ODYSSEY (Punishing: Gray Raven X Arknights X OC Characters)

Vol. 2/ Chapter 3: The sky meets the Earth

“That was almost a year ago now right?” Rozzi shakes the sand away from her clothes. “Time does fly.”

“Heck, we don't even know what caused that sudden light surge on city 015.”

“You reckon it was aliens?” Stella chimed in.

“Must be. I mean, that would totally blow my mind away.”

“Well, if it's the sole work of the Punishing virus, that means it's evolving... and if it's already evolved, then we're all fucked.” Rozzi interrupted them as they neared the location of the epic battle.

The three of them stopped atop a small incline and was greeted with the sight of the unmoving corrupted. The head was severed into tiny pieces, and metal parts was scattered all over the premises.

“Damn girl was packing quite the fist power.” Rozzi commented, amazed by what the new  and improved weapon can do. With the sheer force of her power alone, maybe they could hunt down the Ascendant who killed Akiio's construct.

“We should definitely call her, ‘Laethiel, the fister of men’. Whaddya think?” Thana said with a huge grin plastered on her face.

“What I think...” A raspy voice interrupted their casual walk, causing them to aim their weapons behind.

“...is that I did a damn good job again.”  Laethiel said as she raised herself from the sand. Her red hair was as messy as it could be, with sand falling unto the ground in trails.

Thana and Stella simultaneously sighed in relief. “Don't you sneak up on us like that. I could have easily mistook you for a corrupted.”

“You could pass as one at the moment.”

“Well, she looks like shit for sure.” Rozzi agreed while eyeing her up and down, checking for damages.

Her construct body was battered with cuts, slashes and burn marks. The special armor installed on her torso was still intact, even though she just battled a huge corrupted.

“Good job Lae.” she gave her a genuine smile.

“Anytime commandant.” Laethiel gives her an amused look before saluting.

Rozzi flicks her hair aside as she plants something in the sand. It was a small device that can only be scanned by Babylonia, or any other airborne satellites that's associated with any of the deployed task forces due north. She fishes out a datapad on her pouch and began inputting the location of the Vassago's ruins.

As she was looking for a strong signal, she noticed that Laethiel was squinting her eyes in the distance. She motioned for Stella what was going on, but the swordswoman just shrugged her shoulders.

Laethiel glances around while looking uneasy, which ultimately led the others to feel the same. The three of them watched as the Russian construct glared beyond the rising sandstorm, all the while readying herself in a combat stance. This led the rest to react on instinct.

“Oi, oi. What the hell is going on?” Thana, who was sitting idly mere seconds ago, asked as she cautiously aimed her plasma rifle in front of her, not knowing what to do.

“Rozzi, get in the middle!” Stella's voice boomed as she unsheathed her blade, carefully stepping backwards as the three of them formed a defensive perimeter around their Commandant.

Rozzi did what she was told and pulled out a measly handgun, like it would do any different against a corrupted. Still, she didn't want to be a statue while her team fights them.

“Laethiel, what in the fuck are you seeing?” Thana bellowed at her friend as she puts a finger above the trigger. Babylonia was known for having the most advanced visual modifications known to man, but a simple sandstorm can be lucky enough to disrupt it.