Authors note as of 13/07/21 - I've received some responses in the last week regarding this chapter. I'm always open to constructive criticism. Normally I don't bother with serious tweaks but the points that were made to me were fair. Some of the changes will be minor. Others are much bigger. But it should hopefully lead to something that receives more approval. As an apology I'll try to get the next chapter 47, 'Cunning Will Suffice,' out by the end of the week.
A full four squads, twelve members, of the Immortal Blades sprinted down the street. All were on high alert. The air with bitterly cold and suffused with a thick fog. Senses were stretched to their limits, the icy roads and icicle bestrewn buildings eerily silent. Everything was tinged in shades of white and pale blue. Snow fell in fitful gasps from the air above. They had managed to make it to the first level with minimal interference. The Honkai beasts and zombies encountered thus far had been efficiently cut down.
"We're approaching the last known co-ordinates of Squad Lintang, Vice-Captain," one of the Valkyrja announced.
Rita raised a hand, giving the signal for them to slow. The Valkyrja took the opportunity to get their breath back. They had been moving at a fast pace for the last thirty minutes. In that time, they had covered ground at a rate that would have rivalled someone in a vehicle. The Immortal Blades were not considered the elite of Schicksal for nothing.
"Any contact?" Rita asked.
"Not from Captain Kartika. Or Captain Durandal."
The Vice-Captain nodded once. The situation was not optimal. With so much Honkai energy suffusing the air it made communications incredibly difficult. Rita had no concerns as to the health and wellbeing of her superior. It was merely in moments such as this that she would have welcomed the assistance of Durandal. They were very likely approaching two Herrscher attempting to leave the perimeter. Their orders had been to place an interdiction ring about the city. World Serpent were given leave to deal with the Herrscher. But at what point were they able to step in? If current reports, and the likely loss of yet another squad, were to be analysed, the Herrscher were dangerously close to the oceanic borders of Coral. If they were able to break loose then it could prove calamitously dangerous for humans within several thousand kilometres.
This left the Vice-Captain with no choice but to act directly. Even if this appeared to be in contravention of her orders regarding World Serpent, Rita was first and always foremost of Valkyrja of Schicksal. Their mandate was the protection of Humanity from the Honkai. Everything else was secondary. The organisation of Schicksal understood this centuries old mandate. If the upper echelons of Schicksal did not abide by…
It was impossible for Rita to council the concept of insubordination or insurrection. She was a Valkyrja of Schicksal, trained and dedicated to the organisation and its precepts. At this juncture however the Vice-Captain was left questioning if those that operated at the upper levels of the organisation acted in the best interests of Humanity or their own.
'Which is why sometimes you must get your hands bloody.'
"Please take the time to compose yourselves," Rita ordered his subordinates, "I shall engage in a moment of forward scouting."
The other Immortal Blades did as ordered and without question. They were professionals. Without the others to slow her, Rita covered ground faster, putting more than a kilometre between her and the others. Snow filtered down, carpeting what once would have been an open public space surrounded by boutique restaurants into a white lace appropriate for a graveyard. She came to a halt and surveyed her surroundings. The area was clear. It seemed even the undead had abandoned the bitterly cold environment. None of the other Valkyrja could survive here. Rita's prototype 4th generation Godsbane-class battlesuit was operating at peak capacity to protect her from the lethal environment. Certain of her surroundings, Rita removed a small package from her where it hung on her hip and nestled it between two frozen tables. A tap on one side activated the messaging beacon cued to a specific frequency. Rita was not a woman who put much credence in the ideas of hope. Still, she hoped that the message would be received in time.
'We need you right now, Durandal-sama.'
A crackle in her ear-mic put Rita on edge.
"Contact with more Honkai beasts, Vice-Captain Rita. Assistance needed"
The communication was flaky and barely formed. Rita still picked out each word clearly. Spinning on booted heel, she broke into a sprint that ate up metres. To outsiders it would have looked as though a pale banshee had streaked by at inhuman speed. The streets were a blur in shades of white, Coral bleached of all colour and life, as Rita closed in on her Valkyrja. The sounds of combat greeted her. Multiple Honkai beasts of varying levels were engaged with the Immortal Blades in a bloody melee. All held their own expertly. A flock of Radical level beasts were cut down by a Valkyrja with two chakram. A platoon of Cavalier level charged at the flank, only to be repulsed by a Valkyrja with a staff that was better described as a steel Corinthian column. She shouldered the staff and spun several times, sweeping away her opponents, before coming to a halt and slamming the column hard on the ground. The shockwave cratered concrete, kinetic pulse radiating through the air and blowing the Honkai beasts back. Momentarily stunned, the beasts were dispatched by a previously unseen Valkyrja with dual kukri. Legs were hamstrung, limbs severed, heads decapitated. The two women worked in violent and efficient concert. Rita noted that three Valkyrja were absent. Another flock of Radical level beasts angled down from the sky. The air filled with the sound of regular, precise percussive thumps. A Valkyrja with a sniper rifle squeezed the trigger rhythmically, each shot clipping wing or shattering monstrous head. Fragments of glittering, fragmented Honkai carapace rained down as each beast was slain.
A low reverberation carried over the din of battle. Everyone, human and Honkai, shuddered along with ground. All eyes, human and Honkai, turned to the Valkyrja with the Corinthian column.
"Not me," she admitted.
Another boom sent debris tumbling from above. Preternatural instincts guided the Valkyrja's actions. Heavy girders, reinforced chunks of concrete, thick shards of glass and copper piping fell as a devastating rain. Numerous Honkai beasts, lacking such reflexes, were crushed under the downpour of debris. All members of the Immortal Blades bar Rita pulled back a safe distance. The corner of a building flew toward the Vice-Captain. Burgundy eyes flicked up. A scythe flashed, Skadi Ondurgud shining pale blue in the light. Concrete and steel separated in two, pieces falling either side of the Vice-Captain.
The Valkyrja regrouped to assess the change in battle. A shadow loomed vast in the fog. Something several stories tall floated out of the cloudy white banks. A Sanctuary Level Honkai beast, heavy shield held forward, edges scraping against the buildings around it, tearing off hunks of the structures and letting them tumble down to frosty earth.
"Rita Rossweisse," the Maid of Schicksal addressed the Honkai beast, "Humbly asks for your attention."
A spear of pale white slammed into the street, driving through the concrete and into the supporting superstructure for the first level of Coral City. Rita stood patiently to one side, perched nimbly atop a piece of concrete that had bowed upward due the impact. Then she was on the lance and running adroitly up the limb. The looming Sanctuary level beast, a faceless titan, withdrew its arm. Rita adjusted her gait to maintain balance and continued up the limb. At the elbow joint Rita slashed her scythe once quickly behind her before picking up pace. The attack severed the limb. The lance fell to the earth, the impact cratering the street below and sending out a kinetic pulse strong enough to temporarily clear the fog. In the morning light the Immortal Blades stood in awe of their superior. Rita ran up the creatures twitch, shifting arm, faster than an Olympic sprinter could on a level surface. At the shoulder joint Rita lashed out with her scythe yet again, the beast's bicep now falling to lie next to the lance.
Rita sped across the rim of the shield where it hugged up against the beast's chest. The Sanctuary level beast jostled the bulwark about, trying to throw off the irritating insect. In frustration the beast swung the shield out wide and toward a glassy skyscraper. Rita swung her scythe down and bit into the shield to keep from flying off. Just as the shield was about to hit the building the Valkyrja let go of her scythe, leapt toward the building and pivoted mid-air. The shield struck the building, the horrific sound of tonnes of glass shattering deafening everyone. The hooded, magenta eye of the beast searched for its prey amidst the ruin. Within the hail of glass was a pale blue twinkle. Rita braced legs first against a surviving external strut. Legs tensed, the Valkyrja pushed off the building and flew toward her foe. As she sailed over the lip of the shield Rita reached out and grabbed her scythe. Skadi Ondurgud glimmered in pale shades of glacial blue. Honkai energy was channelled through the weapon with killing intent. Combat modules activated within the 4th Generation Godsbane-class battlesuit. Glittering white particles hovered in the wake of the Valkyrja as she flew toward her foe.
Rita swung the scythe in a wide arc, biting deep into her foes head. The Honkai beast leant back and howled. Even with all the strength behind the blow, Rita was still only a single Valkyrja. The most she could manage was to cut through half of the Honkai beast's head. The Valkyrja, once past the titanic beast, turned in mid-air to face her foe. She reached out with her left hand and made an 'approach' gesture, curling fingers from little to index finger. The cloud of frosty Crescent Particles left behind congealed into a thin knight wearing armour in shades of blue and grey, face was hidden behind a curved helmet. Held in both hands was a scythe that dwarfed Rita's. The Phantom coalesced into being at it's masters request and obeyed the order. Crescent Harvest raced forward, mirroring Rita but slashing down the opposite side of the Honkai beast's head and completing the decapitation.
The Sanctuary level beast collapsed to its knees, body falling sideways into a building and bringing down the structure with it. Concrete dust filled the air as the creature came to a shuddering halt. The body quickly disintegrated, fractals of magenta Honkai energy rising up from the corpse. Rita meanwhile flared the particle dispersion system, slowing her descent to a manageable level. She landed in a skid, digging her scythe into the concrete to bleed off momentum. The Maid of Schicksal exhaled slowly. Her earpiece crackled.
"We'll make our way around the beast and rendezvous with you momentarily, Vice-Captain,"
"Please do be careful when negotiating the terrain. My tussle will have left some structures compromised."
The Vakyrja's adroitly moved through the devastation. The one with the Corinthian column gave a salute.
"Thank you for the assistance, Vice-Captain Rita."
"I am left in some level of confusion, soldier. Why are three absent from the battle?"
The Valkyrja bobbed her head once.
"I apologise, Vice-Captain. We attempted to make contact multiple times. A faint emergency broadcast signal was detected. We believe it is a repeater beacon from Snow Lotus squad."
Rita considered the new information. Weighing up the risks of having three Valkyrja absent compared to determining the fate of the MIA Snow Lotus squad. They had been deployed on Coral before the 5th Eruption. All attempts to contact them along with the Schicksal facilities on the island had failed.
'It is a risk worth taking.'
"It would be foolish to risk splitting our forces. We meet up with the squad that has ranged ahead, examine what they have discovered and decide what our next course of action is based upon what new information we may illuminate."
"Yes, Vice-Captain!"
The scene was brutal. Valkyrja were trained from a young age not to be psychologically affected by the horrors witnessed when fighting the Honkai. Still, the Valkyrja present looked pale. Queasy. At ill-ease. Rita maintained her comportment and moved between the corpses. The public area was somehow colder than any other location they had traversed previously. Yet curiously the snow was sparse and the white lilies of the garden still survived. It made for a sad grave to the fallen. Honkai Energy Watt (HW) counters gave blaring warnings. The Valkyrja could linger for only a few minutes less they risk a possible Honkai cascade. Rita's calm eyes took it all in. Three members of Snow Lotus were pinned to a wall by frost lances. Another had been impaled amidst a wave of icy stalagmites, no chance given even to draw their weapon. Rita collected their dog-tags with gentle respect. A Valkyrja was held inside a perfectly formed prison of ice. Her face was black from asphyxiation, eyes bulging and tongue lolling out. Rita was less gentle, using her scythe to cut through the block and grab the dog-tag. The final Valkyrja had been dismembered, her arm still clutching the pistol where it lay in the snow. Her body had been frozen solid. Rita was certain the woman's face would be one she saw unbidden in her nightmares. The look of hopelessness and betrayal. Rita took the final tag and stored them in a small side-satchel on her belt.
"Has the final data extraction been completed?" Rita inquired.
"The cold has affected much of the electronics. I managed to pulled the last minute or so of bodycam footage from Vice-Captain Anthea."
"The area is too toxic for us to linger."
Rita made a follow motion. The Immortal Blades fell in around her. As they left their dead comrades behind the final minute was replayed via AR in the corner of their vision.
Nobody spoke during that minute. All they could do was watch the replayed horror.
The Vice-Captain maintained her calm disconnection. Rita considered the information carefully. The Honkai possessing a Valkyrja was always a possibility. Kiana Kaslana was a unique statistical outlier and not best used as an example. However, her mother Cecilia had been a Schariac and now a branch member of the Schariac had been turned too. Perhaps coincidence. Perhaps intentional. Perhaps the Honkai had a sick sense of humour.
'There are too many variables to take into account. What must be considered is how best to kill Ana before more Valkyrja fall. These are losses we cannot replay quickly.'
The HW counters gave another warning. The numbers were escalating. Rita made a motion to stop. The street they were on ended at a T-Junction. A large artificial lake surrounded by tropical palms butted up against the intersection. Though now the lake was frozen over, it's uneven surface glittering white and blue. Something tickled Rita's instincts. Caution tingled in fingers and toes. Eyes narrowing a touch, the Valkyrja approached the lake and scanned her surroundings again.
"May I have a ranged observation."
The Valkyrja with the sniper rifle jogged up beside Rita and dropped to one knee. Bringing the rifle up, she looked through the scope, switching through several different visual modes. Optical, thermal, electromagnetic, Honkai radiation.
"There's something out there, Vice-Captain. No. Make that two distinct HW signatures. Only one of them shows on thermal and there isn't much heat to them anyway."
"It would be logical that a Herrscher in control of Ice does not possess any body warmth. Soldiers, best prepare yourselves. For the sake of Captain Ana, it is our duty to kill her."
"Just why are we wasting our time with this detour, dear Customer?"
"Because it is useful. Besides, we have an agreement."
"If you insist. I would however like to interject and note that it was you that originally declared you would not become involved in these territorial matters. Something like; let Schicksal deal with the Honkai. That's what they're here for. I don't work for free."
Mei favoured Amarant with a look colder than their environment.
"My Lady, I can quell the human's ability to speak if you so desire."
"Why did you have to give it the ability to speak?"
"Kurikara is not an it. She is neither Honkai beast or zombie. You, of all people, should appreciate what she is and is not."
Amarant sighed. Then bowed her head to Kurikara.
"I apologise. I was out of line."
"If my Lady accepts the apology, then so do I."
"Just promise me you'll teach the girl a little agency, Raiden."
A non-committal grunt was all Amarant received.
The trio had been carefully wending their way amidst the streets. Mei hadn't explained why the caution. But her two travelling companions knew it was best to trust the woman's instructions. Both could see that there was a plan behind everything. They had heard the Valkyrja crashing around earlier. Mei wanted to avoid conflict with them if possible. A response that had drawn surprise from Amarant. As such they moved cautiously until the noise faded.
"Anyway, why this direction?" Amarant inquired.
The open area was bitterly cold, snow having dusted the streets, awnings, tables, chairs and flora in white. Mei cocked her head to one side. With a sniff of approval, she walked over to a table, crouched down and pulled out a small package. Her eyes scanned over it. Her Herrscher senses scanned too. Mei didn't need to smile. When she looked up from the package Amarant could see the scalpel sharp grin dancing in her eyes.
"Is it really worth it?" Mei muttered to herself.
"What's the next move?" Amarant broke the musing.
"Make the call. Indonesia. One hour."
"That's cutting it fine."
"You recommended them."
Amarant chuckled.
"I did, didn't I?"
The information broker drew out her phone and keyed in a complex sequence of characters. She stepped away from Mei, giving the impression that she wanted her employer not to listen in. Mei understood and instead turned to Kurikara.
"How are you feeling?"
"I am fine, my Lady."
"You don't have to address me as 'Lady' constantly."
"I cannot disrespect you, my Lady."
"This is going to be one long, drawn out argument, isn't it?"
"I would never argue with you, my Lady."
"So much for snark and coward," Mei muttered, "Maybe it was just my imagination."
"My Lady?"
"Never mind. Amarant?"
"It's done."
Something like nails on a chalk-board but dialled up to eleven filled the air. The horrific shriek and groan made teeth dance and eyes shudder. Three pairs of eyes looked toward the source. Mei didn't say anything, Kurikara already by her side.
"Get ready to earn your pay, Amarant."
Ten minutes down the tunnel Durandal had pursued Mei. Then her quarry vanished. A quick examination of the area revealed tracks that stopped mid stride. She was aware of various chameleon and obfuscation technologies utilised by AE. The sensor module integrated into her Godsbane armour had detected no such means of electronic or thermoptic camouflage. Durandal activated her light wings and flew down another section of the underground monorail. Several minor rumbles carried down the tunnel. The Valkyrja paid them no mind. The necessity of reacquiring the 3rd Herrscher overrode any curiosity. If there was trouble then Durandal had complete faith in Rita leading the Immortal Blades to resolve the situation.
Arriving at the next station provided no further information. Just a frosty tomb peppered with corpses of those that had hid from the zombies outside and then died from hypothermia.
"The girl has managed to strike off on her own," Durandal admitted.
A heavy boom sounded from somewhere outside the monorail station. Durandal flew out of the station and into the air. The frozen city surrounded her, small pockets of zombie or Honkai beast milling around. The floor of the first level, the roof above Durandal where she hovered on the ground level, shuddered and shook.
'There is little that could cause such structural damage. Either an advanced Honkai beast or a Herrscher.'
Durandal flew toward the ocean and the rim of the first level. Once past the rim she shifted to arc straight upward. The edge of the first level platform blurred by. Observation windows, external maintenance cranes and transport rails encircled the thick structure. Finally, Durandal cleared the structure, looking over the buildings and facilities of the first level. The movement module responded to Durandal's desire, further energy from the micro-reactor pouring into the lightwings. The brilliant blue arrow darted through the glacial streets of the first level and toward the disturbance.
The ground shuddered under Owl's feet. He sighed and accepted that trouble was on its way.
"We're probably going to have to fight, Ana."
The Herrscher of Ice said nothing in response. Merely drew in close to Owl as though seeking his protection. Owl managed a weak smile. He hefted the 3rd Divine Key and activated the sensor ping. A holographic display showed the icy lake they had been walking around. On the far side was a clear road toward the ocean and freedom. A small ping appeared on the other side of the lake. 12 dots appeared. Owl touched the markers, encouraging the weapon to zoom in. Whilst he could feel it's kindred spirit, the weapon was surprisingly fickle. One moment it seemed to aligned to his purposes. The next it would refuse to allow him to use the holographic scope. This was something of a surprise. The Harmony Strand drug that Owl had acquired was meant to override such oddities with the Keys. Short of Zeroth Mode the Key was meant to be 100% pliable.
'What an odd thing. Why create a weapon with a flaky temperament?'
The Divine Key obliged, zooming in to show multiple Valkyrja arrayed in a standard tactical approach formation.
Rita Rossweisse and the Immortal Blades.
Owl sighed again and pinched the brow of his nose with his compacted ice hand. An already complicated day had taken a turn for the worse. Owl just wanted to be done with it. Out into the ocean and away from everything. These little distractions were proving a bother. But one last distraction and they could leave. Ana would have her freedom.
'I guess we just kill them all. However I should not exit this way. The ruckus should draw the attention of Durandal, World Serpent and Mei. Let them fight each other whilst we slink away'
"We're going to go across the lake, Ana. Some Valkyrja should meet us halfway. All that ice will be useful for you and I. Don't hold back."
Ana gave a low moan and started gliding over the lake. Owl lifted up the 3rd Divine Key and began tweaking smaller settings as he trudged along behind her. Hopefully the weapon would behave itself. He lifted it up once, looking through the holographic scope. The Valkyrja had started moving across the lake. It wasn't like Owl and Ana were doing anything to hide themselves. They stood atop a mostly flat lake where the ice hadn't burst up. No chance of subtlety. That was Owl's goal. Just bring the trouble to him now rather than put it off until later. He lowered the weapon and made further minor adjustments. Bringing the holographic scope to eye gave a much clearer impression. Owl could individually pick out the Valkyrja. He chose one at random, deciding on a woman with two kukris at her waist. Thumbing the trigger activated the highlight marker. Holding his breath, Owl steadied himself and pulled the trigger. A pulse of energy flared out and what seemed like the speed of light. When the burst of light cleared from the holographic display Owl could see that the Valkyrja was missing her head and had collapsed to the ground in a crimson mess.
'That's pretty impressive. Must have some rheological functions to compensate for kickback. Manufactures its own ammunition too. Probably uses Honkai energy as a medium.'
The Valkyrja's response was to scatter. It took a few seconds for the weapon to recharge. Owl observed Rita dart forward and then sweep her scythe in a huge crescent, Honkai energy following in its wake and throwing ice high into the air.
'Not bad. Thermal and visual obfuscation. Won't do much for electromagnetic though.'
Owl continued his casual pace alongside Ana. Looking through the holographic scope, he flicked it over to electromagnetic. The filter turned black with crackling purple outlines highlighting where the Valkyrja were. Owl picked another one at random, pulled the trigger and marvelled at the mess as a pelvis was obliterated.
'I can see why Raven liked this weapon. It really is a gift from the Serpent.'
An odd ping came from the 3rd Divine Key. Owl checked the bottom of the holographic scope.
[Proximity alert]
Time slowed down. Ana appeared too disinterested to act. Owl's eyes slowly lifted upward. Rita had leapt from behind the cloud of ice, over the intervening distance and was now about to fall upon him. The Valkyrja had known they were distractions and chosen to stay on course just to draw Owl's attention. With his eyes fixed on the Valkyrja Rita had moved uninterrupted. The Valkyrja held her scythe in both hands, face calm, eyes fixed wholly on her target. Owl had to admit that woman's complete lack of expression was far more intimidating than one of rage at the death of her subordinates. As Rita approached Owl assessed he didn't have the time to lean back and fire. He had time to do very little.
'Time to gamble.'
Owl brought up his icy arm and focussed. The Core within responded to need. But it would take a precious second to gather enough power to act. Rita was centimetres from Owl. Her scythe bit into his arm, cut through the ice and finally dismembered him for the second time today. It didn't hurt as much as the first. With that extra second bought Owl responded. The Core of Gravity flared, creating a gravity well behind Rita and flinging her backwards. The Valkyrja tumbled through the air before landing on practiced feet.
The Vice-Captain of the Immortal Blades spun her scythe and dipped into a faux-curtsy
"Rita Rossweisse," the Valkyrja introduced herself. "At your service."
Owl didn't bother responding. It took a certain amount of concentration to move his arm via his Herrscher abilities and use the 3rd Divine Key. That was focus he couldn't waste when fighting someone such as Rita Rossweisse. Owl tossed the weapon aside in favour of more effective options. The Herrscher bathed himself in Honkai and Herrscher energy, Core responding to the violent need. Ana broke from her listless reverie. Twin waves of ice rippled through the lake and toward the approaching Valkyrja. Most leapt to one side. Two tried to jump over the lethal carpet. Multiple thin stalagmites rose up and pierced their bodies, pinning the corpses in place. A low crackle thumped from the background. Ana's body iced over just before a sniper round slammed into her forehead. The Herrscher unfroze and turned her gaze toward the sniper. The ground beneath them shifted to water, plunging her into the lake. Heavy icy shackles formed around her ankles, dragging the Valkyrja into the lightless depths.
Rita sprinted toward Ana, only to feint when the air where she had once stood sharpened like glass. The visual cue to Owl's gravity abilities was all she had. It was still enough for the S-rank Valkyrja. Owl attempted to pin the Valkyrja inside a dense 10 x earth gravity well. Rita withdrew and slashed the icy lake surface with her scythe again.
'That obfuscation trick won't work again.'
Owl condensed nearby particulate matter into an ice spear and launched it at Rita, who knock it away with a spin of her scythe.
"This is getting boring," Owl muttered.
"There is always the option of surrender," Rita offered.
"I think I'll just deal with the rest and then get to you."
No need to communicate desire or intent. The two Herrscher's understood each other. Ana was surrounded by the remaining Valkyrja. They rushed her at once, giving the Herrscher no opening and no mercy. Ana tipped her veiled head back and howled. The piercing shriek reverberated through flesh, blood and bone. Still the Valkyrja charged forward. One with a steel Corinthian column hefted her weapon and readied to slam it down. The temperature of her weapon dropped to 100 Kelvin. All heat was leached from her arms, limbs freezing brittle before being pulled off by the sheer weight of the weapon. The Valkyrja dropped to her knees screaming. Another Valkyrja with twin chakram jumped over her fallen comrade and threw both weapons. A barrier of ice burst up from the lake and caught the twin projectiles. Owl used a brief thread of power, shifting gravity and impelling the two blades back toward their owner. The Valkyrja caught the chakram with her face and stomach.
Rita made to join the fray. Then her carefully honed instincts ordered her to roll to one side. Two blades sliced through the air where she had been. The Vice-Captain readied her weapon with a grimace. Two zombified Valkyrja stood with sword and spear ready. Skin leeched of all colour, eyes a malevolent yellow. They had been the first to die, bodies still leaking cold blood where the thin stalagmites had impaled them. Not a trace of mercy or humanity was left in their expression. Owl hadn't asked for this. He held no command over the Honkai. It was Ana's will that had reanimated the pair, giving them unlife, power and purpose. The two Evolved Zombies attacked their former senior officer. Owl returned his attention to the other Valkyrja. It made sense to thin out the numbers before returning to the main threat.
The Valkyrja knew the threat when Ana pushed further carpets of stalagmites outward. Their mistake was relying on the same pattern. The carpets ran in parallel, icy protrusions projected high into the air. Once either carpet had crossed the Valkyrja the spines shuddered, and with another shriek from Ana, shattered. Innumerable brittle rime needles hung in the air, held in place by Ana's will and extended hands. She brought them together with a clap, the shardstorm enveloping the Valkyrja. Pale glacial blue was tinted in scarlet. When the storm settled two Valkyrja, bleeding from numerous cuts and gashes, were all that remained. One with a spear charged forward. A gravity well surrounded the Valkyrja, pinning her in place. Owl flicked upward with his remaining hand. The Valkyrja was hurled toward the roof. The Herrscher of Gravity considered for a second and then used another gravity burst to throw the spear up after the woman. He wanted to pin her to the roof rather than let the body fall and possibly land on Ana. The remaining Valkyrja with a two-handed axe watched the two Herrscher warily.
"Huh. Didn't think Valkyrja knew fear," Owl commented. "Ah well."
The Valkyrja smirked and gripped her weapon tighter. There was a look in her eyes. One Owl knew well from his time with World Serpent. He'd never subscribed to the ethos. Pragmatism reigned. But plenty of other agents had that glint.
Fanaticism.
The build-up of Honkai energy was so fast it nearly caught the Herrscher off guard. The weapon's built-in micro-reactor reached critical mass and detonated, waves of fires ripping outward. The Herrscher watched the searing wall of fire approach him with disinterest. He didn't bother gesturing this time. All his Herrscher power was focussed on a single point. A 100G gravitational vortex formed at the point of detonation. Anything not tethered down, or protected in the case of Ana, was drawn into its hungry grasp. Owl maintained the vortex long enough to consume the explosion. Five seconds later he relinquished control. Melted ice turned to steam obscured his vision. Ana gave a low moan, voicing her dislike of the warmth. An inhuman hiss from the Herrscher pulsed a wave of frigid cold outward, clearing the air and refreezing the lake. Nothing remained of the Valkyrja's, their corpses and armaments having been drawn into the gravity vortex. The two Evolved Undead had been consumed as well. The only survivor was the 3rd Divine Key. The rifle was pristinely untouched, sitting at the absolute centre of the where the vortex had once raged. Owl had put a significant amount of power into that attack, leaving him drained and still the relic of the Previous Era remained.
A chill filled the air. For Owl it was something curious. The origin was not Ana behind him. The cold emanated from in front. Owl's lips twitched. It was the barest hint of a smile.
"I am not surprised, Rita," he admitted. "Your file was impressive."
Rita Rossweisse, S-rank Valkyrja and Vice-Captain of the Immortal Blades stood alone against the two Herrscher. Her personal Phantom, Crescent Harvest, hovered protectively over her, Crescent Particles forming a barrier around her that grounded the woman in place. Her scythe glimmered the same pure glacial blue as the reformed ice lake. It was curious. Well, curious to Owl at least. Rita was smiling. The same calculating smile that Owl wore.
"Release limiters," Rita verbally ordered her battlesuit, "Activate hunter mode."
More Crescent Particles, like motes of arctic starlight, appeared around the Valkyrja.
"That is not go—"
Rita closed the distance between the two in a heartbeat. Crescent Particles followed her every motion. Owl had enough sense to empower his body and leap backward, augmenting his movement by twisting gravity. The impact of Rita's scythe left a crack in the ice nearly a hundred metres across. Owl adjusted gravity to soften his landing, only for Rita to bear down upon him again. A wall of ice rose up at the last second, take the blow. Without thinking, Owl unconsciously redirected gravity around his body, shot upward and hovered above the battlefield. The Valkyrja pressed herself against the wall, shifted to a crouch and kicked hard against it, making for Ana where she floated. The Valkyrja landed beside the Herrscher. Her scythe came in a wide arc, Crescent Harvest manifesting behind the Herrscher and mirroring the movements. Spears of ice sprung from the lake, knocking aside the flanking attack. Rita flipped backward, landing adroitly and springing forward. There was no cessation in attacks. She was the inexorable hunter of Schicksal. Ana manifested several ice lances, launching one after another and perfectly toward their target. Rita feinted between some and shattered others. A field of icy needles formed. Just like before the lethal fragments swirled around Rita before coalescing into a shardstorm. The storm blew outwards, all energy dissipated by Rita's sheer physical strength as she swept her scythe.
"That trick will not work upon me, young lady," Rita warned the Herrscher.
Roughly circular cracks formed around Rita. The air shrieked as plugs of ice were pulled out of the icy lake floor by gravity. Owl reorientated the chunks of ice and hurled them toward his foe. The Valkyrja dodged the first icy column, leaving Crescent Particles in her wake. The next that was thrown her way. Rita leapt directly toward, landing atop it and running rapidly up its length. Owl threw three move ice columns at his enemy. Rita bounced between the three, parkour like movements building up momentum. At the peak of the final column Rita appraised the situation, gauged distances and jumped, arcing toward Owl. The Herrscher gestured this time, the gravity well behind Rita robbing her of all momentum and pinning her in place.
"Not subtle," Owl observed.
Rita smiled. Since the start of the fight Rita had been lacing the battlefield with Crescent Particles. Those particles coalesced behind Owl, the Phantom holding it's scythe high. The blow caught the Herrscher hard in the back and sent him tumbling to the ground. His impact cracked the ice and sent the man skidding across the ice. Owl gasped for breath, intact hand scrabbling and clawing for purchase. If his body hadn't been mostly cybernetic the blow might have been fatal, Herrscher or not. Rita flared her battlesuits output, breaking free of the gravitational pull and dropping back to the lake. Owl was still in too much pain to fully manifest his Herrscher powers. All he could do was gasp as Rita sprinted toward him.
A boreal storm whipped up around the lake. All sight was obscured. All sound was drowned out. The Crescent Particles laden in the air were dispersed. Nothing remained but howling snow. So fierce was the storm that it began to scrape at and fracture the lake. Rents in the ice were carved, ice pulled into the air and shattered into more particulate matter. A hand of wind grabbed Owl and dragged him across the frozen ground. When he came to a stop Ana hovered protectively above him. The storm eased, though snow and bitter wind still hissed across the lake. Rita stood confidently, the Crescent Harvest phantom hovering over her protectively.
"Shall we continue this dance?" the Hunter of Schicksal inquired.
Owl gingerly pushed himself to his feet. The blow Rita's earlier strike was more severe than he first thought. Herrschers could rejuvenate their physical form faster than a Valkyrja due to their unparalleled control of Honkai and Herrscher energy. But it was only their organic form that would recover. Owl was more than 70% cybernetic prosthesis. Any trauma he sustained to his cybernetic components could not be repaired. Warning markers on his AR indicated secondary physical systems had been compromised.
'I'm no good to Ana if I take any further injuries. I have to be more cautious.'
"Shall we, Ana?"
Owl extended his good arm and clenched his hand. Gravity swirled and compressed around the Valkyrja. Rita bowed under the intense assault.
It happened too fast. Rita burst free from the gravity well, Godsbane battlesuit augmenting her strength to heights beyond that of even the most seasoned Valkyrja. Owl admitted he was impressed by the strength she demonstrated. The Herrscher of Gravity tried a different tack. Small points of intense gravity formed throughout the air, drawing numerous snow flakes into their wells and compressing the particulate water into hyperdense orbs. Intense 20G gravity tubes formed near the projectiles, launching them forward at hypersonic speed. The Valkyrja was caught off guard by the first attack, the hypersonic ice bullet slamming into her shoulder and sending her tumbling forward. If her battlesuit had not been crafted from unique organic metamaterials it would have been pierced like wet tissue paper. Rita fell into a tumble and got up on one knee. She was surrounded by a field of encroaching hypersonic projectiles. Rita never lost her faint smile. Crescent Particles flooded outward, the Phantom flickering into life and spinning its scythe. Rita mirrored the action, catching any projectiles that breached the first layer of defences. At such close range the S-rank Valkyrja was able to calculate the linear trajectory of the attacks and move to dodge or intercept the blows.
Within the intense cold Owl was sweating. His body could only handle so much Herrscher energy at once and the injury from earlier was taking its toll. A gravity pulse surged outward, intended to knock the Valkyrja off balance. Rita shifted comfortably and rushed in during the gap between attacks. Gravity in the area increased 20G. 30G. 40G and Owl pushed to maintain. The Valkyrja did no slow her approach. Ana launched spheres of ice that detonated into lethal rime-shards once near their target. Rita dropped to a slide under the first sphere, Crescent Particles congealing around her body to take the explosion. Then she was on her feet and feinting between subsequent attacks, scythe twisting in arcs to clear the icy flechettes when they detonated. A colossal wall of ice rose up from the lake. The air flashed, her scythe radiant as Rita drove through the obstruction and toward her goal. Owl was approaching his limit. Herrscher or not, he had only just begun to grasp the capabilities of his powers, still new in learning how to apply them efficiently and effectively. He inverted gravity around Rita, throwing large chunks of ice and much of the lake into the air. The Valkyrja adapted, running across the underside of the floating icebergs. The Godsbane battlesuit reacted to new commands, Crescent Particles radiated forward and freezing globules of water, providing stepping stones for the Valkyrja to run over. Ana created lances of ice to a launch at her foe, shields of ice congealing to obstruct and delay. Rita cut through her foe's attacks. Ana moved forward to protect Owl.
"Wait, don't!" he called out
Then Rita was there. Her scythe was faster than Owl's eyes. The blows were precise and with just the right measure of strength. Ana howled in pain, though no strike pierced her rime-coated flesh. She lashed out with whips of bitterly cold air and lances of ice. Neither reached the nimble Valkyrja, dodging the attacks and returning pain in kind.
"ANA!"
Panic broke Owl's concentration. Natural gravity reasserted itself, the floating lake collapsing back to soggy earth. The banks of the lake were swept away as the water rushed outward. Water vapour turned to pale fog as the ever present cold returned. Owl clung to a stable chunk of ice. A short distance away Herrscher and Valkyrja still fought. Rita used Crescent Particles to freeze the water beneath her feet and create a stable footing whilst she chased the Herrscher of Ice down. In response the Herrscher coalesced icy hammers and threw them up around Rita. The Valkyrja dodged, only to have a sphere of ice form around and hem her in. A storm of ice pounded Rita from all sides. Her Phantom manifested, taking many of the blows. Those that did reach the Valkyrja were endured. Rita smiled and spat a small wad of blood to one side.
"I think it's time we ended this, Captain Schariac."
Ana moaned in response. Owl's reserves were slowly returning. He reached out to his Herrscher core and drew deeper on it. With Rita distracted now was the time to recreate the 1000G gravity well from earlier. Owl closed his eyes for a moment to clear all other distractions. Opening them revealed the mistake. Rita loomed above him, scythe about to separate head from neck. Ana was caught up in a fight with the Crescent Harvest Phantom, the two exchanging frigid blows.
"You should never lose sight of your opponent," Rita warned.
A clap.
Two hands coming together.
The Herrscher of Ice clasped Skadi Ondurgud between her hands. The Herrscher of Ice had moved so suddenly. Even Rita appeared surprised. The Herrscher pushed back as though throwing away a bouquet of white lotus. Rita stumbled.
Ana clenched a pale white hand. Rita had enough time to widen her eyes. Then everything snap froze around her. Every last particle of moisture, fragment of ice, flurry of snow, that had been stirred up during the fight condensed around Rita. A great wall of ice suddenly appeared. A colossal tomb of perfect blue perched atop the newly refrozen lake. The noise of the impossible conjuration echoed throughout the dead streets and buildings. Owl lay on the ground and gaped. He regained his composure when Ana offered a gentle hand. The awed young man took it and slowly rose to his feet. He checked his AR interface. He wouldn't be running anytime soon. But no serious damage to critical systems.
"You saved me, Ana," Owl whispered.
Ana's moan had something of a human quality. Less a mindless thing and more a hum of approval.
"Oh. I get it. I saved you from Magpie. You did the same thing with Rita."
Another borderline sentient hum.
"Thank you."
The two paid no mind to the Valkyrja imprisoned within the wall. Owl frowned and stared at the ground. He focussed for a moment and pressed against the gravity of the Earth. He'd done it earlier. This time it was much easier. They needed more time. Owl searched the area and spotted the 3rd Divine Key. He approached it and tried to pick the weapon up. The malice it exuded had the Herrscher back off.
"Nearly destroying you an intense gravity well didn't go down well, huh?"
Owl knew the temperament of the weapon. It would no longer answer to him. But it didn't matter too much. There were other options. Always other options.
"I am changing our plans a little," Owl announced. "Let's use the Galaxy Ladder. They will scramble to locate the missing Vice-Captain. That will give me time to master my Herrscher power. And time for our enemies to meet as I planned."
The fight between the Herrscher and the Immortal Blades would not have gone unnoticed. Soon enough World Serpent, Schicksal and Raiden Mei would all converge. The moving pieces were just as Owl predicted.