Scarlet 24

Scarlet 24

…

Commissioned by Sivantic

Wordcount: 2500

…

While I trained to use Ddraig’s power as much as I could, I knew from experience that I couldn’t just rely on his power. In my previous life, I protected my body with spider silk and chitin on my first night out. I also did my best to acquire weapons, which went from a baton and pepper spray to monomolecular knives and guns.

Japan’s various laws made it incredibly difficult to acquire firearms and most forms of bulletproof armor was regulated. While I had the funds to purchase them from abroad, they’d be confiscated coming in, and I didn’t want to be beholden Rias or Sitri when it came to weapons.

Not that Sitri would even entertain the idea.

For some reason, the student council president thought it was improper to have firearms and body armor, even though a lot of the students present were incredibly lethal without them.

Anyway, my lack of ranged options, besides throwing my melee weapons, was solved after I killed the exorcist who went after Asia.

The handgun was very easy to use, had unlimited ammunition as long as the user had energy to spare, and fired a shot with every pull of the trigger. It had no recoil and every shot went straight, with each having the power to power through a layer of brick. It would’ve been a very useful weapon for the PRT in my previous world, especially since it didn’t need much maintenance and was rugged enough to take a beating.

With my ranged option handled, I only had to worry about protecting my body.

Scale Mail rapidly took up my energy, and in a prolonged fight against multiple opponents, I had to take acre to leave it for tougher opponents. After all my training, I could use Scale Mail and Boosts for three minutes, with my power doubling every ten seconds. After that three minutes, the demand on my body grew too high and the power threatened to overwhelm me, even with all the modifications Ddraig made to my body.

I had to stop Boosting after that, maintaining Scale Mail solely with the power I gained from my boosts, and that didn’t last very long. I wasn’t even close to being able to use Ddraig’s full power. Once I hit three minutes worth of Boosts, which was 2 to the fifteenth power from my baseline, I had four minutes at full power, with Scale Mail operating at its full potential, and after those four minutes I would be spent.

Barely able to move, let alone even fire the Light Gun that I acquired.

So, it was in my best interest to acquire a firearm that didn’t rely on magic and body armor that didn’t rely on magic either.

In the end, I had to turn to some vigilantism in a quick trip to another city.

I needed to make sure that was properly settled in the future, but for now I felt better with a pistol and an old bulletproof vest beneath my wardrobe.

It wasn’t much, but it was a lot better than nothing.

Even if Sitri glared at me when I put it on.

…

Quarta, Irina, and I walked down the dirt path to the facility in the forest. We intentionally went towards the facility on the path in order to attract attention. Once fighting started and the exorcists poured on us, the Devils could surge through the boundary meant to detect them and attack in force.

While Quarta had spared me a single nod as we began to march, Irina took interest in the clothes I chose for the fight.

“Is that a motorcycle outfit… with sports padding?” Irina smiled a little at what I chose to wear and I felt ridiculous. Besides the bulletproof vest I had beneath the riding jacket, I had to use modified sports equipment for my elbows, shins, and ankles. They weren’t going to do much against the weapons wielded by the exorcists, but against thrown punches or kicks of opportunity they’d do the job. I wore a cup just in case too, since I now had a glaring weakness below the legs. “Oh, don’t worry, Ise-kun. It looks good.”

“…Thanks.” In my previous world, it was something someone new vigilante with a parttime job would be wearing. It was out of the price range for someone without funds, even though I got most of it second-hand. I had funds though, and I was willing to replace everything I had on me cheaply. A thorough washing and a spray of paint made most things look new enough. “If it keeps me alive, it does the job.”

“Mhmm.” Irina’s gaze travelled over me, but it was a measuring gaze instead of one born of interest. She looked at the two weapons I had at my waist, the sledgehammer I held idly in my left hand, and the motorcycle helmet that gripped in my right. She took a step back and quickly patted the satchel I wore against the small of my back. “What’s back here?”

“Tourniquets, bandages, and pain killers.” I blinked at the question, because I couldn’t believe that I forgot to tell anyone I had them on me. That could’ve gotten someone killed. I needed to rectify that right away. “The painkillers are just pills and they take a while to kick in, but it’s all I could get. If you need one after the fight, tell me.”

Irina was quiet for a moment, before she shook her head.

“I forgot that you’re a normal human, Ise-kun… sorry.” I didn’t know how superhuman Quarta and Irina were, but from their outfits, their speed, strength, and agility, I knew that they were closer to Devils and Fallen than normal humans. They probably had first aid spells, things they could use to stabilize themselves, or maybe their wounds closed on their own. Their outfits looked thin, but the places they covered were vital, and it was likely some form of magic protected what was exposed. “Even if you have to look strange, you still need to be prepared.”

Those were all things that Quarta and Irina assumed I had when I walked with them into the fight.

I honestly didn’t know whether to be flattered or worried.

Flattered because they considered me as dangerous as the two of them, and worried because my childhood friend’s perception of people was so strongly altered. It explained a lot about Quarta’s willingness to fight me, if she thought that I was as strong as she was.

However, for now, I put those thoughts aside.

“Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself. Most of this preparation probably won’t be needed.” I consoled my friend was we neared the facility. With my enhanced hearing and smell, I knew that people were gathering behind the facility’s gate. This wasn’t the time to talk. It was time to fight. “Keep your head in the fight. If I need help, I’ll yell. But, if I don’t, just fight as for yourself, okay?”

Irina didn’t get a chance to answer, as the gate ahead of us opened, with several Exorcists in white robes with hoods held their magical pistols at us.

The one at the center opened his mouth while he aimed his gun with one hand… but whatever words he had died when I drew my weapon, sighted him, and pulled the trigger.

His throat came apart as a bolt of light struck him with both kinetic force and intense heat at the same time.

Whatever he intended to say died with him as his head flew off his shoulders sans a jaw and his neck and chest became burnt chunks.

Irina pulled me away with surprised yell, making my next shot fly off course, my goal was achieved.

The hornet’s nest was rattled and the enemy was going to stream out to confront us in the forest, instead of forcing us to fight in their facility.

They had cover and concealment, but so did we.

As far as alpha strikes went, it was probably one of my best.

In this life, at least.

…

It took me a minute to realize that I vastly overestimated the abilities of the Exorcists within the facility. I’d believed that they’d be as skilled and strong as the ones I’d faced and Irina. Superhumans who were just shy of being on the same level as Fallen Angels, who I barely managed to fight against and win with preparation, planning, and the terrain on my side.

I was practically dealing with them with basic marksmanship, some evasive maneuvers, and relocating whenever my cover started to take too many shots.

These Church whelps aren’t as good as I remember. Back in my day, the knights sent after me by the Church actually shot straight and knew when to run. Ddraig commented, while I put another lance of Light through a hooded Exorcist’s chest. The man gave a gurgled cry of pain at the charred hole in his chest. He remained standing and tried to aim at me, but by the time he did I put another three shots into him. That killed him. They can take a hit or two from these weak weapons, but they’re still no good! Has the Church just been getting weaker since the Great War!?

They were stronger than normal humans, but there weren’t close to the caliber that I expected. Their abilities and weapons were something for me to worry about, but not if I stayed in cover, kept either one of the Holy Users between me and them, and stayed cautious.

Facing them all one without using my Sacred Gear was impossible, but with Irina and Quarta, I had time to update Sitri on the situation between engagements through the communication spell she gave us.

She was as suspicious of the situation as I was.

“Whoever stole the Excaliburs should have expected a reprisal of this magnitude, so why is this progressing so well?” Sitri spoke while both Holy Sword Users crashed upon the former Exorcists. They carved through their foes with ease, smashing through their opponent’s blades of Light, and shrugging off most shots sent their way. The two were conserving energy, barely using anything more than their physical strength and skill, but they were tearing through the enemy with unerring position. “Did they expect any force sent to find them to fight against us? Did they simply expect that that the Church and Devils would come to blows instantly?”

On the surface, assuming that two factions would just instantly come to blows was strange, but with the history between the Church and Devils… I couldn’t help but throw my two Yen into the ring.

“That’s probably exactly what they thought.” The Exorcists arrived without explanation, armed with powerful weapons, and were willing to come to blows the moment they met with Rias and the others. If I wasn’t involved in the situation, especially with the camouflage specialized in keeping the site away from the eyes of Devils, the Church and Hell would’ve most likely come to blows that day. The Devils wouldn’t have entertained the thought of two Holy Sword users arriving in search of other Holy Swords, while the Devils would’ve been the key suspects. “I think that someone’s trying to start a war between the Church and Hell by killing you and Rias.”

It wasn’t a new idea. It’d crossed my mind and Sitri’s when we discussed all the strange things occurring in Kuoh. The first, of course, was Asia’s arrival, the sudden appearance of Fallen Angels, and then the subsequent arrival of former Church members armed with their holy weapons.

As far as I was concerned, the Fallen Angels I encountered weeks ago were affiliated with the true culprit, since the Grigori were the most likely to profit from the war between the Church and Hell erupting.

“The more that I think about it, the more that I think you’re right, Hyoudou-kun.” I could feel Sitri somehow pushing her glasses up and frowning through our magical link in communication. I took a shot at an Exorcist just leaving the gate and destroyed his hand before placing a bolt through his stomach. I must’ve hit his spine, since the man suddenly fell forward and died with a twitch. Just to be safe, I destroyed the man’s head, but I had to relocate a moment later. “Still, you need to be careful. It’s unlikely that this facility doesn’t have SOME form of defense against an attack from the Church. The preparations made to conceal this place from Devils suggests incredible resources spent in its protection.”

“Yeah, that makes sense. I’ll keep an eye out.” I agreed readily with Sitri. Her evaluation of the situation was correct. Even if this was some elaborate ploy to get the Church and Hell to come to blows, too many resources were put towards this place to have an ineffective defense. I needed to stay in reserve… and so did the Devils. “I think that you should all stay back, until we encounter some real resistance.”

“I told you not to risk your life.” Sitri quickly reminded me of my orders, but I pressed on.

“I’m not. Quarta and Irina are here. They’re tearing through the enemy, while I’m taking potshots from cover.” I grunted towards Sitri and took another look the situation. The newest group out of the facility were already engaged by the Holy Sword Users and falling fast. Excalibur Rapidly threaded through people like a demented mix between chainsaw and whip, while Quarta’s Excalibur plainly smashed and cut through anything she threw it against. “You already planned to use us as bait, so don’t back down now.”

“You’re not a pawn for me to use to lay as a trap, Hyoudou-kun!” Sitri raised her voice and I couldn’t help but be frustrated with her sudden reluctance.

“I’m not implying that you are. Stop thinking that I am. I’m in the field and I’m telling you that we’re fine and willing to work harder to make the mission succeed.” I walked Sitri through the situation. She was stressed, worried, and nervous enough to have an outburst about what she was feeling. Yelling at her and being frustrated was useless. I needed her to listen and see things logically. “Trust me to handle the situation and come when I ask for help. This isn’t chess. We can move simultaneously, Sitri. You don’t need to stand idly by and let me die.”

I put a few bolts of light into Exorcist, while Quarta and Irina fought like unstoppable killing machines, before Sona spoke again

“Fine, then. Continue engaging and enter the facility, Hyoudou. Find and disrupt the surveillance net around the facility. Ensure that we can ambush the enemy, before proceeding as an attacking force.”

I nodded at that. It was a course of action that balanced risk and safety perfectly.

Just what I expected from Sona and what I wanted to hear.

“Understood. Got it.”