Claudia released another burst of youki power as she surged forward and brought her sword down upon the final youma. The youma's face contorted in pain and anger.
"Damn you, Witch…" His words faltered as his head split in two, followed by the rest of his body. Claudia stood upright, her eyes shining gold. The veins in her face became more pronounced, her teeth became sharper and her muscles bulged under her uniform.
"Dammit...there were so many of them...I used too much of my youki to defeat them all…" Claudia could see the mangled and mutilated corpses of numerous youma laying around her. She dropped her blood splattered sword as her arms began to convulse, her muscle growing even larger.
"I wasn't even injured! I didn't think I would turn...not this soon!" Claudia fell to her hands and knees, her youki spiralling out of control despite her desperate attempts to control it. The ground shook as she unwillingly produced more and more power. "I don't want to become a monster…" Claudia reached out a shaky, clawed hand and grabbed her sword.
Queenie and Wendy walked up the main street of the small town, ignoring the murmurs and stares of the surrounding public. "I don't sense any youki in this town; it seems as though we're the first to arrive." Queenie noted dryly as the two of them stopped in the town center.
"Good, I could use a rest after all that walking. It's been days since we left the last town!" Wendy whined as she stretched out. Queenie walked to the side of the street and planted her sword into the ground, before sitting down and leaning against with her arms folded across her chest. Wendy planted her sword beside Queenie's, but did not sit down. "I could use some food."
"You ate the day before last." Queenie pointed out tersely.
"Yeah, so? It doesn't change that fact that I want some food now!" Placing her hands on her hips, Wendy pouted and turned away from her friend. Queenie sighed.
"We don't have any money; we'll need to contact the organisation." Queenie said tiredly. Wendy smirked.
"Oh, I don't need money." She said playfully as she scanned her eyes over the street. Spotting a stall selling fresh fruit and veg across the way, she began to saunter over to it. "Just sit back and watch me work my magic."
Claudia stared at the black card she held in her hand, the emblem upon it appearing blurry through the tears in her eyes.
"I don't want to burden her with this…" Claudia focused her mind as much as she could in an attempt to control her youki, but it was a losing battle. "I need you...Elena, help me…" Tears began to patter against the rocky ground, flowing into the rapidly forming cracks. "Help me...Please…"
Claudia lay in her dingy top bunk bed, staring up at the ceiling of the cave with unblinking eyes. Her breath came in ragged gasps and pained whines, all the while she whispered incoherently to herself. The pain, though centered in her chest and abdomen, seared throughout her body. Barely able to stand the agony, Claudia's mind felt as though it would break at any moment. The prospect of death seemed like a release from this hell, her mind racing with all the ways she could take her own life and end the pain.
Claudia was faintly aware of something moving below her. The bed shifted suddenly as someone climbed up onto it. Though her mind was addled and the cave was dark, Claudia instinctively knew just who it was.
"Ele...na..." She whispered, her throat searing with pain as she did.
"I can't sleep without you next to me, Claudia, I just can't…" Elena voiced wavered with each word. She wrapped her arms around Claudia. "We can get through this together, I know we can." Elena reassured herself and her friend. Claudia turned on her side, ignoring the pain that erupted in her chest, and huddled close to Elena. The closeness of her friend eased Claudia's mind.
"Please, stay with me…" Claudia and Elena fell into tears and sobs as they lay together. Despite the pain and misery, both girls finally drifted into a restless sleep. In her last moments of consciousness, Claudia resolved to be stronger. Strong enough to get through this; for Elena's sake.
Claudia's power was completely beyond her control at this point. Her body was rapidly becoming that of a monster. The black card lay on the ground, the need for it having long since passed.
Claudia's tears had ceased. Despite her body's degenerate state, Claudia was bathed in euphoric ecstasy. It felt as though her entire body was on the edge of orgasm. The last spark of her humanity vaguely registered this as the point of no return. She had finally gone too far and Awakening was inevitable. In the recesses of her mind, that spark of humanity remaining in her brought up a single image; the friend she had not seen for so long. Elena.
Claudia's golden eyes flew wide open as the last spark forged an ember that fanned into a wildfire of resolve.
"No...I won't give in!" Claudia's gaze hardened as she steeled herself. "I will see her again...with human eyes!" With renewed intensity, Claudia summoned all of her willpower, resisting the aching urge that plagued her. "I can't give up! I WON'T GIVE IN!" A screaming roar of defiance sounded across the mountain, followed by an explosion of pure youki power that rocked the ground.
Wendy skipped back over to Queenie with a triumphant smile on her face and an apple in each hand. She opened her mouth to speak but was cut off.
"I saw everything." Queenie said, slightly irritated and a little confused. "Was it really necessary to disrobe in public just for the sake of a single meal?" Wendy shrugged as she took a bite out of one apple.
"I didn't get fully naked, did I?"
"Only because the merchant relented and gave you what you wanted." Across the street, Queenie could see the merchant glaring daggers at the two of them, most of his customers having been scared away by Wendy's display.
"I can do as I please; it's not my fault they're so modest and prudish." Wendy sneered.
"Number Thirty." Queenie looked at Wendy sternly. "These people are fearful enough of us as it is. We most certainly don't need you causing disturbances and making our situation worse." She scolded.
"They should be thankful-"
"I've made myself clear, Number Thirty. I don't want to have to repeat myself." Queenie's growing anger became evident in her voice. Wendy's temper began to flare in response.
However, before the argument could go any further, both Claymores sensed a massive surge of youki.
"What the hell? I thought we were the only ones here!" Wendy grabbed her sword and sheathed it. Queenie leapt to her feet and followed suit.
"It came from the mountain. We need to get there, now!" Wendy nodded as they both took off at full speed towards the mountain outside town.
"Queenie, I could've sworn I sensed something weird about that youki aura; it was like someone was-"
"Awakening." Queenie sighed and quickened her pace. "We'll just have to see when we get there."
Claudia turned her hands over again, staring at them in amazement.
"I can't believe I actually did it. I turned back when I was sure I was going to awaken!" Running her hands over her fully human face and body, Claudia gave a relieved laugh. "By the goddesses, I feel wonderful! I feel strong! I feel-" Claudia's stomach growled loudly. "Really hungry!"