As a newly minted member of the Spades, I was quickly given access to the organization's inner workings. This allowed me to better understand their hierarchy, resources, and overall goals – invaluable information for my mission to sabotage them from within.
Ace wasted no time in putting me through a series of training exercises with other members of his team, highlighting not only my own strengths but those of my new "allies" as well. Though my primary focus was on Ace and finding Grimora, I couldn't afford to underestimate the rest of his group.
In order to fully integrate myself into the Spades, I knew that I would have to form connections with these individuals - creating both trust and dependency. If they viewed me as an ally, it would be easier to manipulate them when the time came to make my move against Ace.
"So, what were you doing outside the city?" One of the male members asked me as we sparred.
"Have you all had your eye since I came in?" I asked, and the other guy stopped shooting at me.
It had been almost a week of this training, but none had even removed their masks. I didn't understand what they were hiding, but I understood when the guy took off his helmet. They were keeping their identities secret; they were hiding them from the rest of the world.
"Not many people can keep going when the infection gets this bad, but you didn't even set the sensors off at the gates. G said you would be trouble, and she wasn't wrong, but I figured if you can hold your own with that much infection and no serum," The man said, half his covered in the Mechanized Virus far worse than mine. G must be the Grimora I was looking for, but I had to be careful. She was also Ace's girlfriend.
I planned on trying to steal her or at least get her to cheat on him. As for the rest, I was going to have to get to know them. Everyone has an Achilles heel, I just had to find it. I needed to make sure that I got this guy good for Helena, but it was more than that.
Aquaria's words echoed in my mind – the importance of forging bonds and connections. Despite my mission being centered around chaos, I couldn't deny the pull of wanting to create something meaningful amidst all the destruction.
"I'm just trying to survive like everyone else," I replied carefully, not wanting to reveal too much about myself. "I've learned to adapt and make the most out of a difficult situation."
The man nodded, seeming to understand. "We all have our reasons for being here. But you've got your own unique story, that's for sure. Anyway, let's get back to training. My name is Greg, by the way."
"Halberd," I said with a smile as Greg pointed his gun at me. "But I am sure you already knew that, right?" I asked as blades grew from my hands.
Once we were finished, I headed back out to the commons area, but it seemed someone was waiting for me.
"New recruit! I would like to have a word with you! You were twelve seconds late to this morning's practice!" One of the females demanded of me one out of the blue when I had just finished training with Greg.
I sighed and took a mental note of her strict nature and the potential leverage it could provide in the future. "I'm Halberd, as you probably already know."
Instead of answering, I was pulled into a room, and the door closed behind us. The woman turned to me and took her helmet off, revealing a stunningly beautiful black woman.
"You are one of me, aren't you?!" She demanded, and I frowned at her. I knew what she meant, but that was a strange way of saying it.
"If you mean from the Heavenly Realm, then yes," I said, and then put my hands up as who I assumed must be Grimora put her gun in my face. Both of our eyes were locked each other, and I could tell that she was serious.
"You must know who I am and know how this has to play out," Grimora said, her gun not wavering as she aimed it at my face.
"Hold on there! I am not like Helena, and I am here for a special reason! This world is a CCS!" I spat out quickly, but Grimora only tightened her grip on her weapon.
"Wait, a Critical Chaos System?" Grimora's grip on her weapon loosened slightly as her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Tell me more about this."
I sighed with relief that she was at least considering my words. "It's true. This world is at risk of being plunged into chaos if Ace continues on his current path. I've been given the mission to eliminate him and restore balance, but first I have to create enough turmoil within his organization that it breaks apart."
"Why should I trust you?" She asked. "The only reason that you could be here is to steal my target! Even if this is a CCS!"
"I am trying to tell you that I am not like you! I am here to kill Ace, not just get close to him like you!" I snapped back, and Grimora got a blank and confused look on her face.
"Kill him? You can't do that! If you try, the Wraiths will just kill you!" She snapped, but as she did, she tossed her head back. I used this moment to grab her weapon and then slam her back into the wall. There were no windows in the place, so I would take advantage of this moment.
"I am a Chaos Trigger, and you are either going to work with me, or I will turn every one of these people against you, just like you did with Helena!" I snarled as Grimora struggled in my grip, but I was much stronger than her.
"You are working for her!" Grimora hissed, and I nodded.