Author's Note:
Hey guys, it's certainly been a while... I'm back from a month's rest! You know you need one when you couldn't remember how your characters are supposed to act! Even more so when this particular chapter is supposed to show much emotion and resolve! Well, after diving into several other stories for inspiration, I'm finally back here typing again. I hope this chapter's a good one...
Chapter 66: Ore Sanjou!
Child Of The Sun
My eyes shut themselves and my head just turned to the sides on reflex as I heard the ear-splitting explosion of gunpowder. When they opened and the annoying throbbing died down, the guy named Sergio fell before my eyes, dropping down eyes open to the ground beside my feet like a dead piece of log. Amato, with his eyes already watery, had already began screaming, quickly scrambling his way up on his feet and darting to his fallen friend's side.
His eyes alternate between his best friend on the ground with a bloody hole on his forehead, and the darkened face of another guy named Dante standing behind me. The slender man with dark-blue hair still wielded that pistol firmly in his hand.
I didn't know what to do. To scream or to cry or even run. But I know I was afraid, because my body was shaking harder than ever before.
"Sergio! Sergio! No!" As if driven mad, Amato began to scream and cry hysterically. With confused eyes, he could only turn to the Dante for answers. "Why, Dante?! Why shoot him?! How the heck does that help?!" The very sight was painful enough, so much that what happened between me and Amato felt little more than a dream.
"Boss, this is the only chance we have..." With a neutral face, Dante looked to the ground as he answered. His eyes covered behind the shadow of his fedora. Through his sullen tone, one can feel regret, no matter how minute.
"Chance?! What chance?!" In anger, Amato could only yell in retort, even more confused and stricken than before. I watched as his hands shiver and tremble as they reached for Sergio's collapsed body, with a nary a clue to what he should do. "What sort of ridiculous chance warrants a bullet through the head of my best friend?!" As his confusion grew, he could only cry out his frustration as his eyes glared on at Dante. Aria could only stay by Sergio's side with a grieving look on her face, her eyes closing out of sadness and sympathy. All the while, her gaze fell to one corner of the room, as if she didn't want to see the sight before her.
Strange, she looked as though she had something to say, but her words were held back...
"That red bullet... hah... I see..." Out of nowhere, a familiar voice caught our attention from a distance away.
"... I know I can't ask you to calm down after what you've seen.. hah.. but... know that Dante speaks only the truth..." Stammering words between her own pained breaths, Kiera paced her steps back to us with Johann slumped at her side, his arm over her shoulders. At her words, Amato only sink into further confusion, gritting down hard on his teeth. Meters away, Kiera continued pushing her way through various debris strewn across my father's office towards us, when suddenly, her eyes shot open!
"Lord Amato, look out! Behind you!"
"Crack."
Our eyes turned immediately at Kiera's call and the sound of breaking stone, to see the enemy standing before Amato! He dons the same white coat from before, now torn and tattered here and there, and stares down Amato with the most spine-chilling glare! We've been foolish. We were so caught up with the shocking sight of Sergio being shot that we've completely neglected the hunters that walked out of the elevator! They seem even more hell-bent on getting their hands on Kujaku than ever!
"Kuh!" Amato could barely react as the man raised his arm, his fingers curled into claws. I saw his prowess before, it was beyond anything I've ever faced. He even survived the explosion I made back at my house! By now I wouldn't be surprised if his arm could rip through flesh and bone! The sight before me only confirms the falsity of my stupid assumptions from before...
How could I have even thought that Amato was working with these bastards?! I shouldn't have believed that absurd lie coming out of that snake!
Then the enemy's arm comes plunging down!
"Thud."
Just like that, everything comes to a grinding halt. Silence filled the room as every pair of eyes turned to the one arm that held back the enemy's attack, and the guy that had already rose to his feet despite the trickle of blood running down his forehead. As he pulled his heavy body up straight, his grip remained firmly latched around the enemy's wrist, much to the artist's chagrin.
"The Dying Will Shot is a bullet of unfathomable power, capable of dragging one's psyche into limbo; a state neither living nor dead..." Kiera was the first to speak, breaking the silence with her almost emotionless tone. What exactly is she talking about? As the question races into mind, my eyes caught movement! Out of nowhere, the other man behind him, with lanky black hair, makes his move, pulling out shotgun barrel and pointing right at Sergio's back!
"Clack."
"Huh!" A myriad of surprised yelps came out from what just happened before our eyes. He reacted as if it was a reflex, twisting and turning before gripping down on the gun barrel with his fingers, and in a swift motion, pushed it away from him. Slowly but steadily, a familiar feeling grazed against my skin, emanating from that one guy.
"Regret pours forth from him, haunting and chewing at the back of his mind, drawing out that which burns within undying..."
Pulsing heat sizzled from where Sergio stands. His eyes to the ground, we watched as the energy grew, and what little blood on his skin evaporate. Even the two hunters looked distressed, their eyes falling on the arms that remained trapped. I thought they would've freed themselves by now, but hearing the creaking of bones made me think otherwise.
"If desire proves strong, strong enough to ignore even death itself, a miracle will occur..."
...It's not that they didn't want to free themselves, it's that they couldn't break free no matter what they did!
"He will be reborn."
"RE-" From the silence that drowned the room, Sergio's faint voice caught all of our attention.
"Get out of our way!" The man with the tattered white cloak, the one known as Innocenti, roared out in response. Frustrated and stricken with disbelief, his other arm went right for Sergio's stomach in a forceful jab of strength and motion. At the same time, From Sergio's side, the other hunter, Koenig the Merchant, had a glint of light in his eyes. Following his sight, the shotgun barrel was now pointed at us!
He's gonna shoot us!
"-BORN!"
That's when I saw it, motion and combat unlike anything I've ever seen! Moving even faster than Amato just minutes before, with massive strength Sergio tugged on the Innocenti's arm and smashed his incoming attack into the ground. Following the momentum, Innocenti's body just plunged, breaking debris and concrete alike as cracks bursts forth! At the same time, his other arm pulled the barrel forward, dragging Koenig towards him before he twisted the gun to the ceiling, and slammed his shoulder at the merchant, all as he screamed.
"I HAVE ARRIVED!" Waves of energy pulsed from Sergio at his every word, his yell bursting out! Between his two eyes tinted orange borne a massive orange flame, roaring forth as it exploded from his forehead.
"Whoa!" Johann suddenly yelled out in pure excitement, with an awe-stricken look on his face, coupled with a huge smile. Huh, I didn't actually catch the guy waking up at all. At his words, I wondered if Sergio's state is anything we should even be happy about...
"What's with that flame...?" His eyes still filled with concern, Amato watched on as he got up on his feet. Only when he extended his hand did I realize I was still stunned sitting on the floor of the ruined office, and got up on my feet with his assistance.
"The fabled power of the Vongola..." As I turned my eyes back to observe Sergio and his massive boost in capabilities, Kiera continued her explanation, reciting a name no stranger to me. In fact, it's the very name of the Famiglia my old Sensei belongs to...
"The Dying Will Mode."
A few feet before us, Sergio was locked in combat with Koenig and Innocenti, moving with strength and speed to counter every effort either one of the two made to get closer to us. In his plan to trip Sergio, Innocenti quickly recovered, clawing his way free from the stone and sand, and kicked for Sergio's shin. At the same time, Koenig pulled out a pistol, and pointed it towards the guy, jabbing it right at his temple. The next second came, and Sergio was already in the air, having leaped a good meter upwards.
"Hragh!" His hands now free, Sergio went off screaming as his one hand ripped down on Innocenti's neck and a sharp kick to Koenig's wrist sent the pistol flying across the room! With a monstrous tug, Sergio threw Innocenti to the ground, grinding his chest across the broken, debris-ridden floor with little effort. Then, another arm crashed against Koenig so quickly he could barely react, crossing his two arms to block!
Alas, pure strength sent him stumbling back, crashing down on his back!
"Guh!"
"Argh!"
As unbelievable as it was, the whole lot of us heard the screams rang across the night, as if they were struck by deep pain!
The fight rages on, so intense that none of us were in any shape to even provide support for Sergio. The two hunters were inhuman, getting back up as soon as they were down, despite their many cries. I watched as their limb were destroyed, and yet they still seem to move, their actions never faltering...
"Gragh!" As Sergio drove his fists into Innocenti's stomach, a single massive punch drove his face into the ground, tiny shots of blood shooting from the artist's many wounds and scratches. The poor guy screamed at the top of his voice. And yet, Koenig leaped behind Sergio, and got him into an arm-lock! Pulling his half-dead body up, Innocenti pulled out his chisels with the eyes of a demon.
"Ngh!"
With a slight tremble to his touch, he forcibly drove the thick pieces of metal through Sergio's joints! Through his elbows, his shoulders, his knees and even his hands and feet! The care for elegance from before was long gone!
"Sergio!" At the sight, Amato cried out in utter desperation, his pupils shrinking in fear. The others just watched on in dreadful silence, even Johann's enthusiasm quickly went away. No doubt the sight of his best friend's body ravaged like this is no easy sight. The bloody scene was so horrifying I could barely keep my own eyes open. Empathy drove me to move my hands to my elbows, caressing it to make sure it's still okay.
"Grr..."
Even as restrained as he is, he doesn't seem to feel pain. Sergio's eyes remained locked towards the two enemies before him, gritting down hard on his teeth. Even with his wounds convulsing and blood splattering out by the intervals, I watched on as his strength seemed to overpower Koenig's, slowly pulling himself free from the lock and grapple!
"Get your filthy hands off of me!" With that one roar, the flame burned ever-brighter, and Sergio tore himself from the hold. As soon as he did, his muscles and bone grind against metal as he moved his arms and legs, ripping the chisels out and tossing them aside!
"Hey, you mind if I take a look? At your injuries?" Suddenly, I'm pulled out of the fight by a tap on my shoulder. Vito appeared at my side with all manners of pills, creams, linen and gauze, all pulled out of his own pockets. He offered me relief and yet...
"...No, thank you."
"...I'm fine." The words felt as though they spilling out of my mouth. Immediately after answering, a small hint of regret came upon me. Why am I lying like this? My body hurts all over, aching with every move. It would have been nice to get some help! Too late, the next moment came and Vito's already turning back at Amato and Kiera, his arms giving off the signal. He must have fixed up the other guys before me. Despite their looks, they must have been really messed up.
They must have gotten injured tonight, while trying to help me... And yet, I only made it difficult for them... for Amato...
"All right, Vito's done, it's time to move!" As she finished, Kiera gave out the orders. At her behest, everyone started moving, shimmying our way through the sides and towards the open elevator. Of course, it wouldn't be wise to stay at the top floor of this decrepit husk of a building with these three fighting like this.
"But, doesn't those wounds hurt? He's bleeding everywhere!" As we scurried along, Amato screamed out the question as he watched. Sergio, bloodied all over, had his chains wrapped around his arms. With his movements going sluggish, he nonetheless wrecked the scene, smashing his way head first into Innocenti and Koenig whenever they tried to turn their attention to us.
"They don't. Right now, his body limiters are turned off. External forces can do little to damage his body, that's why he's having this burst of strength and speed right now." Kiera continued without turning back at Amato, her eyes quickly shifting between the fight and the elevator. Even as she briskly paced her way by our side, I'm kinda astonished to see her carrying her giant shield with little to no effort. The very same shield that slammed the ground with an ear-piercing 'thunk' when it flew out of her hands just a minute ago.
"How well that ability works, however, will ultimately depend on his will." Kiera finished her words with a sentence that seemed to calm Amato down, as his eyes no longer showed the amount of tension from before.
With Kiera's explanation still fresh in mind, I couldn't help but stare at Sergio and the fight with every step. Koenig tried to tear at his arms, twisting his right arm back with a mind-numbing crack, and yet, Sergio disregarded what happened to him almost entirely. Without even a single flinch, he retaliated with a savage headbutt! Despair slowly inching their way into his eyes, Innocenti gave Sergio a sharp kick to his shin, and as his balance wavered, pummeled him into the ground with a barrage of punches!
"Argh!" With another piercing howl, Sergio broke his way free, his body now riddled with wounds of every kind. Muscles looked as though they were mangled here and there, and many white splinters pierced their way through his skin. But, despite his heavy breathing and slight tremble, his overwhelming strength never seemed to die down...
Is all of this coming from sheer will alone? After winning over death itself, is mere injuries no more than nuances to him now?
"I'm afraid I can't let you all leave, not like this." Another voice came to our attention as we finally reached the elevator. The voice of another baby. There's no doubt about it, it's an Arcobaleno! His tiny white coat drapes over his shoulders, his glasses shining in the night. His green hair lingered at the side of the elevator doors...
"Uncle Verde, please, stop this! Ask your friends to stop fighting!" The first one to speak was Aria, her voice breaking into a yell. Strange, such familiarity, does she know Verde from even before this event happened? Are they friends maybe?
"No, Aria, that's not possible!" With blood dripping from the wound on his forehead, Verde calmly denied Aria. Behind the glass, his steel eyes lacked no resolve, none whatsoever. "Hah... Hah... Luce told you this, didn't she?" From behind all of them, I watched on, slightly disoriented from everything that's happening. "Hah..We might be bound by the curse, but each one of us walks a different path..." Despite his body trembling, showing signs of weakness and pain, he continued behind bated breaths.
"Right now... Hah... this is as much my duty... Hah.. as well as my reprieve."
"Cut to the chase, are you going to stand in our way?!" Out of nowhere, Kiera appeared in front of our group with her shield in hand, primed and ready. "Are you going to stop us?!" Again, she roars, now no longer bearing the same temperance from before, losing her self to frustration and desperation. Amato and the others only gazed upon her with the light of concern, and worry.
I only kept my silence, a horrid feeling choking me by my throat. Was it anxiety or confusion? I can't really tell...
The green-haired Arcobaleno only gripped his tiny fingers into tremblings fists. His eyes fading while he stared right at us, he would only shut them tight before his eyelids shot open again. That was when he gave his response...
"...I have no means to stop you."
With that said, there was nothing stopping us as we rushed past the elevator doors. The lightning Arcobaleno only shuffled his way forward towards the fight between Sergio, Koenig and Innocenti. The whole thing had only lasted a few minutes, but in the distance of the office, near the large, shattered windows overlooking the city, Sergio was still fighting, overpowering his opponents! Inside the elevator itself, I watched on as Sergio tore and smashed at his opponents, the clinking of his chains rattling on and on. A second later, Verde stopped in his steps...
"Koenig! Innocenti! The target is slipping from our grasp! The Enlightened Ones will know! Failure will not be tolerated!" Suddenly, Verde burst out screaming, throwing his right arm to the sides. Within his voice came fear. It sounded no different than begging right now.
"Sergio, come on! Get over here!" Amato cried out from behind me, using his hands to project his voice.
"No, something's wrong with the elevator!" Johann's voice snapped me back, and I found myself panicking amidst the fighting and the stress. Dante was the first to react, immediately dragging his way towards the control panel. Pulling out a mini-screwdriver, he began picking the buttons apart!
"He re-routed the circuits. Just give me a few seconds!" And with that, Dante went to work. His hands moved so quickly I could barely follow, ripping and tying the wires here and there.
"Gargh!"
Suddenly, we just stopped, and jerked our head towards the sound of Sergio's scream. There, at the very same spot, Koenig pulled out a giant hammer out of nowhere! Innocenti, despite all his wounds, grit down on his teeth and nailed Sergio's feet to the ground, puncturing each foot with five separate chisels!
"Skletch! Skritch! Skletch!" Unlike before, Innocenti's sudden jabs were so fast Sergio could barely dodge it like before, and those he missed chewed through the concrete floor! Even from where we stood, the desperation in their eyes were obvious.
"Gugh! Grr..." Hungry for payback and driven by instinct, the pain could barely serve as distraction before Sergio turned his attention back towards his enemies. However, Koenig was already in mid-swing of his gigantic hammer! In horror, we watched as it collided right into Sergio's face! From where we stood, we couldn't hear the attack, but we could see it all. With a snap, Sergio's whole body was thrown off to the sides. Following his partner's onslaught, Innocenti shot Sergio an elbow, driving it through his throat!
"No, he's actually losing!" For some reason, the words came popping out even before they came into mind, breaking the silence I've held for minutes now. I don't believe it! The two of them are actually turning the tables!
"Argh!"
"Crash!"
With a scream, Sergio was pounded into the ground with the weight of that hammer driving down his back! As he tried to resist with his arms and legs, Innocenti would ravage them with his chisels, tearing at the joint and muscles! Piles of dust was wrought into the air, and soon we lost sight of them within the misty clouds. Seconds later, they would clear only to show Sergio gritting down on his teeth stained with blood! Every moment the hammer was lifted was so Koenig would drive it into Sergio's spine again and again, each time louder than before!
"No! He needs help! Obviously, he can't fend off the two of them alone-Guh!" Amato literally jumped, his hands reaching for his pistol again before suddenly falling to one knee, clutching down on his sides!
"Amato!" I surprised myself by being the first one to scream, and then rushing to him. It must have been guilt driving me. After all, I did hurt him just minutes ago, tried to burn him into ashes. However, Amato felt no pain at all. He cried and trembled, his body convulsed here and there, but his eyes remained unfazed. Their light remained pinned on the safety of his best friend. Nothing else must have mattered.
Slightly shaken, Johann looked confused and even afraid as he reached for the hilt of his blade, until Kiera threw her arm and blocked the elevator entrance, putting everything to a halt!
"Wait, with your state right now, you'll only serve to distract him from the fight!" Kiera cried out, losing the calm between her words. She must be referring to Johann's injuries. Did... Did Johann suffered those injuries trying to get to me as well? Looking at the guy, he doesn't look so good. That got Kiera slightly panicking...
"They say the Dying Will Mode draws fuel from will itself; the stronger your resolve, the more invincible you become..." As she continued, her voice hushed as if reminding herself, she brought her gigantic shield to the elevator floor.
"Thunk."
"And Sergio has the strongest will I know." Suddenly, Amato's frantic behavior all but vanished as he stopped by Kiera's side, his eyes now carefully watching towards the fight. Towards where Sergio was getting drilled into the floor as rubble and debris was smashed and tossed all around.
"Sergio!" Out of his own pained voice came a scream that sounded louder than anything else. Putting his hands to his mouth and projecting his voice, Amato began calling out to his best friend. "S-Sergio, come on! You're not gonna give up here, are you?" Screaming out, I could hear Amato straightening his own trembling voice, to give Sergio the support he desperately needed. It was... unbelievably touching to see their friendship so strong, the trust between them so solid!
"You're stronger than this, Sergio! I know you are!"
"Greenhorn!" To my surprise, even those at our backs, usually watching in silence, began yelling out at the top of their voice. "At first I thought you were capable, but I guess it's looking quite the opposite!" Vito, in his own way of words, called out to our only friend fighting out there. "If I'm wrong, then prove it to me!" At first I thought he was just bashing Sergio with insults, but the approach hit me as another way to convey his message and feelings!
"Show me I'm wrong by winning this!"
"Yeah, Sergio, I think everyone's gonna miss you if you fall here and now!" Johann's words came next, carrying with them his own sense and style. "We're still so young! We still have lots of stuff we're gonna do together, right?!"
"I've seen it all, Sergio!" Aria yelled out after that, despite the obvious exhaustion that had overtaken her body. "Now's not your time to go! So win this and come back to us! We're going back home together!"
"Sergio!" And then came my turn, as the words came blurting out without much thought. "I know we haven't talked much... but.. please do your best and win this! I don't want to see anyone left behind or any tears falling!" That's right, even if we're not that close, I would be sad if Amato and the rest of them were sad. Of that I can be certain.
"Hey kid!" A deep, sullen voiced boomed for the from Dante as his hands flicked and tempered with the many wires in the control panel. Even without turning his eyes on the fight, he spoke with an assured smile on his face.
"Stop fooling around, and win in the name of the Zanna Famiglia!"
Right there in the distance, by the windows, Koenig and Innocenti were still smashing down on Sergio's back. With the flame flickering, I wondered if he actually heard any of our words. His chains would rattle as he struggled, his elbows and knees on the ground, throbbing with every strike of that gigantic hammer. While the two enemies had their eyes pinned on Sergio, deathly focused, out of the rubble came Sergio's face. His teeth gritting down as his eyes seemed to turn to us...
"Everyone's spoken, and I have little to add..." As Kiera wrapped it up, I turned to see her eyes no longer fearful and worried like before. The sea of deep, hazel brown is now in deep tranquil. "I only have one question, Sergio." She declared, before a small smile of confidence stretched across her face. "Your promise, to achieve the seat of the 'Right Hand' and protect your best friend, as well as the rest of the Zanna Famiglia..."
"Can you keep it?"
From the quakes came a moment of silence, as Koenig and Innocenti stopped when Sergio stopped resisting, his body laid onto the ground. The burning fire seemed to waver and flicker, fading in and out as it diminished by the seconds. Until finally, it disappeared together with the tint in his eyes.
...
"YES I CAN!"
Sergio's screamed rocked the night, literally sending pounding waves of energy and heat shooting out from where he stood. Chains cutting through the air, he wrenched his body free as he screamed, his pupils tinted orange once more as the Dying Will Flame lunged into the air in a massive surge! The enemies, distracted by the explosive burst of speed and power, were tossed to the sides like rag-dolls, slamming hard against the ruined floor, smashing into the tiles!
"Yeah, go Sergio!" Turning to the sides, I saw Amato pulling down his arm in cheers, and the rest of his 'famiglia' doing the same. Each and every one of them relieved at the sight of Sergio's reversal.
"Vroo! Ding!"
"Got it, power's back on! I got the elevator working again!"
"What?! That's impossible!" Verde cried out in shock as his eyes jerked back at us, trailing towards Dante. He looked as though no one was supposed to undo what he did. With those few words, Dante got everyone of us back into the rush, quickly slamming down on the buttons. As the lights flickered and the doors started moving, Amato rushed in front of me, just an inch before he's out at the other side!
"No, what about Sergio?! We can't leave him behind like this!" His arms shot outwards and flailed all over before Kiera and Johann held them down and pulled them back.
"Lord Amato, you're mistaken! As of right now, he's more than capable of taking them on! We'll be better off securing the Legacy Arm and getting the rest of us to safety!" As they dragged Amato back into the elevator, Kiera gave out her reasons. Although they're sound, and most definitely the smartest thing to do right now, I don't think it's that simple abandoning a friend.
"But-"
"It's okay! Go!" Amato's reluctance was shot down by Sergio meters away, as he drove his fist into Koenig before turning towards Innocenti and snaring him with his chains, stopping the man in white robes from closing in on us. With a sharp pull, Sergio began dragging him back. "I promise I'll catch up later!" In between the rampage, Sergio screamed his voice hoarse.
As Amato got distracted, the panels of the grand elevator slowly came to a close.
"Doom!"
"Whoa!" Within elevator itself came a dozen quakes accompanied by a series of cries in surprise and reaction. Sand, stone and dust flew up everywhere as we descended towards ground level. The vigorous rumbling came in intervals, each time more frequent than before. The sound was so loud it felt as though the whole building was coming down. Curses, why did I ran here in the first place?! Within a few more jerks, the glass shattered and the lights burst, sparks shooting forth everywhere!
"No, this place really is coming down..." At the thought, I couldn't help but mutter out the words. With no more lights except for that one flickering red button, the inside of the elevator became tinted red in my sight, as everyone jumped to the sides for support.
"Crack."
The very elevator we stood in seemed to be pelted from all sides, the dreaded clacking ringing ceaselessly. In seconds we found ourselves gasping for air while being drowned in piles and piles of sand and dust! And then, we were literally thrown to the walls!
"Argh!" Amato, Aria, Johann and myself screamed as we found ourselves slamming against the inner walls of the prime elevator of this building. Pain began to wound my body all over, from the nape of my neck to the base of my spine. Slow, weakening pain that seemed to inch further and spread from the areas, like ants spreading from their nest. Everything's heating up! It's not fire, so I can't stop it! Before I know it I began to sweat bullets, the droplets falling down the side of my cheeks.
"Argh!"
The screams ran through the night, amidst roaring flames and the primal desire to devour and consume...
No, the heat is bringing them back! The images are appearing, the sounds are ringing through my ears! Why, of all times why now?!
"Click."
With a single sound, I looked amidst the darkness to find everyone confused, and other than the rain of sand and stone still pelting from all sides, the insane rocking seemed to have come to a sharp halt. In the shadow I looked to the others for answer only to find the same gaze falling back at me. What's happening? Why did the elevator stop? Does this mean we're stuck?! As my tremble calmed, the strength to walk finally returned, and before I know it, I began pacing my way back towards Amato and the others-
"Thunk!"
"Kkkyyyaaahhh!"
The next thing I know I was screaming my lungs out! Inertia and gravity took their turns mashing and ripping my insides, and I felt my heart choke on itself as the elevator went plummeting down in a wild, free fall! As I started floating upwards, I found my hands clawing all around me by reflex! Any form of support would have been fine, preferably something solid to hold on to! As my fingers finally closed themselves around one of the railings within the elevator, my gaze fell all around me with wincing eyes.
Everyone's screaming! We're gonna get pulverized smashing head-first into the very earth itself! I can feel it, the overwhelming feeling of nausea slowly tearing away at my insides! My bones are going to be shattered once we stop falling! No, isn't there something I can do? Isn't there anything at all?!
No!
As my vision flickered and wavered in shock, it felt as though everything was slowing down, my body slowly sinking downwards...
"Clank!"
In fading shadows I was awakened by the sound of striking, metal clashing against metal. As the lingering shivers left the edge of my skin, my eyes opened to a terrible scene. Everyone else was thrown at all sides, unmoving, amidst the ray of crimson light and the frequent bursts of sparks. My eyes were failing me, going in and out of the darkness, as the whole of my body was swallowed by unimaginable heat. The trapped gas must be accumulating, the oxygen dying down as carbon dioxide filled the inside of this elevator...
And then suddenly, movement! Followed by the shifting of shadows! As light panned and seeped, Kiera came into sight. As sweat poured from her fringe and her breaths went rogue, she pulled back her shield and shot it at the wall!
"Thunk!"
"Crack!"
"...ko!"
"Yoko, wake up, please!"
Waking at the sound of his voice, I found myself embraced, my body cuddled between a pair of warm, caring arms.. A pair of gleaming blue eyes looked right at me with concern, so much that they looked as though the person was gonna cry at any one moment! Only when the numbness fled from my touch did I realize who was it that was holding me..
"...Ngh, I'm fine, Amato." Now, instead of the heat from before, my body's heating up on its own. "...Thanks." Although I gave him my gratitude, my arms moved and pushed him him away. As my new friend was left confused, more dust and rubble fell from above. That's when I realized that everything was still crumbling! In the dark lobby, the very walls were coming down even as I pulled my steps forward! Seconds later, huge chunks of debris began to fall all around us!
"Crack."
"Uh.. guys? I think we really need to move.. Like right now!" Johann's cry out was only further emphasized by the giant piece of concrete the size of a television smashing at his back as he took a step forward!
"Head for the exit! Move, move, move!" From my back and the closest on to the elevator, Amato screamed at the top of his voice, his hands pointing towards the main doors past the walls! As metal and stone started crashing down around us, the cool air started heating up again! With no time to lose, I began kicking my way through the piles of debris broken all around me. I'll do anything to escape the dreaded heat! I don't... want to remember what happened!
"Doom! Doom! Thunk!" In the chaotic torrent of motion, a series of crashes sounded off from way above us, smashing its way towards the ground floor!
"Crash!"
"Whoa!" The heavy impact went off as shock-waves, blowing dust and stones and even some of the debris away from way behind us! As I turned, I saw nothing but jet-black smoke spreading from where the crashed elevator unit used to be! In ashen clouds and misty shadows amidst the faint hint of light around us, I saw silhouettes of figures by off-chance. The next second came, and the figures, one donning that tattered, almost destroyed coat of white, and another in his black attire, stained and bloody all over, paced their way out...
"No, the hunters!" At the sight of the two that tried to take my life for about a week now, I couldn't help but utter a comment. And then, my legs were wrecked by indecision. I'm afraid to face the two of them again, especially that guy named Innocenti but what about Sergio? If the two of them still walks, does that mean Sergio lost?! Is he buried within the pile of stone and ash? Is... Is he...?
"Give us the energy source!" Suddenly, Verde came screaming out of nowhere, seated upon Innocenti's shoulders. Together the two of them are but a meter before me now!
"I won't let you lay a finger on her!" As the place continued capsizing, Amato jumped in front of me, blocking the visage of the white-robed hunter. As he yelled, the feeling of uselessness came over me when I saw him reaching for his pistol again. Why can't I take care of myself? I don't want to implicate Amato! I don't want to see him hurt because of me!
In my despair, Kujaku started glowing again. Its light, in deep crimson red, illuminated all around me, driving away the shadows.
"Shink!"
As the hunters were but an inch away from Amato, however, silver chains lunged out from the clouds of smoke and dust! Like snakes they wrangled and twisted themselves around Koenig and Innocenti as they dropped from their flight! As the smoke finally cleared, I saw the orange flame still burning, pulsing with strength at intervals. Sergio stomped his way forth, broken bones now splintered and tearing through numerous parts of his body, way worse than before! In both horror and disbelief, I watched as the wounds were already closing on their own at an unbelievably enhanced rate!
"Hah.. Hah.. Hah.." Out of breath, Sergio stopped dead in his tracks with his head hanging from his neck, his eyes covered by shadows. Has he lost consciousness?
"Hragh!" Apparently not, as with but one roar he ripped Koenig and Innocenti from where they stood! Chain slinking with every tug, Sergio dragged their body around in a massive burst of strength, sending the two flying right into the meter thick pillars around the lobby!
But, the distraught I got from the sight of the enemies smashing into the stone was only worsened by the fact that they no longer made a sound. No cries of pain, no signs of damage. It doesn't feel human and it doesn't feel natural at all...
All they did, as Sergio sent them flying out the glassless windows, was pin their sights on me, and Kujaku...
"Sergio!" Amato's cry snapped me back, and the next thing I know I was making a dash towards Sergio as the flame finally died down. The wounds he had before are now no more than mere cuts, skin deep and all! After that, strength seemed to disappear from the guy almost entirely, as he sprawled on the ground, his body wrecked by what looked like a severe case of shock.
"Is he gonna be okay?" I popped out the question as I went forward and helped him up by the shoulders, with Amato at the side. As we turned to the door, Kiera and the rest had turned tail back to us. By now, the very foundation of the building was smashed, and whole levels had started breaking down!
"He's suffering the backlash of stress and strain from the Dying Will Mode! We need to get him out of here, stat!" At Vito's command, Dante, Johann and Amato carefully propped Sergio up with their hands, and we began making our way towards the exit posthaste! Even then, the risk of getting crushed by huge piles of concrete was drawing ever closer. My senses dulled as I followed at the back, dust choking my every breath, and all the sweat drenching my blouse and skirt while cracks splintered across every corner...
Crack.
Ba-dump.
I fell. My joints locking up, beckoned a sharp jolt of pain springing from my legs. My eyes gazed upwards with wavering vision, and the sight only drove hopelessness into me, pushing me into despair. I'm but a few steps away from the door! Paralyzed, I was forced to watch my friends leave, their backs shrinking into the distance. Vito and the other were occupied with Sergio, so they didn't have eyes at their back. Crying out, I heard none of my voice, no sound at all, just a very heavy throbbing filling my ears...
No... Stupid... Why must I fall here? I don't want to die! It didn't hurt before, so why must this injury act up now?!
Ba-dump.
"Hey, you mind if I take a look? At your injuries?"
"...No, thank you."
"...I'm fine."
I don't believe it! It's my fault... It's all my own.. Amato's friend tried to help, offered me aid. Why can't I just accept the goodwill of others?! Why do I always seem to envision daggers behind their back?! As my mind berated me with insults, I watched as whole pillars toppled, and massive chunks of concrete crashed smashed against the floor, crushing everything underneath! Driven by fear and instinct, I forced my limbs, wrecked with convulsions, to stand and to move!
Crack.
My hearing returned to me right at the moment to hear the crack of my own body, followed by another wave of pain that crunched down on my body. Instead of getting up on my feet, I only felt gravity pulling me down further, knees and elbows now the only thing holding my body up! Annoyed by my inability, I pushed my eyes up in frustration!
Move!
And that's when I saw the crumbling of metal and stone, right above my being!
"No... Amato..." In a vain attempt to deny what was happening before me, the reality of my inevitable demise, I shut my eyes closed. In the darkness, I wished for salvation as I called out the name of the one guy that popped into my mind...
The crash however, never came. There was no pain, no extreme pressure breaking the bones of my back. Soon, seconds passed and I realized I was still alive, with my eyes closed. As happy as I was, the contradiction to everything was staggering. Only when the pain left did I actually opened my eyes. All around me, everything was still falling... So why am I unharmed?
"Clack."
Suddenly, a pebble fell at my side, shooting off a sharp snap, immediately catching my attention. Huh, it's not throbbing! It... really doesn't hurt anymore! Following the thought, my eyes traced the stone from where it fell. And that led me to the one person standing at my back, his arms and shoulders weighted down by debris close to the size of an office desk. The mere glance of it sent me shivering...
Ba-dump.
"...G-great, Hah.. You're okay.." Even as the great weight crushes down on him, Amato looked to me with eyes of relief. Stunned, I just sat there as the choking feeling slowly wrapped around my throat. Amato stood with arms cupped on his head, his eyes looking down at me as the metal and stone were piled on his back! Without his weapon, he was trembling bad, the sign of someone pushing on his own limits.
"W-what are you doing?!" The absurdity of the situation drove me mad, and I started screaming. No, no! The situation went from bad to worse! Much, much worse! I don't want to see someone else hurt because of me! Too many had already died so that I could live...
"No time.. Yoko. Hah.. The door's still standing... please, make your way out now!" Bearing the weight the best he can, I couldn't believe he still had my safety in priority. All the confusion did was plant anger and guilt in my mind.
"No... Amato..." I couldn't even face him. I couldn't bear to see him like that. Every time I did, the thoughts would come rushing in. Ominous thoughts of him getting crushed, or that his bones would crack under the pressure. It's just like that time, when Mom and Dad died, only this time.. it's.. my fault. "How can you be so selfish...?" It was a stupid, stupid thing to say. And I knew that from the sight of Amato confused at my words.
"..."
Amato didn't say anything though. He didn't even said something in his defense, to disagree. It's as if he was conflicted.
"You still have your friends, your family. Back home, you have people that look up to you... you even have people you need to protect, being the boss of your 'famiglia'." That's right. He's so much more needed than I am. He has people that loves him, and they wouldn't want to see him hurt, or worse!
"Compared to you, I'm nothing..." Wallowing in my self-bombardment, my thoughts only seemed to spiral further and further down into depression. "If you died, your friends are gonna cry, those people are gonna miss you..." No matter what, I just kept getting myself more and more convinced that it would have been better if Amato didn't come.
"But if I died... Nobody would miss a single thing..."
"Stop it! Enough! That's not true!" Suddenly I was shot by a scream, and I looked up to see Amato's blue eyes watering despite his brows furrowed in anger and frustration. "If.. If you died, I would be crying! I-I would have missed you! You were forced to give up a lot of things because of.. because of my family, and I just want to makes things right for you! So you can't die!" As he screamed, the chunks of rocks on his back seemed to press down on him. By now he's already lifting a pile twice his size!
"Gack!" In a fit, I watched as sudden pressure crushes him further, and from his mouth came a cough of blood!
I don't believe it, even when in horrible pain, under risk of getting his bones and muscles crushed, he still cares about me and not himself?! Can anyone really be this selfless?!
"..Hah.. Hah.. Don't worry, Yoko. I'm fine." Even as his breath became more and more ragged, Amato still forced a smile on his face as he said those words. "Once you get out of here, I'll... I'll go into my Awakening and force the debris out of my way!"
"I'm not gonna die, Yoko... I promise you that. Now go!"
Amato...
Emotions welled up within my heart when I heard those words, and something clicked. I felt like crying and scolding him for his foolishness, but I found a smile stretched across my face. Without a second thought I reached for Kujaku, detaching the chain off my neck. With shaking hands, I... placed upon Amato's neck, much to his surprise. The light dimmed almost immediately as the jewel left my touch, a faint light now replacing the proud shimmer from before...
"Amato... I'll be waiting for Kujaku back!" Wiping my eyes, I gave the declaration as I stopped by the door and turned back at him one last time. When I saw his smile and nod, a part of me no longer held any doubt, and I pushed my way through the broken and out into the chilling air of the winter night.
"Crash!"
As soon as I did, however, a massive pile came crashing down. The whole of the second floor gave way! Jumped by the sound, I turned only to see the door no longer there. In fact, the ground floor was all but swallowed in a mountain of sand, metal and rock! And Amato... He's gone! I watched as piercing debris shredded and plunged right at where he stood, sparking flying everywhere! In the split second, all my fears came rushing back, and the light of hope vanished.
"Amato!"
In the end I couldn't but scream out his name into the blackened skies...
With what seemed like a victory only ended with the boss of the Zanna Famiglia now buried alive! What's gonna happen now? And how would Kiera and the others react to all of this?! Things look bleak as the climax draws its curtains, keep your eyes out for the next chapter for its final conclusion!