Disclaimer: See previous chapters
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Chap. 33
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Three carriers rolled across the terrain toward the designated areas. The carriers soon stopped on a hillside edge and the hatches opened in the back. Seconds later, metallic feet slam onto the floor as several ACs emerge from the rear of each of the carriers. The trucks soon rolled away, leaving behind seven diverse Armored Cores. The group looked out over at what will soon be a very active battlefield. Havoc stepped forward first and looked out into the wasteland.
"Nervous?" Diana asked from Cloak.
"Nope. You?"
"I don't know about nervous." she shrugged. "Anxious seems more like it."
"Don't worry. We're all nervous." Ellie cut in from her Phantom. "Even the ones that act otherwise."
White Wolf (Baron) soon stalked forward. "Isn't this the kind of time where someone says a speech or something? I don't know."
Koemai (Darkhand) chuckled. "We're Ravens. If anything, we get last rites. Heh."
"Why not?" This came from Charles (Professional) and at this; the others looked at him strangely. The tan AC then looked over at Glaive. "What about it, Cain? Feel like giving us out rites?"
"Why me?"
"Well, you seem to be the most…spiritual of us. Who better?"
Cain regarded this for a moment with some thought and looked out into the wasteland. "In the days of ancient past, a flood swept in and destroyed the entire world. After the storm, Noah sent out a raven to seek land. And each time, the raven returned. We are to follow this pattern now. We go out, complete our mission and return. All of us." He paused and let his eyes scan over the others. "We are Ravens. Let us return."
"Amen."
The group stood there in silence, each in contemplation as to what was to happen. For them, it was a chance to be legends, to be a part of history, the ultimate mission and to protect those they love. They were friends, clansmen, warriors-in-arms, ready to face the fight of their lives.
"They're here."
From across the wasteland, seven black shadows appeared. Their eyes gleamed in crimson red as they looked up at their intended prey. The Death Dealers…
"Alright, Nightwatch. We all know what we need to do." Professional lifted his rifle in the air. "Let's fly."
The seven machines ignited their boosters and flew toward the opposing clan. Their targets were already designated to each of them and they knew who they were to fight.
For Elijah, he would be facing Hades; the Death Dealer that lead the team attack against them some time ago and nearly destroyed him. Elijah had felt a sense of weakness ever since then, but he put that behind him. He was now stronger than before, and more than that, he was ready. He had studied his opponent and his arsenal. Karasawa rifle, left arm missiles, linear cannon, all set on a heavy reverse-joint machine. It would prove to be a daunting task, but Elijah was ready.
'I am a Raven. This fight is mine.'
Koemai would pit himself against the Death Dealer Sheol. For Koemai, this would prove to be quite the challenge. His injuries not withstanding, Shoel was quite possibly the craftiest of the clan, being a unusual blend of speed and firepower. Plus, locking on will be difficult due to the AC's use of ECM markers. For that reason, Bloodhand was set with heightened radar functions to clear away interference as quickly as possible.
He just hoped it would be enough…
"Let's rock."
The Death Dealer Black Widow would be Ellie's target. The only female Raven among the Death Dealer clan, she was every bit as deadly as her AC's namesake, known for using her weaponry to create web-like attacks until she attacks in a final and single strike. For Ellie, this would be quite a task, seeing the similarity in design. Her speed would be able to escape such an attack so long as she was caught in her tactics. But that could be said for a fly that's fast, but caught once and that would be the end of it. But Ellie wasn't a fly; she was a phantom.
And phantoms don't get caught in webs…
White Wolf will face the Death Dealer's own heavyweight, Skull. Unlike White Wolf though, Skull was armed with more weaponry and defensive measures. But he lacked White Wolf's sheer power. Knowing this, Baron would have to time his shots carefully and precisely. His time in the simulator was for training in this area and he had done well in it. But that was just the simulator. This was for real.
And in reality, you don't get to start over…
Diana would battle against the recluse Death Dealer, Genocide. The name was not by accident however as his weaponry is designed to level an entire area at once and repeatedly. What made this Raven different from the others was that Genocide worked in solo assignments, keeping away from team activities except in certain situations. Cloak's speed should suffice in dodging the attack force created by Genocide, but she would have to do more than avoid him; she would have to defeat him.
That could be a problem…
Charles designated himself to take on Anubis, considered the deadliest of the Death Dealers, second only to Reaper. The reason being that Anubis was well rounded and quite skilled in taking out his opponents, whether single or multiple. Professional was the best core to take him on due to the similarity in machinery. Position-wise, Charles would have taken on Reaper, but that privilege had been assigned to one Raven in particular.
'I have my own job to do…'
The most obvious of the battles, Glaive would face against his nemesis, Reaper, the leader of the Death Dealers. Unlike the others though, their fight wasn't merely one of convenience. It wasn't simply because the two have fought each other in the past and knew each other's tactics.
This…was personal…
As the battle locked in between the other machines, Glaive stopped before Reaper, the blue visor of his AC glaring over at the AC of death. Reaper's energy scythes curved into form; twin deadly curves of violet energy.
"You've cheated death for long enough and that will no longer be tolerated. Are you finally ready…to meet your Maker?"
"Are you? Because that will be the only outcome of this fight."
At that, Glaive extended his blade, the white-blue spike of the Moonlight. But that wasn't all. Next, the extra piece on the back of the shoulder unfolded and connected to the blade arm. The part lit up and the blade of energy extended, nearly cutting into the ground now. A Moonlight sword…
"Heh. We'll see about that."
At that instant, Reaper's missiles launched into the skies and soon began to descend. But by that time, Glaive was already on the move, flying in close so that the missile wouldn't be as effective. Glaive decided to retaliate by sending a blast of energy at him from his laser cannon. Reaper dodged back in avoidance and shot back with his inside shoulder rockets. Glaive dodged as well, but one of the rockets skimmed across the leg and exploded, set it on fire. 'Napalm rockets… Seems like I'm not the only one to alter his AC.' Speaking of alterations, Cain switch up his weapon, arming the orbiter cannon. The FCS lit up repeatedly and Cain fired, releasing multiple mechanisms that soared and hovered around Reaper. Seconds later, the orbiters fired repeatedly on Reaper, causing him to run. As the orbiters followed, Glaive switched weapons, firing his laser cannon once again in pursuit. Reaper continued to avoid the orbiters and laser fire until he had gotten enough room for his missiles to be fully effective.
'Foolish. You gave me too much room. Now it ends.'
The vertical missiles took to flight again and this time, Glaive couldn't get in close to avoid them. The missiles slammed down, kicking up dust from the ground as they exploded everywhere. For a moment, there was stillness and Bane thought that the missiles had done him in. But a second later, the white-blue light of the Moonlight emerged from the dust and the white AC emerged with a blast. But Bane was in for another surprise as the Moonlight blade…was a Moonlight sword!
'?'
The extra part that was attached behind the shoulder of Glaive was now active and hooked onto the sword arm, causing the laser blade to extend more than twice its original length. The dual-scythes of Reaper quickly came active and locked in with the blade before it could cut, but Bane was now amazed somewhat. The new energy sword had come in really close and Glaive had managed to survive the missile assault without pause. 'He's become relentless now. Desperate. And that will soon be your downfall.'