The Scent of Blood

Strider poked his head above a steel fence. There was a small alley between the fence and the walls of what seemed like a storage depot.

After confirming that there were no hostiles in sight, he turned over to Loki, who was holding him up with her hands.

"Clear," he whispered.

"Get going, then," Loki said back.

He pulled himself up the fence and landed on the other side. Shortly after, Loki followed him. They ran along the edge of a building and ducked behind the corner.

Footsteps and shouts could be heard from every corner. Alarms were blaring, as the laboratory was found littered with corpses.

"Astrid to all stations," Astrid said. "The army is mobilizing. About a hundred of them are storming into the Arch. Also, keep your heads low. We've got over watchers on the high grounds."

"Copy," Holiday replied. "Minerva, take the high points. Any hostiles you see, you silence them. Zephyr, you're on recon. Make a note of any suspicious movement as well as... special guests. Loki, stick with Strider. You are both clear to engage all hostiles, but only after Minerva is done. Astrid will guide you via cams. I'll gain access to the control room and open the gates. Clear?"

"Affirmative!" they all said.

"Stay safe, Calypso. Holiday, out."

"Strider, Loki, switch to channel two," Astrid said.

Strider turned his head back and nodded at Loki. They both reached for their earpieces and held down a small button.

"Channel two," they said, which was followed by a subtle ring.

"Read me?" asked Astrid.

"Loud and clear," Strider replied. "Send traffic."

"Alright, guys, listen up. You two are dangerously close to the Spiral Gates. Whatever you do from here on out will compromise you. Minerva is getting into position. Sit tight, and wait for her signal."

"Aw, come on," Loki whined. "I can take them and their mommas."

"Don't be stupid. Even if you can survive fatality, the others can't. Just wait."

"Survive... fatality...?" Strider asked cluelessly.

"Hehe, just wait. You'll get to see it up close real soon," Loki winked.

The Arch of the Immortals is a military bastion that sits directly in front of the Spiral Gates, also considered the base of operation for the army. Along the outer walls that surround the Spire were elevated platforms that are often referred to as the highlands.

Because of its strategic geography, the Arch of the Immortals is easily defensible, making the Spire nigh impossible to penetrate. Of course, history has shown that it can be breached, and no others were able to do it better than Calypso themselves.

Within the shadows of the buildings that dot the highlands, Minerva was making her way to a vantage point, evading all ground units along the way. When she reached her objective, she shot a grappling hook at the roof of a nearby building and hooked herself onto the pulley. After sliding up to the roof, she pulled out her silenced sniper rifle and began scanning the Arch.

"Minerva to all stations, I'm in position," she said. "Counting fifteen snipers across the highland, eight on the buildings at ground level, and three positioned towards the gate."

"Take them out," Holiday said. "Quietly."

A subtle chuckle could be heard as Minerva looped her finger around the trigger of her gun. "Solid copy, Cap'n. Time me."

Twenty-six targets in sight, and ten bullets per magazine. That means only three mags are necessary with an excess of four bullets.

Minerva locked onto her first target. With a deep breath, she held it as the first bullet was sent racing across the sky. It struck the sniper dead in the head. When the other one who was standing next to him noticed, it was already too late. He, too, abruptly fell with a splash of blood.

With every shot, Minerva pulled back the bolt, loading another bullet and shifting her aim to the next target.

The last remaining soldier was behind the cover of a building. No matter. For the weapons specialist of Calypso, there was no such thing as an impossible shot.

She pulled out a pistol from the back of her leg and held it up to her face. The diamonds in her eyes glowed a subtle blue.

"Code: Trojan Horse," she whispered before hurling the pistol far into the distance.

However, instead of simply falling, the pistol stopped in the middle of the air. As if it was being held by an invisible hand, the barrel twisted and aimed at a seemingly irrelevant target.

"Now, now, Minerva," she chuckled to herself. "You could just kill him right here, but where's the fun in that?"

And so, she pointed the barrel of her sniper rifle and angled it until she was satisfied. With a pull of the trigger, the bullet raced through the air.

At the same time, the levitating pistol fired a shot. Within a single second, the two bullets collided with each other at the perfect angle, altering the trajectory of the initial shot. With a subtle ring, it struck the soldier through the scope of his rifle.

"Time," she grinned.

"One minute and twelve seconds," Astrid said. "Hell of a last shot, Minerva."

"Hehe, thanks."

One shot, one kill. Twenty-six shots, twenty-six kills. Minerva released the magazine and accessed its content. Exactly four bullets were remaining.

"Strider and Loki," she called. "The skies are clear. Make some noise."

"Oho~ Finally," Loki snickered menacingly.

"Huh...? W-wait, Loki!" Strider muttered when she suddenly stepped out of the cover.

With a massive grin, she leaped high into the air, before slamming down in the center of the squadron. Her sword split into many disconnected segments that maimed all whom they touched.

Every time someone turned their guns to shoot, they were met with their hands severed. All who attempted to run were caught by the blades arching in.

"Ahahaha!" Loki laughed at the top of her lungs. "You guys are pretty fun! Keep going! Keep running!"

By the time she finished, a massive circle of blood stained the center of the square. There, she was immediately met by an even larger squadron, all standing away with guns ready to fire.

However, it did not faze her one bit. A smirk appeared on her face as she faced the crowd.

"Code-" was all she was able to get out of her mouth before the soldiers lit her up.

Hundreds of bullets struck her, and even more were passing her by. Her body jolted back and forth, seemingly unable to keep up with the fluctuating impacts.

Three seconds. Five seconds. Ten seconds. Loki was being pummeled by a storm, and Strider could only watch.

Finally, all magazines were expended. The soldiers slowly lowered their guns as they watched in awe. Loki was still standing. Splashes of blood covered her entire body, but there wasn't a single bullet hole.

She stumbled back, her breaths shallow. Immeasurable pain coursed through her body, yet despite that, the smile she wore only stretched wider. The weight of her head felt heavy, but still, she lifted it—and the horrific sight of those devilish eyes would be the last thing they'd see.

"... Berserk," she whispered.

The area around her exploded as an ominous red glow filled the sky. The hollowed diamond in her eyes flared into the deepest purple. A hexagonal cage formed around Loki, but it shattered almost immediately—like a beast escaping from its cage.

"Ah..." she sighed contently. "Now that... feels good."

Loki drew her weapon and dashed into the crowd, flailing the blade all around and brutally murdering those who were unfortunate enough to be there. Their screams of agony filled the air, and the plaza was once again drenched in the darkest red. All the while, Loki was laughing at the top of her lungs, as if she derived joy from watching their pain.

It took no time for her to be the only one left standing in the center. Surrounding her were a hundred bodies oozing blood.

Loki laughed harrowingly as she lifted her left hand. A small cut somehow made its way beneath her index finger, and it seemed like it was the only injury she had sustained.

She lifted her hand. Her mouth opened. Her tongue slowly drifted out and slid against the edge of the wound. It was only then that she saw Strider staring at her with shaking eyes.

Another smile appeared on her face. She bent her knees, before propelling herself across the sky yet again. With a subtle quake, she landed right in front of him.

"Hehe, what's wrong, sweetie?" Loki giggled. "Did I scare you?"

He remained silent. Even when he wanted to speak, nothing came out. He was terrified. A monster was approaching him, but he couldn't move an inch. Loki dropped her sword and gently caressed his face with both of her hands.

"Don't worry," she whispered. "Just stay behind me. I'll keep you safe."

"Uh... L-Loki...?" Strider muttered fearfully, but she just kept smiling at him.

"Nemesis wouldn't want you getting hurt, so I won't let anyone hurt you."

A chilling sensation shot up his spine. It was as if the person he was looking at wasn't Loki at all. Given her character, it's no surprise that she's talking like this, but her eyes were steadily losing focus.

She moved her head closer to his ear. Her warm breaths closed in on his neck as she wrapped her arms around him.

"That's right... No one... will hurt you ever again... I promise."

"Loki!" Strider shouted, grabbing her by the shoulders.

The color instantly returned to her eyes as she blankly stared at him, and the ominous aura that once surrounded her faded away.

She slowly tilted to look at him. "Solly...?"

"Are you alright?" he asked.

Her arm lifted, and she fixed her eyes on an open palm. Her mind and vision were clear, but that had never happened before upon the activation of her code.

It was a look that Strider had never seen from her—a look of absolute uncertainty.

"How did you... do that?" she muttered.

"Huh? Do what?"

"Loki, Strider, you two need to move. Now," Astrid demanded. "General Prostatis has been spotted leaving the Spire."

Loki suddenly slapped herself with both hands. When she opened her eyes, her confidence had returned.

"Let's move, Strider," she said.

After a short pause, he replied. "... Yeah."

Together, they stormed out of the opening and deeper into the Arch.