SOD: Alright, yeah writing two stories is a no no for me.
Andrew: Lol. Why?
SOD: Trails got me too hooked rn to write anything else not trails-related. That and I really just want to get this story to 100k.
Andrew: You really are indecisive.
SOD: Indeed I am but meh.
Andrew: So are you going to stop once you get to 100k?
SOD: Imma go a little bit over. Don't know how much before I break away to refocus on LLR. Writing this story was crazy easy actually.
Andrew: Hmm. And Fie?
SOD: We'll be getting Fie stuff at Ch. 20. Rean x Fie still to come.
Andrew: Fine. I'll be patient. So what happened to no spoilers?
SOD: It's not a spoiler of everyone knew~.
Andrew: ... Touché.
"Yeah..." Relon stands to sit on the bench seeing just overhead of the crowd at Alfin.
Sitting back down, Relon inhales and exhales a deep breath.
"Patience." He mutters to himself. "We're ready for them."
One minute. Then five. Then 10.
"Lechter. Time?"
"Three till four." He answers.
30 seconds pass. Then 15 more. Relon can hear the ticking in his head. Tic. Toc. Tic. Toc. Tic... Toc. A full minute slowly passes, the crowd beginning to hush as they slowly turn as the captain makes his way to the podium.
"Five..." Lechter counts down.
Relon watches the captain fiddle with the microphone.
"Four..."
He feels a drop of sweat form on his forehead as it trickles down the side of his cheek before it hits the ground.
"Three..."
Slowly, Relon reaches for his sword's handle.
"Two..."
Relon's eyes begin to sting from not blinking but he refuses with all his might.
"One..."
He stands up, drawing out his sword.
"Zero."
POP!
Relon immediately snaps his head to the sound ready for the worst only to see confetti being exploded all over the place.
Feeling the the worst leave his body, he slumps back onto the bench placing a hand over his face.
"Seems like we're right on cue."
"Don't do that to me! I'm stressed enough as is!" Relon breathes regaining his composure.
"What? I was curious if they'd attack on time. Now we know they didn't."
"They're watching from somewhere... Hey, is it possible that they could have bypassed security?"
"That would be unlikely. Our security is top notch. Gotta have identification while we have face recognition."
"What if this rogue group that wants the princess are workers?"
Lechter is about to retort when he pauses.
"Didn't think of that did you?"
"No, we saw that coming. It's why we're here."
"We? So you used that intuition to guess I'd be in this area."
"Yep. Hey, look, the princess is starting."
Both watch as she greets the audience going on about how she's happy to be here, her thoughts of the ship, and how the structure itself is a symbol that represents valor and a strong sense of unwavering determination. After some applause, she is handed a pair of scissors which she doesn't drop unlike previous times. Relon taking a moment to breathe a breath of relief that didn't happen. Everyone watches as Alfin walks to the red line.
"With this, I hereby announce the Gigantic operational." She cheers cutting the tape and with that, everybody cheers with claps reverberating all around.
Relon and Lechter look on.
"Nothing's happening..." Relon mutters to suddenly get a huge shiver down his back, one Lechter also gains for both to glance at the other with a worried look before-
POP! POP!
They both turn to the crowd.
BANG! BANG!
Purple smoke fills the audience along with the two boys as the exchange of gunfire rings around them.
"They're... here! We... gotta... move!" Relon says through coughs covering his breath.
"Damn it...!" Lechter coughs.
Relon clenches his left hand feeling the familiar heat to stop.
Damn, I can't use my fire to blow away this smoke. I risk causing an explosion! Wait, Alfin!
At the thought, the sound of a boat's horn roars above everything else.
"Partner!" Relon calls, the sword switching to hoverboard mode. "Lechter... get on!" Complying, they shoot out of the smoke and high into the sky to bear witness to the gore before them.
On the streets, the RMP shooting it out with members in uniforms. Many bleeding out on both sides.
Wait, Mister!
Snapping his head all around, he spots more victims, the blue-haired girl with the RMP, and Yujiro. The man going through grunt after grunt with ease. Breathing a sudden breath of relief, Relon looks to where Alfin was to find her gone. The ship already having taken off as incredible speeds towards the ocean.
"Alfin!"
BANG!
To both teens' surprise, the sword ducks out of the way as they turn to see a grunt in uniform having shot at them to then be punched out by Yujiro.
"GET GOING! YOU'RE HER BODYGUARD, AREN'T YOU?!" Yujiro roars continuing his rampage on the helpless grunts.
"... Right! Lechter!"
"I'm with you all the way!" He responds grabbing Relon's waist as to not fall off.
"Alright, hang on tight!" Gripping the cloth, Relon need only give one order. "After that ship!" And they're off, the sword igniting a fire at its blade's tip.
Hang on, Alfin! I'm on my way!
Zooming fast and close to the ocean's surface, both boys and sword near the ship.
"Got a plan?" Lechter asks.
"Yeah." They rise jumping off landing on the bottom stern of the ship where an opening for releasing smaller boats are. "Save Alfin and take out anyone that gets in our way." They take off.
"Hey, simple. I like it. The Gigantic has nine decks. There's the chance the princess is at the top but there's also the chance she's on a lower deck."
"Then we just check them all!"
Running down a hall, a man in uniform appears.
"What the? You're that kid from thee alleyway!" He states surprised raising a rifle.
"Where's Alfin?!" Relon shouts balling his left fist, his sword flying to his hand as Lechter readies his rapier.
"Wouldn't you like to know!" He opens fire.
"Watch out!" Lechter cautions.
"Keep running!" Relon orders firing a blast of fire incinerating the bullets as well as burning the man.
Screaming on the ground, the two stop. Slamming his hand against the man, he absorbs the fire.
"Where is she?!" Relon questions lifting the soldier by his collar.
"Wouldn't... you like to know..." He breaths before losing consciousness.
"Damn it!" He throws the man to the ground getting up. "Let's go." Both take off.
"Huh, so that's the fire I've been told about." Lechter comments. " Didn't know you could absorb it though. I can see why Boss is so interested."
Ignoring him, they continue.
"What are teens doing here?!" Two more soldiers shout appearing down the hall.
"Partner!" Relon throws his sword, the weapon hurling forward clipping both soldiers at their sides for Relon to follow up with two repeated jump kicks knocking both out.
"Whoa." Is all Lechter can comment before they continue checking room after room.
Coming to a staircase, they race up. Before long they come to a barricaded hall.
"Damn, we'll have to circle around." Lechter curses.
"No." The redhead turning to Relon, heat seeping off of him. "We don't have time for that. Get ready. I'm forcing our way in!" He glares ahead.
Whiping his sword out, he grips it with both hands in front of him taking on his Arseid stance.
"Ablaze!" With a mighty shout, the blade is encased in flames. Before Lechter can give another comment, Relon continues. "Crescent Strike!" He roars, his attack careening forward colliding with the manmade structure exploding. "Let's go!" Relon takes off.
Jumping through the big hole towards the other side, they soon reach an open room to be met by four soldiers and two armored cats..
"What the?! How did they get through?!" One grunt questions.
"It doesn't matter! Kill 'em!" Another dismisses.
Catching up, both boys ready themselves.
"Get out of our way or else...!" Relon warns, his sword alit once more.
"Or else what?" One grunt taunts to immediately be hit with a blast of fire shooting him towards the other side of the room.
"You'll get burned!" Relon answers, he and Lechter taking action as does their opponents.
Immediately, both sides separate to deal with the other. Relon blitzing to one soldier before he can even fire a shot. With one slash, their rifle is cut in two as Relon spins, the heel of his foot connecting with the helmet sending the man off his feet towards the wall. Continuing his spin, he swings another crescent attack towards a pouncing feline cutting it in two as it disappears in a dark puff. Leaving only one, Relon turns to said opponent who fires a shot for his sword to fly forward on its own deflecting the bullet and cutting at the soldier's side. Gasping in pain, he turns back to be met with a kick sending him over to Lechter's side.
The grunt collides with the last contender against Lechter. The boy seeming to have dealt with his opponents easily.
"That was easy." Lechter jokes as Relon and he regroup after Relon gives the last two soldiers a good kick ensuring they're knocked out.
"Let's go." Relon calls.
"Hold it!" Both snap around to see the grunt from the previous deck aiming at them with a rifle.
Immediately, Relon runs forward in front of Lechter about to launch a blast of fire but the solider suddenly stiffens as he falls over revealing a familiar girl with hot pink eyes and sky-blue hair donned in casual wear with an orbal gun.
"You're..."
"Claire. About time you caught up." Lechter greets.
"Sorry it took so long. The group's reinforcements showed up but the Wandering Beast dealt with them with such ease it left little for the rest of the RMP and I to do. But that aside, what's the situation?"
"The princess is somewhere up and there's plenty of soldiers in our way."
"I figured that much with how the last few grunts were dealt with." Her eyes then shift to Relon.
Her gaze seeming to snap Relon back to reality.
"Every second wasted, something could happen to the Alfin. Now, either stay here and talk or let's go." Relon turns about to move.
"Weren't you supposed to be her bodyguard? What happened to that?" Claire demands stopping the boy.
"Whoa there, Claire. You don't know-
"What I do know is if I was the one in charge of her majesty like it should have been two years ago, then this wouldn't have happened." She states, Relon widening.
"You're Osborne's subordinate who's place I took?"
"Yes, I am. What of it?" She crosses her arms as Relon turns his body halfway to face her.
"Nothing now. I already apologized so if you chose not to accept it, then that's your business."
"What do you mean 'already?'"
"I told the chancellor to relay a message to whoever's job I took. I asked him to tell them how sorry I was. But it seems he chose not to tell you like I thought." Relon says with clear agitation, both the older teens seeming surprised by his words. "I said I'd live up to the hard work for the both of us and I plan to do just that. As the princess, no. As Alfin's bodyguard and friend, I will save her. Whether you like me or not." He turns away about to take off.
"Wait!"
"Now what?"
"We can sort that matter for later. Right now, saving her highness is our top priority and we should move with caution. Lechter, you and I will hold the front while the boy covers our rear." She states.
"No." The teens look to Relon. "For someone older than me, that's a terrible formation as it is just stupid."
"Excuse me?"
"We're wasting time, just run and talk!" Relon exclaims taking off with the two having little time but to follow. "Your primary weapon is a gun yet you're putting yourself on the front lines. A ranged fighter trying to be on the front lines is plain stupid." Claire widening to narrow her eyes giving no response. "We'll run a 2-1-1 formation."
"Wait, there's only three of us though." She interrupts.
"That's where you're wrong." Relon responds. "Partner, orbit Claire. Any enemies attempt to harm her, stop them." Relon orders, the flying sword next to him nodding before it falls back next to Claire.
"I wouldn't worry, the thing's pretty great." Lechter comments.
"Another point is to not underestimate me just because I'm younger. If you do, you'll surely regret it." Relon continues.'
"Then tell me this, your only weapon is gone so what will you use?" At her words, Relon digs into his pockets pulling out black combat gloves.
"These since I don't have the strength like Mister."
"Mister? You mean the Wandering Beast? He's your father, is he not?"
"Not in the slightest. He's just a man that's taken care of me since birth." Both look skeptical at the odd answer but continue to listen. "With my martial arts and Lechter's skills with his rapier, we should make your job easier with picking off the few enemies leftover. "And one more thing." He now turns his head looking at Claire. "My name isn't boy nor am I one. I'm Relon Lucinance. Remember it." He turns forward.
"... I'll keep that in mind."
Sheesh. I can't believe he managed to shut Claire up. That's an achievement all of its own.
"Good, because we got company!" Relon states finishing putting on his gloves. "Let's go! Clustering Cinders" He charges ahead of the readying infantry throwing dozens of cinders.
Some making contact with the cats as they hiss in pain before vanishing leaving only the 10 men. six with swords and four with rifles.
Relon takes off to the left with Lechter at the right dividing the enemies' numbers.
Parrying one strike, Lechter dodges a swing from another man tripping him to stab his arms and legs quickly and effectively leaving him commissioned.
"You're mine!" Another man shouts bringing down his heavy sword as Lechter jumps back once again for a body to be tossed into the soldier sending him to crash against the wall with another soldier over him courtesy of Relon.
Dodging the terrible swings from the two men, Relon throws a quick two-piece at the mouth of one soldier to swerve behind him delivering a kick as he is launched into another soldier. Hearing a gun clicking, he instantly jumps away dodging a lethal shot to fire a blast of fire at one rifleman. Landing, he eyes the other with their sights on him to be shot and tased before falling to the ground. Looking to the source, he sees Claire who simply nods as does he.
Their attention shifting as a yell comes. Looking, they see Lechter parry another strike for the man to continue rushing for Claire. Firing a shot, he blocks it with the flat side of his sword as she grimaces, Relon moving to intercept for his sword to clash with the man. With its fire coming to life, it easily cuts through the large sword and cuts the man at his side as he groans with pain clutching said spot for Claire to fire. His body slumping to the ground. The remaining two about to fire but with a perfectly synced shot from Relon and Claire, they are dealt with.
"That takes care of that." Lechter says putting away his rapier.
"Nice one Lechter." Relon compliments.
"Well, as your senior, I can't have you doing all the work, now can I?" Relon nods looking to Claire.
"Having second thoughts about me now?" Relon asks the girl who narrows her eyes before sighing.
"I'll admit, you are skilled. I was wrong in that department."
"That's just her way of apologizing. You know how girls are." Lechter winks for Claire to seem upset at the redhead.
"Boy do I. Alright, let's go." Relon announces, the three taking off.
Running up another flight of stairs, they comes to what seems like a large ballroom with soldiers scattered all over with more felines. All taking sight of the intruders as they open fire quickly closing in. The three knocking over tables for cover.
"Damn, even this is too much!" Lechter curses.
"We just need an opening!" She shouts firing shots before ducking down.
"I've had it..." Both look to see a shaking Relon, his face covered by his hair as it begins to sway as a heat radiates from the boy.
"Relon?" Lechter calls.
"I've had enough! We don't have time for this!" He shouts standing with his left arm back as he extends it firing a huge flamethrower blast slowly from one side of the room to the other burning everything caught in his wrath. "Let's go!" He jumps onto the table, his sudden landing knocking it back upright as he jumps into the fray of enemies that weren't injured.
One soldier looks up to be met with a fist slamming him to the ground. Wasting no time, Relon rushes low through the room taking out one soldier after another.
"Relon, behind you!" Claire calls out, the boy instinctively raising a hand grabbing a pouncing cat by one of its saber tooth. The action shocking both teens as Relon proceeds to slam the large cat over and over and over and over.
"Everybody, shoot the bastard!" A soldier cries out as all open fire forgetting about Lechter and Claire.
Hearing this, Relon takes off from the spot now filled with lead as he holds the unconscious cat by its long teeth slamming it into soldiers like a hammer. Stopping for a moment, he sees another cat pounce only to pivot his body swinging at its stomach with the back of the cat he's holding sending it clear across the room and out through the window into the sea ending with a splash.
Suddenly all the remaining soldiers gather firing on the boy. Hunkering down, he places the cat before him. With a large puff of dark particles, they cease to see if they landed their target.
"No way...!" Lechter mutters for a stream of fire to shoot from the dark veil of smoke blasting all the men as they scream in pain.
Landing on a table hunched over is Relon.
Finally clear of enemies, the two and the sword proceed through the burning room as Relon's head raises at their presence. Refusing to look at them, he turns towards the exit taking off with a mighty leap.
"He has to be the son of the Wandering Beast after a show like that." Lechter comments checking the soldiers. "And believe it or not, they're actually alive. Albeit barely. I'm surprised he didn't kill any of them."
"You're right." Claire agrees checking the first soldier he crashed into. "Severe injuries but not life threatening."
"Alright, let's catch up. Who knows how far he is now." Lechter agrees, the girl and sword nodding.
Five floors up, Relon leans against a wall holding his head.
I transformed again... But, I don't think I killed anyone. I was able to resist the urge when Lechter and Claire came near me too. Damn it, I'm so mad at the whole situation I'm going in and out!
Eyeing his hands with heavy breaths, he sees his vision and markings appearing and fading.
"Ready!" Looking up, he sees a infantry lined up in the rather narrow corridor. The first row crouched on a knee with the other standing all aimed at him. "Fire!" Taking note of their weapons, Relon is met with a douse of fire.
"I can't believe he took out so many on his own." Claire mentions as they run over unconscious bodies floor after floor.
"You can say that. The boss wasn't joking when he said the guy was something special. Even though I'm apart of the Intelligence Division, I didn't expect all of this. Alright, the next floor- Whoa!" Lechter cautions backing away as Claire sees what the problem is.
Down the hallway, which is incredible hot as if they're in a furnace, is Relon with a hand extended absorbing the flames the soldiers are firing. After what seems like an entire minute, the flames cease.
"He absorbed it?!" One exclaims in disbelief
"That's all we had!" Another shouts.
All they can do is look to the burning hall, the young teen at its epicenter. His monster-like feature putting sheer fear into the men as his left arm ignites. Feeling the power, Relon doesn't hesitate.
"Burn out!" Thrusting his arm forward, he unleashes a flamethrower bigger and hotter than any before.
"Out of the way!" One shouts, the soldiers moving out of the way into the isles as the attack careens down the hall blasting a giant hole where the door is located. "Quick, switch to- Ack!" Relon wastes no time knocking one after the other out.
Panting, he falls to a knee holding his face as the marking recede while the three approach him, his sword going to its owners side showing concern.
"I'm fine... Sorry to worry you." He says after a moment to gather himself.
"You certainly made our work a lot easier." Lechter jokes.
"Can you continue?" Claire asks, a hint of worry evident in her tone.
"Yeah... I've calmed down a little." He stands.
"Beyond that door most likely leads outside to where the princess. You two ready?" Lechter asks, his tone serious.
"Yeah!/Of course!" They take off.
Wasting nothing, they jump through the hole. The sunlight blinds them for only a moment as they stop at the bow of the top deck. Before them, a female soldier clad in light armor seeming to be of a higher ranking than the men and at the end sits Alfin tied up to the railing by an odd webbing.
"Alfin! Are you alright?! Did they do anything to you?!" Relon calls, the three stopping before their enemy.
"Relon!" She calls happily. "I'm fine!"
Finally after what seems like forever, he breathes a sigh of relief before he sets his sights to the culprit before them.
"Give it up, it's over Ms. Freda." He glares, the soldier chuckling to take of their helmet revealing the woman.
"I have to commend you, I genuinely didn't think you would be a problem. Oh well. I'll just kill you before my ride gets here."
"Why do this?! What's the point?! Who even are you guys?!" Relon questions.
"To answer the why, we have a goal and to do that, Princess Alfin here will help speed up that goal. As for the what, simply my wish I share with many others. And as for the whom... Well, wouldn't you like to know." She smiles. "But consider this my final lesson. Having to kill that teacher to get the job was quite a pain but what was more of a pain was planning all of this. Once you became a part of the equation, we had to hold back to test the waters. But alas, not everything-
BANG!
Claire fires a shot for the tase's bullet to stop before what seems like a web with ease.
"Goes as planned." The woman finishes with a sigh. "Do you three really think you can best me?"
"As a matter of fact; yes." Lechter retorts readying himself.
'You're under arrest for the harming of civilians and abduction of Princess Alfin!" Claire calls aiming her gun at the woman.
"You're done!" Relon readies himself, his sword going to Claire.
"Fine then." A aura radiates from the woman as she gives off a strong essence.
"Such intensity!" Claire utters.
"You may not have been my student but allow this to be my final lesson. Allow me, Leaguient #26 of #26 Arentula, to weave a cocoon for you three to rest in dead!"
"Freda. Arentula. Whatever. You're going down!" The three charge for Relon to suddenly trip though he catches himself.
Coming to the ground, he sees a web-like thread before pushing back tot his feet.
"What the?!" He looks for the woman to chuckle as she seems to walk on air before them.
"Can't fight if you can't walk properly, now can you?" She snaps her fingers, five robots seeming to resemble spiders appear out of thin air lands around her.
"Be careful!" Lechter warns as he and Relon spilt us, the redhead cutting his way forward and Relon burning the wiring as he runs.
Firing shot after shot, they have no effect on the near invisible web protecting the woman as she merely smirks with her arms under each other.
"Tch."
Reaching the web barrier, both are intercepted by the spider bots. Relon is about to throw a blast but stops not wanting to risk hitting the princess if he can get past her barrier. Jumping away, he rolls out of the way as the machine fires a silky web at where he was.
"She really likes spiders, huh?" Lechter says dodging a shot from another spider and regrouping.
"She has the advantage. I can't risk using my fire with the princess behind her."
Taking a shot, the spiders avoid Claire's attempted attack awaiting the next.
"Those spiders and that web of hers aren't making this any easier either." Claire curses.
"Okay, let's think. What can we do to make things easier for ourselves?" Relon mutters.
"The obvious would be getting the princess away from the line of sight so you can just light her up."
"But how?"
"Have you realized it? How helpless you are before me. Even with that special sword, you're nothing more than a helpless boy in the face of true danger." Arentula calls out.
His eyes widen at her words.
(I got it. Partner, here's the plan.)
A moment of whispering passes and Arentula narrows her eyes.
"Whatever you're planning, it won't work." Her words gaining their attention.
"You sure about that?" Now Relon is the one to smirk. "I tend to prove people wrong so I guess I'll have to prove you wrong too."
"Oh? Acting tough won't do you any good."
"... We'll just have to see, now won't we?" He jumps onto his sword as he rises up, his arm flickering with fire.
"Reinforce the web." She orders, the robots obeying the woman.
"Eat this!" He jumps off firing a flamethrower, the flames going to the sides as the web withstands his attack.
He continues his flame assault as he falls until he lands to which he continues.
Hurry, Partner!
"Don't you know it's futile. Just give up, even your fire isn't strong enough to burn through my webbing.
Ignoring her, he continues, his glove burning up as his flames growing weaker and weaker until they cease all together.
"Damn it." He curses trying to pump more out to no avail.
"See, I told you. Futile." She laughs but when she opens her eyes, she stops to seem genuinely shocked. "WHAT?!"
Behind Relon and in between Lechter and Claire being untied is Alfin. Turning around, she growls at the empty space the princess once was.
"I see now. That fire was simply to obstruct my view as that petty sword of yours went and took the princess with my spiders' and I's attention on you. Well boy, I have to say, that idea was quite something." She chuckles. "Congratulations, you made me look like a fool. Ahahaha.. Now, you all die!" She states coldly, her aura flaring as she walks forward with her machines.
"Alfin, get back! Partner, go with her!" She nods, both heading as far back on the deck choosing to hide behind a pillar as she can keep sight of the fight.
With a flick of her wrists, twin assassin blades come out. Relon widening at the sight.
"To think I would be pissed off from my brother dying by a bunch of twerps and now this."
(Your brother...) Relon repeats at an audible whisper stopping the woman. "Was a hunter... wasn't he...?" His disbelieving voice more audible.
Her eyes widen more than Relon's.
"With a large cat-
"Named Tora... Oh shit..."
"So it was you... You killed the last of my family..." Both Relon and Arentula simply stare slack-jawed at one another.
Unable to tell what really happened, a burst of her aura explodes pushing the three off their feet and onto their backs, the spider bots scurrying behind her.
"What is she talking about?" Claire questions, all three quickly getting to their feet, but this would go unanswered as the villain disappears in a flash to all three's surprise.
Suddenly landing in between all three, they all slowly turn to be launched in all directions. Claire against a railing, Lechter against the wall where they entered and Relon over to the webbing. Dazed, he quickly gets to his feet to be wrapped around by the spider bots. Attempting to use his fire, he find no fuel still active.
"Damn it!" He looks forward to the woman sauntering with killer intent towards him.
"Re...lon..." Claire calls struggling to get up.
Arentula stops before him. Without uttering a word, her cold gaze pierces through Relon and just as their eyes meet, so too does her blade stab through his skin to where his heart is located. Widening, he coughs a blob of blood up. Arentula keeping her gaze on him.
"How did it feel? Did he beg? Did he cry like a child? Did he panic unable to handle the pressure? I may have hated my younger brother but his death still hit me hard. Now, your loved ones are about to know the same pain as I did." She twists the blade around as Relon makes inaudible groans of pain.
"Relon...!" Lechter coughs barely able to stand.
"Now die." She lifts him by his collar.
Readying for the end, his eyes linger to the two that he fought with and then towards the back. His blurred vision able to make out Alfin and his sword.
Stay... there... partner...
And without any indication, Arentula pulls out her blade pushing Relon off the ship. Time begins to slow as his vision can only lay on the ship before all goes blue. At first nothing, but then he feels the pain.l mixed with the cold water. But neither can compare to the pain of failure. Through his slow blinking vision, he sees the top of the water. A trail of blood, his blood rise to the surface where the sun's light is being reflected. Although he has sight, there is no sound. What's worse, his vision becomes completely blurred. Feeling the end, he closes his eyes knowing what the outcome is.
I failed...