Descent into the Hold
Before heading properly into the underground hold, we stopped by the armory to gear up.
The armory door was locked, but as security guards, we had the override code. Nelson tapped the panel, and the red light flipped to green as the heavy steel door ground open slowly.
Clunk.
"Whoa."
The sight that greeted my eyes was straight out of a military depot. One wall was lined with racks of firearms, the opposite with bulletproof vests, helmets, and all sorts of tactical gear hanging neatly.
I made a beeline for the vests. A mid-sized plate carrier covering the chest and abdomen. I cinched the straps tight against my body, feeling my torso lock into a solid frame.
"Pretty heavy."
"Better than dying from a hit, right?"
Nelson grabbed the same model and suited up. Next up: throwables. Cylindrical and oval ordnance lined up on metal shelves.
"Grenades... flashbangs... even smoke grenades."
I pocketed two flashbangs in the front of my vest. Then a pineapple frag grenade and a cylindrical smoke into the side pouches.
"You think we'll actually use these? Down below, we might catch the blast ourselves."
Nelson grimaced as he picked up a flashbang.
"Grenades and flashbangs are usable, at least. Lob a grenade at the enemy, close your eyes for a flashbang."
He took my advice and grabbed a frag and two flashbangs. The futuristic ultrasonic pistol dangling next to the crude grenades looked hilariously mismatched.
I cracked open an ammo crate and pulled out extra mags for the assault rifle, slotting them into my bandolier. Nelson did the same.
Finally, flashlights. We unhooked tactical ones from the wall and mounted them under our barrels. A test flick sent a harsh white beam slicing across the armory wall.
"Even if the power's out, we're good."
"You've been below? Lights are shit. It's pretty dark."
Fully kitted, we gave each other a once-over. Vests, helmets, rifles, ammo, throwables, knives. Just minutes ago, we were corporate-uniform rent-a-cops. Now we looked like SWAT straight out of a movie.
"...Feels like we're heading to war for real."
"We are."
I shut the armory door and eyed the passage down to the hold. Somewhere in that darkness waited energy weapons and a cyborg superhuman.
I pushed open the door and stepped onto the stairs. The steel clanged shut behind us.
Thud.
"Hoo..."
I took one last deep breath. No turning back now.
Unlike their appearance, container ships store more than half their cargo below deck in vast underground spaces. The Horizon Ho was no exception.
Underground hold of the Horizon Ho. A cavernous space crammed with metal boxes. Containers stacked in towering rows nearly ten stories high like apartment blocks. Lighting was sparse, no natural light penetrated, leaving it oppressively dim. No ventilation either—it was stifling hot.
Three armed men moved through the gloom. The most striking was a massive silhouette that barely passed for human. A cyborg with half his body replaced by machinery, black market boss Bamut.
"...Tch."
An irritated grunt escaped him.
"Still nothing."
He'd been hunting his target—the red container—for minutes without luck. Even as boss, all the client had given him was "it's in a red container with excessive locks." Without the energy weapon demo, fat advance, and promise of even fatter payout, he wouldn't have touched this shady gig.
Suppressing the urge to smash every container around, he scanned onward.
"Hey, Captain."
"Y-yes, sir."
The man ahead with the flashlight answered.
"You really don't know where that container is? You're the fucking captain."
This captain was bought off by the client for the plot. Cowed by Bamut's menace, he stammered.
"W-well... even the captain doesn't memorize every cargo's spot..."
"Tch."
Bamut disliked the man. All the captain had done was let his crew aboard and kill the comms. His own men handled security, crew disposal, and portal setup.
Just kill him? No, hold off till we leave.
Fuming at the freeloader, Bamut endured—for now. Without the captain's route knowledge, escaping to deck later could snag.
Then.
Bamut's brow furrowed.
"...Something's off."
"W-what is it, sir?"
"Reports every ten minutes is protocol."
Bamut pulled his radio and upped the channel. His men should be chatting on this freq.
"A-ah, this is... James? Murphy?"
......
"Jack? Alex?"
......
No response. His radio worked fine.
After a beat, he glanced back.
"How many boarded this ship?"
The wolf-eared beastman caught his gaze.
"Per our intel: 12 crew for nav/engine, 6 maintenance for engine/electric/repairs, 4 misc, 4 security. Total 26. We've killed 12 crew, 6 maintenance, 2 security."
"Two security left? Comms?"
"Antenna and systems smashed. No external contact possible."
"No outside backup then..."
Silence hung.
"Kallen, Grisha."
"Yes."
"Yep."
"Check upstairs. Scour the deck. Got rats."
"Roger, boss. Routes memorized. Heading out."
The beastman and energy-rifle guy bolted back and vanished. Footsteps faded.
Bamut drew his pistol and aimed at the captain.
"Kallen memorized the way. You're useless now."
"...Huh? What do you—"
Bang!
Blood sprayed with the gunshot. The captain crumpled.
Satisfied, Bamut strode into the containers alone.
Nelson and I advanced cautiously through the hold, eyes peeled.
They're after that red container. For sure. From memory, it's dead center in this massive warehouse, deepest part.
Ambush there? Wait for them?
Frontal fight's bad. Three enemies, one superhuman—even sans energy weapon.
Goal: find container without bumping into them.
That plan in mind, we moved—
"......"
"Hm? What's up?"
Nelson eyed my pause quizzically.
"Stay quiet, Nelson."
I shut my eyes, focusing every nerve on my ears. Mind drifted; hearing sharpened.
...Super Senses kicked in extreme. Every sound in the space flooded me.
Vent fan whir. Dripping water. Creaking containers. Ship's subtle sway. Waves slapping hull.
And—footsteps.
"!!"
Clear footsteps ahead. Two sets, hurrying somewhere.
Probably the two sans the big guy. One with energy weapon.
Snag that weapon, it'll help against the boss.
Footsteps grew louder—they were closing.
I stood, prepping for fight.
"Nelson. Gear up. Two enemies incoming."
"Got it—"
Click.
Nelson fumbled readjusting his rifle; the tac light under the barrel blazed on.
Blinding white beam speared forward, sweeping container walls and floor.
"......"
The approaching steps halted the instant the light flared.
Fuck.
"...Shit. Sorry."
Nelson killed the switch, but too late. We'd just advertised our spot in this huge hold.
I quietly drew a flashbang, pulled the pin, breathed deep.
Footsteps resumed, slow. Dead ahead. They knew we were here.
I flashed three fingers at Nelson. He nodded, understanding.
One... two...
I folded fingers down. Before the third, I bounced the flashbang like a bowling ball between containers and squeezed my eyes shut.
Clunk. Clunk-clunk.
The cylinder vanished into dark.
Flash!!
Sun exploded. High-pitched screech pierced eardrums; vision went supernova white even eyes closed.
"Gahhh!!"
Scream from ahead.
"Now!"
We burst from cover. Rifle lights snapped on, pinning two silhouettes.
One: black tac gear guy clutching eyes, staggering, energy weapon on back.
Other: animal-eared beastman, eyes shut but otherwise intact.
"Fire!"
I triggered at the beastman.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunshots echoed underground; rounds ricocheted off containers and deck.
Wolf beastman rolled reflexively clear—but Nelson hosed the other.
Rat-tat-tat!
"Argh!"
Energy guy's riddled, dropped. Nelson closed and headshot finish.
"One down! Where's the other?!"
"Behind that container—"
But.
The wolf recovered way faster than expected.
"You dare!"
He squeezed his rifle.
Rat-tat-tat!
"Ngh!"
Nelson took hits, tumbled. I rolled clear, dragged him behind cover as bullets whined past our container.
"Nelson! You okay?!"
"Ngh... yeah. Vest took it. I'm good."
"Energy weapon?"
"Out there. By the body."
I peeked to confirm—bullet storm answered. Ducked fast.
"Beastman's no amateur. Careful."
"...One left."
"Boss makes two. He'll hear shots, head here."
"Process him quick before boss arrives?"
"Yeah."
Boss grabs weapon and joins? Screwed. End fast.
Idea hit.
"Nelson. I'll go high on containers. Cover with fire, keep him blind."
"Gotcha!"
Rat-tat! Bang-bang!
Rough lock on position. I scaled girders fast to container roof.
High up—deck far below. Leapt to next row.
Through gap: enemy below, radioing. Nelson's fire masked me.
Aimed. Fired.
Rat-tat-tat!
"Ngh!"
He rolled to corner cover. Insane reflexes.
But I saw: his rifle shattered on mine.
Weapon's toast. He's trapped rat now.
Dropped quick, reloaded, flanked his roll direction.
Rounded corner: him fumbling busted rifle, panicked.
Squeezed trigger.
But—
Click-click.
"?!"
Jam! Now of all times...!
"Raaah!!"
He clocked it, knife out, charged.
I ditched rifle, drew mine.
As distance closed, both lunged daggers.
Slash!Shwick!
Blades grazed faces. Immediate sideways sweeps.
Shwick!Swoosh!
Heads snapped aside. Blades whistled through air.
Clang! Clink!
Clashing steel. Seongjin battered the dagger away.
Clang!
Instant thrust. Wolf beastman Kallen twisted clear and countered.
Seongjin mirrored, spun into a kick.
Thud!
"Kh!"
Kallen reeled from the boot. Seongjin gripped dagger reverse, charged.
Slash!Clang! Clack! Clink! Clash!
Furious dagger clashes. Amid heaving breaths, only blades traded.
Parried thrusts, deflected, redirected.
Seongjin's senses peaked, blade poised.
Whip! Shwick!
Kallen reversed grip, slashed. Seongjin reared head back.
Swoosh!
Flowed into overhead stab. Seongjin blocked wrist-with-forearm.
Shoved arm off, thrust. Kallen seized it, yanked dagger at throat.
Seongjin twisted free, pulled trapped arm to slash.
Shwick!
"Kh!"
Kallen's flank gashed. Hesitation—Seongjin wrenched arm, stabbed forearm deep.
Dagger hand pinned; Kallen punched with off-hand.
Seongjin ducked, yanked to pull him in, elbowed jaw.
Crack!
"Guh!"
Kallen's stance crumbled. Seongjin grabbed collar, hurled over shoulder.
Kallen flew, slammed deck hard.
Boom!
Seongjin reversed dagger, plunged at throat.
Squelch!
"Gaaah!!"
Kallen's face twisted in agony. Seongjin twisted deeper.
Spasms... then limp.
"Hoo..."
Seongjin exhaled, withdrew blade. Blood pooled, staining around red.
Intermediate Dagger Skills lv.2 level has increased by 1!
Name: Han Seongjin
Race: Human
Age: 25
Abilities: [Super Senses]
Traits: [Advanced Martial Arts lv.2], [Intermediate Marksmanship lv.3], [Intermediate Dagger Skills lv.3], [Stealthy Steps lv.3]