The corporal three bunks down made it to his feet. The figure was already past him—blade trailing shadows. He looked down at the horizontal line appearing across his midsection, red spreading like ink in water, intestines sliding out through the gap in wet coils that steamed unnaturally, coiling around his feet like living serpents before going still.
The staff sergeant woke combat-ready. Hit the floor in a crouch, rifle up—
A blade descended—glowing with hellish fire. He blocked with his rifle. Steel met steel. The impact drove him to his knees—shockwave cracking the bunk frame behind him.
The figure pressed down—unnatural strength pouring through, runes on her gloves flaring bright red.
The rifle barrel snapped like dry bone.
The blade continued through, split him crown to crotch in a single, cruel stroke. Two halves fell in opposite directions—organs spilling in a steaming pile, blood pooling so thick it bubbled like tar from the underworld.
