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Cloak and Dagger (Part Two)
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"Why?"
That's what they asked me.
It's what I asked, too.
But when I pushed myself for an answer, I got something I didn't expect.
It's amazing how easily it came.
I could only think:
"How could it have been anyone else?"
My only regret is that I didn't realize any sooner.
"How could it have been anyone else?"
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Yang closed Summer's diary with a breathless sigh.
She had finished reading Summer's recount of how her two mothers came to be. They were teammates, best friends… then after a time, enemies.
After Raven changed sides, there was no end to the reasons why Summer should have severed ties with her.
Even so…
"How could it have been anyone else?"
Yang echoed the words Summer spoke so long ago.
It touched on something, a crack in her heart that had been widening for months. Her mother's words set something free.
Yang's mind was made. Her doubts dispelled and her fate decided. She wanted to return to Vacuo as soon as possible.
"We have to get back to Vacuo as soon as possible!" Emerald yelled, as she and Professor Oobleck burst into the private reading room.
"What's up?" Yang asked.
"Mercury just sent me an encrypted text. Salem's made her move on Vacuo."
"Crap!"
The three rushed to the upper floors of the Tower. They ran past several piles of books, knocking them over without a second thought. It was imperative they find Papyrus.
"How bad is it?!" Yang asked.
"I don't know! Merc didn't exactly send me pics! Apparently, it's a gigantic Grimm army."
"Like, Battle of Dracul big?"
"Bigger, MUCH bigger."
"And Vacuo still has their Cuckoo problem."
"Yup! Which is why, we need to haul ass back to the capital. Like, yesterday!"
"But that'll take days!"
"You think I don't know that?!"
They stopped at the top floor and spotted the record keeper furiously writing at a study table. Oobleck picked up the latest page freshly written and read it aloud.
"'Ferocious beasts bore hungry maws at what they thought was dinner! But lo'! They were caught unawares by what they thought was easy prey, was in fact an esteemed Huntsman!'"
"Is that… Professor Port?" Yang pointed curiously at the document.
"Yes, it appears Papyrus is recording the current events via Peter's diary entries!" Oobleck answered.
"Oh! I get it! So, you guys arranged this beforehand so you could keep tabs on current events!"
"No, not at all. Peter just likes to write in his diary constantly."
"In the middle of a fight?!"
"Yes. He's very good at keeping accounts of his exploits. I often wish I had his ability to put pen to paper, irregardless of the harrowing situation!"
"Uh…huh."
The three started pouring over the notes Papyrus previously wrote. In it, they found bits and details between Professor Port's grandeur embellishments, that painted a picture of the situation.
After Temujin threw the first "gauntlet", the forces of Grimm and Vacuo clashed. Although the Kingdom's military had never faced such a sizable host of monsters, the battle seemed to be going in their favor. Vacuo's warriors were well-versed in dealing with the varied species of Grimm. They also demonstrated an organization that rivaled the most disciplined armies.
"Hm…" Emerald glared at the most recently recorded books. "Our librarian doesn't just record Vacuo's side either. Take a look," she shoved a tome into Yang's hands. "Inna and Bean are here, too."
Yang skimmed through the information like a starved bibliophile.
"Bean's commanding the armies… He wants to hunt me down… Adam's here … Someone named Jupiter Black? Isn't that—"
"Mercury's cousin and president of the douchebag assassin society."
"This is… This is Blake's diary."
"Yup!" Emerald shouted, while picking up another book. "With any luck, we can figure out what Salem's planning. Meanwhile, the Professor can keep a pulse on how the battle is going."
"But we need to get back there now!"
"One problem at a time, Yang! You said it yourself, it'll take days to get back! We need to play the smart game here. If we find something crucial, our messages might do more help than us actually being there."
Yang heard the reason in Emerald's argument and agreed. But somewhere deep down, all she could worry about was Neo. She knew her partner could handle herself, but it wasn't enough to abate her fears. The fact that they were separated by such a distance, in such a dangerous time, drove her mind to conjure the worst.
Yang watched Emerald shuffle through another mound of papers in frustration. Her leader wasn't as composed as her words let on either. No doubt, Emerald was just as worried about Mercury.
"As soon as we find what Salem's planning, we're out of here!" Emerald shouted without looking at her.
"Yeah. Yeah, alright!"
Yang dove back into the haystack of information with gusto.
Just be alright, Neo.
Please, be alright.
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X
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Neo threw her parasol into a row of Grimm, corkscrewing them all through the chest cavity.
With a wave of her hand, her weapon swooped into a u-turn and flew back into her hands. She opened the umbrella to let out a small spray of black blood, causing her to lick her lips with a depraved smile.
She gave a small inward thank you to Ruby, who made the upgrades to her weapon.
Meanwhile, Mercury soared above with a number of Vacuo's airborne fighters trailing behind. After activating his Semblance, he kicked up a sandstorm in the middle of Salem's army. Rough debris and jagged rock wore away at the more durable species of Grimm, while lighter ones were caught up in the tornado.
Throughout the battlefield, soldiers exercised their specialized roles. If they fulfilled a long-distance position, they fought safely from the backlines. The more hands-on fighters took to the vanguard to face the brunt of the opposition. Some fought together, some separate. And then, there were those who traversed wildly into the chaos.
Chain Nai's blue-ringed skin glowed with a dark sea hue. Between his elbow and knee, he clamped a Jester's hyena-like snout. The force caused the front half of the skull to cave, but it was the warrior's Venom Semblance that proved the creature's fatal undoing.
Not too far away, a shining warrior faced off against a unit of Moredread Knights five v. one. The monsters boasted a heavily-fortified armor composed of dense bone. Their medieval style appearance added with the giant buster blade they hefted overhead, made for daunting figures. Yet the lone fighter stood, unfazed by the challenge.
When their swords fell like a waterfall of guillotines, the man batted them away like sheets of cardboard. The last one, he caught in a single, gold and black gloved hand.
"Compared to Qrow and Athos, you might as well be using toy swords," Taiyang taunted.
With a flick of his wrist, the Moredread he caught the sword of, twisted in the air. With his free hand, Taiyang loosed a palm strike on the Grimm's bony helm. The Aura infused into the technique transposed through the armor and exploded within the knight's vulnerable brain matter. Before the corpse fell, and the other four Moredread could react, Taiyang was on them.
His fingers became pointed to align with his forearm. An upward thrust sent a spear-like motion under one of the Grimm's armpits, where its armor was weakest. The ligaments connecting the Moredread's limb tore like tissue paper.
With Taiyang's hands still formed into a straight edge, he sent a chopping fist through the neck of two others.
The sword wielding Grimm were classified as A-Class. But against a fighter of their complete counter and caliber, five had fallen within mere moments.
Bean saw through the eyes of the dying Grimm and decided to take a different approach. His army was never meant to fight on even ground. They were meant to abuse their numbers, and abuse their numbers he did.
The young boy directed a pack of Jesters Taiyang's way and a Deathstalker towards his back. He didn't expect them to win, but sap away at the martial artist's stamina.
Just when they reached combat distance, a rain of icy shards carpeted the area, encompassing the man himself. Though, the attack only seemed to shatter against Taiyang's now tattooed skin.
"Hm. Will Tai take no offense to that?" Minerva asked from a distance.
"He's used to it," Glynda answered, before casting another icy hailstorm over a different area. "Is it me, or is this battle proceeding a little too easily?"
"I am of the same mind. Salem has yet to play any of her proverbial trump cards."
"Our casualties are still low." Glynda pushed up her glasses, before diverting a small herd of stampeding Goliaths into charging its allies. "But the longer this battle goes on, the more disadvantageous our position."
"Agreed. What do you suggest?"
"I've been trying to figure out where the commander of this army is located."
Another group of Grimm rushed their position, but Glynda levitated them into the air, while Minerva waved her wand to cause an explosion, incinerating them into pieces.
"Going by the way the Grimm are directed, I can only assume whoever is in control, is commanding them from there!" Glynda pointed her riding crop.
Minerva followed the direction and saw a number of Grimm waiting on standby. Some would now and then, breakaway for a maneuver, but were quickly replaced. The behavior was almost unnoticeable in all the chaos.
"So, we will have our troops advance there."
"No," Glynda shook her head. "There's too much ground to cover and they will see our approach right away. If we take them by surprise, we stand a chance of ending this battle prematurely."
"…I'm not fond of the tone your suggestion is taking…"
"My Magic has a wide enough area of effect. If I can get close, I should be able trap them in the middle of it."
"That is a fool's gambit, Glynda."
"If you have a better plan to stop Salem before she can activate the Cuckoos, I'd very much like to hear it."
"…"
"So, there is no other option."
"Wait!"
Without another second, Glynda bolted for the enemy commander's position. She ducked and rolled between enemies as well as allies. Short-range Magic darts repelled the Grimm in her way. The Huntress made rapid progress towards her destination, but eventually, the beasts around her started to take notice.
They swarmed from the land and sky. Flying Preyer Mantis swept low with their scythe-like forelegs. Some of the Moredread lumbered in her direction in a joust. Glynda cast a shield around her, but it was quickly being whittled away.
If she could only make it a few more meters, she knew she could invoke a storm large enough to encompass the commander's surroundings. She didn't even need to live to maintain the spell. Just starting the incantation would be enough. Just emptying her Aura for all its worth would be enough.
Then, she heard her barrier crack and her riding crop short like a bad fuse. Glynda didn't know where the next attack was coming from. There were too many angles. She could recast her shield, but by that time, it would be too late.
As a Jester pounced from behind her back, a pair of fingers thrust into its eye sockets. The hand gripped the top of its cranium and swung it into another pack of hyenas, knocking them over like bowling pins.
The man body-blocked Glynda from the attacks coming outside her peripheries. His diamond-hard skin deflected any harm and reflected the impact, in some cases. Claws and fangs shattered on contact with the tattooed surface.
"This is a bit reckless for you, don't you think?!" Taiyang shouted.
"I knew you would be there," Glynda replied.
"Yeah, well, you know I can't keep this up forever!"
"I know, Tai. But I also know you can keep it up for long enough."
"It's tough being reliable," he said with a smugness to hide the strain on his body.
"Hmhmhm!" Glynda chuckled in a slightly flirtatious way.
She quickly refocused on her task. Glynda saw the assumed Grimm commander and the escorts retreating back. But by now, it was already too late. She was well within target range.
Glynda stabbed her riding crop to the sky like a divine sword. Clouds formed to her summons. A large violet insignia pulsated as the weather became shaded with a low rumble. Bright veins of light flashed within the swirling veil like outlined blood vessels.
Not another second passed before pillars of pure, electric destruction descended on Salem's army. They traced the ground, gorging through the earth like a scroll saw. All the Grimm the light touched were instantly burned into a crisp.
Glynda was elated with the success, but stopped herself from getting carried away. She dealt a heavy blow by conjuring the thunderstorm deep into enemy lines, but that was not the main purpose of her stratagem. She watched the other Grimm outside the storm to see if her gamble paid off.
There was no change at first and it made her heart freeze up. But sure enough, the creatures gradually lost a sense of focus. A few breaths later and they began to scatter in retreat. Countless legs trampled and stumbled over each other, while Vacuo warriors pressed forward to slay any stragglers.
Glynda's knees gave out, and she sat in a manner that betrayed her usual stringent demeanor.
"Wow…"
She turned a sly eye to the awestruck Taiyang.
"What are you so surprised about?" Glynda asked.
"I sometimes forget how scary you can be."
"Really?"
"It doesn't happen a lot, cause you know, you're constantly reminding everyone. But times like this really drive it home."
"I'm flattered."
"No, you're not."
"You're right. I'm not."
"Issss this a bad time to say, I think I'm in lo—"
"Don't finish that sentence, Tai."
Glynda got to her feet and started making her way back to Minerva.
"Or else I'm liable to cast a second thunderstorm."
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X
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At the top floor of the Tower, Professor Oobleck set down the latest of Professor Port's diary entry with a serious look.
"It appears, thanks to some brave heroics on Glynda's part, the battle for Vacuo reached premature conclusions."
Emerald breathed a groaning sigh before falling on top a nearby pile of books. She even thought about taking a nap, before noticing Oobleck's tenseness unchanged.
Okay, did I miss something, or did you just say the battle was over?"
"I did," he replied.
"So, are you one of those people with resting angry face or…"
"Salem did not appear on the battlefield, nor did any of her named associates, save the individual Glynda forced to withdraw. The majority of the opposition were comprised of Grimm, and not the Nightmare Class we know to have joined her fold."
"Probably conserving them. This was only the first fight."
"A plausible theory…"
"So! No time to waste, Prof. We need to blow this joint, Hey, punchy! That means you, too!"
Emerald strode over to Yang sitting cross-legged, and kicked her boot. Though, the kick registered, the girl seemed completely immersed in what she was reading.
"What? Find something new?"
"No… But something's off," Yang shook her head. "Blake, or well, Salem, keeps talking about this 'Cloak and Dagger' plan. She has to know we're at this Tower, right? I mean, she didn't see us at the battle, she's gotta have some idea."
"The idea tracks. What are you getting at?"
"She's probably watching what everyone puts on message. But I've been piecing together the clues we do have. Some texts between Bean and Jupiter Black, along with some other assassins the guy brought along."
"And?"
"They don't line up. The timing for their plan sounded like it was set for the battle. They kept sending these updates to each other. 'Are you in position?', 'Yes', 'Are we on schedule?', 'Yes', that kind of thing."
"They're smart enough to keep the contents vague. Still, could be nothing…" Emerald felt paranoia creep in. "But when is it ever nothing?"
The girl paced the room a bit. Professor Oobleck had his own doubts prior to Yang's. Emerald started biting her thumbnail as she walked in circles. Now, she was sure something was wrong.
Salem's associates.
The first battle lost.
A battle lost prematurely?
Did they throw the fight on purpose?
'Cloak and Dagger'.
Emerald stopped in her step.
"Shit…"
"What? Did you figure it out?" Yang jumped.
"It's in the stupid name! Salem's such a pompous asshole! But, shit. We're the only ones who know about it, and we're too far away to make a difference!" Emerald shouted, while pulling out her scroll, typing as fast as she could.
"What is it, Em?!"
"Cloak and Dagger, Yang! If that whole fight was the cloak…"
Yang's eyes widened with realization.
"Where's the dagger?"
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X
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As Temujin made her way back to the throne room with tired steps, she was helped by Mouse and Knives Rakis into her seat.
"Hoh hoh," she planted herself with a dry chuckle. "Hardly lifted a finger and all these bones start creaking like thin-leaf plywood."
"I wouldn't call firing a couple airships and spears the size of most people 'hardly lifting a finger,'" Mouse smirked.
"Oh, then you should have seen me in my prime. Riding my motorcycle into battle with hell's fury at my beck and call. It would've made today's display look shameful in comparison."
"You're still plenty strong."
"Peh!" Temujin brushed it off. "No, most definitely not strong. But perhaps a tad shrewder in my age. (I mostly get you youngsters to fight my battles for me now)."
At that moment, Knives brought a freshly steaming cup of tea, and set it on Temujin's armrest. The elder was about to drink it, before she pulled back.
"Knives, this is much too hot. Can't you bring me a cooler cup?"
The two siblings gave a momentary pause.
"A gentle reminder for you to slow down and take your time," Knives replied smoothly.
"Take any more time and I might right die of old age."
"Enough of that. For now, Mouse and I will handle the logistics of the aftermath. We'll report when everything is summarized."
"We suffered very little casualties…"
"Yes, we did."
"…That doesn't sit well. Victory never comes so easily."
She stared into the sibling's pairs of silver eyes and saw they reflected something far-off in the distance. Not just the distance, but possibly the future.
"Be vigilant, children. And Knives, thank you for attending to the other matter."
"Of course. Please, take this time to enjoy your tea."
With Knives' parting words, the siblings left the room. Temujin was left to stare at her tea cup with a pout.
"How am I supposed to enjoy it if I can't drink it?"
The drink still a thick haze of steam swirling from its surface…
—until the steam suddenly wavered.
Like the whisper of an ominous wind.
…
"Ah… I really am getting old." Temujin set the cup down and gripped her cane. "To think I didn't notice an assassin until they came this close."
From an open window, Vulcan Black leapt in with his giant maul in hand. The head of his hammer torched with the flame and lava of a volcanic eruption. A heavy cloud of billowing smolder trailed from his downward swing.
"Cheeky brat."
Temujin tapped her cane once against the stone floor and activated her "territory".
Vulcan was less than five paces away, when his body suddenly faltered. His large stature crumbled under its own weight, causing him to fall to the ground. He immediately started choking for air as his vision blurred. It was as if the atmosphere itself was trying to kill him, rejecting him like a bacterial infection.
Temujin stood from her seat and bade her teacup a glance.
She thought about how strange the Rakis twins were acting, and how unusual Knives was about bringing her a drink much hotter than her usual brew. It was a subtle ploy to warn her.
They must have used their Semblance to see this.
No wonder she gave me an especially steaming cup.
How nice it is to have such thoughtful children…
Temujin made her slow way to Vulcan, who was nearing unconsciousness.
"Huh. Never met an assassin as big as you. In my prime days, we would have enjoyed a grand battle. Alas, I can't really act that way anymore. My days of fighting head-on, facing my foe blow for blow!" she pumped her fists, then went into a tired lament. "Long past, I'm afraid. I've had to resort to more under-handed techniques."
Vulcan concentrated all his focus into moving his arm. It reached for his trusty maul that fell just a few millimeters from his outstretched fingers. He could almost touch it, when Temujin's foot rested on his knuckles.
"Still haven't given up on killing me! My respects, warrior!"
Vulcan was practically frothing at the mouth. Nothing but his rage and anguish kept him alive.
"It was sore luck you were contracted to kill me. I doubt there was ever a worst target in all of Remnant for assassinations than myself. And this Semblance of mine… it was meant for something much more monstrous than you."
The giant assassin was now shaking uncontrollably.
"Well, may you have peaceful passage into the afterlife knowing you were defeated by the strongest Aura Skill practitioner to ever exist."
At some point, Vulcan stopped resisting. Something of a quiet acceptance started to seep into his soul.
"My apologies, young warrior. But this is death."
Temujin sharpened her cane with Aura Skill, before plunging it swiftly through Vulcan's back. The blow came quick and merciful, and without pain.
A heavy silence filled the chamber.
"The greatest shame for an assassin having failed their mission is a corpse left behind. I shall endeavor to preserve your dignity as much as possible. An unmarked grave in the middle of the dunes, where no one will uncover your remains. I suppose I owe that much for my disgraceful methods."
Temujin tore down one of the large tapestries hanging from the walls, and threw it over Vulcan's corpse.
"Now, that I think of it, I never asked your name."
"I suppose that too is a preservation of dignity for an assassin."
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X
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A far distance away, three figures laid on their stomachs, peeking just barely over the crest of a tall sand dune.
"Curious…Very curious…" one of them muttered behind his intricately designed magnifying glass.
Bean and Inna, who watched the same scene play out turned to him with expectation.
"You've discovered the method Temujin employed against Vulcan?" Bean asked.
"You didn't?" the man asked back.
"Reason unclear. Vulcan… collapsed without any point of contact or visible action. Your theory is required, Professor Moriarty."
"Elementary, young man. But I must say, her Semblance is more flexible than I would have guessed. But these eyes see, this brain knows," the man tapped his temple. "My Semblance learns all secrets."
"Explanation required," Bean repeated.
Moriarty gave a dark chuckle.
"The old bat used her Warsmith's Semblance to 'weaponize'her surroundings. Atmospheric pressure, temperature, air, I'd dare even include gravity—all of it came under her control. She can make her environment literally a weapon. How fascinating."
The young boy went into silent shock before speaking again.
"Conclusion drawn: close combat deemed impossible. Only viable alternative is long-range methods."
"It'll be tough catchin' an Aura Skill user like Temujin from long-range," Inna added her input. "But if anyone can do it, I can."
The girl nodded her consent, but Moriarty gave them both a dismissive look. He stroked his thick broom mustache in thought.
"Not necessarily. There appears to be a weakness… For now, we should regroup and report to Salem. Our other cohorts should be carrying the rest of Dagger Phase as we speak."
"…Agreed," Bean answered. "The second wave must be prepared."
The three left their hiding spot and made for the mountain ridge they made headquarters. On the way back, Bean glanced to the Haven Professor seemingly doing a multitude of calculations in his head.
"Probability of Dagger Team's success?" the boy asked.
"85% by my observation."
"…And success of eliminating the main targets?"
"Hmmm. Four of the six objectives should be met, if we are to include Vulcan's failed mission, though, that was within expectation."
"And the other failed target?"
"Chain Nai will likely survive. He is exceptionally formidable. The rest of the targets will not."
Bean went silent. He felt a pinch at the edge of his heart.
He didn't know them well, or particularly liked them. But there were two individuals targeted for elimination in Dagger Phase he felt some bitterness towards.
Bean muttered quietly under his breath,
"Sorry, Yang."
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X
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In the aftermath of the battle, the Black Iron Road had all its furnaces fired immediately.
They didn't know when the next battle would break out and many of those who took part in the fight, needed repairs to their weapons as soon as possible. This also held true for those with prosthetics.
As a result, a long line queued up outside Brigid's workshop. All her apprentices were working around the clock, dashing back and forth between stations. They ran out to exchange parts they were low on with other shops. And among the chaos, Brigid received her next patron with a certain grin.
"Mercury!" she bellowed. "Take care of this one here!"
Mercury quickly put the finishing touches to a Faunus' ear in time to clear a seat.
A boy, a bit pockmarked in the face and some bloody scrapes, sat down on the stool in front of him. The little soldier looked a little worse for wear, but he didn't act like it. Instead, he beamed with a pride only the young and boastful could have.
"Can't believe your old man let you join the aerial unit," Mercury shook his head, and began disassembling the damaged parts to Icarus' wing.
"I only worked support mostly," he replied shyly.
"Uh huh. And you get these scrapes only working support?"
"Well, when the main units were busy somewhere else, they needed us to hold the lines on another front. We couldn't let any Grimm pass the wall, after all."
"How many did you get?"
"About… five."
"So, two. Pretty good for a greenhorn."
"I said, five!"
"I saw two."
Icarus blushed with embarrassment.
"You were watching me?"
"Yeah. Only cause you were watching me."
"That was cause you were so cool! How did you make a storm by yourself?! Can you teach me to do that?!"
"Maybe. Probably should check with your dad first. Where is the hard ass, anyway?"
"Oh, he's right here, cousin."
Mercury heard the poison in that voice, and turned with an indescribable feeling of dread.
Not far from Icarus was Daed—and behind Daed was a cloaked figure wearing a steel mask. The assassin tucked a knife just barely visibly under his hostage's throat.
"Jupiter…!" Mercury growled.
"So, glad you remembered me. I'd thought you'd all but forgotten your debt unpaid."
"Let him go!"
"Tsk tsk tsk. Well, that would entirely defeat the purpose of a hostage now, wouldn't it?"
"Goddamn it! Goddamn you, Jupiter!"
"Temper, dear cousin. If anyone should be angry, it should be me. You killed Apollo and Diana."
"They got themselves killed!"
"And now, I have two less assassins under my management. You and your precious little friends are going to suffer for that. No hard feelings, mind you. Simply professional. I have a reputation to uphold."
Mercury was about to leap at him, when Jupiter twisted the knife, causing some blood to drip from Daed. The threat made Mercury freeze instantly.
"See, that is the difference between you and I, little cousin. We are assassins, but you lack the actual principle required by our kind."
Mercury was practically burning with anger, doing everything to check his impulse.
"Life is fleeting. It giveth and it is taketh."
"You want me?! Then, come and get me! Leave them out of this!"
"Attachment to it in any shape or form, even your own—"
"JUPITER!"
"—Is weakness."
.
X
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In the dark alleyway, Adam's slash caught nothing but air. His target ducked at the last second and slipped close the next.
Neo twisted her body, and with a quick torque, snapped a vicious uppercut kick to connect clean with Adam's jaw. Once her opponent was midair, she readied the follow up. She didn't want to allow him even a single chance to touch the ground again.
Just then, a violet light drew from the shadows and sliced at her midsection. Neo had no choice but to back off and teleport away.
During her retreat, something odd happened. Her Semblance didn't grant her the smooth passage it usually did. Instead, her body was flung upside down through a nearby store window.
Neo didn't understand. She scanned her surroundings, but it was nowhere near the location she aimed for. Something interfered with her Semblance. When she finally looked down at the wound she received, Neo saw the cause.
In addition to the blood draining out, a cursed black mist billowed from the opened flesh. Neo then, heard the snapping of glass as her two enemies caught up to her.
Blake and Adam approached like a pack of hunters cornering their prey.
Neo could only curse silently as she took up her fighting stance once more.
"Tonight, the monster finally dies," Blake gloated. "And once you're gone, Yang will be free once more."
"…!"
"Face it, Neo. It never would have worked out." Blake's icy whisper entered Neo's head. "Yang and I were made for each other. She knows it, I know it—And, yes. Deep down, in your heart of hearts…"
Neo growled mutely.
"…you do, as well. You just don't have the courage to admit it."
Neo summoned an army of shimmering glass weapons, but they were blown away by the simultaneous wind slashes of Blake and Adam.
"You never had any hope. No salvation."
I'll kill you!
"See? How could Yang ever love such a monster? A murderer? A psychopath? She's a good girl. Too good for you."
I'LL KILL YOU!
"I mean, I suppose there are a few fans of the deranged variety, who just love seeing the brave heroine corrupted by a lunatic's cruel whims. But I, myself, never saw the appeal."
I'LL KILL YOU UNTIL THERE'S NOTHING LEFT!
"Very unhealthy, I think. No, I much prefer the romance between the kind-hearted, well-meaning, but tragic beauty and her brave, fiercely, loyal warrior. Now, that—"
SHUT UP!
"That is a ship I can get behind."