章 8: Patrolling Steppes

The ship thrusters spluttered alive, as it blasted into the atmosphere, nearing supersonic speeds as the sonic bracers were triggered, the ship barely stopping before its hull grazed the grassy wastelands of the Steppes.

Void triggered the transmat as he and obsidian warped out. The Jumpship's autopilot queued as it returned to a geostationary orbit above the atmosphere, in it's last landing location. A surefire way to immediately call upon transport when needed by guardians.

(A/N: Steppes is an area within the Cosmodrome. I have attached a map of the whole Cosmodrome area. It's quite big. )

Void scanned the area around him, after making sure he was safe and alone, he equipped his primary weapons and stowed the rest within arms reach.

"Obsidian, begin Vanguard Protocol, Patrol " Void commanded.

The Vanguard would often assign tasks to guardians. However, in recent years, the tasks were simply grouped together and issued to the common guardian channel, after which, their ghosts could trigger protocols to request or begin activities suitable to them at the time. This ensured no guardian would be out of their league, and all tasks were efficiently completed.

In times of crisis, this channel also served as emergency communications and reinforcements. Each area had its own channel, which is why any guardian stationed in the Cosmodrome could at any time request a task by triggering protocols. Naturally, it was implemented to conserve the data transferred to guardians while they were outside the city.

Void had already been briefed by obsidian for standard encryption methods. If the fallen were to hack into their comms system, it would spell the Last City's failure to protect its data. An outcome no guardian wanted. Hence, only protocols were given out, the Last City's defenses were not yet at the level of the one's in-game.

"Patrol issued guardian. A group of fallen scavengers breached the Divide, fallen squads seem to be interested in resources still hidden away within the Steppes. Vanguard requires we repel them and ensure maximum retaliation." Obsidian reported the mission.

Void's itinerary and HUD were updated as his radar was tuned to the objective. A single white dot appeared marking the search area.

"Affirmative, let's go, camouflage yourself and stick close obsidian." Void responded as he leapt in motion.

Void could naturally use a sparrow, but there were quite a few reasons he hadn't brought one. His current objective was to train his physical abilities, which required extraneous activity, a sparrow would only serve to hinder his training.

As such, Void prowled the decayed grasslands of the Steppes, deftly sprinting between grass mounds, unseen. As a void hunter, he could limit his presence in an area, coupled with his superhuman speed and agility, spotting Void was simply asking to look for a needle in a haystack.

Possible, but extremely tedious and requiring great precision.

Void rushed through abandoned bunkers and buildings as he spotted a few rusted power poles. He gripped the metal stands at its side, swiftly climbing to the top. Void surveyed the Steppes like a hawk, his eyes darting around looking for prey.

Of course, his radar blinked showing him the survey spot. But what was the use of being a hunter, if he couldn't utilize his powers outside the system. Void had an inkling the system wasn't absolute. After all, after first stumbling upon the golden age vault and clearing it, the system rewarded him for a "secret" mission.

Which meant it was possible to earn rewards for things not mentioned as long as they were remarkable feats. The system wasn't a crutch he had to rely on. Rather it was a guideline, one that he could use to learn the ways of this world. Void was no fool, he had picked up on this detail far earlier. Intending to level up his agility to unlock new perks manually.

A few minutes had passed and Void had picked up slight a slight rumbling, a harsh scent spread in the atmosphere, crude fuel. Or as the fallen called it, ether. An overpowering scent that indicated the fallen party were close. Possibly on multiple pikes to output this much ether waste into the atmosphere.

Void chose an abandoned building nearby, as he cloaked himself, hiding within its eroded steel beams, spying on the party.

The fallen dregs were accompanied by one captain. It was perhaps the first time Void had encountered a high level combatant from the enemy side. Sure enough as he observed him, a red sword appeared on the enemies health bar, establishing his danger level.

"Obsidian, scan the perimeter, mark all the enemies on the radar." Void whispered.

Obsidians blue eye glowed slight erratically as a peripheral ray silently emanated throughout. Ten small red dots and a red blight appeared in Voids map.

Void examined his radar, and as such he was sure of his judgement, there were only 11 odd enemies in this raiding party. From his experience, it was actually a larger amount. Usually falling raiding parties were accompanied by skiff's that would assist their troops by arial reinforcements.

However, the Vanguards attempt at controlling satellite arrays and patrolling guardians probably dissuaded the fallen from trying extreme measures. In that scenario a guerilla raiding party was perhaps their best bet.

Void curled his fingers as a revolver appeared within his grip. He waited with baited breaths as the fallen team scavenged the surroundings. His objective was crystal clear, assassinate a clump of dregs and try to isolate the captain.

Unless he could achieve this objective, more likely than not the captain would emerge victorious aided by his officers. Void knew better than to take a huge risk. A hunter was calculated and precise. Not daring and bold, that job was better left to his titan brothers.

Void clutched his left hand as he bundled up an orb of void energy, it circulated within his palms, as unstable energy.

The fallen party was close, perhaps only five meters away. Their dregs hounded every nook and cranny for a single scrap piece of metal. Void remained hidden, as he overheard slight chatter and pincers, the fallen prowled the ruined building, unaware of the danger hidden above.

Void glimpsed through the cracked concrete pillars, a clump of dregs had gathered as they struggled to rip apart a piece of rusted steel. They growled and struggled, but unbeknownst to them, Void had immediately sprang into action.

With a strong leap, he immediately crossed several meters, like a vulture as he dropped from above, his left hand tossed the void grenade below. Immediate panic ensued, but before their reflexes could save them, the void grenade burst explosively, annihilating the dregs.

There wasn't a single second to waste, Void slammed towards the ground, as he ripped a dreg limb from limb, leaving it squealing in pain, alerting the captain.

Within a fraction of a second, Void's body jerked away, as he broke line of sight, the tall grass camouflaged him, his figure turning a shade of purple.

He bolted towards the remaining dregs, clutching his revolver, a blur as he leapt past the captain, six bullets rang out from his barrel, each leaving a clean hole within their skull.

Void's body hung in midair, as the momentum finally dropped him to the ground, he slid across the wet grass, his legs braking his fall. It was far too quick for the naked eye to see, an expertly initiated encounter, Void balanced on all fours as he stabilized from the fall.

The captain made sense of what had occurred, his double iris darted around only to meet the gaze of one who stared back a deathly glare. Their eyes met, as predator met prey. The fallen captain, enraged at the sudden encounter, feeling belittled by Void's gaze he growled as his mechanical mask exhumed white fumes.

The presence of a fallen captain, was far heavier than Void expected. They were simply a machine, extremely strong, with four versatile arms, exceptional weaponry and of course the final addition.

He scanned his opponent as a familiar azure aura coated the captain's figure.

"Arc shields." Void spoke amused.

"Tell me, thief, did you find what you're looking for?" Void taunted, his hands sneakily reloading his gun.

A rattled enemy was simply a raging bull, one that you could run circles around. Void had no intention of making it a fair fight. If he had to play dirty? So be it.

Somehow the words had hit a nerve, the captain growled, now furious. He sauntered towards Void, gripping his solar rifle that burned with energy.

"Krrrrr, thief? I am no thief, it is you, who has stolen the great machine from us krrr." The Captain barked while his pincers rattled.

The captain and Void stared down, their blood pumping. Both were ready to gun the other down.

The Fallen captain lost his cool, beginning to see red, he charged at void, gun drawn as bullets sprayed.

Void reacted instantaneously, thrusting his fist into the ground as a cloud of void smoke blew across the field, slightly concussing the captain.

He immediately emptied his revolver into the captains chest, alas the elite fallen armor and arc shield had softened their impact, only slightly damaging the humanoid who screamed in rage.

The captain's arms flailed as he threw away his solar rifle, reaching towards his back. His two primary arms now supported gilded sabers, empowered by arc energy.

Void alerted at the captain's actions was cautious, his left hand deftly gripped a brittle dagger tucked away near his thigh.

The two rushed at each other, the captain in a fury swung his sabers, a frenzy of blows ensued. Void dodged each slash, a maniacal dance, as he weaved in and out of the captains range. Ensuring to unload his hand cannon into the humanoid's skull.

Void skillfully played with the captain, barely grazing the blades edge as he unsheathed his hive dagger. The captain rushed in once again, unleashing a decapitating blow, but just before it could connect, Void dodged briskly, rolling under the captains legs, plunging his dagger into the inner thigh.

The Captain roared barely feeling the pain, but soon a hint of fear emerged in his eyes. The hive poison penetrated his body, and it began to eat away at his strength.

He felt a cold shiver down his spine, his infallible armor could not save him from a deep infection. Void noticed this condition immediately as he jumped away from the captain, leaving the commander to shrivel in pain as he tried to fight it off.

Void wasted no time, the moment he created distance, he channeled all his void energy into his arms. Utilizing the remaining power, leaping into the air as he arced his body, drawing a void bow.

The captain winced in horror as a shadow shot descended unto him, erupting with void energy, ending his life.

The surrounding ground was marred with void singe, charred pitch black, no remains of the fallen commander in sight.

Void stumbled off the ground, as he walked where the commander stood. Searching for his dagger. He found it dug into the ground, but as he yanked it out, the hive blade crumbled into pieces, eroding away into the air.

Void frowned, as he chucked away the fiber handle. Instead summoning his ghost.

"Obsidian, log the patrol. Task completed, no casualties. Fallen raiding party wiped. Report back to command and prepare for next task." he sighed.

Void grieved the loss of a dagger, but he slightly rejoiced as a system notification popped up.

=============================

⚠️⚠️Attention⚠️⚠️

*User has killed a unique challenging combatant.

Type:

+Fallen: 1/?

Rewards: +3000 xp, ++ Sub-Class xp

=============================

Void nodded satisfied with his rewards as he opened up the status screen.

==========================

{Legendary Guardian System}

Name: Void Blade

Class: Hunter

Level: 3

Light Level: 7

Subclass: Nightstalker Lv. 3/10 (*Perk Unlocked)

Equipment: (LL refers to Light Level)

>Primary: True Prophecy (Legendary): 10LL ] Armor: (Helmet) > War Mantis(Rare): 5 LL

>Secondary: Furina-2mg (Rare): 8LL ] Armor:(Gauntlets) >Shadow Specter (Rare): 5 LL

> Heavy: None ] Armor:(Chest)> War Mantis (Rare): 5 LL

> Ghost Lv1 ] Armor:(Boots)>Scorched Hunter Strides(Rare) 5LL

] Armor:(Cloak)> A Cloak Called Home (Legendary) 8LL

* = 4% boost in accuracy for headshots against fallen enemies

Combat Perks: (3 Unlocked)

~Spectral Shade: In combat, enemies have a higher probability of losing your presence if you break line of sight.

~Void Imbalance: Grenades are likely to explode immediately when shot with void weapons or void energy.

~Acrobats Dodge *: Masterfully dodge your opponents, successful attack dodges allow instant counters and parries.

================================

Void grinned as he examined his status screen. As in the encounter with the captain, he had managed to perform a skillful dodge, he unlocked a dodging perk. This proved that while the system guided him, it was essentially a display of his current skills.

He did not need the system, rather it was but an indication of his own progress. This had immediately improved his mood. Void continued planning new ways to unlock different abilities, and creative ways he could use the light to form new skills never before seen.

"Void, I've received a new mission. Vanguard has issued patrol near the Divide. Two fallen skiffs were spotted hovering near the the area. Objective is to asses the situation and report back."

Void shut off the system as he registered what Obsidian had said.

"Look's like the hunter life catching up with us Obsidian. From one job to another, no breaks it is."

Void ensured all his weapons were loaded, as he set off to a new mission.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter, sorry for slow uploads, life's moving kinda fast and I have to adapt a lot. Anyhow, in the near future I might start a Pat-reon to somewhat support me, because university is expensive honestly.

I will continue to release chapters here, but when I do start the Pat-reon, members will be able to access five chapters ahead of schedule and all proceeding releases fast. If you don't wish to support that, it's not a problem at all. The uploads /releases on this website will not stop! Don't worry about it.

P.s: Someone give me 7 stones, because we're on 62....and I want the funny number.