Fitri watched the foggy air cautiously. The rest of her squad had fanned out around the quickly constructed street blockade. A commandeered bus with smaller vehicles on either side. Any Honkai beasts or zombies would have to clamber over the edifice. The Honkai beasts possessed enough brute strength to push through. But even their might would be slowed by the bus. If nothing else, it provided a tactical line in the sand for the five Valkyrja to work from.
"Captain," one of the Valkyrja called in a low voice.
The A-rank Valkyrja saw a connect icon appear in her AR vision. She accepted the connection and was presented with a live-stream from a reconnaissance drone. It didn't provide much. Just grainy black and white video. Which made the approaching horde thundering in the fog all the more intimidating. What gave Fitri pause was the great shadow looming over the horde.
"Is this all we have?" Fitri asked.
"Sorry, Captain. The cold froze the rest of the drones. This one somehow survived."
The Honkai radiation meter on the drone went past 600 HW, 700 HW, 800 HW.
"Damnit," Fitri cursed.
Fitri drew her twin celurit from holsters and spun the sickle-like blades once through practiced figures.
"It looks as though we have a horde of Honkai beasts approaching," Fitri called out. "Everybody you know your places. We are Squad Saka of the Immortal Blades. Do not shame Captain Durandal."
"Yes, Ma'am!"
"I'll make a call to Command now."
Connection from line Beta Silver 2 requested
Alvitr looked up from her console. The Vice-Captain was busy conversing with several squad leaders. All calls to Forward Command were passed through to Alvitr when the Vice-Captain was busy.
Connection accepted from Coral Forward Command
Alvitr toggled her AR vision. Captain Fitri's tanned face appeared to one side of the Lieutenant's vision.
"This is Lieutenant Alvitr."
"Captain Fitri of Saka Squad. Our surviving reconnaissance drone has detected a horde of Honkai Beasts approaching our position. HW readings indicate the horde is likely comprised of Sanctuary level beasts. We are holding position and confirming orders."
Alvitr waved a hand, the haptic command bringing up known structural maps of Coral City. The map zoomed in on the confirmed location of Squad Saka. Their position was in a narrow street with no nearby side-streets running parallel or elevated access points.
"Squad Saka, hold your position as per original orders. The narrow confines will funnel the Honkai beasts. Report your status in 10 minutes."
"If you do not report back in 11 minutes," a mellifluous said from beside Alvitr, "I will send out support squads."
"Understood, Vice-Captain!"
Connection from line Beta Silver 2 ended
Alvitr turned and saluted the Vice-Captain.
"You were in a meeting, Vice-Captain."
Rita nodded.
"Your orders were well thought out and tactically sound."
"Thank-you, Vice-Captain."
A forward Command centre has been established by the Valkyrja of Schicksal. Tents with medical supplies, munitions, replacement weaponry and communications equipment spread over the South M1 freeway. It would normally have been the arterial route into the city proper. 200 metres further and they would enter the wide underground tunnel linked to Coral's main transport infrastructure. Whilst World Serpent hunted the Herrscher within, Rita and the members of the Immortal Blades evacuated civilians and held the perimeter as best they could. It was a dangerous task. The city of Coral was large enough that containing its perimeter was incredibly difficult. The Immortal Blades had lost a number of squads in Arc City and were yet to replace the depleted forces. They were stretched thin.
'We should be hunting the Honkai in the city in efficient squads rather than placing ourselves around a porous perimeter. There are support aircraft ready to deploy our reserve pool at the forward base. I trust Vice-Captain to act in Captain Durandal's stead perfectly. But there are limits to stretched resources.'
The Vice-Captain had returned to discussions with the other squad leaders.
Connection from line Beta Silver 5 requested
Connection accepted from Coral Forward Command
"This is Lieutenant Alvitr."
"Captain Kartika of Squad Lintang. Multiple contact pings on remaining forward sensors. HW readings are increasing but we haven't detected any beasts."
'Then why are you bothering informing us?' Alvitr grizzled.
"One of my Valkyrja went forward for visual confirmation. Humanoids. But they're actively avoiding detection. It's not consistent with zombie or Evolved Undead tactics. Too late now for any survivors."
The Lieutenant called up the area surrounding Squad Lintang. They were placed in formerly busy intersection. Multiple avenues of approach. Buildings with points of approach for vertical avoidance or attack. It was a poor position. Alvitr looked over her shoulder again. The Vice-Captain was still busy.
"Your position is insecure, Squad Ling. Move forward to the nominated location and hold for defensive engagement. Have your scout move forward to gather further intel. There is a chance that contact is with World Serpent allies so do no engage immediately."
"Understood, Lieutenant."
Connection from line Beta Silver 5 ended
Alvitr rubbed her face and breathed out slowly. The entire morning had been filled with constant sitreps, Honkai encounters, resource redistribution and the movement of surv—
"Survivors at the perimeter!" someone called out.
Alvitr burst out of her tent.
'Survivors. That's not possible. Not after so long. The beasts, undead or radiation would have killed them by now.'
Several armed members of the Immortal Blades ran up toward the tunnel. Thick fog had long since filled the tunnel. Backlit against the fog were three figures. They quickly resolved into two women and a small boy. One of the women looked frazzled, clothes scuffed and torn in places. She rested a hand on the boy's shoulder, a blade in a sheath in her other hand. Curiously the child seemed more composed. Equally scuffed up but with more confidence in his step. It was the tall woman walking slightly apart from the pair that had Alvitr on edge. Untarnished red and black clothes. She oozed danger and violence. Every step was measured and controlled. The woman's eyes darted across the forward base, seeming to size up everything seconds. Alvitr knew a warrior when she saw one. This one was a threat.
"All Immortal Blades to the freeway perimeter!" Alvitr ordered.
Valkyrja burst out of tents, weapons readied and faces determined. The three survivors were greeted with active caution. The tall woman tipped her head to one side.
"I appreciate the greeting, Rita," she called out, "Though I'm a little insulted that you think this is sufficient. Perhaps I should tell Bianca where I really am. That way you might give the impression of menace. Or incompetence. I'm torn up between the two."
Vice-Captain Rita walked past the glaring Valkyrja and moved to place herself between the soldiers and the woman.
"It has been a while, Ms Raiden."
Alvitr activated her AR interface and used her security privileges to access the Schicksal database. A search for Raiden brought up a wealth of information. None of it good. Former student of St Freya. Third Herrscher kept under close scrutiny. Mutinied during the Honkai Eruption. Was encountered in Arc City by Captain Durandal twice. The first during the retrieval of Kiana Kaslana. The second time the pair fought and she fled by unknown means. Believed to possess Herrscher like powers.
"Orders, Vice-Captain?" Alvitr asked, voice thick with implication.
"Remain at attention. After all, you have no desire to engage in violence, do you Ms Raiden?"
"Only when I'm facing a threat."
Raiden fixed her attention upon the female survivor. She gave her what almost appeared to be a warm hug. The woman muttered something several times in a low voice. The body language implied she was thanking Raiden. The tall woman took the blade off the survivor. One second it was present. The next it winked out of existence. The Valkyrja bristled.
"Oh, do calm down," Mei drawled, "I'm just storing it in my personal Imaginary Space."
Raiden knelt down and put both hands on the boy's shoulders.
"My offer still stands."
"Sorry, Mei. But I want to stay with my mother."
"Just remember those numbers. If you need anything then contact me. I'll be there faster than Schicksal."
The boy took Raiden's hands off his shoulders and clasped them inside his smaller own.
"Thank you for saving us."
"I like you, Miles. You have keen senses. Not many with a feel for the macabre. Less that embrace it."
Miles' face flushed slightly.
"My name isn't Miles," he muttered.
"Oh?"
"Well, it is. But only my mother calls me Miles."
Miles motioned Raiden forward and whispered something. Raiden looked genuinely surprised.
"Well… okay then. Next time we meet I'll use your proper name."
Mother and son walked cautiously up to the Valkyrja. A few stepped forward to take the pair and escort them away under heavy guard. The woman kept glancing over her shoulder as though concerned about Raiden.
"So that's my good deed for the decade done," Raiden announced. "I think I might go back to trying to find a quiet way off this frosty mausoleum."
Raiden turned her back on the Valkyrja and took a step forward. She stopped. Looked up toward the Gravity Elevator where it pierced the clouds.
"I think it's sort of ironic that a Herrscher would be the one saving civilians. And Schicksal would be the one hiding under the bedsheets."
"Herrscher?" Rita inquired.
"A complete one. Not the diet-coke one that Bianca fought back in Arc City. I guess your World Serpent allies didn't share that with you either."
"Earlier an agent did insist that you were a Herrscher. Durandal-sama was dispatched to locate you."
Raiden spun around. A wicked grin lit up her face.
"I haven't had so much fun in quite some time."
Raiden slowly approached Vice-Captain Rita, one heel clicking after the other. There was a menace in that cadence. A casual mockery. The Herrscher was surrounded by the Immortal Blades headed up by the Vice-Captain herself. The best Schicksal had to offer. The Herrscher's approach was unguarded, her heels slowly clicking after the other without any concern for self-preservation.
"You know that is something I wanted to discuss. You see last time I checked it was Schicksal's mandate to fight the Honkai. Protect humanity and all those other lies you utter to keep the public happy. Wouldn't want all those human experiments and vivisections getting out. Now you've discarded that too. Too busy standing around getting nowhere whilst World Serpent goes on the hunt? You should be in there stopping the Honkai before it gets out of hand. Now you do nothing."
Raiden was within striking distance of Rita. The Vice-Captain's hand where it hung by her side gave a cease gesture. Alvitr didn't like it. But she obeyed. Raiden took another step and brought her nose to Rita's.
"What I don't get is how you can all stomach it. These are the same people that killed how many Valkyrja in Arc City? Now you open the door and hold their dresses up from the floor less it catches on anything."
Raiden's gaze burned into the Vice-Captain. Rita didn't flinch.
"Schicksal emasculated by people who couldn't care less about humanity. All they want to do is hurt the Honkai. Ahab chasing after his white whale grade Honkai beast. Sort of pathetic really. The two greatest powers and they cannot achieve anything. Oh and World Serpent are doing a fine job. There are now three Herrscher on Coral."
The strange wording took a moment to sink in. It took much less time for Alvitr's blood to chill.
"Well I'm off then," Raiden announced. "I would be lying if I said this was a pleasure. Actually, I would be lying if I said this wasn't. The chagrin on your collective faces is delightful. Oh and the two Herrscher's are mine. When I come across the three World Serpent agents, I won't kill them. Wouldn't want to sour the fruitful relationship between Schicksal and World Serpent. I'll do my best to kill anything else left in the city. Just think, I'm doing the work of Schicksal, Anti-Entropy and World Serpent. Not bad for these slender little shoulders."
The Herrscher turned in heel and strolled back toward the tunnel. At the last moment she glanced over her shoulder and smirked at the assembled Valkyrja.
"If any of you tire of working for Schicksal I offer better pay, working conditions and weaponry. My goal is to realistically stop the Honkai from ever threatening humanity again. Also, I won't needlessly sacrifice you. We have maybe 12 months left before the world ends. Every life is valuable. Think on it."
A heavy roar came from inside the foggy freeway tunnel.
"Coming!"
Mei shrugged and spoke out loud.
"You would not believe the things I found lying around Coral whilst the rest of you were doing nothing."
Alvitr's eyes blinked. The Herrscher was gone. Only the swirl of fog where she might have run into the tunnel hinted at her passage.
"Vice-Captain, is what—"
"I need all squad formations reorganised. Create several large units and prepare defensive positions at key island access points. Withdraw aircraft from overwatch. The battlecruiser needs to be overhead in 15 minutes. High alert."
"Yes, Ma'am! I can—"
Connection from line Beta Silver 5 requested. Priority
Owl strode side by side with Ana down the middle of the road. The cold, which had once bothered him, was now almost comforting. His icy hand clasper hers delicately. They had come across several Honkai beasts that did not respect their presence. In each instance Owl had used his newfound Herrscher powers to dispose of them. He was a quick study. The capabilities of 9th Herrscher were simple in concept but wide in scope. Even now he was adjusting gravity around his body, creating a small whirlwind of ice and snow. This tiny bit of practice opened more and more possibilities in his mind. To Owl it was as though the knowledge was already there. He simply needed the time to recall it.
Ana stopped, Owl going half a step forward before realising his mistake. He looked to woman. Her veiled face scanned the area. He could read the set of her shoulders.
"What is wrong, Ana?" he whispered.
The woman said nothing. Owl still interpreted. He drew them over to a frozen fountain.
"If we are watched then let us manipulate them. Can you create illusions with your ice?"
The Herrscher of Ice raised a gloved hand and gestured at the fountain. The water, frozen in mid-air, disintegrated into a fine white powder. With gentle grace the shimmering particles were woven together into several white simulacra. At a distance they would appear as indistinct shadows. Silhouettes of people moving along. A flick of one finger sent the icy ghosts into life, dashing off ahead, running between points of cover, doing everything that a cautious person would.
"Well done, Ana, well done."
Owl patted Ana's gloved hand with his icy own. The two continued their casual stroll down the centre of the road. Ana was still on edge. But Owl's presence gave her confidence. The pair had nothing to fear now. They would defy the world and its world order. Nobody, not the Overseer, not the Sovereign, not even the Serpent, would get in their way. They simply wished to be together.
A thin blade of ice, like a frozen dirk, coalesced over Ana's shoulder. She flung it at a window ten stories up overlooking the pair. The window pane shattered. The scream that followed caught Owl's attention. The Herrscher power was his to command. He inverted gravity beneath him and soared into the air. Owl hopped through the broken window and stood calmly in what would have once been a corner office. Now slumped against the door was a Valkyrja with frozen dirk punched clean through one shoulder.
"Another vermin of Schicksal," Owl muttered.
The Valkyrja got up on unsteady feet, drew a scimitar and rushed at him. Even without his Herrscher powers Owl was in no danger. His time in the Thousand Fists had taught him well. He ducked under the attack and came up on steady feet. His opponent turned on heel and readied to attack again. She pushed against the carpeted floor, only to find a complete lack of traction. One stride. Then another. And another. It appeared as though the Valkyrja were moonwalking on the spot.
"I adjusted your centre of gravity so you cannot move from where you stand."
Owl's bored expression said it all. The Herrscher slowly ambled up to the Valkyrja. He was wise enough to stay out of weapons reach.
"Just answer my questions and I'll let you go."
"Go to hell, whatever you are."
"Haaaaaaa. Look. I'm being, you know, reasonable. You didn't even hear what I was going to ask."
"You're some puppet of the Herrscher of Ice. I have nothing to say to you."
"Schicksal. So stubborn. I only wanted to know which way to avoid Valkyrja. I don't want to, well, kill you all. Too much effort. So let me know which way is safe. That easy."
The Valkyrja stopped resisting. Sheathed her weapon. Glared at Owl.
"I'll not betray anybody."
Owl shrugged.
"Your choice."
The Valkyrja glided through the air and out the window. She looked down. Accepted what awaited her. Gravity beneath her was accelerated 10 times Earth normal. Barely enough time for a scream. Owl strolled over and hopped out the building, slowing his descent and landing softy by Ana.
"Sorry for the wait, Ana."
The two walked by the crimson smear calmly. Owl could have unslung the 3rd Divine Key from where it hung over his back. Used the reconnaissance module to check the area. There hadn't been much point to Owl asking the Valkyrja his questions. He'd just wanted a way out of slaughtering them all. But the woman had failed the test. Now all friends would die. That was just the way life was. Ana tensed again. Near as he could tell, Owl surmised that Ana could notice any source of warmth in the bitterly cold environment. The antithesis of what she was. Living, breathing bodies were fires burning brightly in her eyes.
A woman in combat armour and holding a waraxe high overhead dropped down, swinging the weapon in a lethal arc. Ana's body froze, rime armour deflecting the blow. She gestured and conjured multiple ice lances. The Valkyrja was talented enough to dodge or take the attack with the side of her axe. Owl picked her for A-rank. Using the lull between attacks, she darted in for another strike. Ana summoned a thin wall of ice. The Valkyrja swept her axe in a wide arc, brute strength shattering the translucent blue barricade. Owl didn't need to lift a hand this time. He caught the Valkyrja within a gravity field, stopping her dead still before flinging her backward and into a parked car. Another Valkyrja appeared, wielding a halberd and targeting Owl instead. The Herrscher shifted side to side, putting in just enough energy to avoid each and every attack. His bored expression only incensed the Valkyrja further.
"You really should just surrender," Owl advised.
"I saw what you did to Annette, monster."
Owl gave a lazy glance over his shoulder toward the crimson mess on the pavement.
"Oh. Her. Yeah. She didn't talk. Should have. You wouldn't have to die then."
The Valkyrja spun the halberd and went for a sweep. Owl jumped over it and ducked under the anticipated counterstroke. He stretched his senses toward the weapon and flipped gravity to pull it out of the Valkyrja's hands. Catching the weapon, Owl levelled it and launched the weapon forward. The spike caught the Valkyrja in the gut and sent her flying backward. She crashed into a wall, the weapon impaling and pinning her in place.
"Done, Ana?"
The other Valkyrja was covered in gashes from the various icy blades that had snuck past her guard. Now bored, Ana conjured a block of ice above the woman and sent it crashing down. The Valkyrja buckled under the blow. What finished her off was a thin rod of ice that pierced her eye and projected from the back of her skull.
The two Herrscher had worked off their stress. Owl ambled up to the surviving Valkyrja. The woman was gasping out a message to someone.
"My squad has been wiped out. Two with alien powers I've never seen before. Tell Vice-Ca—"
Gravity drew the halberd upwards at 10x Earth gravity, bisecting the woman. A sphere of gravity around Owl deflected any arterial spray or viscera.
"Let's go, Ana. We're nearly free."
The two Herrscher disappeared into the howling snow.
Connection from line Beta Silver 5 requested. Priority
Alvitr froze. They had only spoken minutes ago.
Connection from line Beta Silver 5 accepted.
"My squad has been wiped out. Two with alien powers I've never seen before. Tell Vice-Ca—"
Connection from line Beta Silver 5 lost
Rita's expression was composed. Alvitr awaited orders.
"Maintain redistribution and mobilisation. Transports cannot operate within the cold. I will take several squads on foot from the forward base to intercept the danger."
All the Valkyrja surrounding the Vice-Captain burst into action.