The Scorpion Tank was Damien's second two-star summoned monster. It was a unique terrestrial monster since it wasn't a biological atrocity, but a mechanical abomination. Inside its metallic body was a rogue artificial intelligence, though it became a loyal subordinate of Damien.
Its body glimmered in a black metallic hue, resembling an arthropod with eight legs. It was a technological iteration of a scorpion, its tail armed with an electromagnetic cannon capable of piercing the strongest of steels and minerals.
The mechanical monster's head was a single-eyed crimson machine, scanning its surroundings in mere seconds and constructing a digital map within its database. It turned its attention towards the target and adversary of its monster, analyzing the old human.
It promptly concluded its analysis, understanding the threat this human posed to its master. But the Scorpion Tank wasn't foolish to charge on its own. Its death wouldn't serve its master well.
*Collaborate with monstrous allies. Wait for the opportunity.* A cold and monotone voice escaped its speaker, turning its attention towards the nearby Wyvern and the Hellhound behind it. *Sending drones...*
Hatches over its back opened as drones ascended to the blue skies, scattering in every nook and cranny of the ruined skylines. One of these drones hovered beside Damien, whose eyebrows rose in interest.
*Master, the chances for victory are below a single percentage. Retreat suggested.* The same cold and monotone voice left the speakers of the hovering drone. Damien was further astounded, but realized that it was his second two-star summoned monster, Scorpion Tank.
'I didn't expect to receive a mechanical creature, but I guess that monsters aren't exclusively biological. It could be anything. From a cursed object, a horrifying piece of technology, and finally, the biological terrors.'
With this in mind, Damien calmed himself down and coughed. "I understand the slim chances of winning against the old swordmaster." His resolve hardened as he continued.
"But I want to test my or our capabilities against the top individuals of the New World. I believe that sooner or later, we will be capable of standing or even surpassing those individuals."
"Regardless, I need experience to understand the shortcomings that could only be seen in a battle for my life." Damien expounded his reasoning, prompting the hovering drone to nod in understanding.
*Affirmative, Master. Your wishes are our command.* The Scorpion Tank wasn't against testing one's strength. Perhaps it could also investigate the exotic matter in the air alongside the oppression radiating from the adversary.
For some unknown reason, the agreement of his first somewhat intelligent monster brought a cloud of relief within Damien's heart. Although there was no need to prove himself, as he had already acquired their loyalty.
He had expectations, wanting to be the best for the monsters he summoned. It was a self-imposed desire for power and refinement.
In any case, gazing at Dante standing idly in the distance, Damien commanded his summoned monster through his thoughts. Against a powerful enemy, what they needed was tactics and strategy.
'Wyvern, employ guerrilla tactics. Avoid confronting the sixth Paragon and maintain your distance. Withdraw if necessary.' He ordered his first two-star summoned master and continued.
'Hellhound, I want you to halt him from advancing towards me. You are the vanguard, ensure your survival and stall him.' The following command was towards his hound.
'Scorpion Tank, harass him and find weaknesses. Use whatever is necessary.' He stopped holding back, intending to let them go wild for the prospect of discovering the flaw of the old swordmaster.
'Freedom Eagle, maintain your reconnaissance status. Silhouette, start mimicking me and attract his attention.' Damien wanted his summoned monsters to be cautious against the sixth Paragon.
Although he was elated with his ability to resurrect each of his precious monsters, it required command seals as a price. Unfortunately, despite having over two dozen command seals as a limit, it was still a finite item.
Combined with his orders, it wouldn't be long until his command seals were depleted. He would be helpless against the swordmaster and would be sliced into tiny pieces under the elder's blade.
On the other hand, standing amidst the decrepit streets of Manhattan, old Dante furrowed his eyebrows while staring at the mechanical abomination that was the Scorpion Tank. He was curious where this technological wonder originated.
Sadly, he wasn't given a moment to ponder the peculiarities of the aetheric beasts under the command of the Aberrant. Without warning, a pair of electromagnetic miniguns unlatched from the back of the Scorpion Tank, firing a barrage of smart bullets at him.
Dante raised his eyebrows and prepared to slice these bullets into pieces. But as he cleaved them into bits, all of them exploded into pieces, hurling shrapnel throughout the immediate area.
His eyes widened for a moment before moving within a fraction of a second. Hundreds of shrapnel were severed into dust, becoming no less different than the shroud encapsulating the sixth Paragon.
"Shrapnel bullets... Each of which has a different diffusion time, making them unexpected. This machine is much more dangerous." He realized the danger posed by the Scorpion Tank, but before he could prepare a counterattack, surging flames flooded his perception.
It came from none other than the supposedly dead Wyvern. The realization forced the swordmaster to take the Aberrant's capabilities seriously. 'Resurrection and control... This Aberrant is too dangerous to be left alive.'
'I don't care if that brat kills me for it.' Dante narrowed his gaze and vanished with a blur. It was the same tactic as before; however, when he arrived beside the Wyvern to behead it. Another hail of bullets disrupted him.
"Fighting against these aetheric beasts is useless... I need to change my strategy." He muttered under his breath and turned his attention towards the black-suited Aberrant standing over a rooftop, overseeing the battle in the streets.
'How arrogant!' Unsheathing his blade, he slashed towards the direction of the young man. An invisible arc escaped its blade, instantaneously splitting the building where Damien stood into two separate halves.
The building crumbled alongside the structure beside it. Dante's slash was powerful, while its range was pure nonsense. A cloud passing above the exclusion zone was also divided, becoming a pair of clouds.
Damien could barely maintain his balance, utilizing Fractured Blink to escape the collapsing building. He emerged on another rooftop, but unknowingly, Dante stood beside him. The old swordmaster glared at the rising Aberrant.
"As expected, you're fast-" Before Damien could complete his sentence, Dante already severed him into tiny pieces. It was a brutal execution; however, the young man seemed to maintain his smile as his body was sundered into a thousand bits.
Old Dante was about to claim victory and sheathed his sword, but his hand halted midway. He glanced at the disintegrating pieces of Damien, realizing that what he had attacked was nothing but an illusion.
'He escaped?' His aged heart was sour from the unexpected withdrawal of the Aberrant. He sighed to himself, shaking his head as he understood the limits of his weakening body. Time really was an enemy for humanity.
But as he turned his head towards the south, the summoned monsters of Damien glared at him. All of them stood before him like monsters ready to pounce. Nevertheless, a gentle force halted them.
Damien's words weren't meant for the old man. Instead, it was directed towards his gracious senior, the second-in-command of Block 7, Francine Espada.
She descended like a goddess, her black hair fluttering with the wind. Under her grasp was her armament, a zweihander. Compared to her body, the blade was unnaturally massive. Yet, she wielded it as though it were nothing more than a dagger.
"Old man... It has been a while."