Shiori's eyebrow arched at Samuel's nonchalant confidence. "Automated turrets and elite Sentinels are a bit more than a 'bare hands' situation, Mr. Santos," she retorted, though a flicker of amusement danced in her eyes. "We need to strategize a plan. Nerissa, your sonic abilities can disable the turrets, at least temporarily. Bijou, can you manipulate the guards' emotions, sow discord among them?"
Nerissa grinned, cracking her neck. "Consider it done, darling. A little sonic chaos is just what this place needs."
Bijou nodded, her purple eyes glowing brighter. "I can create confusion, fear... perhaps even convince them they're fighting each other. It won't last forever, but it will buy us time."
"Fuwawa and Mococo, your job is simple: bite anything that moves and isn't us," Shiori instructed, earning gleeful yips from the twins. "Samuel, you know this prison better than us. I'll help you get your weapon in the armory. Clear a path, take out the biggest threats, and lead the way for us."
Samuel chuckled, cracking his knuckles again. "As you command, milady... Let's make some noise," he said with a confident smirk.
Then, the Sentinels finally appeared, surrounding the six as they floated into the air. The Sentinels were clad in elaborate, segmented silver and dark blue ornate armor that resembled that of a knight or angel and had a humanoid, angelic form. The helmet had horn-like protrusions. The Sentinels wielded a long, slender lance pointing upwards. They carried a lance with a throttle system and a shield that could transform into wings for flight. The wings' feathers had a metallic sheen and a gradient of dark blue and black. The lance appeared to be made of a dark metal and was adorned with metallic feathers near the grip. The Sentinels serve as foot soldiers for the prison and are used to attack the escaped prisoners, with their primary goal being to follow orders from their masters' command. They have no emotions, nor do they talk like humans; they have no true self and act with "mechanical precision," making them obedient and relentless in their pursuit of targets.
(Author's note: The Sentinels were beings created by the Higher Gods to guard high-level prisoners in the cell. They are very powerful and possess some God-like powers. Their hollow shells are animated by the souls of humans, angels, and especially demons. The Sentinels are powerful beings, but an army of them is even more dangerous.)
"Here they come, guys; ready yourselves..." Shiori said, her expression serious, as the six of them readied themselves to fight.
Shiori summoned a hand-sized drawing book in her left hand and a paintbrush in her right hand. The drawing book was an ornate, antique book with a dark cover embossed with a compass rose design. It had decorative metal corners, a leather strap closure, and fabric bookmarks, giving it a vintage, possibly mystical, appearance. The paintbrush body was all black, from its tip to its bottom.
Nerissa summoned her weapon: a metallic staff with a diamond-shaped tip, a slender shaft, and an ornate base featuring floral accents and curved append
Bijou enhanced her fists with her gemstones to increase her striking power.
Fuwawa and Mococo summoned their wolverine-style claws. Fuwawa's claws were blue, while Mococo's claws were pink.
Samuel, with a predatory grin, cracked his knuckles. "Alright, ladies," he said, his voice laced with excitement. "Let's rock..." He cracked his fists excitedly.
(Author's note: Samuel possesses four combat modes, automatically switching between them during combat. These are similar to Dante's styles in Devil May Cry: Trickster (yellow), Swordmaster (red), Gunslinger (blue), and Royalguard (green).
- Quickster (yellow): This mode emphasizes quick dodges and evasion, focusing on mobility. Samuel can also teleport short distances.
- Blademaster (red): This mode expands the moveset of melee weapons, enabling additional moves and combos with all of Samuel's Obsidian Arms, enhancing melee combat. For example, his sword Retribution will have additional moves, and he can also throw Retribution like a spear. (This mode only works if Samuel has a melee weapon in his hands.)
- Gunslinger (blue): The counterpart to Blademaster, this mode specializes in firearms. It enhances firearm attacks, expanding move sets, and increasing fire rates for all of Samuel's firearms. For example, his twin Desert Eagles (single-action, gas-operated, semi-automatic pistols) fire much faster in Gunslinger mode, and combining normal shots with the mode's techniques maximizes damage per second. (This mode only works if Samuel has a firearm in his hands.)
- Vanguard (green): This highly effective defensive mode makes Samuel invincible while blocking attacks. Its effectiveness increases by blocking incoming attacks to fill a meter, empowering a special attack. Vanguard absorbs damage but restricts Samuel's movement; he must maintain the Vanguard guard pose. Samuel can perform a well-timed block called a parry, bouncing incoming attacks and allowing a counterattack, adding to a charge meter. He can also perform a deflect (a perfectly timed parry) that allows a counterattack, thrusting his right arm to hit all enemies in a targeted area.)
The air crackled with anticipation. The Sentinels, with their cold, metallic eyes, remained eerily silent, pointing their lances at the six, ready to strike at any time. Shiori flipped open her grimoire, its pages glowing with arcane symbols. Nerissa twirled her staff, a faint hum resonating from its diamond tip. Bijou's gemstones pulsed with an inner light, her aura intensifying. Fuwawa and Mococo crouched low, their eyes fixated on their targets, ready to pounce.
The first Sentinel lunged, its lance aimed squarely at Shiori. Time seemed to slow as the tip of the weapon hurtled toward her. Shiori, however, was ready. She flipped open her hand-sized drawing book in an instant, making the Sentinels' attacks bounce. The pages fluttered rapidly as she used her paintbrush to draw in her drawing book, the ink of the paintbrush stroke is black and dark, as she created monsters as her minions to attack the staggered Sentinel.
Nerissa, meanwhile, unleashed a deafening shriek. The sonic blast ripped through the hallway, disorienting the Sentinels and causing them to falter in their advance. Several of the armored figures staggered, their metallic bodies vibrating violently from the intense sound waves.
Bijou seized the opportunity, focusing her emotional powers on the nearest Sentinel. She amplified its deepest fears and insecurities, projecting them into its consciousness. The Sentinel, overwhelmed by a sudden surge of crippling doubt, froze in place, its programming overridden by a torrent of negative emotions.
Fuwawa and Mococo, a whirlwind of fur and claws, darted between the Sentinels, slashing at their exposed joints and servos. Their demonic claws tore through the armor with surprising ease, disabling several of the mechanical warriors.
Samuel, with a manic grin, charged headfirst into the fray. He moved with a speed and ferocity that defied human limitations, his fists a blur of motion. He landed blow after blow, and the Sentinels exploded into pieces, sending them crashing to the ground.
The other Sentinels dashed behind Samuel, pointing their lances at his back. Samuel, noticing this, activated his combat mode named Quickster, as a yellow flash of light enveloped his body as he utilized the speed and agility of Quickster.
In a blur of yellow, Samuel vanished, reappearing behind one of the attacking Sentinels. "Over here!" He taunted, mocking the Sentinel.
Before the machine could react, Samuel spun his whole body, delivering a powerful left kick to the Sentinel's face, sending it careening into its comrade. The two Sentinels collided with a metallic clang, momentarily stunned. Samuel didn't let up, teleporting between them, landing rapid strikes with impossible speed. Each hit was precise, targeting weak points in their armor.
"Not fast enough, tin can!" Samuel taunted, his voice echoing in the confined space.
The two staggered Sentinels struggled to regain their balance, their programming struggling to adapt to Samuel's unpredictable movements. He pressed his advantage, teleporting again, this time appearing directly above them. With a double-fisted strike, he hammered down on their helmets, the force of the impact crumpling the metal and silencing their whirring gears.
Two more Sentinels advanced, their lances lowered, ready to impale him. Samuel smirked, anticipating their attack. One of the Sentinels aimed its lance toward Samuel, as the metallic machine dashed at Samuel in inhuman speed. Samuel noticed this, as he switched his combat mode to Vanguard, and a green flash of light enveloped his body as he utilized the defensive abilities of Vanguard.
As the Sentinel came into contact with Samuel, Samuel automatically parried the Sentinel's attacks, making the metallic machine lance bounce in the air. Samuel smirked coolly and taunted all of the Sentinels. "What, ya scared...?" He said mockingly, as he shrugged his shoulders.
The deflected lance clattered against the hallway floor, momentarily forgotten by its wielder. Samuel, still glowing with the green aura of Vanguard, stood firm, a picture of unshakeable defense. The impact of the parry had sent a ripple of energy through his body, charging the Vanguard meter.
"Alright, tin cans, who's next?" Samuel goaded, his eyes daring them to attack.
The Sentinels, their programming overriding any sense of caution, surged forward in unison, their lances a blur of silver. Samuel stood his ground, bracing for the onslaught. He timed his movements perfectly, parrying each incoming strike with precise blocks. Each successful parry added to the charge in his Vanguard meter, the green aura around him intensifying.
As the meter reached its peak, a surge of power coursed through Samuel's veins. He unleashed the accumulated energy in a devastating counterattack, thrusting his right arm forward and releasing a shockwave that slammed into the attacking Sentinels, sending them flying down the hallway. The force of the impact shattered their armor, leaving them twitching and sparking on the floor.
"Show's over, Fuckers." Samuel declared, deactivating Vanguard. "Anyone else want to test my defenses?"
As Samuel danced through the ranks of Sentinels, Shiori continued to summon monstrous figures from her drawing book. Hulking beasts with razor-sharp claws and grotesque features tore through the remaining ranks, wreaking havoc on the mechanical soldiers. Nerissa's sonic screams intensified with her weapon, shattering the delicate sensors and communication systems of the Sentinels, leaving them deafened and disoriented.
Bijou enhanced her striking power with her gemstones, destroying the Sentinels easily. She also used her powers over emotion, causing the Sentinels to turn on each other, their programmed directives dissolving into a chaotic jumble of fear and confusion. Fuwawa and Mococo, a blur of teeth and claws, continued their relentless assault, dismantling the Sentinels piece by piece. They were a whirlwind of demonic energy, tearing through armor and severing vital connections. Their ferocious attacks left a trail of sparking wires and crumpled metal in their wake.
Despite their combined efforts, the Sentinels continued to pour in, their numbers seemingly endless. The hallway became a chaotic battlefield, filled with the sounds of screeching metal, echoing screams, and booming explosions. Samuel wasn't even trying to fight these Sentinels, as they were an absolute joke to him. While the girls only fought a few of the Sentinels, Samuel fought an army of them and wasn't trying at all.
The girls managed to defeat the Sentinels first, as the Sentinels fell to the ground, while Samuel was dancing around the remaining Sentinels. Then they glanced at Samuel to see if he was okay and saw that he was just playing with the Sentinels as if they weren't even a threat to him. They saw that Samuel was switching his combat mode automatically while fighting the Sentinels, as yellow and green flashes enveloped his entire body, and wondered what type of abilities he was using.
Then finally, one of the Sentinels remained standing as it floated in the air. Samuel glared at the one Sentinel with a cocky expression on his face. "Come at me, then, tin can..." He said, taunting the Sentinels to attack him. The Sentinel hesitated, but then dashed toward him with a super sonic speed. But Samuel just stood and didn't do anything, as he tanked the attack.
The lance stabbed through Samuel's abdomen, and the girls gasped in shock. Samuel, instead of feeling hurt or in pain, felt bored instead. He rolled his eyes and spoke in a bored expression. "Seriously, you're going to stab my perfectly sculpted abs...?" He said with a sigh.
Samuel grasped the lance with both hands, a mischievous glint in his eyes. The Sentinel, still impaling him, whirred in confusion, its programming unable to comprehend the lack of reaction. With a sudden, explosive burst of strength, Samuel ripped the lance from his abdomen, the metal screeching in protest. He tossed the weapon aside as if it were a mere twig. A golden light began to emanate from the wound, rapidly healing the impalement as if it never happened.
"Seriously, you guys need some new moves," Samuel sighed dramatically, flexing his now fully healed abdomen. "That tickled, I'll admit, but I expected more from beings created by the Higher Gods." He cracked his neck, a devilish grin spreading across his face. "Now, for my grand finale..."
"Let me show you a real weapon," Samuel said, his voice suddenly laced with a dangerous edge. He switched to Blademaster combat mode using the lance, as a red flash of light enveloped his body as he utilized the offensive and other abilities of Blademaster, turning the simple spear into an extension of his own power. The metallic feathers near the grip sharpened and extended, morphing into razor-edged barbs. The tip of the lance glowed white-hot, radiating an intense heat.
With a flick of his wrist, Samuel reversed the lance's trajectory, using the Sentinel's own momentum against it. The sharpened barbs dug into the machine's chassis, tearing through the armor with ease. Then Samuel dashed at the Sentinel, stabbing it in the chest. Samuel and the Sentinel went flying, and Samuel slammed the Sentinel against the wall. The glowing tip plunged into the Sentinel's core, and the machine erupted in a shower of sparks and molten metal.
The Sentinel, now a lifeless husk, clattered to the wall. Samuel left the lance stabbed into the chest of the Sentinel. He fixed his stance and brushed off his abdomen, as if removing a speck of dust. The wound from the lance had already vanished, the skin knitting back together before their very eyes.
Shiori, Nerissa, Bijou, and Fuwamoco stared at Samuel in a mixture of awe and apprehension. They had known he was powerful, but the display of raw strength and effortless control was on another level. And not just that, the attack didn't even hurt him, nor make him bleed; he just stood there, tanking the attack as if a pillow had hit him with full force. Fuwawa and Mococo simply wagged their tails and grinned, eager for more action. While Shiori's expression turned serious, she found Samuel's strength abnormal; maybe this is indeed the true power of a Nephilim.
The silence that followed the Sentinel's demise was deafening, broken only by the crackling of the remaining sparks and the heavy breaths of the group. The hallway, once a pristine corridor of silver and blue, was now a graveyard of mangled metal and shattered circuits. The air hung thick with the scent of ozone and burnt oil.
Nerissa was the first to break the silence. "Okay," she said, her voice a little shaky, "that was... intense." She ran a hand through her hair, her eyes wide as she stared at the spot where Samuel had effortlessly healed. "You just... healed. Like it was nothing."
Bijou, equally stunned, could only nod in agreement. "I felt... nothing from him. No fear, no pain... just... boredom? How is that even possible?"
Fuwawa and Mococo, oblivious to the gravity of the situation, were already sniffing around the fallen Sentinels, their tails wagging excitedly as they searched for more things to tear apart.
Shiori, however, remained silent, her gaze fixed on Samuel. Her mind was racing, trying to reconcile the nonchalant, almost playful demeanor with the raw, untamed power she had just witnessed. The textbooks, the legends, the whispers of the Nephilim – they all painted a picture of immense strength and divine heritage, but none of them had prepared her for this.
Samuel, unfazed by their stares, stretched languidly, cracking his knuckles. "Well, that was a nice warm-up," he said, clapping his hands together. "Shall we get moving? I have a feeling the armory is going to be a little more... interesting than this." He looked towards the five girls.
Shiori tore her gaze away from Samuel, a newfound determination hardening her features. "He's right," she said, her voice regaining its usual authority. "We can analyze his... abilities later. Right now, we have a mission." She adjusted the strap of her sketchbook, her eyes narrowing. "Samuel, lead the way. And try not to get impaled again. It's a bit unsettling."
Samuel chuckled, a spark of genuine amusement lighting up his eyes. "Oh, don't tell me you're also starting to like my six-pack abs; well, I know I have a beautiful six-pack..." He said in a joking tone.
The girls giggled, especially Shiori, who couldn't help but finally agree with the girls that Samuel was super attractive, especially his exposed muscular torso and his six-pack abs underneath his red coat.
"Well, you do have a delicious physique, Samuel... that even we can't help but admire..." Nerissa said in a seductive tone.
Samuel chuckled at Nerissa's words. "Well, you're not wrong, their miss beautiful. Woman go ape-shit if they saw my physique, so it's not shocking you five will have the same reaction seeing my physique as well..." He said in a joking tone, then he turned and started down the hallway, his steps light and confident. "Alright, ladies, follow me! It's time for me to get my weapons back." His footsteps echoed in the eerie silence. The others followed, their senses on high alert, wary of any lingering Sentinels or unexpected traps.
The deeper they ventured into the prison complex, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. The walls were lined with intricate carvings depicting scenes of torment and despair, their cold, metallic surfaces reflecting the dim, flickering lights. The air grew heavy with the stench of decay and the faint whisper of forgotten screams.
"This place gives me the creeps," Nerissa muttered, her hand instinctively reaching for her staff. "I can practically feel the suffering radiating from the walls."
Bijou nodded, her brow furrowed in concentration. "I'm picking up a lot of emotional residue," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "Fear, anguish, desperation... it's overwhelming."
Fuwawa and Mococo, usually bouncing with boundless energy, clung closer to Bijou, their playful yips replaced with nervous whimpers. Even they could sense the darkness that permeated the prison.
"Keep your guard up," Shiori warned, her voice low and serious. "We don't know what kind of defenses this place might have in store for us."
As they rounded a corner, they came face to face with a massive, reinforced door, its surface covered in glowing runes. This was the armory, the repository of the prison's most formidable ancient weapons.
"Looks like we've reached our destination," Samuel said, his eyes scanning the door with a predatory glint. "But I doubt it'll be as easy as just walking in."
He approached the door cautiously, running his hand over the glowing runes. "These look like some kind of warding sigils," he said, his brow furrowing in concentration. "They're designed to prevent unauthorized access."
Shiori stepped forward, her drawing book open in her hands. "Let me see if I can decipher them," she said, her eyes scanning the intricate symbols. She muttered a series of arcane words, her fingers tracing the patterns in the air.
"No need, I can just brute force my way in..." Samuel said, warming up his right arm.
Shiori, mid-incantation, paused, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face. "Samuel, please," she said, her voice tight with restrained exasperation. "Give me a chance to at least try. Brute force is rarely the answer, especially with ancient magic."
Samuel shrugged and said, "Alright..." as he stepped back, allowing Shiori to continue her work. He knew she was right, to an extent. Rushing in without understanding the defenses could trigger something far worse than a simple locked door. Still, the itch to smash something was getting stronger.
Shiori resumed her chanting, her voice resonating with arcane power. The runes on the door pulsed brighter, reacting to her spell. The air crackled with energy, and the temperature in the hallway seemed to drop several degrees. Beads of sweat formed on Shiori's forehead as she wrestled with the complex sigils.
Suddenly, the runes flared, then dimmed, one by one. A low grinding sound echoed from behind the door, followed by a series of clicks. Shiori stepped back, wiping her brow with the back of her hand.
"It's open," she announced, a hint of pride in her voice. "But be careful. I disabled the primary wards, but there might be other traps inside."
Samuel grinned, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Now we're talking." He pushed the massive door open, revealing a vast chamber filled with ancient weaponry. Swords, axes, spears, bows, staves – every conceivable instrument of war was represented, crafted from materials that seemed both familiar and alien. The air hummed with latent power, and the very walls seemed to throb with ancient energy.
Nerissa gasped, her eyes wide with wonder. "This is... incredible," she whispered, her voice filled with awe. "I've never seen so many powerful artifacts in one place." She said, looking around.
Bijou, however, seemed uneasy. "I'm getting a strong sense of... corruption," she said, her brow furrowed in concern. "These weapons... they seem more than ancient, they give an overwhelming amount of power."
Fuwawa and Mococo wiggled their tails in unison as they surveyed their surroundings with intrigue and curiosity. The sheer volume of raw power radiating from the weapons was overwhelming their senses. While Shiori's expression turned serious, as an Archiver, she could tell all of these weapons possess God-like powers; if only she had unlimited time, she would love to study these weapons' abilities.
Shiori turned towards Samuel and said, "So, where is your weapon..." She said in a curious tone, as all the girls glanced at Samuel with curiosity as well.
Samuel stared at her with a smirk and said, "Over there..." He said, pointing to his weapons. On the right side were his dual twin Desert Eagle pistols, Mercy and Cruelty, and on the left side was his sword, Retribution. The girls saw the weapons that he pointed at and saw two pistols with a black and white color, and a massive long sword.
As Samuel approached his weapons, a palpable sense of anticipation filled the air. Mercy and Cruelty, resting side-by-side on a pedestal, gleamed with an otherworldly sheen. Mercy is a black and white Desert Eagle pistol, the slide, barrel, and grip are solid black, while the frame and details are outlined in white. Cruelty is a white and black Desert Eagle pistol, the slide, barrel, and grip are solid white, while the frame and details are outlined in black.
Retribution, stabbing against the ground, the sword features a dark gray, intricately designed hilt with a demonic skull on the right and an angelic skull on the left. Rib-like structures extend from the skull. The blade is silver with a subtle gradient, and the tip has a distinctive, jagged shape. Its blade was formed from Samuel's Nephilim soul, a representation of his Nephilim soul.
Samuel went to the right side first, picked up Mercy and Cruelty, hefting them in his hands. He held Mercy to his right side and Cruelty in his left side, as he looked at them, his grin increased even more, like a kid being happy because he was brought a toy. They felt like extensions of his own limbs, perfectly balanced and responsive. "Mercy..." He said, looking at the black and white pistol. "Cruelty..." He said, looking at the white and black pistol. "Miss you girls..." He said as he kissed his dual twin Desert Eagle pistols one by one. He first kissed Mercy, then next was Cruelty. He holstered them at the back of his red coat, the dark and light contrasting against his clothing.
Then, Samuel spun his body and turned towards his sword Retribution and walked towards it, Retribution was stabbed in the ground. He looked up and down to his sword with a serious expression, then instantly held the handle of the sword with his right hand. As wind flew through his entire body, making his red coat move in the air. Then finally he tightened his grip to the handle of Retribution and instantly yanked it, and raised his sword and continued to look at it with admiration. "Welcome back, best buddy..." He said in a smirk, as he slowly put his sword on his back, sticking it to his holster where he puts his dual pistols.
With Mercy and Cruelty secured at his back and Retribution resting comfortably against his spine, Samuel felt a surge of power course through him. It was like being reunited with long-lost parts of himself. He flexed his fingers, testing the familiar weight of the weapons against his body. "Man, it's good to be finally back. I miss wielding you guys..." He said with a wide grin.
Shiori, Nerissa, Bijou, Fuwawa, and Mococo exchanged glances, a mixture of excitement and trepidation in their eyes. They saw Samuel put all of his weapons on his back, his dual twin Desert Eagle pistols, especially his sword Retribution. They thought that his pistols were human-made and didn't possess any type of power in them, but they were wrong as Samuel's pistols were a prototype of the original and were imbued with his Nephilim powers as well. But the one that truly gets their attention is his sword, as they sensed a very powerful angelic and demonic energy coming from it, and more importantly, his sword is the strongest weapon in this entire armory.
"I sense some overwhelming power coming from his sword," Nerissa whispered among the girls, looking at Samuel and his weapons.
Shiori nodded and also whispered, "Yeah, you're not wrong, I do sense it as well... it's a combination of angelic and demonic energy, it makes sense since he is a Nephilim after all..." She whispered to the girls, her expression serious.
Bijou then turned to Nerissa and Shiori and also whispered, "Yeah, I wonder how he made his weapons, I'm guessing his pistols were man-made, but his sword is a different question..."
Fuwawa and Mococo, their curiosity piqued, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we are curious as well..." Mococo said, as Fuwawa nodded. "We are also wondering where his sword came from..." Fuwawa said, as Mococo nodded.
Samuel, oblivious to the girls' hushed conversation, turned to face them, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Alright, ladies," he said, clapping his hands together. "Now that I'm properly armed, let's go and escape this hellhole..."
Suddenly, the red siren again rang in the armory and also the hallway, catching the attention of the Advents and Samuel. The red lights flickered, plunging the chamber into darkness. The girls' expression turned into a frown, while Samuel smirked.
"Looks like our welcome party's arrived," Samuel said, his voice laced with amusement. The smirk on his face widened, illuminating his features in the pulsating red light. "Well, ladies, what do you say we give them a show they won't forget?"
"What's going on?" Nerissa asked, her voice laced with concern. "Are they locking us down?"
"Something like that," Samuel replied in a joking tone, his eyes scanning the hallway. "And this time, I'm guessing they will bring a lot of Sentinels with our asses... He said in a chuckled. That would be a matter to me, with my weapons in my possession, I can easily demolished everything they throw at me... He said in a devious grin.
Shiori stepped forward, her expression determined despite the flashing red lights. "If they're trying to lock us in, then we need to move fast," she said, her voice clear and commanding. "Samuel, you take point. We'll cover your back."
"Alright then, milady... Your wish is my command." Samuel said, a playful grin spreading across his face. He spun his dual twin Desert Eagle pistols into his hands stylishly, as if he was doing some tricks, his movements fluid and predatory. "Let's rock..."
The armory doors slid open with a resounding clang, revealing a corridor bathed in the ominous red glow. The air vibrated with the low hum of approaching Sentinels, their metallic footsteps echoing in the distance. Samuel, Mercy and Cruelty gleaming in his hands, took the lead without hesitation.
"Fuwawa, Mococo, keep an eye out for traps," Shiori instructed, her sketchbook open and ready. "Bijou, scan for energy signatures. Nerissa, prepare for anything unexpected."
The group moved as a cohesive unit, Samuel leading the charge, his senses on high alert. As they advanced, the first wave of Sentinels materialized at the end of the corridor. Their forms were more advanced than the ones Samuel and the Advents had previously dispatched, their armor thicker, and their weapons more menacing.
"Looks like they're upping the ante," Samuel quipped, his grin never faltering. "Time to show them what these babies can do."
With a speed that belied his size, Samuel unleashed a barrage of bullets from Mercy and Cruelty. The specialized ammunition, imbued with his Nephilim energy, ripped through the Sentinels' armor like paper. Sparks flew as metal tore and machines faltered.
The Advents, arrayed behind Samuel, unleashed their own attacks. Shiori conjured arcane blasts, Nerissa wielded her staff with practiced ease, Bijou erected shimmering shields, and Fuwawa and Mococo darted through the ranks, tearing at the Sentinels with their claws.
But these Sentinels were relentless. They pressed their attack, their programming overriding any sense of self-preservation. Samuel, however, wasn't even trying at all. He danced through their ranks, his movements a blur of motion and destruction. Each shot from Mercy and Cruelty found its mark, crippling the machines and sending them crashing to the ground.
As they fought, Samuel noticed a pattern in the Sentinels' tactics; they used their metallic shields to deflect his bullets as they flew through him with incredible speed. But far from worrying Samuel, he was glad that these Sentinels were finally becoming smarter now.
A slow grin spread across Samuel's face, the red light glinting off his teeth. "Alright, you tin cans, let's see if you can handle a little... upgrade." He grinned devilishly, a surge of Nephilim energy coursing through him. The air crackled around Mercy and Cruelty, the black and white of the pistols seeming to deepen, to become almost absolute.
Instead of simply firing, Samuel activated his combat mode named Gunslinger, as a blue flash of light enveloped his body as he utilized the firepower, fire rate, and other abilities of Gunslinger. The fire rate of Mercy and Cruelty, being single-action, turned to automatic. The firepower of Mercy and Cruelty became like a gatling gun. As Mercy and Cruelty littered the entire hallway with bullets, the bullets didn't just pierce the Sentinels' shields, overwhelming them with an endless barrage of bullets, sending shards of metal flying and leaving gaping holes in their armored bodies.
The Sentinels, caught completely off guard by the sudden escalation of firepower, faltered. Their shields, designed to withstand conventional attacks, buckled and shattered under the sheer volume and force of the Nephilim-infused bullets. The corridor became a whirlwind of destruction, filled with the deafening roar of gunfire and the screech of tearing metal. Samuel, now a whirlwind of motion himself, moved with impossible speed, weaving between the faltering Sentinels, his dual pistols spitting out a relentless stream of lead. He was a force of nature, a one-man army tearing through the ranks of his metallic foes.
The Advents, initially stunned by the sudden shift in momentum and how Samuel littered the entire hallway with bullets, watched from the side. They focused their attacks on the few Sentinels that managed to slip through Samuel's wall of bullets, ensuring that nothing got close enough to interrupt his deadly dance. And when they were done, they looked at what Samuel was doing on the sidelines.
"What the hell, how did he manage to litter the entire hallway with bullets without running out of ammo... I thought guns run out of ammo if you fire too many bullets..." Bijou said in a confused expression.
"Firearms can indeed run out of bullets..." Shiori said, answering Bijou's questions. "I'm guessing he is using his Nephilim powers to create infinite ammo in his magazines..."
Nerissa nodded, her eyes wide with a mixture of awe and concern. "That would explain the sheer volume of fire. No ordinary weapon could sustain that kind of output."
Shiori, ever practical, added, "It's likely a combination of his Nephilim abilities and the weapons themselves. I'm not a gun expert, but I can certainly tell that those aren't ordinary pistols; they probably have some kind of magical capacity to draw energy and convert it into ammunition."
Fuwawa and Mococo, despite the chaos, were practically bouncing with excitement. "So cool!" Fuwawa yipped, tail wagging furiously. "He's like a super-powered hurricane of bullets!" Mococo added, equally enthralled.
As the last of the Sentinels crumbled into heaps of twisted metal, Samuel deactivated Gunslinger mode, the blue light dissipating around him. He holstered Mercy and Cruelty, the silence that followed the cacophony of gunfire almost deafening. A plume of smoke rose from the barrels of his pistols, and the air hung thick with the scent of ozone and burnt metal.
Samuel spun his dual pistols in his hands and put them back into his holster. As he turned to face the Advents, a wide, almost manic grin plastered across his face. "Well, that was fun! Who's up for more?"
Shiori, despite her initial shock at Samuel's display of power, regained her composure. "Let's not get cocky," she said, her voice firm. "That was just the first wave. There's no telling what else they have in store for us."
Bijou nodded in agreement. "I'm still picking up a lot of energy signatures ahead. And they're getting stronger."
Samuel's grin faltered slightly. "Alright, alright, party poopers," he said, rolling his eyes. "But seriously, don't underestimate me. I've got a few more tricks up my sleeve." He patted Retribution, the hilt of the sword cold and reassuring against his back.
The group pressed forward, their senses on high alert. As they moved deeper into the prison complex, the corridors became narrower, the walls closing in around them. Suddenly, they all sensed the second wave incoming, but this time, they were stronger versions of the Sentinels. The Advents readied themselves for the upcoming wave.
Shiori, sensing the incoming Sentinels, spoke, her expression turning into a frown. "Guys, I sense that the second wave is about to start at any time..." She said, as she summoned her sketchbook and paintbrush.
Nerissa nodded in agreement, summoning her staff. "Yeah, I sense it too, Shiori... and I'm guessing that this time they are stronger than the previous ones we defeated."
Samuel grinned and spoke. "I guess this is the second wave..." He said, looking smug. "Good, I have a lot of abilities that I didn't use on them." He said confidently. "Be ready, girls, this is going to be fun..."
To be continued.