Chapter 63: Nephilim

Reinhard walked alongside Lucien and Archon toward the hangar, and his thoughts drifted back to Emily. She could walk again, and the thought still felt strange every time he had it.

A few days ago she had needed a wheelchair, and this morning she had raced Lily across the yard and demanded a rematch.

But her Gnosis was still incomplete. The Oath Keeper Water and the Life Gold Water were secured, and the Lightning Emperor Key and the Lightkeeper Dew were still out of reach.

"You’re unusually quiet," Lucien said.

"I’m thinking about the mission."

Lucien smiled. "Emily, actually."

Reinhard glanced at him. "You know me too well."

"Occupational hazard."

Archon gave them both a brief look. "You’re both distracting yourselves."

"And you’re already taking this seriously," Reinhard said, smiling.

"Someone has to."

"Only six of the original twelve are coming with you," Lucien said as they walked.

"The other six are resting?"

"They’re on another mission in the market," Archon answered before Lucien could.

"So what are the six coming with us like?"

Archon fell silent, and she kept her eyes forward for three whole steps.

"That’s a dangerous question," Lucien said, smiling.

"Why?"

Archon closed her eyes. "A bunch of dysfunctional problem children."

Reinhard blinked and then laughed. "You’ve only known them for a month."

"One month was enough."

"She’s not exaggerating," Lucien said, laughing into his coffee.

"That bad?"

"Worse."

"Now I’m interested."

Archon sighed. "That’s what I’m afraid of."

As they approached the hangar, Reinhard looked at her again. "Actually, I have another question."

"What?"

"What do they think about you?"

She stopped for half a second. "Why?"

"I’m curious."

"That’s all?"

"Mostly."

She studied him. "You want to hear them complain about me."

"I didn’t say that."

"You were thinking it."

"Maybe," Reinhard admitted, laughing.

"This should be entertaining," Lucien said.

"Don’t encourage him."

"I’m just observing."

"That’s how it starts."

...

The hangar bay came into view a moment later, with six Nephilim already scattered around a pair of SUVs. Rhea sat on the hood of one with a paper bag in her lap, eating something with great focus, while Seraphine stood nearby reading through the mission documents.

Rika was testing the edge of her weapon with one thumb, Kael stood quietly beside the equipment, Adrian checked his gear for what looked like the third time, and Mara moved between them all, trying to keep everyone organized.

"Everyone, this is Reinhard," Lucien said as they approached. "He’s your manager for this operation."

Rhea raised her hand immediately, still chewing. "Question."

"Already?" Lucien asked.

"Does manager mean boss?"

"For this mission."

She looked at Reinhard. "Can we ignore him?"

"I’d prefer if you didn’t."

Rhea grinned. "I like him."

"Please don’t encourage her," Mara sighed.

Lucien continued before Rhea could say anything else. "Reinhard’s priority is the Lightning Emperor Key, and your priority is making sure he comes back alive."

"So he’s important," Rhea said.

"Very."

Rika looked toward Reinhard. "Can he fight?"

"You’ll find out," Lucien said with a small smile.

Rhea introduced herself first and hopped down from the hood. "Rhea Vance. You can just call me Rhea."

"Nice to meet you."

"Likewise, handsome consultant."

"Finally," Reinhard said, and turned to Lucien. "Someone here reads the incident log."

"Don’t start," Mara said.

"What? I’m being friendly."

Rhea squinted at him and tilted her head. "Wait. Are you the Mirror guy?"

Reinhard’s eye twitched once. "I’m the consultant."

"So, yes."

"Rhea," Mara said.

Seraphine approached next and studied Reinhard carefully. "Seraphine Vale. I’ve heard you’re capable of predicting possible futures."

"That’s what people say."

"Is it accurate?"

"Not completely."

She nodded slowly. "Interesting."

"That’s all?"

"I’ll ask more once I have enough information."

Rhea leaned toward him and lowered her voice. "That’s her version of being excited."

Rika stepped forward next. "Rika."

"Nice to meet you."

"You fight?"

"Yes."

"Good." She turned away.

Reinhard glanced at Rhea. "Is that it?"

Rhea laughed. "That’s practically a speech."

Kael was next, though he barely seemed interested in the introductions. "Kael."

Reinhard waited, and after a long pause, Kael added, "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise."

Rhea leaned closer again. "He’s talkative today."

"I am," Kael said.

Rhea burst out laughing, and Adrian gave Reinhard an awkward smile. "Adrian. I’m glad you’re coming with us."

"Why?"

"Because apparently you’re strong."

"Apparently?"

"I haven’t seen you fight yet." Adrian shrugged. "Fair enough."

Mara approached last, with an expression more serious than everyone else’s put together. "Mara Veyne. Field coordinator. If you’re managing this operation, I’ll expect clear decisions."

"You’ll have them."

"Good."

Rhea raised her hand again. "Can I also make decisions?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I’ve met you."

Rhea stared at him for a moment before she grinned. "I really like him."

Mara sighed. "This is going to be a long mission."

Reinhard glanced toward Archon, and he didn’t say anything, but his smile did.

"Don’t," she said immediately.

"I haven’t said anything."

"I know that look."

Rhea noticed the exchange at once. "You want to know what we think about her?"

"Yes," Reinhard said.

"Rhea," Archon warned.

"What? He asked." Rhea folded her arms and thought about it for a moment. "She’s terrifying."

"Good," Archon said.

"And bossy."

"Also good."

"And she doesn’t let us have any fun."

"Because your definition of fun usually involves property damage."

Rhea smiled. "See?"

Seraphine looked toward Reinhard. "She’s extremely reliable."

Archon nodded slightly. "Thank you."

"She’s also excessively cautious."

Archon’s eyebrow rose. "Because none of you are cautious enough."

"She’s right," Rika said.

Reinhard looked at her. "And what do you think?"

"Annoying."

Archon raised an eyebrow again, higher this time.

"You’re alive," Rika added.

"Exactly."

Reinhard laughed, and Kael looked toward Archon. "Reliable."

He paused.

"Frightening."

Archon said nothing, and Rhea started laughing again.

Adrian looked uncomfortable for a moment before he spoke. "I think she’s great."

"You’re ruining everything," Rhea said.

"She saved us."

Archon looked at him. "You don’t have to defend me."

"I know."

Mara finally spoke. "She’s the reason this team can operate safely."

"That’s quite an endorsement," Reinhard said.

Mara glanced at the others. "They’re talented." She paused. "They’re also idiots."

"Hey!" Rhea protested.

"You’re proving my point."

Reinhard looked back at Archon and smiled. "You really weren’t exaggerating."

"About?"

"The problem children."

"I’ve known them for one month."

"And you’re already tired."

"Very."

"I think I’m going to enjoy this."

"Don’t say I didn’t warn you."

The SUVs left the hangar shortly after. Archon sat across from Reinhard while Rhea kept talking beside her, Adrian checked his equipment one more time, Mara kept an eye on everyone, Seraphine went back to her reading, Rika sharpened her weapon, and Kael stared quietly out the window.

Reinhard looked at Rika’s blade, and then at the tiny sparks flying off it inside a closed vehicle. "Should you be doing that in here?"

"It’s calming."

"It’s a hazard," Mara said without looking up.

"It’s rude," Adrian added.

"It’s both," Rika said, and kept sharpening.

Reinhard turned back to Archon. "You weren’t kidding."

"I told you."

"They’re interesting."

"That’s one word for it."

The city gradually disappeared behind them as the SUVs moved farther from the populated districts. The buildings became less frequent, the roads grew rougher, and eventually even the traffic disappeared.

The first signs of Helios appeared before the facility itself did. Dead vegetation covered the roadside, strange growths had spread across abandoned buildings, and mutated animals moved between the ruins before disappearing into the distance. A faint supernatural residue lingered in the air, and the farther they traveled, the quieter everything became.

Rhea eventually stopped talking, and Reinhard decided that this was the scariest thing he had seen all day.

Adrian looked through the window. "Where did everyone go?"

"They evacuated years ago," Mara said.

"Those who could," Seraphine added.

Reinhard looked toward her. "And the others?"

Nobody answered.

A few minutes later, something appeared in the road ahead. At first, it looked like a person standing alone in the distance.

Adrian leaned forward. "Someone’s there."

"Stop," Mara ordered immediately.

The vehicle slowed, and the figure turned toward them. Its body twisted unnaturally as several extra limbs shifted beneath its distorted flesh.

Rhea’s expression changed. "Oh."

Rika gripped her weapon. "Finally."

"Don’t sound happy," Mara said.

"I’m not."

She clearly was.

The fight began almost immediately. Rhea threw Fortune Cleaver, and the blade curved around one Abomination before it struck another from the side. Seraphine opened the Astral Codex and directed elemental energy toward the exposed core, while Rika charged forward with Crimson Death wrapped in Ember Edge.

Kael rang Silent Bell once. "Three behind us."

Everyone turned in time to see the creatures approaching from the rear. Adrian stepped forward and blocked the first attack with Bastion Knuckles, absorbing the impact and releasing it through a powerful punch that sent the Abomination crashing into the ground.

Mara swept her Tidebreaker Spear forward and released a compressed wave that knocked several creatures backward and gave the others room to regroup. They were capable, but they were not synchronized yet.

"Rhea, back!" Mara called when Rhea pushed too far forward.

"She’s going too far!" Adrian shouted.

"The left flank is exposed," Seraphine warned.

"Four approaching," Kael added.

"That’s a lot," Rhea said.

"Exactly," Mara replied.

One Abomination broke through the formation and rushed toward Reinhard, and another moved toward Archon. Archon stepped forward, but Reinhard stopped her with a raised hand. "I’ve got it."

He drew Heavenpiercer and drove it through the first creature before it could reach him. Another lunged from the side, and Reinhard caught it with one hand and threw it into the ground like a sack of laundry.

A third attacked from behind, and Reinhard turned around and struck it before it could get close. The remaining Abominations hesitated, and Reinhard looked around the road before he lowered Heavenpiercer. "Is that all of them?"

Rhea stared at him. "Are you seriously asking that?"

"Why?"

"Because most people would be happy that there aren’t any more."

Adrian looked at the bodies scattered around them. "Those were C-Rank Abominations, and you didn’t even take a breath."

Seraphine’s attention stayed fixed on Reinhard, and Rika smiled slightly. "Interesting."

Archon watched him for another moment. "You said you’d dealt with worse."

"I wasn’t exaggerating."

A faint smile appeared on her face. "Apparently."

Helios finally came into view not long after, a massive ruined corporate tower rising ahead of them. Its shattered Menphis insignia hung crooked above the entrance, and the windows were broken, the lower floors were overtaken by strange supernatural growths, several sections were blackened from old explosions, and a faint mist curled near the doors.

"That’s Helios?" Rhea asked.

"Yes," Mara said.

"We’re going inside that?" Adrian asked.

"That’s usually what going to Helios means," Rika said.

"I was hoping someone would tell me I misunderstood."

Everyone stopped as Kael looked toward the building. "Something is inside."

"How many?" Reinhard asked.

Kael closed his eyes. "I can’t tell."

"Your Resonance Pulse should be able to," Seraphine said.

Kael opened his eyes. "It’s interfering with the signal."

Reinhard crossed into the designated area moments later, and the System stirred quietly at the edge of his vision.

Rhea noticed him smiling at the ground and leaned toward Mara. "Why is he smiling at the road?"

"Don’t ask."

[Investment Objective Completed.]

[C-Grade Investment Successful.]

[Calculating Returns...]