Author's Note: A bit shorter than the first chapter, but whatever.
Black Rock Shooter and co. belongs to Huke.
"No Reaction" - FAKE?
Gold Saw looked around her area, noting the over-turned rocks, cracked ground, and collapsed pillars that came from the cataclysm. She already knew that Geshumaru's area falling back into the Otherworld would cause some damage, but she didn't expect it to spread all over. Even though the damage was little, it's still something that no other self knows how to deal with. Watching the other selves move about, trying to reposition things, just shows how inexperienced they are with critical situations. Hearing footsteps coming from behind her, Gold Saw looked back, seeing STR near her, her hood dropped back to show her head.
"Well, this is some development, "STR remarked.
"It's out-of-place, but aren't we to expect that regardless?" Gold Saw wondered, her right elbow placed on her thigh as she rested her head on her hand.
"Not really, I think this is just something new for all of us," STR told her, "Besides, everything fine, so isn't that more important than things like this..?"
Gold Saw grimaced, "Hard to say..."
"Well, we can't worry about stuff like that," STR said, looking up at the slightly clear sky.
"I'm inclined to agree with STR, there's really no reason," They heard from behind.
Gold Saw looked past STR, only to lock eyes with Dragon Slayer, who she still holds a grudge against since the debacle a few days ago. Granted, Dragon Slayer's back-stab against everyone was surprising, but their fight affected the red-eyed other self's pride, more-so than any fight she went through before. Despite all that, she knew that if she started a fight with the amber-eyed woman now, she will lose easily, even if STR tries to help her out. STR turned to look at Dragon Slayer, slightly wondering why she is here with them since they aren't on even ground. It's hard to say what Dragon Slayer will do in the next instance, so she couldn't help but put up her guard and expect for the worse, whatever it is.
STR moved a bit to the right, nearing Gold Saw, "Why are you here?"
"Despite the results from Geshumaru's area becoming one again with the Otherworld, I have things to worry about than the damage resulted from the cataclysm," Dragon Slayer told STR before looking at Gold Saw, "Can we talk... in private out over there"
Dragon Slayer pointed towards an open space a good distance away from everyone else, and Gold Saw started thinking on why she would pick that spot. Even so, Gold Saw walked with Dragon Slayer to the open field with her guard up, ready for anything that could happen. Predictability isn't her ally when Dragon Slayer's concerned, but that makes moments like this better than what it is. As they walked towards the open space, Gold Saw could feel the stares of the hooded other selves, their curious gaze explaining their question without them saying a single word. Gold Saw glanced at them and they started moving about again, allowing her to bring her attention back to Dragon Slayer, who stopped and turned to face her.
"I know Saya hasn't told you anything yet, but there are things going on behind the scenes," Dragon Slayer told Gold Saw.
Gold Saw raised an eyebrow, "Explain"
"I believe there's more to the Spirit Eater incident and those chance encounters with a certain unnatural other self," Dragon Slayer explained, keeping her voice low, "Saya agrees, and I think you want to know more about this... Underworld Icicle, correct?"
Gold Saw's eyes narrowed, expressing restrained anger, "You know about her?"
"Not really, but I'll try to learn what I can about her," Dragon Slayer said, remaining calm, "She responsible for a lot of incidences, so her actions against us wasn't mere coincidence, she was gauging us"
"... So, what's her aim?" Gold Saw inquired.
"Same thing as the Spirit Eater, but they are different beings," Dragon Slayer stated, "If anything, Underworld Icicle may have a broader view on things..."
Gold Saw turned slightly, keeping her eyes locked on Dragon Slayer, "Crush them..!"
"I wish it was that easy, but sadly, life tend to have things work differently," Dragon Slayer said before walking away, "Do note that this information shouldn't spread to your friends, if only because I'm still not sure about it all"
"Then why tell me if you don't have all the information?" Gold Saw inquired.
Dragon Slayer stopped walking and looked behind her, staring at Gold Saw, "I trust Saya to keep her mouth shut about this, and I believe you'll do the same, only because we are at risk without knowing, which is why I suggested a desolated area since the light will keep our conversations from being heard"
"How?" Gold Saw asked, barely curious.
"Letting the shadows disappear, and keeping ours locked to us," Dragon Slayer stated, looking forward again, "She will only appear if she manipulates the area to her advantage, which is how she managed to show up three times"
"That certainly explains how she appeared before..." Gold Saw thought, staring at the ground.
"Either way, I already wasted enough time," Dragon Slayer said, walking again, "If anything, I got things that's important, but I will get to figuring out Icicle soon, just not at this instant"
Gold Saw watch the amber-eyed Anomaly walk away until the woman was nothing but a black dot in the horizon, unaware that STR was nearing her, figuring that the conversation between the two was over. STR wasn't sure what their conversation was about, but the grim line on Gold Saw's mouth said everything that she needed to know, while keeping everything else related to their talk a secret. Something was happening soon and Dragon Slayer came to tell her friend - her guardian in a way - about what was the problem. Stopping next to her, STR didn't say anything as words were meaningless in a situation like this, and leaving Gold Saw in her thoughts was better for her than anything. Besides, it's better to take whatever time they have and make use of it before everything goes to hell, and that's the moment STR is dreading more than anything.
Geshumaru looked out the window of the classroom she was in, eying the clear sky while restraining herself from shuddering, feeling a bit chilly. Normally, she would be focused on her school work, dealing with Naomi's school life, but she feels lost and apprehensive, the latter she's more accustomed to from her life in the Otherworld. Feeling the way she is now made her feel like she's in the Otherworld, and that isn't something she wants, especially since feeling like that only means something is going to happen. Tearing her eyes away from the window, Geshumaru looked up to the blackboard and quickly wrote down notes before the bell rang, her right hand twitching slightly as she wrote. The nagging sense that something is wrong is hitting her brain, even though nothing appears that way, so she can't help but wonder what it all means.
The moment the bell rang, Geshumaru rushed out the room and headed outside towards the courtyard, not feeling up to eating any lunch now. Getting outside and hiding behind a stone pillar, Geshumaru closed her eyes and focused her powers, trying to get it to flow through her body. There was no possible way to feel like this in the real world unless someone from the school was planning a prank, and that rarely happens unless one of the 'popular' girls feel their place is at risk. Scoffing at the idea of school hierarchy, Geshumaru felt a connection bridge between her and her robot residing in the Otherworld, within her palace. The other Geshumaru knows she wouldn't communicate with it from the real world unless it's important, so when she felt the machine's version of worry, she knew that she would have to explain herself.
[What's wrong Geshumaru, did anything happen..?]
"Over here, no..." Geshumaru responded mentally, "But did anything happen in the Otherworld, anything of importance..?"
[Nothing to note other than the average monster running amok... why..?]
"Just... a strange feeling..." Geshumaru told it, opening her eyes slightly, "Maybe I'm just a bit stressed out..?"
[You're living two lives now, it's stressful for anyone, regardless of who or what you are...]
"It's just... this is still a new experience for me, even if a year passed," Geshumaru told it, "I don't exactly have the best relationship with Kanna, and she can't stand lying to her family... perhaps I should explain to them everything..."
[Do not do that Geshumaru, it was a gamble with Kanna, don't risk it with the rest...]
"So what should I do..?" Geshumaru asked, looking at the clear sky, hints of clouds forming up above.
[Just live your life, there's nothing to worry about...]
Geshumaru felt the connection between them close, her eyes lowering to the grass, "Right..."
Sighing to herself, Geshumaru walked back into the building, unaware of the shadows that rested on the ground shifting slightly before stopping, smoothing themselves back to what it once was.
B RS swung and beheaded the beast that tried to rip her apart while she got preoccupied with her thoughts, something that used to happen rarely, but now come at times when she's alone with nothing to bother her. Watching the blood spray out from the cut off section of the neck, B RS let herself fall back to her thoughts, trying to figure out what this travel was all about. It wasn't like she's doing this so she can start killing again, but it just seems like there is no aim for her, no goal towards the entire trip. Walking away from the corpse that rested on the ground, B RS continued thinking about what she's trying to find, or figure out at least. All this is only proving is that there's no end to what she's trying to discover, and each kill is just leaving her with no reaction, no sense of relief.
B RS looked up at the checker-board sky, "Is there an answer..?"
"Depends on what answer you're looking for," B RS heard from behind, "Mine is simple..."
Letting her instincts to take action, B RS dropped to the ground as a blade passed where her neck was, a whistling noise catching her ears as the blade disappeared behind a thick, grey fog. Getting back up quickly, B RS's flame lit up around her left eye as she looked around, her Black Blade drawn and pointed at whichever direction she hears something come from. Feeling pressure directed at her from the left, B RS sidestepped and let loose a kick, feeling her leg hitting someone before they went flying back into the fog, hiding in there before making their next move. B RS focused her ears as she heard a blade cut through the air from the front, causing her to raise her Black Blade to stop the attack from connecting.
Looking to her right, B RS saw the curved blade that clashed with her sword, her memory rushing to the forefront quickly as she jumped back. Fire danced along her Black Blade, covering it until B RS swung the sword around, the fire cutting through the fog, ripping it apart and dispersing into the air. Boulders became visible as the other self who was attacking her appeared, and B RS wasn't surprised at who it was, especially since she's responsible for cutting off the other self's right arm. Death Scythe glared at B RS, her grey eyes seemingly hollow, but it wasn't hard to see the base instinct of an other self glowing through from her eyes. B RS moved to her right, her legs weaving across the other as she kept her eyes locked on Death Scythe, the both of them circling around the other.
"I wouldn't risk it..." B RS warned, her expression calm as the words left her mouth.
Death Scythe only pursed her lips before rushing forward, her scythe cutting through the ground before the grey-eyed other self launched herself up into the air. B RS pushed her right foot back before dashing off, watching Death Scythe descend from the air as they neared each other, complete focus shining in their eyes. For a moment, B RS thought time was slowing down for a moment until she saw how close Death Scythe was, and promptly reacted by blocking the in-coming slash, sparks flying until B RS twisted her body around. Spinning to her left, B RS broke out of the deadlock before moving forward, launching slashes without a break, trying to break through Death Scythe's defense. Her quick steps and attacks kept Death Scythe on edge, forcing her back as she twirled her scythe around to parry the slashes and stabs coming at her.
"Even with one arm, she's able to keep her defenses up," B RS thought as she jumped back, watching Death Scythe's movements, "How can I break through..?"
B RS stabbed her Black Blade into the ground before bringing out her Rock Cannon, the heavy weapon hoisted over her shoulder as she took off, rushing towards Death Scythe. Seeing the switch in weaponry caught Death Scythe off-guard for a moment until she rushed forward, twirling her scythe around to her left as the blade cut the ground apart. The both of them were mere meters away from each other until B RS stopped herself and lifted her Rock Cannon, firing it at Death Scythe who didn't expect the sudden movement, forcing her to get hit directly from the attack. Pulling back, Death Scythe started running around the field as B RS kept firing, turning her body with her enemy's movements. The ground got ripped apart from the beams fired from the Rock Cannon, but that didn't stop either of them from focusing on each other, especially since the attack was reaching Death Scythe quickly than expected.
B RS narrowed her eyes before she stopped firing, letting her power flow through her body as electrical sparks appeared on the barrel of the Rock Cannon. Watching Death Scythe notice the stop in the attack and rushing towards her, B RS kept her Rock Cannon raised as she felt the air thin a bit, a ball of energy forming inside the weapon. The three latches on the Rock Cannon pulled away from the barrel as electricity sparked from each point, the beam forming within the barrel growing. Death Scythe noticed what was happening, but she couldn't stop herself quickly enough as B RS fired, a beam easily double her height hitting and ripping apart her enemy. B RS could feel the similarities behind her attack and the one the Spirit Eater launched at her, but felt more at ease with the controlled attack being used by her to keep her alive.
The latches dropped back to the barrel as the bean faded from existence, but evidence of the attack remained with the ground destroyed and Death Scythe lying several meters away. Hoisting the Rock Cannon over her shoulder, B RS walked from where she way to Death Scythe, her guard still up for when the downed other self tries to attack her in an instant. Reaching the body, B RS looked over her until she noticed how lifeless the eyes were, as if the Death Scythe she was fighting against was already dead. Something didn't feel right as B RS felt an eerie sensation, Causing her to look around the area for the source of the sensation. She didn't have to look far as she heard a gasp come from Death Scythe, causing her to look at the other self just as the grey-eyed being let out a horrific scream of pain.
B RS flinched and jumped back, "What the..?"
The screams coming from Death Scythe died as her voice started to sound like it's being filtered, "The end... is unavoidable, nothing can stop... the oblivion..."
"The hell..?" B RS muttered, wondering what's wrong with the other self, "Oblivion..?"
Death Scythe's body twisted on the ground as black marking crawled up her body, covering her until they speared through her, pure black wisps digging into the other self. B RS watched Death Scythe get stabbed until a black spire rose from the ground and impaled the grey-eyed other self through the chest, the spire rising until the body was about a few hundred feet from the ground. Blood was leaking from every orifice the black wisps made as an arm fell from whatever pieces of muscles it was hanging on, a chain following after the body part. B RS could stand the scene before her, there was no reason for Death Scythe to die the way she did, it just felt hollow. As B RS kept looking at the body, she felt something near her and rolled to her left, avoiding black airy tendrils from stabbing into her.
"Gah, shit..!" B RS muttered as she got up and started running, the black tendrils trailing after her.
The ground was shifting and breaking apart as the tendrils trailed after B RS, the Anomaly dashing along any flat surface her boots could touch. Flipping herself around, B RS pushed back while firing her Rock Cannon at the tendrils, the beams incinerating them as she tried to put more distance between them and her. As her left foot touch the ground, multiple tendrils came out from nowhere and surrounded B RS, leaving her almost no room to break out and escape. Pointing her Rock Cannon to the ground, B RS charged the weapon before firing, launching herself to the sky and through the clouds cast over the area. The tendrils trailed after her, piercing through the clouds before withering and fading away, leaving B RS some time to breath before she fell back to the ground below.
Feeling herself fall back to the ground, B RS flipped her body and landed on her feet, the ground breaking slightly as her knees buckled and forced her to drop to the ground. Even with her new abilities, she knows that her healing factor isn't like it was before, but that issue is second compared to the multiple tendrils rushing towards her. B RS felt something boiling within her, a side to her that she only experienced once, but its something that's letting itself flow through her emotions. Her blue eyes lost their glow for a moment before they became azure, the fire dancing over her left eye burning wildly. Digging her fingers into the ground, B RS got up slowly as the area shifted color and blue fire burst through the cracks, her emotions becoming her main driving force.
"Just... disappear!" B RS roared, raising her Rock Cannon as she fired multiple destructive balls of energy.
The orbs cut through the area as the tendrils got ripped apart easily, the attack cutting through everything until disappearing, the damage already done. B RS felt her emotions cool as the area shifted back to what it once was, the fire coming from the cracks disappearing along with the blue hue. The azure color in her eyes faded back to their usual blue and B RS dropped to the ground, her hands flat against it as she started coughing out blood, her body healing itself slowly. She couldn't help but replay the moment in her head, from her fight with Death Scythe to her launching attacks beyond her ability. Feeling her strength coming back, B RS got up and started walking away from the area as the moment kept on playing, leaving her to think about why it happened.
As she walked away, she heard something mechanical creak and looked around for a moment, her guard up as she kept walking away towards the next area.
The light emanating from the moon shone through the windows in Dragon Slayer's study, the amber-eyed Anomaly removing a tome from the shelf behind her desk. Around the study, there were lit candles floating around the room, lighting sections that the moon light couldn't reach. Placing the tome down on the desk, Dragon Slayer opened it and flipped through the pages, images of other selves appearing one by one with information about their existence. She already knows which name she wants to find, and any information on Underworld Icicle would be helpful for her and everyone else, especially since the situation dictates they know what they can about their enemy. Passing through several pages about other selves she already know about, Dragon Slayer started reaching blank pages, which surprised her a bit since she expected Icicle to appear somewhere in the tome.
"Unusual..." Dragon Slayer muttered as she closed the tome and pulled out another one from the shelf.
Opening the tome, Dragon Slayer flipped through the pages, but couldn't find anything on Icicle as she only found information she already knows. Closing that tome and pulling out another one, Dragon Slayer skimmed through the pages, only to find nothing in the tome as well, leaving her dumbfounded. She repeated the process, only to get the same conclusion, and that left her confused about who Icicle is, and that's never a good sign to Dragon Slayer. Raking through her hair, Dragon Slayer tried to understand what was going on until she looked towards the small fountain that rested in the center of the room. Moving towards it, Dragon Slayer grabbed its sides and looked down, her eyes conveying emotions that are rare for someone like her.
"Tell me, who is Underworld Icicle," Dragon Slayer said to the fountain, her voice commanding.
The idle water didn't react for a moment until it started swirling, like a tornado forming within the water, becoming destructive with each complete spin. Dragon Slayer kept staring at the water, watching it slow down before it stopped suddenly, turning black within an instant, which caught the amber-eyed woman off guard. Letting go of the fountain, Dragon Slayer stopped her thoughts from running wild, trying to think rationally about what the black water meant. Normally, black is a common color in the Otherworld, but on someone's existence, there's always a unique color meant for an other self. Having a colored existence is proof of who an other self is, but having black as a color for your existence means nothing, and that's when the answer hits Dragon Slayer hard.
"Impossible, there's no way..." Dragon Slayer said to herself, "But.. this explains..."
Hearing a knock coming from the double doors snapped Dragon Slayer from her thoughts, "... Come in"
The doors opened and Maid Gunner stepped in, unfazed by the scene in the room, "Mistress, is this a part of your research?"
"No, it's related to something else," Dragon Slayer told her, straightening herself out, "I'm afraid the past has more secrets than what I already know about"
"It's troubling you," Maid Gunner stated.
"Smart, I knew creating you and Vulcan was a good idea, despite how our first meeting went about," Dragon Slayer said, a melancholic tone in her voice.
"I remember as well, we tried to escape after sensing the malevolent aura around you," Maid Gunner said, "With no weapons, it was a poor choice on our part, so we wound up in danger"
Dragon Slayer let out a chuckle, "Yes, killing my own chimeras put a damper on my research, but saving you two was more important, especially since you both developed finely"
"We got trained by the best," Maid Gunner stated.
"Yes, but I'm afraid that your teacher will be leaving for a long trip," Dragon Slayer told Maid Gunner, her voice distant.
"Mistress..?"
Dragon Slayer looked at Maid Gunner, "Listen, there's a task that both you and Vulcan have to follow"
Hooded other selves ran as quickly as they could, avoiding daggers attached to chains as they felt the ground shake slightly. Looking behind them, they could see the silhouettes of other selves already killed by the daggers, their bodies disappearing into nothing as a giant figure neared them. Noticing a cliff, the other selves stopped as the figure reached them, hazy violet eyes staring down at them as the chains attached to its back shaking before moving. The other selves couldn't react in time, the daggers pierced through their bodies and they got pulled up into the air, their faintly glazed eyes staring at the electrical sparks coming out of the machine's energy current. The machine raised a mechanical claw-like hand and gripped the other self's head, applying pressure slowly to the small object.
[While this feast.. has been satisfactory... I need the main meal..!]
Closing its right hand, the head of the other self collapsed in on itself as the rest of the other selves felt their bodies get eaten from the inside-out, their bodies decomposing. The bodies impaled by the chains were getting crushed, the bones breaking into dust as the muscles and skin got ripped apart and disappeared in the daggers. The machine sighed in slight content until it felt a malicious aura coming from behind it and turned, watching Underworld Icicle near it. Her red-orange eyes bore no emotion aside from displeasure, and that's enough to get the machine reeling back, hunching down on both hands and feet. Icicle stopped in front of the machine and stared at it, her lips twisting into a small frown as the shadows around the area shifted and become physical tendrils.
"Do not waste time Spirit Eater..." Icicle warned, the tendrils nearing the machine.
[I'm sorry savior... I need energy if I have to match Shooter...]
"Regardless, I don't have time to waste," Icicle told it, "You want your revenge, then do what I allowed you to"
[Yes.. of course...]
Icicle disappeared and the tendrils receded back to the shadows they once was, leaving the Spirit Eater alone in the area, its body different from what it got created as. The Spirit Eater needed to created a new body from the tossed scraps, only able to build a body about a quarter its original size. With a new skeleton, it could become bipedal at choice, but it did have to sacrifice some of its destructive abilities given how limited the machine's options was. Only able to keep one of its gear-like wheels, it couldn't use its cannon at full power anymore, but with its agile figure and lighter armor, the trade-off was worth it, especially if it wants to keep up with B RS. The machine sensed something moving far away from its right and looked, feeling a familiar energy coming from that direction, causing it to snarl.
[Demons... I will kill you all..!]
The Spirit Eater shifted its body to the right and started running on all fours, unaware of its own shadows shifting as Icicle took hold of it, trailing after the machine saved.
Author's Note: So, it looks like the action and plot picks up next chapter, which I wasn't sure about since I didn't know which chapter would start it off. Either way, I'm setting it all up and the next chapter is definitely action-packed, I would be lying if I didn't deliver it to my readers. Remember, if you got a question for me regarding this chapter or anything else, drop by my "Ask Me" thread over at Tachibana Wish's forums (there's a link on my profile). Take care, review, and I'll see you all next chapter.