Chapter 100: Old Friends

Chapter 100: Old Friends

James pounded out of the hive and back out onto West Street. The siren call of the demon symbol had fallen silent, but before James had destroyed the Nem3 queen and brought the black egg low it had called out to thousands of Nems, and they had answered.

Now, even with the hive extinguished, the area was flooded with demons. But the situation, it turned out, was under control.

James slowed, stopped.

And watched as Crimson Hydra went to town.

Above them all floated Olaf with his Circle of Protection, but now it was enhanced, the spheres surface burning white in an inverse simulacra of the hive as countless harpoons slammed against it to no effect. White mystic symbols appeared fleetingly across its curvature, and in the center Olaf stood upon his Wing, a great glowing armature of burning spiritual energy upon him, making him appear less a Viking and more Thor himself.

Olaf had summoned a Virtue, though it wasnt Justice.

With a cry Olaf raised his axe and Seraphic Web burst into existence, strands of Bronze aura flooding the area in a thousand cross-cutting strands, affixing to building facades, cars, bus stops, kiosks, traffic lights.

Nem3s screeched and howled in agony and died by the scores.

Meanwhile Denzel, Miriam, and Kimmie clustered close beside Olaf. Each was invested by another Virtue, even Miriam. Whatever was happening below was taking its toll above; Denzel and Kimmie both were continuously wracked by mortal wounds which they healed, flicker-flash, their expressions ones of sublime transfiguration.

Down below, Yadriel was holding court. Massive in his Nem3 form, he was invested in a Virtues blazing light, but more, wore ornate golden Angelic Armor over his demonic body. His movements were too fast for the demons to track, and his blows shattered limbs, burst heads. Wounds healed almost as rapidly as they were dealt, and over the cacophony of battle James could hear the kid roaring with laughter.

Jason swooped over the battlefield, and the young soldiers Virtue was clearly Justice; James recognized the markings. His Aura Mastery lashed at the battlefield over and over again, slicing Nem3s apart, his aerial movements adroit and graceful, avoiding most of the harpoons flying his way. Those that hit but briefly inconvenienced him, but Martyrs Cry from Kimmie and Denzel kept him flying.

And Serenity?

Highest of them all, she gazed down upon the battle from seven stories up, her M2 trained on the tides of demons below, her gun blazing without surcease, her frame wrapped in the same Angelic Armor as Yadriel.

And Kerim? James searched and saw the scholar step into view behind an apartments open window. He leaned out, opened fire, and when a handful of harpoons blasted his way, stepped back, only to reappear on a rooftop across the street.

Sniping quicker than the enemy could react.

Lets lend a hand,said James, and opened up with this double-barreled Vault Canon. The huge bullets scythed down the enemy, and for a minute it was nothing but unstoppable slaughter.

The demons ran at them, hurled their harpoons, raged, and died.

Finally the last wave eased.

Your rank is now Acolyte 9

You have 5 unspent points.

Fuck yeah! shouted Serenity, putting up her Ma Deuce and allowing her Wing to lower. You did it! You fucking did it, James!

The others drew close, Yadriel padding over in his demonic form, Kerim stepping out of the shadows of a large kiosk.

Weve a black egg in there that needs collecting, boomed James through the War Hounds grill. But yeah. I did it. There was a Nem3 queen. Pretty vicious. He paused, wished he could grin. But shes dead, now.

Fucking-A, said Jason with a grin, reaching up to wipe demon ichor off his face. Like the others, the Virtues powers were fading away, taking with them the Angelic Armor and other temporary gifts. Thats gotta be a first.

Doesnt matter. I see you all leveled up.

Yadriel shrank down from his Nem3 form into his own slender shape. Man, it was like crazy. Every few seconds a new level. Never seen nothing like it.

Though we need to figure these Virtues out, said Serenity soberly. I didnt understand what mine meant when it said itd claim ten percent of my Arete, but I didnt like it.

Useful though, grunted Olaf.

Lets hold off on summoning them again unless our lives depend on it, said James. I got the same message, and I can tell you that I aint ready to go become some abstraction of Justice. Which of the four did you all pick?

Justice, too, said Jason.Witness the debut of this chapter, unveiled through Ñôv€l--B1n.

Fortitude, said Serenity.

Same, said Yadriel, bumping knuckles with her. Angelic Armor, that Wolverine regen, and Remove Curse.

Prudence, sighed Olaf. Big surprise for me. I thought coming to New York that I would be at front of battle, but no. I am mother hen, but that is good, I like my friends staying alive.

Prudence, said Miriam shyly. Seraphic Web, Aeviternum Chance, and Aureate Buckler.

Kimmie grinned. Guess which that leaves the rest of us?

Mancini grinned. You kidding me Kelly? Weve been keeping track of you ever since we split up. When the offer was made for volunteers to join Blue Lights Second Group, we were first in line.

Singh was sitting to one side, his left side drenched in blood, left arm little more than a bloody sleeve, but one of the other operators dropped a Healing Grace on him and his arm reformed. With a grunt he stood and moved to stand beside Delvecchio, where he snapped off a smart salute. Sergeant Major.

Oh shit! Serenity came gliding up on her Wing. Will you look at these sorry assholes? Blue Lights letting just about anybody into the outfit these days. But her tone was so clearly joyous that the three men could only grin. Wheres that sorry bitch Huffman?

Ah, said Mancini, his grin disappearing as quickly as it came. She fell during the Nem2 fourth wave. She made a noble sacrifice.

Im sorry to hear that, said James. She was good people.

Shit, I feel like an asshole again, said Serenity. Im sorry, Mancini.

Dont be. He straightened. Regardless, thank you for the assist. Anything we can do in return?

Were headed to Jersey, said James. Situation over theres fucked. You guys want to help?

Sounds good. But you wont be able to take the Holland in that war machine. The tunnels packed with abandoned vehicles. You might be able to make your way over the cars, but the trucks will stop you cold.

Well shit. James considered. Thoughts, Jelly?

We could go the direct route.

The direct route? The tunnel is the direct route.

No, James. Jelly sounded impossibly patient. The direct route. Through the river.

The Hound can swim?!

Of course not. But it can walk. Well sink, cross the river over its bed, and emerge on the other side. Jelly paused, then added helpfully, you dont need to breathe any more.

Ok. Ok, good. Lets do that.

You all will take the tunnel, James commanded, trying to sound more certain than he felt. Clear it of Nems as you go, then wait for me where it opens up in Jersey.

What about you, boss man? asked Jason. You going to jump across?

Something like that. James caused the Hound to twist its chassis from side to side briskly like a man limbering up. Jelly tells me I dont need to breathe any more, so

Youre going to walk? Serenity stared at him. Do you know how nasty the Hudson is? What kind of shit is in that mud? Urgh.

Hes a robot, yo, said Yadriel in annoyance. I dont think hes giving many royal fucks about it.

Urgh, said Serenity for emphasis.

Move fast, stick together, said James. Ill see you there. Good luck.

And with that he began to lope west, toward the waterfront. It felt weird, almost wrong to leave this crew behind, but he had to work with the Hounds limitations.

Two blocks later he left the last of Manhattans buildings behind as he burst out into the West Street once more. He pounded across the divided lanes, leaping over abandoned cars, then hit the Hudson River Greenway at a run.

The Hudson glimmered through the trees and low bushes, flat and turgid, a dark and uninspiring grayish green.

James tapped hard-burn. The War Hound exploded into a sprint. He crossed the thin belt of greenery in seconds, hit the great concrete walkway that marked the very edge of the island, and with a roar that echoed out over the river he leaped, surging up over the fencing to fly out over the waters, his shadow trailing after him.

He hit the water a dozen yards out and sank with a great splash, down into the murk. There was no sense of wetness, of temperature. Down he went, and suddenly the water was lit up with a brilliant glow that originated from him.

Lights, said Jelly helpfully. The Hounds eyes can light up something fierce with a little divine power.

Thanks.

They hit the mud, which rose up in great plumes around them. The water was full of particulate matter, making visibility a limited thing indeed, and the surface was only some twenty-feet above them, though the ground fell away steeply into a frankly terrifying blackness below.

Shall we? asked Jelly.

Lets. Whats the worst that can be hiding down there during a demon apocalypse?

Hahaha, said Jelly, utterly without humor. I sincerely wish you hadnt said that, James.

With nothing for it, James began to stride forward, and step by step the Hound rapidly descended into the abyss.