Okay then! I told you guys I'd be back soon! Hope you enjoy.
I don't own Claymore.
Chapter 10: Ancient Wrath
In the Organization's Headquarters, Sutare…
The winds blew harshly outside as a sandstorm raged, beating against the rocks and scant few tress in the broken and forgotten wasteland. It was barren of all things except for the base of the Organization, whose structure was upon a plateau in the very same sandstorm now blowing. But though the weather rage outside, nothing could be heard in the dead silent room where the organization's leaders now held session.
"So… you've been unsuccessful in contacting number forty-seven, is that correct?" Asked an elder man seated in the center of a circle of his colleagues all looking grim and serious. "How long has this been going on?"
Rubel answered his superior with absolute calm in his voice. "Three months, ever since the awakened being hunt began in Gonal."
The elder continued his line of questioning. "That was the mission that included number four, right? So I assume you've entertained the possibility that she is deceased."
Rubel gave a small smile. "I wouldn't dream of it until a body is found."
The elder thought on this. "Hmm… the body of number four, Ophelia was discovered recently as an awakened being. Is there and chance it was by number forty-seven's doing?"
"Considering the vast difference in their abilities, I'd say the chances are slim." Rubel replied.
The elder grimaced. "I guess that one way of looking at it." He looked to Rubel. "However, I believe number forty seven is much more powerful then we imagined, and when you consider the fact that she is using Teresa's blood it should come as no surprise."
Rubel, still smiling, spoke. "We handed over the flesh and blood of one of the most successful half-breeds to date, the only reason to do that is to build a more powerful warrior. However, I understood the experiment was a disappointment."
"If you look at the rankings it was a disaster." The elder agreed. "But there are some unanswered questions about number forty-seven that we still haven't taken into account. Either way, until we determine her status we can't let this issue escape our focus. If she is alive then it is only a matter of time until we find her. Ermita?" he asked turning to the side as a cloaked man walked into the dark room.
"Yes?" he answered.
"Due to the importance and priority of this mission, I would like you to take command. This supersedes all other business." The elder instructed.
Ermita bowed. "Understood." He then turned and walked from the room.
Rubel thought to himself. "Ermita's involvement must mean it is her turn." Rubel touched his hat and grimaced. "Your fate is as good as sealed… Clare."
Galatea stood in the midst of the sandstorm, not even noticing as the sand and wind brushed her as she turned her gaze far to the west.
In a small village to the west…
Clare, her hair now in a pony-tail and dressed in a dark cloak with her claymore in a wooden case upon her back, walked up to a man and a woman carrying a load of apples in a cart. "Excuse me sir."
The man stopped. "Yes?"
"I'm looking for my two brothers, have you seen a man and a boy, both wearing swords on their backs in the last few days?" she asked.
The man frowned. "No, I'm sorry." He turned to the woman who also frowned.
"We haven't seen them." She confirmed.
Clare remained stoic. "Is that right?"
The man offered something else. "Look, um, you may want to check out the city of Hommel. It's a big market town just up the road, you'll probably have a much better chance of finding someone there."
Clare nodded slightly. "Thank you, I will try there." She walked past them.
"No problem, good luck, I hope you find them sir." The man replied.
The woman scowled. "What is wrong with you? That was so rude! You just called that woman sir!"
The man looked surprised. "No way! That wasn't a woman, what woman do you know of that carries a big sword around with her? That's gotta be a man." They both turned and watched as Clare walked away.
Clare, having herd the conversation thought on this. "I need to deepen my voice more, that woman didn't buy me for a second. Elongate my vocal chords." She then craned her neck doing just that.
Far to the North…
Raki sat down on his rear, his legs crossed, as he ate the gruel given to the slaves, his ragged friend came down and sat beside him.
"Another day… eh Raki?" the ragged boy asked, his smile weak.
"Yeah…" Raki replied looking dejectedly at the ground.
"I wonder if they're still out looking for you… those friends you told me about." He said.
"I know they are." Raki said with some confidence.
The raged boy frowned. "Raki… it's been three months since they brought you here. And we've already moved a few times since then. You're nowhere near where they snatched you up from."
"I'm not giving up Elan." Raki said.
Elan sighed. "You've been here almost as long as I have. The only way we've been able to get through this is by keeping each other strong." He turned to Raki with a smile on his face. "You still have so much hope, despite everything."
"I have hope because I believe in my friends." Raki stated returning the smile.
"You're lucky to have them. I hope that after these months, you've come to consider me to be your friend too, as I have to you." Elan said.
Raki grabbed his hand and nodded with assurance. "Yes, of course. And when my friends come, you're coming with us Elan."
Elan smiled, despite himself. "I'd like that Raki."
In a city on the border to Alphonse…
A hooded man walked through the town, his swiftness causing a gust in his wake as he passed by townspeople.
He walked into a tavern and quickly made his way over to a table, another hooded man waited there.
"So…" Garret began. "Any luck?" Eli subconsciously responded with a firm grip into the table, his fingers digging into the wood as it made small squealing sound in protest. "I'll take that as a 'no'."
"Three months… seven slave pens… and nothing to show for it." Eli seethed. Looking to Garret, the latter felt a shiver down his spine as he felt the cold piercing gaze of the old warrior. "This is unacceptable."
Garret threw up his hands. "It's not our fault, sir. We-" he started but was quickly grabbed by his collar and pulled close towards Eli's face. The man could see glowing orbs of silver behind the dark glass and it gave an ominous feeling looking into them.
"I said, 'It's unacceptable'." Eli seethed again. Garret was no coward, but under the possibility of angering Eli, even he felt fear.
Though he felt frightened, Garret kept his composure. "We are trying our best here, sir. Finding one single slave out of hundreds is difficult, but the more time that passes the chances of finding him become slimmer and slimmer and even our intel isn't enough."
Eli let go and huffed out, his anger turning to concern and depression. "So many… have suffered, though my actions and my inactions. I cannot bear to think what may have become of him. Raki is strong, but I fear he is still too young to truly stand on his own two legs. And if he died… what would I tell Clare, she has such… feelings for him, it would break her heart, and it would be all my fault."
Garret closed his eyes for a moment then opened them after taking a small breath. "You are a good man Eli. The mistress speaks highly of you, though she would kill me if she knew I told you that." The silver haired man smiled a bit at this. "We may have a new lead, I'm afraid it's only about as solid as the previous ones, but I got a good fealing about it."
Eli nodded. "How long will it take to get this information?"
"It'll be here within the hour." Garret explained.
Eli nodded, now looking past the agent and letting his gaze fall a few tables away where a waitress was being harassed by a group of men. "Thank you, and excuse me. I need to blow off some steam."
The former warrior walked over to the table and steadied the waitress, moving her slightly aside as he addressed the men. "You guys aren't very gentlemanly, are you?"
The men looked at Eli, then each other and laughed. The biggest of the bunch, a burly man answered back. "You call that an insult?"
Eli smirked. "I can think of none greater." The burly man and his cohorts laughed again, now making a scene in the tavern. "What do I have to do then to pick a fight with you? Bring your mother into it?"
The burly man's eyes narrowed as he stood up, now looking down on Eli. "Why don't you get out of here before I get really angry."
"Shaking in my boots, promise." Eli replied coolly. "So, think you can take me?"
"Take you?" The man repeated, now smirking a bit, crossing his arms. "I could take you with one hand tied."
"Alright then." Eli looked to the waitress and motioned to give him the table cloth, she gave it to him. He then put his left arm behind his back and tied a knot in it, tethering his arm to his backside as the men watched with amusement.
The burly man laughed. "I meant, my arm." He finished, before being lifted off the floor by a powerful uppercut as Eli's fist made contact with his chin. The man was lifted into the air before falling on the ground, unconscious as the other men at the table stared with open mouths.
Eli turned grabbing a drink as the other men began to rush him. He quickly gulped down the dink and set the down the glass, spinning around and back-fisting another of the men sending him flying across the room as the remaining two continued to rush. Eli sidestepped one and stuck out his foot causing him to trip and sending on of the men to the floor with a thud. This distracted the second man, allowing Eli to quickly grab him by the nose and slam him into a support beam, knocking him out as he fell to the floor. The tripped man got up to attack again as Eli turned to walk back to his table, as the man came up behind him, Eli quickly slammed his elbow into his face stopping him as the final man fell to the floor, unconscious as the rest.
Garret watch the scene with a grimace. "Glad he didn't decide to take it out on me."
In Hommel…
Clare walked around, spotting a food vendor she walked up to him. "Pardon me." She said, her voice now deeper. "I'm looking for my two brothers…"
Clare continued this questioning all over the city, gaining more and more information on the possible whereabouts of her two companions.
"So you think your brothers may have passed through here, eh?" asked an innkeeper, Clare's current questionee.
Clare wrote down in the inn book. "We got separated a few weeks ago."
The inn keeper smiled. "Well, I hope everything works out for you, this city's bigger than you think. Give it time you'll find someone who can help." He said handing Clare the key to her room.
Clare looked out her inn room as she thought of her two missing companions, then a knock at the door gained Clare's attention. "Come in." she said.
It was the inn keeper. "Would you like some dinner?" he asked holding up a tray of food.
"Sure." Clare nodded, as the man set the tray on a nearby table.
"You really must care an awful lot about the two of them." Clare raised a brow. "I'm talking about your brothers, you know nowadays if family members go missing, people are content to assume the worst. Yet here you are braving the country on your own, it's just not what you expect anymore."
Clare walked to the window. "Yes, I find it a little strange myself." She said more to herself than him.
"Hm?" The innkeeper voiced.
"It's nothing." Clare dismissed, now beginning to remove some of her armor.
The innkeeper took it as a sign to leave. "Well, make yourself at home." He said leaving, then turned at the doorway. "Oh, I almo0st forgot there's a bit of a situation in town." Clare raised her head. "A few days ago a group of Claymores came in to town and they've been here ever since."
Clare did her best to make little facial expression at this. "Claymores…"
"The rumor going around is there's a gigantic yoma somewhere up in the Zakol mountains, that's all I've heard. I think they've sent in four Claymores so far." The innkeeper continued.
Clare grimaced. "Four of them? An Awakened being…"
"Anyway, hope I didn't scare you." He said grabbing the door handle and beginning to leave. "I just thought you'd want to know."
"Well, thank you." Clare nodded.
The man left as Clare tuned her gaze out her window. "I never expected to run into them here." Clare thought reaching in and taking out her yoki-suppressant pills. "The pills that suppress my yoki are both helping and hurting. I can't be detected by other warriors, but I can also unknowingly end up in a town occupied by my comrades. I can't allow the Organization to find me now, not before I'm finished." She thought taking her pills, with a small amount of disgust.
Clare watched from her window as just then, four Claymores walked by, the people of the town making way for them as they passed. "There they are, if they're hunting for and awakened being then at least one of them should be ranked in the single digits, but which one?"
One of the Claymores stopped and turned her head upward towards the now vacant window of Clare's room, she had short slicked back hair with a few strands hanging in her face, another Claymore addressed her. "Jean, what's the matter?"
Jean turned to her fellow warrior. "Nothing, don't worry. Just my imagination." The four walked on as Clare returned to the window.
"That's her." Clare thought. "She's the one."
Elsewhere…
Garret waited for Eli to walk back through the tavern doors, eyeing his mug with boredom. He looked up at the sound of someone sitting across from him, it was Eli.
Eli looked at the man expectantly. "So… where's the intel?"
Garret produced a folder from his person, sliding it across the table to Eli, who picked it up. "Here it is. Took a lot of work to get this I'll have you know."
"All part the job description, no one said it's easy being an information broker." Eli responded looking over the folder. "Let's see… high security… three or more dozen guards… extremely dangerous… proceed with caution… Ah, here's the important part, the location. Hmm, seems to be a rundown little shanty just to the north, hidden in the forest? Clever."
Garret shifted at the lackadaisical ways of his table partner. "Perhaps I should come with you. You could need backup."
The silver haired man chuckled. "That's unnecessary. This will be nothing for me. Thank you for all your help."
Garret put forth a hand. 'It's been a distinct pleasure sir."
Eli put forth his own and they shook. "Likewise, give my best to the Madame, will you?" Eli asked getting up and leaving.
The next morning…
Elan woke up to the sound of light scratching, he looked over to Raki who was using a small piece of rock to scratch the walls.
Elan walked over. "What are you doing Raki?"
"I'm having trouble remembering some things, so I'm writing them down here." Raki explained.
Elan looked to the wall. "C-L-A-R-E? E-L-I? Are those the names of your friends?"
Raki nodded continuing to scratch down letters with a rock. "I need to make sure, that if we move again and I'm not here, they know I was here. I'm only sorry I didn't think of doing this earlier."
Elan gave a weary smile. "You're an odd kid Raki."
Raki gave a small chuckle. "You're the one whose friends with one." At this both the boys began to chuckle, lightening up an otherwise gloomy world.
Back in Hommel…
Clare walked down the steps of the inn as the keeper was tidying up. "You're up early." He observed. "Good morning."
"And good morning to you." Clare replied. "I'm heading to the morning market. I'm hoping someone there has seen my brothers." She said walking out the door.
"Well, good luck to you." The keeper said. "And about the Claymores I mentioned yesterday, it seems they left sometime last night. If you ask me it's a relief they're gone though. Sure they may be fighting on the side of humans, but it doesn't change the fact they're half yoma."
Clare walked down the path to the market, passing people as she went. "If it is an awakened being hunt, no matter how skilled the warriors are it will take at least a day to kill it. Not having to deal with them will save me a lot of trouble."
Clare continued walking around town, much like yesterday and continued to ask her questions, the four Claymores in the meantime were well on their way towards their goal of the awakened being.
"Hmm… a man and a boy carrying a sword, no I haven't." a vendor replied.
Clare nodded. "Thank you." No one knows anything, Raki… Eli… where the hell are you?"
"Here it is! Look see? I told you!" A girl voice sounded from Clare's right as she turned to look. "It's the statue of Teresa and Clare! Isn't it pretty?"
"The statue of Teresa and Clare…" Clare spoke to herself, looking to the beautiful monument of two opaque women, back to back with wings outstretched. Clare thought back to what Teresa had said when she had explained her name. "Clare was one of the twin goddesses, she was beautiful virtuous and good. Your parents probably wanted you to grow up with the goddesses' traits."
The girl pointed. "See? That one on the end is Clare and the other one is Teresa.
The boy next to her huffed. "Stop acting like you know everything, I'm the one who told you that!"
"No you didn't!" the girl denied rather loudly.
"I did so!" The boy argued back. "And the other day you told that stranger all about it like you sculpted it yourself!"
"That isn't true and you know it!" She argued back. "He kept on asking me which one is Clare and which was Teresa. What was I supposed to do? Ignore him?"
The boy grumbled. "Show off."
The girl pouted. "I am not."
"Excuse me." Clare said interrupting the two of them as they gave the stranger their attention. "This stranger you spoke to… can you tell me anything more about him?"
The girl raised her brow. "Huh? He was just some weird guy, I dunno."
"He sure wasn't from around here." The boy corroborated.
"What did he look like? Did he wear a sword on his back?" Clare asked.
"Maybe, I think I remember him carrying something on his back." The girl replied, trying to think back.
"Did he happen to tell you his name?" Clare asked.
"No, but he had this white-silvery hair, and these dark goggles. He was kinda creepy looking." She added.
The boy turned on her. "You still talked to him for like forever."
"The girl turned to him. "Yeah I know! I already explained that, didn't I? He asked about the statue and when I told him about Clare and Teresa he had a small smile on his face, but it seemed almost sad. I felt a little bad, and started to talk to him to see if it would cheer him up a little."
Clare nodded. "Okay, and there was no one else with him?"
The girl shook her head.
"Okay then, did you see where he went?" Clare asked.
The girl shook her head again and the boy jumped in. "Well, this all happened around ten days ago and we haven't seen him since. So I'd say he's probably left town by now."
Clare nodded. "I see. Thank you."
The girl curiously asked. "So… who is this guy anyway, is he a friend of yours or something?"
Clare thought back on the two of them. "He… is more than that." "What is Eli to me? What is Raki to me?"
A scream suddenly sounded through the town as people turned to look at the cause for it. A warrior walked forward, step by step as blood spattered across the stone, it was one of the warriors from before, the left side of her body almost entirely gone now. "Someone… please help…" she whispered. Clare widened her eyes at the sight as many people did the same around her. "Please… I'm begging you… my friends are…" she stopped as her claymore fell to the ground with a clang and she began to collapse.
Clare rushed forward and caught her in her arms. "Hang in there! Hey!" she said turning the limp body's head towards hers.
The warriors whispered to Clare. "Please… you must contact the Organization for me…" she coughed up blood. "It was… too strong."
"Can you tell me what happened? Did an awakened being do this?" Clare asked.
"Are you… are you one of us?" The warrior asked weekly reaching for Clare's arm, she grabbed it firmly. "Promise me!" She said summoning her remaining strength. "You'll try and save my friends, they're still alive, they're alive! There's something… different about this one. The yoma are behind something, please just save them…" with that her face contorted in agony as wave of pain shot through her.
Clare held tighter. "Hold on!" But it was no use, there was one last grimace from the pained warrior and then she became limp, her body moved no more. She laid the body down looking to the hand still gripping her tightly. Clare removed the hand and stood up, not looking behind her.
"Could someone please take care of her body? She's gone now so you have nothing to fear." She informed. "Give her a human burial."
A man spoke up. "Excuse me mister… I hope you don't intend to go into those mountains by yourself. It's suicide!"
Clare walked outside of town and looked to the mountains, removing her ponytail, and sword guard. "Raki… Eli…" "I will find you both someday, now to return to my mission… killing yoma."
Deep within the Zakol mountains, in an ancient fortress of stone…
"All right dear… almost there…" a small feminine voice said, the source being a small girl sitting on a throne, in the middle of a dark and dank dungeon of a room, two of the Claymores hung from the ceiling suspended by a rope-like substance. "Let's just try one more…" she said.
On queue a man on her right nodded, he was a buff man with very short dull hair, he nodded to the long hair young girl and his should twitched, and then produced a large pointed rod which he took from his shoulder. "Number six!" he shouted and thrust it into Jean who had been one of the suspended bodies, hers now hang over six of the elongated poles sticking through one side and coming out the other. She writhed and screamed in pain as he twisted the rod around.
The young girl sighed with slight disappointment. "This is unexpected. I thought for sure she would have awakened by now." She said aloud to herself. The man continued to twist around the rod, causing Jean to squirm as the pain continued.
The man licked his lips, enjoying his sadistic little game as he continued to torture Jean. "Why are you so stubborn?" The young girl asked. "If you don't awaken soon, we'll just have to throw your body with your friend's over there. Is that what you want?" she said pointing to the fifth body in the room, it was full of holes and blood as it lay still on the cool stone floor.
Jean breathed hard and snarled. "Go to Hell!" The Claymore next to Jean began to moan and morph as she began to awaken. "Fight it! You can't let them win Katea!"
The young girl smiled. "Oh! This one is coming along nicely! Pretty soon the pain will be all gone."
Katea continued to morph and change as Jean watched with horror. "Don't give in to it! You don't wanna become a monster do you? Augh!" She said as the man silenced her by jamming yet another rod into her body.
"You better watch who you're calling monster you stupid bitch!" the man snarled. "Open that mouth again and I'm gonna make you hurt even worse." Jean gritted her teeth and the young girl frowned slightly.
"Hey now! Don't get ahead of yourself you silly!" the girl said to the man. "Don't you add another till I say so."
The man frowned. "She called us bad names!"
A bright light interrupted them as Katea began to go through her final stages of awakening, her breath becoming haggard and she began to snarl with great intensity. The girl smiled. "Oh, yay!"
Jean watched in horror. "Katea, no…" she whispered.
Katea broke free of her restraints and the girl smiled. "Okay, ready or not Dauf."
Dauf, taking the signal, began to release his own yoki and turn top his awakened form. Katya's form appeared as a humanoid with black and glowing white body segments and spines on her back, with a human feminine face. Dauf's was a large armored humanoid, with rods protruding from his elbows, back and hind legs.
Jean watched with freight as her gaze shifted between the two beings. "My god… what's going on?"
As Katea began to adjust to her new form, Dauf reached forward and punched her in the face, causing an indent as she took the blow. Katea's spines reached forward and pierced Dauf's. The young girl leaned forward with some interest. "So Dauf, what do you think?"
Dauf talked aback as if nothing was happening at all. "This one's no good. Is not strong enough."
Katea gasped as Jean's eyes widened. The young girl sighed. "Disappointing, but I guess that's to be expected from a Claymore that's ranked in the thirties. Go ahead and dispose of her."
Dauf interlocked his fingers and raised his fists, Katea widened her eyes and Jean shouted out. "Don't do it!" Dauf smashed her body to bits as pieces of Katea went flying everywhere. Jean was dismayed. "How could you?" she asked.
"Well, it looks like we'll have to find someone in the single digits to have any success." The girl mused. "You better hurry up and awaken Jean, at number nine you might be the best hope we have."
Tears rolled down Jeans' face. "Fuck you."
Meanwhile…
Clare continued to walk into the mountains; a group of men walked up to her and blocked her path.
"Hey you!" One of them called out. "Hold on a minute. Are you alone? If you're thinking about going up into the mountains by yourself you might wanna think again. There's a nasty horde of yoma swarming all over the place."
"If you wanna get to the other side your best bet is to go around." another spoke up.
"You're an interesting group, normally you prefer to work alone not like a pack of dogs." Clare commented, drawing her sword and quickly dispatching three of the yoma in one blow.
One of the remaining two growled, "That dirty son of a bitch is a Claymore!" he said, morphing into his yoma form and charging. Clare jumped into the air as the yoma, smiled, "It worked!"
Clare took notice as two more flying yoma came at her. "If we attack the feet and chest, you Claymores always jump. You are so predictable." The other yoma said.
Clare quickly dispatched the flying yomas and fell to the ground. As they charged there was a flash of silver and they stopped a few feet behind her. "You're extremely knowledgeable about how we like to operate, and your attacks are very well coordinated which is not normal. How did you get this way?" she asked turning to them.
One of the yoma chuckled. "You'll find out more than you bargained for soon enough." He said before he and the last yoma burst into pieces.
Meanwhile…
Dauf turned and looked to the entrance. "Somebody's outside."
The young girl turned to look as well. "Oh! I think you're right! But it's too soon for the one who escaped to have found help." She got from her throne. "I am sensing a fait yoki aura…"
Jean blinked in disbelief as the young girl went on. "Whoever she is, she's a very low rank, no point in expecting much out of her, even if she does awaken." Clare reached the entrance to the fortress and the girl turned to Dauf. "I'll just leave her to you; you can do what you want with her."
Dauf smiled a wicked grin. "Really? You mean it?" He grabbed one of Jean's rods and twisted it, gaining yet another wail as Jean screamed in pain.
Clare walked through the entrance way and into the dark fortress, taking slow cautious steps into the dark. "There's something strange about this yoki aura. I sense so many distorted yoki inside this castle." She continued walking until, she found the hallway in front of her filled with large rods in the floor walls and ceiling, seemingly placed there for some unknown purpose. She reached out and touched one. "It's pulsing, so these are the auras I'm feeling." Just then, two rods flew towards her, Clare drew her claymore and blocked them, sending them into the wall, she then found herself surrounded by four yoma. "Damn. I'm surrounded by yoma, to think I didn't even notice them approaching." The yoma charged at her. "How could I fall for this?" Clare grabbed the hilt of her sword and quickly took out three of the four yoma, the fourth ran off as Clare walked on after it.
The yoma took a turn down a passageway as Clare followed behind, it was then suddenly caught by an enormous hand from underneath the ground. "No running, that's bad." A deep male voice said from beneath. The hand's grip tightened as the yoma tries to escape the grasp, but to no avail as it exploded with a burst of purple blood in the giant palm.
Clare watched as Dauf began to dig himself out from the ground. "What is this? I've never felt a yoki aura of this size, not even Eli's was this big!"
Dauf's enormous form stared down at her with large golden eyes. "Oh no! You're not a woman. I didn't expect you to be a man. More fun to torture woman, men die too easy. Which one are you?" He paused for a moment as Clare stared up at him. "You don't have to tell, I'll just rip your clothes off and see." He began to move towards her, but seemed to be struggling against the walls. "Uh oh, tunnel too little. Dauf is stuck, I can't move." Clare took initiative and stuck with a blow against Dauf's face, but with no visible effect. "Ow! What do you think you're doing? That kinda hurt!" Clare watched with surprise at the apparent ineffectiveness of her first attack and so began a barrage against his hide, but with no more effectiveness than the first blow, and only fueling Dauf's annoyance. "Hey! That really stings! What did I ever do to you? Stop it!" Clare went for an eye, but Dauf caught the blow with his eye lid. "Too bad, you're weak! My turn!" Clare dodged out of the way as a giant palm smashed the ground. Clare let go of her blade, cursing at the futility of her attacks, the claymore still held in place by the eye lid of the giant yoma. "Heh heh heh! Lost your sword fast, you're not much of a fighter." He opened his eye and the sword fell, Clare grabbed it as she drew near. "It's a trap. Gotcha."
"The same to you!" Clare shouted back, activating the quick-sword and charging.
The young girl frowned, a little perplexed. "She actually not bad. Maybe it would have been better to have Dauf bring her to me, instead of letting him toy with the poor thing."
"You little bitch what the hell are you after?" Jean spat.
The girl giggled. "Well, I'll be happy to tell you when you awaken and join us."
Jean snarled. "Are you insane? I would rather die than join you monsters!" The girl giggled again. "What in the Hell are you laughing about!?" Jean demanded.
The girl shifted in her seat. "Oh it's… just that most people would consider you a monster too." Jean's expression spoke of surprise at the girl's words. "To most people there isn't much difference between a Claymore and an awakened being. Really it's only a matter of what side we let ourselves be aware of." She smiled. "See, in the eyes of the world we are both monsters. We're not that different after all." Jean was taken back at the statement while the girl continued to giggle.
"Maybe you're right." Jean admitted. "Maybe I am a monster, but you're wrong to think I'm anything like you. I came into this world as a human, and that's how I plan to die, with my human side in control. Do what you like but I'll never awaken for you."
The girl smiled. "I wouldn't be so sure. You intrigue me. So much so, that I've decided that I'm going to make you my very own little project!" Jena winced in pain as her body began to try and repair itself, the girl watched with interest.
"Ow, o wow! You know, I'm really starting to get angry." Dauf remarked as Clare stared in disbelief.
"Impossible, his skin is so tough that the quick-sword barely affects him!" She observed.
Dauf opened his mouth wide as a rod protruded from it, he fired it and hit Clare square in the chest knocking the breath out of her as she was knocked to the ground. "Here comes two!" he said preparing to fire another, this time he hit her leg and Clare screamed out as it crushed her leg with great blunt force.
Clare winced in pain on the ground. "My leg! The bone!"
Dauf advanced forward. "Heh, pretty good huh? If I cut off your leg, you'll only reattach it, but if I shatter the bone, it's harder to heal." Dauf reached over and grabbed Clare by the skull and lifter her up into the air. "Now, let's take those clothes off and see what we're dealing with, are you a little boy or a pretty girl?"
"This is a dilemma." A feminine voice cut in from the hallway. "I'm glad I found you so easily. I'm not sure what I should do next. You must admit this situation isn't one you encounter every day, now is it?" Clare turned her head as much as she could to see the source of the voice it was a warrior with extremely long, straight, flowing blonde hair, and a beautiful face and a tall stature. "I've come this far, I can't just go back without anything to show for it."
Dauf looked down on the new arrival. "Who the hell are you, and why haven't you drawn your sword? Do you have some kind of death wish?"
Clare focused on the crest on the warrior's dickie and recognized the symbol. "That emblem…! She's number three… Galatea! What is she doing? Why is she here?"
The young girl raised her head with new interest. "Wait! It seems that we've been joined by someone truly powerful."
Dauf chuckled. "Don't worry little Claymore, I'll get to you. I just have to finish up with this one first." He said squeezing Clare's head and causing Clare to cry out in pain. Galatea smirked, as Dauf felt an odd sensation and he let go of Clare letting her fall into her hands. "Hey!" he said surprised.
Galatea held Clare in her arms and looked down on her quizzically. "Well, you're much lighter than you look. You really should eat more." She looked to Dauf and then turned away. "My business here is with this one, if you'll excuse me." She began walking away.
Clare spoke weakly. "Don't underestimate him, he's…" Dauf fired another one of his rod from his mouth, it barely missed as Dauf looked confused, having been sure he aimed right for Galatea.
Dauf snarled. "Now hold on! What was that little trick you just pulled on me?" he bellowed, rod now protruding from his fingers as he aimed them at her. "Don't you ignore me!" he said firing them at her, they all missed sticking up in the ground around her as Galatea continued walking without breaking pace. He fired again and again with no success. "Hey! What the hell? Why can't I hit her?"
Clare watched with amazement at the scene. "All his attacks are veering away form us. How is that possible?"
Dauf then fired a large rod from his wrist, this time at the ceiling, causing the hallway to collapse. Galatea frowned. "Who would've thought. It seems our little playmate has a brain in his head after all."
Dauf snarled. "You bitch! Where you goin'? I'm not done with my new friend! I'm gonna kill you, but before I do I'm gonna strip you naked, yank out your limbs and pull your steaming guts out while you're still twitching."
Galatea set Clare down. "Stay right here. Do your best to mend that leg."
Clare nodded weakly. "Okay."
"You're lucky." Galatea observed. "If I hadn't come along at the right moment, you could have easily fallen prey to that evil creature."
Clare sat up. "You have to be careful! Hi skin is too tough! Our swords can't penetrate it!"
"I wasn't referring to your giant friend." She said turning to Clare. ""I meant the evil creature who's down below us right now. You have no idea what trouble you're in do you?"
Clare eyes widened. "Her yoki aura is immense, but she's tremendously skilled at hiding it. If you're able to match her wavelength, you should be able to locate her as well."
The ground around Galatea was suddenly filled with rods as Dauf raised his hands again to strike. "I wasn't able to hit you with all my other attacks, this time I won't miss!"
Galatea smirked. "I thought you wanted to strip me down, tear off my limbs and pull out my guts while I watch?"
Dauf nodded. "That's right. But I think I'll smash you first!" he brought down his fists sending debris everywhere.
Clare called out. "Galatea!"
Dauf grinned. "That's what you get for that cocky little attitude of yours, loser! Heh heh heh heh!" he bellowed. He looked down and saw with shock that Galatea was unharmed, his closed fists were now open leaving her encircled by his hands but otherwise unharmed.
Galatea smirked again. "You're actually dumber than you look. I never would have thought such a feat was possible." She then jumped over Dauf's head in a flip, sending blows against his hide as she landed on the other side. "So it's true. His outer skin is too thick to penetrate with ordinary attacks, huh."
Dauf turned and reached for her. "Why you!" Foaling a strange sensation as he missed once again.
Galatea moved wuickly and pierced a weaker part of Dauf's arm, causing it to spurt out purple blood. "It's just as I thought, your skin is through but there seem to be some cracks in your armor. Galatea jumped, sending slashes all along the weak parts of Dauf's arm causing it to explode in purple blood.
Dauf moved to attack. "You bitch!" he bellowed punching her, but once again a odd sensation fell over him as his fist open into a palm, which she then proceeded to pierce with her blade. "That hurt!"
"Mind if I borrow your idea?' Galatea asked. "Ripping your arms off sounds like fun." She said slashing again, this time severing his hand from his arm.
Clare stared in absolute disbelief. "So this is what number three is capable of, it's almost as if she can control her opponent's every move."
Dauf wailed in pain, tears actually rolling down his cheeks. "Damn bitch! You bitch! Stupid bitch! Augggh!"
Galatea scoffed. "Oh please, don't cry, that's Justas embarrassing for me as it is for you."
"He is an idiot isn't he?" a high pitched voice said from behind as Clare and Galatea turned to look. "I really must apologize for that."
Galatea sneered. "Well, look who finally decided to come out of hiding."
The girl turned her attention to the large yoma. "What are you doing up here Dauf? I gave you one simple task and you can't even accomplish that!" she reprimanded. "This is why I'm embarrassed to tell people you are my man!"
Dauf whimpered. "I've really been trying to hit her, but she's got some kind of force field. Promise!"
The girl sighed. "Don't be stupid Dauf! She does not have a magical force field."
"But it's true!" He insisted "That's why I haven't been able to…"
"Listen." The girl said. "I'll tell you how to make sure you land your attacks but you're not allowed to miss this time. Understand?"
Dauf nodded obediently. "Okay."
"I want you to hit her with everything you got, don't hold back." The girl instructed as Galatea frowned and Clare gasped.
"But I have been attacking her with everything I got and I haven't been holding back! Nothing hits her, I swear!" He wailed.
The girl sneered. "Quit your whining and just do it! Keep in mind if you miss one more time, I'm breaking up with you!"
"Oh! Please don't…" He gathered his strength in his left arm. "Damn you all. This is your fault, I'll kill you for this!" he said sending a punch straight at Galatea, who jumped out of the way. "Huh? It didn't veer off course that time." He brought his fist towards Galatea to hit her as she moved out of the way in midair and she dodged, Dauf then fired several rod with all his strength and Galatea was forced to deflect them.
Clare watched with concern. "Be careful!"
"That's it." The girl said approvingly. "Good Dauf, you're closer. If you had started with that kind of intensity she would've been dead a long time ago."
"What happened? What did you just do?" Clare demanded.
"Me?" the girl asked. "I did nothing at all. You're friend there has the rare ability to control her opponent's aura. That's not quite true, at best she's able to tweak it a little bit, she can't actually stop him from attacking. So when Dauf releases all of his rage and power into his strikes, there isn't anything she can do to prevent them from landing."
Dauf was beginning to get the upper hand as Galatea took a punch from him and was sent to the ground, he followed up with another rod shot. "Look out! Dodge it!" Clare shouted. But the blow landed as her pelvis was crushed.
Dauf grinned. "Hey! I finally got her! So what do you want me to do this time?"
The girl smirked. "It looks like we have a winner." Clare then released much of her yoki as the girl took notice of the sudden release of yoki. "Oh goodness, healing yourself so quickly has caused you to surpass your limit, what an unexpected bonus!"
Dauf aimed for the killing blow. "I think I'll go straight for your head!" he fired as Clare move and saved Galatea in the just in time. "What the…?" Dauf looked behind him and saw Clare and Galatea both out of harm's way.
The girl was shocked at this as Galatea looked to Clare, who was currently trying to do the last bits of her healing, still looking feral. "Hey, you okay?" she asked.
Clare was struggling and shuddering. "Come on… revert back."
Dauf moved to strike. "Damn it."
"Stop Dauf." The girl ordered, now observing Clare with interest.
"Have to… suppress it…" Clare muttered to herself. "Concentrate!" Galatea looked to her and then closed her eyes and concentrated.
The girl smirked. "Almost there…"
Clare was in pain. "Can't… do it…" She began to raise her claymore to her own throat as the girl watched on amusedly. Then everything stopped and Clare had reverted back to normal.
"What do you know? You were able to reverse the process." Galatea observed.
Clare looked to her. "Was that… did you just do that?" she asked.
"All I did was pull you back over to our side, I believe I'm starting to see why the Organization wanted you found so badly." She mused. "You are very… unique."
"Hey what was that all about?" Asked the girl, gaining the attention of the two Claymores. "I was looking forward to seeing her awaken, a high ranking warrior who can control yoki aura, and a mystery fighter who can surpass her limit. I'm impressed, I think I'll let you join me. I'm sure I can find a use for both of you."
"She's so… powerful. And her yoki is so dark and menacing." Clare observed. "What is she? How can a small child control a yoki that size?"
"In the history of the Organization, there have been only three like her." Galatea explained. "Only three times that a number one has awakened and created such an incredibly power, one during the era of men, and two since they began using women. "The powerful three were unbelievably strong, and to avoid conflict they separated. One to the North, one to the South, and one to the West, and that is where they have stayed. Since then they have remained out of the public eye, and they've come to be known by a new name, 'The Abyssal Ones'."
"'The Abyssal Ones'?" asked Clare, now looking to the girl.
Galatea narrowed her eyes to the girl who simply stared back with bored eyes. "Am I right? Or did I leave something out? 'Riful of the West'?"
"'Riful'? That's her name?" Clare asked.
"She was the first female number one warrior in the Organization. And she reached that status at a younger age than anyone thought possible, before succumbing to her yoma side."
Riful smiled. "You've very young to know about all that." She mused. "But I'm afraid it's not quite accurate. The three of us didn't go separate ways to avoid conflict as you put it, it was by complete coincidence that the territories we chose didn't overlap."
"So why have you suddenly reemerged?" Galatea asked. "And you're not the only one, activity from the other two has been reported as well. Each of you has begun to draw all of the awakened beings in your respective vicinities and into your lair. What I can't understand though is why, what is it you're trying to achieve?"
Riful sighed. "You see… the thing is, the man to the North is picking fights. He's been getting really carried away lately. If you ask me this is all because of that woman he got his hands on."
Clare was intrigued. "What woman?"
"Some awakened being he discovered going on a rampage in the Northern territory, a woman with one horn." Riful explained.
Clare eyes widened. "Priscilla!"
Riful continued. "And it's not like I had anything better to do. So I decided to take him on. So, that's why I've been collecting subordinates to use in our war."
"The man in the North…" Clare whispered. "Where can I find him?"
Riful raised a brow. "Huh? What's that? You're speaking so softly I can barely hear you."
"Tell me how to find the Abyssal one in the North!" Clare demanded. "I'm going to hunt that woman down and destroy her!"
Riful smiled a little brighter. "Well then! I suppose that means you know this girl!"
"Shut the hell up and answer me!" Clare demanded. "I want to know his name! Tell me exactly where to find the man in the northern territory."
"That's not a very polite way to talk." Riful said, not at all fearful of Clare's wrath. "Let me think… how about we do this? If you can land even one blow on me I'll tell you what you want to know." Clare moved quickly to strike but was blocked by Dauf. "Too bad. And you were so close." Dauf smashed his palm to the ground, but Clare was gone again. "Look up." Riful said as Dauf blocked another blow, this one even closer than the last, the blade bursting form his palm.
"Damn you!" he said smashing his palm against the wall, but only causing rocks to land on his head.
Riful scoffed. "Come on Dauf, this isn't the best time to stop and whine you know."
Clare appeared behind Riful, blade in swing position. Dauf aimed and fired a rod at her, hitting Clare and sending her into a wall.
Riful didn't flinch at all. "I think I'm beginning to understand. It seems intentionally surpassing your limit as opposed to doing so accidently enhances your power and speed, an interesting side effect, but it hasn't helped you." Clare continued to block the rod from hitting her, using her strength and sending it back into Dauf's face, causing him to stagger back.
Clare raised her sword. "It's over, now why don't you turn around and answer my question."
"I would but you haven't cut me, we did have a bargain didn't we?' Riful asked, not turning around to even face her.
Clare growled. "If you really want to die that badly I'll be happy to grant your request!" Clare brought down her blow but Galatea had stepped forth and taken the blade from her.
"I swear, you need more looking after than a child." Galatea sighed, then grabbed Clare by the shoulder and threw her to the side, as Clare began to pick herself up Galatea appeared to shove her face into the ground.
Riful pouted. "Aw, and just when you were getting so close."
Clare shook her head. "What just happened?"
"You came close, you almost awakened." Galatea explained. "You were allowing all her cheap taunts to get to you. That's exactly what they want." Dauf began to pick himself up. "We've got to destroy this monster. If the abyssal one doesn't plan on getting involved then we may still have a chance of getting out of this alive. But in order to do that, you and I are going to need the assistance of the other warrior here."
Clare turned to her. "The other warrior?"
Galatea continued. "Someone with the ability to drive a sword into this beast's armor and she can. She's here but she's down on the lower level now, Jean, the number nine ranked warrior."
"The number nine? Here?' Clare asked.
"She's here but she's in an extremely unstable state, I believe that at any moment she could awaken." Galatea explained. "There's no doubt in my mind that Riful been having here severely tortured, both physically and psychologically. And given what I know about Jean she would choose to die rather than awaken and join these creatures. If she's still alive it's because the choice no longer belongs to her." She drew her sword up. "Get to the lower level and find Jean, I can handle things here, but if she's gone too far, if she's beyond your help, then it's up to you to take Jean's life. Quickly, we don't have much time."
Clare nodded then turned around and ran. Dauf growled. "Get back here!" firing a rod at her, Galatea moved to intercept and blocked them. "I'll get you!" he said smashing his fist to the ground as Galatea dodged then in midair began to strike Dauf face repeatedly. "Ow! This hurts way worse than before, stop it!" Galatea released some of her yoki, her blade catching in Dauf's mouth then with a quick swing, tore through, causing Dauf's face to erupt with purple blood.
Clare raced through the halls. "Where is she?" Jean was beginning to lose control.
Dauf licked his now torn mouth. "That hurt."
Galatea began to release more of her yoki, her body beginning to morph. "This goes against my sense of aesthetics, so I don't do it all that often. When I unleash my yoki, my strength increases at a rate that is unmatched by any of the other forty-seven warriors. I apologize but I believe you'll just have to put up with my new face till we can settle this."
Dauf sneered. "Please, what do you take me for? You think I'm scared of you? You're gonna die! I'm gonna kill you!"
Riful giggled. "Smart girl, buy yourself some time."
Clare arrived in the room and was shocked by what she saw. "I'm… too late. She's gone."
"Kill me…" Jean begged. Her awakened form resembles a large graceful butterfly with sharp claws.
Clare drew near as Jean spoke slowly. "Hurry up… and do it…"
Clare watched with fear and pity. "Her body has already fully awakened, how is she still in control of her human mind?"
Jean's body began to twitch, still suspended in the air. "I don't think… I can… suppress it for too much longer…" Clare watched and raised her sword. "Trust me… it's the right thing to do. Really it is. Now I can die with dignity…as a human being… not as this monster."
Jean closed her eyes, waiting for the final blow. Instead Clare leaped up and hugged Jean's face. "Listen! We have to reverse it!" Clare shouted.
Jean's eyes widened. "What are you saying? That's impossible. Once you surpass your limit, there's no turning back. No matter what." She sobbed. Her body surging yoki again.
"That's not true!" Clare shouted back. "I've done it before myself!" Jean's body began to glow brightly with yoki. "Even if you surpass your limit, it doesn't mean you have no chance of reverting!"
Tears fell from her eyes as Jean looked to Clare. "I can't fight… I can't… just hurry up… kill me."
Clare only held tighter as the yoki began to burst from Jean like a gale. "You have to stay with me! There's still a chance you can revert! Don't give up! Revert!"
Jean struggled with the pain of her body and her mind. "Please… let me die… as a human!" Jean screamed one final time as the light from her yoki filled the room.
Jean looked to her hand, it was a human hand. "I'm human. Amazing." Clare walked over covering Jean's naked body with her overcoat.
"You're half-awakened. I don't know how it works exactly but you'll be human for at least a little while longer." Clare explained.
"It almost felt like I was being torn apart before." Jean said recalling the pain.
"I used the same technique Galatea used on me." Clare said. "It's still hard to believe it actually worked." Clare turned her attention back to the matters at hand. "We are in desperate need of your help, that's why I came down here for you."
Jean looked to her. "You need me?" a sudden ruble from above shook the room.
"No time to talk!" Clare observed. "Galatea's approaching her limit.
Jean stood up, now clothed. a look of new determination on her features. "I'm currently number nine. I'd be happy to help you."
Galatea breathed heavily, a rod currently piercing her body. Riful smirked. "I must say, you've done better than I thought you capable of. I'm so impressed! You unleashed so much of your yoki, I thought you were gonna lose it for a second. And just when I thought you were about to awaken you fought it off somehow. I suppose that's one of the perks of being so highly ranked, huh? Your control and restraint were nothing short of brilliant." She paused as Dauf chuckled. "Well enough talk, it's time you awakened, don't you think? Take care of it for me, would you Dauf?"
"It's about time." Galatea huffed. "It took you long enough."
Jean burst through the floor, Clare following after as she rushed to Galatea side. "Sorry we took so long. You okay?"
"No I'm not." Galatea replied. "He worked me over pretty well, but I think I'll be able to manage it."
Riful smiled a curious smile. "Oh wow. I see you got your friend to revert to her old self. You three are capable of amazing things, and I mean that."
Galatea removed the rod from her body and threw it to the side. Jean stood in front, her sword drawn. "I can keep them busy while you escape. I owe you at least that much. Fact of the matter is you saved my life back there. Now my life is yours to use in any way you see fit, so don't hesitate to do so."
Galatea stepped forward. "While your bravery is noted and appreciated Jean, you wouldn't do much good all by yourself in a situation like this. Our best chance is for number forty-seven and I to move in first and immobilize the creature. In the meantime you standby and wait for the right moment to attack his throat. Of all the active warriors, you have the most powerful single thrust attack. Your ability is our strongest weapon in this fight."
Clare nodded. "When you do this. Make sure you do it for yourself, not for us."
Riful smirked, sitting down. "So… what now?"
"Hold nothing back!" Galatea ordered. She rushed Dauf as he punched for her and she dodged midair slicing his arm as she passed, Clare followed up sending several quick strike along his face. She and Galatea continued like this each staring their attack as the other one finished.
Riful watched with some interest. "Fascinating… attacking from opposite directions, ruins Dauf's focus, allowing the other one to use her special technique"
Jean stood off to the side, he arm twisting again and again over itself. "Thirteen… fourteen… fifteen… sixteen… seventeen…" Galatea and Clare continued their assault as Jean continued to count higher. "Twenty-one… maximum rotations… my sword will land its target square… for a death blow."
Galatea and Clare pinned Dauf's arms to the ground. "We're ready do it now Jean!" Galatea ordered. Jean charged forward as Dauf picked up his pinned arms and smashed Clare and Galatea into one another. Dauf moved to block Jean's attack with his hand but watch with surprise as it was torn apart by Jean's spinning blade, he quickly smacked her to the ground with his other arm, ending her technique.
Dauf looked at his new wound. "Look at what you did! My finger!"
Riful smirked. "Looks like we have a winner." Dauf continued to sob over his wound. "That was excellent! I felt like I was watching a play!"
Dauf looked from one ruined hand to the other stub. "My hands!" he cried.
"I now see the importance of having friends by your side." Riful mused. "I'd give anything to have the friendship they all share with each other."
"It's broken! And it's hurting!" Dauf wailed.
"Hey Dauf!" Riful shouted gaining his attention. "Keep it down will ya? Can't you see I'm trying to revel in a rare sentimental moment over here?"
"But look at my hands!" he wailed. "They… they completely destroyed em!"
Riful sighed. "Someone with power substantial as yours shouldn't be crying over a little thing like healing your hands. It's like dealing with an infant. Oh well then… I guess we're about done here for now. There's no sense in rushing them to awaken now that we know what we're…" Riful paused as she watch Clare get up, raising her claymore. "Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked Clare who was glaring at the small abyssal one. "Oh! I see. The fight's over. There's no need to attack me now. I have no intention of killing you, my plan was to torture you so you would awaken, that's all. Please you must understand all three of you are much more valuable to me alive than dead."
"Hey Jean are you still alive?" Clare asked. Not taking her eyes off Riful.
"Yeah…" Jean replied weakly. "But it a… miracle."
"Do you think you can do that same attack one more time?' she asked.
Jean grimaced. "It's not something that can be done repeatedly. But if it's just one more time… I think I can handle it."
"I'm sorry.' Clare said. "But I'm going to have to ask you to do it again. I want you to put your life in my hands right now."
Jean smiled weakly. "My life… is already yours."
Clare narrowed her eyes. "One more time then.
Riful sighed once more. "Why must you people be so stubborn? Dauf? Handle them for me. Just don't kill them."
Dauf chuckled as Clare stood firm. "I will open up a clear path for us. Jean, come in behind, and go straight for his throat." Dauf readied himself, rods protruding from his back. "Let's go!" Clare charged as she and Dauf began to fight, Clare dodging his blows as she unleashed the fury of the quick blade.
Riful watched. "Wow. Considering her right arm doesn't belong to her she is quite effective. Although, she can barely handle all the yoki that arm has given her, it's as if she's at the mercy of her completely awakened right arm. Most of all she wastes energy with those excessive swings."
"Come on Jean." Clare thought dodging another rod projectile. "What taking her so long?"
"Twenty-one… I'm at maximum rotation." Jean said with finality.
"Take him down Jean! Now!" Clare ordered.
Dauf punched Clare into a wall as he smirked. "Clare, no!" Jean shouted losing some of her concentration.
Dauf took notice of her right arm. "Oh no, not again! Her arm's all twisted up. Bitch! You're not gonna hurt me again" he bellowed, rods aimed at her. "Die!" he fired, just as they were about to impact they were all cut to pieces and fell to the floor.
Jean looked and saw Clare standing before her heaving breaths. "Clare!"
"Put your trust in me. Okay Jean?" Clare said. "And we will get through this."
"I already told you. My life is at your full disposal." Jean replied. "I don't care how absurd your orders may be, I will do them."
Clare smiled as Riful continued to observe. "Wow… she got up from that. I won't worry too much, there's no way either of them have enough left in reserves."
Dauf chuckled again. "Heh. They're walking corpses."
Clare's grip on her sword tightened. "Now's our chance to end this! Drive your sword into that monster's throat!"
Jean nodded and charged forward. Dauf snarled. "Idiot! Prepared to be crushed!"
Clare closed her eyes. "I need to focus. Read my quick sword so that it only reacts to his attacks." Clare's right arm became a blur as Dauf's arms became mired in slashes.
Riful's eyes widened. "Impossible! Her right arm is under her complete control?! Somehow she's able to attack and avoid her friend altogether!"
"Now I'm mad!" Dauf bellowed, opening his moth to fire rods but then suddenly closing it.
Galatea sat up. "I'm sorry, but this is about all the help I can give right now."
Jean continued to charge. "Do it right now!" Clare shouted.
Jean made contact as her blade pierced his armor and want all the way through, leaving a gaping hole in Dauf's chest. "I'm going to take his head off!" jean shouted charging again. Just then she was grabbed by large tendrils, holding her in place, which then slammed her into the ground.
Clare and Galatea gasped as they looked to the source, it was Riful, her right arm now a mass of flashy tendrils. "Sorry. I'd love for you to savor your moment of victory, together. I really would. But not today. Dauf here may have his flaws, but at the end of the day he's mine." Clare charged swinging her sword down and burying it in her head. "I'm feeling generous, so I'll count that as a point on your side, sound good to you?" she asked not even slightly off put by the blade in her skull. She then fell apart into fleshy ribbons as the fortress' ceiling was destroyed.
The three Claymores now looked upon the true form of the Abyssal One. She had glowing, pupil-less red eyes and retained a feminine humanoid form, composed of green ribbon-like strips. Her lower body was an immense mass of such strips that vaguely resembled a ball gown. "Aw… You know I was really hoping to end things before it came down to a confrontation like this." She picked up Dauf with her tendrils who now seemed minuscule in comparison. "My poor Dauf… I'm sorry to do this to you, but I can't let you die right now can I? Because you're the only one who can truly 'accept' me without 'breaking'." She then turned her attention to the warriors three. "Oh right… I made you a promise didn't I? I believe it was if you could land a single blow on me I would tell you the name of the man in the North, a man you should really be afraid of. Okay then, fair is fair right? All three of you have sacrificed too much to get this far. The man that you seek, is in the northern territory of Alphonse, there in a land, frozen in ice you will find the silver king… Isley."
"Silver king Isley." Clare repeated. "In the land of Alphonse, it's worse than I expected."
Riful looked down on her. "If you want to consider defeating him, then you must join me, it's the only way. Well then warriors, we shall meet again…" With that Riful and Dauf were gone in a flash, leaving the warriors in the ruins of the fortress.
Jean was the first to break the silence. "How could she… just disappear? So quickly…"
Clare fell to her knees. "Damn it. I never imagined the Abyssal Ones would be so incredibly powerful. And look at me… my abilities are pathetic compared to those things."
"Well now, that's done." Galatea observed, moving on to her other business. "And I must return to my original objective." She turned to Clare. "Number forty-seven, I have been given the task of returning to the Organization, if you follow me quietly then we won't have a problem, you know what will happen if you oppose me."
"I have no intention of going back to the Organization, not right now." Clare replied. "There's something I need to do first that's more important than your task."
"So in other words…" Galatea started. "You would rather launch yourself into another battle right now and end the day as a corpse." Jean got up, turning her blade to face Galatea. "Jean what do you think you're doing?"
"Trust me, this isn't the way I wanted it to happen but she saved my life back there. I gave her my word that my life now belongs to her, and I intend to keep it." Jean said.
"You know by doing this you're defying the Organization." Galatea replied.
"I've already lost my life once before, so the last thing I'll do is compromise my honor to extend my time." Jean shot back.
Galatea looked from one than to the other and grew a small smile, she turned and began walking away, sheathing her claymore as she went. "Fighters of such a low rank have zero chance of surviving a skirmish with an Abyssal one, it would be suicide, and after the creature pulverizes your bodies into millions of tiny pieces any chance of finding you would be slim. In fact it would be an impossible job not worth taking on. Next time that we cross paths it's anyone's guess if I'll embrace you or strike you down, until then I hope you both survive and the best of luck to both of you. You'll need it."
Elsewhere…
Eli wandered through the forest, trying to make sense of the map he was given to get to the slavers' hideout. "Let's see…" he said walking around a dark area of the forest. "It should be right about.." He tapped the ground in front of him with his steel toed boot. "Here"
Eli reached for a nearby chain and pulled up, revealing a trapdoor in the ground with stair leading into the darkness. "Into the deep then."
Eli descended the stair and came into a dimly lit hallway. He didn't need to walk far before a large iron blocked his path. Eli drew one of his daggers and knocked on the door. A pair of eyes opened a peep hole in the door and focused on Eli. "You want something?"
"Would I have been able to find this place if I wasn't supposed to be here?" Eli replied.
"True." The man said, following the logic. "Still one more thing… what's the password?"
"Uh… swordfish?" Eli asked.
The eyes narrowed and the peephole closed for a minute. Eli frowned getting ready to bust the door down. Then it opened and the man behind the door beckoned him in. "Huh… that was easy…"
Eli followed the man down the hall until they came to another door. Heavily armed men flanked the hallways. "So these slavers have quite the operation here… I doubt I guessed their password right, so the question is, where are they taking me?"
The man then turned a corner and knocked on the nearby door, it opened and the two stepped inside. There was a table and two chairs.
The man pointed to one of them. "Sit. My employer will be with you shortly."
Eli sat down and waited, after a few minutes the door opened again as s short balm man walked into the room accompanied by two guards.
"Welcome." The man greeted. "I hope that your stay here so far has been pleasant."
"Lovely I assure you." Eli replied.
"Fantastic." The man said sitting down in the other chair. "I'm the owner of this establishment. Call me the Warden." He motioned to the man on his left, this is my head of population control, Drek, and the head of interrogations and entry, Kege." He finished motioning to the other man. "But my real question here is who are you? And what have you come here for?"
Eli leaned forward in his seat. "Let's cut to the chase shall we? The name's Eli, but it's not really important. The reason I'm here is because this is a slaving operation and I'm looking for a slave." He then leaned back and crossed his legs. "But I'll be generous, give me what I want and I'll leave, if you don't things may get a little unpleasant around here."
The Warden smiled wickedly, pressing a button on the side of his chair, cuffs appeared from the chairs' arms and clamped down Eli's arms. "I'm afraid you're in no position to demand anything, in fact I'd say that we have you at our complete and utter mercy."
"One more chance, before I lose my patience. Give me what I need." Eli said his voice not changing even slightly from before.
The Warden got up and turned to leave as he passed Kege he said to him. "Work him over, but leave him alive. He looks like he could be a very good worker." He then left the room, leaving behind Eli and Kege.
The muscular man produced a whip, unraveling it and cracking it in the air. Eli simply looked to the man. "Since you're just on orders I'll give you this one vary last chance, let me go and you get to live." The man smirked and raised the whip, Eli stomped on the ground producing a small blade from his boot and then stabbed Kege in the shin, the man fell over with a curse and the silver haired captive finished the man off with a stab to the head. "Just as well, I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to use that."
Eli struggled for a moment with the metal bands binding him but soon freed himself and walked out the door. He turned left and saw the warden at the far end of another hall. The men all looked to Eli. "All of you! Take him down!" with that he quickly scurried through the door as the men drew their weapons.
Eli slowly reached into his pocket. "Drop your weapons and run or die." The men continued to close in. "So be it." He produced his light grenades and pulled the fuses, covering his ears and shutting his eyes.
The warden heard a great bang from the other side of the metal door, turning to watch, sweat starting to bead down his neck, he looked around, this was the safe room. The only room after this was the key to the deep dungeons where the slaves were kept. The Warden was confident with his chances but it never hurt to have precautions, on the side of the room was a great sturdy metal box, it was a panic box and neigh impregnable from the outside, on top of that there was a latch on the inside that would rocket it to the outside. He couldn't lose.
A large banging at the door then caught his attention. The metal burst inward as a blade was stuck through it, it then began a quick circle around and a small circular piece of metal fell to the floor. An arm reached through and felt around for the latch keeping it shut. It then unlatched it and the bloodied form of Eli stood in its entrance, none too pleased, a patchwork of gore and guts behind him, smearing the walls, floor and ceiling.
The warrior pointed towards the warden. "You…" The Warden widened his eyes and ran for the panic box, pushing Drek aside as he locked the inside of the box. Drek looked franticly form Eli to the box, and got down on his knees. "Please don't kill me." He begged.
Eli looked to him and walked up to him. "Put your hands together, as if you were saying a prayer." The man gave him a look of confusion. "Do it NOW!" he shouted and the man quickly complied. Eli then pointed to the wall. "Now press them up against the wall." The man did so, and as fast as lightning Eli pinned his hands to the wall with one of his daggers. Drek tried not to cry as the pain soared through his hands. "Don't go anywhere."
The Warden reached around the seat. "Where is that lever?" He finally found it as there was another knocking at the door. "Ha! You're too late!" With that he pulled the lever as he began to fell the box move upwards, but then it suddenly stopped, it was being pulled back down by a great force. He tried the lever again, but it was no use, it was jammed.
"You're not getting away." A dark vehement voice said from outside.
"And you're not getting to me in here." The Warden replied, although a bit shaken. "I don't know how you stopped my escape to the top, but you can't get to me in here!"
"Oh no?" the voice asked. Suddenly the creaking of metal began to sound and the Warden looked up, the ceiling was beginning to get closer to him. There was more, the sides began to get closer together.
"Wait!" The Warden called out. "We can work something out!" The sides began to close in as the Warden pushed back against the metal trying desperately to stop them. "I have money! Lots of it! And slaves! Women! Fit for your every desire!" They continued closing in as the Warden was now crouched in a fetal position, the walls still moving in. "I can get you anything you want! JUST TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT!" he screamed.
Eli stopped for a moment looking at his handiwork so far, the edges of the box were twisted and bent from where he had forced them into position, and then with a dark smirk leaned in close. "You feel scared yes? Not enough to move around in? No freedom? Quite an experience isn't it, to live in fear?"
Eli then continued to constrict the box tighter and tighter, ignoring the screams form inside until he heard a squishing sound and stepped back. Blood began to seep from the inside. The elder man looked to the blood with a frown. "That is what it means to be a slave."
Hethen turned to look at Drek who was sobbing with fear now. Eli bent down to his level. "So you're the one who keeps track of all the slaves right?" Drek nodded violently. "Good, now where is the young boy you kidnapped about three months ago?"
Drek stopped for a moment and looked to Eli. "What?"
Eli took his dagger and twisted it in the wall, earning more cries from Drek.
"Boy, young, average height and weight, light brown hair?" Eli repeated.
"I don't know!" Drek cried.
"Try… to… remember…" Eli said turning the blade with each word.
"Ah!" The man screamed. "I don't remember…"
"That's too bad." Eli said taking his hand off the blade and positioning his fingers on his skull, he then began to push down, very hard, the fingers began to bore into his head with great pain. "This will keep going until you remember."
The man continued to cry out, blood now seeping Eli's fingers as they tried to make their way through to his brain. "Stop! I remember now!" Eli stopped. "We got him about three months ago… we sold him to a small company in the North… now please… that's all I know I swear…"
Eli smiled. "I believe you." Eli then looked around and saw a key hanging on the wall. He took it and came back. "This is to open that door and to free the shackles of the slaves here right?" The man nodded. "Swallow it." The man looked to the key and then to Eli, his eyes begging for mercy. "Swallow it now, or I break your teeth and force it down you gullet." The man looked uneasily but complied.
Eli then grabbed Drek's sword and walked over to the door, ripping it off its hinges with great force. They walked down and many eyes began to eyes them, slaves all chained to the wall by their ankles. He then ripped the cell door off its hinges as well and threw Drek inside along with the sword. "If you want your freedom the key, it is in his stomach." Eli informed. The slaves widened their eyes at this, looked to each other and then bounded on Drek as Eli made his way out, accompanied by screams of agony and chorus of cheers at long awaited revenge. "To Alphonse then. I'm almost there Raki."
In a slaving holding cell in the North…
There was a great rumbling that caught the attention of the slaves. Muffled screams and roars could be heard in the distance.
"What about the slaves?" Asked one of the guards.
"Forget them man! Save yourselves!" another shouted.
The slaves all began to panic as the rumbling and roaring continued along with the screaming in the distance. Just then Stones from overhead began to fall down, freeing some of the slaves as their confinement was destroyed.
Elan and Raki watched with envy as they ran towards the surface and the two called out to them asking for help.
A large section of the ceiling loosed itself above Raki as Elan widened his eyes. "Watch out!" he shouted pushing Raki out of the way.
"Elan!" Raki called out, the dust cleared as Raki looked on with horror. The rocks had crushed Elan's lower torso, leaving him near death. Raki crawled over and held Elan's hand. "Hold on! Don't die! I can help we-"
"Raki…" Elan whispered, gaining Raki's attention.
"Yes?" Raki asked trying to lean in close and hear.
"Thank you my friend." With that Elan's hand went limp as Raki sat back, shocked at his friends' death.
A piece of rock loosed itself form the celling and hit Raki on the head, knocking him out cold as he fell into unconsciousness.
Hours later…
Raki woke up to silence and looked around. He was alone, all the cells were either deserted or lined with corpses. It was silent, dead silent.
Raki looked over to the pile of rocks that Elan had been crushed by, but quickly turned away, unable to look further. He then looked to the gate of his cell, it had been damaged and Raki saw how it could be used to escape from. Raki squeezed through the hole and walked out of the gloomy dungeon and with that he made his way into the falling snow of a ruined town. I can't die yet… I gotta keep going for Clare's sake… for Eli's sake… he paused. "For Elan's sake, I won't let your death mean nothing, I promise."
Meanwhile… far to the North…
"It's no good!" Another Claymore shouted over the driving snow "They got-" Just then she was stuck down by a mighty blow.
"No!" The Claymore leader shouted. She then turned to the great beings in front of her, knowing that their doom was at hand.
Done. A month and a half, not too shabby if I say so myself. I thought maybe that Clare's story was the best of the three, and I'll be honest I kinda half-assed Eli's and Raki's stories a little too much for my liking. Anyways, I hope it was at least a satisfactory read.