Chapter 4 - Beings of Slaughter
[EVA] deployed the parachute as Levi commanded. The brief slowdown mid-air, allowing Levi to take a deep breath and the plan for his next course of action. Levi successfully dealing with one of the three birds, taking off a huge pressure in his mind.
The situation now significantly lighter, not just because there were now only two of the monsters left… But because he now knew several ways to deal with the human-sized ravens.
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Levi had identified three pieces of information during his encounter with the birds. Asking [EVA] to do a slow mo of the brief encounter… The first key was soon revealed, the Raven's odd aggression pattern serving as a clue.
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Even while driven by instincts, it was odd how the Ravens charge without a shred of thought, not caring and even placing themselves at line of fire just to get to their prey faster. At first glance, it was easy enough to attribute this to the Giant bird's reckless predatory nature, but it's instinctual movements hinted at something hidden.
Asking [EVA] to replay the preview multiple times, it was easily revealed that the birds had the ability to momentarily turn corporeal. It's dark smoke in sync with the color of the bird masking the bird's ability from the naked eye.
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Disregarding the science and even the logic of what just happened, It was easy enough to see the bird's limitation after that.
These human-sized ravens, despite their reckless aggression backed by their phasing ability, had an odd habit of doing an unconventional loop in the air, before speeding up once again towards their pray.
This at first looked like their own unique way of maneuvering, but after watching the ravens charge at for several times, it was easy enough to notice the obvious inefficiency that instinctual beings wouldn't tolerate.
Thus after a simple round of testing, another bullet to the side of the now dead bird's head easily revealed second and probably the most important fact when dealing against the life-sized ravens…
In a quick summary, the unconventional loops the ravens were doing, was a way to buy time and mask a delay in their flight path, safely biding time before once again charging even faster once the cooldown of their bizarre phasing ability is up.
Given the info however Levi simply had to ask [EVA] to track the phase duration from the recording, easily letting him know of the short delay needed in order to successfully hit the birds. Revealing a procedural way to counter their momentary invulnerability.
If only that was the only problem the ravens posed…
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Unlike majority of the living things in this world, a bullet not to mention a round powerful enough to breakthrough modern day Kevlar, should have been to enough to kill if not splatter and crack a side of the a T-Rex's skull, but the bird didn't even bleed nor tore it's skin.
The bullet simply slammed to the head of the life sized bird, knocking it unconscious rather than piercing through it's head. The successful kill having more to do with the raven falling down from the sky and crashing down to the ground, rather than the bullet actually killing the raven.
Levi instantly re-evaluate his plan of engaging the two in the air. As judging by his distance from the birds, he doubt he would have another opportunity to setup a shot to the temple of one of the ravens, not to mention two of them.
There was also the instinctual nature of the ravens, making adjust to their flight and attack patterns after seeing one their own die. It would be hard pressed for Levi to get another clear shot to the temple within his remaining time gliding in the air… His current position lacking the blindspot needed for another surprise attack.
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The more problematic threat was the instinctual nature of the ravens. The Winged Abysses continuously adapting and making changes to their approach as the aerial battle went on. Not to mention a bullet through the temple even a normal headshot would be near impossible given the aggressive but erratic flight pattern, and brief phasing ability of the birds… Killing one was possible, but killing the other one right after?
Given how close the birds are to each other, that would require nothing short of a miracle.
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Landing on his feet, Levi quickly made his way towards the middle of the open field. EVA already retracting the parachute even before he had landed, shortening his landing time, minimizing the air resistance that he would have had to drag had the parachute not been stored by the time he was sprinting.
He had first thought of going indoors, but the skyscraper view he had earlier showed people by the hundreds screaming away as they all tried to get as far away from the buildings. The terraforming buildings being a magnet to the monsters who seem to be looking to 'settle' in.
Levi wary of the ravens's possible level of destructiveness should they have the strength and weight to match their human-sized sturdy bodies. He could imagine the birds dive bombing into buildings, attempting to bury him in rubble, but more importantly…
The City was full of humans.
Rather than get shot by a random citizen in panic while he's entangled with the two ravens… Levi had no choice, but to try and eliminate these birds in an openfield–melee.
Levi standing in place, as he took a deep breath and readied himself for another life and death battle…
The Beings of Slaughter, more than happy to comply.
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Win the battle, survive the war.
Levi mumbled as he continued hitting deep breathes, making use of the seconds as he watched the incoming blurs of darkness.
While he was fairly confident in his blade skills… Unlike gunshot wounds which he can easily pull out stitch and wrap up…
These human sized birds were strong enough to break his bones and likely cripple him off of a single mistake. And that wasn't something that Levi can't afford. He has a feeling that this Apocalyptic Event was just getting started and it would be fatal for him should he break or lose limbs crucial to battle and mobility.
What's worse is that he would have to deal with the two birds, while on a time limit.
Given the chaotic situation, it was inevitable for unexpected variables to popup. And Levi didn't want more monsters nor untrustworthy people circling him like vultures as his battle went on…
Making it crucial for Levi to end this battle short and clean.
Yet as the pressure mounted, a cold sensation ran through his spine, the dire situation somehow only making him think calmer.
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Wind shattered as the two ravens charged at Levi. Doing another double tap once the two winged abysses got in range before pulling out a blade and in preparation of the upcoming melee.
As expected, the raven he targeted easily dodge his bullet, evidently learning Levi's attack pattern though be it more instinctive. Phasing through the first bullet and dodging the next one, the first raven circled it's flight attempting to get behind Levi's field of view, while the second raven literally dove into the ground.
Levi's mind was cold as he somehow expected the possibility. Time slowing down for him as he utilized every sensory advantage he had making use of EVA's Spherical point of view that was directly connected to him.
One… Two…
'Now.'
Sensing the second raven's presence, Levi took stepped to the side, dodging the Winged Abyss diving up from the ground, Levi linking his step to position himself for a swift diagonal arc from his blade.
Not remaining static as he used the momentum of his swing to into a roll, preventing the large bird from falling down at him. The unexpected dodge followed by a swing being a short end to the second winged darkness. The now dead raven having not anticipated a swift strike from Levi as soon as it tried to dive up as if a shark breaking the water's surface only to meet its end in an instant, causing a thud to be heard.
Levi Sighing in relief as the blade's sharpness as well as the momentum from the Bird diving up, was enough to tear at the hard gummy flesh, allowing him to decapitate it's head with as single slash.
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He didn't have the time to contemplate however, as the First Raven was happy enough to take advantage of him being distracted after just recovering his momentum from doing an evasive roll. The First Raven's phasing ability now even more dangerous after having successfully entered Melee.
With Levi's passive extended vision however, it was easy enough link his movement and positioning himself to an aiming position. His aim directly pointed towards Bird's skull.
Bang!
CRAAAW!!!
The bird cawed as it's phasing ability involuntarily activated. It's bloodlust flaring as it knew that despite having it's phasing ability on cooldown, it still had the momentum to end the human in front of it's eyes… The human wouldn't have the time to…–
A chill ran through the final bird's spine as it briefly saw Levi's cold and calculating eyes.
Once again using the enemy's momentum against itself, Levi swung his blade. He cleaved the monster in two, the blade slicing off the bird's wing, the main body crashing to the ground after being caught off guard.
With his eyes turned cold, Levi watched the beast try to crawl away. It would have been a deadly encounter had it not been for [EVA] easily being able to calculate the proper position for Levi to not get caught as he cleaved the body in two.
Just the sheer impact and weight of it's body would have been enough to kill if not heavily injure Levi…
Doing a double tap to it's skull to knock the winged abyss out. Levi walked towards the bird before ending it's life, spending extra effort to cleanly decapitate the bird from its neck.
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To be continued.