They're currently moving quickly, almost two hundred kilometers per hour. The plan is straightforward. It is neither simple nor hard. The former or the latter will only be determined by how we carry out the plan," Silver said in an authoritative tone.
Now, he was addressing two people — Officer Zeke and Professor Zara.
The two of them had grim expressions on their faces, justified by the plan about to be laid upon them. Things were supposed to get more hectic after the arrival of a high-ranking official. Not just any high rank, but a reckless one who thought his ideas were well thought out.
"I just need to get to the island, which shouldn't be too hard. Our two obstacles are the Abominations and the veil of darkness."
He turned to Zara.
"I need you to shift the gravity manipulation to the western part of the island. Per se, that's where the humans are currently at, and that will help us solve two things."
He lifted a finger and continued:
"First, the main tide of Abominations will be directed towards the rising slope, funneling them toward our entry point. Second, that rising slope will momentarily destabilize the altitude ground level, giving me a clean point of entry."
Zara nodded, her pen hovering over her data sleeve. "And the Abominations?"
"That's where Zeke comes in," Silver said, his eyes glittering.
".. As for your part, Zara: the moment Zeke hits the designated trajectory, you execute the tilt. We're cutting our time short. You know the job."
Zara gave a stiff nod and walked away to the command console.
Silver turned to Zeke. "Officer Zeke, you fly my Sparrow. You will head straight for the largest gathering of low-level Abominations near the western to northern slope of the island."
Zeke's eyes widened. "Sir, are we engaging an entire horde?"
"Only for a moment," Silver grinned, pulling on his customized IDR gloves. "... You will be a high-velocity, audible target. I will ride on the exterior of the Sparrow."
Zeke cut in, his voice tight. "Sir, with all due respect, what exactly do you mean by a ride on the exterior? And how do you intend to jump from that altitude?"
Silver's grin widened, a flash of pure malice crossing his face.
"Don't worry about the Abominations, Zeke. They will be focused on the fresher, louder meat you represent. As for the jump: My First Augment allows for long-range jumps and falls. I can exert massive repulsive force at will, effectively manipulating my gravity and momentum. It's not flying, it's extreme, controlled thrust."
He paused, his eyes gleaming with unsettling confidence.
"I will jump off the Sparrow the moment Zara executes the tilt. I will use my Second Augment, enhanced optics, to pinpoint the fugitives in the wreckage. I will then combine both abilities: focusing my life force into an overwhelmingly potent psychic pulse that will turn my descent into a bright light, which is where you also play another decoy role. This will draw the Abominations' attention, give me an active shield, and, most importantly, allow me to calculate the situation on the island and find a way in before dying at the mercy of the Abominations."
He clapped Zeke on the shoulder. "Now you know the plan. It's reckless, and it is entirely reliant on your distraction. Don't you trust me?"
Zeke forced a smile, though his rough skin looked paler than usual. "I have full trust in your decisions, Captain."
"So, then what are you waiting for? Zara, get to work. Zeke, get ready."
They walked away and entered the interior of the military makeshift camp island. Silver turned to look at the little but effective massacre happening. Abominations frequently flew toward the military island only to get blasted by a red surge of energy, killing or setting them on fire.
Behind this chaos was an island covered in darkness. Above it was a Sky Chasm, with more creatures spilling out. Some didn't have wings and just fell into the chasms below. But before getting there, the invisible force of crushing altitude and gravity shattered them into pieces. More like it sent an invisible electrification.
The grin on Silver's face disappeared.
'Okay, Diamond Siege. I hope you're worth saving.'
****
A matte black airship flew in the clouds, passing by a metallic island, the incandescent light of the sun shining its rays on the sleek metal and glass of the Sparrow. In the Sparrow, a grey-haired man with a glass helmet of red and blue colors was seated, piloting the airship with a tense, shaky expression.
He moved the steering of the airship while muttering incoherent words under his breath.
A familiar voice came from the microphone attached to the ear area of Zeke's red and black uniform.
"How are you doing down there, Officer Zeke?"
Zeke forced a chuckle. "I should ask you that question, Captain Silver. How are you faring up there?"
"Quite swell if you ask me," Silver replied with a nonchalant tone.
Silver was currently on top of the Sparrow, the wind unable to assault him because he was dressed in his silver-plated armor, his face protected by the bi-colored helmet.
In front of him, a silver, transparent, rectangular prompt floated in mid-air. Other prompts in different shapes also showed, but were smaller compared to the rectangular prompt. The other prompts displayed things related to the armor. One of them displayed in a circular prompt:
(KRF): [70.66%]
He touched a smaller rectangle that displayed the names of Zara and Zeke, adding (Online) to the end of their names.
"Hey, Zara. I am at 70%. This should last me until I get to the island, right? Well, that depends on whether the gravity shift works as fast as expected."
"Sure.. You can't be killed easily, so..." Zara replied from the military island, staring at a large blue prompt, which was also being displayed to other technicians in the cramped space.
".. Yeah, yeah. I get it, dumbass. You owe me a victory kiss when I destroy the darkness."
"Don't you think you're a bit too perverted for this old lady..."
"Will you two shush! I can hear everything you're saying!" Zeke yelled.
Silver smiled, which disappeared almost immediately. They were already close to the horde of Abominations.
He turned back to the rectangular prompt.
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|Name: [Sliver]
|Blood Rank: [Silver]
|Blood Level: [LvL 7]
|Lumoria Identification: [Star Of The Silver Moon]
|Augments: [Skybound] [Nexsight]
|Armaments: [Plasma Saber] [Graviton Spear] [Railgun Pistol] [Magnetic Whip] [Kinetic Hammer] [Phase Knife] [Energy Flail] [Plasma Carbine] [Exo-Gauntlets] [Pulse Staff]
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Grinning, he mentally accessed the [Plasma Saber].
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[Plasma Saber] – (A sleek melee blade composed of a high-density energy core contained within a reinforced alloy hilt. When activated, the core emits a plasma edge capable of slicing through armored targets and magical affinities with minimal resistance. Its field can adjust intensity, allowing for controlled strikes or full-power slashes. Designed for both precision and durability, it integrates seamlessly with the user's augments, enabling enhanced momentum and targeting when wielded.)
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Soon, a sharp, high-pitched hum emanated from the reinforced alloy hilt clasped in Silver's armored left hand. There was no theatrical flash; instead, the hilt's energy core charged instantly, drawing power through his integrated suit.
With a definitive sound, a straight edge of brilliant, contained silver-white plasma snapped into existence, extending about three feet from the hilt. The plasma was so intensely hot that the clouds directly surrounding the blade vaporized instantly, creating a small, superheated pocket of air around Silver.
The light of the blade was blinding, contrasting violently with the matte-black Sparrow and the looming darkness of the veiled island ahead.
Silver didn't check the blade; he merely angled it forward, resting its point on the Sparrow's chassis. The light caught the scarlet piping of his armor and reflected in his cold, calculating eyes.
He was ready for the blood sport to begin....