Cold air enveloped the surroundings, its chill wrapping around me like a ghostly embrace. The atmosphere was crisp and dry, almost as if the very air itself was biting at my skin. The darkness crept into the sky, slowly enveloping the light. The blaring sirens continued to pierce the air, slicing through the silence like a knife.
Figures emerged from the barracks, warriors stepping out of the shadows with a silent, disciplined grace. Each step resonated with purpose as they flowed seamlessly into formation. Amidst them, a seated Angelus commanded a stoic presence. Zara, Desire, and I joined the ranks, aligning ourselves with the assembly of warriors.
As Angelus rose, a subtle cue rippled through the warriors, prompting them to snap into a sharp salute. Their right arms lifted parallel to the ground, fists pressed firmly against their chests, while their left hands rested behind their backs. Angelus raised his palm, and in unison, the warriors dropped their salutes.
“My warriors, the time has come. Provence has shown displeasure for our recent encounter with one of their officials. Our 18th Stealth Warrior Squadron was discovered in the forest district near our village, their heads impaled on wooden stakes. The moment to avenge our fallen brothers is upon us,” Angelus's voice cut through the biting cold, a sharp command that resonated with authority. His eyes scanned the assembly of warriors standing before him.
“Our objective is the Roaring Dragon, one of the largest underground casinos under Provenance's control. Success in this mission will deliver a severe blow to Provenance's financial operations. Arm yourselves, warriors. By nightfall, we embark. Understood?"
“Yes, sire! May the blood of Angelus guide us!” The resounding response echoed through the cold air as the warriors snapped into a salute.
Angelus stepped away, and the warriors lowered their salute. A designated warrior moved to the forefront, assuming Angelus's position. “Gather here by nightfall. Arm yourselves for a prolonged battle. We shall infiltrate through the shadows. Our goal will be to annihilate the casino and seize their funds. Warriors, dismissed!”
“Sir!” The warriors exclaimed in unison, delivering a final salute. The designated warrior returned the gesture, and the assembly dissolved, the warriors dispersing back to their barracks.
Zara and I returned to our building with Desire resting on top of my head. “Arghhhhh! I really don’t want to do this shit. I just got to lie down too,” Zara sighed, lying back down on her bed.
The warrior’s barracks hummed with urgency as they prepared for the upcoming mission. Weapons were checked, attire adjusted, and a tense anticipation lingered in the air. Desire, perched on my head, emitted a soft hum, seemingly impervious to the currents of unease swirling around us. Suddenly, a firm knock echoed through our quarters.
I opened the door to find a determined warrior standing before us, holding a box. With a sharp salute, she greeted us. “Warrior! Angelus ordered me to hand these to you. Inside contains the battle clothing and equipment you will be using for this mission.” She extended the box towards me, and its weight was heavier than I expected. “I am Stealth Corporal Jia Korna. Call me Korna. You will be joining my platoon, so head over to the 8th Warrior Barrack when you are ready. That is all. May the blood of Angelus guide you.”
Korna's words hung in the air as she left, leaving us to face the gravity of the situation. Opening the box revealed an array of specialized gear - two sets of a fusion of lightweight armor and dark, stealthy fabric. Deeper inside, two pistols with four magazines were found.
"Hey, kid! I still got the compact so you can have those two. Just give those to Desire; he might be able to do something with them." I nodded in acknowledgment.
"Uhm…Desire, are you able to do something with these, by chance? Maybe store it somewhere?" I asked Desire, who was still perched on my head, holding the pistol close to him. "Hm…How about I integrate these into your GAUNTLET? Maybe it can unlock something." I nodded and handed the pistols over to Desire.
With a bright blue glow, he absorbed the two pistols. "It seems that these are compatible with my system. Two Roa Tech Pistols chambered in Photon Rounds have been integrated into the GAUNTLET Lethal mode." Suddenly, both of my hands transformed into scythes. The scythes hummed, emitting a faint purple glow, and a hole appeared on the top of each scythe. "Notice the holes there, Mari? Imagine those shooting like guns."
I envisioned the holes as gun barrels firing. Suddenly, the scythes fired, barely missing my face and leaving a hole in the ceiling. Zara jolted up as they fired. "Congratulations! You have successfully used the Gun Mode of the Lethal Mode Scythe!" Desire announced as he made his way back to my head to rest.
"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!" Zara exclaimed.
"I'm sorry, Zara. I didn't know that would happen," I apologized.
"Nah, you're fine, kid. Just a little shaken, that's all. But goddamn kid, another upgrade? First the blades, then the gravity thing, then the tentacles, now this? You're really turning into quite the war machine," Zara chuckled, patting me on the back.
Zara noticed the dark armor the Corporal gave us. "Oh, shit! Look at these beauties!" Zara exclaimed as she picked up the chestplate. "Oh damn! They're tough but extremely light! What the fuck, these are amazing! Let me put these on real quick!" Zara swiftly stripped out of her clothes revealing a tanned and muscular figure. Feeling embarrassed, I turned away, covering my eyes. After a moment, I tried to sneak a peek.
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Her body was clearly well maintained. Her muscles were oozing with strength yet still retaining a feminine look. Her body was adorned with various scars. A particularly prominent one stretched across her back. Mechanical limbs, connected by intricate pipes, replaced her natural ones. As my gaze reached her face, Zara caught me peeking and shot a mischievous smirk. "Kid's a little pervert, I see. Staring at an innocent lady's body while she's changing. You into women, kid?"
Embarrassed, I quickly turned away again. "N-no! It's just a…misunderstanding!"
"Hmmmm…I don't know about that." Zara's voice playfully crept closer. "You sure about that, kiddo? Just admit it. You’re just a sneaky, perverted little brat," she teased.
"No, I’m not!" I protested, shifting away from her.
"Haha! I'm just messing around with you, kid. Your reactions are pure comedy gold. Really makes me want to mess with you more," Zara chuckled, continuing to change into the dark armor.
"Jeez, Zara, you idiot," I whispered to myself.
"Kid! You can turn around; I'm done changing." Following her instructions, I turned around. Zara finished changing into the dark armor, its sleek design fitting her like a second skin. “How do I look?” Zara said as she shifted to a pose.
“You look great, Zara! It fits you!” I responded.
“Hehe, thanks for the flattery, kid. Now, your turn. Change into the armor then let’s meet up with that Korna chick.”
I quickly changed into my armor. The armor was too big for me at first but as I put it on, it automatically sized down to my size, making it a snug fit. Zara holstered her compact pistol on her side and we headed outside to meet with the rest of our platoon.
We entered the barrack with the number 8 labeled on the door. Korna, our designated corporal, stood at the forefront, her eyes scanning each member. "Gear up, everyone! We move out at ten.” Her eyes shifted towards us as we entered. “Ah! Glad you can join us. Mari, Zara, and Desire, follow me," Korna ordered, her voice carrying a tone of authority.
We followed Korna through the barracks, the corridors buzzing with the energy of warriors preparing for the impending mission. As we entered the armory, the smell of metal and oil filled the air. The dim lighting cast an eerie glow on the rows of weaponry and equipment. Korna handed us both a dark red crystal. "Make sure you're familiar with this. It’s a communication crystal. With it, we can use our brainwaves to send messages to other crystals. I’ve heard about your power. We're counting on you," she emphasized, her gaze lingering on each of us.
As the platoon gathered outside, the night had fully descended. Angelus stood in front of the assembly of warriors once again. “Warriors, this mission is of utmost importance. May the shining light of Angelus shine on us all. I wish you all luck.” The warriors saluted and swiftly ran towards the forest. The journey to the Roaring Dragon began under the veil of shadows, the squad moving in synchronized silence. The warriors moved in extraordinary speed, quickly jumping from branch to branch, almost seeming like they were teleporting. Zara and I followed them while flying.
The bustling hum of the city grew louder, and the bright lights of the metropolis illuminated our surroundings. As we entered the city, we traversed the rooftops of the buildings. Korna raised her palm, signaling us to stop. “There it is, the Roaring Dragon.” Korna pointed at a seemingly small building within the busy marketplace, its neon sign displaying a red and yellow dragon in constant motion. “The restaurant is merely a facade. The casino is located under the building. At my signal, we shall infiltrate and destroy it. Our mission is to eliminate all Provenance members and their patrons. Is that clear?”
“Yes, ma’am!” The warriors responded.
“Very well. Warriors, begin the attack.” With her command, the warriors stealthily moved towards the back of the restaurant. They discovered a door, and upon opening it, a staircase led deeper, possibly to the underground casino. As we descended, a stylish door was found at the bottom, guarded by two burly individuals. The warriors swiftly neutralized both guards.
Opening the door, loud music filled the air, and the chatter of people became audible. One of the guards noticed us and pointed a gun in our direction. “Who are you? You’re not part of the guest list!” With his last word, he opened fire. Korna dashed towards him, swiftly shooting him in the back of the head. The casino erupted into chaos. Guards armed themselves, and patrons fled in panic.
“Warriors, go!” One of the warriors commanded, and the battle commenced. Gunshots and screams echoed through the air. Zara burst into flames, joining the fray with a wide grin. The warriors engaged in intense combat, using a combination of stealth and skill to take down Provenance members.
Desire, hovering above my head, emitted a soft glow as he analyzed the situation. “Mari, we should move forward. Korna is leading the charge, and Zara is providing significant support. Let's ensure the success of our mission.”
Nodding, I followed Desire's advice, summoning my scythes as we navigated through the chaos. The casino became a battleground, the clash of weapons and the flare of Zara's fiery attacks creating a spectacle of destruction.
A deafening blast reverberated throughout the room as colossal machines, wielding giant axes, surged towards us. One of them targeted me, raising its axe high in preparation for a deadly strike. With agility, I managed to dodge the initial swing, but the mechanical assailant proved to be fast and freakishly strong. It raised its axe once again, seemingly vanishing from sight. I frantically looked around, attempting to locate its position. Suddenly, it reappeared behind me and swung down. I raised my scythes to cut through the axe, but to my disbelief, they failed to penetrate.
“You’re kidding me. I thought these could cut through anything,” I whispered to myself as the robot smiled and swung its axe sideways, launching me into a nearby wall.
Approaching me once more, the mechanical adversary prepared for a final strike. In a panic, I adorned the white mask. Instantly, a set of tendrils sprouted from my back, and my limbs transformed into pitch black appendages. My arms and legs separated into segmented parts, extending them with an otherworldly grace. A white robe enveloped my dark armor, contrasting with my now shadowy limbs. Equipped with the scythes, my form resembled a dark mantis from hell.
The Provenance members watched in horror, witnessing my transformation. “I’m going to… I’m going to KILL YOU ALL!”