Her Second Request: Eve and Elsword
XXX
"You are no Queen, traitor." The last corrupted Nasod, a small android with its core cracked in multiple facets, growled when she approached. "Code Exotic is activated, but you are defective. You intend to destroy your own kind!"
Eve deadpanned, raising her hand in a sweeping gesture as the commanded spear erupted forth, spearing the Nasod through its core. "Fool." She said as she withdrew her weapon, "You and the King Nasod are the ones who have betrayed your rightful ruler. This is the destruction that befalls those who cause mindless ruin."
"That's a lie! You are the one that is causing destruction!" Its voice grew weaker with each syllable, but with no less venom it continued with a series of mechanical clicks and hisses that were no doubt insults towards the queen in ancient Nasod language.
"Silence." The atomic machine gun blasted the offending Nasod into nothingness, flinging the remains into a corner where more hunks of machinery lay discarded. "You are mistaken.
I have only given what you and the others deserved for your senseless crimes."
Letting the gun dissolve in her hands, she looked around; every enemy had been eliminated. The others watched her carefully, wondering what she would feel now that all of her race was really gone this time. But she only scanned the surroundings for hidden dangers, and upon finding none, signalled that the coast was clear. They had to go; there was nothing left for them here.
As if the core knew that no one would ever come again, the surrounding rocks rumbled to collapse onto the entrance to the Altera Core, ensuring that no one would trespass the ancient graves of the once-powerful race ever again.
Many tended to forget that Eve, despite her looks, was not human. Nor was she a mindless hunk of metal with an arsenal of weapons at her disposal. She was efficient in her tasks and skill; that was factually correct. But her internal storage capacity was stored with battle combos, tactical planning, and files and files of data that would aid her in combat.
But she had enough mental capacity for other things. She didn't express them outwardly as humans, but she did have things running through her circuitry. Things like memories of these humans and elf that accepted her as comrade, perhaps more. Things that made her feel light and soft despite carrying a bunch of lethal blades on her back. Things that made her question many things, questions that bothered her so intensely sometimes to the point of not functioning in battle as well as she would have liked.
One such question was: What was she now?
She was an extractor of vengeance; such was what implied her new form. Upholder of Balance, if that sounded any kinder. Whatever title imposed upon her, it made no difference. Her code had made her an exotic, ruthless being that destroyed those who stood in her way. Much, of course, had been her fellow corrupted creatures, King Nasod being one of many. It was by her doing that all of them were rusting away in a forsaken cavern, never to be heard of again. That was what they deserved; destruction of Elrios would have corrupted the balance that the Nemesis stood to protect.
A Nemesis to her own kind, she extorted divine retribution from all, including her own kindred; even the very ones she needed to rebuild the lost kingdom.
But they were useless in leading the Nasods to resurrection and glory. Time and hatred had addled them, rendering them pitiful machines with no intention other than to destroy and kill even those who knew nothing of the ancient war. Those humans from those times were also long-dead as well. If they were left alone to do what they wished, they would not have gotten justice or revenge. Eve had done the right thing, giving what was due to them.
There was no remorse to find in her actions.
And she didn't have any to spare for them; a Nemesis stood for justice, destroying and saving what was necessary.
Yes, she was completely fine.
She let the wind flow through her hair, her sensors detecting an unusual source of power approaching her. It wasn't a Nasod, and if there were no enemies present, then it must be—
"'Sup, Eve."
—the dark El that flowed in the veins of the boy that loomed over her.
"Elsword." She tilted her head in acknowledgement. Unlike the locals, she had no qualms about Cornwell injecting one of the most dangerous and potentially fatal magic essences into its wielder. He had said that he could handle it, and if he could not measure up to his words, that would make him just one of many infected monsters that would need to be eliminated.
Not that she wished it on him to become corrupted like them, not at all. It would make her…unreasonably upset if he were. That very thought was disturbing.
"I'll keep this, uh, short. I mean, I know we destroyed the last of your family, and I just wanted to say I—" he inwardly grimaced; words were not his strong point. He braced for the expected slap and haughtiness expected from the Nasod.
"Your apology is useless." Eve replied, and then felt a prick of shame at the look she received from him. "I only mean that such regrets are largely unnecessary. They were no longer my 'family' from the moment they had turned on me; their end was imminent and justifiable. There is nothing to feel sorry for." She did not tell him, however, that something did feel a bit empty inside her, to which he would have probably laughed at. Every inch of her form was comprised of weapons, wire, bullets, and data chips. She was not hollow anywhere, so why would she feel as such?
"I wish to be in solitude." She replied, turning away.
He wouldn't let her get away so easy; he casually raised an arm, blocking her path. "You can tell me if something's wrong."
"Your concern is commendable, but I have no malfunctions. Perhaps you should care for your own body which continuously fights against the Dark El."
"Pfft, I'm doing fine." He snorted. "Don't worry about me."
"Good. I do not."
"Eve!" He made to intercept her once more, and Eve felt her irritation levels rise. Did he not respect her desires to be left alone? She was a queen! The Queen of…
Wait…
Ha ha…
"Leave me be." Her fingers gave a single twitch as she started to wonder if he would obey if she stabbed him with her spear. Not in the torso, certainly, but perhaps a strike on his arm or ankle would…
Thankfully it didn't come to that, because just them a very cheerful Wind Sneaker flipped in with a series of handsprings and leaps. "Yoo hoo~ Elsword! Raven's done, which means you can finally spar with him! Come on!"
"But I—" Elsword couldn't say more as he felt an unseen force knocked into the back of his legs, causing him to buckle and face-plant. Rena laughed good-naturedly, giving his hair a good tug before bounding away. "You've been whining for days that you couldn't have a good training session with him! Bet you can't outrun me!"
The last phrase worked like a charm; he immediately rose to the challenge despite everyone else knowing the exact outcome of such. "You're on!" He sprinted after the elf. "This time you're going to lose!" As he turned his back on Eve, the Nasod looked up in time to see Rena shoot her a careful look and a tactful grin. Eve nodded in return, feeling immensely grateful for her purposeful intrusion. Elves were definitely more perceptive than humans.
And supposedly humans became more intelligent with age...Eve shook her head.
Beside her, Ara and Chung pored over the map. Even inclined her head toward the conversation, hearing Ara as she said, "...we've done good work here. The ideal path would be to head down south, which would take at least several weeks. Then, we could catch a ship to the southwest."
Chung nodded in agreement. "That is where we would find the Halls of Water."
"Indeed." Ara closed her eyes, allowing her nine tails to disappear and Eun to retreat into its slumber. "That closer we approach, the more thicker the demons will come for us. But that is no matter. If we keep killing and killing, there will be an end to this."
"The objective is to rescue your brother, the priestess, and anyone else that can still be saved." Chung replied, puzzled.
Ara shrugged in indifference. "Regardless of how much peace is advocated, there will always be demons in the way. And the only way to pass them is to destroy them till nothing is left."
Chung tore his eyes from the map, shooting the girl an intense stare that she did not notice as she had already turned away, a spirit orb idly flickering in her hand as she played with it. Watching her retreating figure, the Iron Paladin remembered the unfortunate circumstances of the girl's background and wondered if he would have been like he had he chosen a different path: destroying everything in his path to reach one goal.
But Eve did not mind. In fact, she endorsed it. The monsters tainted this earth with their very presence, seeking nothing but destruction. The only justice that would await them would be certain annihilation. Ara was truly the 冥王, Ruler of Darkness. She ruled it by conquering the evil forces, absorbing their innermost essence to become stronger.
But Ara still had hope of reaching her brother. Raven had found redemption through his sword training. Eve had destroyed the last hope of reviving the Nasod Kingdom with her own hands. Even if she had the proper equipment, tools, and time to recreate her brethren, where would they go? What of the El that sustained them? Moby and Remy were her only proofs that the Nasods ever existed as more than corrupted mechanical killers. They flanked her closer than ever, even their basic coding letting them understand that the last of their race had disappeared off the face of this dimension.
They could have stayed near Altera for another night before resuming their journey the next day, but Elsword was adamant in leaving Altera as soon as possible. Chung supported this, though the redhead's furtive glances towards Eve implied something more as they trekked through the rugged landscape that stood between them and Hamel.
So of course they had to set camp for the night when the sun fell, having not even reached the midway point. Aisha grumbled a bit about having to sleep on the hard ground, but nevertheless, tents were pulled up and a fire soon bloomed in their makeshift pit.
Rena was especially cheerful that she was able to sleep under the stars; as much as she enjoyed the comforts of human homes, nature was her source of life. Night did not interfere with her perception; she saw with her eyes, her ears, her hands, her elven senses. It wasn't long before she excused herself, leaping away happily into the forest, swinging through the trees. Her echoes of laughter became fainter as she revelled in her freedom.
Ara also slipped away, albeit for different reasons. Eun's control over her had increased greatly, almost to the point where it was hard to tell where Ara ended and Eun began; the two were slowly merging into one being. The girl had realized that this came with many privileges other than great power; animals (especially foxes for obvious reasons) cowered before her unearthly presence, becoming tame as kittens when she approached them. The foxes were her scouts, the wolves her silent guards.
One by one, they drifted off, even Raven's eyes closed, usually being the one to volunteer first watch.
"We're running low on wood." Elsword gestured to the dying fire after some time. "I'll go get some more."
"No." Eve rose, her winged blades snapping to attention. "I shall. Ara and Rena are still within the forest, and I will ensure their safety."
He quirked an eyebrow, but refrained from saying anything for the moment other than "Go ahead."
Acknowledging his assent with a blink, she strode past with Moby and Remy soaring in pursuit. She delved in deep, far into the woodlands before her night vision detected the silhouette of a canine darting to the left. A fox, to be more specific. Such a shy, slippery creature...
Letting the beast disappear, she floated on before detecting a slight rustle of leaves to her left. A gust of wind whispered through her hair, heralding the presence of her elven friend that now stood before her.
"Eve! Something wrong?"
"Everything is in order, more or less. You are safe?"
"Yes." Rena whistled, and the breeze fell still. "Even though I have chosen to stay here, it seems my ties with the creatures of the earth are not severed. It's reassuring, really."
"You do not regret your broken ties with your kindred, then?" Again Eve reprimanded herself; surely she could have said that in a less harsher manner!
But Rena understood, even as her face fell. "That is a difficult question, Eve."
"I know. Still, I wish to know your answer."
The Wind Sneaker nodded, almost smiling. "My answer is here." She stretched her hand, showing the Nemesis a small sphere of wind forming at her fingertips glowing softly.
"Your answer is the wind?"
"Yes." Her green eyes flickered. "Wind does not stay still, or else it fades and dies. It is always changing course, moving with the world. In my time here, I learned that so many creatures, human, elven, even Nasods...they fear change. They fight against change with all their hearts...but time stops for no one. In the end, change is what saves them. Time flows with change, and so do we.
The elders of my home were immersed in tradition, not realizing that the world around them was evolving. The wind doesn't always pass the same place. My former kind could have expanded their horizons, even integrate their community with ours...but." The winds echoed her sigh. "That's why I am the Wind Sneaker. I am dead to the elves. They are dead to me. Yet the winds hide my presence, sneaking me across the planes of nature so I do not lose my elven ties with the spirits as easily as the elders hope I do."
"Change." Eve nodded. "But I was the queen of my kind. It was my duty to protect my kindred, yet I exterminated them."
Rena raised her eyebrows. "Would you rather have sided with them, slaughtering us and everyone else on Altera?"
Eve tossed her head in contempt. "Do not be ridiculous."
"You can spend centuries pondering on the past, coming up with infinite ways that might have changed such a situation. But even Glaive, with all his ability, cannot turn us back to such times. Accept your failings, but don't let them rule your life. Let it go, for there are others that you have to protect."
"Yes, especially the others." Ara emerged from the shadows, several foxes growling at her feet. "They sense a disturbance back at camp. Who was on watch?"
"Elsword."
"Something has been shifting in the unnatural plains."
"Probably more Shadow Creatures that followed our trail all the way here." Rena sighed. "Annoying pests..."
"I concur." Eve did not add that her sensors indicated another, more darker presence at hand. Like a creature that had once been dormant, now waking from slumber...
"Good." Rena cracked her knuckles, the wind howling around her ominously. "Airelinna, help us teach those who dare to disrespect this sacred forest."
XXX
Shoving one off his back, Elsword quickly swung his blade to the left, cleaving a Glitter Spearman in two. How were these stupid hunks of corrupted flesh smart enough to organize themselves into an ambush?
"That's right, come... Raven mumbled, letting a horde of Glitters block his path. "And...Sonic Slash."
"Just where are they all coming from?" Aisha slammed an incoming Glitter aside with her staff. "They've gotten stronger! How many are there?" an arrow whizzed by her, missing her eye by an inch. "Eek! Watch where you're shooting that!"
"Elsword, your left!" Too late; a Glitter Necromancer, one that seemed to glow with an aura more ghastly than others, had aimed a crackling orb of corrupted energy that hit its target right into his side. His growl of pain was cut short as he felt his heart constrict. He had received plenty of blows from countless monsters; why should this feel any different? His swords fell from his hands as he clutched at his side, his chest, everything he could get a hold of.
It was like a snake uncurling inside him, a small flick of a switch.
Pain...pain...pain...
"There's too many! We're not going to make it!" Aisha struggled to charge her powers, already panting from exertion. "Elsword! They're coming for you! Pull yourself together!"
The jolts of dark energy, still grazing at his side. The Necromancer's infection, pulsing through his veins. Was that primeval sound coming from him, the screams of pain? Yes, the Glitter's foul energy could taint every fibre of your being, squeezing the heart till it was a blob of darkness, corrupted by evil...literally devouring its victim from inside out. But no...Elsword, he couldn't die like that!
He wasn't going to end this way!
His heart quivered, its spasms getting slower and slower...
"Drenched in dark power...it gives power to the darkness inside you...are you strong enough to accept the power of darkness?"
"You worry too much, old man..."
His head...he had to clear his head. He was only dimly aware of the Glitter Spearman beside him, raising its weapon to slice his head. People were shouting...Raven? Aisha? Chung! He had to help them! He had to protect them!
"These powers of darkness, whatever they're from...I'll take them all!"
The Glitter that was about to decapitate him recoiled, balking at the sudden intense aura that surrounded this human. But...was he human? The energy that rolled off him, it was...the creature's mind did not go any further as it was overwhelmed by a barrage of blades, tearing it apart limb by limb.
He turned his head around. There was no trademark smirk or even the slightest hint of a grin as he slashed his blades, letting flames of fire and darkness erupt as he swung, mercilessly slicing a horde of glitters to nothing. He snapped their pathetic excuses for weapons, consuming them in fire and hacking them by blade. His feet crunched upon their entrails, their ashes trailing behind him. But he did not care. Power was coursing through him, amplifying with every heartbeat.
In the chaos, Raven felt the Glitters waver in their assault, and then break into a panicked retreat. But the elder found no relief at this favourable turn of events. Glitters were cowardly creatures, but it took no small amount to frighten one away like that, especially when most of their strength resided in their vast numbers. For a horde to scatter like mice...helping Aisha to her feet, he looked in Elsword's direction.
"...Guess everything's already taken care of?" The other girls casually emerged from the foliage, Rena already re-clipping her bow back into a lighter accessory. "It sounded like it was a good fight, too..."
"You know just as well as I that the fight is not over." Raven handed Aisha to the elf, who checked her for injuries. "The threat has simply been quelled by a larger menace."
"Oh, I know." Rena shrugged. "But it's not my battle to fight now, is it?"
Eve understood. That dim-witted muscle-brained tactless blockhead of a warrior had gone ahead and allowed the Dark El to dominate his consciousness. While his ingenious plan to 'take all the darkness with his strong willpower' sounded awe-inspiring and ideal, his physical limits and youth could not keep up. More training and time would allowed sufficient adaptability, but he...didn't think.
"Elsword is a terror on the battlefield." Ara casually remarked. "I hope we don't have to kill him."
Chung gave the girl a long look, finally adding, "No, it won't come to that."
But even he did not sound so sure.
By then, Eve had already disappeared.
The battle was long since over; but for the Infinity Sword, it was a massacre. Drenched in dark viscous blood, he hacked away at the remains of his enemies. He took no notice as she approached him, undeterred by the circle of bloodied flesh and scars of the earth around him. His power had dramatically increased, yes, but to exchange any amount of power for one's own mind was a fool's decision. That was the nature of a beast.
"The enemy is dead."
The repeated stabbing abruptly ceased as he turned towards her. His hair was a mess, black and red hair tangled in a mess of blood. His eyes were red, as they always have been, but there was an unnatural light to them. Eve felt as if she was looking into live coals. She also noted that his grip on his swords did not loosen. Was he even looking at her? If so, what was she? A friend? An enemy? Just one more monster to impale?
She stepped forward. He seemed to shrink as she approached, and when she was no more than five feet or so, he snarled, threateningly lashing out his swords. Moby and Remy hissed back, but Eve could sense ranging tones of defensiveness. He was not looking to attack her; he just wanted her to stay away...
Eve was not sure whether to feel moved by this. But her pity soon turned into irritation; so, he thought her too weak and frail for her to handle him? What, did he assume that she would be afraid to hurt her?
She was no longer a queen. She had no one left to defend.
With lightning speed, she summoned her atomic plasma gun. The Infinity Sword barely had time to growl before a series of shots burrowed into his limbs, causing agonizing pain that forced him to drop his weapons. He looked up, expecting the last shot to be at his heart or his brain. She was now standing right in front of him.
A stinging, white-hot blow, and everything fell to black silence.
He did not expect that he would open his eyes to the living world again. Yet he heard familiar voices. He could smell food and bitterness of medicinal herbs and ointments. He felt dull, aching pain on both his hands, right forearm, and left shin. And a stronger pain on his left cheek.
"...he should be awake any moment now..."
"...yeah, any moment now...man, Eve really slapped his face off this time, eh?" A laugh.
He grunted.
"And the conquering hero finally wakes." Aisha had a rare smile that had more tenderness than her default sarcasm. "Had it that bad, huh?"
"Don't even start on it." He tried to use his hands to prop himself up, which failed as he buckled in pain. "Dammit, of all the places I could have gotten injured, it has to be my hands?"
"You can thank Eve for doing that and not shooting your brains out." She shoved him back onto the bed. "It was that or you go completely psycho and destroy all of us."
"Wait, what?" This time he tried using his elbows, with more success. "I was trying to not get eaten by the Glitter monsters, not kill—oh." Realization struck him like a hammer.
"Is it too stupid to ask if you don't remember?" She said, cloaking her growing concern with more sarcasm.
"So that...all that wasn't just a dream?"
XXX
In the night of a changing world, the life of a Nasod flickered. She sat on the fallen log that served as her woodland throne, staring into the stars, the floating ashes of the campfire, the quiet moon. Her thoughts drifted with these, though her increasing anxiety remained. Rena and Aisha had repeatedly assured her that Elsword was fine, his state was stabilized, and he was to wake soon...but when was this 'soon'? She had set her gun to the minimum levels as humanly possible so it wouldn't immediately disintegrate his bones, but...
"Hey."
"Your body requires rest to properly heal." She said as she helped him into a sitting position. "You are covered in bandages."
"Was it that obvious?" He snorted. "I'll hide them better next time."
She sniffed, her immense relief and delight(?) only betrayed by discreet glances she shot to his side.
"Aisha...told me what happened. And I remember bits of what I did. I'm...I just wanted to tell you that...I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry?"
"Why am I sorry?" He repeated in disbelief. "Eve, I swore I would protect all of you. That I could handle the darkness of my powers so I could protect my friends. And look at this." He held up his hands. "I nearly hurt you guys and I'm only alive thanks to you." He grunted. "Some leader I am."
A strand of his hair fell loose, curtaining his face. Without thinking, she reached out and smoothed the strand of hair back with unusual tenderness. It was a while before she spoke, but she did with a quiet mellowness:
"You failed nobody but yourself. We all changed a bit, and...and you are still the leader. Accept your failings, but let it go, for there are others that you still have to protect."
Elsword glanced at her, surprised. (He did not know those last words were actually told to her by a very wise elf.)
"...And I had purposely handicapped your hands and limbs so you may recover without having the foolhardy notions to try your hand with your blades before your health is restored fully. Should you even come near your Cornwell, Rena and Aisha will bind you to your bed."
That sounded more like her. "Then how am I supposed to fight?!"
"That is quite simple; you shall not."
"...It was you who also slapped me to a coma, right?"
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
"So you're just going to let the monsters get to me?"
Eve sighed. "Do you underestimate my powers? It is a queen's duty to protect..." Ah, he kept forgetting that she was no longer a queen...
"But hey, that means you have to protect me now." He grinned, laying a bandaged hand on top of hers. "So you're my queen then, right?"
She did not shrug away, nor did she reject the thought. Perhaps...it was fitting that it would be so, even with the changes that happened. Eve of the Nasods, a Nemesis to her kind and that of the humans, queen of...
"Does that mean I'm your king?"
"No."
"Aw..."
