened up in Rita's AR interface. A bored looking man with silver hair in a heavy jacket looked at her.
"So. Yeah. Is this Rita?"
"My apologies. With whom am I speaking?"
"Oh. I'm Owl. From World Serpent. We're dealing with the Herrscher. But we found another one. I think you call her Raiden Mei. She's the 3rd Herrscher now. Tried to stop us. Then sorta fled. I guess she wants to kill the 5th Herrscher."
Rita frowned. She had read Raiden-san's background file extensively. Including elements redacted from all but the highest tiers of Schicksal authorisation. Her profile was someone cautious, resourceful and when pressed, possessed of lethal intent. She would not engage on a whim.
"Do you require assistance in supressing the 5th Herrscher?"
"We're fine. But we need you to send out someone to get Raiden. She's a Herrscher so we need her alive. At least we want her alive if you want to stop the Honkai."
The connection cut off. In that brief interaction a number of strange possibilities had bubbled up.
"Status report, Rita?"
"Our assistance has been requested, Durandal-sama. Raiden Mei has appeared within Coral City. We are to apprehend her."
Durandal nodded once and picked up the White Lily from where it stood speared into the bitumen.
"Have the Immortal Blades move up to thoroughly cover all the main dock entrances. I will go into the city and detain Raiden. We were interrupted last time."
"Understood, Durandal-sama"
Owl smirked as the channel cut out. The pieces on the board were moving as expected. Amarant's sudden shift from bumbling to competence had been a surprise. Fortunately she had read the terrain much as he had and chosen the most optimum point of retreat considering; the positioning of their foes, combat capabilities, Owl's overwatch with the 3rd Divine Key and their reduced speed due to civilians. The Immortal Blades would close the noose. The shopping mall egress point he had predicted was no longer an option. Best option was for Raiden Mei to take her allies steadily north. No doubt Amarant was watching the city in real time through various means. A few corridors of opportunity were open. But all lead north. Now it was a matter of guiding Owl's 'allies' northward. That would bring World Serpent into conflict with Raiden Mei a second time. And this second time would include Durandal. The Valkyrja would tip the scales. Mei's hand was forced. Amarant's warning ignored. Of course Mei would be defeated. Durandal leaves with Mei in tow. The three go to locate Ana. Raven was easy to eliminate. Magpie normally would be a danger. But with Mei here everything fell into place. The Sceptres would seal her fate.
A secondary warning icon flashed in Owl's vision. The ambient radiant had reached 1800 HW. Herrscher energy was correspondingly increasing as they moved north. Raven was originally from Siberia and had acquired a heightened resistance to Honkai energy after the events of the 2nd Eruption. Magpie was something altogether different. She was in her element right now. For Owl, the mechanical parts of his body were unaffected. Curiously he felt a lingering tingle in what flesh remained. This would be his last mission. Owl would not fail Ana. He would do everything he could to protect her. Cross every line. Smash every boundary. Discard all ethics.
Owl's flesh tingled as he soaked in the Honkai and Herrscher energy. His singular will kept his eyes fixed on the future.