Ch 205: Breaking and entering.

Darkness used a Light shield to bash another soldier against the nearest wall, and heard a strangled scream as well as several bones breaking. She killed another with a light sword and erected several layers to stop more fire coming from the hallway. Medea was covering another hallway, killing anyone who dared to come close.

"How much longer?" asked Darkness.

"Almost done. This door is stupidly thick." replied Sakura, working on creating an opening on the vault's door large enough for someone to pass through. Her light swords struck the gate several times per second, sawing at the gate.

She finally managed and used a light shield to push away the one-meter-thick chunk of tempered steel she had cut away from the door.

She entered the vault, using a light orb to illuminate the interior, and saw the only thing contained inside. A small meteorite, about the size of a hand, its irregular shape held above a pedestal by three steel spikes

Sakura touched the meteorite with her gloved hand and put it inside her spatial ring, then left the vault. She also transferred the glove into the ring and cast Purge on herself, just in case.

"Done, we can leave." said Sakura, and the three women advanced along the hallway Medea had been covering, creating a wall of fire behind them to stop pursuit and killing anyone on their way.

Less than a minute later, they were outside the highly fortified complex. Corpses strew around the entrance testified of their less than subtle infiltration. Medea dematerialized, and Sakura and Darkness used Shunpo to quickly move away.

The raid had lasted less than three minutes, preventing the nearby GHQ forces from forming an effective response.

They reached the extraction point, where a car with tinted windows was waiting. Gai was behind the wheel and nodded when they entered the car. He turned the ignition and drove away, merging in the early morning traffic.

"You have the meteorite?"

"Yes. Everything went as planned. We'll have to test it to be sure they didn't replace it with a replica, though." nodded Sakura.

"Yes. Good job… You still haven't told me what you intend to do with it."

"Nothing. We just want to hang on to it to stop people with bad intentions from using it. I guess we'll eventually stuff it into a lead box and drop it somewhere into the ocean or something."

"Fine by me. I have no use for it either." nodded Gai. "Next mission is tonight. We'll hit the GHQ base in Shibuya. They have fifteen Endlaves and about 200 soldiers. Sakura and Darkness, you will act as decoys and lure most of the Endlaves to a place where we have set up explosives. Medea, you will enter their command room and kill everyone, including the Endlave pilots, then connect Funnel to their computers. Funnel will siphon their data for Tsugumi."

"Understood." nodded Medea.

"As long as at least twelve Endlaves are caught in the trap, Ayase's Endlave and the rest of us will engage the forces remaining to cover their base. If not, Darkness, Sakura, you will finish the trapped Endlaves ASAP, and we will launch the attack on their remaining forces together. I prepared ninety-two variations of that plan. You need to memorize them all by tonight."

"Yes." nodded Sakura, mentally thanking her expanded ability to memorize things easily. Gai was a compulsive planner, who seemed unable to leave anything to chance.

Still, it seemed to serve him and his people well so far.

Three hours later, when Sakura was busy memorizing the content of the cards Gai had prepared with the details of the plan's variations, Tsugumi knocked at the door of the small room where she had a bunk and entered.

"We have an emergency!" exclaimed Tsugumi.

"I'm coming." nodded Sakura.

Following Tsugumi, Sakura entered the operation room and saw most of Funeral Parlor gathered. Gai was arguing about something with Shibungi, the man with long silver hair and glasses that was Funeral Parlor's second in command.

While more people were gathering, some members were doing their pre-battle rituals. Argo, a slender man with spiky hair, was honing his two kukris on a whetstone, while Oogumo, a kind man with an impressive physique that Tsugumi had nicknamed 'Teddy bear Oogumo', checked the content of each of his numerous pouches, taking inventory of his supplies.

Soon enough, everyone was present, and Gai started the briefing.

"Tonight's operation in Shibuya is suspended. The GHQ has taken hundreds of civilians as hostages and brought them to the abandoned Roppongi hills area. They declared them all contaminated and announced their execution at 18:00, so in about five hours."

"What the hell? Killing a few people here and there is one thing, but that's a mass slaughter!" exclaimed Tsugumi.

"It's got to be a trap." said Argo. They wouldn't be making a public announcement if they really believed they were infected. They would have killed them quietly."

"It is a trap, yes." nodded Gai. "And we're going to spring it."

"So what's the plan?" asked Argo.

"Medea, I'll need for you to go there and find out what you can about their forces and preparations, without revealing yourself. Please depart right away."

"Understood." said Medea, dematerializing.

Aside from Sakura and Darkness, the members of Funeral Parlor still didn't know how Medea did it. They had never explained anything about Heroic Spirits, and Gai was more interested in what they could do for him than in knowing precisely how they did it.

"We will use some of the assets we prepared for tonight's operation. In a minute, you all will receive maps with the routes to use to travel near Roppongi undetected. Once everyone is in position and I get Medea's report, I will give you a more detailed plan."

Sakura could see some frustration on Gai's face. The man really didn't like improvisation.

But sometimes, you just didn't have a choice.

…

Hours later, Sakura crawled down an old ventilation shaft, using her night vision to navigate without any telltale light that could be visible from the vents. She also used Magecraft to dampen the sounds she made as she moved forward.

Medea had made her report. Most of the hostages, men, women and children alike, were held inside an abandoned warehouse, forced to kneel while blindfolded, their hands bound behind their backs by plastic zip ties. Two heavy miniguns on tripods were trained in their direction, ready to start a slaughter the instant they received the order. On top of the two gunners, Ten GHQ soldiers with assault rifles patrolled around the hostages, ready to deal with any escape attempt. There had been a few, if Medea judged by the terrified hostages and the bloody smears left by corpses being dragged away.

Near the warehouse was the entrance of an underground car park. Someone had made a hasty, but decent effort to make it seem like the entrance was blocked by debris from the partially collapsed buildings, but Medea had been thorough in her scouting and noticed that the debris were in fact inflated balloons. Waiting underground were no less than 50 Endlaves, including a sleek white one that looked lighter and built for speed. It seemed to be a much better model than the stocky blue ones they had seen so far.

Behind the Endlaves were the trucks serving as mobile control nodes for the Endlave pilots. Most of the trucks carried ten pods, where the pilots would sit in the ergonomic chairs and don the special helmets allowing them to establish a neural connection to their mechs.

The sixth truck, parked a little apart from the others, was different, as it only carried a single pod. Obviously, the one linked to the white Endlave.

Gai already planned to steal it.

Sakura's mission was simple. Once the signal would be sent, she would wait for the Endlaves to rush out of the car park to pursue Ayase's own mecha or target the other Funeral Parlor members on foot. She would get out of the ventilation shaft behind the trucks, kill the half-dozen guards, destroy the ten clusters of antennas protruding from the five normal command trucks, enter the special one and kill the pilot without damaging the equipment.

Then, she would deal with the fifty pilots, not sparring a single one.

Medea and Darkness would protect the hostages, while the rest of Funeral Parlor would deal with the dozen snipers hidden all around, then engage the rest of the GHK soldiers.

After a few more minutes of crawling, Sakura stopped just before the grid she would kick down to leave the ventilation shaft. She cautiously looked through, confirming her position and the location of every truck.

Sakura pressed a finger against the ear plug she had in her left ear.

"Sakura, in position." muttered Sakura.

"Aye aye, it will start soon." replied Tsugumi, her voice tense.

Sakura nodded to herself and waited, hoping that everything would go well.

And she heard the sound of a distant gunshot. Almost immediately followed by more.

"One of the snipers had time to let a shot out. Operation starts." ordered Gai.

Sakura activated Augment but didn't move immediately.

After a few seconds, the Endlaves moved, the white one taking the lead.

Sakura gave them time to all leave the underground park, or close enough, then kicked down the grid in front of her, falling through.

The nearby guards were still turning toward the source of the sound when Sakura used Shunpo to close the distance and used her shadow ribbons to kill them quickly. One had the change to scream and fire a few bullets, no doubt alerting the pilots.

But that didn't matter. Sakura fired a Gandr at each of the ten signal relays on top of the trucks, disabling them, and used Shunpo again to reach the sixth's one and cut the lock away with a light sword.

The pilot, a guy with short blonde hair and a while pilot suit, was out of his pod and reached for his handgun when Sakura opened the door. Her light shield absorbed the first few bullets, and a light sword penetrated the man's chest near his heart. He collapsed with a groan of pain.

She turned away and proceeded to enter each of the five normal trucks, killing their occupants with little difficulty.

"Can you give me an update, Tsugumi?" asked Sakura when she was done.

"Not perfect, but it could be much worse. Three hostages dead and seven injured, they're being treated by Darkness. Can't say more right now, I'm busy. But good job. All the Endlaves are inert."

Sakura nodded, confirmed that all of her targets were dead, and ran toward the entrance to join the fight against the remaining GHQ forces.

…

"…Everything's okay. Thank you for your help, guys." smiled Tsugumi to Oogumo and Argo, and they closed the armored panel protecting part of the new Endlave's left leg. She helped them put the bolts back in place and tightened them.

"Are you done, Tsugumi?" asked Gai.

"Yes. It's good for service." nodded Tsugumi.

She had just checked the Endlave for surprises like hidden transmitters or self-destruct charges.

"Good."

"Ayase already loves it. It's almost twice faster than the Bellford. Although without the missile launcher."

"Speed is much more important than some firepower. Once you're done checking the truck as well, we will move them back to the main site. How are your studies going?"

Gai was referring to her progress in learning Magecraft.

"It's going to be a little while before I can start firing off magic attacks, according to them. But they say it's normal, and that I'm gifted for it." boasted Tsugumi.

"We're going to lay low for a while."

"…Why? The GHQ has lost a lot of personnel and hardware today. Isn't that the best time to strike?"

Gai shook his head.

"The important people has moved overseas, and the remaining sites worth hitting are isolated enough that the GHQ may try to use their orbital weapons if we hit them."

"…I see." frowned Tsugumi.

"I'm working on a plan to destroy those weapons, but it will take some time. Until then, I want you, Ayase and Inori to focus on learning Magecraft."

"Yes."

"I told Sakura, and she suggested a camping trip for a few weeks. Something about her contact having found a leyline that would benefit your learning by making you recover faster."

"It makes sense. From the little I learned so far, leylines are important to use Magecraft. Part of it, anyway."

"That's their area of expertise, so I won't comment. I'll give you a satellite phone. Call me if anything happens."

"Sure."

"I'd like you to try to find out who their contact is, as well." said Gai with a low voice, and Tsugumi nodded.

Gai left, and Tsugumi started examining the truck. She was in the middle of it when Ayase and Inori walked to her.

"Tsugumi, do you wish for help?" asked Inori.

"Gladly. Have you heard from Gai?"

"About what we're going to do in the near future?" asked Ayase, smiling.

"Yeah." nodded Tsugumi.

"A camping trip deep in the forest. I haven't been inside one since the accident. I look forward to it!"

…

Akeno sat naked on the bed, watching with interest as Jeanne left the bathroom attached to the basement, tugging on the leash connected to Heejin's collar. The woman, her hair still damp from the shower, her hands cuffed behind her back, and naked save for the collar, met her gaze and glared fiercely.

"You won't get away with this, Akeno! When the guild notices my absence, they will rescue me!"

Akeno hadn't told Heejin about the time-dilation effect of the Sanctuary, and she didn't intend to.

"Heejin, I give you a choice. You can admit that you like being treated as a slave girl, and you will participate in tonight's activities. Or you can remain stubborn, and we will put you to bed early. But your night won't be restful."

"Go to hell!"

Akeno smirked and signaled to Alter, who took from the pile near them the first garment Akeno had prepared for Heejin. Black latex panties, of the kind that vibrated when they made contact with moisture. Heejin recognized them, as she had already worn them twice before.

With Jeanne keeping a firm grip on her upper body, Heejin resigned herself and let Alter slip the panties up her legs and put them in position, where they sat snuggly on her hips. Next was a pure white latex bodysuit. Alter unzipped it at the back and started to put it on Heejin.

Heejin immediately noticed the difference compared to the bodysuits Akeno had made her wear the last few days. This one was easily twice as thick, and it would have been a struggle to put it on by herself.

When Alter removed her steel handcuffs and started guiding her arms into the sleeves, Heejin noticed the second difference. The sleeves ended in integrated mittens, stopping her from separating her fingers. She could still fold her fingers to seize objects, but her grip would be slippery at best, and manipulating something small like a key would be impossible.

Alter and Jeanne removed her collar, stretched the suit over her back and zipped it closed. The latex clung tightly to Heejin's skin, giving her the feeling of being bound before she was even restrained.

The next garment Alter took was a white leather straitjacket, and Heejin reluctantly extended her arms into the sleeves. Alter and Jeanne worked on adjusting the leather restraint snuggly against Heejin's torso, and Heejin grunted as the straps on her back, especially around her waist, were pulled tight and fastened.

Jeanne guided Heejin's arms to hug herself, and Alter seized the ends of the belts dangling from the sleeves, fastening them together behind Heejin's back.

Heejin tried hard to keep her poker face as the panties started vibrating. She absolutely refused to admit, even to herself, that being bound like this made her horny.

Maybe especially to herself.

Alter secured the crotch straps of the straitjacket, not giving her bonds any slack, white Jeanne next took a harness made of wide, black leather straps. The harness started with a built-in collar. A thick belt descended from it, ran down between Heejin's breasts, and was connected to horizontal straps that went above and under her breasts.

Black leather cuffs sewed to the belt running under her breasts, as well as another one that would be fastened around her forearms near her navel, stopped Heejin from pushing her elbows forward and completely removed her remaining range of movement where her arms were concerned. This was one of the three reasons Akeno had chosen it for Heejin to wear. The second reason being that the black straps contrasted nicely against the white latex. The last reason was to provide anchor points.

The main strap continued down her stomach, over her crotch, and went back up along her spine, until it connected to the back of the collar.

Jeanne presented a gag mostly made of black rubber in front of Heejin's face, and she reluctantly opened her mouth. The rubber mouthpiece depressed her tongue and sat around her teeth like a mold. Jeanne fastened the leather strap tight, ensuring that its front rubber panel was pressed against Heejin's lower face.

As Jeanne was working on her face, Alter took a leg binder made of white leather and black leather straps and started fastening it on Heejin's legs, forcing them together. The binder ran from her ankles to mid-thigh, and Alter laced it tight, then fastened the four black straps at ankle and mid-thigh level, under and above the knees.

Once they were done, Jeanne and Alter lifted Heejin and had her lie on a narrow, one-meter-wide bed Akeno had created just for her. A bed with many anchor points. Jeanne used Item creation to create a white rope, and the two Heroic Spirits used it to secure Heejin to the bed, using the D-rings of the leg binder and torso harness. Heejin's head was supported by an ergonomic pillow that seemed to embrace her head, but also kept it from moving it too much.

With the rope tied off, Jeanne and Alter took a step back, admiring their work, and Akeno stood, slowly walking to them.

"Good job, girls." smiled Akeno, sitting on the edge of the bed near Heejin. She gently squeezed Heejin's breasts once through the leather and latex, and Heejin snorted as she breathed in faster.

One of Akeno's hands slowly moved toward Heejin's crotch, and she suddenly chuckled.

"The panties are already vibrating. Why am I surprised." smirked Akeno. "I was about to play with you a little to get you going, but you do not need it. You really are a horny pet."

"Mmmph!" glared Heejin, her cheeks reddening.

Akeno ran her right hand just under Heejin's navel, as if she could touch the Thrall Crest engraved on her skin.

"Well, you chose not to participate, so you do not get to cum, slave. Maybe you'll be more honest tomorrow." shrugged Akeno, before completing Heejin's bondage. She secured a black latex blindfold around Heejin's head, taking care to adjust properly, then placed earmuffs over her ears.

Heejin wouldn't be rendered completely deaf by the earmuffs, but she wouldn't be able to understand any conversation around her unless the person raised her voice.

She was now isolated in her own little world of darkness, muffled sounds, strict bondage, and the fire in her womb, fanned by the vibrating panties.

With a satisfied smile, Akeno rose and took both Jeanne's and Alter's hands, leading her to the large bed.

"Jeanne, Alter, you both deserve a reward for being obedient and being good assistants. And I know just the thing!"

"What is it, Mistress?" bashfully asked Jeanne. She had a hunch, and she hoped she was right.

"You'll have to wait until we're done."

…

As Akeno, Jeanne and Alter got busy with each other, Heejin couldn't stay still anymore and started struggling against her bonds. The pleasure had built up too much to be ignored, and she couldn't remain stoic.

But she only made her torment worse, as the increased awareness of her own helplessness only increased her arousal. The blindfold and earmuffs robbed her of the ability to think about anything else.

It had been six days, by her own estimate, since Akeno, Jeanne and Alter had given her 'The Talk' as they said, and she had agreed to join their side.

That was, until they revealed that being Noah's subordinate also meant being his sex slave, and that they intended to start her training right away.

But it had been too late by then, with Akeno engraving a strange symbol on her hand and depriving her of her power somehow.

Still, she only had to hold on a little longer.

Her absence from work had surely been noticed three days ago, and while Akeno might win a few days claiming Heejin was sick, They wouldn't be able to keep that up for long. Baek Yoonho would soon demand to see her, and then, Akeno, Jeanne and Alter would have no choice but to release her.

She only had to hold on a little longer.

…

Jeanne finished helping Alter into her black bodysuit and turned to Akeno.

"Mistress, can I request your help with mine?"

Jeanne's own blue suit was only up to waist level.

She didn't have much choice but to request help, as the bodysuits were identical to the one Heejin wore, with mittens instead of gloves. They could be controlled by Akeno's smartphone, even if she hadn't used any of its features on Heejin. Yet.

Akeno nodded and helped Jeanne, guiding her hands into the sleeves, working the creases out, and closing it. Jeanne sighed in contentment as she moved her arms around, and the suit adjusted itself to fir her perfectly.

Akeno created a thick collar, made of red leather, and brushed Alter's hair away to expose her nape. She fastened the collar's two belts, ensuring a snug fit. Thick red leather cuffs on Alter's wrists and ankles followed, and Akeno used a padlock to bind Alter's wrists in front of her.

"No touching yourself, pet." warned Akeno with a smile, and Alter nodded reluctantly.

Akeno created a white leather collar and put it on Jeanne. The blonde servant's eyes seemed to already be radiating lust as she, too, got a set of white leather cuffs, and her wrists cuffs were linked by a padlock.

Akeno created two leashes and connected them to the D-rings in font of their collars. Holding both in one hand, she pointed her index to the ground, and the Heroic Spirits both fell on all four.

Akeno slowly led them to the bed, and Alter and Jeanne followed, only slightly impaired by their cuffed hands as they crawled after her.

Akeno sat on the edge of the bed and watched her two companions as they gracefully knelt at her feet.

The two Jeanne were so alike, and yet different. Not just in their appearances and personalities, but also in their kinks.

Alter was a masochist that got excited by physical oppression. She wasn't into pain, but craved being bound and physically forced to perform humiliating actions.

Jeanne, on the other hand, also liked bondage and molestation, but the thing that turned her on the most was verbal abuse.

"How should I play with my two slaves, I wonder…" mused Akeno.

"…However you please, Mistress." breathed Jeanne, eager to please and be rewarded. Alter nodded.

"That's a good answer, even if it doesn't really help me decide." grinned Akeno, taking her smartphone and fiddling with it. Jeanne and Alter both gasped as the suits started teasing them.

Akeno moved to the center of the bed and laid on her back.

"Hop into the bed, you two. Use your lips, tongues, and bound hands to please me. If you do a good job, I will let you cum. And then, I will place you both in leather straitjackets and leg binders assorted to your suits, and you will sleep just like Heejin. That will be your reward."

Jeanne and Alter shared a look, grinned, and they entered the bed, determined to lick Akeno's body all over.