The entirety of the year was fully geared up and being shipped off to the coast. It was the day of the second event and while some of the non-Einherjar decided to stay in Martrydom, most entered the helicopters that were provided by New Brisbane.
Surprisingly the air was fairly calm, not a single Seraphim attack. Usually, that would be something to celebrate but not so much in this case. The Seraphim had waited and stalked Martrydom longer than any of us, they knew the events better than us. The reason for the lack of attacks was because they were eagerly waiting in the forest for us.
The helicopters eventually came to the coast letting us all out onto the floor. It’s been a while since I last touched grass… the last time was when I was sent to a rich estate to act as a manservant for one of the sons of the government officials. It was a lot cheaper to buy a kid from the Preschools than it was to buy a real slayer.
I guess I wasn’t really touching it as I was entombed in my Slayer armour. Much to Janus and Red’s insistence my armour was no longer the grey of the basic armour, I kept my usual grey but now had dark red highlights on my armour along with a dark red symbol of a wolf on my back courtesy of Janus. Unsurprisingly it was Red who had determined the colour, another way to show I belonged to her.
Janus himself had taken it upon himself to customise his armour. Usually, only the Einherjar did it in the first year as it was common to lose armour or damage it to the point it wasn’t worth repairing. Why go through all the effort of armour customisation if you were just going to lose it next week?
Janus’ armour was the opposite of mine. A lighter grey and used bright blue highlights. It was ironic that the person who acted as my shadow was brighter then myself. The others, the Hounds they called themselves, using my name as a base for the gang name.
They didn’t bother colouring their armour but they did all use different colours for the wolf symbol on the back. The six of us gathered quickly together and while we did have a private channel for all of Red’s personnel we also had our own private channel.
“So we all know the plan?” I asked doing a check over myself.
“We find Solaris and kill the bastard.” Janus’ voice rang over the channel into all our armours. I honestly had given it quite a bit of thought to whether I should kill or not kill Solaris. After that night with Wasp I needed to be clear on my intentions, I couldn’t let indisiveness control me. So as a group we came to the decision Solaris had to die, a murderer couldn’t be allowed the halls of Martyrdom, there were already enough things trying to kill all of us.
“Red will be pissed.” Ida winced, she was new to being around Einherjar and still worshipped them slightly.
“The bitch can suck it up.” Janus crossed his arms.
“She probably knows what we are up to.” Ryugu interrupted. She definitely did, I had no illusion that we could sneak past Red but she had no real way to tighten my leash. She needed me to hunt down other teams, thanks to my ichor I was just too perfect for it. She just had no way of enforcing me not to intentionally go after Solaris.
“We won’t be partnered long with her,” I spoke, my voice going deeper as to play the role of leader. Red never did this but I suppose she was better at leading than myself. “Red will intentionally get in our way, prolong our goals and hamstring our progress if it means staying her pet. I don’t think we’ll be given any ichors or rewards after this event but we will separate from her group and make our own.”
“Aren’t you worried Red might hunt us down after you go against her?”
“Let her try.” Janus proudly patted his chest.
“She only wanted me for my ichor, once we get her some of her own she won’t see much value in hurting us when doing so will just hurt her own team,” I explained swapping to Red’s channel as I noticed her begin to approach us with the rest of her members.
“Canis, there you are! Ready to win this event?” Her voice rang through my helmet. “Excited?”
“As excited as I can be intentionally walk into a Seraphim-filled forest. Which by the way know we are coming and has intentionally stayed because they think them capable of killing us.”
“Inspiring as always Canis.” Red rolled her eyes.
“We have nothing to worry about. The Seraphim are planning to hunt the average first year, they will be in for an unfortunate surprise when they run into us.” Pallas said. “When we start we will rush to the far ends picking up a high-earning receiver then pick up any we can on the way back.”
“The further we go the dangerous Seraphim we meet. Let’s be quick about this.” Red called gathering us all to attention.
“No one is making the first move,” Janus observed.
“Why would you? I wouldn’t be shocked if some of the more dangerous Seraphim were able to hide from the fourth-year culling. You could get one step in, and then BAM! Dead.” Pallas answered.
“We won’t wait. We are going for the big prize at the end we need to go first, take a moment to collect yourselves we leave in two minutes.” Red ordered. She herself walked off by herself to check her own gear taking time to count her ammo. Now wasn’t the best time to have a private conversation with her but I doubt I would get another chance.
“I don’t think we should go first. It’s too risky.” I told her but she waved me off, uncaring about my fears.
“It’ll be fine.”
“It won’t.”
“Why are you worried… It’s not like you’ll be with me.”
“Still…”
“Worried about me?” She teased and while my cheeks did blush I didn’t dignify it with a response. “Relax. Worst-case scenario we lose a few of the weak. Once we get the ichors we have the better non-Einherjar will flock to us and refill our numbers.
“Maybe we should train our current forces and then just replace them.”
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“I mean… it’s a bit late for it now.”
“I think tha-”
Boom!
A loud explosion rang loud as dirt was thrown up in the air and drew the attention of everyone.
It seemed our group wasn’t the only one ready to leave as a smaller group of four ran towards the forest only for one random step to result in the explosion. Everyone was quick to draw their weapons for the impending wave of Seraphim only to realise none was coming.
All of a sudden one of the Einherjar started to move along with the rest of their group. Helix I assumed, he was one of the newer Einherjar. A rising star really. Clearly, he was the one responsible for the sudden explosion as he and his group all had the training jetpacks and cleared the ground in one big leap before entering the forest.
“Mines?” Red wondered out loud before she and everyone else connected the dots.
The pilots arrived at Martyrdom a few days early, when they did this Helix and his team must have made some sort of bribe or threat that was able to get them to fly them to where the drop zone was a few nights ago so they could plant stolen mines. Now that their trap had been active and everyone was aware of the situation they were forced to move to maximise time.
At least they only grabbed the practice mines as the kid who got blown up only appeared to have his knee at the wrong angle.
“Everyone!” Red ordered. “Get back to the choppers. We need to get back and grab some of the spare jetpacks!”
She wasn’t the only one to come up with this plan as more and more students ran to the helicopters as well causing the pilots to be quite afraid for their life.
“Red.” I called her on a private channel. “With my ichor, I could force a way through the mines and heal while on someone's back, we don’t have to fight for the jetpacks.”
“Cute idea but no. We are no longer the first team but this isn’t the worst outcome. With the limited number of jetpacks only a few teams will be able to clear the mines without injury, and well to be honest. I don’t see any of the non-Einherjar winning a duel for the jet packs which leaves plenty of points up for grabs. I don’t want a clear path through the mines to be found just so everyone else can follow us. We will compete for the jetpacks, win, and get more points for ourselves. Helix the bastard might have a huge headstart but he’ll gather up all the easy-to-grab points. We will head straight for the jackpot.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to the point I tasted blood till my mouth instantly healed. This wasn’t ideal, no doubt our plan will definitely change and my revenge plan will have to take a side line to Red’s desire to win. Helix really ruined this for me.
Janus and the other hounds were beside me as we landed inside one of the choppers there were a few people inside fighting for space but we were like a hammer breaking into the fight.
“Get this up in the air now!” I commanded to the pilot who was no doubt regretting their decision to help Helix. Sure enough the blades started to spin and the chopper was beginning to rise. Red and her section of the group was already up in the air literally throwing people off her chopper into the ground below.
With a strong spartan kick I launched one kick out before another one tackled me in the back sacrificing himself to get me out. A smart decision considering he was much weaker than me. Unfortunately for him, Janus was quick to reach down and grab me by the leg tugging me back up back into the fight where I saw several kids accidentally knock each other trying to win their own separate fights.
“Everyone!” I yelled but no one listened to me, the adrenaline in their ears roared louder than myself.
“Oi! Idiots!” Thankfully Janus was even louder. “You’re welcome.”
“Thank you, Janus.” I sighed. “Okay, we are about to get over the water and as much as I want to win I don’t want to knock you out of this helicopter into the Seraphim-filled ocean below to your assured death. So really I have two options. None of you are Einherjar, maybe one or two are part of an Einherjar group, but let's be real. None of you are beating me.”
Despite the annoyed growls none of them really objected knowing that me and the Hounds probably were going to win no matter what. The only difference if they surrender they could spare the severe beating and not die by getting thrown out.
Well, that was easy.
It wasn’t over though. We still had to fight through the rush to Martyrdom, even now I could see kids get thrown into the water below as some weren’t lucky enough to surrender. In just a few seconds those unfortunate to fall were swarmed by aquatic Seraphim. More unnecessary deaths.
“When we land you five slow everyone down. Only I will get a jetpack and meet up with Red, you guys just go back to the dorms.”
“What?” Janus asked in shock.
“Enough people have died, and we haven’t even gotten into the Seraphim-filled forest. There are going to be plenty of openings in Einherjar teams, I suggest you guarantee your survival and try to get any of the open spots.”
“You can’t be serious?!” Janus roared marching up to me.
“Janus. I don’t want to do this, I don’t think I even want to make it to graduation anymore. Solaris is just a distraction, something for me to focus on rather than my eventual death. I alone will hunt Solaris in the forest and kill him and then… I might just sit there and let the Seraphim have their go. You have a real chance at making it to the end. I suggest you take it and stay with Red.”
I expected Janus to hit me or something but he didn’t he just stood in front of me. I couldn’t see his face but I could tell his eyes burned with fury.
“I’m coming.”
“I’d rather if you didn’t.”
“I’m. Coming.”
I rolled my eyes and took a seat. Janus was smart, well, he wasn’t. But, he had survival instincts and would be fine. Despite Janus’ loyalty, he would abandon me like Wasp and Fox did when death was imminent. I guess I’ll just have to wait for that.
When we finally did land the rest of the Hounds did listen to me using themselves to body block people who got in our way whilst Janus stayed by my side. Unsurprisingly it wasn’t that difficult though as we just followed the trail of injured and hurt kids on our way to where all the spare gear was stored.
By the time we got there, Red was already outside with her weapons beared and her squad behind her carrying jetpacks.
“Canis! Get to a chopper now! We only have eight or so. You’re with me!” She commanded as she ran. “Where is the rest of your group?”
“They stopping some people. Why?” I asked running with her.
“Nothing, I was just going to tell them to fuck off. We need only the best on this mission.”
“You think I’m one of the best?” I smirked.
“Don’t fish for compliments,” She growled. She seemed not to be in a teasing mood for now.
When we finally did make it to the helicopter pads only then did the jet packs be handed out. Red, myself, and Pallas were the guarantees. The other four went to other members of Red’s team but Janus stepped in the way of her when she was giving out the last one.
“What are you doing?” She hissed.
“I am good enough, I’ve trained with Canis the most out of everyone. I’m easily top eight.” He held out his hand expectantly.
He was. Combat wise he was easily top eight. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was in the top four or five. But, I wouldn’t speak up for him though. If Janus was so set on joining my suicide run then he wouldn’t have my help in doing so.
“Janus. There has been a change in plans, you and Canis won’t be hunting other teams.”
“What?!” Both I and Janus exclaimed, myself with more anger.
“With fewer people we need everyone to get far in the forest. We don’t have time for this, Janus you are out.”
“Please! I can fucking do this!”
Red didn’t talk, but I heard the mufflings of her and Pallas under their helmets. They were talking on a private channel.
“Fine, but you listen to me. You and Canis will not be leaving under any circumstance. Do you understand?”
“Yes Sir!” He cheered.