Viper

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“	Ballistics for which you can choose the trajectory: Viper.	”
–Shiori Usami about Viper. ,

Viper is a Gunner Trigger.

Viper (変化弾(バイパー), Baipā, Lit. Changing Bullet ^?) is a Gunner Trigger.

Appearance

Viper leaves a luminous trail in its wake, and can be recognized by the sharp angles it performs as its trajectory changes. When set to travel in a straight line, it is virtually indistinguishable from other Gunner Triggers; upon impact, this would also apply if the user's trion level is not taken into account.

Overview

The origins of this Trigger are unknown. It was initially used exclusively in trion cube form, until firearms were invented.

Abilities

As a Gunner Trigger, Viper is less powerful than Attacker Triggers in normal circumstances and consumes more trion than the latter. The higher the trion amount of the user, the more of it can be allocated to its three basic parameters, enhancing its performance. A safety mechanism is in place so that, should a bullet collide with a flesh and blood body, the owner will be knocked out from the pain and impact, without suffering any penetrating trauma.

Viper is one of the mid-ranged options available to Border agents, which can be fired as a trion cube or through a firearm. It is slightly less powerful than Asteroid, as part of the Trion allocated to the bullet is spent on its signature ability to travel along a predetermined trajectory, which grants it even more complex flight paths than Hound. Although the number of patterns available is theoretically infinite, due to Viper being the most difficult Gunner Trigger to master, the vast majority of users learn only a few useful patterns. One of the most common consists in having the bullets move in a straight line before fanning out in multiple directions. This can be done to quickly target multiple opponents unpredictably, shoot around corners, and feint going after one target only to catch another off-guard. Another widespread application of Viper sees the bullets spreading out and then converging on the target from multiple angles, allowing the user to circumvent the enemy's shield instead of breaking through it.

An extremely advanced application of Viper.

Flight Paths

Some Viper users can create flight paths in the middle of combat by coming up with the trajectory in their minds before they shoot. However, almost every Border agent either pre-programs multiple trajectories and uses them as needed, with Rei Nasu, Kōhei Izumi, and Hyuse being the only ones who can come up with new trajectories on the spot - a skill which requires advanced visualization and keen spatial awareness. This ability makes their shots extremely difficult to anticipate and counter, on top of rendering most stationary obstacles useless as shelter against their fire; they may even exploit an obstructed line of fire by curving the flight path of the projectiles out of sight so that the opponent will misestimate their point of origin. Viper users capable of coming up with trajectories on the spot can target multiple opponents with the same bullet, so that if a bullet fails to hit its first target it may converge with the second. This can be due to the first target dodging so the bullets curve unexpectedly, or the volley following a plethora of different trajectories so that at least some will miss the first target and thus be able to continue along their path. These bullets may be set to return toward the user after luring other opponents into believing that firing the volley left them vulnerable to attacks.

Composite Bullets

Name
Image	Components
	Description
Tomahawk (変化炸裂弾(トマホーク), Tomahōku, Lit. Changing Explosive Bullet?)
	Viper + Meteor
	Tomahawk combines Viper's programmable flight paths with Meteor's explosive properties.
Unknown
	Viper + Viper
	The properties of this composite bullet are currently unknown. However, theoretically it would Double the specs of Viper's property
Cobra (コブラ, Kobura?)
	Viper + Asteroid
	The properties of this composite bullet are currently unknown. However, theoretically it would combine Viper's programmable flight paths property with Asteroid.
Unknown
	Viper + Hound
	The properties of this composite bullet are currently unknown. However, theoretically it would combine Viper's programmable flight paths property with Hound's homing property.

Techniques

Image	Name
	Description
	Birdcage (鳥籠(とりかご), Torikago?)
	The user fires Viper through both the Main and the Sub and has the bullets converge on the target from multiple directions, making them very difficult to block. The only known user of this tactic is Rei Nasu.

Users

See also: Viper Users

With a mere eight known users, Viper is the most unpopular Gunner Trigger. Among its users, three fire it in trion cube form, three through an assault rifle, and two through at least one handgun. Rei Nasu, Kōhei Izumi, and Hyuse are the only agents capable of coming up with new trajectories on the spot, additionally they all use it in trion cube form. Viper is also used by an unknown number of trainees, and possibly by members of branches who do not participate in Rank Wars.

Trivia

• Like other Gunner Triggers, Viper may have been named after a missile, the AGM-80 Viper, whose system offered Fire-and-forget performance. Alternatively, it may be derived from a rocket, the FGR-17 Viper.
  • The Viper is a family of venomous snakes. Snakes have many vertebrae which allow for increased flexibility, which is similar to how this Trigger is flexible in changing trajectory.