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2024-10-29 19:42:56« ASSESSMENT »
ROGUE HUNTERS GAMMA-RANK COMBAT ALERT: LETHAL FORCE IMMINENT He scoffed. "Yeah, no kidding." They attacked simultaneously, with one behind the other. He moved backwards, dodging their strikes with quick, subtle movements. «COUNTER MEASURES» ENTER CLOSE COMBAT ACTIVATE DEFENSE SHIELD DEPLOY LONG-RANGE ATTACKS ACTIVATE SPECIAL ABILITY ALL-OUT OFFENSIVE EMPLOY STEALTH MODE "All-out offensive does sound good. Any other options?" The system showed three words: REASON WITH OPPONENTS He chuckled. "Yeah, Lexa, I don't think that's gonna fly at the moment, but let's give it a try." The second Rogue swiped at his head from the side, then switched almost immediately and brought it down on him as he ducked. He propelled backwards in a breeze, landing in a crouch, placing them both in his line of sight. That was close. He looked up. "I'm running out of patience so I'll ask once: who are you, and what do you want?" They didn't reply. Instead, they changed their stances, and their ice axes glowed brighter. « ASSESSMENT » MURDEROUS INTENT DETECTED "Right." He rose with a sigh. They were slightly crouched now, knees bent and arms extended, eyes glaring maliciously, ready to pounce at any moment. No need to drag this out. They had clearly amped up their gloves, and were very careful with how close they got. Wise enough. They might be lesser ranked than he was, but they had sharp skills; and murderous intent. He squared his shoulders, mentally outlining the best possible direction their confrontation would take in the next one minute. The duo had already launched themselves at him, piolets reaching out for his head, his neck, his torso. "Deploy long-range attack…." He held up his hands, spreading out his fingers at his opponents in mid air, "....quarkspike." The tekhans beamed a dark purple, dimming the lights in the room for a second. Then a burst of electric blue erupted from his wrists, forming an array of thin, glowing spikes that hurtled towards them in a trail of steam. They struck home in a second, without space for thought or escape; the pain and surprise flashed in their eyes just before the Rogues were sent flying into the wall with a crash. The air was buzzing as the quarkspike's energy dissipated with steam streaming from his hands. The two Hunters' lifeless bodies slumped to the ground, their weapons and armor dark and still. He wrinkled his nose at the smell of burnt flesh and ozone, and at the wall that had cracked behind them. "That's gonna come out of my pay." A heavily concealed sound picked his attention, and he turned just in time to spot the last Rogue sneaking past the hole in the wall. He paused and turned as well, staring face to face with Hikaru. For a second. Then his gaze shifted to his dead companions. The fear registered shortly in his eyes before he bolted, heading straight for the bushes to his right. Hikaru held up his index and middle finger and aimed. "Get me a heat signature," he said. The outline of a man flashed into his vision, glowing red with the heat from his heightened state of tension. "Bingo." A single spike traveled out of his fingers, tearing through leaf and stem in a blaze until it passed right through his neck. He tumbled forwards with a loud choking sound, then he fell still, eyes wide open in shock. «THREAT NEUTRALIZED. SYSTEM ON STANDBY» Hikaru groaned. He had meant for it to be a stunner, not to kill him. Suddenly, a frown descended on his face as he surveyed the room. Something was not right. Three dead assassins, a giant hole in the wall and… "Fuck." 9.00 PM, ROUTE 9, LEADING OUT OF NODERYN Mobikes were rare vehicles. They hovered above the ground, gliding on force energy like a jet ski for land. Warden riders were required to have a license and to wear special streamlined suits in case of accidents (which happened more often than not, owing to the incredible speed of the motor). As much as Neon followed principles and laws set down by the Order, this was one of the few that he regularly ignored. His hair and his coat streaked behind him in the heavy breeze as he navigated the back roads of the city. There was simply no time, he thought. He had a bad feeling about it all; from the fact that the creature was an Arkeian, to the fact that she had captured AND left it back at the castle. How had it gotten past people? How did the Storm girl put it down? What was it after? He let his mind wander for a bit, gathering bits of knowledge that might have slipped out of his reach. Kaido Tadori, head of the Director Wardens at HQ, was renowned for being the only survivor of the single expedition into the Veil carried out six years ago. According to his reports, it was ascertained that certain beings had existed in the Veil, long before it even manifested on Earth. The humans trapped inside, the Anomalies, actively avoided them. He called them "seishins," and later on, everyone else called them Entities. But once in a while, for some dark, unknown reason, one of these beings might choose to "possess" an Anomaly and give rise to an unholy aberration called the Arkeian. It was this creature that decimated Tadori's party, and somehow he had escaped, but not without a missing arm. They all had the distinction of being fiery and hairless and winged and never less than Beta-level threat. Since Tadori's discovery, two such abominations had been hunted and exorcised back into the Veil. This was at the cost of human lives of course, Wardens and civilians alike. That was two years ago. The appearance of one (perhaps two, if he was counting the one he saw back in Bloom Village), certainly did not mean anything good. The screen on the mobike's windshield flashed green with the words, 'INCOMING CALL' and an image of Norrie underneath. "Hey, hunter." Her hair was wild and black as ever, spilling over her shoulder and bare chest. He smiled instinctively and shifted his gaze back to the road. Shouldn't you be in bed?" "Same goes for you," she replied, "You're on the road, aren't you?" "Yeah. And it's really hard to concentrate." She clicked her tongue. "Lords. What is it with you and night hunts?" He chuckled at the despair in her voice. "Can't help that I'm something of a nocturnal creature. I was called the Caracal back at the Academy, remember?" "I do," she said, leaned back and folded her arms, "I also remember that whatever comes from the Veil has full power at night." "Relax. It's not my first mission." She sighed heavily. "I just miss you, I guess." "What's that now, boss?" He said teasingly. She pouted instantly. "Oh, fuck off." "Don't worry. I'll make it up to you, I promise." "You better." Her voice took on a professional tone and her face grew sterner. "Any progress?" He told her about the two people he had encountered in the alley, about the assassin that killed the client and the Rogue Hunter who was bound back at the safe house, and the creature she had supposedly captured, currently at Yugen Castle. "Akira Storm," repeated Norrie with a frown, "She's from the Storm family, and the best student of the 73rd graduating class. We still don't know why she went Rogue, though." "Lots of Warden agents go Rogue for lots of reasons. Hers isn't any different." "And you believe her?" Norrie said, "It could be some sort of bait." "She was telling the truth," Neon confirmed. He could still remember the fear that creeped into her eyes when Hikaru had interrogated her and the rate of her heartbeat. In standard investigative circles, there was no way she would hold anything back. "She's going in, either way. Seven years is still the minimum sentence, right?" She shook her head. "No, don't turn her in just yet." Neon frowned. "Why not?" "She might have more information than she's letting on. After you're done with the Arkeian, IF there is one, you bring her back to HQ." He nodded and turned to glance at his environment. The view was quickly changing from tall buildings and blinding lights to bare, deserted lands and silent winds. "Right," He turned back to the screen, "You should get some sleep. You've been working that soft ass off." A smile appeared on her face for a second. "Go get 'em, creepy head."
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Hunter's Creed 12. AT THE PAWNSHOP
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Hunter's Creed 13. WHISPERS IN THE UNDERGROUND
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“Chapter Three: Radalthra: A Record Of Resilience.…..During the Great War, the landmass now known as Radalthra served as a major front for the Aethorian armies, owing to its unique geography and vantage point.….After the War and the Unraveling, the city’s founders, wise to the dangers of Anomaly invasion, divided Radalthra into North, South, East and West blocks to facilitate swift response and decisive defense. The North Block, with its proximity to the Veil, served as the primary hub for Hunter activities…The South Block was dedicated to research and development…the East Block, with its reinforced defenses, serves as a secure residential area for citizens and a retreat area in times of crisis….the West Block is the commercial heart of the city. This, of course, was (and parts of it remain so) the order of things before the sudden ‘colonization’ of Radalthra by the Rogue Hunters.”{THE ATLAS OF AETHORIA: A GEOGRAPHIC COMPENDIUM BY ELLIAN MARKUS}8.06 AM, ROJU ALLEY, WEST BLOCK, RADA
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A hundred years ago, the Great War broke out between the world powers, spanning across continents and wreaking untold havoc on the Earth. It was during this period that the Rift occurred, a visible tear in the space between the human world and the Veil of supernatural entities. Some say it was caused by the cataclysms and cosmic shootouts from the war. Others speculate that there were those who wanted to go beyond the physical world for help, and some mishap must have happened. And there are still those who believe curiosity and hidden experiments to harness the Veil's power pushed it through to our world. Either way, the Rift and the emergence of a translucent force field brought significant changes to the world. It granted abilities to humans who had been close to the Veil at the time of its appearance, but it also trapped and mutated others into what they called Anomalies. And when the original creatures or spirits of the Veil possessed those Anomalies, they gave rise to wha
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15. ONSLAUGHT
“Chapter Three: Radalthra: A Record Of Resilience.…..During the Great War, the landmass now known as Radalthra served as a major front for the Aethorian armies, owing to its unique geography and vantage point.….After the War and the Unraveling, the city’s founders, wise to the dangers of Anomaly invasion, divided Radalthra into North, South, East and West blocks to facilitate swift response and decisive defense. The North Block, with its proximity to the Veil, served as the primary hub for Hunter activities…The South Block was dedicated to research and development…the East Block, with its reinforced defenses, serves as a secure residential area for citizens and a retreat area in times of crisis….the West Block is the commercial heart of the city. This, of course, was (and parts of it remain so) the order of things before the sudden ‘colonization’ of Radalthra by the Rogue Hunters.”{THE ATLAS OF AETHORIA: A GEOGRAPHIC COMPENDIUM BY ELLIAN MARKUS}8.06 AM, ROJU ALLEY, WEST BLOCK, RADA
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14: REVEAL
“...there can be found among their number, upgrades to their equipment. One such example are suits modeled after exoskeletons, worn by a select few...It represents the pinnacle of clandestine innovation. These remarkable attires could boast, to name the least, adaptive camouflage capabilities, enhanced strength and agility augmentation, integrated life support and medical systems, advanced sensors and threat detection.” {I.H EBUKA, THE WARDEN'S COMPENDIUM} 7.42 AM, ROUTE 9, LEADING OUT OF NODERYN. RADALTHRA IS DUE NORTH. The sun was just beginning to rise in the horizon when the screen on Neon's mobike flashed green. The caller ID read 'Norrie.' "Well you look like shit," she said when he connected the call. She was already in her blue coat and her hair, tied back in a prim ponytail, was being whipped about by the wind. "Where are you?" He asked. "Rooftop. It's a bit noisy down there in the office. What you got?" "You were right," he said, "There wasn't an Arkeian."
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13. WHISPERS IN THE UNDERGROUND
7.54 AM, GIICHI'S STORE, ROJU ALLEY, WEST BLOCK, RADALTHRA. "You are on your own from here on out," Giichi said as the elevator dinged, signaling their arrival. The doors didn't slide open though, and Hikaru raised a brow at his former mentor. "What?" "I just thought it over. I don't want anything to do with your Warden investigation, whether you've got something in it for me or not." "It's brilliant what an elevator ride can do to one's resolve, eh?" Hikaru said dryly. "You got ten minutes before I kick your ass out. Try not to attract attention in there before then. A disguise could work. Honestly, it's a miracle they haven't slapped your face on some Wanted poster." "Right. Thanks anyhow." Hikaru pulled a hood over his face with a sigh. "Ten minutes." In the years when the wars were being fought, there were a web of underground networks that had been built below the districts close to Noderyn. Some say their purpose was to transport supplies for soldiers, others s
- Hunter's Creed
12. AT THE PAWNSHOP
"CHAPTER VII: ROGUE ELEMENTS There exists a subset of Maegen energy users who operate outside the bounds of the Order's jurisdiction. These rogue hunters, driven by self-interest and a disregard for the greater good, seek to exploit Anomalies for personal gain. They capture and trade these beings on the black market….undermining the balance of power in our world. The Wardens of the Order are tasked with bringing these renegades to justice, apprehending them whenever possible and subjecting them to the appropriate tribunals. The punishment for such transgressions is severe, ranging from a minimum of seven years imprisonment to a permanent blockade from the Maegen energy. Their actions are a affront to the principles of the Order….only through the combined efforts of our hunters can we hope to eradicate this scourge and ensure the safety of humanity." {I.H EBUKA, THE WARDEN'S COMPENDIUM} 1.49 AM, THE SAFE HOUSE, OUTSKIRTS OF NODERYN CITY. The tekhans on Neon's wrists glowed a
- Hunter's Creed
11: ANOMALIES, ASSASSINS AND COFFEE
“THE HORNED ARE CONSIDERED THE FASTEST….OF THE ANOMALIES. THESE ENIGMATIC BEINGS ARE DISTINGUISHED BY THEIR GRAY, KERATINIZED SKIN AND IMPOSING HORNS. THEIR MOST STRIKING FEATURE, HOWEVER, IS THEIR UNIQUE ABILITY TO EXTRUDE AND/OR FIRE BONY PROTRUSIONS FROM ANY POINT ON THEIR BODY, WHICH THEY EMPLOY BOTH AS AN DEFENSIVE MECHANISM AND AS A DEADLY OFFENSIVE WEAPON…” {A.H ORWYCK, THE WARDEN'S GUIDE TO HUNTING} The flame bolt from the handblazer tore off the Horned's arm, sending it crashing into the floor next to Sanji. Neon took aim again, but in that split second, it flipped over and aimed at him with the other palm. He ducked just in time as a bone missile whistled past his ear. "How the hell are these things so fast?" The beast had sprung to its feet. Reaching down, it grabbed Sanji and hauled him up into the air. "Hey!" Barked Neon. He pointed the blazer at the Horned. "Hey, let him go!" His finger hovered above the trigger while he gritted his teeth, contemplating
- Hunter's Creed
10: AND THEN THERE WERE TWO
“THE ANOMALIES ARE CLASSIFIED INTO THREE TYPES: HORNED, CLAWED, WINGED….THE BASICS OF WHAT WE HAVE DEDUCED SO FAR ARE THAT ANOMALIES DO NOT GROUP TOGETHER……THAT THEY POSSESS VARYING DEGREES OF INTELLIGENCE….DO NOT REGISTER ANY EMOTION OTHER THAN THE PREDATORY INSTINCT TO SURVIVE.” {A.H ORWYCK, THE WARDEN'S GUIDE TO HUNTING} 9.32 PM, YUGEN CASTLE, THE WASTELANDS. Castle Yugen loomed over the landscape like a dark sentinel, the silent, great testament to a gone age. Its crumbling towers pierced the night sky, twisted plants strangled the ancient stone walls, their gnarled tendrils creeping into the shattered windows. Nothing moved and nothing breathed as far as Neon could tell. He didn't lower his guard even then. He watched and listened and sniffed at the air now and then while he walked up the hillock. He paused at the open gates, activating body shield before he walked in. Inside, the air was heavy with the scent of decay and abandonment. Grand chandeliers hung precario
- Hunter's Creed
9: MURDEROUS INTENTIONS
« ASSESSMENT » ROGUE HUNTERS GAMMA-RANK COMBAT ALERT: LETHAL FORCE IMMINENT He scoffed. "Yeah, no kidding." They attacked simultaneously, with one behind the other. He moved backwards, dodging their strikes with quick, subtle movements. «COUNTER MEASURES» ENTER CLOSE COMBAT ACTIVATE DEFENSE SHIELD DEPLOY LONG-RANGE ATTACKS ACTIVATE SPECIAL ABILITY ALL-OUT OFFENSIVE EMPLOY STEALTH MODE "All-out offensive does sound good. Any other options?" The system showed three words: REASON WITH OPPONENTS He chuckled. "Yeah, Lexa, I don't think that's gonna fly at the moment, but let's give it a try." The second Rogue swiped at his head from the side, then switched almost immediately and brought it down on him as he ducked. He propelled backwards in a breeze, landing in a crouch, placing them both in his line of sight. That was close. He looked up. "I'm running out of patience so I'll ask once: who are you, and what do you want?" They didn't reply. Instead, th
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8: INTRUDERS
Hikaru walked up coffee table and placed his palm on the edge. The glass glowed blue in response, casting a visual image of the area around the house. He watched for a while with a beer in one hand, as Neon checked his bearings outside. Then he got on one of the mobikes and took off, out of sight of the cameras. "You are one hell of a brother," Hikaru muttered and took a swig of his beer. "Hey, douchebags! You've got a lady in here, remember?! And I've got to use the fucking toilet!" His brows shot up in his head as though he only just remembered his captive. He took out another bottle in addition to the one he held and headed into the adjoining room. Her expression hardened as soon as he walked in. ‘She didn't expect to see me,' he thought. He couldn't sense any emotion coming off her, as opposed to the fear that had leaked off her earlier. "I'm impressed," he said, "Youmask your feelings properly." He set the bottles on the bed and took a knife out of his ba
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7: AN INTERROGATION
She scoffed and raised her head. "Let me guess, you were sent after the Entity?" "Answer the question." "Or what?" Neon sighed, rubbing his nose between his thumb and index. "I can force the information out of you. It's quite nasty, but not impossible." "Go ahead," she said, "Break your rules. It won't be the first time you Hunters have gone unorthodox." He stared at her for a few seconds, and she thought he was the coldest person she had stared at, blank faced and unpredictable. He wouldn't torture her, no but she had a feeling he could do something worse and was contemplating it. She did not want to know what it was. "Oh for Lords' sake." The golden haired one stepped forward, tipping the glass of water toward her lips. "Here, have a sip. You must be thirsty." She hesitated, but couldn't completely ignore the coolness coming off the liquid. She lowered her head and drank steadily until the cup was empty. "There." He twirled the chair properly and sat in fron
