Alright, Chapter 3 is out! Wow it took me nearly a month, very sorry guys. I was busy for exams and handling studies. Also, Happy Chinese New Year to Chinese readers. Gong Xi Fa Cai!
I believe I have hinted Spectre's identity enough. So I shall reveal him this Chapter. Spirits will come out in Chapter 5 or 6, so please wait.
Chapter 3: The New Bloods
It's been a week since the attack occurred. Two days before Christmas on Wednesday to be exact. DEM has gathered all evidences they have. A total of twenty 10cm spikes and sixty 4cm spikes are recovered. The mode of infiltration has also been found out as they investigated the storm drains as well, the severed gate along with erratic camera footages.
They also found footage of Academi agent infiltrating into the conference room, thus confirming that the attack is well planned. DEM agents also tortured their captive rival agents only to find out that the attacks are separate. Academi merely planted the tear gas, the attack is carried out by other organization.
"We only planted the damn tear gas. And the one that tried to take your beloved CEO's life? It was Yggdrasil! We were told that Yggdrasil has a new agent armed with railguns. And we called him Lord Impaler, some called him Terminator. All we know is that the man is a fugitive wanted for terrorist attack back in Afghanistan, also a hired gun by Syrian terrorists. CIA refused to tell us anything about it too!"
The audio log is being played and Westcott listens to it carefully.
"KD may not refer to the DARPA chief Kendrick Daniel after all, instead, refers to Dante."
"So the attacks are not the same, Yggdrasil merely used Academi as a smokescreen."
"From the data acquired from the CR-Units, it appears that they are all overloaded. Those weapons are designed to pierce territory, especially the one that fires the 10cm bolts. It is considered lucky to have your territory to block it just in time."
"…"
Ellen only remains silent as Westcott commented.
"So, how's your subordinate selection going?"
"Arrangements have been made for Tobiichi Origami, she agreed to join us, and she is arriving very shortly. As for Tenno Scotts, he was said to be very serious in combat exercise and actual Spirit combat. Jessica's squad calls him Lightning, known for his very fast attacks. I have placed him to spar with another candidate, Andrew Carthy." Ellen reported.
"Alright…"
Westcott now only knows he has to strengthen the ranks of Wizards, putting too much strain on Ellen won't help either way.
An hour later, Wizards training facility
Origami is being brought to the base after arriving in London.
"Welcome Tobiichi Origami, I suppose you have a smooth ride?"
"…The security gave me quite a lot of troubles…" Origami said it bluntly.
"Well… It is necessary, someone attempted to assassinate Mr Westcott last week."
Origami only remains silent as she couldn't care less about the well being of the CEO. She knows that DEM is hurting Shido, but the thirst for revenge is only thing that matter to her. But little did she expect that she is working in a team.
Ellen brings Origami to the sparring arena. Tenno and the other candidate are inside a sparring arena. Andrew Carthy, the same Wizard that was at Japan DEM office when Shido rescued Tohka, although he was defeated, his skills as a DEM Wizard is still to be reckoned with.
Andrew is surprised to see his opponent as Tenno is infamous for various reasons.
"Lightning? You gotta be kidding me, the king of let go..."
Tenno only smiled as Ellen commands the two men to spar with their fists.
"You know, you can end this in just seconds by standing still and my fist kisses your face." Andrew taunted.
"Hmph…"
The two enter a stance, with one enters a standard, DEM taught stance while Tenno himself employ others.
Andrew immediately attack first, as he immediate trying to kick Tenno, his kick is immediately blocked and countered by Tenno who punches his chest.
As he staggers backwards, Tenno follows up with a few more punches to his face and then a tornado kick into the Wizard's temple.
"Ugh… How the hell?"
The stance resembles those of Muay Thai, but with strong counters of Jeet Kune Do. The result of the skirmish leaves the muscular and bigger built Wizard to stagger as Tenno aims his strikes at the head.
"That guy, he is vicious…" Origami muttered.
Tenno immediately taunts Andrew to attack, but the Wizard does not do so as he starts to doubt his ability and fearing for another counter.
"Not coming? Well… I guess is my turn now…"
Tenno sprints towards Andrew and performs a breakdance like attack forcing the Wizard to guard his attacks. After a flurry of 4 kicks, Tenno immediately recovers and using Andrew's knee as a stepping stone, climbs up his head and uses his elbow to strike Andrew's head, immediately knocks out Andrew as the man falls to the ground unconscious.
"That's the best you got? Seriously?"
Ellen is amused by Tenno's performance, she is glad that she did not see the bad side of Tenno. As Tenno exits the arena, he is approached by the ladies.
"Congratulations, Tenno Scotts. Welcome to Team Adeptus."
The Wizard is surprised to hear that. He never knew it was a test.
"Wait… I don't remember signing up for anything…"
Before he can finish, Ellen added.
"You get to have a CR-Unit of your specifications."
Upon hearing that, Tenno's eyes immediately open wide as he never expect it.
"Wow… Thanks…"
"Also, meet Tobiichi Origami, our new team mate."
The man looks at Origami, surprised by her young age to join DEM. However, he couldn't care less.
"I'm Tenno Scotts, nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too."
The two shake their hand, signifying their new partnership.
"Go to the R&D department. We have more things to do."
"Yes Mdm!"
After Ellen and Origami left, Tenno walks towards the R&D department for his own unit. Although happy, the attack from Spectre still lingers in his mind.
"That guy back then, he is not a human for sure. His power is unique, in fact too unique. The power to manipulate soul and mana. If my guess is correct, he is the only one to end it all…"
DEM R&D Facility
"Ah… Mr Scotts, I have been told about the unit you want."
The middle aged woman welcomes the newly appointed Adeptus. Tenno only smiled as he enters the lab.
"Well… Thanks for the trouble, I want my unit to be agile, not bulky…"
Before he can finish, she cuts it.
"I think I have one for you. Our latest prototype unit with something that fits your name the best."
The scientist brings the man to the unit. The unit appears to be an exoskeleton, unlike other units, it is mistaken as a wiring suit.
"Meet Quanta, next generation CR-Unit. Unlike the current generations, close quarter combat is impossible due to the harness and the bulk of the equipment…"
Tenno is mesmerized by the unit. Which is in black with white nodes.
"Also, this unit can generate very strong electricity. We have implemented many EMI and EMP shieldings to prevent the unit frying itself. To keep it light, composite materials like carbon nanotubes are used. Also, due the complexity of this unit, we do not have the suitable biochips to support it, so we have only made one and no other prototypes are made so far."
Upon hearing that, Tenno immediately wants to try it.
"Can I try it?"
"Are you crazy? But wait… You are natural… Sure!"
Tenno puts on the CR-Unit, it is very light, it doesn't put strains on his body.
"Try to fly and move around, I have not activate the lightning system."
Tenno walks first and then activate the thrusters which are located at his shoulders and the heels. With minimal force, Tenno levitates, amazed by how light the unit is.
"Alright, the real test, I'm activating the system."
The woman activates the system and a pulse of electricity is formed on the CR-Unit.
"Woah, is it even safe for me to touch anyone?" Tenno jokingly said.
"Not when it is turned on like that. Now try to blast some targets."
A few targets pop up on the testing field, Tenno stretches out his left and and aims it at the target. A hose of lightning is formed from his palm and obliterates the target. After which, the Wizard tests out the territory functions. The unit is a perfect fit for Tenno.
"I guess this unit is yours. Nobody can use this other than you."
"Wow… Thanks…"
"No problem, congratulations on your promotion."
Tenno is delighted to have his own unit, it is a dream come true.
Spectre's safe house
After the attack on Westcott, Spectre himself carried out all operations of installing bugs into DEM figure heads' homes, burglary for intel. Meanwhile, Dante and Ian are calling.
"Are you sure to put him to the final test?"
"Of course…"
"Well... Don't get yourself killed or captured by DEM."
"Relax… I won't."
Ian hangs up the call with Spectre comes back home after a stakeout.
"Hey Spectre, new job. Extraction at harbor tonight. Alice is going to pick you up at 9pm. Get some rest, I'll wake you up later."
"Alright…"
The young man unwinds his bandage, takes a quick shower and goes to sleep. Ian only silently hoped that things can get over for the young man.
"You better not disappoint, Spectre. It'll just speed things up much faster and easier for you."
Five hours later
The young man is on the move once again with his signature black jacket along with a backpack containing the stripped Javelin, carrying the sword disguised sight cane, with his face completely bandaged. His ears are plugged with some kind of hearing aid like device.
"All the best!" Alice said.
"Thanks."
Spectre exits the car and moves his way towards the logistic building. The security is very light as Spectre easily moves to the top of the building, assembling Javelin and takes aim.
"Raptor, this is Spectre. Status?"
"Safe. I have a NOD to navigate."
"Good. You are clear now. Move to the marked location."
Spectre turns on the IR laser, marking the location for the operator. Slowly, he guides the operator to the extraction point.
"Alright, got to the boat! Thanks."
The radio cuts off as Spectre sees the boat was being driven off with the operator inside, the mission is a success. However, Spectre senses a disturbance in the air, sensing it as a bullet. He immediately rolls sideways, only for a bullet to create a small crater upon impact.
"Good senses…"
Dante was aiming at the young man's side with a suppressed AWSM sniper rifle to test Spectre's awareness. Although he missed the shot intentionally, he is amazed to witness Spectre's sense. Spectre immediately sprints to take Javelin, with his amazing senses, he immediately takes aim at Dante and fires. Time slows down in Dante's eyes as the 10cm bolt swoops passed his head as he dodges the bolt. In the mean time, Spectre quickly strips Javelin and keeps it into the back pack. Dante recovers and take aim at Spectre, the young man is sprinting at him. Dante takes aim again and fires, the bullet is being slowed down close to a dead stop in Spectre's eye.
He takes a deep breathe, and unsheathes his sword, position it to let the bullet slides, letting the friction to burn out some energy in the bullet. Then suddenly, swing the sword, launching the bullet back at Dante. The deflected bullet shatters the scope, surprising Dante who is not expecting that.
"What in the…"
With the AWSM out of commission, Dante decides to fight Spectre in hand to hand combat. The young man immediately swings the sheathed sword in an attempt to smash Dante's temple. However, the man immediately grabs the sword, stopping it. The strength of Dante surprised Spectre, but the young man slides his hand to grab the handle of the sword and unsheathe it. Spectre smacks the blunt edge onto his fingers. The pain forces Dante to release the scabbard and Spectre grabs the scabbard and moves back.
"That's a pretty sharp blade, you could have cut off my hand…"
Spectre only remains silent and enters a dual sword stance.
"Well game's over, kid… Activate AR-Unit, True-Kusanagi!"
Dante's body is covered in light and black mechanical armors resembling a samurai armor is formed. Dante pulls out a black laser katana with a blade length that is as long as his body.
"Shit…"
Spectre changes his stance again to suit his Iaido fight style, knowing very well that the man before him is a Wizard. Dante charges Spectre, the young man immediately parries Dante's strikes. Dante also moves very quickly, landing a few more strikes only to be parried away. But Dante's strength makes it difficult for Spectre to parry for much longer. The two then breaks off a distance.
"Damn it…"
Spectre's sword suddenly glows in wispy blue with the electricity pulsating from the high frequency blade. Dante recognizes that Spectre is using his power. The young man immediately charges at Dante, the Wizard conjures a territory to stop the blade. Knowing the properties of the sword, Dante uses telekinesis to grab Spectre's wrists instead of letting the blade land. The move works as Spectre cannot land the hit.
Hidden from Dante's view, Spectre is smiling. Suddenly, a ghastly blue spectral projection of Spectre is conjured, armed with the sword slices through True-Kusanagi's left arm parts. Leaving Dante's left arm unharmed with his precision of sword. The action surprises Dante who is not expecting that.
"What!?"
The shock breaks his focus, which frees Spectre. Spectre immediately dashes to Dante's back and severs the realizer module at the back. And then, another spectral projection severs the right arm parts, rendering True-Kusanagi useless.
The swiftness of the process stuns Dante and Spectre immediately breaks Dante's right arm with his shoulder as a lever.
"Arrrgghhhh!"
The pain is excruciating for Dante, who has not being beaten for quite some time. Spectre is not done yet as he smashes the sword's blunt edge onto Dante's left shin, cracking the bone inside. Forcing the 1.8m tall man to kneel down, only to be unceremoniously being kicked hard in the temple by Spectre, knocking him out. Spectre immediately runs back to the car to be extracted by Alice.
"Let's go, a freaking Wizard is here!" Spectre said.
"Got it."
Alice speeds off from the docks, leaving Dante behind.
"Overlord… This is Dante, request for extraction."
The kick is not strong enough to completely knock out Dante as he uses the radio to request for extraction. He knows that his candidate has passed the test. But he has to get out of the place.
"Wow… You really didn't disappoint… Damn, they hurt like hell!" Dante complained.
The next day at the safe house
Spectre wakes up and coincidentally to find Alice walks out of Ian's room. An awkward silence ensues with the two of them as Alice never see Spectre's face and Spectre never expect Alice to stay in the safehouse. Also, Spectre has not seen Alice's face.
"What the… Who the hell are you!?"
"What's wrong, honey?"
Ian also walks out of his room, and Spectre asks Ian about this situation.
"What? Ian, she's your wife?"
"Yeah, she's Alice."
Spectre's eyes glow in bright blue and hypnotizes Alice to forget his face. The woman immediately collapses with Spectre supporting her.
"That was… Nevermind…" Ian complained.
"I'm sorry Ian… I have to."
With Ian now supportting his wife, Spectre immediately bandage his eyes. In just a short time, Alice wakes up in Ian's arms.
"Uhh… Did something happened?"
"Sorry Alice, I had to make you forget my face." Spectre apologized sincerely.
"Nah… It's alright. You did what you have to as an undercover."
"…"
"Go and wash up, we are going to meet Mr Woodman." Ian said.
"Alright."
Everyone prepares their stuffs and move out in Alice's car, however, this time it is Ian driving. Spectre dressed up in his usual black jacket and black pants. In just half an hour, they reach their destination. As everyone alights the car in a secluded car park. Ian uses a radio to communicate.
"Overlord, initiate teleportation."
Without warning, the three are teleported to an airship. The crewmen immediately escorts both Spectre and Ian, leaving Alice behind as she is not in the meeting. With the two guys being escorted to room where Woodman, Karen and Dante inside.
As soon as the two enters the room, Spectre senses Dante's presence and immediately on high alert with his hand positioned to unsheathe his sword.
"Hey relax Spectre! What are you doing?" Karen asks.
"That guy was at the docks yesterday. And he attacked me!" he retorted.
"Spectre, remove your bandages."
Woodman's order surprises Spectre, hostility ensues.
"What?"
"Every single one here, knows who you are. There's no point hiding your face and your name here as we know your face. I'm the one that arranged that attack."
Spectre has no choice but to do so, the unwinds the bandage, showing his empty sapphire blue eyes with some dark circles beneath. His chin length black hair is unkempt with them parted above his left eye.
"It was a test, Arashi…"
The young man is Arashi, who has been missing for at least 14 days. Woodman's statement surprises him.
"A test? What test?"
"We have decided to put you into Yggdrasil, you are to become a Wizard." Woodman added.
The young man is absolutely confused, he knows the process of becoming a Wizard.
"A Wizard? Don't be kidding with me, I have never agreed upon that and let alone surgeries!"
"It is much easier for you, you are a man on a mission aren't you? And who said becoming a Wizard need implants?" Dante said.
"That's right, Dante is the one that designed your wiring suit, Javelin, Hale and your sword, Requiem." Woodman added.
Spectre is shocked to hear that, he has no idea that he is being tested for so long.
"Ian is also in Yggdrasil, we already decided to draft you into Yggdrasil before I pull you out. Yggdrasil members are selected by Dante personally, and thus the test."
Spectre doesn't know what to say, as he feel somewhat being cheated.
"And to prove that I can make your mission easier… Activate AR-Unit, SPIRIT!"
Light engulfs Dante forming a black unit that resembles of Ellen's Pendragon CR-Unit but with two blade like wings attached.
"You can see and sense mana right? See it with your own eyes."
Arashi's eyes glow bright blue and he sees the purple Spirit mana flowing within the AR-Unit.
"Mana of Sandalphon… How?" Arashi questioned.
"Dante has been working on replicating Spirit powers. He has been some what successful so far as we can get mana residue easily." Karen explained.
Arashi feels that he has stepped into a gray area. The young man considers Spirit powers sacred, something that only a selected few should have access to. But considering the dangers posed by the Burning Hells. He has to accept the fact that this can be used to defend against the Hell.
"By replicating Spirit powers, I have also replicated yours… The problem is, your powers… Is unique in a sense…"
A platform rises up, revealing a black unit. It appears to be made from carbon nanotubes as muscle fibres. The shoulders and arms are plated, the shoulder plates and arm plates had small upward tipped fins, along with metal tipped claws on his fingers and metal plated knuckles. The body's skeleton is made with coltan-titanium. The boots are also have small claws. Overall, the unit resembles an exoskeleton unlike other CR-Units.
"Place your hand, sense its power."
Dante activates the unit's mana power. Just as Arashi touches it, an image of a shadowy fiend roaring at him is formed.
"Power! Give me the power!" The fiend spoke.
The fiend is none other than Nevermore, the dark fiend with with a triangular pattern of horns and menacing blade horns on the arms. The body is skeletal and it lacks the fire that once burns brightly in his body. Arashi is shocked by this and his eyes involuntarily glows bright blue.
"Nevermore!? How?"
"The thing is, this unit is not stable enough for anyone to use it yet. The last time I tried, it almost killed me. I have a replication of this unit but outfitted with a more stable systems though."
With Dante's explanation, Arashi knows he needs the unit. He now has no choice but to join Yggdrasil.
"Alright, I'm in."
"Good, Arashi, you are off duty until you complete your trainings. He is the best Wizard out there even before Ellen started." Woodman said.
"Welcome to the team, Nanaya Arashi, or Spectre. I'm Karakukyo Dante"
The man has a neck long black hair, with a pair of brown eyes, a scar is visible on his left eye too. He reaches out his hand and Spectre shakes it.
"Nice to meet you."
Okay, yeah surprising eh? I know some of you may ask "How did Arashi got his hair so long in just two weeks?" or "What the hell is an AR-Unit?". They will be answer in the next Chapter and one of them can be answered by reading Asharoth's fanfic.
Remember in one episode of Date A Live 2 there is actually a male Wizard? His name is Andrew Carthy, he is revealed on BD Vol.5's Booklet. So in short, the reason why you see so many female Wizard is due to extensive fan-service!
That's all for now. I hope I have more time to pump out chapters. See you around.