Lungmen, Guard Department Headquarters
Amiya stood outside the imposing structure of the Lungmen Guard Department headquarters, her ears twitching nervously as she steeled herself for what promised to be a difficult conversation. The building represented authority in its most concrete form, all sharp angles and reinforced construction designed to project power and control.
She had never particularly enjoyed diplomatic missions, preferring the straightforward nature of field operations where objectives were clear and success could be measured tangibly. But the Doctor had been explicit in their instructions. Rhodes Island needed LGD cooperation for what was coming, and Amiya's position as Rhodes Island's public face made her the ideal messenger.
Even if the message would be received with suspicion and hostility.
She entered through the main doors, immediately encountering security checkpoints staffed by guards whose expressions suggested they had dealt with too many problems already today. Amiya presented her Rhodes Island credentials and stated her purpose clearly.
"I'm here to speak with Chief Ch'en regarding urgent security matters affecting Lungmen. Rhodes Island has intelligence about potential threats that require immediate coordination."
The guards exchanged glances, clearly weighing whether this qualified as legitimate business or unwelcome interference. Eventually, one of them made a call to verify her credentials while the other maintained professional distance that was just slightly too alert to be merely cautious.
After fifteen minutes of waiting that felt like hours, Amiya was escorted through the building's interior corridors. LGD headquarters was exactly what she expected, functional spaces designed for efficiency rather than comfort. Officers moved with purpose between rooms, the organized chaos of law enforcement operations visible everywhere.
She was shown into a conference room where Ch'en waited, the Chief Guard's distinctive appearance immediately recognizable. The dragon woman's horns and tail marked her heritage clearly, and her expression carried the neutral assessment of someone evaluating potential threats.
Hoshiguma stood behind her, the oni woman's massive frame and equally massive shield suggesting she served as both bodyguard and deterrent against any foolishness.
"Rhodes Island."
Ch'en's greeting was professional but cold.
"You requested this meeting claiming urgent security matters. Explain quickly. I have limited patience for vague warnings about unspecified threats."
Amiya took a breath, organizing her thoughts. The Doctor had coached her on this conversation, emphasized the importance of being direct while avoiding details that would raise questions Rhodes Island couldn't answer.
"Reunion is planning a major assault on Lungmen. Our intelligence indicates the attack will occur in approximately two months, involving coordinated strikes across multiple districts designed to cause maximum chaos and civilian casualties."
Ch'en's expression didn't change, but her posture shifted slightly. Increased attention without visible alarm.
"That's a significant claim. What's your source for this intelligence?"
"Multiple sources that we've verified independently. Increased Reunion activity within Lungmen, communications intercepts, and information from assets we have embedded in territories where Reunion operates."
Not entirely false. Rhodes Island did have sources providing intelligence about Reunion movements, even if Amiya's most reliable source was Shiki's system notification that she obviously couldn't mention.
"Embedded assets."
Ch'en repeated skeptically.
"Rhodes Island claims to have intelligence networks sophisticated enough to predict major terrorist operations two months in advance?"
"We specialize in understanding infected populations and the organizations that emerge from them. Reunion's activities fall directly within our area of expertise."
Hoshiguma spoke up for the first time, her deep voice carrying curiosity rather than hostility.
"Assuming your intelligence is accurate, what's Rhodes Island's interest in warning us? You could simply evacuate your own personnel and let LGD handle the situation independently."
"Because thousands of civilians will die if we don't coordinate our response properly."
Amiya's empathic nature made the concern genuine, emotion bleeding through despite her attempt at professional detachment.
"Reunion doesn't distinguish between military targets and civilian populations when they attack. We've seen what they do to settlements that can't defend themselves adequately. Lungmen is much larger, but that just means the casualty count will be proportionally higher without proper preparation."
Ch'en studied her for a long moment, dragon eyes searching for deception or hidden agenda. Amiya met her gaze steadily, allowing her sincerity to show through. One advantage of her empathic abilities was that people generally recognized when she was being honest.
"What specifically does Rhodes Island know about the planned assault?"
Ch'en asked eventually.
"Do you have details about their approach vectors, target priorities, force composition?"
"Some details, but not complete intelligence. We know they're planning coordinated strikes across multiple districts. We know they're positioning operatives within Lungmen currently. We suspect there's a catastrophic event planned beyond the general assault, something designed to cause mass casualties, but we haven't identified what that event is yet."
Amiya pulled out a tablet containing the information Rhodes Island was willing to share.
"We're continuing our investigation and we'll share updates as we learn more. But we need LGD cooperation for this intelligence to be useful. Rhodes Island can't defend an entire mobile city alone."
Ch'en accepted the tablet and began reviewing the documented intelligence. Her expression remained neutral, but Amiya could sense the wheels turning behind that professional mask. Ch'en was many things, but she wasn't fool enough to dismiss credible threat intelligence because of interdepartmental politics.
"This mentions Reunion operatives already positioned in Lungmen. Do you have identities or locations for any of them?"
"Some possibilities we're tracking, but nothing confirmed yet. We'll share that information once we've verified it meets evidential standards that would justify LGD action."
"How generous of you."
The sarcasm was mild but present.
Ch'en set the tablet down and looked at Amiya directly.
"Here's my position. LGD will investigate your claims independently and increase security patrols in the districts you've identified as potential targets. If we find corroborating evidence that supports your intelligence, we'll escalate our response accordingly."
She paused, her tone becoming more pointed.
"However, we will not coordinate joint operations with Rhodes Island or grant you any special authority within Lungmen. Your organization operates in legal gray areas that I'm not comfortable endorsing officially. You can share intelligence, but LGD maintains operational control of the city's defense."
It wasn't the enthusiastic cooperation Amiya had hoped for, but it was better than outright dismissal.
"That's acceptable. We're not seeking operational authority, just coordination sufficient to ensure our defensive efforts don't conflict with yours."
"Then we have an understanding. Provide updates as you gather more intelligence, and LGD will respond appropriately to verified threats."
Ch'en stood, indicating the meeting was concluded.
"One more thing. If Rhodes Island discovers the catastrophic event you mentioned, the one designed for mass casualties, you will inform LGD immediately. Not after you've attempted your own intervention, not after you've evaluated whether sharing is strategically advantageous. Immediately. Civilian lives take priority over organizational politics."
"Agreed completely."
Amiya stood as well.
"Thank you for hearing us out, Chief Ch'en. I know Rhodes Island's presence in Lungmen creates complications, but we genuinely want to help prevent catastrophe."
"Your intentions are noted. Your actions will determine whether I trust them."
Hoshiguma escorted Amiya back through the building's corridors and to the exit. At the door, the oni woman spoke quietly.
"For what it's worth, I believe you. About the threat and about wanting to help. Ch'en does too, she's just professionally obligated to maintain skepticism."
"I understand. Thank you for the consideration."
Amiya left LGD headquarters feeling cautiously optimistic. Ch'en hadn't promised active cooperation, but she hadn't dismissed the warning either. That was progress, and the Doctor would know how to work with that foundation.
She pulled out her communicator to report the meeting's outcome as she walked back toward Rhodes Island's facility.
The conversation had gone as well as could be reasonably expected.
Now they just needed to prove their intelligence was accurate before Reunion's assault arrived.
Highway Between Lungmen and Laterano
The vehicle hummed along the maintained highway, its reinforced construction and Penguin Logistics markings identifying it as legitimate commercial transport. Exusiai sat in the passenger seat, her gun resting casually across her lap while she watched the landscape pass by through the window.
Texas drove with her characteristic focus, hands steady on the controls while her ears twitched occasionally in response to sounds only Lupo hearing could detect.
Sora occupied the back seat, the Vulpo idol's presence on this delivery mission somewhat unusual but explained by her skills in sonic Arts that provided both communication and defensive capabilities. She hummed quietly to herself, melodies that helped pass time during long drives.
The suitcase containing intelligence about the Knights of the Round Table and the formal alliance proposal sat secured in the vehicle's reinforced storage compartment, its biometric locks ensuring contents remained inaccessible to anyone except authorized Laterano personnel.
"So."
Exusiai said, breaking the comfortable silence.
"The Doctor's been acting weird lately. More secretive than usual, lots of closed door meetings with that new contractor Shiki."
"The Doctor is always secretive."
Texas replied without taking her eyes off the road.
"It's their defining characteristic. Mysterious hooded figure who somehow knows everything about situations they shouldn't have information about."
"Yeah, but this is different. Kal'tsit actually looks concerned, and Kal'tsit never looks concerned. She's usually just clinically annoyed at whatever crisis is happening."
Sora leaned forward from the back seat.
"I heard the Doctor is from another world. Like, actually from somewhere that isn't Terra. That's why they know impossible things."
"Where'd you hear that?"
Exusiai asked with interest.
"Overheard Amiya talking with some of the senior operators. She mentioned that the Doctor explained their background recently and it involved other realities or dimensions or something equally impossible."
"Huh. That would explain a lot actually."
Texas's ears flicked forward, attention shifting.
"Speaking of impossible things, the events at Sal Viento were unusual. Talulah herself leading an assault on a minor settlement, the appearance of legendary weapons like Gáe Bolg, the involvement of that Shiki contractor."
"Anyone who can wound Talulah badly enough to force retreat is someone I want to spar with. Plus she apparently has a collection of Noble Phantasms, which is just cool."
Exusiai smiles making Texas frown.
"You just want to see if her weapons are better than your gun."
"Obviously. Competition is how we improve. If her legendary spear is more effective than my enhanced Laterano artillery, I need to know so I can request upgrades."
Sora giggled at the exchange, her melodic voice carrying genuine amusement.
"You two are going to get us killed someday with your enthusiasm for fighting stronger opponents."
"We prefer to call it professional development."
The conversation continued in this casual vein, the three of them comfortable with each other after countless deliveries together. Penguin Logistics operated in dangerous territories regularly, which created bonds between team members that went beyond simple professional relationships.
Texas was mid sentence about proper sword maintenance when her ears suddenly snapped to full alert, her entire body tensing.
"Get down!"
She slammed on the brakes with reflexes that bordered on precognitive, the vehicle's advanced suspension barely managing the sudden deceleration. At the same moment, a massive blade of crimson energy screamed past their front bumper, missing by meters rather than centimeters.
The energy beam carved through the landscape beside the highway, splitting earth and stone with devastating force. Trees disintegrated, rock vaporized, a trench appearing where the attack had passed.
If Texas hadn't reacted instantly, that beam would have bisected their vehicle and everyone inside it.
All three of them were moving immediately, abandoning the vehicle and taking defensive positions with weapons drawn. Exusiai's gun was up and tracking, Texas's swords materialized in her hands, and Sora's Arts began manifesting as visible sound waves that would provide both offense and support.
A figure stood on the road ahead, having appeared seemingly from nowhere. Armor gleamed crimson and silver in the afternoon light, a massive sword held casually despite the power it had just demonstrated. The distinctive design marked its wielder immediately.
Mordred, Knight of Treachery, one of the Knights of the Round Table serving the Lion King.
Her helmet was retracted, revealing a face that mixed youthful features with feral aggression. Red eyes blazed with battle hunger, and her grin suggested she had been hoping for exactly this kind of interception.
"Well, well. Penguin Logistics, delivering packages for Rhodes Island."
Her voice carried mockery and anticipation in equal measure.
"The Lion King sends her regards. That intelligence you're carrying won't be reaching Laterano."
Exusiai's response was immediate. Her gun roared, specialized rounds designed to penetrate Arts barriers and disrupt magical constructs. The shots were perfectly placed, targeting vulnerable points in Mordred's armor with precision.
Mordred's sword moved in a blur, Clarent intercepting every round before they could connect. The deflected bullets created small explosions where they impacted ground and landscape, but the knight herself remained untouched.
"Cute toys. Let me show you a real weapon."
She activated Mana Burst, crimson energy erupting around her body and weapon. The power was similar to what Artoria wielded but twisted, rebellious, carrying the fury of one who had betrayed everything she once served.
Mordred launched forward with speed that exceeded normal physical limits, closing the distance to Texas in a fraction of a second. Her sword swung in a wide arc designed to bisect the Lupo warrior at the waist.
Texas met the attack with her own blades, Arts enhanced strength allowing her to deflect rather than block directly. The impact still sent her sliding backward several meters, her feet carving trenches in the pavement.
"Strong!"
Texas acknowledged, immediately repositioning for counterattack.
Exusiai continued firing, repositioning constantly to maintain optimal angles. Her rounds were forcing Mordred to divide attention between offense and defense, creating openings that Texas exploited with precise strikes.
But Mordred fought like a berserker despite her knight's training, each swing of Clarent carrying enough force to shatter stone. She used Mana Burst in short controlled bursts, accelerating her attacks to speeds that made tracking difficult even for enhanced combatants.
Sora provided support from range, her sonic Arts creating zones of disruption that interfered with Mordred's movements. Sound waves powerful enough to disorient normal opponents washed over the knight, forcing her to expend additional energy maintaining focus.
The battle was intense but manageable. Three skilled operators coordinating against a single opponent, using terrain and tactics to offset the raw power disparity.
Then Mordred stopped playing.
"Enough."
She raised Clarent above her head, crimson energy gathering in her sword that made the air itself vibrate. This wasn't Mana Burst anymore, this was her Noble Phantasm activating fully.
"Clarent Blood Arthur!"
The release was catastrophic. A beam of rebellious fury that dwarfed her earlier attack, energy that could level city blocks released in a concentrated stream. The attack was aimed not at any specific target but at the area they occupied, designed to obliterate everything within a wide radius.
Texas grabbed Sora and dove aside, her enhanced speed barely sufficient to escape the blast radius. Exusiai launched herself backward, wings manifesting through her Arts to carry her clear.
The highway ceased to exist where Clarent Blood Arthur struck. Pavement vaporized, the road bed underneath cratered, a scar carved across the landscape that would remain visible for years.
When the energy dispersed, all three of them were scattered and the dynamic had shifted dramatically. Sora lay on the ground, battered from the impact of being thrown clear. Her usual cheerful demeanor was replaced by pained grimace, injuries visible despite Texas's efforts to protect her.
Exusiai was on her feet but dirty, her clothing torn and body covered in bruises and minor cuts. Her gun remained operational but ammunition was depleting rapidly.
Texas stood between Mordred and her fallen companion, both swords ready despite visible exhaustion. She had taken the brunt of protecting Sora, and the effort showed in her labored breathing.
Mordred advanced with leisurely confidence, Clarent resting against her shoulder.
"You fought well. Better than most. But you're just mortals trying to fight against legend made flesh."
She raised her sword for a finishing blow aimed at Texas, the Lupo warrior preparing to dodge despite knowing she was too exhausted for sufficient speed.
The strike descended in an arc that would split Texas from shoulder to hip.
A different blade intercepted, shooting from seemingly nowhere to pierce the ground directly in Mordred's path. The knight's combat instincts saved her, making her abort the attack and leap backward as the unexpected weapon forced repositioning.
The blade that had interrupted was distinctive, wrapped in bandages that barely concealed its ominous nature. It radiated an aura of death and inevitability, the weapon of someone who had embraced mortality so completely that killing became their fundamental nature.
A man leapt where the blade had struck, his appearance drawing immediate attention. Long dark blue hair, crimson eyes that had seen too much death, and an expression carrying the weariness of someone who yearn for death yet died countless times and would die countless more.
Blade, the Stellaron Hunter whose immortality made him Terra's most persistent threat.
Kafka appeared simultaneously near where Sora lay, her elegant movements and refined appearance contrasting sharply with the battlefield's devastation. She moved to help Sora stand, her touch gentle despite the violence occurring meters away.
"Continue your delivery."
Kafka called to Exusiai and Texas, her voice carrying the calm authority of someone accustomed to being obeyed.
"We are Stellaron Hunters, and we're helping Rhodes Island today."
She said the last part deliberately loud, ensuring Mordred heard the declaration clearly.
Exusiai and Texas exchanged glances, silent communication passing between partners who had worked together long enough to make decisions without discussion.
They nodded to each other, then Texas was moving. She helped Sora to her feet with surprising gentleness, supporting the injured Vulpo while Exusiai provided covering fire. They reached the vehicle, which had somehow survived Mordred's attack through combination of reinforced construction and fortunate positioning.
The engine roared to life and they were accelerating, abandoning the battlefield while the Stellaron Hunters engaged Mordred.
The knight watched them flee with visible frustration but couldn't pursue. Blade stood between her and the vehicle, his presence demanding attention through sheer lethality.
"Stellaron Hunters."
Mordred's voice carried recognition and anticipation.
"I've heard about you. Mercenaries from beyond Terra, playing at being heroes."
"We're not mercenaries."
Kafka corrected mildly.
"We're specialists following a script. Today's script says we prevent you from completing your mission."
"Then the script is about to be rewritten."
Mordred activated Mana Burst again, crimson energy erupting around her.
"I'll kill the immortal first, then hunt down your companion and that delivery vehicle."
Blade's response was to pull his sword from the ground, the bandages unwrapping slightly to reveal more of the blade's cursed nature. His expression didn't change, weariness remaining constant whether facing no opponents or legendary knights.
"You can try."
The battle began in earnest.
Mordred launched forward with Mana Burst enhanced speed, Clarent swinging in a combination that would have overwhelmed normal fighters through sheer aggression. Each strike carried enough force to shatter stone, each movement flowed into the next with the skill of someone trained from childhood in combat.
Blade met her assault with techniques honed across countless deaths. His sword moved with pattern that made every motion count, no wasted energy or unnecessary flourishes. Where Mordred fought with overwhelming offense, Blade fought with perfect efficiency.
Clarent crashed against his blade with impact that created shockwaves, the collision of legendary weapon against cursed sword. Mordred followed immediately with a horizontal slash aimed at his midsection.
Blade stepped inside her guard rather than blocking, his shorter reach making close combat advantageous. His blade traced an upward arc that forced Mordred to abort her attack and defend, their weapons meeting in a shower of sparks.
They separated, circled, engaged again.
Mordred's style was aggressive, seeking to overwhelm through relentless assault. She used Mana Burst in controlled bursts to accelerate specific strikes, making her attack patterns unpredictable. A downward slash enhanced by crimson energy, followed immediately by a rising cut from an impossible angle, transitioning into a spinning strike that used her entire body's momentum.
Blade deflected the downward slash, sidestepped the rising cut, and caught the spinning strike on his blade while already moving into counterattack. His sword found the gap in her defense created by her own momentum, the tip scoring a line across her armor that drew blood.
Mordred grinned, energized rather than deterred by the injury.
"You're good! Finally, someone who can actually fight!"
She intensified her assault, Mana Burst flaring brighter as she pushed her capabilities higher. Her attacks became faster, stronger, more reckless. She sacrificed defense completely for overwhelming offense, accepting that she would take hits in exchange for landing her own.
Blade's response was to match her intensity without matching her recklessness. His immortality made trading wounds viable strategy, but he didn't waste the advantage. Each injury he accepted was calculated, positioning for counterattacks that inflicted more damage than he received.
Clarent carved through his shoulder, the legendary blade cutting deep despite his attempt to deflect. Blood flowed freely, the wound severe enough to cripple normal fighters.
Blade's sword responded by finding the gap between Mordred's armor plates, piercing her side and forcing her to disengage. Both of them bled, both carried injuries that would require immediate medical attention for anyone else.
Neither stopped fighting.
Kafka watched from her position, occasionally manifesting her Spirit Whisper skill to subtly influence Mordred's perception. Not enough to obviously manipulate, just slight alterations in how the knight processed timing and distance. A fractional delay in recognizing attack angles, a minor miscalculation about Blade's positioning.
Subtle interference that created openings Blade exploited ruthlessly.
Mordred noticed the manipulation and snarled in frustration.
"Fighting two on one? Where's your honor?"
"We're not knights."
Kafka replied with amusement.
"We're hunters. Honor is optional when the prey is dangerous."
The knight redirected part of her attention toward Kafka, Clarent releasing a wave of crimson energy that carved toward where the woman stood.
Kafka simply wasn't there anymore, having displaced to a different position with movements that suggested either precognition or perfect understanding of Mordred's attack patterns.
Blade used the distraction, his sword finding Mordred's leg and carving through muscle. The knight stumbled, her mobility compromised, and Blade pressed the advantage with combination of strikes aimed at joints and vulnerable points.
Mordred blocked desperately, Clarent moving in purely defensive patterns for the first time since the battle began. She activated Mana Burst at maximum output, crimson energy exploding outward to force Blade back and create space.
The regeneration inherent to her Noble Phantasm kicked in, flesh knitting together with speed that defied normal healing. Within seconds, the leg wound had closed enough to restore mobility.
But Blade's wounds were healing too, his immortality manifesting as regeneration that exceeded even Mordred's legendary resilience. The shoulder injury that should have crippled his sword arm closed completely, tissue reforming with disturbing efficiency.
"You really are immortal."
Mordred observed, reassessing her tactical approach.
"That's annoying. How am I supposed to kill someone who won't stay dead?"
"You're not."
Blade stated simply, already moving forward again.
Their weapons met in another exchange, faster and more brutal than before. Mordred abandoned any pretense of defense, using Mana Burst to enhance every strike to maximum lethality. If she couldn't outlast Blade's immortality, she would try to inflict damage faster than he could regenerate.
Clarent carved through his torso, the blade cutting deep enough to damage internal organs. Blade's sword responded by piercing Mordred's throat, the cursed weapon finding the gap between helmet and chest plate.
Both attacks were fatal. Both fighters should have died.
Neither fell.
Mordred's regeneration sealed her throat before blood loss became critical. Blade's immortality kept him functioning despite injuries that would have killed him instantly in any previous life.
They separated again, both bleeding profusely, both still perfectly capable of continuing the fight.
Kafka maintained her interference, Spirit Whisper creating subtle cognitive disruptions that made Mordred's decision making fractionally slower. Not enough to obviously impair, just sufficient to give Blade consistent advantages in their exchanges.
"This is pointless."
Mordred snarled, frustration evident.
"I can't kill you permanently, you can't kill me faster than I regenerate. We'll fight until we both collapse from exhaustion."
"That's acceptable."
Blade replied.
"As long as it prevents you from pursuing your original objective."
Mordred glanced in the direction the Penguin Logistics vehicle had fled. Too much time had passed, they were long gone. Even if she disengaged now and gave chase, she wouldn't catch them before they reached Laterano's borders.
The mission had failed.
The intelligence would reach its destination, the alliance proposal would be delivered, and the Lion King would know that her attempts at interception had been thwarted.
"Damn it!"
Mordred's frustration erupted in a final Clarent Blood Arthur, the Noble Phantasm releasing at full power. But this time aimed not at her opponents but at the landscape itself, destructive fury vented against the terrain.
The highway ceased to exist for nearly a kilometer, the attack carving a scar that would take years to repair.
When the energy dispersed, Mordred was already withdrawing. Her regeneration was struggling to keep pace with accumulated damage, and continuing to fight two opponents when the strategic objective was lost made no tactical sense.
"Tell Rhodes Island this isn't over. The Lion King will remember that the Stellaron Hunters interfered."
"We're terrified."
Kafka replied dryly.
Mordred activated her movement skill and vanished, retreating at speeds that made pursuit impractical.
Blade and Kafka stood alone on the devastated highway, surrounded by evidence of catastrophic battle.
"That went well."
Kafka observed, already pulling out communication equipment to contact Elio.
"The delivery team escaped, we established the Stellaron Hunters as allies of Rhodes Island, and we demonstrated capability against Knights of the Round Table."
Blade cleaned his sword with practiced efficiency, wrapping it in bandages again.
"She'll return with reinforcements. Mordred doesn't accept defeat easily."
"Let her. By then, the script will have advanced and our positioning will be different."
Kafka finished her call and turned to Blade.
"Elio wants us to return to base for now. Our role in this particular thread is complete."
They departed, leaving the battlefield empty except for devastation and the slowly fading evidence of battle between legend and immortality.