Chapter 104: The Qilin's Horn

"Are you insane? You'd kill us all?" One continued to shout angrily.

"Quickly! Alert Master!" One shouted to a nearby soldier.

The soldier immediately reached for his comm device and started pressing several buttons. The face of the soldier changed as his attempts proved useless. He beckoned on another soldier and several soldiers immediately started to send their own messages through their respective comm devices. But after several tries, the signal just wouldn't push through.

One noticed it and frowned.

"The comm network is down?! Then run towards Master and Young Master!" One ordered as his gaze returned towards Lowengren who held the bomb up in his hands.

Lowengren analyzed the situation with a solemn look. As someone who deceived, he knew what deception was and concluded that the Assassins weren't giving him a taste of his own medicine.

"That's not me." Lowengren finally answered as he lowered the red and white ball.

"Arthur." He turned to ask.

"The only reasonable explanation is it's the Aragarian's. They are launching a Weapon of Mass destruction." Arthur responded.

"That's crazy! Why would they launch a weapon of mass destruction right in the middle of China? That would leave a trail back to them! And I thought you said that Richie killed everyone!" Lowengren cursed.

"He left one woman alive. However, she shouldn't be a threat anymore. I made Richie kiss her, remember?" Arthur countered.

"Then who? Wait... One, are there any other enemies of your organization crazy enough to launch a weapon of mass destruction?" He asked One.

One paused for a bit. He gazed at the eyes of Lowengren as if to probe further.

"It seems you are really not the ones using that weapon. No. There are none."

BOOM!

A thundering sound from a distance was heard.

"TIER ONE WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION QILIN'S HORN DETECTED!" The alarm sounded once more.

"The Qilin's Horn!" One cried in terror.

The other Assassins also had the same terrified expression.

For hardened Assassins of these levels, showing a level of terror wasn't due to the fact that they would die. With their loyalty and servitude, death wasn't something they feared. Failure was. Failure to protect and serve their master.

"What is the Qilin's Horn?" Arthur immediately asked.

"The Qilin's Horn is a weapon of Mass destruction that doesn't create mass destruction. It's a missile that can actively shoot and kill anything deemed as an enemy within an area. No explosions, no radiations, no chemicals. Just dead bodies. Once launched, there is no known technology that can shoot it down or destroy it." One gave the summary.

"I see. So it's a weapon of mass destruction that is untraceable and can be used discreetly. Then only the Chinese Government has the capability to use such weapons. Other than that... it might be the Aragarian's, The Chinese won't randomly launch this after all." Arthur concluded.

"So it's definitely the Aragarian's. But how? Richie was certain that everyone was killed. He kept using Echolocation!" Alean rushed closer and screamed.

"Then they simply have the technology to either fake a state wherein they appear to be dead or something that can hide a person's presence. It looks like the sound is coming from the building several blocks from where we are at."Arthur then turned to One.

"Let's get out of here. Lander can go in and warn Seeker. Looks like the Aragarian's used a comm jammer. We need to act now. Sorry, Lander. If you die on the process of informing Seeker, know that you did something great. The future will remember your deaths." Arthur ordered as he immediately pushed a button.

Lander immediately followed. A trace of joy could be seen in his eyes. The happiness sprung from Arthur's words which somehow motivated and made Lander willing to die.

"I can't believe dying would be such a magnificent experience." Lander laughed as he started dashing on towards the mansion.

It was then that Arthur noticed that none of the Assassins moved. They all stood their ground and remained guarded.

"Lander! Wait." Arthur canceled the order.

"One? What are you doing?" Arthur asked.

Lander stopped his dash and gave a curious look at the Assassins.

"Young Master, it's been a glorious battle. Such a pity that we would die not in your hands or you to ours. Go and flee, but we must remain. We will try our best to destroy the Qilin's Horn. If that increases Master and Young Master's chance of survival by a single percent, we would gladly take it."

The other Assassins stood their ground.

"Looks like there is something with this weapon than meets the eye. They should know Meng's capabilities yet, they are afraid that he would die." Lowengren spoke softly.

"A weapon that could kill Meng? Interesting. Alean, take Blur and Clutch and get out of here," Arthur ordered as he immediately shot a flaregun up in the air.

Kristine noticed it and immediately started zooming towards them. Most of the soldiers had started to retreat at the alert. This made Kristine's approach faster.

Lowengren gave a light smile and moved towards the Assassin.

"Young Master?" One answered with surprise.

"We've gotten off on the wrong foot. We never meant to kill you. Especially now that we know how capable you guys are. And just like you, we must do our best to protect our allies inside. If you believe escaping is futile, then we shall do the same and fight. If it increases the chances of their survival by a single percent, we would gladly die for their sake. Besides, we also can't afford to lose the Black Dragon," Lowengren took out all his weapons and laid it on the ground and started to tinker with it.

"Tell me the capabilities of this bomb. I can have Kristine attack it as her suit has jet-powered capabilities."

"I'm afraid that's impossible. Once it starts it begins its charging phase and is launched, no one can dare to approach it or shoot it. As it can already shoot down anything within a given area. It's designed to shoot down jets at their fastest speed, kill pilots inside the most resilient Armor's and detect enemies with the most complex cloaking technology."

Kristine finally arrived. Her golden armor equipped with such wondrous technology made the assassins hold their breath in amazement.

"Kristine, from now on you're not allowed to talk to Lowengren alone," Arthur ordered immediately. Lowengren was shaking his head with a grin on his face.

"I got your lunch box ready." Kristine immediately handed over several small pills from her back-pack.

Arthur immediately took one.

"Shouldn't someone warn them?" Alean asked.

"They should have noticed the alarm. But not anyone has Lowengren's Path. So their battles should be reaching its climax as they don't have time. Going there could only get you killed."

"Lowengren's Path?"

"Why did they believe us immediately?" Arthur asked.

It was then that Alean realized what had happened.

"What? It's a Path?"

"What else could it be? The others won't be able to convince their enemies. So the only way is to try and stop this bomb and hope that we can save them. Don't worry. Seeker's inside. They should win." Arthur then turned his attention to the approaching Assassins.

A surprised look appeared in Alean's eyes.

"Zeek…" Alean smiled and then immediately dashed to take Blur and Clutch.

"How long do we have?"

"About ten to fifteen minutes now that it's in range with our detectors. If the missile has the same launch speeds that we know." One spoke softly.

"The missile probably hasn't been launched yet. To avoid detection from the government, they would launch it from a nearby silo. It should be hidden in one of the nearby buildings in this area. That way, only your base would detect it. It should still be in this so-called charging phase. How long do we have in that scenario?"

"If that's the case… we should have about three to five minutes." Specter answered.

"Alright. Then the plan is to wait here. The target should be your Master. So destroying it from where we are now is our best option." Arthur suddenly stretched his arms to see if its fully healed.

"Good. My body should be able to function at about one-fourth of my peak." Arthur paused as his cells started healing itself.

"As enemies, you were terrifying. But as allies, it feels as if a great burden on my shoulders has been lifted." Specter laughed.

"Is the Qilin's Horn similar to the Killing Horn?" Arthur asked ignoring the Assassin's sentimental stares.

"As expected of Lennox's son. Yes, Young Master, the two are one and the same. The Killing Horn is what it's called in the Underworld." Strike answered.

"So that's why it's being sought after in the Underworld…"

"We can give you a brief overview of what that technology is equipped with. But rumor has it, that it has been constantly improved throughout the years. We do not know the full extent of its technology." Twister spoke as he moved to the front.

"Alright. You have thirty seconds. Explain the technologies that weapon is or could be equipped with. Give me an overview of all technological possibilities that One China has."

Specter started to narrate the specs of the weapon to Arthur.

"I disagree with Young Master Arthur. Since there is no way to communicate with our allies inside, we need to send someone to warn them. Otherwise, if we fail, they will die. You seem confident of your allies... but if they become too wounded to escape, how would they be able to escape the Qilin's Horn?" One spoke to Lowengren.

"As Arthur said, going to them is pointless. Imagine what your Master would say if you appeared in front of him and tell him to stop fighting."

One sighed.

"He would conclude that I betrayed him."

"Exactly. They would believe that we are equipped with a technology that protects us from the Qilin's Horns targeting system." Lowengren explained.

One started to wonder why he immediately believed Lowengren and did not think of that possibility.

"Don't worry. If we did have it, we would have had the chance to kill you several times now but we didn't." Lowengren smiled.

One nodded his head in agreement.

"Then let's hope that our allies haven't killed each other yet." One furrowed his brows.

"Don't worry. I know you see your masters as monsters. But those who went inside are monsters too." Lowengren answered.

A few minutes before the alarm, the battle inside the mansion had reached a terrifyingly different level. The rooms which formerly existed in the area where they fought had disappeared. The destruction of Blast and Trigger's weapon had eroded the walls that divided the rooms. Only the outer walls of the mansion weren't destroyed as it was made with hybrid Almetal.

The new 'hall' that was formed through the destruction of the rooms during this battle would occasionally blaze with a bright light.

The constant sound of gunfire, explosions, and of two metals hitting each other continued to reverberate throughout the area.

Blast, Trigger, and Suit continued to shower Meryl with their attacks. Several Exoskeletons were now supporting Suit from the back. The Assassins were no longer shooting randomly except Blast who kept shooting Magnetic bombs targeting, Cliff, Meryl, and even Lynd.

Meryl continued to attack and retreat as she faced the three Assassins.

"Damn it! Aim for that brat in the middle!" Trigger cursed.

"What the hell do you think I've been doing! But unless you two can stop the crazy girl, we'd be dead if I didn't shoot her!"

Cliff maintained his distance between Meryl and Lynd distracting Sting most of the time as he used a strange sniper rifle. Every time, Meryl would call out to Cliff, Cliff would immediately turn around and shoot an Assassin.

Trigger and Blast had been wounded by several of Cliff's attacks barely sparing themselves from critical wounds.

The intermittent and immediate flashes of light that Lynd or Meryl would send out made the three assassins incapable of attacking.

"Let me charge in! I have five suits with me!" Suit moved but was stopped by Trigger.

"Don't! That brat's explosion is dangerous! It even damaged and melted parts of the Almetal of this mansion! You're Suit's would be incinerated along with you if she does that again!"

"I must help Young Master!" Suit answered in anger.

The Assassins were surprised as they witnessed how the young boy traded blows and withstood Typical's power.

Lynd and Typical's battle was extremely fast. It was moving from one end of the large hall to the other. The attacks would leave a large gash on the wall and even dent the Almetal.

Surrounding Typical were the nanometal particles that continued to float and form into several deadly weapons which Typical would utilize to block or attack. Some of the nanoparticles would gather together forming an iron pike that would fly out and attack Lynd. These pikes would be enveloped with a red and blue electric charge causing fly as fast as a bullet.

The technologies of several Assassin were used by expertly handled by Typical.

Yet despite all these different weapons, Lynd matched it with expert evasion using Lander's cyclone, the usage of strange shouts that distorted Typical and the blinding light that Meryl had.

Typical used the nanoparticles and its Force Charge to jump several times in midair, changing the direction of his attacks.

Lynd stopped from his charge and started to retreat. But then, he immediately dashed forward and used his sword to block an incoming attack.

BOOM!

Lynd was sent flying to the ground but then a small explosion rocked Typical sending him flying back as well.

When Lynd stopped attacking and was about to withdraw, he felt a strange but familiar sensation behind him. He stopped withdrawing and charged forward but at the same time lightly tossed a small coin-sized object. When he was struck by Typical's slash, he was sent flying at an incredible speed allowing him to escape the explosion caused by the small bomb he threw.

Sting immediately caught Typical as the other assassins gave a surprised scream.

Cliff immediately rushed to finish off Typical.

"Stop!" Lynd shouted.

Cliff stopped and stood to cover Lynd from Sting.

"Don't attack him! You'll die." Lynd ordered seriously.

It was then that Cliff noticed Lynd had several wounds all over his body.

Lynd's body was trembling all over. He was tightly grasping the sword.

"I can't believe that I might die here." Lynd sighed.

"How were you attacked?" Cliff was surprised. He couldn't recall any attacks that Typical made to give Lynd these wounds.

"You don't fight with your eyes with this one, Cliff. He could easily kill you and Meryl if I wasn't keeping him… extremely busy."

"TIER ONE WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION DETECTED! ALL PERSONNEL, EVACUATE TO THE SHELTERS!"

The alarm was heard from afar.

Lynd gave a strange sigh.

"Looks like we're running out of time." Lynd stood up and prepared to attack.

Meryl suddenly appeared next to him.

"Lynd. Let me fight him." Meryl gave a resolved look.