Crimson Renegades: Midgard

They Come From The Deep

Seagulls squawk from afar as people walk on a road a few miles from the sea. The scorching sun shines down on the residents of

Thermodon forced some of the loiterers to hide under the shade.

"So hot...", a child complains as she waits on a bench for her mother.

Minutes later, she comes back bringing ice cream which puts a smile on her face. They eat the tasty dessert as they walk away.

Meanwhile, a fast-moving object passes by them, surprising the two.

It was Cato, test driving the Midnight at 220 mph while Eira sits behind him. Both of them were wearing helmets so even if anyone were to see, no one would have known who they were.

Cato winces as she grips hard on his hips.

"Whoa, lighten up a little okay? You're going to crush me.", he mutters trying to ignore the pain.

"But you're driving too fast! W-were going to die!"

"Oh come on, even if we crash- that won't happen, by the way, we won't die so just relax. The Midnight has safety protocols in place so don't worry."

"Damn it. I'll take your word for it but if something happens I'll beat you up later.", Eira says, her entire body shaking from fear.

"Haha, don't worry, we're almost there."

Suddenly, the skies go dark and a large explosion can be heard from afar. Rain starts to fall and screams can be heard all over.

"What the!?", Eira remarks as she notices that the barrier surrounding the island had suddenly disappeared.

"Did you feel that!? Also, the fog beyond the horizon is gone. What just....."

"Yeah, something bad just happened. This isn't an accident. That explosion just now? It was in the direction of the lab near the restaurant. We have to hurry and help."

Eira sits straight up, removes her helmet, and latches it on a hook behind the motorcycle.

"You're going ahead?", Cato asks Eira without looking behind.

"Yeah.", Eira says with determination on her face.

"Good, I'll get there in about five minutes. Here take this."

A hologram appeared in the space between Eira and Cato.

"A watch?"

"It's a communicator. If I'm not there yet and something serious happens, update me."

"Got it."

She then raises her hands and vanishes as lightning strikes her.

A few minutes earlier in a watchtower facility nearby Augur Beach, Lycastus City

Leandra Le Faye, a starry-eyed sorceress from the Thermodon Magic Division looks out the window of her living quarters. Her room was situated on the third floor so while it's a little cramped due to the amount of research material that she has, the air always feels cool and refreshing. She was assigned to the Aegis Watchtower where several other magic users and Amazons work together to maintain and upgrade the spell barrier surrounding the island over the years. While it's a fulfilling job it can sometimes be boring as nobody ever comes to Thermodon.

There were many instances of outsiders accidentally stumbling on the sss's secret home but that was before when humanity still existed. Nowadays, the only disruption that can happen is when a beached whale appears or when birds accidentally damage the

tower's radars.

She stands up and stretches, tired from writing a five-thousand-page report on the gigantic magic crystal that powers the entire barrier on the East side of Thermodon. It was supposedly a gift from Skyfather Zeus before he returned to Olympus after passing his judgment on humanity. The ancestors called it the Vulcan Crystal, named after the god of the forge, Hephaestus.

After making her cup of coffee, she takes a sip and looks at her mirror. Her long purple hair is ruffled and there are split hairs all over. She has eyebags from sleeping late last night and she still hasn't taken a bath. If her mom sees her like this, no doubt she'll freak out and lecture her. After all, she is a member of the Le Faye family, a prestigious family of sorcerers, witches, and warlocks. Not that any of that matters.

Her family name caused her to be segregated from the crowd when all she wanted was to be just like every other sorceress who had a passion for her craft. Because of this, it was hard for her to even find a partner for her thesis if it wasn't for that one person.

On the island of the Amazons, it was hard for her to make friends, it's even rarer when it's a man so it was a big surprise to Leandra when he even asked her to be his thesis partner. Thanks to him she was able to pass and graduate with flying colors.

"I wonder what Cato is doing now? Maybe, I should call him.", she ponders while putting down her coffee.

But before she can even dial her phone, she notices a mysterious glimmer at the corner of her eye. All of a sudden a round black object is hurled inside her room, shattering her window and knocking all of her figurines on her table.

Recognizing what it was, she immediately raises her arms.

"Velux Jactus!"

As the object is rapidly flung outside by Leandra's magic, it explodes causing a shockwave that shakes the entire facility.

"What the hell!?", she exclaims while covering her ears with both of her hands.

Seconds later, several other areas of the watchtower explode causing widespread panic to the employees and civilians alike.

"Scrying Vision of the Oculothorax!"

A demon consisting of a disembodied eye with wings materializes from Leandra's hand and flies up to scout the entire area from above. With this magic, Leandra can see what the demon sees while being invisible to everything else. It's the perfect scouting magic.

"What in Merlin's Grimoire.....?"

Armored humanoid creatures with fish-like features were rising from the sea and charging towards the facility. Behind them was a 60-ft monster with eight equally gigantic tentacles and a mouth with hundreds of teeth. But that wasn't even the most frightening part.

They were led by a six-headed woman with snakes for hair, shark-like rowed teeth, 8 barbed tentacles for legs, and wielded a trident that she used to eviscerate anyone that comes in her path.

"What in the world is that thing......?"

"It's Scylla, a monster from the Greek myths."

"Eeeh!?", she screams surprised by the voice behind her.

"Are you alright, Miss Le Faye?"

A woman with auburn hair and olive eyes wearing a traditional sss war uniform squints her eyes as she holds her hand out to Leandra.

"Yes, Lady Myrina."

The muscular yet elegant lady before her is Myrina, former ruler and current advisor to the monarch of Themyscira, Queen Thalestris.

She holds Leandra's hands and helps her up.

"What's going on out there? What happened to the others?", asks Leandra as she dusts herself.

"No idea. All we know is that an army of fishmen is raiding the watchtower. There are only about 2500 of those things out there. The Themiscyrian Army is already fighting them. But the real threat is Scylla and.... the Kraken..."

"Scylla.... and the Kraken!? Why would Scylla be with a monster from another lore?"

"Well, that doesn't matter now. What matters is that we keep Thermodon safe. Leandra, go downstairs and handle crowd control. We don't want any researchers or other innocent people to get dragged into this. Also, do you know of healing spells?"

"Yes, my lady."

"Then rescue and heal those who are gravely injured if you can."

"Right away!", answers Leandra as she flies out of the hole in the wall and into the first floor.

"Etaucave Dna Tceterp!"

She covers the civilians and other non-combatants with a protection spell and flies them out of the area.

The monster behind the enemy troops bellows as it slams two of its tentacles into the sss troops. Due to the size of its appendage, the ones that were not agile nor fast enough to avoid the strike got crushed.

One sss grieves as her she holds her friend's arm, now separated from its owner's body.

"Damn monster!", shouts one sss as she enters into a berserker rage and crushes the head of another Fishman.

Leandra turns her gaze from the heart-wrenching scene and focuses on saving the civilians who were nearby.

The incessant rain doesn't stop and the beach is now a muddy red from the mix of blood, water, and sand. It even gets stronger as it develops into a thunderstorm. The skies momentarily turn white as lightning strikes the iron pole on top of the watchtower. At that exact moment, Eira materializes and surveys the area as she holds on to the pole for leverage.

"Great Jarnborn...... what in Hel is this?", she says, stupefied at the amount of violence she's witnessing.

"Eira!"

The blonde goddess looks to her side and sees Leandra floating beside her.

"What's going on here, sorceress?"

"I don't have the faintest idea. But all I know is they tried to blow me and the entire facility to smithereens. It seems that they are led by that creature over there. Myrina said that its name is Scylla. Anyway, we don't have time for this, we can talk later. Help them!"

Leandra points to the Kraken as it slowly raises one of its arms again, intending to crush more sss warriors.

"And you?"

"I'm currently trying to erect a barrier to keep non-combatants out. There are also survivors under the rubble and I have to rescue them. I'll help once I'm done."

"I see."

"What about Cato? Where is he? I don't think he'd miss this sort of thing...."

"He's on his way."

"I see."

"Alright, thanks for keeping me up to date. Good luck to the both of us."

"Umu", Leandra nods and flies away, returning to her post to try and erect a selective barrier.

"You heard all of that?"

"Loud and clear. Just give me five minutes, and I'll be there," answers Cato, who was still driving towards Augur Beach.

The Kraken bellows once more. This time it twists muscles and forms a giant needle with its tentacles.

"No!", shouts Leandra while she leaps from the tower. She punches the offending object, throwing it off course and missing its mark before saving the Amazons who were below it.

"You dare...... to harm my comrades!?"

The Kraken responds by sending its tentacles towards Eira. She quickly dodges, kicks, and punches them with ease.

"Aaaaaaaah!", scream some of the Amazons as they get in the crossfire and get hit by the Kraken's rampage.

Realizing that she can't fight on the beach where many of the other Amazons were, she jumps and runs on one of the tentacles and heads towards its enormous body that was resting on the sea.

"Take this!"

She kicks its head with so much force that it loses its balance and falls on the ocean, causing a massive wave.

"Amazons, pull back!"

The warriors retreat as water engulfs half of the beach.

Eira punches Kraken's head repeatedly without stopping.

"Stay! Down!"

It seemed uninjured though as it opens its eyes once more and grabs Eira with all eight of its tentacles. It slowly raises Eira in the air and starts to crush her.

"Graaaaah! Fine..... if you want it the hard way. "

She frees one of her arms and holds it towards the sky.

The wind picks up as multiple cracks of thunder and lightning rampage in the sky. A huge lightning bolt descends on Eira. It envelops her in energy, transforming her usual clothing into a golden impressively styled and engraved armored corset with pauldrons and a skirt. Sparks fly as her gauntlets, knee-high golden boots, and valkyrie helm adorned with white feathers materialize.

The sheer power of the transformation ruptures the tentacles grabbing her and she breaks free. All is not done yet as the tentacles instantly regenerate and they lash out, attempting to strike her from the sky.

She avoids them and lands on its head once more and punches it.

"Only those of heroic spirit shall pass and be guided without fail;

Bear witness to one who is both protector and executioner;

Slay all my enemies and bestow my allies with the strength to avoid eternal damnation;

Crash down from beyond the firmament! Come, Seigrund!"

A white streak rips through the heavens causing even more intense winds and a sound that can be likened to a sonic boom is heard. Rings of light form around it as it lands on the giant monster's head, causing it to scream in pain.

A gleaming halberd stabs the giant creature, making it screech even more. Its pole is polished to the point of brilliance; etched with the records of all the souls it has guided. The gigantic ax blade is prominently flaxen with a silver edge sharpened to the point of slicing atoms despite merely standing still. Even with its spike stabbed on the Kraken's head, it perpetually flickers with electricity, hurting the beast even more.

"How do you feel now, beast?", taunts Eira as it pushes the halberd more into its head

Instead of passing out the Kraken releases toxins in the air, covering the area with black smoke.

"What!?"

'If nothing is done, the smoke will contaminate the sea and even reach the others', she thinks as she picks up the halberd and holds it up with two arms.

Thinking quickly Eira spins her halberd, gathers the smoke into a tornado, and throws it into the atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Myrina is still in Leandra's room. She is now having a conversation with the Queen of Thermodon, regarding the situation in Augur Beach.

"That's what we know for now. I'll be in touch in case we need more reinforcements."

"Alright, I trust you sister, Myrina.", Queen Thalestris replies, her face full of worry.

"But Scylla..... I can't believe she's still alive. Myrina, what if she came back for revenge?"

"What happened back then was not your fault. It was I who pushed you to prioritize the island. If anything, I am to blame."

"What will you do now?"

"I will capture her. Worry not, Thalestris. I won't hurt her too much."

"Just be careful out there. I will be waiting for you here in the palace."

"Yes, my Queen."

The hologram disappears as it retreats to a round silver object on the floor. Myrina picks it up and puts it on the table.

"Sigh, I did say that it was getting boring nowadays but I didn't want excitement like this.", she mutters under her breath.

Knock. Knock

An sss appears right by the door and bows before her.

"What's the status?", Myrina asks her in a commanding tone.

"All of the nearby Lycastian warriors have been deployed. The Themiscyrian troops contacted us and they will arrive soon. The other barrier facilities reported nothing out of the ordinary so the Aegis was their only target. No aerial threats have been spotted and the fishmen are being taken care of. The Kraken is now being subdued by the thunder goddess who arrived minutes earlier to assist us.

We have also received multiple transmissions from other combatants nearby and are en route."

"Why do you think they attacked us?"

"We think they're after the Vulcan Crystal. This seems to be one of their goals."

"One....? Is there another reason why they would attack such a heavily fortified island mainly populated by fighters?"

"Personal vendetta."

"Hmmmm....."

The sss frowns and looks outside.

Scylla screams at the incoming sss warriors, blowing them away as she slashes at many others who come at her. Seeing this, Myrina puts on her helmet and equips her shield and sword

"Go to the command center and see if the barrier can be repaired. You know how to do that, yes?"

"Yes, Lord Myrina. What about you?"

"I've got business with a demon."

She jumps out of the watchtower. As she lands, crushes a giant mutant Fishman with a kick, spraying blood everywhere.

"Scylla! Why are you here? Why are you attacking us!?", she screams while rushing at her with her sword.

Scylla turns her head and clicks her tongue in disappointment.

"What? Only you?"

She parries Myrina's overhead strike with her trident and then throws her away with her tentacles.

Myrina twists her body and slashes at incoming enemies as she lands with grace.

"What are you talking about?", Myrina says as she takes a stance ready to pounce once more.

"You're not what I'm here for, Myrina. Where is the foolish heathen? Your so-called queen?", utters Scylla as she licks the blood from her trident.

"Stay your tongue, vile creature!", Myrina snaps back as she lunges at Scylla once more but this time attacks with hundreds of strikes aimed at her chest.

Scylla parries and blocks them all as if she were playing with a child

Annoyed at the fact that her attacks aren't working, Myrina throws her shield with full force, aiming at her enemy's face. Seeing the incoming projectile, Scylla deflects it with her trident, only to notice Myrina close in the distance and s***h at her. She dodges at the nick of time causing the blade to merely injure her cheek. Using this opportunity she grabs Myrina's legs with her tentacles and pushes its barbs into her.

"Aaaaaaaaargh!"

Ignoring her screams, Myrina proceeds to smash her into the ground several times before throwing her against another sss.

"Gaaahk!"

"Lord Myrina!", the other Amazons cried out but they couldn't help since they were also preoccupied with the other intruders.

Eira tries to fly towards the fallen sss to assist but the Kraken's tongue shoots out and grabs her, its surface burning her skin with poison.

"Gaaaaah! Stupid squid!"

Myrina lay bloody on the ground as she forces herself up. Her right leg had been crushed and her body had severe lacerations all over.

".... she was never this strong before....", she says while coughing out blood.

Scylla looks at her with contempt and slowly walks towards her while dragging her trident through the sand.

"Vile creature? Vile creature!? Who were the ones who abandoned us during the Apocalypse!? We asked for your help. We kept the seas around Thermodon safe from the humans for so long..... now you left me and Charybdis. Because of the Amazons, Charybdis is now dead! You never cared about us, did you? Oh, so benevolent and kind Queen of the Amazons. All talk and nothing else. Perhaps,

I should kill you right here and right now, and maybe she'll even care to make herself known."

Myrina tries to speak but her blood is getting in her eye and she is about to pass out.

Scylla then points her trident at Myrina and raises her chin.

"Any last words, pathetic sss?"

"Throw yourself to the crows..... you piece of shit.....", Myrina speaks weakly as she spits blood near Scylla's feet.

"Fine then. Die a dog's death, former monarch."

Scylla raises her trident and gets ready for the final strike.

She stops for a moment as a humming sound gets closer.

"What is......"

All of a sudden, a giant purple drone rains down bullets with its twin miniguns, forcing her to defend herself using her trident.

"Aaaaaaaaaah!", Scylla screams as some bullets penetrate her defense.

"Professor Myrina!"

She recognizes his voice but is now unable to see properly. The heavily injured sss sits as she tries to wipe the blood from her eyes.

"You ...... stupid..... student.... you're late......"

"I'm sorry, I had to drive over here but I wasn't fast enough."

"No..... it was my fault for being inattentive...... Cato, What are you wearing?", she asks as his appearance finally comes into view.

Instead of his usual tank top and jeans, Cato now wears a black hood, tactical pants, and metal-rimmed military boots. Underneath the bodysuit, his entire body is covered in centimeter-thick adamantine armor from head to toe. Diagonal slits on his helmet serve as eyeholes and circuit-like lines all over his bodysuit and jacket emit a neon blue glow that pulse with every sudden movement from time to time. Occasionally, tiny insect-like machines appear on the surface of his suit, immediately repairing damage whenever it is torn or scratched by rocks and shrubs that they pass by. On his back are two sophisticated Escrima sticks, forming a cross-shape, and on his waist is a utility belt where he stores a multitude of gadgets and tools that he's made over the years.

"Oh, this? It's the protective suit I was developing together with Professor Eitri. It looks impressive, doesn't it? Anyway, that's not important. We have to take you out of here while that thing is distracted. I temporarily outfitted the Midnight with magic stones but those won't last long."

"Hah..... hah...... I can't move, my legs they're....."

Cato looks at her right leg and finally notices its current state. But instead of panicking, he calmly reaches into his belt and takes out two vials filled with liquid.

"Don't move."

He consecutively injects it into her neck and helps her up.

"What... was that?"

"The first syringe contained acetaminophen infused with codeine to help with the pain. The second one was a combination of nanites and a serum made from my own blood to help with the healing process."

She sighs at the outrageousness of her student.

Even compared to the other scholars in the Institute, he was already a genius. Most concepts handed down from ancient godly and human knowledge had been lost throughout the century but he made do with what the island had, even as far as developing technologies that none of the other professors quite understood, besides Eitri, the dwarf who worked in the Asgardian forge.

"Cato!", shouts Leandra as she descends from the sky.

"Take her.",

Cato hands Myrina to the sorceress before she could even say anything.

"Oh, my god... Lady Myrina..."

"Yeah, as you can see she's not really in a good shape. Bring her to the closest medical facility. I gave her one of my prototype serums but it will only be enough for her bones and some of her muscles to heal."

Leandra leers at Cato.

"Huh? What is it?"

"You're going to fight her? Even when Lady Myrina was reduced to this state."

"Yes.", he answers without a doubt.

"I see. Good luck out there. Don't get killed, okay?", she says while smiling.

"You can .... do it..... You're ready, Cato."

"Thanks, Professor Myrina. Now get her out of here, Leandra."

"Alright."

As the two of them fly away, Cato cracks his neck and knuckles, getting ready for a fight.

"Myrina! Get back here, you coward!", the grotesque woman hisses while still defending herself from gunfire.

The Midnight's miniguns overheat and finally powers down as it crashes to the ground.

Scylla looks at the armored man in front of her as she rests her arms and heals.

"Hah.... hah.... hah..... Who are you supposed to be?"

"Beat me and I'll tell you."

"This smell.... you're demi-human? It seems I wasn't the only one who survived the end of the world... Why fight for these

Amazons?"

"That has nothing to do with you."

"Insolent mortal!",

"Shut up and fight!"

Cato takes his batons and adopts a fighting stance.

As the storm becomes more intense and the battle rages around them, a man and a monster face each other in mortal combat.

"Here I go."