As soon as his vision returned, Spectre found himself standing on a raised platform that hovered a thousand feet above the city, his weapon now gone. To his left were other players, spawning in, weaponless, and rushing forward to a barrier made of energy in front of him. The transparent blue wall blocked himself and everyone else from running beyond, to the neat row of launch pods perched on the edge of the platform.
"Ah, dammit, why do I always get stuck in a two man team?" The voice was that of an older man, probably in his late forties, and had a slight southern accent. Spectre looked to his right and saw the player standing next to him with the username in blue instead of red: xQuickScopeKingx.
"Well, Spectre, looks like it's just me and you, buddy," he said with disappointment in his voice, then walked towards the energy barrier. xQuickScopeKingx wore a military style skin, with green camouflage and tactical gear, complete with a helmet and sunglasses. He looked straight out of a war simulator game, rather than the more colorful style of Horizon.
A blaring alarm cut through the ambiance, sounding off thrice before an impassive voice boomed from overhead, "Commence, drop!" In an instant, the barrier of energy dissipated, and the line of players burst forward, vying for the closest launch pod before someone else could beat them to it. Some ran straight past their pod, and simply leapt off the edge to the city below.
"We podding or jumping?" xQuickScopeKingx asked, but Spectre had already made up his mind. Without uttering a word, he dashed to the nearest pod, seamlessly slipping inside. He pulled a lever and the capsule door engulfed him, the world outside turning into a muffled blur as he peered through the tiny window. With a deafening roar, the rocket beneath the pod ignited, catapulting him skyward in a burst of G-forces that pressed Spectre down with almost unbearable strength.
"Okay... I guess we're podding then..." Spectre heard his teammate say through his headset. Once the pod leveled off in the sky and the G-forces dissipated, Spectre tapped a button on the side of his goggles and pulled up the map of the arena. The map appeared in the center of his vision, and showed two blue markers traveling across it, one showing his location, and the other showing xQuickScopeKingx's, who had apparently gotten into a pod himself and was following close behind.
"Hey, Spectre? Do you talk? Don't tell me I got stuck with someone who doesn't talk..." xQuickScopeKingx said.
Silence. Spectre didn't reply, his focus laser-sharp on the map which showed him approaching the tower. It was the tallest structure in the metropolis, and he was heading straight for it. The building wasn't just a vantage point; it was a coveted throne, and Spectre knew many would be vying for its dominion.
"Okay..." xQuickScopeKingx sighed, obviously exasperated. "Good talk..."
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There was no hesitation in Spectre's next move. The emergency handle, cool to the touch, provided the impetus. One swift pull and the pod's door detached with explosive force. The violent atmospheric change wrenched him from the confines of the pod, casting him amidst the clouds.
For a moment, the world was a blur, a maelstrom of wind and sound. Then, with precision only experience can hone, Spectre activated his glide pack. Two short wings extended from it automatically, each with small rockets that ignited, propelling him forward and turning his descent into a controlled glide.
Like a hawk surveying its territory, he set his sights on the looming skyscraper, and angled towards its peak. As he soared closer, two figures emerged out of the clouds ahead of him, both targeting the same pinnacle and on track to land far before Spectre would. One was a retro Ninja, and the other an apocalyptic Cowboy. Their intentions were clear -- control the tower.
The air around him vibrated with the hum of glide packs and the distant echoes of battles already erupting. But Spectre's heart didn't race; it was steady. The glint of metal on the roof of the tower drew his gaze. Guns and ammo, cool and waiting. He squinted to make out what it was: a P90, a cyber sword, a pistol, and... an AWP.
The next few seconds unfolded like a choreographed dance. The Ninja landed first and dove for the P90, but fumbled with the ammo while backing away. The Cowboy zeroed in on the sniper rifle, and loaded the gun by the time the other had loaded his. The P90 roared, bullets spraying with wild abandon. Yet, the Cowboy stood poised and unleashed a single shot, echoing like a bell's toll, and silencing the P90 instantly. The Ninja's limp body did a backflip off of the skyscraper from the force, but the Cowboy's victory was fleeting.
In the Cowboy's moment of triumph, Spectre's silent approach went unnoticed. There was no drama, and no prolonged standoff. Just a swift motion, blade meeting flesh. Spectre sank the cyber sword deep into the Cowboy's chest, then ripped it out of his side with a hard jerk, a torrent of crimson pouring out of his body as he dropped the sniper into Spectre's waiting hands, then slumped backwards and off the side of the building.
Spectre stood, the tower's sole occupant, and gazed at the AWP. To his surprise, it was a four star weapon. Rare and legendary. The weapon's weight felt perfect in his hands, its gold finishing reflecting the neon lights. It was a weapon that didn't just kill, but made a statement. The stuff of myths in the world of Horizon. He couldn't believe it was the first weapon he had come across.
"Where the hell are you!?" his teammate's voice interrupted, filtering through Spectre's earpiece. "Some communication would be nice! I can't see where you landed! I'm on me own over here! Unbelievable." Frustration laced xQuickScopeKingx's voice, but it was nothing Spectre hadn't heard before. For him, actions had always spoken louder than words
Turning on his heel, Spectre scanned the panoramic view the skyscraper offered, searching for the blue username which would always be visible, even through buildings. The city, with its neon lights and towering structures, was a blend of chaos and beauty. His gaze shifted to the blue text that shined from the slums, an area of the map whose grimy, rundown buildings were a stark contrast to the glitz.
Spectre peered through the scope of his sniper and caught a glimpse of xQuickScopeKingx far in the distance, going door to door through the dilapidated buildings, busy scavenging weapons. As Spectre's scope swept upwards, his trained eyes caught the movement of three red usernames nearby -- an enemy team, coordinated and on the hunt.