Halvorsen watched as Ilma sped away on her motorcycle, impressed by her skill. It pained him to realize he'd been attempting to foster talents in his daughter she'd never possessed, ignoring her actual gifts. It had nurtured a resentment she'd probably maintain her entire life.
"She really has grown up before I realized it."
"She was here," ID-01 said—a statement, not a question.
"Yes. We took care of some business." Halvorsen considered how he'd break the news to his robotic daughter. She still understood little about human emotion.
"You gave her the weapon? An unwise course of action."
Was she jealous? Angry? Her flat expression made it impossible to tell. "While Ilma and I have had our differences, we're putting that behind us. We are no longer enemies. It's for the best. It's a distraction from the real enemy."
"Foolish."
"Huh?"
"It's foolish to ignore the danger she possesses," ID-01 said with conviction. "Fenrir is just as dangerous as Surtur."
Halvorsen rubbed a hand through his hair, frustrated. "I realize what I said earlier, but I was mistaken. Fenrir really is my daughter. I've accepted that as the truth!"
ID-01 shook her head. "No. We must address the matter of the real Ilma Halvorsen."
Her father stared, flabbergasted that his creation would contradict him so readily. "Stubborn—are you inheriting Ilma's traits?"
"I am learning to become more human. I've gained my own will. You said it yourself: Fenrir is a dangerous anomaly. She needs to be dealt with before she swallows the sun."
"Sorry, what?" Halvorsen said, crossing his arms.
"It is a human metaphor. I predict Fenrir's contact with Surtur will be disastrous. If he learns of Fenrir's true nature, he will corrupt her into everything we fear."
"Explain." A chill went down his spine, realizing what she meant.
"Fenrir's prototype Ragnadriver has vulnerabilities he can exploit. Surtur will crack its weak security and access her Uhyre key. It wouldn't be difficult to alter her programming to suit his purposes."
"That's a problem." They dared not underestimate Surtur's capabilities. Halvorsen cursed himself for not asking to examine Fenrir's key earlier. He needed to know if ID-01's hypothesis was plausible.
"Nevertheless, don't attack her unless the worst-case scenario happens."
"Understood. But I predict our final battle will commence soon, regardless."
"Stubborn." So, his robot daughter was determined to finish matters with Fenrir. Was this enmity a sign she'd evolved past her programming? Hatred was a human trait, after all. Did it make her closer to humans? A fascinating study—if it didn't chill him to the bone. Even with her new weapon, Fenrir stood little chance against the Valkyrie Mk. 2.
"Promise me you'll only destroy her if Fenrir becomes a threat to innocent life. Otherwise, you can fight—but never to kill. Fair?"
"Understood." ID-01 nodded. "This is an agreeable arrangement. But your trust in the simulacrum of your daughter is misplaced."
Halvorsen scowled, guilt stabbing his heart. This promise had betrayed Ilma, unable to grant her his absolute trust. The fact it had been necessary hardly soothed his conscience.
"No. It'll never come to that. Ilma is strong. She wouldn't lose to Surtur!" And he'd do everything in his power to ensure that outcome. Halvorsen's fingers blurred as he tapped at his phone.
"Hello, Dino. Yes, I'm afraid we must accelerate the schedule. Your first test run with the Brokkr system will be in one hour. It's dangerous, but the police are launching a raid against Surtur tonight. And you'll be our trump card."
///
"Dammit, I…" Johan said, shaking in pure frustration.
Yareli felt for him. She despised getting sidelined too. "Just stay nearby. I might need a quick getaway."
"Okay." But he didn't sound too pleased. If only the police hadn't confiscated his Angra Armlet.
"It's about time," Yareli said, checking the van's clock. Five minutes until the operation started.
Already, she spotted armed men in black S.W.A.T. uniforms moving into position. ID-01 stood among them like an avenging goddess, taking total command. The other Valkyries weren't with her—unable to fight without any workable suits. A strange regret washed over Yareli, wishing they'd spent more time together. This battle might be her last.
"So, how do you plan to explain your presence?" Johan asked. "This is a secret operation, right?"
"I'm afraid that's poor Detective Anderson's problem. But defeating Surtur is more important." Simensen reclined on the seat beside her, relaxed. But it only gave a false sense of security—poised to strike with a deadly grace when ready. His smugger-than-usual attitude put Yareli on edge, wondering what trick the Ophion president had up his sleeve.
"We better get going," Yareli said.
"Ladies first." Yareli rolled her eyes at Simensen's gallant gesture, slinging her new weapon over her shoulder. While bulky, she managed its weight well.
"Good luck," a pensive Johan said, giving a weak smile.
Heavy rain pounded on her biker suit, masking their approach as they snuck inside the building. For years, this toy factory had remained vacant, long abandoned after the company went under. They ducked under rusty assembly lines as they headed toward their goal. The unusual power drain came from a back storeroom.
As they got deeper, they spotted a buzzing light illuminating a far office and heard a faint voice coming from inside—one Yareli recognized well. She'd heard it more than enough from Ymir's tacky commercials.
Reine was humming to herself, little beeps accompanying it. It seemed she was playing some game on her phone.
Then she yawned, her voice turning annoyed. "I'm bored already. Should I join the Niflhel and cause some havoc? Then I can lure out Fenrir. Who cares if Mr. Personality thinks it's premature?"
"No, it should be fine," another voice said, making Yareli start. Despite herself, it was shocking hearing Wilson's voice again. "What I've set into motion can't be stopped. A few days premature shouldn't matter. Besides, the enemy is already moving against us."
Seeing their cover blown, Yareli walked into the room. There the fake Wilson sat in a dusty corner on the pavement floor, some cords connected to his neck. It unnerved her how much he resembled the late Ymir president—yet didn't.
"Fenrir?" Reine's phone slipped from her hand, cracking on impact with the hard concrete floor.
"And me," Simensen said, coming in behind her. "Hello!"
The former idol's expression turned even more baffled. "What are you doing here?"
Simensen pulled his Ragnadriver from a tote bag, wrapping it around his waist. "I'm here to kill you, Reine."
"What?!" Reine's eyes widened in momentary fear. A chill traveled down Yareli's spine, hearing the malice behind the president's calm words. She'd never seen him this angry before.
"It was my mistake, hiring you to spy on Wilson. And look at the disaster it caused. But I'm putting things right. That includes giving you the justice you deserve, Reine. Henshin."
Reine cursed, inserting her Uhyre key into her gun. "Try if you can, old man. Henshin."
While the news that Simensen had hired Reine to spy on Ymir surprised Yareli, she kept her attention on Surtur.
"You're a curiosity, Fenrir," Surtur finally said. "My algorithms predict you to be the greatest danger, but the evidence of my eyes tells differently. Your power isn't a threat to mine—yet I wonder."
"I'm human. I'm not meant to be predictable." Yareli attached her belt to her waist.
Behind her, the battle between Jörmungandr and Hel had intensified. A pillar exploded as Simensen ducked under a barrage of Reine's bolts, raining chips of concrete against her. Energy gathered around his serpent blade, hurling a wave of poison that Hel barely dodged. When it collided with a nearby wall, the corrosive element melted whatever it touched into liquified goop.
"What the hell were they doing?" Yareli feared they'd bring the building down on top of them all. Simensen wasn't fighting like his usual self—more vicious somehow. But she'd worry about that oddity later, thrusting her key into her belt. "Henshin."
"Human?" Surtur only tilted his head, not understanding her words. With powerful hands, he pushed himself from his seated position. "It matters not. I won't allow you to interfere with my purpose. I am Surtur, bringer of Ragnarök. My will shall reduce this world to ash, a firestorm that will consume all. Henshin."
His transformation alone almost threw Yareli from her feet, the cement liquefying from his presence alone. She readied for battle, tossing the cloak from her new weapon. She pointed it toward her foe, ready to finish this.
Facing Surtur was like jumping into a furnace. Even approaching him was painful. Since fighting him blow for blow was suicidal, Yareli kept moving. Despite her weapon's size and bulk, it moved like a feather in her grip. But Surtur was a formidable swordsman, countering her movements before she even made them. Yareli grimaced as a sudden punch drove her through a nearby wall.
"Dammit." Yareli pushed herself faster, trying to keep her opponent off balance. She scored a couple of lucky hits, but they barely bothered Surtur. His retaliation was fearsome, the sheer power of each swing almost hurling her off her feet.
Despite her efforts, Surtur seemed like an impassable mountain. But Yareli wasn't defeated yet—she still had some tricks up her sleeve. She slipped a hand toward a hidden catch, moving into the best position to take advantage of her secret.
She dodged another sword swing, but pain lanced through her body as Surtur landed another punch against her blind spot. Yareli froze in terror as Surtur stood over his prone opponent—or so he believed.
With a click, Yareli's weapon split in half to reveal a barrel beneath. It folded back further, becoming a laser rifle. Her position gave her the perfect angle to strike at her opponent's exposed belly. In a swift motion, she detached her Uhyre key and inserted it into the weapon's newly formed grip.
"Plasma Fang Burst." Yareli nodded in satisfaction as a good portion of the roof blasted apart, taking Surtur with it. "Predict that."
She sighed when she saw the collateral damage she'd inflicted and returned her weapon to sword form. Everyone always complained about how destructive she was. Fenrir leapt past the broken roof, joining Surtur outside.
Cries of alarm greeted her as she emerged, her appearance surprising the S.W.A.T. team. They held their weapons ready, uncertain if she was an enemy. In response, she pointed toward the standing Surtur. While the attack had left a terrible scorch mark, the injury caused by her ultimate move seemed minimal.
Dear God, could nothing stop this monster?
Realizing Yareli's point, the S.W.A.T. team refocused on their true target and opened fire. But their shots proved ineffective despite the considerable boost to their gear. Someone launched a missile at him, but Surtur only caught it midair and crushed it in his palm. Its explosion barely seemed to faze him.
"Is this the best humanity can offer?" Surtur asked, his tone sardonic. He ignored the humans, stepping toward Fenrir to finish what he'd started. Yareli took an involuntary step back.
"No, they have me." From the clouds, a new silver figure emerged. It landed with a boom, cracking pavement.
"Valkyrie." Yareli loathed needing this person to even the odds, but she joined her duplicate's side to confront a common enemy. "We'll need to fight him together to stand any chance."
"Understood," ID-01 said, her tone void of emotion. To Yareli's surprise, the robot mirrored her movements like a reflection. They charged Surtur together.
Their battle was like a dance, each movement complementing the other. They struck as a team, each attacking while the other distracted. Valkyrie's blade and wings targeted vulnerable points, while Fenrir used her mighty sword to push Surtur off balance. While they landed some solid hits, the damage remained minimal.
Yareli gasped in surprise as a massive hand tore her from the air. Her counterpart suffered a similar fate, her wing blades failing to dislodge her. The pain nearly undid Yareli's transformation as Surtur pounded her against the ground, pulverizing the pavement on impact. His next throw toppled a nearby building as ID-01 slammed into it.
"Impossible." Yareli failed to push herself up. Terror filled her as Surtur retrieved his weapon.
"You fight well, Fenrir." More S.W.A.T. officers moved in to assist, but balked as the monster turned his attention to them. Like before, their bolts bounced harmlessly off his armor. "But it is useless, regardless."
A swift kick undid her transformation, her biker helmet shattering as it collided with a broken wall. The police gasped in astonishment when the helmet finally fell off.
"Intriguing," Surtur murmured, tilting his head like a curious cat. "You're quite unlike what I expected. Calcium forms your bones, but no muscles to move them. Are you a monster created from an Uhyre key?"
Yareli stared in horror as Surtur extended a massive hand toward her, fearful of what he might try. But a new voice caught everyone's attention.
"Damn traffic," Dino said, climbing over some rubble. "Made me miss everything. Still, I see the Ilma twins did some damage. Seems you aren't invincible after all."
Really? Didn't this fool realize the danger he was facing? She doubted his bear form could do much against this monster. But then something around Dino's waist caught Yareli's attention—it was a belt similar to Valkyrie Mk. 2.
"This will probably kill me, but what the heck? It's worth it if I can kick your sorry ass," Dino said, pulling his Bear Uhyre key from his pocket. "Henshin!"
Dino's entire body burst into blinding light, silver-colored armor forming around him. Over his chainmail, a pelt made from bear skin appeared, its open-jawed mouth bouncing behind his head. Two shoulder pads adorned his armor, each bearing a raven symbol. A silver helmet protected his head, one eye covered with a golden plate. A spear appeared in his hand, beautiful beyond measure. Its tipped blade bore runes depicting a tree ancient beyond reckoning, its twisted branches seemingly infinite.
"Call me Kamen Rider Gungnir—the spear that never misses its mark."
"Not Odin?" Yareli asked, struggling back to her feet.
"Nah. I'm a weapon. Always have been," Dino replied. "I'm no king. I'm the pointy bit that stabs people."
"Fool." But Yareli felt herself warming slightly to the Ymir thug, surprised by his candidness. So this was her father's ace? She hoped he lived up to her father's expectations. Her new weapon certainly hadn't.
"Regain your strength, Ilma," Dino said, pointing his weapon toward the still-impassive Surtur. "Let me handle this."
"Damn." But Yareli submitted to his order, sequestering herself behind some nearby rubble.
"Another development I didn't anticipate. How bothersome," Surtur said, though his tone remained flat. He watched as Dino charged straight toward him, spear extended.
Sparks flew as the tip connected, tearing a hole in Surtur's armor. Dino pivoted around his opponent with astonishing speed, delivering quick jabs wherever he spotted a vulnerability. Gungnir aimed each strike to kill, but Surtur kept his weak points protected. He observed Dino's movements without comment, analyzing strengths and weaknesses.
Dino howled in pain as he received a jab to the stomach, almost losing his grip on his spear. The Ymir thug's frustration grew as Surtur became increasingly evasive—each attack less effective. In their brief exchange, the monster had already learned Dino's fighting style. A firestorm blasted Dino aside as Surtur's blade connected, melting everything it touched.
"Damn. You aren't making this easy." His armor protected him from the worst of Surtur's eternal flame, but the pain was intense. Yet instead of faltering, Dino only seemed more amused.
"But I suppose that's why you're the great foe. It's time I quit playing around." Dino hefted his spear, aiming it at Surtur. With a mighty toss, he launched it forward.
The fake Wilson's steps were quick as he darted away, using his infallible prediction algorithms to avoid the spear. But like the weapon of legend, Dino's Gungnir stayed true. The doppelgänger gasped in surprise as the spear changed direction mid-flight and struck him in the chest.
"Impossible!" Sparks burst from broken wires and circuits as the spear pierced the point where Yareli had struck earlier. Surtur stumbled to his knees, sparks flying from damaged circuitry. "I predicted every vector. It shouldn't have hit."
"Get it now, Surtur?" Dino pointed a finger toward his opponent, speaking with absolute finality. "I am Kamen Rider Gungnir, and my spear tip never misses. Today, you're as good as dead."