2nd Dusk: Innocence Activate, Multi-Weapon Smith

Cloud and Dylan spent the night at an inn in town, and then left the next day. Before going to sleep, Cloud had spent a couple hours explaining everything about the Millennium Earl, the man who offered to bring one member of his family back to life, Akuma, the demon weapons infused with a human soul to destroy humanity, and the Black Order, who was formed to find Innocence users like them so they can fight Akuma and protect the world.

"Tomorrow we will travel to Central HQ, so we can have you officially join the Order." Cloud told Dylan.

"Right," Dylan replied.

"Alright now, get some rest, we got a long road ahead of us."

The next day they ate breakfast and set out immediately. "Sure you didn't have anyone you wanted to say good-bye to? You may not see this town again." Cloud remarked as they left.

"No, I didn't know anyone that well other than my family, so I'm fine." Dylan replied.

"OK then, after a few hours we'll stop to eat lunch."

While they were traveling, Cloud told Dylan a bit of what to expect at central, and a bit about her. Dylan also spoke about his own life. He said he was actually born and raised in a different city, his family only moved to the town they met a few weeks ago, which was why he didn't know anyone there very well.

He was 15 now, a good height for his age, with brown hair and blue-green eyes. He had told Cloud when they met he was a very cautious person, but he was also exceptionally calm for someone who witnessed an Akuma kill their entire family, but if she looked into his eyes, she could see that it really did affect him emotionally.

It had been about 3 hours when Cloud decided it was time for lunch, which she had packed before leaving town. While eating, Dylan asked, "How do we know an Akuma won't appear on our way to Central?"

"We don't, but if one does, it'll be a good chance to test out your Innocence, besides with me here, you don't have much to worry about."

"When you were talking about the Innocence, you mentioned that their strength is compared by the synchronization level between it and its user. So how high is yours?

"Hm, mine is over 100%, that's how someone becomes a General."

"Over 100%? Does the rate at which someone's synchronization level increase differ from person to person?"

"Yes, it mainly depends on how hard you train and how many Akuma you destroy."

"Is there a limit to how high the sync rate can go?"

"Hm, I'm not sure, if there is, no one's ever achieved it before. Any other questions?"

"Not really, that about covers everything I want to know." Dylan replied as they finished their meal and set off again.

Dusk was approaching now, it would take another 2 days to reach Central at the rate they were going. Cloud said they would come across a city tomorrow in the afternoon and spend the night there, then finish the journey the fallowing day. A few hours after the sun set, they set up camp and ate dinner.

When they finished eating, Cloud spoke. "Before we go to sleep, try activating your Innocence."

"Huh, why?" Dylan asked.

"Training with your Innocence is very important, just do it."

"OK then," Dylan replied as he took the large sheet of metal he had set his Innocence into off his back and held it in front of him. "Innocence, activate." He said, and as he did the shape of the metal plate began to change. It began to compress itself, very slowly, because of the low Sync-rate Dylan had with it at this point.

Despite the large size of the metal plate, Dylan compressed it into a normal sized sword, and it had a light glow on it. He tried swinging it around a few times.

"How does it feel, heavy at all?" Cloud asked.

"No, being able to change its shape is only one point. I can also change how heavy it feels and the overall density of it, so long as it stays at or under the original weight and density. I can't make it heavier."

"So you can make it into any weapon, right?"

"Yeah, swords, guns, nun chucks, gauntlets, shields, even a metal slingshot, as long as I know how it would be built, I can make it with this Innocence. And since my family had a business as professional weapon smiths, I know how almost all weapons are built."

"Impressive, OK then, time to get some sleep." Cloud said and she went into her tent.

Dylan swung his blade once more and it de-activated, immediately reverting to it's original shape. Dylan went to his tent as well, he wasn't as tired from all their traveling as most people would be. His family, as well as make weapons, also trained with them, so he was in great physical condition.

Everyone in his family rather enjoyed the work, Both his parents had taken an interest in it, and started their business right after they got married. He had an older brother and sister, who he got along with but they didn't get along with each other, he also had a younger sister who he sort of looked after. His sisters were 11 and 17; his brother would have turned 18 in a couple months and be able to live on his own. But had made up his mind long before he would stay with the family and the business after he was 18.

Dylan got to sleep very fast, and once he was he started dreaming about his family. They were all there, smiling and eating dinner, but once Dylan took a step forward, their faces seemed to melt away, the house was torn apart in fire, and he was reliving his moment of fear in front of the Akuma, its guns pointed at him, poised to fire at any given second. Then he was standing in the white room again, only this time he saw the Earl on his left side, and then when he looked to the other side, he saw Cloud.

The Earl said something, but Dylan couldn't hear anything, he saw that Cloud was in a fit, most likely shouting at him, trying to tell him something. The two were trying to reach him with their words, but they just dissolved in the air, never would they reach his ears.

"Help!" Dylan heard, suddenly realizing he was awake. It was still dark outside as he ran out of his tent to see who had called out.

He looked into the distance and saw a man running, for what reason was uncertain. Cloud had heard it too and come out as well. The man reached them and fell on his knees in front of Dylan.

"What's wrong?" He asked the man.

"I-I... need..." The man said.

"Calm down, what do you need?" Cloud asked.

"I-I need... BLOOD!" The man said as his skin suddenly ripped off, and revealed he wasn't a man, but an Akuma.

Cloud and Dylan jumped back immediately at the sight.

"Innocence, activate!" They both shouted.

Surprisingly, Dylan's Innocence activated at a good speed, it only took a few seconds for the metal plate to form into the sword again. Dylan charged first, then jumped and slashed the Akuma, but the wound was too shallow to kill it. He rolled away from the Akuma and got back to his feet, then started to change the shape of his Innocence again. It took a moment or two, but when he was done it was in the shape of a pistol.

He took aim as the Akuma turned around, and fired a single bullet at the scratch he had just made on it. The bullet smashed into it, but still didn't kill the Akuma. Cloud was just about to jump in at this point but saw Dylan grin with the bullet wedged in the Akuma. He was happy because it wasn't a normal bullet, and in less than a second the Akuma just strait up exploded. Cloud was amazed and shocked at what just happened.

"What did you do?" She asked.

"Remember how I can change the density of the metal, I used that to turn the metal inside the bullet into a substance that mimicked explosive powder, so after it got wedged into the Akuma, it would blow up." Dylan explained.

"That's pretty clever Dylan."

"That's what happens you're brought up making and training with weapons."

"Well, we better get back to sleep, we got a long day tomorrow." Cloud said as they deactivated their Innocence and went back to their tents for more sleep.