The Saros Cycle

IX - Destroyer

IX - Destroyer

Isis kept telling herself she wasn't afraid, that this was just another one of the crazy situations she tended to get herself into. But her own mind wouldn't stop repeating that she was making a big mistake. This was a real battle, with people who clearly had no qualms about killing. No one would blame her for running... though after her speech, it would be far too cowardly.

"If we survive this, try making less dangerous friends in the future" Perfume Glove said, sensing her nerves.

If she made it out of this alive, she might even consider speaking to her family again. Well, maybe she didn't have to go that far... Isis forced herself to focus on the present. She ignored the two ships, flying away from them and towards Touma, who seemed to be fighting someone from the TSAB. But that person was being attacked from a distance. That seem like the place she could make the biggest difference right now. Isis gathered speed and launched herself forward, striking at her target with a powerful blow from her right fist.

The girl she just stroked look like she was about her age, with long red hair and a short green outfit that revealed tattoos like Touma's, except hers were blue instead of red. She carried two massive weapons: a pair of heavy twin machine guns in her left hand and a missile launcher on her right. Both weapons were connected to some kind of pistol-like grip above, where she held them.

"What the...?" the girl growled, twisting in midair to face Isis. "And who the hell are you? Did the TSAB hire a damn ironing board like you to be an agent?"

"What did you just call me?!" Isis shot back, crossing her arms. She had always been self-conscious about her lack of... development in the chest area but being called that by a criminal was way too much. "For your information, my name is Isis, and I'm Touma's friend! I don't give a damn about the TSAB, but I'm not letting you lot take him!"

"That boy is nothing but trouble" the redhead replied. "Name's Arnage Hückebein. And if you want me to punch a few holes in that flat board you call a chest, all you had to do was ask!"

The weapons in her hands shifted shape; now she held two missile launchers, each with at least six explosive warheads. Arnage spread the launchers open like a fan and fired a dozen missiles at Isis in the blink of an eye. There was no time to dodge or think—only to act.

"White Perfume, #7, Mystic Flight!" Isis swung her right arm, releasing a white cloud that spread around her, taking the form of hundreds of butterflies fluttering outward, forming a semi-transparent smoke screen that hid her left arm, where Perfy loaded a different combination.

Arnage's missiles shot toward her, but the moment they pierced the butterfly cloud, they began veering off, shifting direction, losing themselves harmlessly in the sky without exploding, flying off in random patterns.

"Mystic Flight can cancel any guidance or control system," Isis explained, noting the surprise on her opponent's face and taking the chance to fire the other combination from her left gauntlet. "Guided missiles and rockets don't work on me."

"Thanks for the warning!" Arnage shouted with a feral grin, altering her weapons once again, transforming them into two pairs of twin machine guns. "In that case, I'll just fill you with holes like a strainer!"

Exactly what Isis had been waiting for. Her magic activated, and the mixture Perfume Glove had released condensed in the air, forming a flock of black birds that darted toward Arnage, attacking her from behind. The girl turned at the last second, but it was far too late.

"Black Perfume, #3, Humming Bird!" Isis cried, detonating the black birds. The explosion was moderate, allowing her opponent to fly out of the blast zone, but Isis had released enough perfume for more than one attack. "#5, Rumbling Sparrows!"