BULLET HEAVEN

The sky tore itself apart.

A blood-red storm spiraled open above the ruined forge-world, revealing the Dread Heralds—six divine assassins wrapped in threads of voidlight and decay. Each floated inside a chromatic halo, broadcasting silence so loud it crushed mountains.

RAID's eyes narrowed.

"About time the gods sent something interesting."

Talis readied her rifle. "Those aren't scouts. That's execution protocol."

"Then we better return the favor."

Sovereign Red lit up.

I. THE HERALDS DESCEND

The first to strike was Silvyr Null, a swordswoman whose blade erased history on contact. Her slash cracked the land. RAID countered with a feint, grabbing her arm mid-attack and launching her into a collapsing temple.

RAID taunted. "Is that all? I thought you were supposed to herald something."

The second, Korr Vox, a sound-based entity, unleashed a frequency scream that liquefied matter.

Talis countered with sonic disruptors—RAID charged through the wave and broke Korr's chestplate with a knee that collapsed time.

Then came the twins—Red Symmetry—who fought in mirrored mech-forms. Each attack predicted its own counter.

"Cute trick," RAID said, "but I've never followed symmetry."

He snapped the rhythm and drove Sovereign's blade through one twin, and forced the other to glitch.

II. SKYFIGHT

The battle surged skyward. Dread Heralds versus RAID.

Each punch cracked the fabric of the sector. Each move was prophecy-defying.

Talis fought below, fending off corrupted drones sent to swarm them. One got through. She was clipped—her mech's shoulder shattered.

RAID saw red.

"You bleed her?" he roared. "Then I'll make your god watch."

With a sky-wide slash, he disarmed the final Herald—Jorr-Vhane, the burning titan—and then detonated his reactor core into the enemy's throat.

Silence fell.

The Heralds were gone.

III. THE MESSAGE

But the storm didn't fade.

Instead, a voice echoed from the rift above.

"RAID-13. Your actions breach divine structure. The God Council deems you an extinction-class anomaly. Cease movement. Or be erased."

RAID smirked. "Tell them I'm just getting started."

The rift sealed.

The war escalated.