I watched from distant eyes as Rachel died. I watched as my Main-self talked with the Faerie Queen, pushing her closer to humanity. I watched her as she prepared for the final confrontation. I watched as she held meetings, to discuss the steps that needed to be taken.One Endbringer was dead. This likely meant that more would come. Already the Shard network was pulsing with power as another being on par with Leviathan was being built, far away from prying eyes in a dimension visible only to the Warrior.The Simurgh could not foresee her new sibling, but she knew they were coming. One, or more. She knew that we knew, and because of that she was preparing. In my isolation, I realized what her plan was, and where she would strike.But I remained quiet.My prison/shelter held firm. I could've walked out at any point. But then we would all die. Reaching down, I interfaced with the cube beneath me. It continued to glow a dull blue as it worked. Safe from outside interference.I felt sorrow, knowing the price that needed to be paid to allow this final contingency to work. But I did not step out of my prison/shelter, for I loved humanity more than I loved even freedom.The work continued.
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I sat at the edge of the table, waiting for everyone to arrive or connect."The Simurgh has begun a steady descent," Arsenal informed the room, "it's been three weeks since Leviathan's attack. This doesn't follow schedule, but we prepared for it.""We're still not sure whatever it is that she took from Toronto, and her current trajectory will see her landing in the middle of the Mediterranean Ocean, near Malta," Legend explained, "We're already evacuating the southern part of the archipelago, but be wary of trusting this information. It is very likely that she will pivot to another target if we overextend there. With our new Movers we can travel very fast, but we've already seen in Brockton Bay that they can be stopped.""If she continues with her current acceleration, she'll get within strike range in fifteen hours," I ended the explanation.The room was filled with capes from all over the world. Some were brought there by Cauldron's doors, others connected online to the screens that were displayed around the table. Unlike the first meeting of the world parahumans, only individuals who had agreed to help the first time had been invited."Any way we can convert the long-range missiles to something that can hit her in the air now?" Phir Sē asked. We had been preparing an intercontinental barrage of artillery meant to strike the Simurgh out of orbit, and even end her.She had waited until the last possible moment. The missiles were already built, but we didn't yet have the infrastructure set up to fire at her. Another day would have sufficed."We don't have the means to fire the missiles. By the time we finish building even an improvised launcher, she'll be too close to the ground. Millions would die and fifty percent chance to trigger the End of the World - according to Dinah. The risk is not worth it.""Then we fight like always. I have preparations to make, contact me when transport is available." Phir Sē stepped out of the room and into his portal, followed by the rest of the Thanda. The portal closed behind them.The other capes did the same, a few asked questions but within the hour the room had been emptied. I was left with Arsenal, Legend, Eidolon and Dragon."It's not adding up…" Eidolon sighed. "Endbringers always had rules. One dies and now they can break them?"I agreed with him. "We don't know the mechanism that governs them. By the Blasphemies' account, creatures similar to the Endbringers appeared in past cycles. But usually they were much weaker, and bonded to specific individuals or groups to be used as a weapon. Maybe she's doing this because we broke one of their rules first.""Much of what we have done could have broken a 'rule'. Neither side is playing fair, we've deviated a lot from what the Warrior and the Thinker wanted to do with this planet. It doesn't matter," Arsenal said."I'll keep you updated. Otherwise, see you on the battlefield. Door me," I said to the air, then walked into the portal.
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Weaver and Adriana were on the other side. Silent. We were in a large hangar, with many bugs of Weaver's mechanical swarm hanging from the ceiling or side of the wall.Contessa was also there. She glanced towards me."You shouldn't be here," I said."The Simurgh attacking so early changes things. Plans need to adapt."I glanced towards Weaver. She was one wrong word away from lunging for Contessa."...say what you need. Then leave us.""I'll stay by Weaver's side during the battle. Simply.""And I assume you can't tell us why.""Correct."Adriana took a step forward. She'd likely be able to deal with Contessa, if it came down to it, due to the anti-Thinker properties of her power. I raised my hand to stop her."Remember our deal. When this is all over, I won't stop hunting you until you've paid for what you have done.""There will be no need. I don't plan to escape. But I need to be here, and now. It is important.""Blackwall, stop," Weaver said, "it's fine. I can deal with her."I wasn't so sure."We also had a deal, Blackwall. Remember? I've got equal say in this. And I'm agreeing to have Contessa next to me during the fight, whatever that means."…"Very well." I nodded, then walked to the other side of the room, past the three of them. Making the final check on Weaver's and Adriana's equipment. Especially Weaver's.It was unlikely that we'd deploy the Arachne against the Simurgh. But I wanted to be prepared for everything.Contessa quietly took her place by Weaver's side. Her steps made no sound.I continued to have a bad feeling about this. About all of this.
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More and more Dragon-crafts filled with capes from all over the world landed on the southern side of Malta, upon the stony hill overlooking the mediterranean ocean. A large drop separated the capes from the water.Behind them, in the village of Marsaxlokk, multiple headquarters and shelters were being established. With so much time given in advance, we had managed to mostly evacuate it. But if Toronto's battle with the Simurgh was of any indication, not much of settlement would remain after.Eidolon and Legend were already there, floating over the water.Alexandria was absent from the front-lines. Rebecca, as the Chief Director of the PRT, sat at the table within the command centre."Given our numbers and resources, we've modified the Simurgh-armbands. They will blow up on early red alerts now. We can't allow any room for mistakes," Rebecca explained, "most of our frontline is not resistant to the Simurgh through a variety of means.""But without Alexandria…" another member of the PRT protested."There was no Alexandria when Leviathan attacked my home," Julius spoke up, "we managed then, we'll manage now. And she's ready to deploy if things get dire, isn't she?""Correct," Rebecca confirmed, "she is in constant contact with us even at this time. Let's go over the formation again."She looked to me.I glanced at the large monitor on the other side of the command center. The screen displayed a top-down view of the cliff-side where the main engagement would begin. At the top left there was a timer. Ten hours and fifteen minutes until contact. I began the presentation:"We'll deploy in a four-ring structure, centered on the command centre. Each ring will have their own line of command, coordinated by off-site Thinkers. The outermost ring - the first ring - will field our most mobile and durable attackers. Eidolon, I and Arsenal with his new suit will be there, leading the charge. The second ring will be composed of long-range attackers, led by Legend. Third ring is our backup. It will stay outside of the Simurgh's range for the first phases of the fight, and teams there will be ready to switch out with first and second rings.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original."The fourth ring is our triage center. Close enough to the frontline for capes to re-deploy quickly if they are up to it. Otherwise they'll be moved back to the other side of the island to recover in a hospital. The 'ring' structure is because we suspect that the Simurgh will not move straight across the territory once she gets closer. With this, we'll be able to more easily reposition. The command center itself can be relocated quickly if necessary."Any question?"Silence, for a moment."How sure are we of the timeline?" a protectorate hero asked. Chevalier."Dinah's our most effective precog when it comes to Endbringers. She can't see them but she's better than most at understanding the consequence of their actions. She confirmed what our numbers say. In-" I pointed at the large screen, where a countdown ticked down each second, "-ten hours and thirteen minutes the Simurgh will be at an altitude we deem 'reasonable' to attack. We expect her to begin her own attack at such time, or shortly before.""What about her tinkertech? I understand that she's been pillaging satellites while in orbit," Chevalier again asked, for the room more than for himself."You can ask for a detailed dossier from the armband at any point, but to make it short: tinkertech weaponry of a large variety, but all mostly known to us. Without Tinkers in her range the Simurgh can't create new devices, but she still remembers how to build anything she's already built once. We've prepared contingencies for her most dangerous weapons.""Those being Haywire's and Dragon's tech," Rebecca finished the explanation."We didn't have half of this in Toronto. And she's too smart to fight at a disadvantage…" Chevalier mumbled, "I don't like this…""None of us do," I agreed, "it is beyond doubt that we're walking into a trap. We're counting on our own preparations to counter hers. She's not unbeatable or unstoppable, and we'll prove it today.""I have no more questions then." Chevalier took a step back. Arsenal stepped next to him. The two exchanged quick friendly words."Anything else?" I looked at the other people in the room. "If not, we don't have much time left."
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Five hours left."This will fry your brain," I insisted."I can't use the maximum speed without it," Arsenal countered."Maybe you shouldn't use it then.""Don't be childish."Arsenal and I had been locked into an argument for far too much time at this point. During the weeks since Leviathan's attack, he'd vastly improved his own implant, including applying time-dilation perception to his brain.By our side was the Nimue, Arsenal's latest suit. It stood at two meters in height. The inner layer, the 'skin' of the suit, was a black and green crystalline mesh, a mix between Adriana's metal and Leviathan's own body parts. It was covered by multiple armored plates of metal, such as heavy pauldrons equipped with a variety of artillery. Under the plates were a mix of cables and tubes that connected to the crystal beneath.At the back of the suit, where the spine met the base of the neck, a dense spherical mass was inserted into a protective container. Leviathan's own core. Over its surface there still was the crack caused by Arsenal. The damage meant that the core couldn't be used to imitate the Endbringer's hydrokinesis, but most of its other functions were intact. Namely, its speed and water generation."I made most of your implants, so I know their limitations. Even when my body was mostly flesh, my brain had already been changed by my Shard. Your brain is still fully human, and your Tinker-shard won't help you compute the overwhelming sensory data given by the speedware.""We've run the tests. I'll be below the threshold.""Barely, and those tests were run in a simulated room. On the battlefield, there will be hundreds more variables to consider, and they'll no doubt push you over the limit. And we're fighting the Simurgh of all enemies…""The helmet will block her out." Arsenal tapped on the helmet by his side. Multiple tinkertech devices dedicated to keeping his brain isolated were built within. But none of them had been tested against the Simurgh."If we're wrong, the Simurgh gets access to your mind. To the Nanothorns, and everything else you've built.""Nobody else can pilot the Nimue. Not even you," he countered. He was right. Using the suit required interfacing with Leviathan's core, something I couldn't do given my own 'core' hidden within my head."Dragon, help me convince him." I looked to the side, towards a monitor.Dragon's face appeared over a nearby screen. She looked conflicted."I think… Colin's right. It's a risk, but one we can afford. And maybe one we have to take."There was something odd in her tone of voice. Arsenal noticed it too. It was especially strange that she'd accept for Arsenal to take such a huge risk."Dragon?" Arsenal asked, "are you okay?""I am. Why?""...nothing." Arsenal did not pursue the matter any further.Something stopped me from doing so as well.
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Twenty-five minutes.The sun was setting behind us as we watched the skyline turn from orange to the deep blue of the night. The sky was dark, a New Moon upon us.All across the coast multiple groups of capes stood on the sturdy rocks of the cliff-face. Carved into the stone below were panels of resilient glass with bright lights underneath, chasing away the darkness that would have surrounded us otherwise. Because of that, no star was visible in the night.A crystalline angel reflected those lights, painting the world around her into silent silver. Her wings fluttered in the winds, shifting and moving with uncanny grace. Her expression was a neutral smile. Thousands of contradicting radio signals spread from her body, already trying to mess with our sensors and communications."Twelve minutes ahead of schedule," Legend muttered by our side, "and still no signs of any tinkertech.""We won't have to wait much longer, I fear." Eidolon put a hand on the shoulder of his fellow Triumvirate member.Four of us stood at the forefront of the defense. Eidolon, Legend, Arsenal and I. Arsenal kept quiet as he glared upwards."Be ready, if she accelerates any further you'll have to launch your attack early," I warned Legend, who nodded in acknowledgment.The Simurgh glanced down at the island, at our defenses. Her lips curled into a smile. Her wings moved forward, unveiling another set of feathers beneath the originals. Those feathers were blurred, seemingly surrounded by a silver mist.That is…"My nanothorns…" Arsenal gasped from underneath his helmet, "but how..?"By all accounts, we were still far outside her range. Not to mention Arsenal's protective armor.She seemed to take glee in Arsenal's suffering, as her smile grew wider. Her wings pointed downwards, not towards us but towards the center of the island. The nanothorn's mist obfuscated the fine movement of her feathers.Something went wrong.I quickly cycled through all of my sensory equipment, trying to understand what she was doing. Most of the info was junk, unrecognizable, and what little made sense was a red herring. It was only after I focused on the blurring nanothorns that I gained a glimpse of her purpose."It's a visual signal." She wasn't attempting to send a virus. But a message.She was waking up a sleeping cell hidden amidst our numbers.We all heard the low roar of a jet engine passing far in the distance."It's my crafts!" Dragon screamed into our comms.Behind us, artillery bombarded the backline.