You and Gilda decide to board via the heavy cargo elevator, witch happens to be the only way aboard CEASELESS DISCHARGE without flying. Although to your dismay you soon learn that Gilda’s natural walking pace is much faster than yours and she has a tendency of not noticing you're gone. You made it to the ship after the fourth time you had to jog to catch up with Gilda.
Gilda explains the situation to the lift operator and she agrees to let you on. You take your places among the absurdly large shells and boxes of smaller shells. The lift begins slowly lurching upwards up four steel cables towards the ship’s hold.
The lift brings you up to a warehouse sized cargo compartment filled with boxes of varying size all labeled “munitions.” Gilda soon leads through several more oversized warehouses before stopping at a row of elevators. The elevator map listed 56 decks to the ship and listed many sub-decks. You board another lift and command it to go to floor thirty-three. Floor thirty-three had wide hallways and looked kind of like a cheap hotel even if the sign said “Luxury Quarters”.
Your room number is 176 and has a large window overlooking the fog filled valley below. Gilda carelessly tosses her bags in the space between the two beds while you place your suitcase neatly under the bed closest to the door. You wander up to the window and search for a way to open the it.
“So I’ve heard they have combat manikins here.”
<...?>
“... Think timberwolf but programmed to act like a trained soldier.” you grab your notepad.
<Something that fights like a Gryphon but isn't really alive so you can kill as many as you like.>
“Exactly.” a sadistic smirk flashes on her face.
<I wanna see these hollow soldiers.>
“They’re really dumb so don’t expect to see anything more than a rookie struggling to outsmart a desk.”
<I want to explore the ship and killer firewood is a good place to start.>
Without further debate the two of you make your way to the nearest elevator cluster. The elevators deliver you to floor thirty-seven, floor thirty-seven has bare steel walls along with a rubberized floor and other practical decor. The sign on the wall informed you that you are in the living quarters.
You followed the signs that said “Stadium this way!” The stadium at your home base isn't yet finished and the idea to bring Gilda out on a date to one flashes into your head, you soon realize she would probably be competing and there isn't much cuddling involved there. The hallways end in a massive window overlooking what looks like a gladiator pit. A section of the window opened to a one story drop, Gilda must have forgot this is an obstacle to you. You wonder if your bones would be able to withstand the fall.
“I never get visitors outside business hours.” a disembodied voice bellows from the walls.
“I was just stopping by and I wanted test out your facility!” Gilda raises her voice at the ceiling.
“Now now Ms. Dragonslayer you don’t have to scream.” the innuendo was not lost on her.
“Alright how you just abandon all hope and show Surtr a manikin.”
“One would need permission from the Captain to launch a live combat mission.”
“Can’t just make one dance?”
“One! we would need manikins programmed to dance. Two! why would I breach protocol for some violent bitch?” Gilda flashes a slight show of anger before returning to neutral.
“Or we can let Ms. Dragonslayer wander freely on the ship.” what the fuck kind of reputation does she have? “The lady of war that hasn't been a threat for almost a decade?” this guy is a dick.
“..... Come on Surtr let’s go.” Gilda looks up at you.
<One second.> you quickly write something down on your notepad before tossing it down to her.
“How about you ask Admiral Abysswalker for a favor.”
“Like hell he would listen.”
“Just tell him Surtr wants to use this fucking thing.” there was an oddly threatening tone to that.
“At least tell me why?”
<I’m bored>
As expected the Admiral allowed you to use the facility along with unlimited access to the entire ship. This is either part of his undefined plan or a major sign of favor, that boiled the asshole’s blood over either way. Gilda flies up to your little window and places her talon onto yours, your chest tightens up again.
“I’m gonna want to borrow this.” she slowly runs her talon up your arm with an electric touch, you heart went ballistic in response.
<...!> you didn't actually make noise but damn that felt good.
“Alright let unfasten this.” she deftly removes your re-enforced talons.
<Disappointment.> your heart rate begins to lower.
“Guess we can share gloves.” she tests the fit my slashing at the air. “I’m surprised you didn't test these on anything, most guys when they get their weapon is immediately dull the blade in an attempt to chop down a tree.”
<Alright show me the powers of technology.> you hand Gilda the paper.
“Stay up here and enjoy the show.” Gilda gets stopped before she could enter the arena.
“I heard my new ace fighter was going for a training run . I didn't expect her to be going into a live combat arena dresses only in her officer’s uniform.” this guy was clearly high-ranking but he wasn't nearly as decorated as Artorias he looks like he is wearing an airforce version of Gilda’s uniform. He is a gryphon with the grey head of an owl and a sturdy physicality, the name tag on his uniform said Chernobog.
“I know I’m great and all but do I really need an audience every time I do this?” Gilda says to the man.
“The audience may not be necessary but a suit of amour is.” the man has a very monotone voice.
“Armour’s heavy... it slows me down.”
“They use real weapons darling.” you cannot detect any emotion in his voice.
“And I've done this before.”
“I’m surprised that attitude hasn't killed you yet.” is he concerned?
“I hope it’s skill ‘cause if its luck I’m screwed.”
Chernobog didn't respond, he just walked away without saying anything. Gilda flashes a strangely cute smile at you before flipping open the weapons and flying into the arena. She asks the asshole for the biggest challenge he can give her, he tries to talk her into an easier challenge but Gilda would have none of that.
Loud mechanical sounds emanate from the arena to signal doors and trap-doors that delivered deactivated manikins onto the battlefield. The manikin’s appearance brought back some bad memories, it is a gryphon's skeleton made of an ashy black wood. The way they are lifelessly slouching makes you sick to your stomach. The arena had twenty manikins ten hoplites on the ground, five flying riflemen and the rest formed a small phalanx unit. They are in a formation in a circle around Gilda with the phalanx group positioned closest to Gilda.
“Platinum Challenge live in 3!” a small crowd begins to gather in all the windows overlooking the training area.
“Platinum Challenge live in 2.” Gilda doesn't seem worried.
“Platinum Challenge live in 1!” a red mist gathers around the manikins.
The red mist solidifies into a red crystal like flesh around the manikins complete with feathers for flight. The crowd grows in size in response.
“Platinum Challenge live!” the small audience lets out a cheer in response.
The Manikins creaked to life like a an old shitty stop motion before stuttering into a more precise movement.
Their first move was to have every single hoplite rush Gilda at once, while the phalanx and gunmen stayed back. Gilda responded by running full-pelt at a single hoplite before launching herself onto it, slitting its throat and thrusting her claws through the skulls of the two hoplites that had the misfortune of being nearby, the wounds glow a brilliant red. She broke through the circle around her and immediately took to the skies straight at the riflemen. She charged the first one, it went down with a long glowing cut up its chest, Gilda targets the riflemen behind her. She had to dodge the hoplites that dare follow her into the air, to get to it but she disarmed it and fired back into the mass of hoplites following her, two more fell.
“She is quite the warrior is she.” Chernobog is now standing at your side again.
<When did you?... never mind.> you turn to face him.
“We like your policy of not asking questions sir.” Chernobog smiles at you.
<Alright... uhhhh. what am I supposed to call you.>
“Sir will suffice.” he is still smiling.
<So what do you have to say to me?>
“I don’t really have anything to say to you as much as something I want to show you.” he points out to the arena where Gilda has just slain another manikin. “Have you any prior knowledge of the Valkyries?” this guy must be up late or something.
<All I know is that they are an all-female group of the kingdom’s most elite soldiers.>
“Yes and that’s all you need to know for now as I’m sure you will learn plenty more soon.” he motions to Gilda who has by now reduced the manikin’s numbers down to the phalanx.
The litter of dead manikins is making ground movement both difficult for Gilda and the phalanx. Gilda pounces onto one of the fallen riflemen. The phalanx charges towards her, although she swiftly dodges into the air and the phalanx is now holding the only real estate with a loaded musket. She hovers in place while dodging the occasional thrown object from the phalanx, she was carefully analyzing her opponent for a weakness she can exploit. She dives nearly in range of their spears, disengages and finds a different angle before attempting another attack. The phalanx keeps themselves pointed perfectly at her from every angle. She backs up and attempts to pick up a rifle from the ground the the phalanx moves shockingly fast and forces her back into the air before she can loot anything to load it with.
“She is doing shockingly well for a lioness with minimal equipment and no squad for assistance.” Chernobog cracks a small smile.
Chernobog had distracted you just long enough to look back at the arena to the scene of a triumphant Gilda standing atop the corpses of the manikins. The now massive crowd erupts in cheer that could probably he heard back in town, your own clapping was barely audible.