The calm before the storm...is what people referred to this as. The moment a serene day, can instantly become a tragic one.

"So, he slashed you in the face with a KNIFE, and you were only a child? Sounds horrible", Raymond said. "Some pretty intense training regiments your superiors had for you growing up, huh?"

"Yeah. Can't lie, it's the hardest I've ever been hit", Jabra replied. "A lot of us had to go through that kind of thing growing up. Some of us had scars on areas most people wouldn't notice, like on arms, or our legs. One of my friends had a few of them on his sides, and another one has some on his back. I was unfortunate enough to get one on my face."

"You guys really are as tough as nails then. The worst I've ever been, is shot in the arm. Back in my kingd...eh...back at home we had some crazy people in town." Jabra stopped and held his hand out in front of Raymond. "What? What happened? Did we pass something?"

"Damn...I really did think I had more time", Jabra said.

Raymond had a very uneasy feeling. He felt this feeling before, but... "Jabra, whats going on?" A familiar face appeared before him. It was that stingray man. The one he thought he imagined at the café the other day. "Its him! That fishman I saw the other day!"

"Dont remind me...its actually kind of embarrassing that someone like you noticed me. Anyways...hello Jabra", he said, with one of the most nonchalant smiles. Jabra had a scowl on his face. As menacing as he tried to look, his heart was beating pretty fast. Whether from adrenaline or possibly...fear? No! He couldn't let the rumors spook him. If this man was after him there was one thing he could do. "Care to go for a walk? Or would you rather I come over there", he asked. His eyes glared intensely at Jabra. He had a smile, but anyone could see in his eyes, the maliciousness he harbored.

Jabra huffed, and began to walk over, only for Raymond to put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. "Jabra...everything's ok, right", he asked, insistently on getting an answer.

Jabra didn't really know what to say. He wanted to let Raymond know SOMETHING...but then that would only put his friend in danger. He had no intention of taking anyone down with him. "Yeah, everything ok. I'm just going to go see what he wants is all. Just...go back to the shop, ok?" Raymond removed his hand still unsure of the situation. Jabra began to walk off, before quickly stopping. "Hey Raymond..."

"Yeah", Raymond asked.

"Thank you. For giving me a chance", Jabra replied as he continued walking. Now Raymond was definitely sure something wasn't right.

Once Jabra made it up towards the fishman, he began to walk alongside him. The surrounding area was like a forest. It wasn't too far away from the workshop actually. "That was nice of you. Had you told him anything about your 'current situation', I would have had to kill him too. Got a soft spot for him, and your fellow convicts", Hatchet asked.

"Mind your own business! I hope you don't think I'm just going to let you kill me, fishman!"

"No, I figured you wouldn't go down without a fight, wolfman. Now...any last word? Next of kin, anything?"

"Say what you want, but I'm gonna drop you right here and now", Jabra said as he instantly turned into his wolf human form."

"Ah, right from the start huh? Fine with me pal", Hatchet said. His Blue vest blew into the wind. His tail stood up and moved over his shoulder in a threatening manner.

Jabra made the first move! "Tempest kick Lone wolf!" The compressed air attack leaped across the ground, towards the fishman.

"Nice try", Hatchet said as he jumped, and vanished.

"Where the hell did he go?" Jabra looked around, but he saw no sign of Hatchet.

"Up here", Hatchet said as he zoomed towards the ground from the sky. Jabra quickly sprang out of the way...but the Hatchet was even faster than Jabra anticipated. A sharp pain stabbed him right in the back.

"Gah! W-what was that?" He may have already known what it was.

"How do you like my venom Pistol", Hatchet asked as he held up is tail again. There was a purple liquid seeping out of it.

Jabra stood up quickly...but something was off. His body began to feel heavy. Its as if the earth itself was pulling him closer to the ground. "What did you do to me?!"

"At this point I really don't even have to fight you. My venom will weight you down, more and more on its own. That not all though! If it stays in your system for too long, eventually your motor skills will cease, your nerves will freeze up, and eventually you'll die a slow painful death." Jabra gasped! How could he have let this happen so easily? Hatchet moved faster than Jabra processed...but then again, the rumors held true. The silencers were a lot stronger than any of the basic cipher pole members. "Didn't they tell you? We know exactly how to take each of you down. I'd rather not take my chances though. I'm here to kill you quick and easy."

He was one of the few members who had fighting in the air, as one of their stronger points. Without that, his fighting style was reduced in power. Well of course that, and the poison playing effect. "No...nonono! It won't be that easy! Tempest Kick Lupus Fall!" Four wolves of wind came out this time...and they traveled fast.

"Some people just dont learn." Hatchet simply swept his arm from his left to his right and created a wave of water in front of him that blocked the wind attack."

"W-where did THAT come from?"

"We're on an island surrounded by the sea you idiot", he said as he swirled the water around the two. "Now speaking of which... Poseidon planet!" The water quickly swarmed around Jabra, entrapping him in a ball made of the sea! This was one of the worst possible outcomes for a devil fruit user. Even made worst by someone who can manipulate the water. These silencers... they're good at thier job because they know their enemy's weaknesses! It all makes sense now. First, he made it harder for Jabra to move! Then he used this lack of movement to catch him in the trap easier. Its possible Jabra didn't have a chance from the beginning. "Now, die like the dog you are", Hatchet said. He was going to drown Jabra! Or at least he was about to, until a sudden explosion threw off his concentration, ceasing the water's suffocating. "Where the hell did that come from?"

The attacker, was nonother than Raymond. Holding out the roman candle he uses for battle. "Hm? Not as much effect as I had hoped. Probably because your skin is so damp."

"Oh? Well look who it is. I didn't expect you to follow us here", Hatchet said.

"R-Raymond!? What...hack...are you doing here? I told you to go back to the shop", Jabra yelled between coughs.

"Aren't you glad I didn't", he replied.

Hatchet sighed, but he seemed rather bothered, than angry. "I'd ask why you're here, but I guess it's pretty obvious. This is an obstruction of Justice you know. Not only that, but you also attacked me...though I barely felt that, you should know that you're making a grave mistake."

"Perhaps...but I refuse to stand around and watch this." He looked over at Jabra, and saw that he was struggling to stand. "Was that YOUR doing?" Hatchet simply smiled in a proud manner. Needless to say, Raymond was no pleased at this. In fact, he was angry. "Jabra...I'm sure you remember the blue vial on the bottom shelf at the shop? That should be a serum that removes venom, hopefully no matter how strong."

"And leave you here with that guy. Heh...hehe. This isn't the time for jokes Raymond!" He turned back into his human form.

"He's right. If he; a highly trained assassin can't beat me, then what makes you think you; a plain old human with useless fireworks, can?"

"Dont let your strength go to your head. My fireworks may not be as effective on you because your so damp, but as long as you have a beating heart, I can find a way to beat you. What are you still doing here Jabra? The clock is ticking", Raymond urged.

Jabra managed to stand up. He wanted to stay and fight...but for one of the few instances, not for himself. He wasn't trying to prove his was the strongest this time. He only wanted to keep himself alive. He wanted to keep Raymond alive...but he wouldn't have a choice but to leave. If he didn't find something at the lab to reverse the venom soon, he'd kill over anyway. He had no choice but to retreat. "You better not die on me", Jabra said.

"Yeah yeah", Raymond said with a smile. Though Jabra was unable to jump, he could still run at a decent pace. Even then, he couldn't help but look behind him again.

"Well isn't this lovely. Never thought I'd see such soft Cipher pole agents. Making friends with the most unusual people. It's not too late...walk away now, and I'll forget I saw you. But you stay and try to fight me, and you'll die", Hatchet said.

"You don't see me running away, do you?"

"Hm. Very well. This should be interesting.

Not too far away from the confrontation, Blueno and Moira were having a customer at the bar. Blueno had a look of shock on his face. Blueno realized he wasn't imagining things when he looked into her eyes. The whole time Claire; under the guise of Rita, sat there and put her drink down, she slipped some pretty obvious malicious hints. "What's the matter Blueno? You look like you've seen a ghost", she said.

"How many of these things can she pound down", Moira asked. The entire table was lined with glasses that were at one point filled with some of the strongest drinks they had. Strangely enough, each glass had her lipstick on it. Any normal person would have been drunk by now at the rate she was consuming them. "She could drink my dad under the table, that's for sure."

"I'll take that as a compliment. Now then, I have some business to tend to. Here you are", she said as she put a sack of gold coins on the table. "This is such a nice place. It would be a shame if something happened to it", she said. A pretty obvious hint that it was finally time. The concept of discretion was becoming less and less of a concern to them it seemed.

If Blueno wanted to avoid getting Moira and Gilligan involved, he would have to face the music...and hope it's not too much to handle. "Alright, I've had enough of this cat and mouse game. You want me, come and get me! Air Door!" Blueno hopped into the space he created behind him.

"Alright then. The fight is on!" Claire hopped into the door dimension that Blueno created, ready to initiate the plan to eradicate the former agent.

"Wait! What happened?! Blueno, what are you doing", Moira asked. By the time she was able to react, both Blueno and Claire had literally disappeared into thin air!

"Moira, whats with all the shouting? And where's Blueno? He's not taking an early break is he", Gilligan asked.

"No...dad...I...I think someone is trying to hurt him."

"What makes you say that?"

"Think about it. Blueno has never acted this impulsively before. He jumped into an air door...and she followed suit as if she knew about the ability. I've never seen him let someone other than us in there so far and on top of that, both times he saw her, he acted very strangely from his normal self. Almost like he was afraid she knew something. This may be one of those things he didn't want us to know about.

"Oh, this place is all weird and distorted. So this is what its like to be in a dimension that exists alongside ours", Claire said. She didn't seem worried about being plucked from her world.

"You people never give up, do you? Going to chase us to the ends of the earth", Blueno asked as he shook his head.

"The hunters have become the hunted, you could say. Doesn't feel so good I imagine." Her lips were still two different lipstick colors, with the top still being red, and bottom still being yellow. "You should be thankful that we gave you this much time to live your lives, after your treason. I certainly hope you've made peace."

"OUR treason? The level of hypocrisy is strong in the government it seems. I warn you...just because you're a woman doesn't mean I won't fight you."

"I wasn't expecting you to hold back...that would be boring! Then again, this will probably be boring anyways. I know all about the door door fruit you possess. Offensively it's not one of the best fruits. Its more or less good for defense. Though there is ONE thing you could do to kill someone with this devil fruit. The same thing you were planning on doing to me once you got me here I assume?"

Blueno was shocked after hearing this. She couldn't have figured out his strategy already had she? "Elaborate."

"These doors only exist when YOU make them. But they also vanish out of existence when you close them. Hence, anyone who is left inside a closed door you are no longer present in, will vanish along with it...by your command of course."

"Indeed. And you followed me here knowing this?"

"Yes. The reason being, Is because your plan won't work, I'm afraid."

"We'll see about that", Blueno said as he opened another door and left the dimension. After hopping out and closing the door, he clenched his fist. "I'll send your regards to whoever sent you."

"Blueno! Are you ok? What happened", Moira asked.

"Nothing to be concerned about."

"Lies! We want the truth Blueno", Gilligan replied. Blueno simply turned his head. A very big part of him wanted to tell them the truth, but now that his enemy was supposedly out of the way, there was nothing to tell them. Right then and there, one of the drink glasses on the table shattered. One of the glasses that Claire had downed alcohol from earlier.

"Well that was weird", Moira said. But back to the point. Blueno, what are you not te...", her sentence was cut short by her own gasp as Blueno was impaled in the back by Claire's finger.

It took a second for him to process...but he realised that Claire was still alive, despite him "killing her", with his alternate dimension trick. "Yo-you!? But...how did you..."

"I told you your little plan would not work." She removed her finger, covered in Blueno's blood.

Blueno quickly turned around, and used his finger pistol technique, impaling her right through her forehead. "Blueno, what!? What are you doing!?"

"Heheheh! Bummer", Clair said, right before falling towards the ground. Her body did not hit the floor, however...rather, it burst into orange colored sparkles. Just then, another one of the drink glasses shattered.

"Huh? What's going on with her body", Blueno asked.

"I can also do that this way", Claire said. She was now sitting on a table at the far end of the bar. "She kissed her hand, and somehow left a red kiss mark on the palm of her hand, and blew it towards Blueno.

"Iron body", Blueno shouted. "He held out his arms and braced for the attack The kiss appeared to do nothing but stick to his shirt at first... but then a red needle popped out of Blueno's back. "But...how?", Blueno asked as he staggered backwards.

Moira and Gilligan quickly ran up and shouldered a him. Blueno, stay with us! Who the hell are you!?"

Claire simply shook her head in refusal to answer. "You needn't worry about that. Now, get out of the way so I can..."

"TO HELL WITH THAT", Moira shouted. Her voice echoed and created a shockwave that blew both Claire and several tables out of the building itself. There was no a huge hole in the wall of the bar.

"Moira...are you ok", Gilligan asked. He had a very worried expression on his face.

"Dad, I'm sorry about the wall. I just cant take this anymore. Blueno...I don't know what you've been hiding, but I cant take it anymore. This woman is clearly trying to kill you. For what reason I don't know...but if you wont tell us, then I'll just have to get it out of her. Even if I have to beat it out of her."

"Beat it out of me? Hehe. Well, talk about your empty threats. Even so, I'm starting to like you. Tell you what...lets make a game out of it. I'll fight you instead...and for each hit you can land, I'll tell you something of interest", Claire said as she re-entered the building through the destroyed wall.

"And what's the cache", Moira asked?

"You have to survive long enough to hear it", Claire replied. She had a very unsettling smile stretching across her face.

"If that's what it takes...I accept!"

"N-no. Stop her...she can't win", Blueno managed to utter. He was still breathing, but he didn't look like he was in much condition to fight.

"Dad...you and Blueno just stay back, ok? You keep him away", Moira said. She had a stern tone. "I'll take it from here.

Kalifa kept going over the conversation she had with her fellow coworkers from the café just a moment ago. Most if not all of them kept trying to question her sudden news of leaving...but she couldn't tell any of them. All she could tell them was she had to leave and go somewhere. She didn't even bother telling them that she would probably come back...because she didn't know if it was true. Even if she did survive this confrontation, there was no telling who they would send next. Were they doomed to this kind of life? A life of running away? This wasn't the storybook career she planned on having, but that was expected already at this point. Right now, she had to regroup with her comrades and think of a solid plan. Recalling the most recent status report given to her by the other ex-cipher pole members, she made her way to the beach in hopes the rest of them would follow suit. "She looked around and saw nothing but an empty beach. Supposedly people rarely came down to the beach since sea kings actively came close to shore here. "What's keeping them? Am I the only one who has encountered one of them", she asked herself. Unfortunately for her, someone other than herself answered back.

"Nope. By now, your other friends should also be falling victim to my other colleagues. They might already even be dead." That voice was unnervingly familiar. Her suspicion was confirmed when she turned to see Montague standing behind her, sipping from a mug.

"Your quite bold, attack in broad daylight. Not even we were known for that... well, at least not most of us." She thought back to hearing about Jabra, Kumadori, and Fukurou's mission to assassinate one of the leaders of the rebel army...which actually ended with them killing more people than they had intended to thanks to Fukurou's mouthy problem.

"To be honest, discretion isn't much of a concern to us as it is for regular cipher pole. We're only really quiet when we're gathering info on our targets. Enough about that though. Let's get this over with so I can move on to my next assignment", he said as he tossed the mug behind him.

"Take your best shot", Kalifa said. She rubbed her hands across her arms and produced bubbles in both her hands.

"Ah, the Bubble-Bubble fruit. It lets you make energy draining bubbles. Quite the useful ability since it lets you drain the energy of whoever you use it on. In the right hands its capable of deciding a battle, too! Though depending on the opponent, it could also be utterly useless. Of course, I am one of those opponents", he said.

"I don't buy it. As long as the bubbles come in contact with my target, they WILL work", she said as she launched a bubble blizzard at Montague.

"Indeed, they will, but if they don't make contact, they can't affect me. Like so!" He stomped his foot, causing a huge wall of sand to rise in front of him. Needless to say, the bubbles collided with the wall, and had no effect other than making the sand soapy. It fell, but only because he dropped it.

"What in the world",Kalifa asked. "What happened!?"

"I have a devil fruit ability of my own. It's the Wall-Wall fruit. It allows me to create a wall out of any inanimate object that I touch, like the sand you saw before you."

"Hmph. My power is starting to feel less and less ridiculous", Kalifa said with a smile. She was actually starting to feel less and less worried about this fight already. A very easy mistake to make."

"Well, I don't think there is a such thing as a ridiculous Devil Fruit ability. As I'm sure you've heard, it all depends on how you use it. You really shouldn't underestimate mine though. It can be quite...KILLER", he said as he quickly picked up the coffee much behind him and threw it at her.

The mug flew fast, but Kalifa wasn't slow. She could easily see the mug approaching...but the mug that Montague through warped and grew into a much larger mound of ceramic proportions. At the very last second, she jumped out of the way of the incoming hazard...and the moment she rolled; she could already see Montague standing at her side. "How can he be so fast!?"

"ANY inanimate object I touch", he repeated. He placed his hand on the ground and jumped out of the way, and just like that, a wall of sand erected around Kalifa.

"You think a little sand can stop me?"

"No, but it certainly distracted you." Montague clenched his fist, and a sharp stream of sand stabbed Kalifa right in the leg! "Sorry...forgot to mention my pistol attacks can be transferred through the walls", he said with a smile.

Kalifa gritted her teeth, as she tried to keep her balance. Clearly these 'Silencers' have mastered both their abilities in both assassination AND devil fruit. "How did you do that!?"

"Once you awaken to a devil fruit, you'd be surprised on the things you could do with it...but you won't get the chance to experience it. Your draining bubble attacks wont affect me if they cant touch me, and your little 'soap bar' defense renders you immobile. With how badly I injured your leg, your speed is probably already half of what it originally was. I'm afraid you literally have no means to stop me, meaning my next strike will end you without a doubt. So be a good gal, and hold still!"

"Dont take another step", a familiar voice said.

At first it seemed like it came from nowhere thanks to the sand blocking her vision, but she knew who it was. "Hmph. I didn't think you'd follow me."

"Well you can thank Heaton. Him and his paranoia finally convinced me to see what was up for myself. I told you I didn't pry", Borya said.

"Hey! My 'paranoia' was right in the end. That guy's trying to kill her", Heaton shouted.

"And he brought Heaton. Those two dopes will never let me live this down I bet", Kalifa said as she smiled.

"And you two are", Montague asked.

"The cavalry", Borya replied.

"HE'S the cavalry...I'm just the escort", Heaton added nervously.

"This doesn't concern you two. Walk away", Montague said. The coldness in his eyes were as chilling as the coldness on his face.

"I have to agree with him actually. You must leave this instant", Kalifa said. She tried to play it cool by adjusting her glasses again, but she was worried. She knew Borya wouldn't just leave.

"Stop playing it cool, Kalifa", Heaton said as he jumped down onto the sand. "Now come on, we have to get you back and get you some medical attention. Please don't kick me!" He grabbed on to her and tried to keep her upright.

Montague sighed, and scratched his head. "Very well. I'll just have to force you out of the way. As he prepared to dash at the two, Borya jumped over onto the battlefield as well. "You too, huh?"

"Dont be a fool Borya. Listen to me when I say that he's dangerous. There's a lot you don't know about me OR him."

"Yes, and I intend to find out later, if you would be nice enough to tell me. Now Heaton, would you please escort her back to the café for now."

"Right! Get him good, ok", Heaton replied as he began to shoulder Kalifa back to the café.

"I can walk you know, and I cant leave them like this."

"He's giving you an opportunity to escape. We don't know what's going on, but you clearly can't beat that guy. Just let him take care of this and we'll get this sorted out later?"

"Hm...ok, I'll let him take a crack at it. I just hope he knows it wont be that easy..."

"Your protecting a criminal, you know", Montague said.

Borya nodded. I had a feeling it was something like that. Regardless, she's still my employee, so I cant allow you to off her. By the way, aren't you a murderer?"

"I suppose you could think like that, but I'm more of an angel of justice. You sir, are getting in the way of that justice. Planning to become a nuisance are you?"

"Indeed, I do. If you want to get to them, you'll have to go through me!"

"Kumadori San, are you ok", Gurin asked. Just a moment ago, they were having a lovely conversation about their last show performed at the Zero theater...but Kumadori suddenly turned abnormally quiet. It's as if he were suddenly in a trance. She got no response from him. Both of his eyes were closed. "Kumadori?" Still no response. If it weren't for his hair blowing in the wind, you would almost think he was a statue. Even his breathing seemed slow...though that was far from the case. His heart raced, as he too was in the middle of a confrontation.

"You have intruded into my psyche for the last time! Show yourself, villain!" He yelled out. He was shouting out into the space in his own head. He was able to pick up this intruder in his own mind...but how?"

"Villian? HA! Oh how naïve you ex cp9 agents are. Its quite funny actually."

"Explain whats so funny!"

"You 'killed in the name of Justice' for people who don't even care about you enough to save you from certain doom! Can you honestly call me a villian when the word has no true target at this point. I could be the villian to you...but you're the villain to me. There's also evil pirates, and the world government who wants you dead. In a way, everyone is the villian", the voice said as she reappeared. She looked the same as she did the first time he saw her. A long red Yukata, and a white mask. She had a point. It was hard to tell just who was in the wrong here. So many stipulations, rivaled with who's justice was right or wrong. In more waus than one, maybe he and his friends were villains even outside the cipher pole branch.

"Very wise, I must admit, however I will not allow you to end my life!"

"Hmhmhm. Well someone has to. You clearly can't do it yourself like I was expecting you to, so I guess I have to do it myself." She was clearly poking fun at him. Needless to say he was not impressed. "I want you to think about something for a second. Think about something. Think about all those people you killed. Some of which were completely innocent. I mean, you guys even ended up killing 22 people just because of something they may or may not have believed in. You should really be ashamed of yourself." She sighed...but truth be told this was all part of her phycological warfare.

"Dont...try and mess with me! I...I only did what I was told", Kumadori replied. There was an unsureness in his voice. HE quickly twirled his staff in his hand, and prepared it for attack. "Pistol Q!"

The long staff launched towards the silencer woman, but she simply reached out and grabbed the tip with it being only a coin away from impacting her face. "Quite interesting. You made your own version of the finger pistol attack. Its not as uncommon as I make it sound, but it's the first time I've seen someone use it via staff."

Kumadori gritted his teeth, and pulled the staff back! "Why thank you. It has taken years of pract...gah" a small moment of flattery and he was caught off guard. A finger pistol right into his chest.

"Hm...you may have gotten sharper in mind, but it seems you have gotten rusty in reflex. The others are surely suffering the same I take it." There was a glee of some sort in her voice. While it may not have been visible, she must have been smiling.

Outside of his conscience, Gurin eyes him attentively. At first she was starting to think maybe he was just in a deep meditation, but it became more than that, once she saw the blood running down his shirt. "Kumadori, your bleeding! Kumadori can you hear me?" She frantically shook him...but he remained in his meditated state. Ok that's it! If you wont come back to me, I'll come to YOU.

Kumadori hopped backwards away from the attacking woman. "I have been stabbed before! If that is the best you can do, then I'm very certain you will be no threat to me!" He twirled the staff again, but this time it caught on fire.

"And YOU are even more silly than I thought you were if you think I put any effort into that attack."

"Hair bind", Kumadori yelled! His hair extended towards her this time, and entrapped her in a jungle of hair. "It restrained her and even lifted her into the air. "Now, you will be punished! Punished for even attempting to come after us!"

"Well done Kumadori. I mean I saw the attack coming of course, but I congratulate you for doing exactly what I predicted you to do. Now, your mine!" She used her finger to touch the bundle of hair wrapped around her wrist. Now you shall see my power!"

"W-what!?" The moment she touched his hair, he felt something...rather he didn't feel anything. His hair had drooped down to the ground! "What have you done!? My hair...wont listen to me!"

"Allow me to introduce you to the power of the Shock-Shock fruit. Whenever I touch someone, it sends a small bold of power through your body. After enough time, it will start to go numb...and eventually, you'll be completely paralyzed, A very powerful paramecia fruit indeed. They told me it would be perfect for dealing with you."

"No...no! I think I understand! They CHOSE people who could counter our abilities! Please...please don't let it be them who told you about us", Kumadori said. A tear formed into his eye. He had plenty of faith in them at first, but then he wondered if it really was Rob Lucci and Kaku who gave away thier position? Even though these Silencers watched them, there had to be more to it than that. These people were specifically chosen to deal with him and his friends.

"I received orders from above. While I can't say for certain how they got this info, it doesn't matter." She rolled up her sleeve, and revealed herself to now be holding a long dagger. "Now, if you dont mind...I'LL be the one to slice your belly open this time."

She began to walk upon the black ground. The area around became very clouded...meaning his mind was as well. He was so conflicted with his trust for the two who left them, he wasn't really able to think as clear. "I-iron body", he said...though his body did not harden. His arms and legs were starting to grow numb as well."

"That's not going to help you. The first attack into your chest was the first touch...the second touch was the strands of your hair. Not that it will be needed, since you're already on the verge of paralysis, but a third touch would make you go into complete shock. I'll at least grant you that before I plunge this blade into you." Despite her walking on nothing, her shoes still made a clacking sound. Was she somehow gaining more control over his mind than he was?

Kumadori tried moving his hair again...but it barely moved. It continued to lie at the ground, and at his sides. He couldn't even form them into fingers to defend himself. It would appear that the information eh received about these silencers was right...they were good. "Gurin...my friends...I am sorry. I failed...and I couldn't even put up a fight. Perhaps this is what I deserve? At least I will get to see my dear mother again."

"Kumadori I'm here to save you like we promised", Gurin said as she flew in from the dark clouded sky.

"Gurin! You entered my mind? How is this possible? Your meditation..."

"Iv'e gotten better of course! How could you fight this woman!? I wanted you to run", she shouted angrily.

"Thats wouldn't have done him any good. He's been running for almost a year now and I found him easily by choice. You're that dragoness he's been around lately right? Gurin was it?"

"Oh shut it! I won let you hurt Kumadori anymore! He hasn't done anything to you", Gurin said.

"Thats not for you to decide. And in any case you really shouldn't even be here. It would be in your best interest to leave anyway. After I kill him, this place will only last for a few seconds before it vanishes. More than enough time for someone like me to escape, but..."

"I'm not moving! I'm tasking Kumadori back to the forest!"

"And that will get you where, exactly?"

"She's right...she'll just keep coming after me", Kumadori replied. He was now laying on the ground. The feeling in his body was becoming more and more scarce as the seconds went by.

"Then...if it means protecting you, then I guess I have no choice. I'll defeat her here!" Kumadori's eye went wide.

"Defeat me? Have you no sense left in your head, child? Though I will admit, you do show some promise. Being able to enter one's mind this way takes a lot of skill...that or maybe you just got lucky? I cant say for sure. Either way, I wont stop you from trying to help him...but as I'm sure you probably know, this could end with both you AND him dying. Are you willing to take that risk?

"No! I wont allow it. I told her to stay out of this. YOU are my opponent, you devil woman", Kumadori yelled. He was still grounded, but then intensity of his shout echoed through the realm. The realm itself even began to have a red tint.

"You cant even move right now Kumadori. Not only do you not have a say in this...but I cant let her kill you. I will fight you, lady!" Her eyes flared, as f they themselves would burst on fire.

The lady simply giggled. "Oh very well. I'm curious to see how far your drive to protect this man will take you. By the way, you may call me Raflessia", she said as she bowed.

"Your're going to fight me, Serenity? Is this some sort of joke? You wouldn't honestly go against a silencer?" Serenity

"I will! And do you know why that is?"

"For your fallen comrade, I'm guessing?"

"Yes that...but also because I cant let you do this to him", Serenity said as she pointed over at Fukurou.

"Serenity? What do you mean", Fukurou asked.

"I know it sounds weird, but, I see myself in you. I may not have been in the same situation as you, but I almost was. It's a shame it went this far for you, but its not too late to stop it from happening. So yes, I will fight for them." Serenity came forward and took off her nametag.

"Interesting development. And I accept your offer. And do YOU know why THAT is?" Serenity shook her head. "Because I'll consider it a test of my own strength. A fun little competition, I guess. I want to see if I can beat one of the strongest cipher pole members in history, AND kill my target all in one day."

"Get over yourself! Serenity, don't do this! This is my fight, not yours! I can...I can..."

"You can what, Fukurou", Serenity asked expectantly. "I may not be able to help all your friends, but I can help you at least. If their lucky, maybe they have people to help them too. If it was meant to be, you'll see them soon, though hopefully in the land of the living.

"Well isn't this touching? What happened to the cold Serenity I used to know", the man asked.

"I never actually KNEW you, so don't ask me such a question. And you'd do best not to take challenging me so lightly! For all you know, I might be the one who ends up killing you", Serenity said. Her eyes took a very dark turn. They were normally very cool and collected, one might even say peaceful, but now it was as foreboding as any other cipher pole assassin. Almost as if something switched in her.

"Ah, now there's a look that screams challenging. You want to go, Serenity. Very well. Let me see what you can do. As for you, Fukurou...I advise you to run while you still can, because after I'm done with her, I WILL rub you out", he said.

"But Serenity, the library", Fukurou said. He was hinting at her that they ensuing battle would do more than just damage a few books.

"I know...but, I have no choice. I get the feeling he' not going to leave anyway", she replied.

"Its just a crumby building with a bunch of old boring books. I'm sure someone will rebuild it or something. Tch...years of retirement, ad THIS is what you've come to? Spending your days in a bland old library, protecting a rouge agent? My how the mighty have fallen!"

Fukurou came up to Serenity and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Serenity! The beach on the west side of the island. Just remember that ok", Fukurou said. He seemed to be throwing her some sort of hint. He then zoomed past the imposing silencer.

"I at least must thank you for being a good sport", Serenity said.

"Dont get me twisted...I am only doing this for my own game, and not for your, or his wellbeing. Now show me what you can do!"

All around the island, the battle positions were being set. With the imposing doom threatening their friends...it was do or die time.