After the rescue operation, Roland found himself under the forceful yet capable hands of Gavial. Once patched up, he took the opportunity to cleanse himself of the battle's remnants, methodically wiping away the blood and gore that clung to his suit and skin.
Ace had previously shown him where the workstation was, and Roland wasted no time getting there, meticulously cleaning and maintaining each of his weapons. The blades were sharpened, the firearms disassembled and oiled, each piece restored to perfect condition with practiced ease.
Feeling a pang of hunger, he headed to the cafeteria of Rhodes Island. As he entered, whispers filled the air—tones of trepidation mingled with awe—as many of the staff and operators recognised the formidable figure. He joined the queue and collected a tray of food, a stack of scallion pancakes.
Choosing a table on the fringes of the cafeteria, he sought a moment of solitude. But before he could take his first bite, Hibiscus, a young, purple-haired Sarkaz medic, approached him with a bright smile. "Hi Roland! May I join you?" she asked, her voice bubbling with youthful enthusiasm.
Roland nodded, managing a small smile as Hibiscus sat down opposite him. She was quick to start a conversation, her curiosity barely contained. "So, how are you fitting in with Rhodes Island? It must be quite a change from where you're from!"
Roland paused, considering how much to reveal. "The City I'm from is near Iberia, very isolated," he explained, slightly obfuscating the truth. "It's why I might seem a bit... out of touch at times."
Hibiscus seemed to accept this explanation and quickly changed the subject to something more light-hearted. "I've been experimenting with some dishes! Here, try this," she said, pushing a plate towards him. It was a Originium slug salad, vibrant with a mix of greens and the addition of cooked slugs.
Roland eyed the dish warily but decided to indulge her enthusiasm. He took a bite, chewing thoughtfully. "It's nice, though it could use a bit more seasoning to add flavor," he suggested diplomatically.
Hibiscus nodded eagerly, jotting down notes. "What does the texture remind you of?"
"Mermaid meat, actually," Roland replied, his tone casual. Seeing her puzzled look, he elaborated, "Think of them as a kind of finbeast. A friend of mine, Vergilius, is quite fond of it."
"Mermaids? Like in the fairy tales?" Hibiscus asked, her eyes wide with wonder.
Roland scratched his head. "Something like that, though mermaid ice cream is an acquired taste," he said, shuddering slightly at the memory.
Hibiscus laughed, delighted by the novelty. "I'll have to remember that! Maybe I can try making some kind of dish with that theme in mind."
Their conversation drifted to lighter topics, with Hibiscus eagerly absorbing every tidbit Roland shared about his past and his views on various foods. For a moment, Roland felt a sense of normalcy, a brief respite from the burdens of his past and the violence of his role within Rhodes Island.
...
On the rooftop of LGD Headquarters in Upper Lungmen, the scene was charged with tension. Mephisto, visibly weakened, faced off against Ch'en, her blade ready and her stance resolute.
"You defeated all my comrades single-handedly? Perhaps I must re-evaluate your abilities, Madam."
"That's enough," Ch'en replied sharply, her patience wearing thin.
"No, far from it. Faust, give her a shake-down," Mephisto commanded, his voice carrying a hint of desperation.
"Understood," came a voice from the shadows. Suddenly, a sharpshooter's shot rang out, causing an LGD agent to cry out as he was hit.
"Those on the roof, get down!" Ch'en commanded, as she narrowly dodged another sniper shot. "Reunion's sniper... I even made sure to prepare for ranged attacks, but how does he pack this much firepower...?"
"That's not enough to save your life. You'll die before your sniper can land a shot on me. Have you still not realized the situation you're now in?" Ch'en taunted, eyeing Mephisto coldly.
"Well then... Come, my guards. Rise," Mephisto gestured, and suddenly, groans and roars filled the air as fallen Reunion members began to stir.
"What did you do?!" Ch'en demanded, her eyes widening as she noticed the bits of Originium on their bodies growing.
"The Originium will pierce through their bodies and become their new form. Behold, Officer. These are my guards, my immortal guards," Mephisto proclaimed proudly.
"Powder...?" Ch'en observed, as a strange substance began to fill the air. "Arts? All squads, be on alert! The enemy commander is casting wide-range Arts using some kind of powder!"
They've started attacking us again, and they're slowly moving towards our defense line!" an LGD agent reported frantically.
"Just how many of them have transformed?" Ch'en asked urgently.
"All of them!" the agent responded.
"They are my herd, as well as my brethren," Mephisto stated coldly.
"You're just manipulating them like puppets. How can you call them your brethren?" Ch'en accused, her voice filled with disdain.
"I see no difference between the two. For the greater good, we are willing to become anything," Mephisto retorted.
"If this is what you call the greater good... Looks like you're the only one I need to get rid of," Ch'en concluded grimly. "Focus your fire! Hurry! Aim at the enemy commander!" she commanded her agents.
Mephisto's guards blocked the explosion with their flesh, seemingly unscathed. "That amount of firepower should've been enough to blast through a layer of the city's fortified walls!"
"Don't waste your effort. Wounds will heal. Flesh will harden. Life will return. Their weapons cannot hurt my guards. After all, I prepared them especially for you. Rise, my comrades. Don't let anyone interfere with our conversation," Mephisto instructed, his tone chilling.
"Out of my way! Madam Ch'en, these things have no sense of feeling at all! They've completely surrounded the LGD Headquarters! We're being forced into melee combat! We won't be able to support you!" an agent yelled.
"Take care of yourselves," Ch'en replied shortly, her focus unwavering.
"Roger!" the agent acknowledged.
"Majestic, isn't it? After so many battles, their minds seem to have fallen apart, but their bodies are still healthy and strong. Sheer strength seems to be able to slightly make up for mistakes in decision-making. At least we'll have ample time to talk." Mephisto mused.
"There's no need for that. I'll just kill you right now," Ch'en responded coldly. Her blade shone with her arts as she attacked, cutting through the horde to take the head of the enemy commander.
Again, a hail of bolts from different directions forced Ch'en to stop her charge and deflected them with her blade, each strike sending vibrations up her arm.
Looks like their plan is to harass me with sniper shots, and then predict my movements while blocking me off.
"You don't need to be in such a hurry to get yourself killed," a new voice chimed in on her earpiece.
"We're in the middle of a crisis. What are you doing on this channel?" Ch'en snapped.
"Oh, I just wanted to tell you that I'm done with my mission. Rhodes Island has sent reinforcements, and they'll be here soon," Swire informed her.
As if on cue, a sudden bright light pierced the sky, bathing the scene in an eerie glow, and all sound seemed to mute. Mephisto, bewildered and panicked, felt his voice shrink to a mere whisper under the oppressive light. "Damn, Rhodes Island? From above?!" he hissed, barely audible.
Realizing the sound-suppressing effect, Mephisto's eyes widened with recognition. "Is that you?! Damn you! Faceless bastard! What the hell is FrostNova doing? She's supposed to be engaging Rhodes Island in the south! Did she pass out again?!" His voice was tinged with desperation and confusion.
Without warning, the air shifted violently, and with a subdued crash, something smashed onto the roof. Mephisto's horde buckled as several of its members fell, their spines severed in a single, clean stroke. As the dust and smoke cleared, a man without a face emerged, wielding a longsword dripping red onto the concrete. He stood only a head taller than Ch'en, but his presence was imposing, like a silent mountain of resolve and strength.
Ch'en observed the figure, her perception oddly refusing to focus on him, as if insisting he was just another LGD agent. She had read the detailed accounts of the Chernobolg battles and knew of the capabilities of this operative. Wei had dismissed this man as one of Kal'tsit's attack dogs, likely an Aegir specialized in decapitation operations. But seeing him in action, Ch'en realized this was no ordinary engagement; this was an annihilation operation.
As Roland deflected a rain of arrows with swift, precise movements, muted shots rang out from a hovering helicopter above. Scout, with keen eyesight, tracked each deflection back to the camouflaged crossbowmen, picking them off one by one with his air rifle. Seizing the moment, Ch'en and the rest of the LGD forces renewed their assault, hammering down on the disoriented Reunion forces, trapping them between their attacks and Roland's relentless advances.
One after another, Reunion forces crumbled, pinned by the anvil and smashed by the hammer. Roland then stood before a terrified Mephisto, swiftly crushing his windpipe in a vice-like grip. As an explosive bolt was fired towards him, Roland's free hand whipped around, parrying it effortlessly. A second bolt was intercepted using Mephisto's own back as a shield before he hurled him aside like a ragdoll.
In the chaos, Faust broke cover, charging at Roland with a desperate fury. But before he could reach his target, Ch'en's blade found its mark, slicing into his side with deadly precision. His crossbow clattered to the ground as he stumbled, severely wounded.
"Faust! You're injured! You're... no, no... Nooo!" Mephisto's cries were filled with despair as he witnessed his friend falter. Faust, no Sasha, had only wanted to shield him, what did he do to deserve this? Where was FrostNova? How did this fall apart like this? Why did he and his fellow infected have to be crushed once more.
Amidst the turmoil, a warm voice echoed through Mephisto's mind, a voice as bright as the sun.
You don't want to hurt others, but don't want to be hurt by others either. All you truly wished was to sing, something that had been taken away by Oripathy. So why not turn away from everything? Why not give up and sing forever?
Eno agreed with the voice. He did not wish to be cruel anymore, nor did he wish to be hurt any longer.
All he wanted was to sing.