But this world, Terra II—this haunted, cursed land—offered no illusions of peace. This was a place plagued by horrors beyond comprehension and nightmares that walked the same soil as the species of Terra. Here, there were no happy endings, only survival bought in blood.
As the first K9 lunged toward her, its teeth bared and claws extended, Seraniti's expression remained unchanged. No smirk, no rage—just those tired, dull grey eyes that seemed to see straight through the noise around her. She flicked her wrist, and 01 shot forward with precision, slamming into the K9's chest with a sickening crack. The force sent the creature tumbling backward, its body convulsing as it choked on blood.
Her other hand moved almost simultaneously, her motions sharp and practiced. She aimed 02 and 03 toward a cluster of approaching enemies. The apparatus on both cannons spun faster, building potential as they hummed ominously. Fwoom—BOOM! Twin Lavoisier rounds exploded in the distance, lighting up the open area like a festival of destruction. The shockwaves rippled through the ground, throwing two K9s off their feet and scattering debris into the air.
"What?" she muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible over the echoes of the explosions. "You think I'm wasting my hands on five nobodies?" She snorted faintly, but there was no amusement in her tone. This is no game.
Dust and smoke swirled around her as she moved forward, her boots digging into the ground to steady herself. She reached the first K9, the one she had pinned with 01, its body convulsing as blood poured from its mouth. Without hesitation, she grabbed the operator handle of 01 and yanked it free. The shield retracted slightly before she slammed it down onto the K9's chest with brutal force.
"AU!" The K9 yelped, its dog-like head jerking upward as its eyes widened in panic.
Seraniti didn't stop. She grabbed its snout with both hands, her red-stained fingers clamping down like a vice. With a grunt of effort, she drove her knee upward into its jaw, the force sending another sickening crack echoing through the air. The K9 whimpered, its body twitching as she pulled its head back and slammed it against her raised knee once more.
"Shut up," she muttered, her tone flat and unyielding. She tightened her grip on its snout and lower jaw, her muscles straining as she began to pull. The K9 thrashed beneath her, its claws scraping at her arms in desperation. Her feet dug harder into the ground as she yelled, the effort of tearing through its sinew and bone testing even her enhanced strength.
The other K9s were recovering now, shaking off the effects of the explosions. Their howls filled the air as they charged toward her, their movements chaotic but purposeful. "Hang tight, Marshall!" one of them barked, calling to the K9 within Seraniti's grasp.
Seraniti didn't even glance up. Her focus remained on the K9 in her grasp as she pulled harder, the sound of skin tearing and bones snapping filling the air like a macabre symphony. Her hands burned with exertion, but she didn't falter.
The others reached her, their Arms—guns fueled by potential and bullets—blazing as they opened fire. She shifted 01, 02, and 03 telekinetically, the cannons weaving around her like extensions of her consciousness. 01 intercepted the bullets with its shield-like structure, deflecting them with metallic clangs, while 02 and 03 returned fire, their apparatus spinning as more Lavoisier rounds loaded into their chambers.
"
The next K9 lunged at her, claws aimed for her throat. Seraniti shifted her weight, planting her feet firmly as she ducked to the side. Her right hook slammed into the K9's face with a dull thud, the force sending it stumbling. She wasted no time, jamming the spinning apparatus of 03 into its open mouth. The cannon's hum grew louder, and the K9's eyes widened in terror.
Boom!
The shot tore through its skull, sending chunks of flesh and bone scattering. The smell of blood mixed with the acrid scent of burnt gunpowder, making the air thick and nauseating. Seraniti pulled 03 back, tilting it downward as it began its 4.5-second reload cycle. Her breathing was labored now, her arms trembling slightly from the strain of the fight.
Two more K9s approached cautiously, their movements more coordinated now. They weren't fools—they had learned from their fallen comrades. Seraniti could hear their snarls, low and deliberate, as they circled her like wolves stalking prey. Behind them, the handler stood silently, his gaze sharp and calculating. He wasn't cocky; he knew better than to underestimate her.
"Let's see how long you last, banshee," one of the K9s sneered, his claws glinting as he flexed his hands.
Seraniti didn't respond. She adjusted her grip on 01, her grey eyes fixed on the two K9s in front of her with the same dull, exhausted look she always wore. Her feathers bristled ever so slightly, stiff and sharp as the tension in the air thickened. The smell of blood and death hung heavy around her, the ground slick beneath her boots, but she remained unmoved, her mind racing through the possibilities.
Seraniti didn't respond. She adjusted her grip on 01, her grey eyes flicking between the two K9s. Her expression remained dull and exhausted, the weariness etched into her face betraying no fear—only irritation. Her stiff, feather-like features bristled faintly as she calculated her next move. Blood pooled at her feet, mingling with the thick, acrid stench of death that hung heavy in the air.
Her mind raced through possibilities, her thoughts as sharp and calculated as the sequences she wielded. She extended her palm toward the two K9s, her fingers curling slightly as the MICA on her right wrist chimed softly. The sound was accompanied by a faint glow, and in an instant, a complex sequence formed beneath the K9s. The intricate pattern—lines, symbols, and shifting numbers—burned brightly on the ground.
Fwoom! The sequence erupted in flames, engulfing one of the K9s in a torrent of fire. The creature howled in agony, its form thrashing as the flames consumed it. The second K9 leapt to safety, its claws scraping against the ground as it dodged the attack. With an animalistic growl, it jumped toward a nearby wall. A sequence formed beneath its feet as it began to run along the vertical surface, its movements unnaturally quick and precise.
"Persistent little shit." Seraniti muttered under her breath, her eyes darting upward to track its movement. But before she could react, a sharp force slammed into her back, sending her sprawling forward. Her body hit the ground hard, the impact forcing the air from her lungs.
"Fu—!" she wheezed, her words cutting off as she rolled into a stack of crates. The wood splintered under the force, sharp edges digging into her side as she struggled to catch her breath. Her hands scrambled for purchase as she pushed herself up slightly, glaring at the figure standing a few meters away.
The handler had finally entered the fray. His stance was steady, his gaze cold and calculating. "Didn't think I'd let them handle you alone, did you?" he asked, his tone sharp but measured.
Seraniti coughed hard, her body trembling slightly as she wiped a streak of blood from the corner of her mouth. "Tch. Thought you were smarter than to fight me head-on," she shot back, her voice raspy but defiant.
Before he could respond, a sharp whirring sound filled the air. Her eyes widened slightly as an aerial vehicle loomed overhead, its shadow casting an ominous silhouette over the battlefield. "No, no, no…" she muttered, her frustration mounting as the craft descended. The vehicle's thrusters kicked up clouds of dust and debris, forcing her to shield her face momentarily.
The AV landed with a metallic thud, its doors sliding open as reinforcements poured out. A squad of guards—fully armed and outfitted—leapt from the craft, their movements precise and coordinated. They wasted no time, spreading out in formation as their weapons locked onto Seraniti.
"Fucking great!" she spat, her irritation boiling over. Her grey eyes, usually so dull and tired, began to change. A faint circle with a missing piece formed in her irises, glowing faintly as her frustration grew. She rolled behind the splintered remains of the crate, her fingers twitching slightly as she reached for the Minié ammunition stored in 03.
The apparatus spun faster as the cannon loaded the first round. Minié ammunition—compact but devastating—allowed for precision and rapid fire. Seraniti had sixty-six shots at her disposal, and she wasn't planning to waste a single one.
"Let's get this over with," she muttered, crouching low as she gestured sharply. 03 tilted into position, its frame adjusting to line up with the approaching guards.
BOOM! The first shot rang out, the Minié round tearing through the air. One of the guards was thrown backward, his armor splintering under the force. Another moved to retaliate, firing a burst of bullets, but Seraniti shifted 01 telekinetically, the shield deflecting the projectiles with a sharp metallic clang.
Sequences formed rapidly beneath the guards, glowing with eerie precision. Each one was a labyrinth of lines, numbers, and letters that defied logic, their incomprehensible patterns reminiscent of a language not meant for understanding. One of the guards hesitated, his gaze fixated on the glowing symbols beneath him.
"What the hell are these—" he started, but his words were cut off as the sequence activated. A shockwave sent him sprawling, his weapon skidding out of reach.
Seraniti moved with purpose, her actions fluid despite the chaos surrounding her. Her flames erupted once more, coating her hands in a searing 700-degree inferno as she grabbed another guard by the arm. The man screamed as the heat burned through his armor, the smell of scorched flesh filling the air. Without hesitation, she slammed him into the ground, the impact reverberating through her arms.
"Keep coming, you bastards!" she shouted, her voice raw with exertion. Another guard lunged toward her, but she ducked low, delivering a powerful right hook to his ribs. The force sent him staggering, and before he could recover, she jammed the spinning apparatus of 03 into his torso.
BOOM! The round discharged, throwing the guard back with enough force to shatter his chest plate. Seraniti winced as the cannon tilted downward, signaling its 4.5-second reload cycle. "Hurry up," she muttered, already repositioning herself behind another crate as bullets whizzed past her.
The K9s regrouped near the handler, their snarls growing louder as they prepared to charge again. Seraniti's feathers bristled, her body trembling slightly from the strain. She tightened her grip on 01, the tired yet fierce look in her eyes never wavering.
Seraniti jumped behind another crate just as the one she had been using for cover was sliced cleanly into pieces. Shards of wood and metal scattered around her as a relentless storm of ammunition and the sharp whine of beams from drivers rained down. The cacophony of violence was unrelenting, each sound layering over the other in a deafening symphony. Above it all, the first rays of dawn began to creep over the horizon, their soft glow a cruel juxtaposition to the chaos below.
Her breath came in sharp bursts as she repositioned herself, 01 raised defensively in front of her. One more hour of this, and I'm going to need a new spine, she thought bitterly. The ground was slick with blood, the smell of scorched metal and flesh choking the air.
What was a driver anyway? The thought crossed her mind unbidden, her mind drifting briefly as it often did in moments like this. Simple, really. Drivers were advanced tools—standard weapons powered by Battery Pouches filled with Collapse Liquid. These pouches generated focused bursts of energy, factory-calibrated for consistent performance and precision. They were reliable, efficient, and devastating when used correctly. And right now, she was getting a front-row demonstration of just how devastating they could be.
The hum of another driver shot past her, the heat grazing her shoulder as she cursed under her breath. She tightened her grip on 01, adjusting its angle to deflect the next shot. The shield's edges glowed faintly as it absorbed the impact, but Seraniti's focus was abruptly interrupted by a sharp ping in her vision.
Incoming call: Marcus.
"Oh, fucking hell," she muttered, her irritation spiking as the overlay appeared in her field of vision. With a quick flick of her fingers, she accepted the call, her voice rising over the noise around her. "I'm busy, so I'd appreciate it if you'd hurry up and tell me!" she yelled, her tone sharp and biting.
The overlapping display flickered slightly as Marcus's indifferent voice came through, calm and unbothered despite the chaos on her end. "Client's dead," he said flatly, as if announcing the weather. "Thirty minutes ago. Found with a knife in his chest."
Seraniti froze for half a second, her grip on 01 tightening instinctively. "Fucking hell, he ate that knife, huh?" she spat, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Her eyes scanned the battlefield as she pressed herself further into cover, her mind racing. That idiot couldn't even stay alive long enough to make this worth it.
"Yup," Marcus replied nonchalantly, the faint sound of typing in the background. "Rich or not, they're fair game, I guess. Some people just have worse luck than others."
Seraniti's jaw tightened, her frustration boiling over. "Great. Fantastic. So what about the visitor? Don't tell me—"
"Gone," Marcus interrupted, cutting her off. "Most likely left the city, for all I know. And honestly? I don't care. We're not getting paid for this anymore, so what's the point? Besides weren't you leaving this city after this?"
Her lips pressed into a thin line as her vision flicked between the overlay and the chaos unfolding around her. The sound of beams and bullets rained down relentlessly, drivers whining as another volley slammed into the remains of her cover. Splinters flew as the crate buckled further under the assault.
"Oh, fuck you, Marcus," she snapped, ending the call with a sharp swipe of her hand. The overlay disappeared, leaving her alone with the relentless noise and the distant rays of dawn. Her feathers bristled slightly as she adjusted her grip on 01, her grey eyes narrowing.
Client's dead. Visitor's gone. Great. Just great.
She let out a sharp exhale, her frustration mounting as the sounds of combat dragged her back into focus. The K9s were regrouping, their handler barking orders as they prepared for another assault. Seraniti planted her feet firmly, bracing herself as she muttered under her breath.
"Fine. Let's finish this," Seraniti muttered, her voice sharp and heavy with exhaustion. With a snap of her fingers, the small shield floating alongside 01 broke away, hovering protectively at her side. She pressed her hand to the ground, and with a soft hum, a screen materialized around her like a shimmering bubble of light.
The translucent barrier swirled with a mix of colors—deep blues, vibrant golds, and shifting reds—that reflected the chaos of her surroundings. Unlike the sequences powered by her MICA, this didn't require assistance. Not every sequence did.
The screen crackled under the relentless barrage of bullets and beams, each impact sending ripples across its surface. Seraniti crouched within it, her movements slow and deliberate as she opened a small pouch attached to the operator side of the shield. Her trembling fingers pulled out a container of rice cake bites and dried meat strips. She glanced at the food briefly before shoving a piece into her mouth, chewing hurriedly.
"Damn it," she muttered between bites, her voice cracking slightly. "Can't even get five seconds… Can't even think…"
She reached for the warm tea stored in another compartment, her hands shaking as she brought it to her lips. The first sip burned her tongue, but she didn't care. Her throat felt dry, raw, as though all the air had been stolen from her lungs.
Bang! Clang! The screen shuddered again as another volley of bullets struck it. She winced but kept eating, her jaw tightening with every hurried bite.
Cough! She choked briefly, her body convulsing as she forced herself to swallow. Her free hand gripped her knee, her nails digging into the fabric of her pants. Tears welled in her tired grey eyes, and one slipped down her cheek before she hastily wiped it away.
"Why…" she whispered, her voice so low it was almost lost amid the chaos. "Why does it always come to this?"
Her floating companions—01, 02, and 03—moved to form a protective dome around her, their frames glowing faintly as they shielded her from the relentless assault. She curled inward, her knees drawn up to her chest as tears streamed down her face, one after the other. Her breaths came in uneven gasps, her body trembling with the weight of her emotions.
"Shit… Damn it!" she hissed, her voice breaking as her frustration boiled over. The food in her hands suddenly felt like too much, too heavy, too wrong. With a sudden burst of anger, she threw the container away, the rice cakes and meat scattering across the ground.
"Enough!" she screamed, her voice raw and guttural. The sound tore through the screen, reverberating across the battlefield like a shockwave. She clutched her knees tightly, her forehead pressing against them as her cries turned into a mournful wail.
It was a sound filled with pain, misery, and exhaustion, one that pierced through the chaos and demanded to be felt. The air around her shifted, thickening as magicules poured from her body in violent waves. The energy was visible now, a swirling storm of power that radiated outward. It wasn't rare to see magicules, but this—this was different.
The handler, the guards, and the remaining K9s froze momentarily, their eyes widening as they felt it. The emotions carried in the magicules were unmistakable: Love. Violence. Greed. Treachery. Limbo. Anger. Heresy. Sloth. Immoral. Pestilence. Famine. Fraud.
The weight of it bore down on them, stealing the breath from their lungs and making their hearts race. Even the K9s, known for their resilience, flinched as the energy pressed against them like an invisible hand, forcing them to feel every ounce of her despair.
"Is this what you wanted?" Seraniti muttered weakly, her voice barely audible. "All this fighting, all this death… is this enough for you?" She laughed bitterly, a hollow sound that lacked any trace of humor. "I'm tired. I'm so tired."
Her grey eyes, rimmed with red, remained cast downward, their exhaustion mirrored in every line of her face. She could hear the thump of her heart, loud and erratic, echoing in her ears like a war drum. Even the hairs on her arms stood on end, reacting to the surge of energy coursing through her body.
The gunfire, the beams, the chime of MICA—they didn't stop. The chaos continued around her, unrelenting and indifferent. She was just one more unfortunate soul in a world that didn't care.
And then, just as quickly as it began, the screen flickered and disappeared. The swirling magicules dissipated into the air, leaving behind an eerie stillness. When the dust cleared, Seraniti was no longer there.
In her place stood a 'maid', her figure neat and composed despite the carnage surrounding her. She bowed deeply, her movements fluid and deliberate, before stepping back into the shadows and vanishing without a trace.
The handler's voice broke the silence, low and sharp. "Find her," he ordered, his tone devoid of arrogance or hesitation. "I don't care how long it takes. Find her."
The remaining K9s exchanged uneasy glances before nodding, their dog-like heads lowering slightly. The air still crackled faintly with residual magicules, a lingering reminder of the storm Seraniti had unleashed.