“Hoh… Oh shit…”

Aiden lifted up his left arm to—

He groaned.

Right, he had forgotten in the midst of the adrenaline: he lost an arm. It happened not just a minute ago, he recalled, shortly after Pillar Vesper fell. Tewfik had made another one of its devastating cuts and tore through the terrain: the broken-up blocks, the wounded crushed under foundations, the few who could help, and his left arm.

Aiden chuckled at the hopelessness. At least he was dominant on his right side. He had that going for him.

“Shocked, are you?” Tewfik said, walking up a flight of diminished, broken stairs, standing on a pile of destruction it had wrought. Around them were the monsters, which Tewfik had summoned shortly after destroying Pillar Vesper. They were the clean-up crew. They made sure that no one was leaving here alive. Had hounds for that: to sniff blood.

Aiden looked around, watched as the bastards tear men and women from their hiding places and gut them. Some decided to run. The dogs were faster. He shook his head, pushing the gore out of his thoughts, and turned to the Comet. “I’m gonna kill you.”

Tewfuck curiously tilted its head. “So you tried.”

“I’m serious, I’m gonna fuckin’ kill you.” In within, what? How long had it been since Tewfik appeared? Couldn’t be no less than ten minutes. Sure, ten minutes, let’s go with that. Ten minutes since it appeared, took down Pillar Vesper like a tree, killed Sunny right in front of him, and decided to exterminate everyone like they were rats.

Thank God that Chie didn’t have to see him like this. Or Seraph. Or Kosmos. Shit, they’re gonna be so disappointed in me.

“Fate reserves death for you, Aiden Kang, Firebrand, such as it is the fate of all warriors: to perish whilst combat, horribly, painfully, especially for you, Warrior of the Unnatural. Pray for an efficient demise, or be tormented while straddling the mortal boundary.” Tewfik raised its odd sword, pointed it at him.

“Shut up,” growled Aiden, another step forward. He whipped his hair around his shoulder, and it levitated with the power of flames. “Why don’tcha dumb yourself down, eh? In fact, why don’tcha c’mere so I can kill my first Comet?”

Tewfik clicked its tongue (did it have a tongue?). “A romantic of flames and warfare, brought from the heat of blade-sparks. Oh, disappointment, have you pride, I to you respect.”

“Motherfucker, just cut the bullshit already!” Aiden tapped his stump of a left arm. In the absence of a hand, he slowly formed a fire conjuration, roughly replicating his loss limb. He wouldn’t be able to use it normally; he’d need to physically control it using his Krait. “I don’t fucking need a villain monologue—!”

“Assumed I have, to be an eloquent speaker. Shame. For you, particularly, as I exist outside the Natural Order, human child. ‘Destiny’, as you may refer to it, calls upon me as the favored one in all wars. Many were slain, spoke with the same cadence as you, obsessor of combat. By my hand. All to the last.”

There’s the fuckin’ monologue. “Yeah, don’t care.” Aiden formed a second sword, firmly grasping the blazing handle with his right hand. Using his Krait, he used his faux-left to provide extra support.

He straightened his back. For a moment, he thought he was going to look as cool and badass as possible moments before his death. No, there was nothing cool about this, nothing badass either. People had died. Aiden will die too at the old, old age of twenty-one. How was that for a tragedy? Ordo’s beloved prodigy dead at the hands of a Comet bastard.

Good thing he absorbed that spirit back then.

Aiden thought about Chie, how he apologized for ending the call. Right now, she must be praying inside her hermit hut, wishing for his survival. That wasn’t going to happen. He thought about Kosmos; he knew what it was like losing a loved one. He thought about Seraph. She was tough, strict, and sometimes terrifying, but she was his big sis. Then, of course, was Ariella.

He had promised to himself that she’d never have to cry again. Looks like he was breaking that.

“Dammit all…” he muttered, taking a step forward. His body felt heavier, weaker. Must’ve been the blood loss. “God fucking dammit!”

“And there is a warrior’s rage,” Tewfik said—

“Shut the hell up!” Aiden raised his fiery greatsword. “It’s a bet, Tewfik! I’m gonna kill you myself, me! That’s a promise, and I sure as hell try to keep ‘em! It’s a human thing, not like you can fuckin’ understand!”

“Death, too…” Tewfik readied its blade. “...is a ‘human thing’. Allow me to demonstrate.”

Aiden flipped him off. “Good fuckin’ luck!”

~~~

“Pillar Vesper has fallen. I repeat: Pillar Vesper has fallen. A follower of Kreutz, Tewfik, had led an offensive against at approximately 5:53AM. As heavy as we must admit, within twenty minutes of the attack, all of the present forces at Pillar Vesper were killed, including… Including the No.6 Slayer, Firebrand. Additional offensives were led against Windvent and Flares but were repelled.

“I repeat: of the Five Pillars, four stand.

“As of our current contact with the outside world, I cannot confirm immediate aid to Ordo. Kosmos and the Otherguards are currently battling the Cosmic Beasts that dwell in our atmosphere. The world leaders of today are currently in talks, yet many are reluctant and hesitant to act. I know this news may be distressing. I am aware that you have suffered tragedies already, but you, the people of Ordo, deserve to know the truth.

“So I will present you with another: we are still standing. This outbreak is not beyond us. We have trained for this possibility, and we, to the last, are executing our duties faithfully, tirelessly, to restore the yesterday we have cherished, perhaps the yesterday we have taken for granted. The soldiers you see now, they aim their rifles at the enemy for your safety. The Slayers that fight above you, they raise their blades to cut down any otherworldly threats.

“This is the responsibility we bear. In the coming days, we will grow stronger. This is our home, not theirs. For every building they destroy, an emblem of our memories, we will become enraged, and for that, we will seek out their demise without fail, without discrimination, without mercy. All of them.

“Look up to the sky and see Kosmos doing so, the strongest hero that this world knows, my beloved husband, fighting without rest against a creation so foreign that it can only be attributed to Lovecraftian elements. Yet by his actions, it is no longer an unknown horror, but a horror no different than the monsters made from flesh and blood.

“And the tormentors of our city, they too are flesh and blood. They can be killed, and so we will bring death to those who callously deal it. Soon, soon this nightmare will be over, and we will emerge greater.

“Do what you can to assure hope. Eat, drink, pray, hold the ones you love, and smile, and most of all, be kind. Kindness is how we will survive, in body and in heart.

“I, Seraph, promise you.”

“Heh, Sera always knows how to give a good speech,” said the girl dejectedly from behind the holographic screen. She was short, about four-ten, and acted just like the gremlin she was, but she conducted herself like how a giant would.

She was the girl who designed countless of tools and inventions, the genius that could analyze scores of information within seconds, and the infamous hermit who dined on processed foods and had an addiction to video games. A young woman with black hair, coupled with green scattered in clumps and stripes.

Alexander had the pleasure of meeting her once. Leona took him to one of the Angels Guild’s fundraisers; there, while searching for the bathroom, a supply closet shook. He opened the door and found a goblin sitting on a stack of boxes, gaming on her phone. She screamed. He screamed. It made for a very interesting story.

The one and only Sage, an S-Rank Slayer at the age of twenty-one, hailing from Japan: Shirabe Chie.

She looked awful. Firebrand died during Vesper’s collapse. They were close. Really close. But grief had to wait. Archknell held a small meeting at the medical tent where Team Luster was staying, wanting to confirm their general strategy before relaying it to the rest of the task force, which was the Department of Systemic Works here at Ordo University.

“Begin the debriefing, Sage,” told Archknell.

Sage nodded. “Beginning.” She pressed a button on her keyboard and a dozen pictures of Pereyra were thrown out. Taken from various angles, in various locations. “As we know already: the target is the Comet Pereyra of the Kreutz Sungrazers. The System says nothing else about its nature or its skills, only the abilities you saw last night.

“We’re up against a five-man band here. In a game, Tewfik’d be the warrior and Pereyra’d the scout. It’s the only logical conclusion given what we know. Question is: how, in what way, and what can we do? Considering you guys were attacked so soon after Jury’s briefing, Pereyra definitely has a spying ability. Otherwise, we don’t know anything else.

“Sage and her team ran through a lot of theories. It’s not through drones, not like floating demon eyes or something. Else we woulda already seen ‘em. What ‘bout the mobs, using their eyes instead? Probably not. That’d mean monsters would already be in Black Paladin. Spies? Eh, don’t think so.

“We decided to think bigger. The spying ability must have a large range, so Archknell and the Colonel here tasked scouts to wander around Dawns with mana density tools. Lemme pull the reports up.”

With a tap of a button, they were up. Accompanying those reports were a map of Dawns to better visualize which numbers went where. Alexander knew enough about mana levels, but he figured Sage will explain anyway.

Sage pointed to the reports on her left (their right). “These are the numbers that the scouts collected. Overall, they’re pretty high. They also marked out hot spots where Pereyra might be hiding at, but we’re not gonna be that lucky. On Sage’s right, your left, we also measured the mana levels in other parts of the city…”

Alexander compared the two sets of reports: they were different. Dawns measured a greater mana concentration level than the other boroughs, about double theirs.

“...If you can’t already tell, Sage will tell you: We confirmed that Pereyra’s spying ability encompassed all of Dawns.” On the map, it highlighted key locations such as critical infrastructure, shelters, the works. “We noticed a higher level in these places as well. Here especially, and Pillar Dawns too.

“So in summary: Pereyra’s watching all of us, constantly, through an unknown medium. Sage and her team are stumped, honestly. We got nothing but busted theories. The scouts tried looking everywhere, high and low, to see how Pereyra could be watching us, but all the evidence we have are these numbers. Sucks, doesn’t it? Sage thinks it sucks.

“Not like Pereyra’s making its hideout easy to spot either! If there’s any consolation, it’s this: Pereyra needs to be actively watching; information doesn’t magically pop into its brain. Otherwise, it would’ve known Archknell was coming when he rescued you. So in summary, again: it’s active magic.”

Vernon looked around the group in disbelief, then he nudged Alexander. “Hey, is this all we know? It’s almost nothing!”

“Because there are no easy clues,” Jury said in a slight scold. “I’d say we gathered valuable information already. We eliminated what it couldn’t be. The answer’s close; we simply need one valuable clue. Problem, what are your thoughts?”

Problem levitated at the corner of the tent, raising their head only when called upon. They were definitely thinking. “Hmm, besides from the seemingly impossible cards we’re playing against, I need some time to think. It’s what Jury says: we eliminated what it couldn’t be. That’s a start. A rather poor start, but a start nonetheless. The largest problem, I’d say, is deciding our next move. Because, well…”

“If Pereyra’s watching us right now, then we’re writing our wills,” Montana finished. “It’ll know what we’re doing. Could send something big after us, sic Tewfik or the other Comets, or if we’re lucky: nothing at all. We can know everything we want, but it’ll know too, and we know it knows, and it makes any action we take hard and rough.”

A bitter silence stained everyone’s thoughts. The truth was difficult to accept due to the current intelligence, both the known and the unknown, as if the concepts conspired together like partners-in-crime. Montana was absolutely correct. This was a problem that needed to be solved immediately.

Pereyra was the barrier to immediate and swift action. It could hear and listen to what all of Dawns had to say: any plans they had, any contingencies they prepared, how many people were placed here or there, and especially their weaknesses. An unlimited amount of information. It made surprises impossible.

What if Ordo University attempted to raid Pereyra’s hideout? It’d know. What if they decided to bolster Pillar Dawns’s defense? It’d know and could prepare. What if they did nothing? Well, they’d lose. Horribly. Pereyra essentially guaranteed that they were forever a single step behind like a dog coming after its own tail.

Hypothetically, if they locate Pereyra, they’d need overwhelming manpower to attack its hideout. Not possible. Due to a recent tragedy, manpower was limited. A suicide mission was also an option but those were too dramatic and too costly. Doing nothing, as described earlier, would only be a solution if they could hold out until Kosmos and the Otherguards defeat the Cosmic Beasts. Yet then, it’d be the question of: Could they last that long?

Defending was difficult, perhaps useless. If Pereyra could penetrate Black Paladin Station, then it could penetrate the Pillar. It knew the current operations, its timetables, and right when the available reinforcements were strained, the attack would be made. The Comet was no better than an obsessed stalker.

Thus, the only natural conclusion was…

“We’re fucked,” Alexander said.

“Alexander,” reprimanded Leona, about to pinch his cheek if it wasn’t for the current environment.

“So much for morale,” exclaimed Damien, throwing his hands up. “You heard Seraph, didn’t you? We’re supposed to have hope!”

Hidden frowned, shaking her head. “Dude…”

“I’m joking, alright?” cleared Alexander, easing everyone’s outrage—and some chuckled, like Montana. “Our options are limited, I get it. We can divert our energy into Pillar Dawns’s well-being, or we put pressure on Pereyra. Somehow.”

“Well,” Archknell pointed to the map. He gestured towards the red dots, which were the hotspots that Sage had described earlier, having a greater mana concentration level than normal. Relatively normal, anyhow. “We can start with this: we will send you and the juniors on another scouting mission, this time investigating these locations. You’ll search for clues and, if possible, eliminate the threats.

“If Lady Luck is with us, we’ll find Pereyra. If not, Dawns will be safer.”

“Is that the current plan then?” Jury asked. “A light scouting mission across Dawns?”

Archknell sighed, taking one good look at the map again. “Tentatively, yes. Sage, do you have any personal thoughts about this plan?”

Sage grumbled to herself, averting her eyes. “Sage guesses so. She got nothing but bad ideas. And…” She paused, then shook her head. “Never mind. It’s nothing. She does have one thing though: use the Slayer System to communicate.”

“Of course. It’ll be impossible for Pereyra to read our messages.” Archknell gandered around the current team. “Sage, you’ve been given the list of participating juniors and the locations. Communicate with Luster and Alba, answer any questions they’ll have, then inform the task force about the official briefing in one hour.” He turned to Alexander. “Shen, I need to speak to you outside.”

“Yessir.” Alexander glanced at Leona, entrusting her with a summary, and left the medical tent with Archknell. He took them to the side, away from unnecessary ears.

Archknell was concerned about something, that much was clear. His eyebrows furrowed, lips curled, apprehensive. “I have to speak to you about your sister and Vernon Hugo. They technically joined your party, didn't they?”

So that’s it. I wanted to pull him to the side anyway. “They have, yeah. How is Mark reacting to this? He’s pissed, isn’t he?”

Archknell sighed. “Very. He doesn’t approve of Vernon being apart of the operation for obvious reasons, but he’s far too busy working with Monarch and Levin. Now, this is my opinion: we shouldn’t have to use the juniors here, nor these kids, but after seeing what had happened with Vesper… Well, I believe we’re going to be desperate very soon.

“Shen, it’s your choice ultimately. Do you want them to participate in this operation?”

“It’s theirs too. I’m willing to let them fight because they’re capable. Althea managed to come here by herself after nearly being eaten alive by ghouls, and Vernon prevented Sun Hall from falling. While the world was tearing at the seams, they stayed cool and did work. I can trust them, but they have to show me that they are committed. It’s not something they can half-ass.

“So…” Alexander looked to his right, staring at nothing in particular. “Did you two hear that?”

From a corner, Althea and Vernon emerged, having listened to their brief exchange. Alexander knew they were eavesdropping on them; it was obvious that Archknell wanted to speak to him about their participation.

As Althea went to speak first, Alexander raised a hand. She stopped. Good, she knew when to stand back and pay attention. “This isn’t a fight for survival, not like last time. You have to work in a team, with several teams probably, and know when to follow orders. And God forbid, when to disobey when absolutely necessary.

“Look, believe me, I’d prefer if you two were shipped to Primordial Zero but you are adults now. You should make your own decision, but it’s up to me to judge them. Now, and in the future as well. If I think you’re going to be a burden, placing yourself or others in unnecessary harm, you’re done.

“Know what you’re getting into. There’ll be a lot more blood and guts, and you will get hurt. So: Do you need to fight?”

The two kids—young adults, really—glanced at one another. There was not a trace of uncertainty in their eyes, merely a mixture of emotions: anger, determination, maybe a bit of belligerence.

Alexander looked at Archknell, who whispered something: “They’re determined, I will give them that.”

He smirked and replied, “They are.” Then, he raised his voice. “What will it be, you two?”

Without hesitation, they spoke.

~~~

“I did it…” muttered Chie, taking a well-earned break after the first briefing. As well-earned as five to ten minutes anyway, or when something needed her attention.

She laid back on her comfortable work-chair, which doubled as a gaming chair with cup holders and leg rest and all the bells and whistles that she made herself, being a genius engineer and all. There, the dull ceiling gave her company. The lights, powered by a back-up generator, were long since dimmed to a comfortable hue.

She had been comfortable in this place, in her “lair” as Sera jokingly called it. It was where the Great Sage lied, in her wickedly slovenly lair with unfinished projects, she’ll get to them someday, and plates, she’ll make a robot that sends them up someday, and papers, she’ll organize them someday.

Pillar Vesper was gone now, she didn’t have time to worry about her work space. What she needed was coffee and some good ideas. Then, she’d blow those Comets into stardust and everything will be just alright, and Ordo will turn back to normal, becoming the Slayer Capital once again.

Chie reached for an empty coffee mug (she had several on her desk) and took the closest one. It was a black mug; she turned it to the front and whimpered seeing the design: a large red and orange flame. The back had “BURN BRIGHT” written in large white. This was one of the first merchandise celebrating Aiden’s rise to prominence. He gifted her this. Of all mugs…

Sera had apologized earlier. She didn’t have to do that. Chie’d never blame her for putting Aiden there. No one could’ve known that Tewfik would chop down Pillar Vesper like it was a tree, not even Nathan, not even the greatest prophets or precogs. No one. At least Aiden put up a good fight, scarring Tewfik too, before kicking the bucket.

He…

“Hey Chie, don’t cry, alright? I’ll kill Tewfik, and when that happens, you’ll be so happy that you’d wanna punch me. In the meantime, just keep at it and be the genius munchkin I know you are. You’re the biggest badass I know.”

“Idiot…” Chie’s fingers tightened around the mug, feeling the rough coffee stains near the lip. A small dried pool caked the inside, damped only by a soft drizzle of tears. “Don’t say something like that…”

She held the mug as if a jewel, curling over it, with a wish that this was all a nightmare. So she shut her eyes, expecting Aiden to wake her up at the end.