Zara's determination sent a shiver down my spine, a mix of excitement and nervousness coursing through my veins. As we made our way to a secluded corner of the Pyramid, Zara arranged the supplies we had recently obtained. The Lumina-IX Compact gleamed ominously in the dim light, its metallic surface reflecting the fiery glow from Zara's still-active legs.
"Alright, kid. Lemme teach you how to handle this beauty." Zara grinned, a mischievous glint in her eyes. She handed me the pistol. The cold touch of the metal sent a shiver through my fingers.
“Alright, first rule of handling a Lumina: Respect the damn thing. Treat it like your fucking life depends on it, 'cause you never know. It just might.” Zara's tone was serious, her gaze piercing into mine. I nodded, taking her words to heart.
She went on to demonstrate the basics, from checking the chamber to reloading. Each movement was deliberate, a dance of familiarity between her and the weapon. I tried to absorb every detail, knowing that my survival might depend on it.
After the crash course, Zara handed me a box of 9mm Photon rounds. “Think you’re ready. Load it up, kid. Don’t be an idiot with it. Don't want to blow your ass off. Trust me it’s NOT a pretty sight.”
As I fumbled with the rounds, Desire's metallic voice chimed in. “May I provide some assistance, Mari? Loading a firearm can be a pretty delicate procedure.”
Grateful for the offer, I handed the pistol to Desire. In a swift and precise motion, his metallic fingers expertly loaded the rounds into the magazine. Zara observed with a smirk, clearly amused by Desire's unexpected proficiency with firearms. “As expected, Desimaro’s are hella useful. Didn’t even know they’re good with guns.”
After gearing up with the pistol now loaded and ready, Zara led the way through the dimly lit corridors of the Pyramid. The ominous glow from her still-fiery legs cast dancing shadows on the walls as we made our way towards the secluded alleyway near the golden hotel. The sounds of footsteps and hushed chatter echoed in the vicinity, indicating the presence of the Qi enforcers scouring through the streets, tirelessly searching for us. The tension in the air thickened with each step, our senses heightened as we navigated through the alleyway.
“Kid, give me the compact real quick. Might come in useful.”
A lone Qi goon stumbled into the alley, unaware of our presence. Zara's fiery aura dimmed further to avoid detection as she gestured for us to remain concealed. The goon, dressed in a dark suit separated from the group, approached our concealed position. With a swift and silent approach, Zara moved behind the unsuspecting Qi. In one fluid motion, she captured him, her fiery hand covering his mouth to stifle any potential cries for help. The Lumina Compact pressed against the goon's head.
“Hey, hey, hey, man. Shush now. No sudden movements. Unless you want your brains to be decorating the wall.” The Qi’s eyes widened in fear as he felt the cold touch of the Lumina-IX Compact against his temple. Zara's voice, low and threatening, penetrated the silence of the alley.
The goon nodded frantically, his breath shaky beneath Zara's fiery grip. She released him just enough to let him speak, maintaining the pressure of the pistol against his head.
"Now, what’s a Qi doing around here?" Zara demanded, her tone a dangerous whisper.
The goon stammered, "I-I was just... just taking a break, ya know? Got nothin' to do with you guys. Don’t even know who y’all are. Wait a minute. Aren’t you the ones who killed a Qi in the golden hotel?"
Zara flashed her fiery fist. “I would watch my next words if I were you. Now tell me, hideout, plans, activities, anything you got about the Qi. Spill it."
Desire's metallic voice echoed in the background. "Shall I assist in extracting information, Ms. Zara?"
Zara considered for a moment, her eyes narrowing. “No need, Desire-boy. I got this.”
She tightened her grip on the goon, who squirmed uncomfortably. “Alright, better talk fast, and maybe, just maybe, you'll live to see another break.”
The goon spilled details about a Qi hideout and their recent activities in the area. Zara absorbed the information with a calculated focus. Once satisfied, she shoved the goon away, warning him with a final glare.
“Get the fuck out of here. If I ever catch you snooping around again, this bullet will be kissing’ your lil’ noggin’.”
With the Lumina-IX Compact in hand, Zara led the way through the winding alleys, avoiding the main streets to evade any Qi patrols. The glow from her still-fiery legs cast dancing shadows on the walls, creating an ominous atmosphere as we approached the Qi hideout. She’s not wrong. Those fires are stubborn. How long does it even take to go out? My thoughts were interrupted by my bracelet coming to life.
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TARGET: QI ANRAN
WITHIN 5 MILES
BOTH LOCATIONS WILL BE REVEALED IN 10 SECONDS
HUNT HER DOWN
As we neared the location disclosed by the goon, the sounds of hushed conversations and occasional footsteps grew louder. The counter on my bracelet reached 0.
LOCATION REVEALED
MAY THE HUNT BEGIN
A map popped up on my bracelet. Zara signaled for us to stay close as we reached the entrance of a narrow alley leading to the hideout. She peered around the corner, assessing the situation.
“Alright, kid, stay sharp. Anran’s right in there. We got no idea how many we're dealing with,” Zara whispered, her voice edged with caution. “Desire, keep an eye on our backs.”
Zara led the way into the seemingly abandoned warehouse, its dimly lit interior revealing scattered Qi goons armed to the teeth. The tense atmosphere escalated as we advanced further. Suddenly, a woman dressed in a gray suit walked into the warehouse. A bright spotlight shone on us, exposing our presence.
“Well, who do we have here? My little hunter and the arsonist. Gotta thank you for how you treated my cute little subordinate back at the golden hotel.”
Qi goons swiftly surrounded us, creating a daunting circle. In the midst of the standoff, two large machines approached Zara. Anticipating the imminent threat, Zara transformed into her dark blue fiery form. With all her might, she leapt towards the robots, throwing a punch that caused a massive blast. However, as the smoke cleared, the robots were unscathed. They quickly retaliated, pinning Zara down and holding her by her arms.
"Little guy gets one too," the woman said with a smirk. She shot towards Desire, flinging a net that captured him. Desire glitched out, his metallic form paralyzed by the disruptive net.
The Qi woman approached us, a triumphant glint in her eyes. "You thought you could waltz into our territory and cause chaos? Think again, little troublemakers."
Zara struggled against the hold of the robots, her fiery form flickering as she attempted to break free. The Qi goons tightened their perimeter, leaving us with limited options. The warehouse, once a potential advantage, now felt like a trap closing in.
“Now, what should we do with you? Perhaps a little taste of our hospitality?” The woman approached, a wicked smile playing on her lips as she was handed a saw. As she got closer, my bracelet flickered to life.
TARGET CONFIRMED
QI ANRAN
The realization struck me like a bolt of lightning. Qi Anran, the woman before us, was a high-profile target, the bracelet confirming her identity. Suddenly, my body lifted off the ground, and I was unceremoniously slammed back down. The grip of one of the machines had captured me.
“Guess someone was pretty hasty. It still works for me, though. Let’s have some fun now. My little saw wants to say hi. How about we do some body modifications on you?” Anran taunted with a sinister grin, wielding the saw menacingly.
Panic surged through me as I struggled against the machine's vice-like hold. Zara, still pinned down by the machines, manages to get an arm free. “Hang on, kid! I've got this!” Zara hurls a fireball towards the machine pinning me down. Although the machine remained unscathed by the direct impact, the intense heat and force of the blast caused it to momentarily malfunction and become disoriented.
“You little bitch. Okay, you’re dying first. Sorry, little hunter. It seems that our little play date will have to wait for a little while. It seems like your arsonist friend wants to go first.”
“Kid, untie Desire-boy. He’s the key to get us out of this mess. HURRY! GO!” Following Zara’s orders, I sprinted towards the paralyzed Desire. I grabbed onto the net, but a shock coursed through me, causing me to flinch. With determination, I gritted my teeth and held on, trying to pry the net off. Each second felt like an eternity, my hands burning from the shock. The scent of burnt flesh filled the air, and the pain became nearly unbearable, but I persevered. Finally, I managed to tear the net off, and Desire lit up back to life.
"Thank you, Mari! You saved me. I see that your hands are very burnt at the moment. Would you like to go through with the GAUNTLET PROCEDURE?" Desire inquired, his metallic voice still glitching.
I glanced down at my singed and painful hands, the aftermath of the shock lingering. “Uhm…”
The searing pain in my burnt hands clouded my thoughts, making it challenging to think straight. "GO TO HELL, YOU BITCH!" Zara's shout snapped me back to reality. The robots were now holding her upright. Anran approached, and with a sinister smile, she lightly slid the saw against Zara's arm.
“Well, Mari? What do you say? The GAUNTLET might prove to be useful right now,” Desire asked, his metallic voice carrying a sense of urgency.
“Okay…I will…Please do the procedure.”
“CONFIRMATION RECEIVED. PROCEEDING WITH THE OPERATION.” Desire floated towards a Qi goon and swiftly stole a bracelet from him. Suddenly, Desire's tail transformed into a sharp blade.
With one fluid strike, the blade fell. I looked down, and my hands were gone. Panic and despair filled me.
“Why…”