He noticed each of Krantz forearms had a blade protruding, "That's..."

"Ah, this?" Krantz bragged, "I'm able to use it since I've absorbed Shark's powers. It wasn't only his power that I absorbed, I also took in his supplementary ability. So that I can use that ability when suitable."

That's how it was. Tao thought they were just using the weapons that they each favoured... From the very beginning... they were only created for this purpose. Weren't they modelled after Cerberus? Or is this the Cerberus model? Did those bodyguards also exist to eventually be consumed by their leader? He wasn't surprised the doctor would keep him in the dark about that. He never did trust her or Yuriy anyway.

"So," Tao added, "There must also be a reason why you told Shark to take 'D'."

"Yes," Krantz elaborated, "Using 'D' to raise as much power as possible, then absorbing it, brings the most effective results. Thanks to Shark's powers, I'm twice as fast and powerful than I usually am."

Which, Tao knew, was far more powerful than he could ever dream of being. He stood no chance to fight against his newly revealed destiny.

Krantz threw another series of attacks against the enemy.

"Tao!" The captain shouted his name when he found even with Shark's power, the noblesse was still untouchable.

I guess he means to absorb my powers now.

"What are you waiting for?!" Krantz yelled, "Are you going to disobey an order?!"

"Aah..." Tao let out what he thought would be his last words, "Okay, I got it. Just, be gentle, don't make it too painful." Eh, if he was going to die anyway...

"Hyung!" A voice shouted.

That was the sound of his 'younger brother'. Tao turned around.

"Why are you listening to that person?" The boy screamed at him, obviously distraught, "I don't know what to believe right now, and I don't know what the heck is going on, but... That man is intending to kill you, Hyung. Why are you just accepting death like that?"

He's... Worrying about me? Tao had never had someone worry about him. That was new. How touching.

"Well..." Tao rubbed the back of his neck, "I'm not too sure either. You kids wouldn't know."

Krantz had always given Tao the silent treatment when he was down, or given him orders to do something. Shark laughed at any show of weakness, Takeo remained distant and Hammer would just tell Tao to get back to normal as soon as possible and cheer the hell up. Hazel would have worried, but the nurses and assistants of the past have probably all been replaced since he'd left the lab. Subjects died all the time. It wasn't anything new. Doctors and assistants alike knew not to become attached to their 'work.' It would only end badly. Like this.

"Huh?" Ikhan didn't comprehend.

Apologetically, Tao added, "This is the fate of modified humans like me."

"What..." Ikhan faltered, "is that?"

Tao laughed what may be his last laugh.

M-21, Tao thought, I felt sorry for you, for being a failed experiment, used and tossed around by the Union like trash... But now I'm rather envious of you.

Hands roughly grabbed his throat, "Keuk," Tao gulped.

"Tao," Krantz was furious now, "Stop dawdling. Hurry and take the 'D'."

Tao didn't want to. He tried to unwrap the captain's fingers from his neck.

"Hurry up!" Krantz spat.

"Rai!" Ikhan shouted to the older noblesse, "Please. Save that Hyung. If it's you... It's possible, right? Please!"

The girl behind him agreed, "Y-Yeah. Unlike the others, he tried to keep us from getting killed!"

He did? Oh. Right. He had suggested erasing their memories. So he did care more than he let himself know. Tao decided; he wasn't a coward.

"They dare to deep talking nonsense..." Krantz muttered, preparing to attack with his free hand.

Tao used this opportunity to retaliate and wrap his wires around the captain's arm before leaping away and sending the strongest electric surge of power he could muster.

"Keuuuk," Krantz glared and sliced through Tao's shock attack.

"Tao. You..." The captain was incredulous, "What are you doing?"

"Sorry Krantz," Tao stepped further back, "You want to kill me, while those kids want me to live. I couldn't just stand by and let you hurt them."

"You bastard!" Krantz delivered a punch that sent Tao flying into the wall, the force of the impact causing the material to crumble and drop to the ground with him.

"How dare you betray me and the organization..." Krantz was seething with rage.

"Ugh..." Tao gasped for air. If he was going to die, he was going to die a hero. That was a meaningful death.

Ikhan turned to the noblesse, "Rai!"

"Halt."

At that one word, the captain halted, "Huk!"

"Why..." the noblesse's voice rang, "are you asking me? Ikhan. Yuna. Shinwoo. Suyi. There is no need..." he turned to Krantz, "for you to ask me."

Droplets of blood raised from the ground.

A blood field trapped the captain, then, spinning like a tornado, crushed him in a giant beam of light extending to the heavens.

It rained blood.